The Finale'

End of the TSL Teacher Blog :(

This will be my last post. As you see above, my first post was in August 2003. So for 7 1/2 years you have followed this blog until it's conclusion.

Why is there a conclusion? Because I will be leaving TSL. After 23 years I feel the Lord is directing me to a new place in which I shall minister in His kingdom. That new place is Shoreland Lutheran High School. It is one hour Southeast of Watertown, WI in the little hamlet of Somers, WI.

While at SLHS, I will be the Director of Technology. My role their includes these three things: 1.) Train the teachers to more effectively use technology in their already good lessons; 2.) Develop and implement a technology curriculum; 3.) Make a three year plan to move SLHS to a 1-to-1 computing environment.

I will be in charge of not only helping teachers teach with technology, but teaching the technology classes I develop, and repairing and/or maintaining most of SLHS' computers, servers, and network infrastructure. So, I have a little bit of a learning curve ahead of me. I also have to be in charge with my wife Heidi, of our three kids who will still be at home as well. Two will be in college next year so there just isn't as much upkeep with them every day. They just cost more,

Next year I will also teach the Freshman Algebra-1. I will also be the JV Boys Basketball coach. Yes, I know, I currently teach our Extended Learning 7-8th graders math, so I'll have to study up a wee-little-bit. And, yes, I know that I haven't coached more than a summer league 7-8th grade boys team in basketball for 12 years. I'll need to brush up a bit on that as well, but with 5 kids in basketball it should be easier to pick up than say, football!!

So while it will be a sad ending to many friends, former students, current students :(... and colleagues in the Watertown area, we won't be that far away...come see us, too!! Plus, if we don't sell our house, who knows how long we will be hanging around here?!?!?!?!

As always, In Christ's Peace I leave you!!

Andrew Willems

ps...I left my favorite posts up for you to read.

pss...SLHS Educator's Blog will be in the near future!!

Monday Dec. 6th

This is the first entry in this Blog.

I am a teacher at Trinity-St. Luke's Lutheran School in Watertown, WI. I am beginning this Blog as a way to personally extend my writing and also reflect on my days of teaching.

Feel free to ask questions or post comments.

Today began like any other. It is enjoyable to see the students come in the door in the morning. That is why I am here, to educate these students mentally and spiritually.

During Religion class today, my student teacher tried a quick 'jigsawing' activity to wake them up for discussion. That went well, but as soon as he started leading discussion, they seemed to zone back into sleep mode. All day long I noticed students active, loud and talkative. Why don't they do that in Religion class? What have we, as teachers, done to make them tune out to God's Word? Have we not shown them this is the most important class they will ever learn? The only one with Eternal benefits?

One of my students feels picked on now. He did a mature, Christian thing. One of his friends did something wrong. He though he was doing his friend a favor by not saying anything, but it bothered him and he spilled his guts to me. When confronted, the friend knew it was wrong. Now the friend has friends who are picking on him. Not making fun of him, or saying mean stuff to him, but ignoring him...leaving this very social boy completely alone; freezing him out. With friends like that, who needs enemies. And people wonder why they should go to a Christian school when un-Christian things like that go on.

Finally, today the Lakeside Lutheran High School recruitment director visited. Out of 33 eighth grade students, we had 18 take registration packets!! That is awesome! Along with the 4 or five kids who will go to Luther Prep, that is 2/3 of our students planning on attending Lutheran High Schools, where they will continue to have God's Word around them as they grow and mature in this crazy, mixed-up world. To God alone be the Glory!

http://www.stlukewatertown.org/school.html