� 48% White

� 32% Asian Indian

� 14% Hispanic

� 2% Asian

� 2% Black

� 2% White/Iranian

� 27% Lutheran

� 20% Hindu

� 17% Catholic

� 17% unknown

� 15% Christian

� 2% Catholic/Muslim

� 2% UCC/Buddhist

It was a Wednesday morning in the 3-year-old PreK class. The children had returned from the opening assembly in the sanctuary and were finding a place to sit on a colorful oval rug. All the chil-dren settled down but one cute little blond-hair girl. She seemed very antsy and distracted. As the teacher began the day singing a song about the days of the week, the little girl raised her hand. In response, the teacher called her name. The little girl said confidently, “Teacher, I need to talk to God.” The teacher nodded. The little girl walked over to the altar in the classroom, folded her hands, and began to pray.

Afterward, I spoke with the teacher. She said that she wished she knew as a 3-year-old that she could just pray to God when ever she needed; not just at meals and bedtime. This is one of our goals in the faith development of our students: to help them grow in their un-derstanding of our God and His pres-ence with us all the time.

A look inside our classrooms shows children of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. Not only do children of our church members attend, but also those in the community who are seek-ing a faith-based foundation for their children. These children hear the Word of God throughout the day integrated into their academic learning. In this newsletter you will read about how our children live out their faith daily.

Call me at 641-8385, or email me at sotwschool@aol.com, if you would like to visit, volunteer or enroll a child in our school.

In His Service,

Madelyn M. Speagle, M.Ed.

Principal

“Teacher, I need to talk to God”

A Look at Our Students

Each classroom has an altar designed and made

by Kay Seivert and Baxter Luther

December 2008

Volume 1, Issue 1

Shepherd’s Stories

Mark Your Calendar

Saturday, February 14 Valentine’s Day Event

Sunday, February 15 Bake Sale

March 1-8 Lutheran School Week

Sunday, March 1 School Ministry Lunch

Sunday, March 8 School Ministry Lunch

Saturday, March 14 Spring Scholarship

Auction

Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7

Family Fun Days Fair

Sunday, June 7 Moving-up Ceremony

Summer Camp at our Southside location is built around weekly themes with VBS type activities. We hope to include academic reinforce-ment during this summer’s camp at Southside.

Check our website, www.sotwls.com, for detailed infor-mation and registration forms.

On November 16th students from the school sang in worship at both locations a song specially written for our school children by Carl Helmers, “God’s Work, Our Hands.” Those who were privi-leged to hear the children sing this beautiful song couldn’t stop the tears from coming to their eyes.

God’s Work, Our Hands is the school’s theme this year and the theme for Lutheran School Week this school year. As was in previ-ous years, and as will be in the future, the children are encour-aged to do God’s work through sharing and caring. Over the past 2 ½ years the children of our

school have helped needy children in Peru, the Quilting Ministry, the LSS Refugee Program, school girls in Iraqi, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Empty Bowls event, and the Jacksonville Zoo.

As the song says, “God our hands are small we know, but you, Lord, will make them grow.” We instill in the chil-dren that they can do ministry no matter how young or small, and that ministry is faith in action.

develop new interest, and explore new hobbies. School’s Out Camp is offered at both the Southside and Lakeshore locations.

During Summer Camp, campers at our Lakeshore location attend two-week sessions that encourage growth for the whole child. Campers hear and see how active their faith can be; learning how to live and work together in a Christian com-munity. Campers also experience and care for the environment.

Not only do we care for chil-dren during the school year, but also when school is out for holi-days and summer break. Camp is available to all children in our community. We serve children ages 3-12.

During School’s Out Camp campers experience a caring, small group environment with daily structured activities. Campers learn Christian values and beliefs, meet new friends,

Page 2 Shepherd’s Stories

“God’s Work, Our Hands”

Discovering new friends,

hobbies, and interest in a Christian setting

School’s Out and Summer Camps

started the school year with 35 students and continued to grow to end the school year with 47 stu-dents!

This year, our third year, we added the Lakeshore location with three classes – PreK-4, Kin-dergarten and First Grade. Our enrollment at this point of the school year is 60.

We are blessed to be able to serve these children. Our dedi-cated staff continues to share our Christian love as they educate our

children. Come and observe at any time. Even better, come share your gifts with the chil-dren!

Contact the office at 641-8385 and speak to Kimberly or Madelyn if you know a child you would like to have attend our school.

Some days the first day of our school seems like forever ago, other days it seems like yester-day. We opened the school in August 2006 with 12 PreK-4 stu-dents. We were so excited to see the growth of the little ones and to see the growth of our school as we ended the first year with 18 students.

Our second school year, 2007-2008, we added a 3-year-old PreK program and Kindergarten. Our school mushroomed! We

Do you remember August 2006?

Dear God Dear God Dear God Dear God ---- Thanks for Thanks for Thanks for Thanks for

my school. my school. my school. my school. ---- written by written by written by written by

PreKPreKPreKPreK----3 student3 student3 student3 student

God’s Work, Our Hands

by Carl Helmers

Oh, Dear Father of us all,

We have come because you call,

To be helping hands to all.

God’s work, our hands.

Lord, we lift our hands to you,

Bless these hands for ser-vice true.

Show these hands just what to do.

God’s work, our hands.

God, our hands are small we know,

But you, Lord, will make them grow,

So the world will come to know

God’s work, our hands.

Lord, we lift our hands to you,

Bless these hands for ser-vice true.

Show these hands just what to do.

God’s work, our hands.

Page 3 Shepherd’s Stories

Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year

from the children and staff

of Shepherd of the Woods

Lutheran School

May God’s peace, hope and love

be with you always.

Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran School

7860 Southside Blvd

Jacksonville, FL 32256

and

6595 Columbia Park Ct

Jacksonville, FL 32258

904-641-8385

sotwschool@aol.com

www.sotwls.com

Serving PreK-3 year olds

through 1st grade

(adding a grade each year)

School’s Out and Summer Camps

3-12 year olds

A ministry of Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church

Senior Pastor, Rev George Johnson. 881-7689

Associate Pastor, Rev Ida Iverson 434-9028

Associate in Ministry, Kristen Phillips 477-0544

Principal, Madelyn Speagle 699-6974

School Advisory Committee

Chair, Lois Vickers

Strategic Planning, Aaron West, M.D.

Education, Bonnie Cowling

Operations, Laurie Anderson

Finance, Jim Kresge

Shepherds of the School, Joe Davis

Professional Development, Bill Rohlfing

Pastor, Rev George Johnson

Hi! Look inside to see

what we have been doing!