Rejoicing in the Journey

“This is the school that the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

This customized 2nd verse of the children’s bible song “This is the Day” was sung in chapel this morning, one side of the room echoing the other. Singing it that way seemed to challenge us to remind one another that it was important we not forget that vital truth as we move into a new week of living and learning by faith. With my head full of many details and complex planning situations, I was grateful to be so simply reminded that the sum total of what happens here in our school is not entirely dependent on just us. God provides, God leads, and we pray God delights in what happens at LCES each day.

Much like the Israelites who focused on a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, we trust that our
measured and carefully calculated steps of planning are directing our pathway from a posture of obedience rather than arrogance. We can do nothing without God’s care and provision and are immensely grateful for what we experience here at LCES each day: a group of students and adults delighting in discovery and learning, in awe of our world and God as its Creator.

Our path is not always a level plain. School leadership is presently working through fiscal realities that are challenging in that enrollment numbers are becoming increasing challenging to predict accurately. We want to offer excellent Christian education, which has costs, and yet also keep it as accessible as possible to parents. All of these matters impact staffing, what we can include in our student program, and making strategic next steps toward our future.

As our capital campaign’s name boldly states, our future is bright. Challenge creates opportunity to-
day, much the same way it did when the founders of our school dared to push against many obstacles
to see a new venture begin – a Christian day school where Christ is King and all truth is God’s truth.

Indeed, let us rejoice in be glad in it. This is the school the Lord has made. SJ

Mini-rulers and Creation Care: Compelled to Action

“Rule over fish in the sea and birds in the sky and over the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28








For teachers, there are moments of great joy when their teaching evokes a very immediate and authentic response from the students they teach. Being so close to students and their growing understanding of God`s world is a privileged space to inhabit; we see God’s world in such clarity through their discovery of things so fresh and new to them.

Last Friday our JK class was learning about the reality that some animals are, or soon will be, extinct. Ms.Hessel shared possible reasons for this happening. Specific mention was made of man-made plastics and other garbage that animals eat that harm them. Indignant at this very sad prospect and without hesitation they said that if this was the case they needed to go outside “right now” and
clean up the garbage outside on our school property. “We’re going outside to clean up our world!” they shouted in unison as they marched out the door. They chose the response to the information they had learned, and their enthusiasm to complete the cleanup showed their commitment. Within 30 minutes they had three bags of garbage and recycling.

Both the wonder at (and responsibility for) creation was felt very viscerally by these students in ways that immediately connected knowing with doing. This is a way of showing biblical wisdom that we pray develops into life-long habits of faithful living, a worldview grounded in God’s word, and an engagement with God’s world that helps to renew creation.

May we continue to have the fresh eyes and quick-to-action attitude our youngest learners model for us. SJ

Technology in a Christian School: Faithfulness in Exploring

30 years ago a box showed up in my boyhood home, with the intent that my brother and I might benefit from the exposure to something quite new – a simple home computer (pictured here). Later, as a grade nine student, my father challenged me to learn to properly type a certain number of words per minute, with a promise that a specific demonstrated speed would mean he would help me purchase a computer of my own. I believe that both of these decisions were based on a strong belief that the use of technology, specifically a computer, would likely be a very key part of our future and there would be great wisdom in ensuring that we were confident and proficient on this new horizon. Many times in my life I have appreciated the fortitude of those strategic parental decisions.

As principal I’m often asked by potential new LCES parents or simply others who are interested to know what our approach is to technology as part of learning. It is worth noting a few things about this question.

The quick association of technology in learning as being about computers, tablets, chromebooks pro-
jectors, and more is understandable, but we are wiser to realize that everything from scissors to pencil crayons and whiteboards to ball point pens are technology. We know that all of God’s world belongs to him, and all of it can be used in faithfulness or disobedience. Technology doesn’t live outside that
truth. Ours is the task of sorting out the difference and being intentional about choosing wisely.

Technology of any kind will never replace the value of excellent teaching. The presence of technology alone in a classroom or school doesn’t indicate students will learn any better or be any smarter. The value of a skilled and committed teacher who is able to match learning methods well with student’s abilities, interests, and development is as essential as always. Technology may be part of that picture.

These two matters understood, we do know that technology will be a part of children’s future and we
want to prepare them well for its opportunities and challenges. Our staff and teachers are able to do
things they would not otherwise be able to do with technology and we certainly are excited about many developments in the last number of years at LCES in this area. It is already exciting to consider some of the ways our students collaborate, investigate, and create in the digital platform they have available to them.

Our staff has constructed a document called “LCES E-Device Guidelines” that sets us out some clear
parameters for how we collectively as students, teachers, administration, and parents can work together with clarity. I encourage you to take a look if you have not already. SJ

Pacing With Our Students: What They Need to Hear

“Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story” Josh Shipp

A favorite author of my mine described purposefully guiding and leading adolescents with a beautiful image of pacing alongside a child at a pace set by the child, not the adult, on a spring walk. “Pacing
requires me to listen to the heart of an adolescent, seeing beyond words and behaviors. Pacing takes
time. Pacing is not the easy road. Pacing builds trust.” Adults can often struggle to understand the reality of their children, perhaps because of time, or because of the very different adolescent experiences of today don’t overlap well with their own.

A culture of care at LCES is something I’m grateful for. I watch with great appreciation as all our LCES staff - office admin, teachers, bus drivers, EA and more - work together to create a fabric of support and love for our students. We know God made them, God loves them, and has a specific purpose for them. We have the privilege of being alongside them as we watch God at work in them.

I saw the following list recently of things that every child needs to hear often. I like the challenge in
them to be so deliberate in how we support our future leaders.

I’m sorry

I forgive you. 

I’m listening

This is your responsibility.

You‘ve got what it takes. 

I’m proud of you. 

I love you. 


It also sounds like a list of things that God also tells us to live by through His word. SJ