WHY WE ARE ACCREDITED

In my travels associated with my role as National Director for NLSA I have the opportunity to speak with many people about how accreditation impacts Lutheran schools. We know that NLSA is a rigorous project and that can be especially challenging for smaller schools with limited resources. Despite that fact many small Lutheran high schools, elementary schools and preschools maintain an accredited status with NLSA.

Conversations with school leaders of accredited schools reveal consistent reasons why they have chosen to become and remain accredited.

“We want our school/center to improve” is the most the most common response. It is a fact that every school involved with NLSA improves as a result of its efforts. Self study involves evaluation and evaluation leads to action. School improvement is the result of intentional actions based on what we have learned through the self study process. School improvement and NLSA go together and bread and butter or salt and pepper. You can’t have one without the other.

A second response that is commonly cited as a reason for accreditation is “School constituents want our school/center to be accredited.”  School board members and parents take note when a school successfully completes its accreditation process. Smaller Lutheran schools and early childhood centers benefit from being recognized for the quality of their programs. Many District Education Executives recognize the benefits of NLSA and support the involvement of schools in their districts.

Without any doubt, the school administrator is the most powerful force in determining whether or not a school/center completes an NLSA process. The school board, faculty members and parents are also important influences but the school leader plays the most important role from beginning to end with an accreditation process.

There are many reasons cited for becoming accredited.

“NLSA holds us accountable to national standards.”

“The process allows us to establish and follow short and long term goals.”

“NLSA is a great way to promote our school.”

“The involvement of teachers, staff, parents, board members and pastors in our process was invaluable.”

NLSA is designed specifically for LCMS Lutheran schools. To receive more information about this process contact Terry.Schmidt@lcms.org

The Ministry of Lutheran Teachers

Visiting Exemplary School candidates is such a pleasure. So far this year three schools have been visited; Loving Shepherd Early Childhood Center, Golden Valley, MN, Hales Corners Lutheran School in Wisconsin and Bethany Lutheran School in Parma, Ohio. Our teams have observed some amazing practices at these schools that have resulted in improved student performance, enhanced ministry opportunity and (or) growth and development of the whole child. Every person involved with these visits has learned much from the practices of these excellent schools.

One of my favorite parts of exemplary school validation visits is the interviews that we conduct with fans of the schools and community members. Every person has a story. Each story is a testimony about how the school has added value to their family or the community. We keep a handy supply of Kleenex present during these interviews because often, the school has deeply touched the lives of those who share their stories.

Lutheran teachers are always at the center of the stories that demonstrate how lives have been changed in their school. These are the teachers who go far beyond what is normally expected… Lutheran teachers who challenge their students in unique ways to learn and grow…Lutheran teachers who share compassion and care with students in need…Lutheran teachers who tell children and their families about our miraculous Savior, Jesus.

It’s a pleasure to visit these great Lutheran schools. But this is the business of every Lutheran school. To go beyond what’s expected….to excite student about learning…. to wipe a tear, share a prayer and pronounce forgiveness and most importantly to point people to Jesus.

Incredible things are happening in every Lutheran school. Wouldn’t it be great if we had the opportunity every day to hear from our fan base?  Still, it is our privilege to serve our God by sowing the seeds of His word without knowledge of the harvest.  We who serve, look forward to the day when we will be united with the children we taught at the feet of Jesus in Heaven. What a privilege to serve our Lord with ministry and education in Lutheran schools.

FINAL NLSA Best Practice Webinar

On Tuesday, November 29, West Portal Lutheran School, located in San Francisco, California, will present the school’s best practices in the final webinar in our series of seven NLSA Best Practice webinars. This event will be conducted for one hour beginning at 1PM Eastern Time. Login to the webinars on the public page of the Lutheran School Portal: http://www.lsportal.net/

It is not necessary to pre-register.  Participation is limited to the first 100 people who enter the viewing room.

