Looking for a Few Good....Parents

As it turns out, we have a lot of really good parents and I am hoping they will rally to our need. We are in the process of redesigning, tweaking, and refreshing our marketing efforts. I am looking for some good stories, ways in which choosing Faith Lutheran made an impact, both on your student, but also on your family. If you don't have a story, tell me why Faith Lutheran was the right choice for your child's education. You can post to this blog or send me an email. Thanks in advance for your help.

Parents can also play a helpful role in quashing a rumor that is in circulation. Faith is not on the verge of closing school due to student illness. Yesterday we had a larger number of students out (12%), but they were not all sick. Right now we are seeing flu (regular and a few cases of H1N1), bronchitis and some other respiratory ailments. Our faculty is relatively healthy. We continue to take precautions.

Seven weeks into our 1st season of 4A athletic competition is way too early to draw any lasting conclusions, but the early signs are encouraging. Volleyball and girls golf are in 1st place, cross country has outpaced a number of their competitors. Girls soccer has been dominant in their interesting season. Only football, where larger numbers provide some insurance against the inevitable injuries, has yet to break into the win column. We have reasons to be proud of all our teams for their efforts thus far. Some concerns have been raised by parents, particularly about football, and we will take some time to gather input at the close of the fall season. But it's worth remembering that the decision to move to 4A was deliberate, with many opportunities for discussing the pros and cons. The future of the NIAA's classification system is the subject of considerable debate, and through our athletic director Bret Walter, we are active participants in those discussions.

One last thing about sports. Often we get complaints about a team being overlooked in the Crusader newsletter. Each coach is responsible for getting results and season summaries to Susan Gentry, who puts the publication together. She begs and pleads. Coaches are busy. If you want to help and have the skills, volunteer to help your coach put an article together. That way everyone wins.

A Link to the President's Speech

The President's Speech to American Students

President Obama's Speech

We have initiated random drug testing; changed admissions standards; dropped skirts from the dress code; and moved the school to the 4A level of athletic competition -- but none of those issues generated the parental response as a speech to school kids by the President of the United States.  In the last 72 hours I have about 50 emails on the subject.  When I get three emails on the same subject I think the sky is falling!

This forum provides the opportunity to explain a bit more in depth why the school chose the route it did.  I have no illusions that it will make everyone happy, but I hope it will clear some misconceptions.

While the text of the President's speech is not yet available, I have absolute faith that the message he will deliver on Tuesday will be non partisan and wholly appropriate.  Encouraging students to stay in school, work hard, and set high goals (tasks mastered by an overwhelming percentage of our students) is admirable.  President Obama, as the nation's 1st African-American President, is also uniquely positioned to influence groups of students who have not  embraced education as a way out of poverty.  The President has a responsibility to all America's people and the fact that he is choosing to address the nation's future, both literally and figuratively, is laudable.  Given his skills as a speaker, there is even a better chance that his message might have some impact.

Schools should be actively involved in civics education.  Whether public or private, schools have a responsibility to educate students about our history and government.  President Obama's speech is a teachable moment.  It provides teachers with a real world opportunity to see how the curriculum interfaces with actual events.  The controversy about the speech itself provides further grist for discussion. Good teachers ask challenging questions.  They make sure students are exposed to all the facets of controversial issues.  Schools are absolutely the place for these kinds of discussions; but that does not imply that these discussions aren't also important for the family dinner table, on the way home from practice or in the casual moments between parents and students.

Faith is not a subsidiary of the Republican Party.  There is no doubt that the demographic makeup of our parents leans more conservatively.  And where matters of faith and politics interact (e.g., abortion, same-sex marriage, creationism) there is also little doubt that the platform of the GOP is more aligned with Lutheran (LCMS) theology.  But there are no edicts from the church or from the administration at school dictating political stances.  To the best of my recollection, the rare conversations I have with school personnel about politics are generally with non-teachers on our staff.  Except on those places where politics and theology interface, the school takes no position, officially or unofficially, on political matters.

Tuesday is a unique day at Faith.  It is an unscheduled minimum day so we can say goodbye to our friend and colleague, Eva Cruz.  It means class time will be reduced significantly, with relatively short notice to teachers. It would be imprudent for me to make the decision about the use of class time for nearly 100 teachers who are charged with getting students through the curriculum. If I was still a U.S. History or American Government teacher, I'd make time for it.  But the decisions I would make as a teacher are not the same as I make as an administrator.  I have to see the big picture.

