Tough questions, easy answers - Lutheran Special School ... · Lutheran Special School &...

Lutheran Special School & Education

Services9700 W. Grantosa DriveMilwaukee, WI 53222

P/414-461-8500F/414-461-4930

www.LSSES.org

Centered in Christ, Lutheran Special School and Education Services prepares students with unique learning challenges to maximize their God-given spiritual, academic, emotional, and social potential.

Our mission:

How is your building campaign going? How much money have you gotten in? What are your plans for next year? Asa teacher I amusually theoneasking thequestions. But for thepast sixmonthsitseemsIamtheonebeingquizzedfrequentlyaboutourbuildingcampaignandplans toconstructanewspecialeducationfacility.And,insomeways,theanswerstothesequestionsareeasy: So…Howisthecampaigngoing?ANSWER: According to God’s plan:“For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jeremiah29:11). The prayer of our LSSES Boardandstaffhasalwaysbeen thatGodwoulddirect this building project according toHiswill.Weknow that our need is great.Considerthis:ifthelearningandemotionalissues our children are facing aren’t dealtwithwhiletheyareschool-aged,therewillbegreater implicationsonourwidercom-munity. I’msurethatpeoplewhoaskaboutthe campaign would like to hear that themoney is coming in quickly and in largeamounts.Insomewaysthecampaignisgo-ingbeyondourexpectations.Wearehum-bledbythesacrificialgiftswehavereceivedfrom long time donors and from new do-nors.Peoplehavegivenstretchgifts,aboveandbeyondtheirusuallevelofgiving,peo-plehavecashedinstocktogiveussizeablegifts,newdonorshavepledged3-yeargifts

Tough questions, easy answers... By: Judy Schultz

in the thousands of dollars range, andwehavehadindividualsandschoolsfromoutofstatecontactusaboutgivingagift.Yet,in order tomeet our goal of $5.6million,westillneedalotmore,andwecontinuetoreachout,evenbeyondourLutherancom-munity,forhelpandsupport. About 80% of our children arenon-Lutheran/un-churched.Manyofthemcomeoutofpublicschoolprogramsbecausetheir parentswant the faith-based, values-instilled, safe and innovative environmentweprovide(theonlysuchalternativetothepublic school special edprogram). ThesechildrencomefromnotonlythecityofMil-waukee,butfromthesuburbsandneighbor-ingtownsaswell. Howmuchmoneyhaveyougot-ten in? ANSWER: Not enough…yet.:“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:19). I havebeenaskedifIthoughtitwasreallypossi-bleforustoraise$5.6milliondollars.Myanswertothatquestionis,“Wehaveprayedaboutthisprojectforalmost8years,webe-lievethisiswhatwearebeingcalledtodo,andwhoarewetolimitGodandwhatHeiscapableofdoing…inHistime?”

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Lutheran Special School & Education Services • www.LSSES.org

LSSES Faculty and Staff Principal/Administrator – Judy Schultz Self-contained Classroom Teachers – Nancy Spitzack, Jenny Clemens Resource Room Teachers – Jill Bell, Kim Gruber, Jordan Iberl, Leah Armstrong Teacher Consultants – Jenny Stollenwerk, Sharon Atkinson Social Worker – Darlene Klenz Art Therapist – Alicia Starr Visual Arts Consultant – Dr. William Chandler Visual Arts Coordinator – Benjamin Chandler Director of Donor Relations – Al Kahlfeldt Director of Communications – Amy Schultz Administrative Assistants – Karen Schultz, Linda Osterlie Board of Directors Paul Haut – Chairman Matthew Burow Dr. William Chandler Jeff Garretson Lanetta Greer Rev. Donald Hougard David Koopman Joseph Kopinski Gene Ladendorf Rev. Wayne Rasmussen Jim Schneider Michael Taylor Mary Beth Terhaar Ryan Van Den Elzen Judith Zellmer

Partner Schools Mt. Calvary Lutheran – Milwaukee Our Redeemer Lutheran – Wauwatosa St. John’s Lutheran – Glendale Mt. Olive – Milwaukee Divine Redeemer St. Peter-Immanuel Immanuel – Brookfield Zion – Menomonee Falls Milwaukee Lutheran High School LSSES is a tax-exempt organization operating independently from the South WI District and any congregation. We rely on donations, grants, and fees to fund our programs.

