Thought for the Week
Proverbs 16:32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling when you feel like stripping your gears.
It’s May. For many schools less than a month of school remains. These days can be a challenge to the patience of any teacher or administrator. It can also be the best of times in celebration of the knowledge gained and the relationships developed. May God richly bless the final weeks of the school year.
Lutheran School Portal: From Perry Bresemann
A new interface: With a target date of June 1, the programming team is busy working to update the portal interface, add new features and provide a new platform for continued growth. The new platform will allow the addition of blog, wiki and discussion forums with the secure environment of the Lutheran School Portal. We look forward to developing new public pages and ways that we can provide safe areas for student interaction with other students in Lutheran Schools.
Improved access: The Lutheran School Portal is hosted on the campus of Concordia University Chicago. With the new hosting location has come improved security, back up services and internet access. We extend special thanks to Concordia for their partnership!
Professional Record: The current LEIF process will soon be expanded to gather information on all workers in our Lutheran Schools. The modification will allow transfer of information for those that are currently on the roster as well as those that are eligible for the roster as congregations and schools look to fill vacancies. The updated information for all workers will help us communicate the strength of the Lutheran School teaching team and the wonderful work that is being done. The current LEIF system is very active at this time of the year as schools work to complete staffing for the new school year.
Updated format for Web Resources: The list of prescreened Web sites continues to grow, with new sites added each week. Dave Black, and those that assist in submitting new sites, are doing a great job bringing web resources to our members. In the updated version of the portal a new interface and search capability will be included.
New National Agreement: In an effort to assist schools with their technology needs, the Lutheran School Portal team continues to negotiate national contracts with individual vendors. A new agreement has been negotiated with Microsoft that will allow all of our schools to purchase software at the lower pricing. CDW will be coordinating this effort for our schools. Check the portal in early May for details.
In addition to the Microsoft agreement, a variety of special offers are included for the new year. These new features – in addition to the school mailings, national, district and school news items, downloadable documents, and more, make the Lutheran School Portal a great value. Subscription invoices for the new school year have been mailed.
2008 Summary of Required NLSA Reporting: From Terry Schmidt
Here is the path all NLSA reports should take upon leaving a school:
Cumulative Annual Reports: Schools may email or send a hard copy to District Office by May 15. District office will review, so information can be included in the District Annual Report. Schools should not send cumulative annual reports to the national office.
Self-Study Reports: Schools send one (1) copy to National office before the site visit takes place. They should also submit the required number (1) to their District Office.
Visiting Team Reports: should be sent to the District Office (3 copies).
The District forwards 2 paper copies of Visiting Team Report to National office by June 15.
The Visiting Team Report (VTR) is prepared by the Visiting Team and contains the team’s accreditation recommendation as well as commendations and concerns identified during the team’s visit to the school. The applicant school is responsible for distributing copies of the Visiting Team Report to its district office. The final copy of the visiting team report should contain the Profile Narrative from the Self-study document and the face sheet to accompany all reports (attached), identifying the school and all of its relevant information.
Missouri District Accreditation Reports
The National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) Annual Report is due by May 15. Your fee for NLSA should have been submitted in October to the NLSA office. All reports; site visit, mid-cycle visit, or annual should include an NLSA face sheet.
The Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA) form must be completed in order for a school to be accredited for the 2008-09 school year. The MNSAA form must be completed using the website. A check for $40 (made payable to the Missouri District) is to be included with the Annual report.
Both the NLSA and the MNSAA forms are to be sent to Martha Schellin at the Missouri Lutheran District Office no later than May 15, 2008. Please refer to these forms:
Thank you to these schools that have submitted their annual reports:
National Lutheran School Accreditation
Cape Girardeau, Trinity
Fenton, Our Savior
Olivette, Immanuel
Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association
Olivette, Immanuel
Schools that have sent in Mid-cycle reports for NLSA still need to send in an annual report.
Asthma and Allergies
Years ago, some thought asthma and allergies were “imaginary” or minor annoyances. Most of us know a lot more now, but you might want to review “Asthma & Allergies” May’s Health Notes from Wheat Ridge Ministries.
Missouri District Administrators’ Conference
The dates for the Administrators’ Conference are July 28-29. Registration information will be in next week’s Missouri District School News.
Early Registration Rates Extended!
Registrations for the 2008 LCMS National Children’s Ministry Conference continue to pour into the National Office! A special offer was made to participants at the recent LEA Convocation, extending the early registration and reduced registration fee deadline to May 15th. In a spirit of generosity, the conference planning committee has decided to provide the same opportunity to anyone who has yet to register for the conference. Registrations postmarked on or before May 15th will be accepted at the early registration rate. Participants may register on-line – www.lcms.org/ncmc or mail your registration to National Children’s Ministry Conference; Attn: LCMS-Children’s Ministry; 1333 S. Kirkwood Road; St. Louis, MO 63122
Calls Extended (Repeat)
Several schools and early childhood centers are in the process of calling administrators and teachers. Please notify the District as Calls are extended so that an accurate record can be maintained. When calls/contacts are accepted, also contact the District office so that the vacancy list on the district webpage and the Lutheran School Portal is kept current.
Administrator Calls (Updated)
Please keep these individuals and schools in your prayers as they seek to determine God’s direction in their ministry:
Immanuel, Washington |
Nick Hoffensberger, from St. Philip, Chicago, IL has accepted the Call to be principal. |
Our Savior, Fenton |
Jim House, from Zion, Dallas, TX has accepted the Call to serve as principal. |
Hope, St. Ann |
Roy Bohning has accepted the Call to be principal at Zion, Decatur, IN. |
Lutheran High School North, St. Louis |
Tim Hipenbecker has received a Call to be the Executive Director of the Denver Lutheran High Association.
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Additional schools and early childhood centers seeking administrators are:
King of Glory, St. Louis
St. Paul’s, Stover
Messiah, St. Charles
Little Ones of Our Savior, St. Charles
Christ the Vine, Herculaneum
Prayer Requests
Each week prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of intercession for teachers, administrators, and students of the Lutheran schools and early childhood centers of the Missouri District are listed. To include names on the prayer list, send information to the District Office by noon on Wednesday.
We pray for:
The family of Daniel Mohs, who died suddenly two weeks ago. His children, Grace (seventh grade), Emily (fourth grade), and Patrick (kindergarten) attend St. Paul’s, Des Peres. |
