Private school finds new home

While the public schools welcomed students by the hundreds Wednesday, one small private school of 25 students entered a new facility adjacent to its sponsoring congregation.

The Luther Center for Learning has occupied a few different sites over the years and its leaders hope to eventually construct a building of their own on Mullenix Road. But for now, students will gather in a newly remodeled facility attached to the school’s founding and sponsoring congregation, Spirit of Life Lutheran Church.

Wednesday morning the school had its opening convocation before sorting the students into three classrooms — kindergarten through first grade, second through third grade and fourth through sixth grade.

The school has grown each year as it increases grade levels along with the oldest students. Eventually the school will offer education to every grade level.

Director Barbara Haueisen said the school caters to students of many backgrounds and denominations. Most students are not members of Spirit of Life. Because of this, the spiritual side of the curriculum focuses on what are called “fruits of the spirit.”

The fruits consist of values like love, joy, kindness, self-control and many others.

“These kinds of values are integral,” Haueisen. “It’s largely a matter of, ‘How can we be a service to the community.’ ‘What can we do here in this place to make our little corner of the world a better place to be?’”

The $700,000 remodel was paid for by the congregation and includes an expansion of the church’s sanctuary on the upper floor.

When the group is eventually able to move to its own building, the church will retain the area for its other programs.

For more information on the school, visit www.luthercenterforlearning.org, or call (360) 895-1782.

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