PSD School Ministries
Connections
December 4, 2019
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2
 
I really love being with kids. They are so amazing because they get amazed at so many little things! "Look at this huge leaf!" "Daddy, may I bring this pinecone home? It's a seed, you know." And the riddles and jokes they laugh at are silly, like, "Did you know why Santa's helper was feeling a little depressed? He had low elf esteem!" and "Did you know a raisin is a grape with a sunburn?"
 
Amazing, isn't it, how amazing kids are – as well as the adults who hang on to their amazement all through life ? Advent is a time for amazement ! We ambassadors of Advent continue to sense the amazing grace of God's love for us, especially through Scriptures like Isaiah 9:1-7. We, too, are people who walk in darkness because of sin, and we too have "seen a great light" - Jesus Christ! This Child has been born for us. God's Son has been given to us...as a gift! It has nothing whatsoever to do with what we have done or should have done or had better get done! It's not about us; it's about HIM, Jesus Christ! Amazing , indeed!
 
Amazed means filled with wonder . Join together in singing the familiar Christmas carol refrain, "And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love."
 
Lord, you are such an amazing God, to love us so much that you sent Jesus to earth for us. Help us never to lose this amazing message of joy and forgiveness in You. Help us to see the amazing WONDER of Christmas, the Christ Child, in a new and amazing light. Help us to be like little kids again, who laugh and play and trust, because you are the Trusted One. Thanks for making us ambassadors of Advent - ambassadors of amazement! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Spotlight on Our Schools
Please join us in praying and thanking God for the following schools this week:

Abiding Savior Lutheran School and Preschool, Lake Forest, CA
Grace Lutheran School and Preschool, Lancaster, CA
Circle of Love Lutheran Preschool, Manhattan Beach, CA

Below are photos from Abiding Savior Lutheran School and Preschool, Lake Forest, CA :
Decorating Operation Christmas Child boxes
Pastor Glenn baptizing school children
Faculty dressed as the Pacman Game for Halloween
Preschool children having music class in the church - practicing for their Christmas Program on December 11.
Abiding Savior Preschool participated in Operation Christmas Child this year - pictured above is the Pre-K class.
Abiding Savior congregation members "adopted" preschool students this year and purchased "The Story Bible" for each child. Pictured above is a 2-year-old students holding his special book.
Below are photos from Grace Lutheran School and Preschool,
Lancaster, CA:
Learning about pumpkins.
Playing in the Fall leaves - learning, too!
Some Fall fun on Halloween!
Below are photos from Circle of Love Lutheran Preschool,
Manhattan Beach, CA:
The Beginners Room in front of the altar filled with food donations!
A "Mad Scientist" came to visit!
The Manhattan Beach Fire Department came to teach students
about fire safety!
LEC 2019 Wrap Up


Thank you again to all who attended this year’s LEC! We pray that you were Spiritually Charged !




LEC EVALUATION
Thank you to those who have already completed the evaluation. When you complete an evaluation, you will be entered into a drawing for a gift card! Please click on this link to be directed to the LEC 2019 evaluation.

SESSION HANDOUTS
Click here for the link to the Google folder with the handouts from sessions!

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION
If you need a Certificate of Participation, please email your request to kim.violette@psd-lcms.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP OFFERING
Thank you to all who generously gave to the Grantparent Mission Project through your offering at Sunday’s worship service. A total of $2,939.28 will go toward providing tuition assistance for five students. What a blessing!

THANKOFFERING
Thank you to all who generously gave to the Thankoffering at Monday evening's banquet. A total of $3,315.44 will go toward children of PSD church workers pursuing church work degrees at one of our Concordias.