 

West Portal Lutheran Church has provided a presence of Lutheran Ministry in San Francisco since 1947. The school began in 1952 to serve a growing number of Post‐World War 2 baby boomer children of Germanic families located in the community surrounding the congregation. Through the years, shifting community demographics have changed the cultural composition of the school. Today more than 90 percent of the children attending the school are the children of Asian parents. Most of the families coming to the school do not have an affiliation with the Lutheran Church and enroll their children at the school seeking high standards of academic preparation.

This webinar will allow staff members to share information about their Partners in Faith program where Church and School come together to share our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with our non-churched families.  This portion of the webinar has significant implications and applications for schools and congregations that hope to work together effectively to their school for outreach and evangelism into their community. It would be most effectively viewed by pastor and school leaders together.

In addition, WPLS will present how they prepare their students for their unique and challenging High School application process.  Although the program is designed for elementary students, our Lutheran High Schools it would benefit as well as they prepare students for their college application process.

This is the webinar that was cancelled and postponed on October 4.

GREAT NEWS FROM WISCONSIN!

Today, Wisconsin State Senate Bill 234 formally recognizes National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) as a viable accreditation choice for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program! Praise God and thank everyone who was involved in making this important legislation reality for our urban schools in Wisconsin.

Exemplary School Visit #2

A team of NLSA validators had the extreme pleasure to visit our second school nominated for Exemplary consideration. Hales Corners Lutheran School, located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, is an excellent school located on two campuses. Validators had the opportunity to interview excited pastors, teachers, parents and board members and hear about some amazing best practices that are having a dramatic effect on student learning at the school.  All were impressed by the Christ-centered culture and intentional teamwork that has driven the school to grow and improve.

Five more visits will take place before the final selections are made in February. It is quite an experience to visit some of our best schools and experience first-hand what makes them schools of choice in their communities.  Those schools selected as NLSA Exemplary Schools for 2012-13 will be formally announced during Lutheran Schools Week in March

Visit #1

The first of seven NLSA Exemplary School validation visits concluded yesterday at Loving Shepherd Early Learning Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota. It was a pleasure to observe this excellent early childhood center and see the dedicated efforts that are being extended to the children of their community.

Director, Brenda Lovehaug, her staff and many school stakeholders and constituents did an outstanding job of explaining the school’s mission, vision and programs in detail. We are grateful for the way the efficiently handled the details of our visit and provided us with information and support that allowed us to complete our work at the school.

Six visits remain before selections will be made by the national accreditation commission in February. We eagerly anticipate each visit for we continued to be amazed at the dedicated efforts and amazing Best Practices that can be shared with others. We all benefit when we play well together!

Exemplary School Visits

Tomorrow, three NLSA visitors will conduct the year’s first Exemplary School Validation Visit at Loving Shepherd Early Learning Center located in Golden Valley, MN. During the time of the visit, validators will investigate the school’s demonstrations and evidence surrounding six (6) questions.

1) Is this school Christ-centered and service driven.

2) Does this school have an established record of academic success by its students?

3) Has this school earned a positive perception in its greater community?

4)  Are the stakeholders of this school satisfied customers?

5) Is this school near or at its enrollment capacity.

6) Does this school demonstrate innovative leadership through “Best Practices.”

The school’s application form calls for it to affirmatively answer and provide evidence for each of the questions.

Documentation, evidence, interviews and observations must validate that the school the school is a school of excellence and that it has Best Practices worthy of sharing with others.

Through the years, visits at Exemplary Schools have uncovered significant Best Practices that have been shared via webinar and print so that every LCMS schools can consider the practices and implement when practical.  Some of these practices have already been considered and implemented by other Lutheran schools. When we play well together in this way everyone benefits.

This year two preschools, one high school and four elementary schools have been nominated for exemplary consideration. It is a pleasure to visit these schools and see the energy they invest in sharing the love of Jesus with children and families and preparing student for success with academics in our world.

