News from plainfield Joliet Shorewood lockport crest Hill bolingbrook romeoville Downers grove Westmont Woodridge lisle Niles morton grove park ridge & more
Family.
That’s the way Martha Skoien describes the feeling she experiences as a member of Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant, 2437 Plainfield Rd., Joliet. Skoien, the oldest living member of the congregation, is looking forward to attending the church’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebration. With a theme of Prayer, Partnership, and Promise, the occasion will celebrate God’s faithfulness through all generations.
The community is invited to the three-day celebration, which will take place Friday, Sept. 8; Saturday, Sept. 9; and Sunday, Sept. 10. Youth Group Night, which begins at 6 P.M. Sept. 8 at the church, will provide a chance to reconnect with old friends and past youth directors. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.
An historical tour of the original church building and an old-fashioned hymn sing are planned for Saturday, Sept. 9. The tour, which begins at 9:30 A.M., will give attendees a chance to revisit a bit of church history at the original structure, 410 E. Clay St., Joliet. Following the tour, guests are invited to a hymn sing at 11 A.M. at the current church location. The event will include a Fika, a time of fellowship and Swedish pastries. RSVPs for both activities are appreciated but not required.
A dinner banquet will take place from 5-9 P.M. Saturday, Sept. 9 at IBEW Local 176, 1100 NE Frontage Rd., Joliet. Doors open at 4 p.m. Guests will celebrate 150 years of Good Shepherd history with a slide presentation, testimonies, stories, and songs. Historic heirlooms and photos of each era will be on display. The cost of dinner is $25 for adults and $15 for children 5-10. There will be a cash only bar. RSVPs are required by Aug. 15.
The weekend will conclude with a celebration worship service from 10:30 A.M. to noon Sunday, Sept. 10 at the current location. Coffee and fellowship can be enjoyed beginning at 9:30 A.M. RSVPs are encouraged but not required. For more information and to RSVP for any of the events see the church website: www. goodshepherdcov.org
“The recent pandemic was a difficult season for most folks, organizations, and communities,” said the Rev. Jake Bradley, pastor at Good Shepherd Church. “But Church of the Good Shepherd had 150 years of resources to pull from that helped us frame and reframe that crisis.”
The church has been through two world wars, the Great Depression, Civil Rights movement, and great flu
pandemic of 1920, Bradley added.
“Through it all,” he said, “we can say God was faithful.
“We take our cue from the Psalms of the Bible that constantly remind us to remember God’s faithfulness. We want to celebrate and remember all that God has brought us through as a community the past 150 years, knowing that God will be faithful to us in the next 150 years.
“Our theme for this anniversary weekend is celebrating God’s faithfulness through all generations,” Bradley added. “Please join us.”
The congregation was first organized on Aug. 10, 1873 as the Swedish Mission Church. Members met in private homes until continued growth necessitated larger quarters.
In 1881 a church building was erected at 410 E. Clay St., Joliet, and for many years served as the center of the ministry. Services were conducted in Swedish through the 1930s.
On Dec. 10, 1939, the American Sunday School Union began a ministry among children in the Richland area, which eventually became known as the Six Corners Chapel. This ministry was turned over to
the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1957 and became a ministry of outreach for the Evangelical Covenant denomination and the church on Clay Street, then named First Covenant Church of Joliet.
The new ministry in the Richland area took the name of Calvary Covenant Church and in 1962 erected the present church structure at 2437 Plainfield Rd., Joliet. On May 17, 1970 Calvary Covenant Church and First Covenant Church merged to become Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant.
While the church’s name and location have changed over the years, its mission to develop Christ-centered relationships remains the same.
“We can look over the past 150 years and clearly see God’s faithfulness to previous generations,” said Bradley. “But God’s faithfulness extends beyond the generations past to the current generation and looks forward to the next 150 generations.
“God’s faithfulness in the past is what fuels our current mission,” Bradley said. “God is inviting us into partnership to bring healing and wholeness to our community today. At Good Shepherd, we like to say you
are family, you are needed, and you are a bridge, which comes from our three values: connectional, intergenerational, and multicultural.
“It is our humble prayer that we are willing and bold enough to fulfill this mission in our community,” Bradley
added. “If finding an authentic community and being partners in bringing healing and wholeness to your neighborhood sounds appealing to you, please become partners with us in this mission.”
After a summer of relaxation, the start of a new school year generates mixed emotions among students. Many children look forward to being back on campus with their friends but may not revel in the idea of waking up early or doing homework each night.
While summer break is a much needed-respite from the rigors of school, it doesn’t mean school should be forgotten entirely. In fact, doing some preparatory steps before a new school year begins can make the year go much more smoothly. Here’s how students and parents can direct their focus during the final countdown.
Keep reading
According to Scholastic, summer slide is a concept that was first acknowledged by researchers in 1996. Many comprehensive studies have come out since then and indicated that kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which can have a cumulative effect and lead to skill loss each year. Some research says up to 20 percent of school year gains in reading and 27 percent in math are lost during
summer break. Children should be encouraged to read as much as possible during summer break, particularly since many schools require summer reading and subsequent essays or book reports upon returning to the classroom. Let kids read what they want, whether it’s comics, magazines, the newspaper, or even books they’ve read before.
