“The hope of the righteous brings joy.” Proverbs 10:28a (ESV)

One of the great themes of Christianity is triumphant hope. Not just hope as in a distant, vague dream, but triumphant hope! In the midst of the struggles and the storms and the sufferings of life, we can advance our thoughts beyond today and see relief...triumph...victory. Because, in the end, God does indeed win!

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. No merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand." LSB 575

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

Victory Christian Academy, Chula Vista, CA

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool, Moreno Valley, CA

God’s World Preschool and Childcare, Prescott Valley, AZ 

Below are photos from Victory Christian Academy, Chula Vista, CA:

The Victory Girl's Volleyball team were the San Diego Division Champs this year!

1st Graders at our Thanksgiving Feast.

The Victory Boy's Football team were the San Diego Division Champs!

One of four handbell choirs at the Victory High School Christmas Concert.

Kindergarten students at the Christmas play.

8th graders in the Christmas play, The Loaned Manger.

Below are photos from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool,

Moreno Valley, CA:

Pre-K students

Preschool 2's and 3's dancing!

School Age Daycare

2022: God's awesome work in the Pacific Southwest District!



God's work in the PSD during 2022 was awesome - and we give humble thanks for the many blessings He has given us, including your prayers and support.

Over the last year, your District has been blessed to undertake several important initiatives to resource churches and schools, including launching:



• 100 in 10 convention resolution calling for 100 new faith communities to be established in the PSD by 2031, the 100th anniversary of the District
• Rooted: Lutheran Edition, a 10-week small group discipleship experience
• New regional mission granting model with $400,000 designated for grants
• New online forum for our Early Childhood Educators and Elementary Schools (check it out and join in!)
• LuTEC High School, a new model for Lutheran education and urban ministry revitalization that is Technically Rich, Educationally Relevant and Career Ready
• Dozens of stories of God @ Work in PSD churches, schools and ministries

Join us in praising God for what He has done! 

National Lutheran Schools Week is in two weeks - January 22-28, 2023! This year’s theme is Making Disciples for Life based on Matthew 28:18-20. 

Click HERE to read a recent LCMS Reporter article about NLSW.

Click HERE for NLSW resources. 

Don't forget to use these hashtags on your social media posts for NLSW: #luthed #schoolministry #MDFL2023

School Counselors, please join us for our first meeting of 2023 on Wednesday, January 18, at 10:00 a.m. (PST)/11:00 a.m. (MST). Mike Grasz and Steve Barillier from Orange Lutheran High School will join us to share the Grief Postvention Plan they put together for Orange Lutheran as they worked through grief in their school community at the tragic loss of one of their seniors the first weekend of this school year. Specific tools and protocols will be shared. This will be a Zoom meeting and Rachel Klitzing will send out the Zoom link on Tuesday, January 17. If you would like to participate in this meeting and aren’t listed on our School Counselor Network distribution list, please send your email address to [email protected] by 11:00 a.m. (PST) this Friday, January 13.  

Please join us next Wednesday, January 18, at 1:00 p.m. (PST)/2:00 p.m. (MST) for our first Early Childhood Director Zoom meeting for 2023! You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Rachel Klitzing on Tuesday, January 17. Block that time on your calendar now and plan to join us!

Our January Admissions Directors Network meeting is on Tuesday, January 24. We will be meeting at Mt. Calvary Lutheran School in Diamond Bar, CA, starting at 10:00 a.m. 

Ryan Ermeling will be our special guest presenter, flying in from Arizona to be with us and to share about Parent Pulse and how this can assist Admissions Directors and Principals to carry out their jobs with greater efficiency, efficacy and influence in the market of private school admissions! Admissions Directors AND Principals are invited to attend this important meeting!

Director/Pastor/Principal Conference - Thursday, January 26, 2023 

Thank you to those who have already registered for this special conference!

What better way to spend a day during National Lutheran Schools Week than with your school’s ministry leadership team in fellowship with other teams in the district? Join us on Thursday, January 26, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran in Long Beach, CA, for our one-day Director/Pastor/Principal Conference. 

PSD President Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson will speak on “Church and School Life Together,” and we will share best practices. The afternoon session (12:45 - 1:45 p.m.) will be led by the ministry team at Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church and School, Gilbert, AZ - Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman (PSD School Shepherd Award winner), Preschool Director Tiffani Spicer, and Principal Tanya Calendo. This session will be motivating and practical on how to create a strong mission culture and strong bonds with each other on your ministry team. 

CLICK HERE to register!

Please save the date for the 2023 Early Childhood Equipping Conferences:

March 4, 2023 - Christ Greenfield Lutheran School, Gilbert, AZ

March 18, 2023 - St. Paul’s Lutheran ECDC, Orange, CA

There will be continued learning on Conscious Discipline – more information, strategies, and implementation will be shared. Attendance at last year's conference is not a requirement!

More information coming soon!

The TLC Grant has been established by the former Trinity Lutheran Church in Reseda, CA, as an ongoing gift to School Ministries of the PSD, to be given for the enhancement of learning and the engagement of students in Lutheran schools of the District. The intent of the donors was that our schools be excellent because we serve an excellent God!

There are many ways in which you can strive for excellence and enhance student learning and engagement in our classrooms and within the school property itself. Priority will be given to those who have clearly described how the money will be used to start a new program or educational platform or enhance an existing one on your campus. This grant is a competitive grant based on the strength of the application. It is open to all schools, K-12. Since the inception of this grant in January 2016, $373,736.00 has been granted to 53 different schools in our district.

The grant application deadline is January 31, 2023. Recipients will be announced in February with the grants awarded immediately. Grant applications are available twice annually – in January and August. In July 2023, you will receive information about the next opportunity to apply.

GRANT APPLICATION FORM

Celebrate the new year! Explore some possibilities at 20 Exciting New Year Activities for Elementary Students (Teaching Expertise). Add some Scripture to your discussions. For example, check out:

• James 4:13–15
• Matt. 11:28
• 1 Cor. 2:9–10.
• Zeph. 3:17
• Eph. 2:10
• Rom. 12:12
• Prov. 4:23

All of the above are from the International Children’s Bible. Search additional versions for some variety.

NWEA will be hosting two live webinars to share information about the MAP Growth Assessment, utilized by more than 20 Pacific Southwest District LCMS schools.

Who is this webinar for? School and educational leaders that are not yet MAP Growth users.

What will be presented? An overview of the MAP Growth assessment and how you can utilize the data to equip teachers and support student growth.

Jake Hollatz, principal at St. John’s Lutheran School in Orange, CA, will share ways their school has utilized MAP Growth over the years.

When: February 9 or March 9 from 10-11 a.m. PST. Pick the date that works best for you.

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

• Mountain View Lutheran Church and School (Las Vegas, NV) gives all glory and thanks to God for the early childhood educational ministry we have at MVLCS, especially Director Donna Einspahr and all staff, with our opportunity to enrich the community with a Gospel-focused center! Its recent honor of being recognized as a 4-star QRIS center is a testament to its service to the church and Las Vegas communities.

Schools we are praying for the week of January 15:

Christ Lutheran School and Preschool, Costa Mesa, CA

Ramona Lutheran School and Preschool, Ramona, CA

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.