Now that we are over a month into the school year, I like to reflect on what we have done to help our new students and their families make the transition into Concordia.
- EPIC - Our EPIC (Empowering and Preparing Incoming Cadets) program provides freshmen and transferring students with a mentor and a supportive environment that fosters a smooth transition to CLHS. Our mentors work with new students to help them get settled at Concordia, including events during the summer like the Escape Room challenge and a Pizza/Trivia Party.
- Freshman/New Student Orientation Day – It was a time for new students to meet their classmates and teachers before school started. They visited classrooms, followed an abbreviated class schedule, and played icebreaker games with our Peer Ministers.
- Freshman Retreat - We traveled up to Quaker Haven Camp for a day of games, activities and great food to help them get to know other freshmen and their teachers. We capped off the day with a group picture and writing a letter to themselves that they will get to open at graduation.
- Free Tutoring – It is very important to get off on the right foot academically. Students have the opportunity to take advantage of our FREE tutoring services down in the Resource Room every day after school until 5:00 pm.
- Easy access to communicate with teachers – We host “Back to School Night” during the first week of school to give parents the chance to meet their student’s teachers and our administrators. All of our teachers have phones in their classrooms and their email addresses are simply the first letter of their first name followed by their last name and then “clhscadets.com”
- 40-minute Lunch/10-minute Passing Periods – The long lunch gives students extra time to work on homework or socialize with new or old friends. The long passing period gives students plenty of time to go back to their lockers between classes.
- Wine & Cheese Social for New Parents – This is a period of transition for parents too! This year we hosted this event as a mixer for freshman and transfer parents. It was such a success that there has been talk about making it an annual event!
I, too, have a freshman this year at CLHS. I think that with change, we all experience anxiety. When I start to stress about the future I remind myself of a few things:
- I trust the next chapter because I know the author.
- “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
For those of you that are starting your high school planning for your student, we are finishing up our Concordia Coffee Chats on the following campuses:
10/1 St. Peter @ 8:30 a.m. - St. Peter Lutheran Church, Cornerstone Room
10/3 Ascension @ 8:00 a.m. - cafeteria
10/7 Emmaus @ 8:15 a.m. - cafeteria
10/11 Suburban Bethlehem @ 8:00 a.m. - cafeteria
10/17 Woodburn Lutheran @ 8:00 a.m. – cafeteria
Please feel free to stop by one of the Coffee Chats or call me at (260) 483-1102, ext. 298 to talk or set up a meeting.
Shine On,
Dawn Schuller,
Director of Admissions & Retention