Our class of 2012-13 Exemplary Schools will be selected at an electronic breeze meeting on February and the public announcement will be made during Lutheran Schools Week. We will keep you informed about our progress as we visit the schools who were nominated for recognition this year.

The Choice is Yours!

It’s the time of year when our office sends out billing statements and receives annual payments from schools. Every year, at this time, we receive notes from schools complaining about paying their fee and stating that they do not receive “value” from their annual payment.  Recently I have shared the parable below that lends itself to a defense of why we have accreditation. Feel free to share it with those who complain about the cost or benefits of accreditation.

I once knew a person who was aging and overweight. He was prone to malaise, body aches, sleepless nights and anxiety. He was racked with the pain of arthritis. These symptoms caused the individual to be crabby and irritable and actually resulted in the inability to see the good in many situations. Feeling bad resulted in how others perceived him. The person felt it best to ignore the symptoms, put up with them, and perhaps they would simply go away. Besides, who has time for a doctor’s visit? And the cost, oh my, who would ever want to pay that required co-pay. In fact, the visit might result in recommendations for a dramatic change of lifestyle and accountability.  This individual despised change and it was simply not an option. In fact, this person would rather die than face diagnosis and resulting required changes.

What symptoms are displayed in your Lutheran school?  Are you healthy? Do you need a diagnostic checkup? Is it time to undertake some changes that will lead to enhanced ministry opportunities or improved student learning at your school? Can you effectively deal with change and ongoing accountability?

Just like people….some schools can be accountable and enact necessary changes. Others cannot.  Some see changes enacted through an active accreditation process as helpful and productive. Others see it as a bother.

When you involve your school in an active and ongoing accreditation process, it provides necessary diagnostic information that can assist you in making changes that are essential for the quality of your school beyond today. The actions prescribed by an accreditation team, made up of highly qualified educators, can put your school in the pathway to improved health and vitality. You just need to take your medicine and change your lifestyle.

If you see accreditation as simply jumping through hoops, crossing t’s and dotting i’s then perhaps you are not correctly assessing the intent of NLSA. In that case, it is better to stop complaining and remove yourself from being involved in any way with NLSA.  Simply live with your symptoms and see what happens.

If you wish to become a School of Choice in your community , then diagnostics, planning and accountability will put you on that pathway. Accreditation is not for everyone. If you are happy with the status quo it is not the best option for your school. The choice is yours!

Rescheduled Webinar - November 29

On October 4, it became necessary to cancel the NLSA Best Practice webinar that was scheduled for West Portal Lutheran School. That webinar has been rescheduled for November 29, 2011 at 11:00AM Eastern Time. Please make a note of it and plan to participate in this helpful webinar.

Tomorrow, November 1, we will hold the final regularly scheduled NLSA Best Practice Webinar. Leaders from St Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia Missouri will share their amazing practices.

Saint Paul is both a community and a boarding high school in its 129^th year.

The school has become very  intentional in maintaining a diverse student body of over 200 with students in grades 9-12 from local communities, 12 American states and several foreign countries including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Norway, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. They believe this diversity offers benefits, opportunities and challenges for all students, their families and our faculty and staff in spiritual, academic, social and worldview arenas.

Their goal is to reach each student in a transformational way leading with God’s Word in order to build up the body of Christ. Strategies for integration include Peer Ministry Training (PMT), English Language Development (ELD) classes, international travel for domestic students, athletic and academic teams, and intentionality in social integration from mealtimes to residential hall life.  

Curriculum development includes a unique religion curriculum that begins with an introduction to the Bible on an entry level to upper level dual-credit college classes. The latter classes are offered in cooperation with the Concordia University system for those seeking church work vocations in our synodical terminal schools.

Schools experiencing an increase in student diversity or wishing to begin to move in that direction will find help and encouragement in planning and program. 

Login to the Webinar at LSPortal.com at 11:00 AM Eastern time. The live webinar is free and open to all participants.

