Take a moment each week to better know our outstanding teachers and staff! Each week, we'll feature a faculty member for "Meet Us Mondays," as we share responses to our 10 questions. Kicking us off, our wonderful headmaster, Ms. Julia Habrecht! Enjoy!
What we're reading (Back to School edition)...
Happy September! We have been so excited to welcome back to school all of our new and returning families this week. It is so wonderful to see all the joy and smiling faces and hear about the many summer adventures had by our families.
Over the summer, we launched a new blog series, "What we're reading..." where we share articles, blog posts, or other sites that our faculty has found fascinating, intriguing or inspiring. Whether they are related to specific subject areas or the topic of classical education, or something related to the myriad of other interests of our faculty, we like to share in the hopes that you may find them worth checking out as well.
We love to hear from you, too! Have a great article, blog post or website that you've enjoyed lately? Please share in the comments!
What we're reading (August edition)...
Last month we decided to share a few blogs, articles and news that had captured our attention or sparked our imagination recently. We heard from a number of readers that they enjoyed seeing some of the things that our faculty and teachers were enjoying, so we have decided to make this a regular monthly feature on our blog.
This month, we have articles on the philosophy of spaces, the economics of Jane Austen, the misuse of the English language, the importance of learning cursive, how "goofing off" helps kids to learn, and more!
Thank you to our ILS parents who brought some of these great articles to our attention! Have you read and interesting article or blog post recently? We love it when you share things you've found of interest. Please feel free to leave a link in the comments section below!
Summer Teacher Challenge: Math Logic Puzzle from Mr. Schultz
Our ILS faculty invite our students (and parents!) to challenge themselves a bit this summer with our new Summer Teacher Challenge series! We'll be sharing a variety of puzzles and challenges from our ILS teachers that we invite you to solve. Students, share your solutions in the comments section for each challenge, and you could win a prize (please see our first challenge for more information on our great prizes!)
What we're reading (blog edition)...
Summer is here, and that means a little more time for catching up on our reading! We already shared some of our favorites books from our Upper and Lower School summer reading lists (and we would love to hear what books you and your children are enjoying this summer).
Now we thought we would share a few blogs, articles and news that have captured our attention or sparked our imagination this summer. We asked some of our teachers and faculty to share some things that have found to be interesting reads lately. From articles on classical, Christian education, to commentary on baseball, exploring the concept of utopia to Lincoln's greatest speech, here are a few reads we thought you might enjoy as well.
Have an interesting article or blog post you'd like to share? Leave the link in the comments section below!
Summer Teacher Challenge: Latin Translation from Mrs. Krumwiede
Our ILS teachers invite our students (and parents!) to challenge themselves a bit this summer with our new Summer Teacher Challenge series! We will be sharing a variety of puzzles and challenges from our ILS teachers on our blog throughout the summer and giving you the chance to solve them. Share your solutions in the comments section for each challenge, and you could win a prize!
For each Challenge, students have one week to share their solutions. We will draw a name from the correct responses, and the winner will be able to choose from a variety of great prizes. We will have some fantastic books (including the new illustrated Harry Potter books!) from which to choose, as well as gift cards to Dairy Godmother!
Our first Summer Teacher Challenge comes from 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Krumwiede. Try your hand at translating this short story from Latin into English, and the best translation will win! (For our younger Latin scholars, a glossary of terms is included in the comments section. For our older scholars, we encourage you to give us your best translation without using the glossary!)
Puer Parvus et Luna Magna
Puer parvus magnam lunam cum oculis spectat. Luna magna in eo lucet. Lux eum adit et puer parvus lunam magnam laudat, “Sum parvus. Es magna. Adsum. Abes. Eheu! Deus ea magna et parva creat!” Puer parvus ad stellas et lunam cantat. Est laetus. Deus puerum spectat et gaudet, “Hic puer mihi gaudium dat et eum beabo.”
What we're looking forward to in 2017-2018...
School may be out for the summer, but our teachers and faculty are already getting excited as they look ahead to the 2017-2018 school year. Among the many things we are looking forward to in the coming school year: a new building, new students and families, and new opportunities for learning and fun! We asked the faculty to share some of what they are excited for next year, and we hope you enjoy their responses.
What are you looking forward to next year? Let us know in the comments!
Summer Reading Lists & Faculty Recommendations
Ah, summer! Students, parents and teachers alike have been counting down to summer break. It is a time for fun and relaxation, spending time with family and friends, and the beauty of schole.
As a part of their summer schole, students of all ages (and their families!) are strongly encouraged to make reading a part of their daily routine. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies, read individually or out loud together should inspire and fuel a sense of wonder and curiosity for both students and adults.
To this end, ILS offers families a list of suggested readings for both Upper and Lower School students. Students may enjoy reading books from their own grade level, or listening as parents read aloud from more challenging texts.
With so many excellent choices from which to choose, we asked our faculty to share some of their personal recommendations to help you get started! We'd love to hear from you, too. Do you or your kids have any favorites on these lists you would recommend? Let us know in the comments!
Congratulations, Graduates!
On Wednesday, June 7th, ILS celebrated our 2017 Graduation Vespers. It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and rejoicing with our 8th grade students as they completed their time and course of study at ILS and prepare to embark on the next part of their educational journey as they move on to different high schools next fall. Along with their families, we are so proud of this ILS Class of 2017, and we keep you in our prayers and hope you will return often to visit.
Pastor Esget gave the graduation sermon, advising our graduates to be thoughtful and discerning when it comes to the advisors that will guide them in the years ahead. The sermon can be read in its entirety online.
“Each one of you has received great gifts. Huit, you have a quick wit; Gabriel, you are bold and confident; Josie, you are bright and thorough; Kris, every day you work harder and smile more, the Lord Himself has adopted you and made you His own; Preston, you quietly, honorably, and respectfully do exceptional work; and Justus, you fill every day with joy and encouragement.
And all the gifts you have received can be turned against you by counselors who don’t have your best interests at heart. Tonight’s Psalm tells us there are two different kinds of counselors. They are represented by the counselors who guide earthly rulers, and the counsel that God Himself gives to you.
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever; the plans of his heart to all generations. (Ps. 33.10f).
The counsel of the nations—all the counsel the world will give you—is going to come to nothing. God’s counsel is what lasts, even if it means being different or weird or out of step with everyone else.”
Some of Our Favorite Memories from 2016-2017
Field Trips. Friends. House Team Competitions. Grandparents Day. Teachers. Mount Vernon. The Washington Chorus. School Construction. Science Camp. Spelling Bee. Class Plays. Christmas Caroling. Chili Cookoff. Reading Buddies. Student versus Parent Basketball Game. Pizza Days. Upper School Electives. Drop Everything and Read Day. Fall Parent Socials. Day of Service. Lutheran Schools Week. P.E. After-School Spanish Class. Thankful Thursdays. Journalism Club. Oration Showcase. Veterans Day. Soccer Team. Parent Coffees. Lower School Showcases. Chapel Helpers. Teacher Swap Day. Talent Show. Science Fair. Lunch Bunch Concert at First Baptist. Field Day. Patrol. Advent Evening Prayer Service. Mother-Daughter Tea. In-Class Music Recitals. 100th Day of School. Adventure Camp. ILS Day at Nats Park. Student Ambassadors. Weekly Chapel. MathCounts Competition. National Zoo. Basketball Team. The Great Zucchini. National Latin Exam. Graduation Party.
It has been another wonderful year here at ILS, and we have enjoyed making so many great memories with all our students, teachers, and families this year. We asked students and teachers to share some of their favorite things from the year, and we hope you enjoy their responses! Let us know some of your favorite memories from this year in the comments.