PSD School Ministries
Connections
September 2, 2020
Spotlight on Our Schools
Please join us in praying and thanking God for the following schools this week:

Atonement Lutheran School and Early Childhood Center, Glendale, AZ
Trinity Lutheran School and Preschool, Litchfield Park, AZ
Ascension Lutheran Preschool, Tucson, AZ
Below are photos from Trinity Lutheran School and Preschool,
Litchfield Park, AZ:
Below are photos from Ascension Lutheran Preschool, Tucson, AZ:
A quick round of "giving God their best soccer circle" in a Pre-K class.
Lemon volcano science experiment to learn about the five senses in Kindergarten class.
The two year old class practicing their fine motor skills.
Back to School Message from Rachel Klitzing
Welcome back to a new school year!
September Devotion on Website
The September devotion is now on our website. It is titled Going Back to School 2020 Style and written by Dr. Steve Christopher, principal at Mt. Calvary Lutheran School in Diamond Bar, CA. Click here to read it. Thanks, Steve, for reminding us to go to a certain source -- our certain God.
Grantparent Mission Project
The Grantparent Mission Project is beginning its 19th year of providing tuition assistance to students in urban PSD Lutheran schools. This past school year, 65 students were sponsored through the support of sponsors and donors. Many PSD schools have generously supported the Grantparent Mission Project over the years -- thank you!
 
Anyone or any school can sponsor a child or give a one-time donation of any amount, and it will go directly toward a student’s tuition! We have preschools, elementary schools, high schools, school-age care programs, churches, and Sunday Schools that sponsor students ($600 a year for an elementary student, $1,200 for a high school student). We also have schools that give a one-time donation from chapel offerings (offerings for a quarter or during National Lutheran Schools Week). The students write letters back and forth with their sponsors, and sponsors receive photos of their students.
 
The Grantparent schools for 2020-2021 are:

  • Prince of Peace Lutheran School, Anaheim, CA
  • Zion Lutheran School, Anaheim, CA
  • Victory Christian Academy, Chula Vista, CA
  • Pacific Lutheran Jr./Sr. High School, Gardena, CA 
  • St. John’s Lutheran School, Hemet, CA
  • Redeemer Lutheran School, Las Vegas, NV
  • Christ the Cornerstone Lutheran Academy, San Diego, CA

We are excited to be able to provide tuition assistance to students in these Pacific Southwest District schools this year!

You can type right into this form, save it, and email it to us.

(Scroll down just a bit to find Grantparent.)


We would love to provide you with more information about Grantparent! Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Rigor and Relevance Framework
We are excited to begin a partnership with ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education) to train schools on the Rigor & Relevance Framework! This fall we will begin a three year training process for administrators and curriculum leaders at our schools.  
 
School Ministries is focused on encouraging our schools to improve student engagement and is deeply committed to ensuring that ALL students are prepared to be successful in today’s complex world. To attain this goal, we have created this partnership with ICLE to intentionally and strategically work with school administrators and curriculum leaders to empower an effective school team. We will do this by training a common instructional framework that will provide the focus needed to define, develop, and embrace a system-wide culture of high expectations for student achievement that permeates each school and every classroom.
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Training begins in October 2020! If you would like more information on this three year training or to sign up to attend, please contact Kim Violette in School Ministries!
Mission Essential: Strong, Scattered Relationships
This season has revealed many challenges. Many have experienced a strain on face-to-face relationships that are now pushed into on-line connections or socially distanced gatherings. For some congregations, "scattered" church has been the norm from the start. Remaining connected outside of the Sunday morning gathering has always served to deepen the critical social bonds among members of these churches.

Rev. Dominic Rivkin from the PSD Office recently interviewed one of the amazing speakers for our District All Workers Conference in November. Ashley Paavola is the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at All Nations Church in St. Louis. On this call she is joined by her husband and the Pastor of All Nations, Rev. Chris Paavola. Together we discuss the blessings of using the family/community model of creating and maintaining strong relationships through small groups and scattered ministries. Join us as we continue to grow in our understanding of how to navigate and integrate to the gathered/scattered reality of ministry in 2020!  Watch Video
New CA COVID-19 Guideline Finder Tool
California Gov. Newsom recently announced revised criteria for restrictions on activities related to COVID-19. A website is now available enabling you to check your county's current status, and includes a searchable database by county and activity, including Places of Worship. Use the link below to access this new tool.
 