Tuesday's Webinar

The next NLSA Best Practice webinar will be conducted on October 18, at 1:00 PM Eastern time. It will feature some of the Best Practices currently implemented at Trinity Lutheran School in Waconia, Minnesota. A description of those practices can be found below.

Trinity will share their best practice of MAP testing and its impact on the academic growth of students.  Northwest Evaluation Association – NWEA, has developed an adaptive test, Measure of Academic Progress – MAP, that establishes a student’s precise instructional level, and which areas to focus on for academic growth; compares academic progress with other children in the class, grade, school and district; and tracks a student’s academic growth over a school year / several years.  Students become active participants in their academic growth while teachers are given the data to design instruction to meet the needs of every student.

Trinity will also share what we are doing in the area of Intergenerational Learning.  We will talk about ways we are connecting our students in meaning ways with our seniors and talk about the impact it is having on both students and seniors.

It is not necessary to register for this event. Simply Login to the webinar at LSPortal.net.

Recorded versions of the first three webinars are now available on the Lutheran School Portal. These recordings can be viewed by portal subscribers at any time. Simply access the NLSA tab from the national page on the portal. You will find the recorded versions of webinars in the far right column.

Viewing a Webinar

Best Practices shared by our Exemplary schools during our weekly webinars have been carefully researched, collaboratively established and dynamically affect student learning and (or) ministry opportunities in a Lutheran school. Replication by other schools in our Lutheran school alliance is an expectation for any NLSA Exemplary School.

An NLSA Exemplary School Best Practice is much more than an expectation that quantifies standard compliance. It innovates and exceeds accreditation expectations. It is a calculated risk that has resulted in significant reward for the students. Therefore it is a desirable condition that as ramifications for our school in the LCMS school alliance.

The live webinar is the best viewing option for school leaders because provides the interactive component with webinar presenters.  Viewers are able to ask questions, make comments and contribute to the discussion using the chat box.

Webinars are recorded and may be archived on the NLSA tab on the Lutheran School Portal. You can go through the national page to locate the NLSA tab. Recorded webinars can be viewed with the entire school staff. Staff members can evaluate if the practices are applicable to their own school setting and how they might impact students learning or enhance ministry opportunities.

Best Practices from the webinars are meant to stimulate discussion and drive your school forward in the direction of ongoing improvement.  Since the practices have already been field tested they are ready for use in your school and can provide immediate benefit. NLSA Best Practice webinars are a no-cost method of staff development that can have positive ramifications on the quality of your school. Don’t miss the opportunity you have to view each webinar and consider the practices.

Tomorrow's Webinar

The next NLSA Best Practice webinar will be conducted tomorrow,  October 11 at 1:00 PM Eastern time. It will feature the amazing Best Practices of St. John Lutheran School in Ellisville, Missouri. Lots of creative classroom practices will be shared.  The webinar will begin at Noon Central, 11:00AM Rocky Mountain and 10AM Pacific time. Don't miss it!

Recorded NLSA Best Practice Webinars

Recorded versions of NLSA Best Practice Webinars are now available for viewing on the NLSA tab of the Lutheran school portal. To view the recorded webinar login to the portal with your login and password. Click on the NATIONAL TAB at the top of the page (light blue bar). Select NLSA. You must be a member of the Lutheran school portal in order to retrieve recorded webinars.

Webinars from Faith Community Lutheran Schools, Las Vegas, Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy and Rev Bart Day, Executive Director Life Together are available (in blue) in the far right column on the page. Other webinars will be retrievable at this location.

Exemplary School Progress

Schools nominated for Exemplary consideration report that they are making progress on their applications. It is anticipated that all seven schools will submit materials and host a validation visit in November, December and January. The National Commission will hold its selection meeting on February 15 at 1:00PM Eastern time.  NLSA commissioners, please reserve this date and time and plan to participate in this important meeting. Validation visit team reports will be posted on-line for review prior to our meeting as they were last year. The formal announcement naming the 2012 Exemplary schools will take place during National Lutheran schools week.

