Our Mission and Vision
Mission Statement: St. Stephens Lutheran School, in partnership with parents, glorifies God by nurturing and training students to develop their God-given gifts, to excel academically, and to live their faith with others.
Lutheran schools face many challenges today. Christian values and morals are rapidly disappearing. New family structures demand increased time and effort for teachers to minister to children and parents. Classroom education is not the same each year … it is constantly changing, ever evolving. The amount of critical knowledge students are expected to retain is increasing faster than we can imagine. Educational innovations and expectations are happening at such a frantic pace that neither teacher nor student can really keep up.
In the midst of the many changes in our schools and in our world, St. Stephens Lutheran School can offer a constant that does not change. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Our school teaches the love of Jesus Christ; we teach a changeless Christ to a changing world.
To effectively provide a quality Christian education that meets the ever-changing needs of students, St. Stephens Lutheran School will focus on these core values: faith, excellence, partnership and opportunities.
Our Vision
Our vision as a school ministry is to provide a quality Christ-centered education that also provides a strong academic foundation to prepare all students for the demands of living in the 21st Century. Our vision is that our students will develop into responsible, Christ-centered citizens, who make good decisions and witness their faith to others. Our professional educators will be well-prepared to teach students in a digital age and have a great understanding of Christian doctrine and practice. The School Board and administration share in the responsibility to ensure that adequate staff development is provided to help keep teachers current and professionally prepared.
Developing a spirit of trust, partnership, and collaboration with parents plays a vital role in the education of students and within our entire school community. Teachers must show love and respect for the many different family situations, accepting the various learning needs of students and appreciating that not all students will have the same talents, skills, or aptitudes. Being flexible and adapting to meet the individual needs of students is critical to the academic success and spiritual development of all students. Parents must also be cooperative and supportive of the efforts of our faculty and staff and handle conflicts and all situations with Christ-like love.
As partners, it is important that all stakeholders within the SSLS community (parents, students, faculty, and congregation) display a positive attitude toward our school ministry. Concerns and opportunities for improvement should be addressed in productive ways through the proper channels. All members of the school community play the role of "advocate for the school" and should share our common mission, core values, purpose, and vision. They are responsible for sharing the strengths and positive components of our school ministry to the people of Hickory and beyond.
The end desire for St. Stephens Lutheran School is to be "a great school for teaching and learning", providing students with a meaningful, quality preparation for life in a caring and passionate way, producing children who live productive Christian lives of service to our Lord and mankind.
