Lansing Christian Spring 2019 Pilgrim Journey

LANSING CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Pilgrim Journey Spring 2019

LANSING CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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Engaging the World for Jesus Christ - Now! The World Awaits New LCS Early Learners Preschool Program LCS Multicultural Club Preparing the Next Generation of Worship Leaders Annual Teacher Spiritual Retreat New LCS Transfer Discount LCS Fundraisers Engaging Alumni

School Board Tamara Cutler, President Ken Howard, Treasurer Eric Vanden Bosch, Secretary Rachel Cattron John Maher Vince Tardino Dave Tebben David Toy

Equipping young men and women to engage and transform the world for Jesus Christ.

Check out exclusive online content: pilgrimjourneyonline.org

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Engaging the World for Jesus Christ – Now!

by Wendy Hofman, Head of school

At Lansing Christian School we are passionate about student learning in the context of Christian faith. We consider it a high calling to educate and equip students to be able to engage the world for Jesus Christ, and join God in His transformational work in our communities and in our world.

If we are truly serious about our vision of equipping young men and women to engage the world for Jesus Christ through their education, our vision should be impacting HOW students learn in every part of a student’s education at LCS, not just the parts that are explicitly Christian. If we are serious about putting our vision into action, we need to give students the opportunity to practice engaging the world at school, through day-to-day learning in every classroom and in every discipline.

Teaching for Transformation (TfT) is not a curriculum; it is a learning framework with common practices that equip teachers to invite students to become engaged in God’s larger story, equipping them to play their unique role, and empowering them to apply knowledge and skills that meet real needs for real people.

Equipping our students to engage the world for Jesus is not just about life after graduation. It is about what we are doing right now. We look forward to sharing progress in our renewed commitment to faith and learning, and how students’ lives are impacted by engaging the world for Jesus Christ as part of their everyday learning at LCS.

In cooperation with the LCS Board and Administration, a decision has been made to provide teacher training, sustainability, and growth in the school’s priority of faith and learning to advance our vision of equipping young men and women to engage and transform the world for Jesus Christ.

Teaching for Transformation In August, 2018, Preschool – 12th grade teachers began Teaching for Transformation training under the direction of the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education and the Teaching for Transformation Network.

LANSING CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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The World Awaits

by Elizabeth Sabins, Spanish Teacher

It is an honor to be a language teacher.

At LCS, the World Language Department is not only privileged to teach Spanish, but to foster cultural appreciation and diversity among God’s people.

My deep hope for my students is that together we will discover our role in God’s story to recognize and appreciate the diversity in ourselves and others, and to serve those in need by sharing His love.

Speaking a person’s native language acknowledges their culture and is a way to show honor and hospitality. My eighth grade students will soon start a

project in partnership with the Lansing Visitors Bureau to create a tourism brochure for the Lansing area highlighting local attractions and resources that would appeal to Spanish-speaking visitors. It is exciting to engage our local community through this learning experience and to create more awareness of the Spanish-speaking population right here in Lansing. My seventh grade students are currently learning how to talk about school in Spanish. They are in the developing phase of their service project to impact students at another school.

Our work with Teaching for Transformation has personally challenged me to create learning experiences on personal, local, and global levels.

During a Spanish III technology unit, we challenged ourselves to monitor our use of technology throughout the week and to experience a day without it. We discussed how our phone could become an idol and about the importance of

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creating space and protecting our time with God. We are currently working together to serve LCS fourth grade students by creating a presentation in which we will share technology safety tips to help students guard their minds and hearts when online. At a global level, this amazing group of Spanish III students also created storybooks to share with children that we will meet on our upcoming mission trip to the Dominican Republic in April. These Spanish storybooks were written with the purpose of revealing a piece of God’s heart to Dominican students.

It is exciting to work together to have an impact on the world around us! As I see my students growing in their language capabilities, I also see them growing in leadership and character. I pray that these students will be able to grow in community, identify and meet real needs through acts of service, and to enjoy and appreciate the diversity

of God’s people and creation. There are so many people both here in Lansing and around the world just waiting for someone to reach out to them.

With God’s help, we can have an impact for His kingdom. The world awaits!

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New LCS Early Learners Preschool Program

by Sheila Dykstra, Elementary Principal

Children are born with a sense of wonder and a passion for discovery. Their inquisitive nature leads to learning in big and small ways from the moment they are born. A child’s natural curiosity is the foundation for life-long learning.

At LCS, preschool learning is fostered through play-based activities that invite exploration and discovery.

DISCOVER

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THE JOY

OF LEARNING IN PRESCHOOL

In their play children strengthen their imagination, develop their fine and gross motor skills, and practice their problem solving skills. Through play children explore the world around them.

discover how to regulate and appropriately express their emotions. Preschool is a time of joy and wonder, a time to explore, and a time to embrace all the possibilities the world holds.

Through play in the preschool setting children also develop their social and emotional skills.

LCS has a long tradition of providing a quality play-based preschool, which is why we decided to expand our program to include more sections and scheduling options to accommodate the needs of more families in the mid-Michigan area. Our flexible preschool provides half-day and full-day options for both our three and four-year-old preschool programs.

