It’s the fourth day of the 2009-2010 school year.  Though I haven’t blogged since June, the well-oiled machine we call Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School is up and running on all cylinders. We welcomed a record 1327 students on Monday to begin our 31st academic year.  What a phenomenal blessing from God in such tough and uncertain economic times.  It’s clear that parents in the Valley place a high value on the Faith Lutheran experience as they partner with us to give their children the best Christian education possible.

Our school is constantly improving. Our freshmen students are the recipients of our inaugural 1:1 laptop computer program. Each of them received a new Macbook, and as I walk into their classrooms, I already see them being used extensively.

The track has been resurfaced; new lights have been installed in the gym and student center; our outdoor basketball courts have been converted to gorgeous tennis courts for our teams; the weight room expansion is complete and has been furnished with new, state-of-the-art equipment; the campus is now completely enclosed with decorative wrought iron fencing making our campus even safer and more secure.

We are pleased to welcome our new teachers: Rachel Rickman (MS math), Sam Seefeld (HS Theology), Lauren Martin (HS/MS Science), Laura Schumacher (MS Art), Steve Morrill (HS Science and Theology), Paul Pullmann (6th grade), Haley Wheat (HS Spanish), and Karen Jorgensen (HS Math). Each of these men and women brings tremendous teaching skills and great passion to our already awesome faculty. As leaders, we always pray that God will lead outstanding Christian educators to join our ministry, and I stand in amazement to His resounding answer this year in these folks. We also welcome back Bonnie Nelson (guidance counselor) and Maria Castens (MS Math). Great to have them with us again!

So, here we go again.  Another year of thinking and learning and creating and running and playing and acting and singing and dancing and teaching and engaging and understanding and laughing and studying and collaborating and designing and painting and drawing and presenting and sharing and explaining and reading and writing and developing and basking- in the glow of God’s grace.  I can’t wait!