by Melissa Greener
Culture. It’s the ultimate buzzword within an organization. “If you don’t have a strong culture, you won’t have strong community.” “If everyone buys into the culture, you can change everything!” “Our culture is family.” But what exactly does that mean? Is it the outline of rules and regulations within the building? Is it how we conduct ourselves in the classroom, hallway, and chapel? Honestly, yes and no. A school’s culture should reflect Whose we are, how He would want us living out His mission, and where we will shine His love.
It can be a difficult philosophy to put into words when, in the end, culture is what it means to be His child and how we will live in this sinful world created in His image.
Living Word Lutheran High School, located in Jackson, WI, began the school year focused completely on culture. Our driving cultural foundation is called the LW Way; therefore, day one was called, “The LW Way Day.” We began the day with a chapel focusing on the Most Important Thing (MIT), our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Chapel introduced us to our theme verse for the school year and set the tone for building our relationships with Christ. Students praised Him through song following the lead of our student-led praise band, basiC (brothers and sisters in Christ) with a beautiful message from a well-respected neighboring pastor.
After chapel, students were dismissed in their small arrangement of peers called MIT groups. Two MIT groups traveled together to eight different stations led by the teachers of Living Word. Each session was twenty-three minutes long and centered around a different aspect of our Living Word culture, which is also visible in each classroom and in the hallways on the LW Way posters. These sessions revolved around academic, social, and spiritual success.
Each student wrote a personal mission statement to be reviewed on a quarterly basis throughout their tenure at Living Word, with the intent that they will graduate with a faith-based mission statement that will lead them on any path God has for them beyond these high school walls. After students wrote their mission statements, they were able to hear about the importance of chapel, why we do it two times a week, and why we ask them to participate to their fullest. We set a list of expectations, not because we want them to act a certain way, but because they are blessed to be at a high school that emphasizes our relationships with Christ.
After discussing the importance of chapel, students learned about relationships—their relationships with God, with themselves, and how they will build relationships with their peers and teachers. We focused on keywords, ways to encourage rather than discourage, how to support those you may not agree with, and how their friends can ultimately shape their educational and personal experiences. This transitioned our students into learning about different extracurricular opportunities on campus and the benefits of getting involved. We encouraged new students to find a group that was comfortable to them, and then tried to push the upperclassmen to try something new and get out of their comfort zone.
After addressing the importance of relationships and extracurricular activities, we shifted the focus towards how to achieve academic success at Living Word. We reviewed our technology policies, provided strategies on how to strategically use work time and study hall to maximize productivity, and discussed how their academic decisions in high school ultimately impact their lives beyond Living Word. We obviously want students to thrive academically, but we know that each student is unique in their learning style; therefore, we made sure to provide multiple ways to accomplish their academic tasks.
The following two days after the LW Way Day were used for teachers to set up classroom expectations, discuss the syllabus (if desired), and build community within the classroom. We have found that this three-day schedule sets the right tone of our school year, especially because nearly a third of the student population is new to Living Word. We set our expectations, we discussed what it means to be T-Wolf at school and in the community, and how we will walk together with Christ to shine in the world and make disciples, which should be the ultimate cultural outcome of any Lutheran education.
If we can do an LW Way Day, so can you! Customize your special day and approach to make it your own. Shape your culture. Start your year in the right direction, and enjoy the many blessings of culture centered around Christ’s love for all.
Melissa Greener currently serves as a Math and Spanish teacher, Student Council Advisor and Head Golf Coach at Living Word Lutheran High School. She is a FACT 3 graduate and can be reached at mgreener@lwlhs.com.