At the beginning of March, the validation team from the National Lutheran Schools Association spent 3 days touring the school and interviewing leaders, teachers, students and parents to learn more about St. John’s and comparing what they saw with the reporting we submitted to be accredited. 

The team uses an objective analysis to review schools in the areas of: purpose, relationships, governance, professional personnel, student services, teaching and learning, and facilities. The team renewed St. John’s status as a fully accredited school and also highlighted FIVE outstanding school strengths. These are things that St. John’s was encouraged by the team to be very proud of!

The accreditation team recognized that:

The NEST has become a vibrant parent group that provides extracurricular activities, improved programming, and community involvement for the students and families.

•  NEST (Nurturing Eagles Support Team) is made up of teachers, parents and church members whose shared vision is creating fun activities that help the students and school to thrive! Anyone can join NEST to be an idea-person, to head up an event, or to small occasional tasks that assist the leadership. Volunteers can help anywhere from 1 to 10 hours a month, depending on what they want to give.

Respect and appreciation for the principal by the teachers; specifically, his openness and willingness to discuss issues and his thoughtful insight for problem solving.

• St. John’s is grateful for the blessing that is Greg Alberding stepping in to become the interim principal, while the school transitions and the leadership begins a call process to find a permanent principal with a Lutheran background. “Mr. A.” has done a wonderful job expanding on the school’s strengths, supporting the teachers, and preparing the school for an even stronger future. This fall will be Mr. A’s second school year at St. John’s.

Teachers exhibit a deep love and genuine care for students and a love for Christ-centered teaching.

• This may be the most important highlight made by the team – St. John’s strives to share the love of Jesus with every student, both in religion class and in the way they are cared for as they learn and grow here. St. John’s is blessed with wonderful teachers and staff that love Jesus and the students.

Security and safety infrastructure with the keypad system for both building and classroom entry.

• Many intentional improvements have been made to the school’s security system over the past few years, so it is great to hear from the accreditation team that this is something to celebrate. The security system has been designed both to ensure those who belong in the building have all the access that they need, and also to ensure that those who should not be in the building do not have access.

The lunch program works to meet the desires of the students while following federal guidelines.

• St. John’s is blessed with a hard-working team on the cafeteria staff who are led by Mrs. Lesa Hill. She works diligently to ensure the meals are both delicious and nutritious and is an integral part of the St. John’s school day.

Please join in praising God for the wonderful visit by the accreditation team, the ministry and influence that the school gets to have in the lives of the students, and for the teachers, staff and students who make up this wonderful family of St. John’s Eagles by keeping the school in your continued prayers!

Thank you to the board members, teachers, and staff who did so much work to prepare for this accreditation team, and especially Mrs. Angie Aquino who headed up the efforts.