Monday means good news for Lutheran schools!

Monday has arrived. The weekend is over and the reality of a new work week ahead has hit.Are you primed for a great week, or are you going to let Monday get you down?How about some good news to get your Monday rolling?Enrollment for our region's 18 Lutheran schools (17 elementary schools, plus Concordia Lutheran High School) has reached its highest enrollment since 2003-2004!Enrollment is now at 4,117, an increase of 69 students over last year's increased enrollment (4,048). This is the highest enrollment since the 2003-2004 school year, when there were 23 area Lutheran schools compared to our 18 schools of today.Compared to last year, eight schools have increased enrollment (CLHS, Emmaus and Concordia having the biggest increases), two schools have exactly the same enrollment, and eight schools saw a drop in enrollment.Looking into the numbers, there are 196 more Indiana Choice Scholarship students this year in our schools, bringing the total to nearly 1,900 total voucher recipients.Outside Fort Wayne, only two of our seven schools experienced an enrollment increase, and only one of these had a significant increase (St. John-Kendallville).Why celebrate increasing enrollment? More kids attending Lutheran schools means... Sharing Christ to students and families. What does this look like? Compassionate care at the death of loved ones. Baptisms of kids from the schools. Worship and prayer. Reaching out to the community--near and far--with mission projects. Increasing awareness of the value of Lutheran education for Indiana kids, Lutheran and non-Lutheran alike. Mike Rosin, principal of Concordia on Lake said, "Word gets around. What I've heard from parents of new students is that they heard about us from others who have their children here." Translation: The best advertising for our schools is those families who have children in our schools. Opportunities to expand. Many of our schools are considering expansion, or are in process of renovating or building. What thoughts have been given to expanding capacity so to reach more kids with our schools? What about starting a new Lutheran school?!What else comes to mind? Share your thoughts with me.Let's be sure we are doing all we can to care for all in our schools, provide a strong education, and be bold in sharing Christ in and out of the classroom.Mr. Rosin went on to say, "I believe that if you stay faithful to what the Lord asks, then you will have a place where parents want their kids to be."That's Lutheran education. Faithful to Christ. Focused on the needs of kids and families. For you.Peace and joy,Mark MuehlDirector