Accumulate supplies
School may not be on the radar early in summer, but it’s wise to purchase supplies early. Right before school starts there is a mad dash to grab notebooks, pens, clothing, and more, which can make for a stressful shopping experience for all involved. Shopping early helps families avoid that outcome.
Brush up on math skills
It can’t hurt for students to do a few math problems over the summer. Practice keeps skills fresh and any mathematical formulas prominent in their minds. All it takes is one or two problems per day to stay on top of math skills.
Visit educational attractions
Families can include museums,
art exhibits, animal sanctuaries, libraries, science centers, and similar attractions in the list of places they visit over the summer. This way students can learn and be entertained simultaneously.
Start enforcing bedtimes
School-aged children (six to 13 years) need nine to 12 hours of sleep every night, according to KidsHealth.org. During the sum-
mer, late nights can easily be rectified by sleeping in the next day. But when school resumes, the alarm clock will be ringing earlier than expected. Parents can gradually implement earlier bedtimes as summer winds down so that kids are getting the rest they will need.
Get in the know
Parents can begin to pay closer attention to emails and social me-
dia posts from schools as they’ll likely contain information about upcoming school calendars, bus routes (or transportation registration), changes in personnel, or any additional updates. This will help alleviate any surprises on the first day of school.
Families can take several steps to get ready for school as the first day draws near.
Parents can make every effort to encourage children to make the most of the school experience, including academics and extracurricular activities. Though students’ level of engagement is ultimately up to them, parental involvement at school can be crucial for students’ success.
According to the National Education Council, when parents get involved in their children’s education, those children are more likely to do better in school and be more positive about the school experience. They also may be well-behaved. Parents wondering what they can do to assist at the school level can consider these
possibilities.
Attend school board meetings
Many community school boards are comprised entirely of volunteers who work with superintendents and other personnel to advocate for policies and procedures for students. Decisions typically are up for vote, and parents can run for school board positions or simply attend meetings each month and let their voices be heard about various issues.
Attend open houses and conferences
Parents can make every effort to get to know teachers and oth-
See ‘pareNTS’ page 9
Students need many different supplies to help them move to the head of the class. Teachers frequently post lists online before school begins or advise students in the early days of the new year. Therefore, parents may want to wait to go back-to-school shopping until they learn what’s needed. There is one piece of gear, however, that students will definitely need: a backpack.
Backpacks have been helping students transport books and other materials to and from school for decades. Backpacks are not a new invention, and they actually predate school. Ötzi, a man whose mummified remains have been traced to the Copper Age, carried an animal fur rucksack during his travels. American Civil War soldiers carried bindles, and Henry Miriam developed one of the first knapsacks for the U.S military in 1877. It wasn’t until the late 1940s that kids started using backpacks for school, as more materials were available to make these bags after World War II. Backpacks are now ubiquitous on school campuses around the world.
Backpacks are available in many different sizes and styles. Not all of
them are created equal, and some may be better and safer for students than others. Here are some considerations.
• Look for even, secure stitching that will not come undone easily. Inexpensive backpacks may last a few weeks, but a more durable backpack can last the school year and beyond.
• Pass up backpacks with frayed fabric edges that could unravel, says Consumer Reports.
• Opt for backpacks with zippers that have fabric flaps over them to keep water and other elements out of the backpack, helping prolong its life span.
• Consider a synthetic material, which will be lighter to carry and more resistant to water.
• Choose a backpack with lots of compartments that can spread the weight of gear out across the bag.
• Look for bags that have padded backs and straps. The padding should be ventilated, so the backpack will not get very hot when the child is using it.
• Karena Wu, a physical therapist and owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York, encourages parents to choose backpacks with
tapered straps that will conform better to their children’s bodies. A waist strap can help keep the backpack centered on the child’s torso to help disperse the load.
• If the school allows it, a rolling bag is a great way to prevent strain on the back. Verywell Family says children should carry no more than 15 percent of their bodyweight in the backpack. That means a 60-pound child shouldn’t carry more than 9 pounds.
• Select a backpack that is sized accordingly to the child. It may be tempting to buy the largest one around, but that can be cumbersome and the student may overload it.
• Many students now use laptops or tablets for school. It is a good idea to buy a backpack that has a padded pocket for tech devices to protect them during transport.
Although it may not seem trendy to do so, backpacks should always be worn with all straps in place to distribute weight evenly; otherwise, strain may be placed on one shoulder or side of the body. This, in addition to choosing the right backpack, can keep students comfortable and safe.
er staff. Putting faces to names can help parents develop a connection to teachers and vice versa. Most schools have back to school nights, meet the coaches opportunities, open houses, and parent-teacher conferences. Parents can take part in these events.
Open lines of communication
Parents can ask teachers and other staff how they prefer to communicate. Some teachers want students to take the lead and reach out first, with parents providing support if need be. Adults can be responsive when teachers reach out.
Attend school events
Families can make it a point to support
students in all endeavors. Whenever the opportunity to visit the school comes up — whether for a concert, sports game, trivia night, or fundraiser — parents can make an effort to attend.
Volunteer
When parents want to be involved even further, they can head committees at school or volunteer with the PTA or PTO. They also can help out in the cafeteria, library or in the main office. Parents who have particular skills may volunteer to provide tutoring or mentoring as needed. Furthermore, parents can volunteer in school-sanctioned extracurriculars, such as Scouts BSA or as sports coaches.
Involvement in school is part of being an informed and supportive parent.