LEC PHOTOS
Check out our album of LEC photos on our Facebook page. Many of these were submitted through the School Ministries app. Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to share photos, email anna.preus@psd-lcms.org or upload them on the PSD School Ministries app!
2019 Educators of the Year
Congratulations to the four PSD Educators of the Year for 2019! They were honored at the LEC opening worship service. The Educators of the Year, from left to right, are:    

Mrs. Jaci Gloss, Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran Preschool, Gilbert, AZ
Early Childhood Educator of the Year

Mrs. Shelly Surridge, Salem Lutheran School, Orange, CA
Elementary Educator of the Year

Dr. Jake Hollatz, St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange, CA
Administrator of the Year

Mr. Daniel Cattau, Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School, Las Vegas, NV
Jr./Sr. High School Educator of the Year
PSD 2020 All Workers Conference
Announcing the 2020 PSD All Workers Conference, November 22-24, back at the beautiful Marriott Desert Springs Resort. The theme is based on
2 Corinthians 5:7, “Walk by Faith.” This All Workers Conference will be held in 2020 only. If we determine that the conference is a WIN-WIN-WIN, then we will consider doing it with all church workers every three years, but it will not be every year, nor will the program be watered down in 2020! It will just be different – focusing on ministry, leadership (everyone a leader in their classroom, in the gym, on the field, from the pulpit, with the youth, etc.) and carrying out Christ’s mission! We are looking to get some pretty big name speakers, too! SO – please make sure that you are budgeting NOW to attend!
10th Annual PSD Service Day a Success!
Thank you to all our schools who participated in our 10th Annual PSD Service Day ! Praise God for the hearts of service of our students and educators! Praise God for the impact our Lutheran schools are making in our communities!

Our  School Ministries Facebook page  now has a photo album of all the Service Day photos that have been submitted to us thus far. Click here  to view it! If you'd like to add your school's photos to the album, please email Anna at  anna.preus@psd-lcms.org . Don't forget to like our Facebook page, too!

Pictured below are students at Emmaus Lutheran School, Alhambra, CA , on Service Day. Students provided 120 lunches and 120 breakfasts for their neighboring school.
December Devotion on Website
The December devotion is now up on our website. It is written by Pastor Timothy Unke, campus pastor and theology department chair at Crean Lutheran High School, Irvine, CA. Click here to read it! Thank you, Tim, for reminding us that "Only God could have thought of Christmas."
PSD Special Programs
We are continuing to highlight PSD schools with dedicated resource programs. This month we are sharing about Orange Lutheran High School. We will continue to share our schools' resource programs as the year goes on!
The Orange Lutheran High School Department of Special Programs and Services (DSPS) meets the needs of students with identified learning disabilities and other special instructional requirements, including some medical needs, by fostering academic growth through reasonable accommodations in curriculum and classroom expectations. It is a support program for both students and parents, not a resource program, and as such, does not offer therapy, tutoring, or curriculum modifications. Courses in the DSPS Program help students reach their graduation goals through accommodations in reading level, research expectations, and note-taking requirements. Upon graduation, it is the desire of the DSPS program for each student to be able to embrace how they learn, utilize the tools they need to be successful, and be able to self-advocate.
 
The DSPS program is divided into two levels of academic support. Comprehensive Student Services are for students who have an identified disability that requires additional support outside of the regular classroom setting, in an environment with a reduced teacher/student ratio. Foundational Student Services are for students who have an identified disability that can be supported within the regular classroom environment through limited/reasonable accommodations including extra time on tests outside of class time.

Orange Lutheran's DSPS faculty are passionate about sharing Christ, partnering with parents, and serving each student to meet their individual needs and helping them feel prepared for the future, no matter what challenges they may face. For more information, please visit lhsoc.org/dsps .
2020 Children & Family Ministry Conference
Join us for the Children & Family Ministry Conference June 16-18, 2020, on the campus of Concordia University Irvine and hear from keynote speaker David Kinnaman of the Barna Group and others on the theme of "Rally Together." 
 
Early Registration: $110 - Deadline: March 2, 2020
Early Group Rate (4+): $90 - Deadline: March 2, 2020
Late Registration: $140 - Deadline: June 2, 2020
 
Housing is available at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, John Wayne Airport as well as on the Concordia University campus.
 
Hotel Rates: King (1-2 per room) - $119/night; Double (2-4 per room) - $129/night
CUI Rates: Double Occupancy - $45 for 2 nights; Single Occupancy - $65 for 2 nights (No air conditioning in dorms)
 
For more information and to register starting November 25, 2019, click here .

Thank you to the 26 people who already registered for the conference at LEC and got the special deal! Register today!
TEC21 News
Have you thought about sending a teacher or two through the TEC21 Workshop Program in the 2020/2021 school year? Season 12 will be an exciting one and registration is right around the corner! There is nothing quite like the TEC21 experience to train, equip, encourage, and support teachers to effectively integrate technology to enrich the teaching and learning in their classrooms. 