As children engage with others they develop their understanding of their own thoughts and feelings and those of the children around them. They learn how their own actions affect others and they

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LCS Multicultural Club: Towards True Community

by Dr. Neliswa LeCorn, Chemistry Teacher

Turning Conversations into Action In February of 2018, I participated in a number of cross-cultural engagement conversations instituted by the administration of Lansing Christian School. These conversations had the expressed desire to include the voices in our school community from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and effectively incorporate the voices of parents of diverse families.

Inspired by the concept of creating a true community, two LCS high school students sensed a growing desire to intentionally engage those in our community of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

From the initiative of these two students, the Lansing Christian School Multicultural Club was born.

Creating the Club Foundation This past year, students have focused on launching the Multicultural Club by determining its biblical vision, club goals, membership, and activities.

Biblical Vision: The Multicultural Club’s biblical vision

finds its genesis in Galatians 3:26-28, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The students see this verse as a unifying call to be in community with one another through Christ.

Goal: The goal of the club is to provide an opportunity

for students of all races and ethnicities to connect, grow in unity, and help our community learn about and celebrate one another.

Membership: In following the call of Galatians 3:26-

28, and in line with the goals of the Multicultural Club, membership is open to all high school students who are interested in joining.

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Club activities: The club activities are

focused on learning, connecting, and serving.

Students are involved in community service projects, presenting at brown bag discussions, and participating in multicultural performances.

Benefits for Students The Multicultural Club encourages students to reject stereotypes by truly learning about and appreciating each other and, at the same time, contributing to our community as a whole. The club fosters cross-cultural conversations among students of various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Students may not have the opportunity to learn about each other’s culture and history over the course of a normal school day, but the Multicultural Club will provide a venue for these conversations to take place. As a result, the Multicultural Club will improve self-esteem by honoring and recognizing the uniqueness of every individual in God’s kingdom. We believe this understanding will help to foster and instill a true civic commitment in teenagers, based in grace.

Reflection of Lansing Christian School’s Values The Lansing Christian School Board of Trustees and administration started the cross-cultural engagement conversations because they believed that in order to fulfill our core value of living and learning in Christian community, LCS must start by understanding and respecting differences within our community. The Multicultural Club is an extension of this value, and fulfills LCS’s vision of “equipping young men and women to engage and transform the world for Jesus Christ.”

Finally, in the spirit of this year’s theme, “We Belong,” the Multicultural Club seeks to bridge cultural gaps and foster a shared community experience. In the conversations and activities promoted by the Multicultural Club, students will, “discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone.

You belong.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

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Preparing the Next Generation of Worship Leaders

by Wendy Hofman, Head of School

As a school represented by nearly one hundred different churches, LCS students have the opportunity to experience and learn about a variety of different worship styles and traditions through community and chapel worship at school.

At LCS, we believe we have a unique opportunity to equip and train students to lead worship as part of their school experience, with the goal of preparing students to lead worship in their churches and in their communities.

Equipping students to lead worship well requires time and practice. As part of the middle and high school chapel program, students are invited to participate in teams that spend time learning

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As one LCS middle school student says, “I am so excited to help lead worship and I am glad I decided to join a worship team. I want to learn how to lead in a new way.�

Many of these students also participate in worship teams in their churches and many LCS alumni are now participating in leading worship in their colleges and churches after high school.

music and practicing worship leading skills with the support of designated upper classmen, LCS faculty, and expertise from the broader church community and Christian colleges. The result is student teams that are ready to lead their peers in a manner that points to Jesus and invites wholehearted participation from the student body.

LCS Annual Teacher Spiritual Retreat

by Wendy Hofman, Head of School

LCS teachers bring a vibrant faith to their work that plays an important role in helping to shape the lives of Lansing Christian students.

Each year, Lansing Christian School designates one whole day to support the faith nurture and spiritual refreshment of the LCS teaching faculty. Why? Because students benefit from a teaching staff that is continually growing unified in their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.

Students also benefit from teachers that enjoy working together and genuinely care about one another as colleagues and as brothers and sisters in Christ.

and leaders the need for Lansing Christian School in our community, and the value LCS brings to Mid-Michigan and Greater Lansing as a leader in Christian education.

On February 19, Mount Hope Church generously hosted and led the LCS Annual Teacher Spiritual Retreat. The day included worship and reflection, prayer for one another, community-building activities, food, and of course fun.

We are deeply grateful to Mount Hope Church for their encouragement and support of LCS teachers and their support for the cause of Christian education in Greater Lansing.

In our time together, the Mount Hope Church staff communicated to LCS teachers

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW

TRANSFER DISCOUNT At Lansing Christian School we are committed to making a quality Christian education accessible for families in Greater Lansing. This commitment is foundational to the mission of Lansing Christian School, and we believe that enrolling more Christian families who represent the richness of the Kingdom of God in our community, increases the value of education for all LCS students.

on the cost of transferring to a tuition-based school can be a hurdle that prevents them from enrolling. When families do make the decision to enroll, they experience the benefits of the Christ-centered education at LCS and recognize the value of that investment.

