From The Crow's Nest: Reflections February 2012

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hvanderveen  From the Crow’s Nest

 

 

 

 

 

Starting Off Right

It’s been a few years since I’ve dusted off my copy of Robert Fulgham’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”, but I believe there is still a great deal of truth in that little book. Kindergarten may well be the most significant year children have in school.

As important as Kindergarten is for setting the stage for a person’s life, research tells us that by the time children start school they have already learned most of the values they will carry with them the rest of their lives.

Proverbs 19: 18 says, “Discipline your children while there is still hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.” There is not a parent among us who wishes to ruin the lives of our children, but this verse is not about parents being harsh disciplinarians. The key to reading this verse comes with our understanding of the word ‘discipline’. At its core, discipline means teaching, or discipling, particularly with respect to what is right and wrong.   Another message in the verse is “start young!” Our children need intentional instruction while they are still very young. Parents who decide to get serious about teaching their children core values when they are teenagers will most likely find that to be a very difficult task.

At LCS we know how important it is to start early. Our Kindergarten teachers are committed Christians who care deeply for young children. The curriculum they have developed reinforces the Biblical values parents have been teaching at home in a vibrant setting where they learn that every part of creation belongs to God. They will also learn the principles listed in Fulgham’s book, some of which are; share everything, play fair, don't hit people, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess, don't take things that aren't yours, and say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

On February 27th we are holding a Kindergarten information evening at the school. In addition to meeting the teachers and learning more about the program, we will be discussing the differences between full time and part time Kindergarten. If you have already registered, you are still considering registering, or you know someone who might be interested in the LCS Kindergarten program, we invite everyone to come out to our Elementary Campus at 7:30 pm on Monday, February 27.

Henry Vanderveen
Superintendent


LCS Board Report: February 2012

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Liz_Final_copy  From the Board
  Liz Tolkamp, Chair

 

 

It was almost exactly a year ago that the LCS Board made some significant changes to our governance structure. Along with the hiring a full-time superintendent beginning in September of this year, the board intentionally changed its orientation from dealing primarily with operations to having a greater emphasis on strategic planning. The new governance model has allowed the board to spend time each meeting focusing on “big picture items” without becoming mired in the day to day operations of the school.

The change in focus also allows us to be more intentional about the LCS Board itself; how the board is made up, how well-equipped board members are, how board meetings are conducted, what measures are in place for succession planning, and how the board evaluates itself. To help the board keep track of these matters, a Board Development Forum has been struck. Through the Fall this forum has facilitated learning opportunities for board members, begun monitoring board activities, and is now in the process of recommending new board members for the 2012-2013 year. As happens every year, four board members will have completed their terms and others will be asked to serve in their place. A Board Member Profile has been developed and individuals who are chosen to serve on the board must meet the criteria specified in the profile.

To serve on the Board, a prospective member must be someone who is a big picture thinker as opposed to being issue-oriented. An effective board member is committed to think more about what the school will look like next year than what it looks like in the current year.   Board members must also commit to attend all board meetings as well as related functions and participate in a Board Training Seminar. The Board Development Forum is actively searching for qualified individuals to serve on the board for the next three years beginning in August, 2012. If you know someone who might fit this profile, let us know. Feel free to contact any member of the Board Development Forum; Henry Vanderveen, Dameon Lorensen, Al Colyn and myself, Liz Tolkamp.

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