Partnerships
Partnership implies that two people or groups consent to work together for the common good of both. As such, our school wants to partner with students. We want to partner with our church. And we want to partner with our community.
But most of all, our school must partner with our parents in educating and raising children. Parents want to be good parents. Parents want help to be good parents. As such, the Lutheran school should provide greater assistance to help parents in the Christian education of their children. Our families and schools need to work together to make a Christian education possible, so that we can “bring them up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6).
We must value our home and school partnership. Teachers want to partner with parents, and parents want to partner with teachers. In order for our students to reach their fullest potential, there must be partnership between the home and school. Seeking to understand one another and communicating effectively are absolutely critical elements in this positive partnership. Listening to each other and providing opportunities for two-way communication and parent input into the school ministry demonstrates a willingness to work together.
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. Our 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.
As our school strives to teach the “whole” child, we will include a proactive parent partnership plan. SSLS will provide a strong family support system by offering parenting classes, resource materials, and counseling assistance to address the needs of the ever-changing family structure.
Partnership is a goal, not an option. As we seek to improve our school, we will strive to build positive partnerships in our school. Some partnerships may be easy to establish, others will take much more time and effort.
