Saturday morning April 28 saw a group of 50 persons from LMS participate in the 14th Race Against Racism in the City of Lancaster. It included students, parents and staff from all our campuses.
We were encouraged to participate by our Wellness and Safety Committee with the dual purpose of encouraging exercise and witnessing against the sin of racism. It was good to be part of more than 4,000 persons running and walking through our city with a positive message.
In these days following the killing of Travyon Martin, the racial divide has become apparent in our country. I hear too many stories from friends who have felt the negative impact of racism in our community, in our churches and in other communities across our country. These stories compel me to speak on behalf of racial justice and healing.
One of the priorities of our sponsoring church is to “undo racism and to advance intercultural transformation.” It is rewarding to see a community at LMS that begins to reflect the biblical vision of persons from every, tribe, language, people and nation gathered together by Jesus, the Lamb of God.
The outcome of the race on April 28 was summarized on the back of the shirts that were distributed to participants: “The Winner will be Humanity.” Indeed, when we are united across the human divides by Jesus the Lamb of God, we all win and the Kingdom of God is advanced.
This is the season of senior presentations, a capstone requirement for graduation. At this time, LMH seniors reflect on their lives, those who nurtured them and their futures. Our culture shortchanges reflection, but I believe this reflective time is important as seniors anticipate life after high school.
On Monday evening, I was excited to see the Lancaster Campus parking lot filled with friends, parents, relatives, pastors and others who came to hear senior presentations. These presentations are often inspirational times and can feel like “holy ground” as we celebrate the outcomes of a holistic education.
Seniors reflected about:
- Growth in Christian ethics and moral values
- Service to others
- Micah 6:8 as a motto for life
- Growth by experiencing poverty through a mini-course
- Leadership experiences
- Passion for sharing the gospel and social justice
- The importance of chapel
- Challenging academics
- Future plans including political science, broadcast journalism and business
- Seeing the world through the eyes of others
- Spiritual life and growth
- Community at LMH
- Loving parents
This capstone project demonstrates the value of a planned PreK-12 curriculum and provides a time to celebrate the outcome of a transformative educational experience that is centered in Christ and committed to excellence. What happens throughout the elementary, middle and high school years all comes together.
We have much to celebrate as we prepare to commission this class to a life of Christlike love, peacemaking and service at Commencement 2012.
I made a stop on the way to the office yesterday that ended up feeling like a visit to a foreign country. Actually, it was a visit to the Lancaster Mennonite School Spanish Immersion Program at our Locust Grove Campus.
Spanish Immersion is a new program this year for grade 1. Next year it will expand to include both grades 1 and 2. All of the core subjects are taught in Spanish, and students learn this international language the same way they learned their first language — by hearing and then beginning to speak.
I was so impressed with what I saw happening in the classroom that I started documenting it on my i-phone notepad. I wrote:
- Amazing
- All Spanish
- Positive atmosphere
- Seems like I am in a Spanish-speaking country
- All students fully engaged
- What a wonderful opportunity for students
- Helping local and global to meet
We celebrate that each campus is unique in the way it provides a strong core educational program. We are pleased to offer a Christ-centered education that transforms lives and changes our world.