St John Webinar

The next NLSA Best Practice webinar will be conducted on October 11 at 1:00 PM Eastern time. It will feature a wide variety of Best Practices currently implemented at St. John Lutheran School in Ellisville, Missouri. A description of those practices can be found below.

St. John is focuses on integrating best practices into its educational program in order to build an instructional foundation based upon 21^st century skills.  These practices help develop collaboration, critical thinking and creativity in students and allow them to use digital tools to enhance learning.

A variety of instructional methods expand the subject of Language Arts.  Literature Circles are used in grades 5-8 to allow students to learn literary concepts by selecting novels by interest and reading ability.   Spelling lists are differentiated for every student in grades 1-4 as students use words from their curricular areas,  their daily writing and those they misspell.    Primary grade teachers use a “Daily Five”  instructional  philosophy to teach reading and writing  through independence and ability levels.  The Preschool program helps students master grade level skills through a “Project Construct” philosophy based on learning through student interest and hands-on activities.

Students in 7-8 follow a Block Schedule of 85 minute classes on alternating days in order to have more time to master their grade level curriculum through guided and independent practice.

Teachers schedule weekly class meeting time during “Cougar Pride” to intentionally teach and discuss issues that students struggle with relationally, behaviorally, or intentional time for character development.  Annual surveys help provide feedback from stakeholders to craft new initiatives and strategic direction to school leadership.  Technology is maximized through integrating it into the grade level curriculum and equipping the staff through an intentional staff development model based on ISTE standards for students and teachers. 

You are invited to hear about the many practices at St John that align instruction with 21^st century skills.

It is not necessary to register for this event. Simply Login to the webinar at LSPortal.net.

Today's Webinar

LCMS School Ministry will host the live webinar scheduled for today.  West Portal Lutheran School cancelled its participation so we will be conducting a live interview with Rev. Bart Day, Executive Director of LCMS National Mission – Witness, Mercy and Life Together. The webinar will begin at 11:00AM Eastern time. Please attend.

Webinar #3 and a Suggestion

Our first two NLSA Best Practice webinars were highly successful and shared a variety of unique, replicable practices that could be considered by other Lutheran schools.

The third in our series of webinars will be held for one hour, on Tuesday, October 4, beginning at 1PM Eastern Time. Login to the webinars on the public page of the Lutheran School Portal http://www.lsportal.net/ It’s not necessary to register in advance for these events.

This webinar will feature the Best Practices of West Portal Lutheran School, located in San Francisco, California. It will provide information about their Partners in Faith program where Church and School come together to share the love of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with our non-churched families who have children attending the school. It would be beneficial for school leaders to view this portion of the webinar with their pastor(s) for it provides excellent strategies for using the school as a primary community outreach tool.

How about this idea submitted by Amber Fiala and shared with me by Dawn Oldenettel? Amber has invited her pastor to lunch so they can watch/listen webinar #3 together. She thinks this is a great opportunity to bring church and school together.  I think she’s on to something!

In addition, school leaders will present how they prepare students for their unique and challenging high school application process.  Although this program is designed for use with its elementary students, it has implications for Lutheran High Schools as they prepare students for their college application process.

Please join us for this webinar or login into the NLSA page on the Lutheran school portal to retrieve archived editions of past webinars.

Our Second Webinar

What an outstanding webinar today! Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, presented participants with many replicable Best Practices to consider. The staff is to be commended for serving children effectively with a wide variety of innovative Best Practices that enhance learning and enrich the school’s relationship with parents and the community. I commend Principal, Katherine, McGrew and her teachers for sharing so effectively with us today.

Webinar #2

The second in a series of seven NLSA Best Practice Webinars will be held for one hour on Tuesday, September 27, beginning at 1PM Eastern Time. Login to the webinars on the public page of the Lutheran School Portal http://www.lsportal.net/ It is not necessary to register in advance and there is no cost for these events. Participation will be limited to the first 100 people who enter the viewing room.

Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has been recognized for its innovative classroom practices which result in greater student success and allow for remediation of those students who struggle academically.  These practices often integrate technology, tapping into that medium to create learning environments which allow all students of all learning styles and capabilities multiple opportunities to learn and practices skills. Several staff members will describe why and how these learning opportunities have developed in the ten short years that Immanuel has been in operation. 

Early childhood Kindergarten, first and third grade teachers will explain the use of Google Earth in Bible stories, rescue dogs in Paws for Reading, reading practice with the Reading Granny, research techniques with the Scientist, Researcher and World Traveler programs, SKYPING deaf-ed student classrooms in other states, and sign language.  Also included are overviews of Lego Club, Grandparent Games Club, and Knitting Club.  Older classes, such as fifth grade, will be highlighted using technology to create teaching units to younger students.  The computer education classes of Photography and Broadcasting will be presented, along with the use of Googledocs.

 Featured middle school classes include the use of numerous science activities without an existing science lab and limited resources, what we call Science on a Shoestring.  Widespread use of manipulatives in middle school math, along with game creation and presentation to younger students will be featured, as will the use of social networking to enhance learning in middle school language arts classes. 

The use of technology in specialty classes, such as the huge success of putting artwork online and allowing students and parents to critique and contribute the art program will also be spotlighted.  It is our sincere hope that other Lutheran schools will benefit from our Best Practices.   

A Reason to be Thankful Today

Today I am extremely thankful for a group of Lutheran educators in Indiana who attended my NLSA training event in Indianapolis. These folks are tremendously dedicated servants of our living God. They give of their time and talents to support other schools with their knowledge and understanding about NLSA. In addition, they lead their schools with intentional efforts at ongoing improvement through use of our NLSA process. These educators typify attitudes that are prevalent throughout our fraternity of Lutheran schools. Thank you Jon, Cliff and Fred for leading the accreditation efforts in Indiana.  And thank you Lutheran accreditation participants in Indiana. I was really encouraged by your efforts today!

Reflections on our First Webinar

We hosted our first live webinar today. I want to take an opportunity to share a few reflections:

1)      The folks at Faith in Las Vegas have rallied around a common visit that unites two schools and a congregation. There is much energy evident through their service to others.

2)      Intentional planning and united goals permeate every service project that is adopted by the united ministry.

3)      Pastor loves and is highly invested in his schools.

4)      The wiki provides others with the opportunity to more carefully review concepts presented in the webinar.

5)      The webinar movies were difficult to hear and will be better viewed on the wiki.

6)      Some participants complained about sound quality. We might have some work to do on the sound.

I am thankful to the folks at Faith Community Lutheran Schools for being the first in our series of seven weekly webinars. There is much for us to consider as we reflect on their presentation. Next week (September 27) join us for our second webinar at  noon eastern time. It will feature the Best Practices of Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

If I were an Ed Exec...

I have fond memories of that old Fiddler on the Roof song, “If I Were a Rich Man.” In the song Tevye opines about how his life would be different if he had scads of money. All day long he’d biddy biddy bum. District Education Executives have little time for biddy bumming. But, if I were an Ed Exec I’d biddy biddy bum myself right over to Lutheran schools in my district who are experiencing transitions in leadership and assist them using NLSA!

I’ve never been an Ed Exec but recently I have found myself wishfully wondering, if I were, how would I help my schools?  So many schools struggle with leadership transition. Some of our greatest leadership challenges, relate directly to the new school leader’s ability to determine how what has happened in the past might shape a direction for the school’s future. NLSA can help with that!

If I were an Ed Exec I think I would biddy biddy bum myself right on over to the school with the NLSA cumulative annual report in hand. If accurately completed by the previous administrator, the CAR helps the new leader quickly understand specific problems faced by the school, how they were dealt with, and what remains to be completed. A well-done CAR will even define who is responsible for actions and when they are scheduled to be addressed and completed. In fact, a CAR can take the mystery out of leadership transition and allow school improvement actions to flow, without interruption, from one leader to a successor. If the staff has been intricately involved with the reporting process the school should continue to move forward. It is NLSA’s intentional have all staff members intricately involved with the school accreditation process.