A link to this new tool can also be found on our PSD website:
Admissions Directors' Meeting
Calling all Admissions Directors! Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, via Zoom, from 1:30-2:30pm. We will have a special guest and inspirational presenter visit with us, so plan on attending. Mark your calendars!
Calling All Kindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers:
Over the summer, Rachel Klitzing and Lisa Ellwein from Salem, Orange, CA, met with a group of you to support and encourage your preparations for the school year. From that meeting a private Facebook group for Kindergarten teachers was created. If you haven’t yet joined that group, please search PSD Kindergarten Teachers and ask to join! Kindergarten teachers only please.
Mission West Online Conference
Equipping for adaptive, innovative missional leadership
Mission West Online Conference is a unique West Coast partnership in equipping leaders for mission in today's changing landscape, hosted by the PSD, NOW, and CNH Districts of the LCMS. Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger, Vice President and Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Seminary and author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, will be our keynote speaker.
 
Join us on Saturday, October 17, from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Mission West is offered FREE to you and your leaders in congregations and ministries. Please share this information with your leaders. 
 
Let us know you are interested in attending this event by filling out the RSVP form! You will be added to the Mission West email list so that you don't miss future updates! Event RSVP
 
Visit psd-lcms.org\missionwest for updated information as it is made available. 
Helpful Blogs from Dr. John Eckrich
Dear Teachers and Administrators: With the levels of anxiety approaching enormous heights during this season of pandemic isolation, social unrest, financial uncertainty and political discourse, here are a set of helpful blogs created by our January 2021 PSD Early Childhood Directors Conference guest speaker and written for Concordia Publishing House blogs in preparation for this coming school year. While anxiety is the focused topic, Dr. John Eckrich, founder of Grace Place Wellness Ministries, addresses many aspects of whole health and well-being for our front line educators which will be addressed further in his presentation to our PSD Early Childhood Directors at our January conference. 

Type in CPHblogs.org Teach and then seek the following blogs:
PSD LWML Women's Retreat
The PSD Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) will be holding a Women's Retreat entitled "Women in Mission", February 19-21, 2021, at the Hampton Inn in Las Vegas, NV. The Keynote Speaker will be Karol Selle. For more information and to register, visit the PSD LWML website and click on the Events tab. Click here for the registration form.
New Article from Dr. Tim Elmore
Click here to read What Parents and Teachers Can Do that Google Cannot Do by Dr. Tim Elmore.
Grant Opportunities
EQT Foundation, Inc.: Provide economically disadvantaged students with greater access to programs that promote proficiency in core academic skills - particularly STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. Includes programming that helps these students effectively prepare to compete in the workforce, have greater choices and make positive social and economic contributions to their communities. Examples: Technical and literacy programming; computer camps; science fairs; writing competitions; tutors; scholarships; libraries; career planning and preparation. Deadline: November 1. More Information
 
 
Annie's Grants for Gardens: Showing future generations how sustainable food is grown changes their lives. Supports food education and makes healthy gardens accessible to hundreds of students across the country. Connecting kids to gardens helps them to start thinking more holistically about their food, their communities, and the planet. The grant cycle is open. Deadline: November 2. More Information
Interested in the Colloquy Program?
Have you considered completing your Colloquy? The Pacific Southwest District would like to help! The district now has a grant program to provide scholarships of up to $500 per class for all PSD educators enrolled in the program. You can apply for the scholarship prior to the beginning of each class in your coursework. For more information on the Colloquy program and to get started in the program, please go to https://cuenet.edu/ and click on the Colloquy button. To submit an application for scholarships once you are enrolled in the program, please click here. For more information and to submit your application, please email [email protected].
Disaster Assistance
Looking for a chapel offering idea? Individuals, groups, and congregations who would like to provide financial assistance in support of on-the-ground ministry in disaster areas may send your contributions to the Pacific Southwest District office, 1540 Concordia, Irvine, CA 92612 or through electronic means at psd-lcms.org/give.
 
