Pastor's Page

Each weekend, Pastor Sailer provides a full-page letter to the congregation for inclusion in the weekly announcements. The Pastor's Page is used to inform and encourage in many areas of the Christian's life and the ministry of Faith Lutheran Church.

Pastor's Page for the Weekend of August 28 & 29, 2010:

A TERRIFIC START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR!
(And we have two very excited principals!)

School is off and running at all the public and parochial schools in Sioux Falls. And things are going very well at the schools we help to operate: Sioux Falls Lutheran School (PS – 8th grade) and Lutheran High School of Sioux Falls (grades 9 and 10).

Principal David Waterman at the high school reported to the parents of the five students enrolled in the school:

"From my perspective, this is the best opening week of school in the 30+ years that I have worked with Lutheran High Schools. These five students are a joy to work with. They are active participants in the learning process, involve themselves in class discussions, and are getting to know each other fairly quickly. They are willing to speak about their faith. While not all of our textbooks are in yet, our teaching staff has been effective in assessing where students are currently at."

Tia Esser, Interim Administrator at the elementary school, gave this assessment of how things are going there:

"We are doing AMAZING things here, things I had no idea about, and I’m guessing things you perhaps don’t know either. So here goes—Did you know that

• our preschool staff’s unique “learning through play” curriculum is one of the most effective ways in which to develop the toddler’s brain for future learning?
• we have one of the only pre-Kindergarten (Fantastic Five’s) programs in Sioux Falls? And that moreover, this program’s curriculum is designed specifically to give younger 5 year-olds more confidence and leadership skills in preparation for future schooling and life?
• at our Lord of Life preschool location, we have 2-day, 3-day, 5-day, full and half day options?
• our Kindergarten teacher, Jennifer Noble, is wildly creative, enthusiastic, and fun?
• we have an average class size of 15 in grades K-8?
• our standardized test scores are consistently higher than state and city averages?
• our amazing lower elementary teachers’ combined years of experience tops 100?
• we have the only full elementary and middle school percussion curriculum in Sioux Falls, and that we offer private music lessons, on-site and during the school day?
• we teach Spanish to all students, K – 8th?
• we have a middle school team whose goal is to provide the best middle school experience available?
• tuition is affordable?"

Wow! Isn’t God great! Our schools are wonderful gifts from Him to us. We are blessed.

Continue to keep the students, faculty and staff of Sioux Falls Lutheran School and Lutheran High School of Sioux Falls in your prayers And consider enrolling your children in these schools. If the tuition payments are a concern to you, talk to me. We can help!