What are we hearing from inquiring families in the admissions process?

As part of our commitment to providing an accessible Christian education for more families in our community, Lansing Christian School has made the decision to offer a transfer discount for new middle and high school students. The transfer discount makes it

Many families communicate that moving from a public or homeschool setting and taking

New LCS Transfer Discount

possible for new students to transfer to LCS at the elementary tuition range for the first year of enrollment. With a retention rate of 90% from year-to-year, we know that once families enroll, they will experience the value of their investment.

Please join us in spreading the word about the new LCS Transfer Discount Think about Christian families with middle and high school students that you know from your church, workplace or neighborhood. Please let those families know about our LCS transfer discount.

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LANSING CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

FUNDRAISERS

Black and Gold Celebration

by Melissa Keeley, Development Coordinator

The Black and Gold Celebration, held on February 7 at the MSU University Club, was a wonderful evening filled with joy and an amazing outpouring of financial support for Lansing Christian School. Over 180 people attended this year’s event and many more participated in our new online auction, making this an incredibly successful fundraiser for the school.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised over $142,000 to support the exceptional programs at LCS, and to help make a quality Christian education accessible for more families in the Greater Lansing area! Thank you to the families and businesses that sponsored this event, and to the many attendees who came out to support and celebrate Lansing Christian School.

2019 Golf Outing

by Melissa Keeley, Development Coordinator

This year’s Golf Outing will be hosted on Thursday, June 20, at the College Fields Golf Course. The Golf Outing is the annual fundraiser for Lansing Christian School’s comprehensive athletic program and includes a 9-hole scramble style tournament and catered BBQ lunch.

Athletics play an important role at Lansing Christian School, providing students from preschool to high school with the opportunity to develop godly character through excellence in competition and sportsmanship. The money raised at the event through sponsorships, registrations, and course games goes to support all of LCS’s athletic programs and provide students with the chance to flourish as they discover and develop their God-given gifts and abilities at any grade level. Thank you to last year’s Event Sponsors Block Imaging and Trumble Group. If your company would like to sponsor this year’s event email Melissa Keeley at mkeeley@lansingchristianschool.org.

Register for the 2019 Golf Outing at: www.lansingchristianschool.org/support-lcs/lcs-golf-outing

Variable Tuition is a need-based tuition assistance program that matches a family’s tuition rate to their

unique financial situation. This makes a quality Christian education affordable to many qualified students who could not otherwise benefit from our school community. For more information go to www.lansingchristianschool.org.

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Engaging Alumni Lansing Christian School’s vision is to equip young men and women to engage and transform the world for Jesus Christ. It is inspiring to see how our alumni are doing just that, by using their gifts and abilities in college, in their careers, and through service to their communities.

Photo Credit: Jason Block

Lars and Amy Carlson accepted the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award during halftime of the boys varsity basketball game.

2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

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Alumni Christmas Luncheon The graduated class of 2018 reunited in December for a Christmas luncheon and other college age alumni joined them for dessert. This was a unique time to reconnect with teachers and friends as well as receive encouragement from teachers and class sponsors after being out on their own since graduating.

LCS Onesies Calling all future pilgrims! Our alumni and their families are an important part of our school community and we want to celebrate when that community gets a little bigger. If you have welcomed a baby to your family we would love to send you an LCS onesie for your little one.

LCS onesie modeled by Hope, daughter of LCS alumni Bob and Mandy Reese (’04).

Contact Melissa Keeley at mkeeley@lansingchristianschool.org to get your baby outfitted like an LCS Pilgrim.

Lars and Amy Carlson (‘93)

by Melissa Keeley, Development Coordinator

The 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award was proudly presented to Lars and Amy (Kirkland) Carlson, class of 1993, during this year’s Homecoming celebration.

Lars and Amy met during their time at Lansing Christian School where they were both active in chorale, school musicals, and athletics. After graduation, Lars continued his studies at Liberty University followed by a Master’s in Business Administration from MSU, and Amy attended Western Michigan University where she received her degree in English. Although

Lars initially thought he would pursue a career as an airline pilot, Amy and Lars felt God calling them to the ministry at Youth Haven, a camp for disadvantaged children founded by Lars’ grandparents and parents just over fifty years ago. Today, Amy serves as the Director of Marketing and Communication at Youth Haven and Lars stepped into the role of President and CEO after his father’s retirement in 2016, making him the third generation in ministry leadership.

With locations in Michigan and Arizona, Youth Haven is committed to meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of disadvantaged children. At Youth Haven, children learn they are loved, valued, and have the potential to do something great with their lives. Most importantly, they discover God loves them, created them for a purpose, and will never leave them, no matter what they might be going through. Lansing Christian is proud to partner with Youth Haven during Service Week and is honored to celebrate and commend Lars and Amy’s commitment to this ministry with the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

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Equipping young men and women to engage and transform the world for Jesus Christ.

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