Contributions will be divided between the California Nevada Hawaii District for wildfire relief, the Southern District for Hurricane relief, and the Iowa Districts for stom relief. Our office will ensure that those with the greatest need receive the assistance. Thank you for your partnership and your support of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A Message from Concordia Plan Services
A Message from Concordia Plan Services:

100% COVID-19 Coverage through Dec. 31
To continue to help ease your worries during these uncertain times, the Concordia Health Plan is extending your 100% coverage for COVID-19 testing/treatment and telehealth services.

We want to make sure you know that the CHP is covering testing and treatment for COVID-19, as well as telehealth services at 100% - through Dec. 31, 2020. This means no out-of-pocket costs to you for:
  • Testing for COVID-19*. Testing is covered 100% through your CHP benefits, for both in-network or out-of-network providers.
  • Treatment of COVID-19. If you’re diagnosed with the coronavirus disease, treatment is covered 100% ONLY for in-network providers.
  • Telehealth services. We’re providing 100% coverage for telehealth visits through telehealth vendors. (Visits with doctors through Zoom or other video chat services are covered by regular cost sharing and deductibles.) You don’t have to step foot in a doctor’s office, an urgent care or an emergency room and can remain in the security of your home during this time. This includes visits for any common illness, such as flu, stress/anxiety, emotional support, skin conditions, allergies, etc., and applies to all telehealth benefits offered through each of the CHP options.
  • Employee Assistance Program – provides emotional support benefits for all CHP options.
  • 98point6 – text-based telehealth for all CHP options.
  • MDLIVE – for all Cigna plan options.
  • Doctor on Demand – for all BCBS plan options.
  • Kaiser Permanente Telehealth – for all Kaiser Permanente plan options.
  • Teladoc – for all UMR plan options.

Don’t let the burden of cost keep you from the health care help you need.

*This does not include mandatory testing required by your employer.
Prayer Requests
Each week, prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for teachers, administrators, support staff, pastors, students, and families of the Lutheran schools, early childhood centers, and churches of the Pacific Southwest District are listed. To include names on the list, please send information to [email protected] by noon on Wednesday of each week. This week we pray for:

  • many of our PSD schools that have started or are starting school this week. We pray for a great 2020-21 for all of our educators, students, and families!
  • Ascension, Tucson -- for health for staff, children, and families as they enter cold and flu season during the pandemic. Praise God the children are adapting to all the new precautionary measures that allow them to be together in person again.
  • Trinity, Litchfield Park -- for health and safety for everyone! Also guidance and strength for teachers as they navigate this new way of teaching.
  • the power of the Spirit to root out the seen and unseen sins of ignorance, intolerance, hatred, and racism in our world and in the Church. We pray that we will celebrate God’s unique creation in each person, race, and culture, knowing that we are more complete as people when we stand together. Lord, bring hope and healing to our cities, states, nation, and world. 
  • COVID-19 -- for infection rates to slow and cease; that those who have been infected will heal quickly; that healthcare staff and first responders will be sustained as they carry this very heavy burden; that our churches, schools and preschools would be sustained and reliant on our loving God and His guidance; for courage and peace for our pastors, lay leaders, church and school administrators, faculties, and all church and school workers who are making difficult decisions and creating innovative solutions for continuing to reach people for the sake of the Gospel; for our federal, state and local leaders to seek God's will as they make important decisions and take actions against this disease; for God to bring many, many people to faith through this situation, and that His Church would be more effective than ever in sharing the Gospel with the lost and loving our neighbors.

Schools we are praying for the week of September 6:
Little Palms School, Mesa, AZ
Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School, Las Vegas, NV
Faith Lutheran Academy and Preschool, Las Vegas, NV
School Ministries, Pacific Southwest District-LCMS
1540 Concordia Drive East, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone 949-854-3232 | Fax 949-854-8140

Rachel Klitzing, Executive Director of School Ministries 
Ext. 223 [email protected]