Over and over again NLSA works with Lutheran schools experiencing challenges and requesting application extensions. This is most often associated with leadership succession. School personal engaged properly with a dynamic, ongoing  accreditation process can help avoid many problems. And district leaders can hold schools accountable using the NLSA process. So if I were an Ed Exec…

First Webinar - Faith Lutheran Preschool & Academy

The first in a series of NLSA Best Practice Webinars will be held for one hour on Tuesday, September 20, beginning at 1PM Eastern Time. Login to the webinars on the public page of the Lutheran School Portal http://www.lsportal.net/ It is not necessary to register in advance for these events.

Please see the complete description of the webinar  below prepared by Principal, Jerry Reinertson.

Faith Lutheran Preschool & Academy

Las Vegas, NV

Webinar – September 20 @ 1PM Eastern time.

 Faith Lutheran Preschool & Academy will share the best Lutheran practice of being “One Faith” – Christ-centered and service-driven.  Note:  We are never more like Jesus than when we serve others.  And we are never more united as a ministry than when we serve others.  At Faith Community Lutheran Church and Schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, we are one ministry with one mission—“Inviting others to know Jesus”.  And our belief is that the best way to carry out our mission is to work together in serving others, so we can share the love of Christ both in word and deed.

Every time people on our campus pass by our mission wall in the Narthex, they are reminded that we have been called by Christ to be His witnesses in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth.  That calling from Jesus in Acts 1:8 is what guides us as a local ministry to have a global vision that is Christ-centered and service-driven.  That way, by God’s grace, we can equip God’s children to transform this world for eternity.  We will talk about our ministry being very intentional.

The preschool and Academy integrate Christ-centered and service-driven into every aspect of our  curriculum including chapel and academics using technology as a significant tool to empower our students to transform the world for eternity.     

Executive Committee Meets in Lincoln

The NLSA Executive committee is meeting at Faith Lutheran School in Lincoln, NE. Agenda items for the meeting includes:  Annual calendar, Strategic Planning, Accreditation partnerships, Review of items on the 2011-12 CD,

Those Pesky Required Attachments and Documentation

Getting ready for conducting an NLSA self study process can be an overwhelming task for the school accreditation leader. Apart from the extensive self-study process, NLSA requires the accredited school to present a list of artifacts and documentation almost as long as your arm. Most of these documents are already present in good Lutheran schools but your process requires that the school take a look, update and ensure that everything exists and is in good working order.

Schools often get into trouble when the documents are not present or they are poorly prepared, lacking essential elements. This year, 14 schools were provisionally accredited. Most were lacking documentation and artifacts required by NLSA.

In order to ensure success for your school in its accreditation process, refer to the list of Required Attachments and Exhibits section at the end of the self study document. Make certain that everything is present before your start your self-study process.  Or better yet, before you begin your accreditation process, get your hands on a copy of the “NLSA Checklist: Getting Ready for Accreditation.” Review the items on the checklist to ensure that everything is present and in order. The Getting Ready checklist can be found on the NLSA tab located on the Lutheran School Portal. http://www.lsportal.net/

No matter if your school is seeking accreditation for the very first time or if it is working to re-accreditation, the required attachments and exhibits are an expectation for accreditation. When they are not present your accreditation process is at risk.

Archived Webinars

All of the NLSA Best Practice webinars will be recorded and archived on the NLSA tab of the Lutheran School Portal. They will be retrievable for portal subscribers at their convenience. There is an interactive advantage to attending the live webinar but we understand that schedules do not permit everyone to attend at the scheduled time.

Last year, on more than one occasion, groups of school leaders met during the live webinar and discussed the implications of Best Practices shared for their schools.  This is an excellent way to get the most from the concepts that are shared by exemplary school leaders.  We welcome the attendance and participation of those who participate in the live event and those viewing the archived webinars.