www.LSSES.org

Ihavebeentoldthat thehardestgift toget is thefirstbigone(i.e.six-figuresormore)….anditis!Apparently,everyonewaitstoseewhowillstepfor-wardfirst,wantingtomakesurethewholeprojectgoesahead.Whilewehavereceivedsomesizeablegifts/pledgesfromindividualsandcongregations,aswellasamatchinggrantof$1.5million,wearestillalongwayoffofthe$2milliondollaramountneededjusttobeabletoputtheshovelintheground.Individualsandfoundationshaveverballycommittedtosix-figuregifts,butarewaitingforsomeoneelsetobefirst. Andwhilewearewaiting,soaretheparentswhowanttheirchildreninourprogram.BetweenFebruaryandtheendofSeptemberwehavehadover125inquiriesforplacementforthiscurrentschoolyear!Thereisnoshortageofchil-drenwhoneedourprograms,justashortageofspaceandthemoneyneededtoprovidethespace. Whatareyourplansfornextyear?ANSWER:We’llseewhereGodleads. “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew6:26).WehavebeengivenwordbyColeBraun,CEOof theLutheranHighSchoolAssociationofGreaterMilwaukee(LHSAGM), that thiswillbeourlastyearrentingspaceinMilwaukeeLutheranHighSchoolduetopro-jectedgrowthintheirenrollment.Theyneedourspace.Wehavebeentoldthatifwehad$2million(enoughtobeginbuildingbyJune)bythebeginningofJanuary2017,MLHSwouldallowustostayinourcurrentspaceuntilJanuary2018whenwecouldmoveintoournewbuilding.Thisisdefinitelyourprayer. Inthemeantimeweareoperatinginastateofurgencyasweexploreallpossibleoptions,trustingthatGodwillprovideaplaceforthesechildren.Yes,thecampaignisgoingaccordingtoplan–thedivineplanthatseesbeyondourvision.

If you would like to provide a gift designated to our building campaign, please indicate so on your check - or include a written note.

Whatwechoosetoweareachdaysaysalotaboutwhoweare.Butthatislessaboutfashionandapparelandmoreabouthowwewakeupeachdayandwhatweselectoutofourwardrobeofpossibilities.Ouroutwardappearancereflectswhatwewanttoportraywithinourselves. Withthatinmind,thisyeartheself-containedclassroomstudentsarefocusingonthethemeof“ClotheYourselves”inreferencetoColossians3:12whichsuggestsputtingontheChristianattributesofcompassion,kindness,humility,gentleness,andpatiencewiththesamemindfulnessasgettingdressedinthemorning.WetalkabouttheseChristianattributesineverysubjectweteachandhowtoapplythemineverydaylife.Throughouttheyearwithfieldtripsandclassroomactivitiesthestudentswilllearnaboutfashionandcloth-ingastheyprepareforaculminatingclassroomproject–unveilingtheirartwithafashionshow.TheyvisitedahatshopinMilwaukeethatcreateshatsandapparelforstageproductions.Theywillvisitacobblertoseehowshoesaremade.Theywilllearntheartofmakingjewelry.Theywillalsodiscussclothinginothercultures,thenaturebehindcertainfabrics,anddressingwithmodesty.TheyearwillweavealltheseactivitiestogetherandimpressuponourkidstheimportanceofChristiancharacterinourappearance.

So what are you WEARING today?