There's no damage here.  Anyone who wants to see the President's speech will have ample opportunity to do so.  It will be on the White House website.  I expect there will be more than one opportunity to see it on CSPAN. I'm pretty certain it will be posted to YouTube moments after he's finished.  If you're unhappy your student did not have the opportunity to see it at school, what a great time to watch it with them, to take advantage of a teachable moment at home.

Finally, this episode illustrates a huge problem in our country, one I have as a student of politics seen develop over the last two decades.  Here is one of the fifty emails I received:  What a shame!  So, some of the teachers have strong political views, too, and I am sure that is not a factor------------Or his race.  Think about it from a perspective which mirrors the demographics of the families who send students and it make sense that this behavior by teachers would be tolerated.  How are the students ever going to be exposed to countervailing political and racial views?  Isn't it a shame we cannot disagree about something without disparaging the character of those on the other side?  We need a return to a more civil discourse. Little gets accomplished when all that is heard are raised voices and name-calling. 

I hope everyone who took the time to write or call will also take the time to listen to the speech tomorrow.

Inspired

I have spent five of the last eleven days at two different conferences.  BLC'09 is a gathering of teachers, administrators, consultants and educational leaders who are committed to changing the ways students  are taught, largely but not exclusively, through the use of technology.  November Learning, the creation of educational consultant Alan November, puts together the conference which offers some cutting edge thinking on what schools should be doing.  

My favorite session however, had nothing to do with technology. Angela Maiers reminded those who attended her workshop about the important role schools play in the development of character.  Her theme dovetailed nicely with what I took away from The Leadership Summit, sponsored by the Willow Creek Association and hosted by Canyon Ridge Church.  Our faculty administrative team attended the two-day event in lieu of a retreat we hold this time of year.  It was time well spent.

A chunk of my time this summer has been spent in discussions about money.  Despite increasing financial aid by a third for next year, our funds are nearly exhausted.  Parents are still losing jobs on an almost daily basis, and students who have spent more than a third of their life at Faith face the prospect of not finishing at our school.  It is heartbreaking.  I have had families whose homes are in foreclosure say they would rather lose their house than give up a Faith education and I touched on that in March.

But over the last two days, the needs of other people were brought into sharp focus. There remain too many places where people live on about a dollar a day; there are too many places (one is too many) where children die from starvation; too many places where a simple $0.20 injection would prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child; too many places where the lack of clean water, mosquito netting or basic medical care shortens the lives of entire villages.

Even in the worst economic crisis many of us have ever seen, the Faith community is blessed beyond belief.  And while it is important that we attend to the needs of those hurting within driving distance of our school, we are doing our world a disservice if we don't engage our students with calamity facing peoples in Africa, Asia, South America and in the core of America's industrial centers.

One of my goals for our school is that our community (students, faculty, parents, churches) makes a difference in the world.  The issue is not resources, but will.  We see pockets now: MS servant event; food drives; Pennies for Patients, etc.  In eleven years here nothing made me prouder than our response to the Asian tsunami and the Gulf hurricanes three years ago. But I believe we can make a bigger impact through a sustained commitment to learning about the world around us, finding out where there is need, and developing (or joining) strategies to address the need.

I am not naive. I don't hope to end a world problem.  I just want Faith to be part of the solution.

Sum...Sum...Summertime

Three weeks back from one of the best trips ever, it is good to get refocused on what is happening at Faith.  And a lot is happening.  The track looks brand new after a resurfacing. By the time school starts, our entire campus should be enclosed with fencing, which includes some security upgrades to the gates. Work has begun on the outdoor court areas to make them suitable for tennis practices.  The front office has new carpeting (which some people like and others think belongs in a casino). We are providing an outdoor set construction area for the drama department.  The art patio has been made more secure.  New lighting has been installed in the gym, library and cafeteria.

(At the forum in Pompeii)

We are working diligently on readying our roll-out of Apple Macs to the class of 2013.  Please check the school's website for details. Next week Mr. Orr and I will be traveling to Boston for the Building Learning Communities Conference sponsored by November Learning, one of the premier organizations in the country that supports transitioning to student centered, project-based schools that teacher higher order thinking skills.  Not surprisingly, technology plays a critical role in accomplishing that transition.

Hiring is complete.  We are excited to say hello to nine new teachers who bring a varied set of experiences to our school.

We have changed drug testing companies.  We are now working with American Toxicological Inc., a local company that will provide us with faster results at less expense.  That last point means we will be able to add 1-2 more rounds of random testing.

