August 14, 2018 
Dear Parents,
We all want good communication, but often we think of it in one direction. We want others to communicate with us, but we don’t always think to communicate with them.
In this writing I hope to outline our communication, and I would love your feedback on ways we can improve. I also want to encourage you to communicate with your child’s teacher or the school office.  Let’s make it a two-way street.
Each week, Mrs. Pooley sends out the Friday Tidbits. This provides you with most of the general information about Epiphany. Each home room teacher also sends out a weekly email or some equivalent describing what’s happening specifically in that class. I write a blog geared more to philosophical issues. This year about 25% of our students are new to Epiphany, so I plan to write explanations of our policies.
If you have a question about something, you are always encouraged to ask. Begin with your child’s homeroom teacher or the teacher of the subject in question. If you do not feel your issue was resolved adequately, you are welcome to talk to me. I am available each morning greeting students outside the school and am always eager for your conversation.
We are small enough that within a couple weeks I will know the names of all students and most parents. We want you to feel right at home here.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
In His Service,


Tim Miesner
Principal

Dear Parents,
I’d like to address the topic of students and devices, one of many topics that I hope to address in writing to you throughout the school year.  If you are reading this and your children are too young to carry devices with them, please read on. It’s only a matter of time until you encounter the issues addressed below.
As students mature, parents often give them electronic devices that are connected to the marvels of the Internet.  With this comes privileges and responsibilities that are very adult-like.  Much like beginning to drive a car, these students now hold in their hands the power to do wonderful things or to create serious problems.
With privileges come responsibility. New users see the privileges but don’t fully comprehend the problems or responsibilities. How do you as a parent help them learn?
Here are some practical suggestions that I hope will help:

• Ensure your child knows the device comes from you and you are in control.  Even if they’ve earned the money themselves, they could not have done so without you.  You are the parent whom God has charged with the responsibility for raising that child.
• Talk with your child about how the device will benefit and potentially harm others.  Ask how much they know already.  Don’t lecture, ask.  Usually they know, but don’t think about it.  Give them a chance to verbalize.
• Know the password(s) for your child’s device(s), and check on them regularly.  Kids will handle devices very differently when they know someone else is looking.  That’s not surprising, since it applies to adults too.  Accountability is good.
• Know your child’s friends and their parents.  That’s easy at Epiphany, but they may also have online friends.  This is also a good reason to check on the use frequently.
• Resist the urge to feel as if you are violating their privacy.  It’s natural to feel this way, but often this used as an excuse to abdicate parental responsibility.

As a school, we are happy to help, but we have practical imitations. We don’t log into children’s devices, which is the most important way to monitor it.  That’s a parent’s role.  When teachers address social media, they are addressing an entire class. There are things they can and cannot say in that setting. As a parent, you can address these issues more effectively, because you are speaking to just one child. You can address their individual questions and concerns with your own set of family values.
Blessings on your parenting, which is undoubtedly the most important task before you!
Tim Miesner
Principal

Dear Parents,
For the past few years I have written to the parents of our students about a topic relevant to families in today’s world. My goal this year is to share my thoughts with you on a weekly basis. In this writing I want to tell you why I feel so blessed with this school year.
First, on Friday I saw so many returning families, and I was touched by the trust that you have placed in us as your school. We value the partnership and will do our best to work with you and your child.
Second, as I saw new families coming in, I was excited at the prospect of forming additional relationships. Thanks for coming through our doors and beginning this new partnership.
Third, this year we have four new teachers whom I believe bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our faculty. I look forward to seeing them integrate into our current staff.
Fourth, I am completely indebted to all the returning teachers who continue to give of their time and energy in this ministry. It’s no secret salaries are lower at a Christian school than in public school, and these teachers have continued to serve here because of their love for the Lord, His families, and His children.
But the biggest reason I feel excited about this new year is the way in which the Lord blessed us to bring all these new teachers, returning teachers, returning families and new families together! I have truly seen His hand in it. I’m looking forward to see how He will bless this year.
Next week I plan to address the topic of social media.
Thanking God for our Epiphany Lutheran School family,
Tim Miesner
Principal

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10