Lutheran Special School & Education Services • www.LSSES.org

Chandler goes the distance“Thatmusthavebeenalongtrip!” IwasshowingthedistancebetweenSlovakiaandWisconsinonaglobe,andthiswasthecommentoneofmystudentsmade.Shewasright.IhadbeenteachingEnglishataLutheranschoolinthecentralEuropeancountryforfiveyears,andnowthatI’dreturnedtotheU.S.thecultureshockwassettlingin.Iconsideredmyselfreadyfortherampantcommercialism,junkfood,car-dependency,andthenationalillsemphasizedbyaparticularlycontentiouselectionseason.WhatIwasn’treadyforwasthatmynewstudentshereinthestatesactuallyunderstood my language.Punsworked.Icouldusewordswithmorethantwosyllables.Ididn’tneedtospeakvery,veryslowly.ThekidsaskedmequestionsinEnglish,answeredinEnglish,spokeandjokedandsangwitheachotherinEnglish.Andyet,althoughwesharethatsamelinguisticfoundation,challengeslieahead,excitingchallenges,thekindsofchallengesallteachersfacenomatterwherethey’reteaching:howtomakelearningexciting,howtoencouragecriticalthink-ing,howtofacilitatecreativeexpression.ThisismyjobasLSSES’snewvisualartscoordinator.Integratingthevisualartsintoothersubjects—math,science,socialstudies—allowsthestudentstoorganize,evaluate,andinterpretthesubjectmatterinwaysthatgobeyondworksheetsandwrittenreports.Thereismuchtodo,andIamexcitedtobeapartofit.Christ’scommandstoserveandloveoneanothercrossbothlinguisticbarriersandopenings.

IhavehadtheprivilegeoftakingontheresponsibilitiesasaTeacherConsultantforLSSESthisyear.Myroleallowsmetovisitareaschoolsandhelpwiththeoveralleducationalplanforstu-dentswhoneedindividualizingintheclassroom.Iteststudentswhoarestrugglingandstudentswhoseemtohaveahigherlevelofabilityincertainsubjects.Then,Imeetwithteachers,princi-pals,andparentstofindthebestcourseofactiontohelpthestudentsucceed. OneinsightthatIhavegainedfrommyexperiencesisthatItrulyloveChristianeducation.WhenIenteraschoolandfeeltheenergyandenthusiasmofstudentsandteachers,itreinforcesmyappreciationforeducatingGod’schildren.WhenIseetheloveofJesusbeingsharedinso

manyareasofaschoolday,itshowsmehowimportantthesevaluesareinthelivesofchildrenandtheirfamilies.TheworkoftheLordisevidentandimminentinclassroomsallovertheareaandIappreciatebeinginvolvedinthat! Ihavealsoseenthegoodthatcanbedoneinhelpingstudentsrecognizetheirstrengthsand

weaknesses.Studentswithlearningchallengesoftentakeanegativeviewofschoolandanegativeviewofthemselves.Iamabletousemyone-on-onetimewiththemtoshowthemallthethingstheyarecapableofandwhatsuccessestheycanfindinlife.ItishelpfultostudentswhenIcanshowthemanareaofconcern,addresstheissue,andletthemknowitdoesn’tdefinewhotheyare.IlookforwardtoallexperiencesinstoreformetohelpourstudentsmaximizetheirtruepotentialaschildrenofGod.

Stollenwerk shares insights

Benjamin Chandler works with kids in his role as Visual Arts Coordinator.

Jenny Stollenwerk serves as Teacher Consultant for LSSES.

National School Lunch Program implemented at LSSES ThissummertheadministrativestaffofLSSESworkedmanyhoursresearching,trainingfor,andimplementingtheNationalSchoolLunchProgram(NSLP)forourchildrenintheself-containedclassrooms.TheNSLPisafederallyassistedmealprogramoperatinginpublicandnonprofitprivateschoolsandresidentialchildcareinstitutions.Itprovidesnutritionallybalanced,low-costorfreelunchestoschoolchildrenwhoqualify.ThroughapartnershipwiththeMil-waukeeCenterforIndependence(MCFI),ourself-containedclassroomchildrenarenowofferedahealthybreakfastandluncheveryday.Manyofthemwouldnothavethebenefitsofthesesamenutritionalchoiceswithoutthisprogram.TeacherJennyClemenssays,“Thereisbetterconcentrationintheclassroomandoftenbetterconflictresolutionwhenchildrenhavehadasubstantialandnutritionalmealbecausehungerisnotontheirminds.”