(At the entrance to the ancient Olympic Village)

Enrollment continues to look positive for the fall.  Currently over 1330 student are registered.  With the economy in the state it is in, that number is likely to go down.  While we have long waiting lists in grades 7 & 8.  Space may be available in other grades.  Contact Mrs. Carol Neal if you need specific information about enrolling a student.

White Flag Time

We are just a few days away from May, typically the busiest month of the school year.  The calendar is populated by awards ceremonies, concerts, plays, state athletic competitions and AP exams, just to list a few things.  There will abundant opportunities to support your children by showing up at events.  And while kids may pass off your non-attendance as no big deal, in reality, it is the opportunity to make a memory that may not present itself again.

In the past few days I threw away a t-shirt from the 1999 field day (it made for a great pajama top, although that may be TMI).  We don't have field days anymore, a victim of a growing school size.  Another tradition is being changed this year as we have done away with a separate event honoring our Faith Faithful, the group of students who have spent all seven years (six for FGS students).  Last year that event went on for three hours and we had a few more FFs this year.  We will honor them at a chapel and at graduation, but this separate ceremony was a victim of our growth.  

Bigger is not necessarily better and we are working hard to make sure that Faith does not lose its personal touch in spite of having more people to reach out and touch.  Bigger does mean opportunities that are not present for smaller schools, so as in many things, we take the good with the bad.

The Value of a Faith Education

In tough economic times people assess their spending and look for value. The thrill of a new Lexus may give way to the economy of a Prius.  The deliciousness of Morton's may make way for the efficiency of MacDonalds.  Of course, value means different things to different people.  For some people their morning latte is the last thing they would give up; others have rediscovered their coffee pots.

I think it is increasingly clear that for many families, a Faith education for their children is among their highest priorities.  Too often over the last few months I have listened to families who are are the verge of losing their homes, but are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their kids in school.  That is both heart-breaking and humbling.  

Personally, those stories are a strong motivation to work as hard as possible to maintain and improve our quality.  If a parent is willing to give up a house rather than force their child into a different school, we have the obligation to make every possible effort to insure that education is worth the sacrifice. We have significant anecdotal evidence that it is.  It is not uncommon for me to hear stories from virtual strangers of the kindness shown by our students; their willingness to serve; or simply their politeness.  At a recent lacrosse game a player from Palo Verde went done with what appeared to be a serious injury.  A group of our players knelt on the field and offered a prayer on his behalf.  That powerful witness did not go unnoticed.

Producing nice kids is an important part of what we do.  Producing prepared students is a necessity. Results from recent standardized tests are just one measure of how effective that effort is, but I'll brag a little bit anyway.

The class of 2008 was an exceptional group and included two National Merit Scholars, but their classmates were pretty bright too. Our students bested the state and national averages on the SAT by substantial margins.  The class performed particularly well in critical reading and writing, but math scores were much better also. The class bested the state average in reading by 45 points; math by 26; and writing by 48.  And one important note about comparing schools, almost all of Faith's Seniors took either the SAT or ACT (and many took both). In some schools, only "upper-end" students are encouraged to take the test.  Our students who found themselves in the bottom quartile of the SAT test still scored substantially better than Nevada students in the same bottom 25%.  The gap was even bigger for students in the top 25%, where our students did 50 points better in reading; 40 points better in math; and 60 points better in writing than the Nevada averages for the students in the top 25%.

SAT scores have improved at Faith for eight of the last nine years. An increasing number of our students are admitted to highly selective universities.  This builds our reputation for excellence.  It is a nice by-product of a Christian education.

Construction: Lessons and Otherwise

I think we made some progress today. While most of our students were enjoying a day off, most of our faculty was engaged in trying to infuse technology into lessons already planned for the next couple of weeks.  Faith students will be in for a wide variety of experiences in the coming days.

I spent the day with teachers of freshmen as they learned some of the amazing things you can do with a Mac.  Perhaps you can do the same things on a PC, but I would never have thought to try them because of their complexity.  The Mac makes very cool things relatively easy for this seasoned educator.  Kids will take to it immediately.  I am setting the bar high:  9th graders will do a lot of things next year that make us go WOW!

