And just like that, we are back in school and next week we will be celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week.  NLSW is filled with learning, special dress days, and service projects. Many thanks to the four association churches that support MLA.  This year’s NLSW theme is “It’s Still All About Jesus.” What a blessing it is to be able to celebrate with over 2000 Lutheran early childhood, elementary and high schools across the world.   Lutheran schools have about 18,000 teachers who are able to touch the lives of about 200,000 students.  

 There are many reasons why families have chosen Lutheran schools.   Listed below are some from this site - https://www.lcms.org/school-ministry

• Are driven by a commitment to the Gospel and focused on a mission of bringing hope and healing to students and families.
• Meet or exceed state and national academic standards at all grade levels.
• Have educators who model visionary leadership.  
• Have educators who model servant leadership.
• Have educators who model spiritual leadership.

 At MLA, we are blessed to be able to put these reasons into practice as well.  Everyday, the gospel is shared with our students, families and between the faculty and staff.  The faculty gathers daily for devotions in the morning. We open and closes the school day with prayer and there are many other examples.  We continually strive to exceed academic standards as well as the standards of the world.  All of our teachers had the opportunity to share with me what they see for MLA in the future, and it is being used to help develop a stronger vision.  They also know what needs to be learned by their students each year, so they may be successful in the next grade.  Our faculty and staff continue to surprise me with the effort they show in different events over the course of the year.  MLA is truly blessed to have such a loving, caring and knowledgeable staff.     

So why MLA?  Because, daily we have the opportunity to share with all, the love of our Lord and savior Jesus.  We praise Jesus for being “the same yesterday and today and forever.”        

 Mr. Scott Dixon