A Word or Two about NLSA Consultants

A word or two about consulting….NLSA school accreditation consultants play a critical role in a school’s pursuit of accreditation. The consultant focuses all of his/her effort on the school, its accreditation process and a successful conclusion. Consultants stand alongside of the school throughout its self-study process; encouraging, reviewing, making suggestions and ensuring success. The NLSA consultant is the school’s advocate and is totally committed to a successful completion of a process.

Consulting is a two way street. Most NLSA consultants have a full-time job that consumes the majority of the time and effort. Therefore much of the initiation relating to the consultant-school conversations begins from the side of the school working through its process. It is the school accreditation leader’s job to ask questions, submit drafts for review and carefully consider every suggestion presented by the consultant. Since an assigned consultant is an NLSA “expert” with a proven track record and much practical experience, a school that does not consult,is placing its accreditation process at risk.

NLSA is unique in providing an experienced accreditation consultant to work alongside of the school throughout the process. Consultants are eager and willing participants. But the school must initiate contact.  Don’t delay.  Contact your consultant and CONSULT, CONSULT, CONSULT!

2011 NLSA Best Practice Webinars

2011 Schedule for NLSA Best Practice Webinars

September 20 – Faith Community Lutheran Schools, Las Vegas, NV

“Inviting others to know Jesus” describes the ways that Faith church and its school cooperate together to serve the needy in the community thereby effectively sharing the love of Christ in word and deed. This webinar shares specific intentional ideas for creating a seamless church- school Ministry that is focused on service and outreach.

September 27 – Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy, Broken Arrow, OK

Immanuel has been described by parents as a school of “second chances.” ILCA will share a variety of unique practices that integrate technology and create learning environments that allow students of all learning styles and capabilities multiple opportunities to practice and master skills. 

October 4 - West Portal Lutheran School, San Francisco, CA

WPLS will share information about their Partners in Faith program where Church and School come together to share our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with our non-churched families.  In addition, they will present how they prepare students for their unique and challenging High School application process.  

October 11 – St John Lutheran School, Ellisville, MO

St. John Lutheran School is focused on integrating a wide variety of best practices into our educational program in order to build an instructional foundation on 21^st century skills.  The webinar featuring the school’s best practices will include overviews about Literature Circles, Daily Five, Project  Construct, Block Scheduling, Weekly Meeting times and how technology is integrated into every aspect of student learning.

October 18 – Trinity Lutheran School, Waconia, MN

Trinity will share how it uses MAPS (Measure of Academic Progress)Testing to establishes a student’s precise instructional level, and prescribes specific areas of focus on for academic growth. They will also describe a unique process of intergenerational learning and how it connects students in meaningful ways with senior citizens from the community.

October 25 - Concordia University Early Childhood Education Center, River Forest, IL  

CUECEC is NLSA’s first exemplary stand-alone preschool. Their webinar will feature a variety of developmentally appropriate practices that enhance the learning environment of their students and make their school a” School of Choice” in their community.

November 1 – Saint Paul Lutheran High School, Concordia, MO

SPLHS will  share specific strategies for integration that include Peer Ministry Training (PMT), English Language Development (ELD) classes, international travel for domestic students, athletic and academic teams, and intentionality in social integration from mealtimes to residential hall life. 

NLSA Best Practice Webinars will be held for one hour beginning at 1PM Eastern Time. Login to the webinars on the public page of the Lutheran School Portal http://www.lsportal.net/ It is not necessary to pre-register for these events.  Participation will be limited to the first 100 people who enter the viewing room.

Executive Committee Meets

On September 13 & 14, the NLSA Executive Committee will meet at Faith Lutheran School iin Lincoln, Nebraska. Committee members are: Stuart Tietz (Chair), Trip Rodgers (Chair-elect) Dawn Oldenettal (secretary), Terry Schmidt (Director).

First Try

This would be my very first attempt at blogging. It's trial and error.