Lutheran Schools Week - Learning Together
"And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him." (Luke 2:39-40 ESV)
Like the boy Jesus, ILS students are growing physically but also in wisdom. Students (and their teachers alongside them) learn language, mathematics, history, and science. They are also learning the words of Scripture as Jesus did. We pray that that the all of our learning might be to the Glory of God and in service to our neighbor.
Enjoy this post on Learning Together by ILS 4th grade teacher, Miss Leithart.
Beauty in Storytelling
By Miss Leithart
Once upon a time... What comes to mind upon the uttering of those words in that order? Perhaps you think of childhood enchantment that sweeps your weary mind to a distant land in a far off time, past or future, where there lives a protagonist who will eventually overcome hardship. “And they lived happily ever after,” the story will end. Granted, this formula is more prevalent in children’s literature, for not all stories and novels end happily despite our protestations and verbal opposition. Nevertheless, we all love a good story, and humans have since the beginning of time. For instance, the Genesis Creation is written poetically with a beginning middle and end. God rests on the last day because he saw his creation was good. Thus, from the start, our knowledge of who we are in the universe was given to us in a story like fashion.
Music Program Creates Unique Opportunities for Students
Immanuel Lutheran School students have begun the new school year enjoying a variety of musical opportunities, including live performances by local area musicians as well as the chance to travel off-campus to hear live professional performances.
On Friday, September 25, the entire school was treated to a special bagpipe performance by Frank Lucchetti. Mr. Lucchetti is a sophomore at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington. In addition to sharing with students the history of the bagpipes and how the instrument is played, Mr. Lucchetti performed a variety of music, including both Amazing Grace and the theme song from Star Wars, much to the delight of the younger students.
Additionally, this is the fourth year in a row that ILS students have attended a performance of the Washington Bach Consort Noontime Cantata Series at the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C. On October 6, students enjoyed the featured Cantata, Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 95, along with a solo performance of Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, BWV 548, performed by J. Reilly Lewis on the recently restored Æolian-Skinner organ. Following the performance, students had an opportunity for Q&A with the musicians.
The music program is an important part of the classical curriculum at ILS. All students are taught music appreciation through the study of Compositions and Composers of the Week. Each week, the entire student body listens to and studies a classical composer, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonin Dvorak, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Students also learn singing and have the opportunity to perform in a number of programs throughout the year. Beginning in third grade, students also begin playing the recorder and hand chimes, and students in the upper grades have the opportunity to learn the hand bells. Additionally, ILS Upper School students are this year participating in a vocal masterclass with Ms. Stephanie Lange.
Students are looking forward to a harp demonstration from local musician Sarah Meirose on Friday, November 13th, as well as their own upcoming evening choral service in December.
Beauty in Discipline
Upper School Coffee Reflection
On the first Friday of the school year, after praying as a school community to begin our day, about 20 parents gathered for coffee in our school’s schole room.
Schole is a Greek term, meaning leisure or rest. Its meaning is very active however, not like we think of leisure today. In some ways, I feel that if I was truly leisurely this morning, I would have slept in, and certainly would not have walked the dog. “Not necessarily!” Would say the classical Greeks. Schole is leisure or rest in contemplation and it largely comes through conversation and reflection. To a classical Greek, schole could very well be accomplished as I walked my dog and prayed and thought. Why? It is what happens when a human focuses on higher matters, which can be done while the body is engaged in tasks or is sitting still. For example, schole is never my rattled and disjointed train of thought as I’m driving to work. However, if I was driving to work and truly reflecting on my morning Bible study, that’s different- that’s schole.
Reflection on Leisure by Mrs. Honig
By Mrs. Honig
Leisure. The mere word evokes meaning and images from a quiet retreat in nature to taking time apart from work to spend time with family and friends. The word “leisure” comes from the French word “leisir” meaning “to be allowed”. I was instantly struck by this definition. Do we “allow” ourselves the opportunity to experience wonder and beauty only during inactivity or can we find leisure in work.
Reflection on Leisure by Miss Leithart
On First Looking at a Keats Poem
By Miss Leithart
I remember a point in time at St. John’s, where I spent most of my summer attending the Graduate Institute, when I felt as if I had entered what some great thinkers have termed the “Great Conversation.” Having finished the last book of Homer’s Iliad, I was riding the waves of accomplishment when someone dear to me suggested I read John Keats’ poem “On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer.” I did, and I think I understood him when he wrote:
Reflection on Leisure by Mrs. Gorr
The vast majority of my time this summer has been spent with my daughter. This is time that I treasure greatly. Much of the time that we have spent together has been active, but we have also enjoyed more peaceful activities and worked in moments of leisure. Many times we have enjoyed reading together. I love books, and for me, spending time immersed in stories and words with my daughter is truly leisure time.
Reflection on Leisure by Miss Fleming
Is it possible to enjoy leisure while surrounded by thousands of tourists?
This is something I found myself wondering this past week while in Paris. Miss German, Miss Clevenger, Mr. Schultz, and Mrs. Stone wrote thoughtfully about ways to quietly enjoy leisure, by yourself or with your family. But what about when you are visiting a new location where you are a total stranger and fighting to survive? Can you enjoy leisure there as well?
A Pedagogy of Beauty
How is your summer going? Leisurely?
Thanks to the ILS PTL and board, I was privileged to attend this year’s Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education conference in Dallas, where the singing was loud as the ‘ya’lls’ were resplendent. Aside from wonderful Matins and Divine Service, there was very little leisure. There was, however, good work to be done, tenets of classical Lutheran education to be remembered and challenging ideas to be discussed.