Lutheran Special School & Education Services • www.LSSES.org

Resource Room Updates:

Mt. Calvary - MilwaukeeKim Gruber

Our Redeemer - WauwatosaJordan Iberl

Mt. Olive - MilwaukeeLeah Armstrong

St. John’s - GlendaleJill Bell

ForthefirstfewweeksofschoolintheresourceroomatMt.Olive,Mrs.GrosenickservedassubstituteteacherforMrs.LeahArmstrongwhowasonmaternityleave.Thekidsenjoyedtheirtimelearningwithher.AttheendofSeptemberMrs.Armstrongsaidhertransi-tionbacktotheclassroomwasmadeeasierbythehugsandsmilesofheryoungstudents.Theresourceroomcurrentlyserves14studentsdailyinMath,reading,andspellingfromgrades1-8.Mt.OlivehasalsowelcomedRoseMeierasthenewprincipalthisyear.Greatthings

arealreadyhappeningwithherleadershipatschool.Leahsays,“Godalwaysblessesmewiththemostamazingstudentseachyear.TheyhavebeenworkingveryhardthisquarterandI’msurethiswillcontinuethrough-outtheyear.I’mveryexcitedtoseewhatthisyearholdsforthestudentsofMountOlive’sresourceroom.”

TheresourceroomatOurRedeemerisabusyplacethisyear!ThestudentscometoMrs.Iberlformath,reading,English,spellingandtestsupport.Currentlyinmaththeyareworkingonplacevalues,addingmoney,exponents,subtractionfacts,andorderofoperations.Mrs.Iberlhasseenmuchprogressinunderstandingdifferentmathconceptsandconnectingthemtothingstheyhavelearnedalreadythisyearandlastyear.Shealsosaysherstudentshavecomealongwaywithreadingandreadingcomprehension.Shesays,“Wearereadingafewdif-ferentbooksthatthestu-dent’sthemselveshelpedmepickoutandarelovingit!Oncewefinishupthedifferentbookswewillbedoingsomefunprojectsorbookreportsforthekidstopresentinfrontofothersintheirregularclassesandfortheotherstudentsintheresourceroom.TheOurRedeemerResourceRoomisagreatgroupofstudentsthisyear!Theyworkhardandchallengethemselvesdaily!”

Mrs.GrubersendsgreetingsfromtheMt.CalvaryResourceRoom...“Ourclassroomhasbeenbuzzingwithenergy!WearelearningsomucheverydaythatIcan’tpossiblylistitall!Fractions,mean,median,mode,range,placevalue,sentencestructure,thewritingprocess,learn-ingnewvocabulary,andreadingthebookHolesisjustthetipoftheiceberg. ThethemeatMt.Calvarythisyearis:”Don’t Conform, Be Transformed”fromRomans12:2.Kimsays,“WehavetheamazingopportunitytodailyremindourstudentsabouttheloveofChrist.Itiseasyforustobeofthisworld,buthowamazinglifeiswhenwebecometransformedbyGod’slove.Weareabletodoamazingthingsinourclassroomseverydaybecauseofyourprayers,love,andsupport.Mayweallbetransformed!”

Theschoolyearismovingrightalong.Mrs.Bellsaysthekidshavebeenexcitedforthenewschoolyearandtheweeksjustkeepmovingwiththebusyflowofdaytodaylearning.“WehaveninestudentsintheLSSESResourceRoomhereatSt.John’sGlendale.Thestudentscomedownforextrahelpinavarietyofareasincludingmath,reading,andlanguagearts.WearelookingforwardtoafieldtriptoLyndenSculptureGardeninlateOctober.”Mrs.Bellalsoadds,“Threeofmystu-dentsplayonthegirls’5th-8thgradevolleyballteam.Theyarecurrently3-3inleagueplaythisseason.”

Lutheran Special School & Education Services • www.LSSES.org

Community ConnectionOnSeptember10th,althoughdarkcloudsgatheredoverMequonandsmallstreamsofrainwashedpasttheregistra-tiontables,theparticipantsat

Krankin’ for Kidsremainedinundampenedspirits!Over200bikeriders,walkers,andvolunteerscameoutforthecharityevent,heldonthehistoricgroundsofTrinityLutheranChurchonFreistadtRoad.Thisyearbroughtthelargestnumberofpre-registeredparticipantssincetheinceptionoftheeventsixyearsago.Krankin’ for Kidsencouragesindividualsandfamiliestoengageinhealthyandactivelifestyles.Weencour-ageyoutoget“gearedup”tojoinusforthiseventnextyearonSeptember9,2017.

Travis Beckum (right), former NFL tight end, and Dora the comfort dog,

both made special appearances at the Krankin’ for Kids bike ride & walk

event on September 10.