Registration at 34 Innovation Centers - 4 right here in the PSD - opens January 2, 2020! Now is the time to talk to your teachers and start conversations about TEC21. Cohorts cap at 10 teachers and seats fill up quickly so start your conversations soon!

Contact Brent Dieckhoff at brent@tec21connect.com with any questions you may have about the program. He will be happy to talk with you about how to receive District scholarship or title money to help pay for the registration and share how this innovative professional development program can positively impact your teachers and the students in their classrooms!
 
Register your teachers HERE !

Click here to download the TEC21 flyer.

Click here for the link to the PSD TEC21 scholarship application. The deadline is 3/1/20.
District Art Gallery
Thank you to Preschool Director Heather Chapman , teachers, and students at Trinity Lutheran Preschool, Litchfield Park, AZ, for sending artwork to display in the district office. The bright colors and various preschool projects have brought visitors and staff to stop by and take a look. Thank you for sharing your creativity!
Resources from LEA
For your Advent meditation… The Wait Might Be the Thing We’re Waiting For (Enuma Okoro in Faith & Leadership ).
Going shopping? Maybe parents should get this too. The Best Christmas Gift (David Smith in ChurchLeaders ).
Teacher Created Resources at Zion, Anaheim
Zion, Anaheim, CA, recently received a large donation of Teacher Created Resources that they would like to share with other schools. The items are available until they are gone or until Christmas Break, which begins Friday, December 20. After that, they will take any remaining items to a recycling center. Please contact Zion's office staff at office@zionanaheim.org or knagy@zionanaheim.org or call 714-535-3600 ext. 402 to arrange a time to come pick up your resources!
CAPSO Midweek E-Mailer
Click here to read the most recent CAPSO Midweek E-Mailer. In this issue:
  • New Laws on the Horizon
  • Scores Flat-to-Lower on "The Nation's Report Card"
  • And more
Lutheran Hour Ministries Float
Did you know that the Lutheran Hour Ministries float continues to be the only Christian float in the Tournament of Roses Parade?
 
This long-standing tradition is made possible by the Southern California District of the Lutheran Laymen's League, as well as the volunteers who bring the float to life.
 
In just a few weeks, the Petal Pushers ® will begin the process of turning a vision into reality for the 1/1/2020 Rose Parade!

In the public square t he Lutheran Hour Ministries float, entitled Anchored in Jesus , will be raising high the cross of Jesus in this time-honored event.
 
This will mark our 70 th year of witnessing the Gospel message in this way. You’ll note that Jesus is always kept at the fore.
 
Please click here to sign up to decorate Rose Parade floats. 
POLS Conference
We are excited to welcome the POLS Conference (Principals of Large Schools) to the Pacific Southwest District and specifically to Orange County January 15-17, 2020! This year, Early Childhood Directors are welcome to attend as well! If the enrollment of your school is 300 (combined preschool through eighth grade), your Preschool Directors and Principals are welcome to attend!  Please click here for more information and to register to attend. Let’s have a great PSD attendance for this national conference!
Prayer Requests
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 anna.preus@psd-lcms.org by noon on Wednesday of each week. This week we pray for:

  • 4-year-old Frankie H. (and family) of St. John's Preschool, El Segundo, whose mother, Gisela, passed away from a long battle with leukemia on November 20, 2019. We pray for peace and comfort in God's promise of eternal life for the family.
  • Wayne Dibos. Wayne was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has served over 35 years at First Good Shepherd, Las Vegas. Please join us in praying for Wayne's treatment for this cancer.
  • thanksgiving to God for a wonderful LEC and Service Day!
  • our schools during this Advent season. We pray that our hearts and minds are focused on the Christ Child during this busy time!

Schools we are praying for the week of December 8:
Bethany Lutheran School and Preschool, Long Beach, CA
St. John’s Lutheran Child Development Center, El Segundo, CA
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool/Kindergarten, Poway, CA
School Ministries, Pacific Southwest District-LCMS
1540 Concordia Drive East, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone 949-854-3232 | Fax 949-854-8140

Rachel Klitzing, Executive Director of School Ministries