Lutheran schools around the nation celebrate success

More than 1,800 schools across the country celebrated National Lutheran Schools Week in January, marking and celebrating God’s work in Lutheran church-affiliated schools. Lutheran schools meet or…

More than 1,800 schools across the country celebrated National Lutheran Schools Week in January, marking and celebrating God’s work in Lutheran church-affiliated schools. Lutheran schools meet or exceed state and national academic standards at all grade levels while encouraging students in their Christian faith.

Schools from pre-k through high school marked the week with spirit wear, dress up/dress down days, fundraisers and worship services.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod described Lutheran schools in a statement as “amazing incubators for faithful witness of God’s love for us through Christ by teachers and students alike.”

Scott Dixon, principal of Martin Luther Academy in Kansas City, agrees. His students spent the week highlighting worship, service and spirit.

“Each year, we celebrate with thousands of other Lutheran Schools across the nation and world. We plan dress-up days, activities, service projects, and have daily whole school devotions,” Dixon told The Lion. “We celebrate this week to help bring awareness to the community and families of the value and importance of Lutheran education. We strive to prepare our students to be successful out in the world as well as in the classroom, and we pray that our students and families know that He is in all things.”

At Martin Luther School in Joplin, Missouri, Principal Jeremy Schamber said the goal for the week was to show students God is with them in all things, forgives them in all things and is there for them in all things. Students celebrated the week with dress-up days such as Sports Day and Pajama Day, and classroom activities and events.

“For us, we have the opportunity to bring God’s love into everything we do, from religion to math to reading to science,” Schamber said. “It’s not just in the subjects we’re studying, it’s in our daily lives. It’s in how we discipline, in how we work with each other and how we pray for each other.”

In St. Charles, Missouri, Immanuel Lutheran School issued a fun challenge for families to raise $2,000 for its campaign to open three new preschool classrooms. If the funds were raised, the principal and early childhood director agreed to work from an “office” on the roof for an entire school day. School families raised more than double that amount. 

During the same week, students, parents and educators involved in Christian education around the country celebrated School Choice Week, highlighting the variety of educational options available and advocating for policies that give parents more choices.