Riders on the 36-mile route (left) enjoy a short break at the covered bridge rest stop in Cedar-burg, staffed by a group of Concordia University volunteers.

Students got to watch some amazing BMX bike stunts during an assembly at Milwaukee Lutheran High School while also

learning some tips on what to do in a bullying situation.

Students visited Brookfield Lutheran Church to help pack meals for the Feed My Starving Children initiative which provides nutritious meals around the world. Pictured left: a student and volunteer enjoy doing their part to help children in need.

The children were fascinated by the wonder of hat-making while

they visited the Hen House in Milwaukee, a premier women’s hat shop. They watched a hat

maker light a hat on fire to create a smooth texture and help shape

it. The field trip was part of the LSSES experiential learning cur-

riculum.

Recently three students experienced an afternoon of fishing with Caleb Niedfeldt through his project - “Fishing for the Heart,” to get kids con-nected with the outdoors. The excursion was filmed by FOX 6 news.

On a retreat trip to Christ Pond the students enjoyed some nature walks, devo-

tion and lunch. They created drawings about what they saw. They also designed stencils and each made a unique spray-dyed shirt.

The project also encourages the children to share their

Christian attributes through what they wear and how they

present themselves in their appearance.

Kids On the Road!

9700 W. Grantosa DriveMilwaukee, WI 53222

NONPROFITORGUSPOSTAGEPAID

MILWAUKEE,WIPERMITNO5654

TheschoolyeariswellunderwayintheresourceroomatSt.John’sinGlendale,andthesteadyrhythmoftheschooldaybeats,dayinanddayout.Studentswhoneedhelp,lessonstoplan,projectstograde,andsomuchmore,fueltherhythmoftheday. Therhythmofschoolhasnowbeenpartofmylifeforforty-sevenyears.WhenIattendedschoolasachild,Icanhonestlysaywhatstuckwithmethemostwasthefaiththatwassharedwithme,andthesongsandstoriesthatac-companiedthatfaith.Iamnowinmy30thyearofteachingthatsamefaithintheclassroom. ThisyearImetMichael,ayoungboyinmyclass-room.Althoughjusta1stgrader,thisisatleasthisthirdschool.Changeforhimisaconstant;theregularrhythmofschoolisnot.Michaelcomestouswithanarrayofis-suesincludingsocial,emotional,behavioral,andacademicdifficulties.Healsobringswithhimabrightsmile,anea-gernesstolearn,andanoverabundanceofenergy.Michaelspendstimeintheresourceroomforone-on-oneinstruc-tion,becausehonestly,heofteninterruptstherhythmofhisregularclassroom.LikemanyofthestudentswhoattendLSSES,he“marches”tothebeatofhisowndrum,andneedsanenvironmentbestsuitedtohislearningneeds.

RecentlyMichaelandIweredoingsomeindi-vidualizedworkwritingsentences.Hehaddictatedsomesentencestome,Ihadwrittenthemdown,andhewasreadingthemback,andcopyingthemdown.Asusual,Michaelwastalking.Hetalkswhenheshould,shouldn’t,andeveryplaceinbetween.Hewasprettyproudofhimself,hissentences,andhishandwriting.Speakinginthethirdperson,asheoftendoes,aboutthegreatjobMichaelwasdoingonhiswork.IfI’mhonest,sometimesI’mlisteningandsometimesI’mnot.Asheworkedandtalked,thesewordssnappedmebacktoattention.“MyGodissogreat,sostrong,andsomighty,there’snoth-ingmyGodcannotdo.”Wesangthesongafewtimesthroughtogether.HetoldmetheysangthatsonginhisclassduringJesustime.WealsotooksometimetotalkabouthowthatmightyGodcanhelphimwithhisprob-lems.Sometimesasteacherswewonderifthestudentsarelistening,learning,orpayingattention.It’softeneasytowanttogiveup.Butit’sinmomentslikethisthatit’sclear,whatwedomatters.Itmatterseternally!Michaelisn’tcompletelyintherhythmofschoolyet,anditmaytakeawhile,butthatseedoffaithisplantedinhisheart…hopefullyarhythmthatwilltakerootasalife-longsong.

Back in the Rhythm By: Jill Bell