"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:11

Real meaning to your life is found in the glorious dawn of God's story, which breaks into full revelation in the Person of Jesus Christ. Because He emptied Himself of all but love, you can be filled. Because His body was broken, your life can be whole. Because His blood was shed, your sins can be forgiven. Because He finished His Father's work, your life has worth!

Please join us in praying and thanking God for the following schools this week:

Concordia Lutheran Preschool, Cerritos, CA

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool, Lake Arrowhead, CA

Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Preschool, Scottsdale, AZ

Below are photos from Concordia Lutheran Preschool, Cerritos, CA:

Pastor Parker putting ashes on one of our preschool students during their chapel service. 

During National Lutheran School Week, we had our before and after school children tie dye shirts. 

Our Christmas Staff Party! Everyone brought delicious food plates and we had an amazing time.  

Below are photos from Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool, Lake Arrowhead, CA:

Some of our Pre-K kids and 1st/2nd grade class holding baby chicks that were brought to the school

Our Trike-a-thon fundraiser

A group of our Pre-K kids who helped load up the truck for delivery to Operation Christmas Child

Below are photos from Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Preschool, Scottsdale, AZ:

The mountains of Southern California have been hit with record amounts of snow. Our friends at Shepherd of the Pines in Big Bear and Mount Calvary in Lake Arrowhead are in need of assistance. Many congregants are “snowed-in”, and food is being delivered via helicopter as the roads are still being cleared. Please consider collecting a special offering this week for their benefit. Donations can be made here or by check made out to the PSD with “disaster relief” in the memo. The Pacific Southwest District thanks you for caring for our brothers and sisters in need.

We had a great turnout for the Arizona Early Childhood Equipping Conference this past Saturday at Christ Greenfield, Gilbert, AZ.

Lots of learning and fun!

Honoring our Early Childhood educators for milestone years of service at the Arizona EC Equipping Conference.

California Early Childhood Equipping Conference

Saturday, March 18, at St. Paul’s in Orange, CA

The California conference registration closes Friday, March 10. The conference will be held in the church gym – 1250 E. Heim Ave., Orange, CA, 92865. Please park in the lot off of Canal Street.

You won’t want to miss it! Click here for more details!

We are planning a Zoom Legal Workshop, Tuesday, April 4, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. We have secured employment lawyer Adam Treiger as the presenter for this workshop. Administrators, you should have received an email from Rachel Klitzing asking you to submit your top three employment questions you would like to ask a lawyer. This will be a practical, hands-on webinar. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend!

Click here to read all about how God is at work at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arcadia, CA, in the latest #AroundthePSD article!

Click here to read the latest messaging from TEC21. Below is an excerpt:

Principals who are unfamiliar with TEC21 ask, how is TEC21 differentiated from other professional development opportunities?

The TEC21 Workshop Program is trusted by hundreds of Lutheran schools across the U.S. and globally. Our approach to teacher education is firmly rooted in discipleship and principles of adult learning. 

What are the tenets of the TEC21 professional development opportunity?

Evidence-based research* shows our Workshop Program meets all the benchmarks of effective teacher professional development:

• Content focused
• From Early Childhood through grade 12, our cohorts focus on the Lutheran school teacher and the specific subjects they teach and how to integrate technology to enrich the student experience...piquing their curiosity … helping them gain new and better understanding of concepts in the world around them. The next six tenets happen because of this!
• Incorporates active learning
• Supports collaboration
• Uses models of effective practice
• Provides coaching and expert support
• Offers feedback and reflection
• Is of sustained duration



*From a 2017 research study on effective teacher professional development by the Learning Policy Institute

NWEA will be hosting a live webinar to share information about the MAP Growth Assessment.

Who is this webinar for? Current MAP Growth users or anyone who is just interested in hearing more about MAP Growth data insights.

What will be presented? An overview of the MAP Growth reports with Jake Hollatz (principal at St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange), and how you can utilize the data and resources to equip teachers and support student growth.

Get the chance to ask questions about your data, too!

When? TOMORROW, Thursday, March 9, from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. PST

Click Here to register. Can’t attend live? Sign up and we will send you a copy of the recording!

Concordia University Irvine's Servant Leadership Institute invites you to join Cohort #2 of the Educator Leadership Academy - a professional development opportunity like no other! Visit cui.edu/ela for more information. Click here for the flyer.

• Prayers from Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool, Lake Arrowhead, CA: Pray for our school and our whole mountain community as people have been snowed in and unable to go to school. Our area has been declared a state of emergency. Roofs are caving in, people are snowed in without food or medicine. Please pray for the communities of Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, and Crestline during this unprecedented snow event.
• Prayers from Concordia Lutheran Preschool, Cerritos, CA: For our school to have more students and hire new teachers; that our church would gain more church members so they get to know God and also know that we are a church family; and that our Lutheran churches and schools continue to grow so that more children and families to get to know God. 
• Prayers for Chris Wend, husband of Valorie Wend, principal at Loving Savior, Chino Hills, CA. Chris is still dealing with the effects of a car accident over a year and a half ago. He needs hernia repair and an abdominal reconstruction due to injuries he sustained during the accident. This is a very large surgery which will require 5+ hours of surgery. Please pray for the best plan from the doctors and choosing the right surgeons to give Chris the best path to a full recovery.

Schools we are praying for the week of March 12:

Child of Faith Early Learning Center, Huntington Beach, CA

St. John’s Lutheran School and Preschool, Orange, CA

Precious Stones Lutheran Preschool, Sedona, AZ

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 Tuesdays.