Dear Members of the Zion-St. John Lutheran School Family,

Greetings to you in the Savior's name!
I have a vision for this school. Simply put, I see us as:

"An ever growing community of spiritual and educational excellence."

We are growing in many ways. Growth is not simply enrollment numbers, although those have been growing recently. Growth also involves the people in our entire organization. From teachers and staff becoming better prepared to serve our students through professional development activities, to our PTL and parents strengthening and enhancing the school for our students, and certainly growth of our students who are at our school to grow wisdom and faith in God. We all need to continue to develop ourselves in God pleasing ways. This growth must be on going, and cannot rest or pause if our goal is to offer the best possible Christian education for all the students God has entrusted to our care. "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the head, that is Christ" Ephesians 4:15.

We are a community in many ways. We share our hopes and sorrows together. We talk and keep informed about what is happening at this school. We are closely bound together geographically and spiritually as a family in our mission of providing the best possible Christian education for our children. We are connected in many ways to each other. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10

We must strive for excellence. We must strive for the best possible education available for our students. Our goal must not be to just be OK, or even good. We should push for educational excellence and superior teaching and learning. We are also blessed to strive for spiritual excellence in teaching and living the saving Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Our school community has been repeatedly blessed by God in so many ways, and our response to those blessings should be reflected in our spiritual life. "But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
2 Cor. 8:7.

That is my vision for this school. I hope you will make it yours as well. As your principal, a teacher, and a father, I look forward to working together with you this year to bring us closer to achieving this vision of becoming an ever growing community of spiritual and educational excellence for all our children.

In His Service,