Recently I listened to part of a radio talk show that lamented the declining emphasis on social and emotional development in school. The show pointed out that social and emotional development is crucial to a lifetime of success.

Because of the “No Child Left Behind Act,” some schools have made cuts in their arts programs as they have focused on test scores in core academic areas. As a school leader, I understand the pressures to make such decisions, and we want stellar math, science and language arts programs. At the same time, we are pleased to be a school that values, celebrates and is not reducing arts and social/emotional development in the curriculum.

The evening of the day I listened to part of the talk show, I attended the Lancaster Mennonite Middle Schools Seventh Annual Fine Arts Festival. It was a wonderful evening that showcased students’ progress and success in the arts. It reminded me of the important role the arts play in social and emotional development, as well as research showing the connection between music and success in academic subject areas.

Additionally, I was reminded of the LMS core value of spiritual development, which we value along with social, emotional and academic growth. The arts are an important component of our core values that define success as going beyond test scores, which are important, to our students being transformed as we educate the whole child.

Yesterday was the third Sunday of Advent, and our church service focused on repentance, renewal and restoration. Our call to worship included the words, “God delivers us from all that oppress us….We are saved not because we are good but because God is good.”

On Friday we put a note on the Lancaster Mennonite Facebook page about prayer for the Newtown community and the words of Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.” This post has received over 100 “likes,” more than any post in the past, an indication of how this shooting of young children has impacted all of us and our yearning for the repentance, renewal and restoration that was the message of this third Sunday of Advent.

The teachers and staff of LMS love their students and have dedicated their careers to helping each one in their classrooms. We strive to have LMS be a place that is safe for our students physically, socially, spiritually and emotionally.

We will be alert to students who may need support, and our counselors are ready to talk with any student or parent who would like some help in processing this terrible event. We are seeking to respond in an age-appropriate way as students raise questions.

LMS has taken numbers of measures to increase school security during the past few years, and more are underway. School security was an important factor in the recently-completed Kraybill Gateway Project, and it is currently being factored into future residence hall planning. A few weeks ago a new gate was installed on the Greenland Drive entrance to the Lancaster Campus. In addition, campus security plans and safety procedures have been established and we will continue to review and update them.

Starting in January, all LMS staff will be required to wear school identification badges/lanyards as a measure to increase both hospitality and school security.

Please join us in prayer for Sandy Hook students, staff and families. Also pray for wisdom for our national and state leaders as they work for change to ensure the common good and the protection of all our children. “O, healing river, pour down your waters onto this land.”

Shalom!

Joyce and I had a good experience at the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), and I return with a deeper appreciation for LMS and our mission. Numerous conversations and times of input affirmed our desire to be a missional and reconciling school that impacts and changes our community and world—a place where local and global meet.

One seminar said that to live for anything less than a dream means that one does not experience one’s full potential. I thought of our dream to transform lives that change our world through Christ-like love, peacemaking and service. In the seminar we learned that the measure of meeting goals is whether those who have been transformed go on to be involved in transforming others. When this was said, images of some of our nearly 11,000 alumni impacting our world came to my mind.

Upon my return I became aware of a note from a parent stating that their child, who came to LMS this fall, now speaks openly about his faith, and that there is now a new relationship between parents and son. Recently this young man handled an awkward situation with unusual grace for someone of his age and when complimented for doing so he replied, “Well, this new school has helped me get closer to God.”

This is a recent example of how changing lives one person at a time, multiplied by our students and alumni, means that LMS has an impact on thousands of lives. We appreciate our partnership with many friends who are a crucial part of this world-changing team through prayer, generous gifts, volunteer time and being an advocate. May God’s Spirit empower us to live the dream of changing our world through the transformation of lives in a Christ-centered school!