Everyone who drives on campus has probably noticed by now the construction fence on the north side of the gym.  The expansion of the weight room is underway.  I understand a few parents have wondered aloud why are we spending more money when the economy is so distressed.  The answer is pretty simple: when we decided to move to 4A athletics, it was obvious that there would be improvements to the facility we would need to make in order to operate successfully at that level.  Our student athletes will need access to the same kinds of training and conditioning available to students in larger schools.  This particular expansion has the added benefit of improving facilities for our most popular PE class: weight training.  During the summer, the track will be resurfaced and the outdoor basketball courts reconfigured to work as a tennis practice facility.  These improvements come from our operating revenues, assisted by some short-term borrowing (at very favorable rates).   While we have some other projects in the planning stages, none are likely to get funded in he near future.  Those projects will require more substantial funding and fundraising and that effort will wait for an improved economy.

FAQ 1-to-1.1

In case you didn't see this elsewhere........

Who will get a computer in the 1-to-1 program?

Beginning next August, every freshman will receive an Apple Macbook as part of their education at Faith. Freshman in subsequent years will also get Macbooks, so that by the 2012-13 school year, every high school student will have one.

Why did the school begin with freshmen?  Shouldn’t the seniors be the 1^st beneficiaries?

There are a number of reasons. First, our funding model is built on using each computer for four years. Second, we wanted each student to get a new computer at the start of the program and ideally, be able to retain the computer upon graduation.  Starting with any class other than freshmen would mean we would have to recycle the machines through the program, which would have required more stringent guidelines on their use by our students. Third, many seniors do not have full loads, denying us maximum use of the machines.

So why not give everyone a machine and allow parents the option of buying it at fair market if it was not used for four years?

To fully implement the 1-to-1 program over the next four years the school will spend nearly $1.3 million dollars. If we bought it all at once, parents would have seen a $1000 bill. Even amortizing it over four years, tuition would need to increase by over $250 just for technology. Most parents could not absorb that increase, and fundamentally, we need to keep our doors open to continue to do ministry.  About $75 of the increase in tuition for next year supports the funding for the 1^st year of 1-to-1. We estimate that over four years, tuition will have to go up a minimum of $262 to pay for technology improvements and at that level the 1-to-1 program should be self-sustaining.  Of course, additional dollars will be needed to support other elements of the school program.

A second critical aspect of the decision to deliberately move in this way has to do with teacher preparation. We don’t want the computers to become expensive paperweights, and so we are investing in additional teacher education.  While our entire faculty has been engaged in workshops designed to improve their effectiveness in using technology, we will be providing an additional 30 hours of training in Macbook specific training.  Apple has an excellent reputation for staff development, but it is very expensive. We could not afford to train all of our teachers to the standard we believe necessary if we had to do it all at once.

So if my student isn’t a freshman, aren’t I paying for something my student won’t be receiving?

There are several ways to answer this question.  First, your tuition dollars support the school’s entire program, which includes many things your student may not personally participate in or use. Similarly, every student eats in our student center and only a few current parents pledged to the capital campaign that supported its construction and since it now paid for, everyone enjoys its benefits. But most importantly, there will still be 425 tablet PCs and 35+ computers in the Koerwitz Resource Center available for student use, now with 200 or so fewer students who need to use them.  Our non-freshman teachers will still be using technology in the classroom through the cart program.  Our administrators will still have high expectations for teacher use of technology in the classrooms.

Will there be additional costs for the parents of freshmen?

Probably.  Parents will have to buy insurance on the machines or pay a significant damage deposit.  Parents will also have to provide a school approved protective covering, case or bag for the laptop.

Why did the school switch to Apple when most of the world uses a PC?

Certainly the demise of our original PC provider, Gateway/MPC, encouraged us to look around.  While other companies could have provided tablets, that feature significantly increases the cost per unit. But for most uses, the tablet function was not required and moving away from it made moving to 1-to-1 more financially viable.  Apple is solid company with a strong reputation and growing share of the K-12 market.  Its staff development model is superior. Apple’s pricing structure is now much more favorable than it was a few years back.  Teachers who need the tablet function (particularly in math and science) will still be able to use a PC machine and Apple does make an accessory that functions as a tablet.

What about classes where freshmen are intermingled with other grades?

We will provide a cart or two with Macs on them so that teachers in those circumstances can work with a uniform group of computers. For instance, imagine a Spanish I class with fifteen 9^th and twelve 10^th graders.  Here the teacher could reserve a Mac cart and hand out the Macs to 10^th graders and then conduct the lesson.  In subsequent years of the 1-to-1 program, this becomes less necessary. Even so, in most cases the work students do is web-based, so platform (Mac or PC) doesn’t really matter. Teachers could, depending on the nature of the activity, teach students with PCs, Macs or Linux machines at the same time.

Can I buy a Macbook for my non-freshman student and can they use it is school?

No. When students are at school they connect to a network.  In order to provide security for that network, it is important that the computers are imaged the same and that everyone in the 1-to-1 program understands the rules and protocols.  Rolling out 1-to-1 according to our plan will enable us to appropriately educate both student users and their parents about what can and cannot be done with these machines.  And while I just noted that much of what students do is platform neutral, it certainly is easier on our teachers when they look out at a classroom where everyone has the same computer.

When will my freshman student get his/her computer?

We are developing plans to roll out this program.  Sometime this spring, we will have a parent meeting to present an overview of the 1-to-1 program.  Next August there will be several “pick-up” dates which will require the presence of your 9^th grader and at least one parent.

Will students continue to use textbooks?

Yes. While we are working to equip our students with 21^st century skills, books will continue to play an important role in our students’ education.  We will certainly be looking for textbook providers that include digital alternatives

History

I am a social studies teacher by training, with an emphasis on politics and government.  The last year has held great interest for me.  It probably won't surprise you to learn that I generally favored the other guy, but like most Americans, I am praying that Mr. Obama will eventually be revered as one of our greatest Presidents.  Simply put, we need great, effective leadership for our country.  I am not one of those who believe we are in the worst times since the Great Depression.  I remember gas lines, runaway inflation, and Jimmy Carter's malaise speech.  I do worry that some of the strengths that our country had in the past that could lift us out of economic calamity are no longer present.  I do believe we stand at a turning point and that the actions we take over the next few years will very much determine whether my children will have a standard of living that surpasses the one I have had for most of my life.

I am anxious to hear what he has to say.  It is a time for a return to moral courage, to look beyond our own needs and to build community.  I hope simply he tells us the truth, unambiguously.

I also hope that whenever possible, our students will be able to watch or listen to the speech on Tuesday. History is being made And what President Obama does could have a profound effect on  destinies of the young people with whom we work.  My prayer is that his decisions are guided from on high.

Technology: Some Background

I am always amused whenever we announce something significant that I will have to tamp down rumors about the change for the next couple of weeks. In the Crusader newsletter we announced that beginning next fall, all incoming freshmen students would receive a computer as part of their education at Faith. This week I took a phone call from a parent who had heard we would be eliminating textbooks as part of this program. Not true.



While I am no fan of textbooks (I think they can get in the way of teachers teaching good lessons and students taking responsibility for their own learning) at least in the near term, textbooks will continue to play a role in a Faith education. We will have discussions over the next several years about reducing our reliance on textbooks, we are not there yet. We will promote a move to electronic versions of texts whenever we can.



Over the next few months parents will get more information about what moving to one-to-one will mean for students at Faith, but I do need to immediately talk about some of the thinking that went into the way we are starting the process. The most negative feedback we have received to date has been from the parents of this year's freshmen and I guess that's understandable.

In almost any major decision we make there are competing and often contradictory interests. Throughout the last decade Faith has made an effort to build an excellent school. That has been most evident in the construction and physical improvements that have been appeared: 1st a gym, then student center and now the CPAC. While we have reached the end of a building phase, our school cannot stop improving. Excellence is a journey, not a destination. In these difficult economic times we faced troubling choice: minimize or reduce tuition and further delay implementation of our long-standing goal or begin the process of one-to-one while remaining cognizant of the impact on our families. We chose the latter. But we were mindful of the financial impact this program would have, so our roll out will be slower than we would like. I could not justify to the Board a 6-7% increase in tuition to buy the 400 computers necessary to begin with both 9th and 10th graders.

We didn't start with seniors because they would only be here for one year and many take a reduced load. That would not yield the biggest impact for our precious dollars. Now you can certainly make an argument that your tuition dollars will be paying for computers that your student will never see. The reality is that your tuition dollars pay for the school program. That may include a number of programs that your student never experiences or enjoys. Your tuition dollars support basketball teams, school newspapers, AP Studio Art and the paintball club. You may not have a student in any of them. Moreover, your tuition dollars still support technology. In fact, since the freshmen will have their own computers, our ratio of computers to students is dropping, making it more likely your student will have direct access to one of our existing laptops. Perhaps most importantly, your tuition dollars are supporting additional training that all our teachers have received over the last couple of years to equip them to be more effective users of classroom technology. That will continue to improve the education of all our students.

There is more to be said on this, but the Crusaders are in action tonight!