From the Director
Parents and Friends,
When it comes to educating your child here on Chicago’s North Shore, we know you have several excellent options. That you have chosen the faculty and staff of the Glenview New Church Schools to partner with you on this journey is a great source of pride for us and something we take very seriously. Thank you. We’re honored by your choice and pledge to educate your child with great care and a constant eye on the future adult we hope each child will one day blossom into; someone who is competent, confident, and a good citizen with excellent character.
There’s a story I heard a number of years ago about a Cherokee Indian Chief who was talking with his granddaughter. The Chief was telling about Grey Wolf and White Wolf who regularly came to him in his dreams. Grey Wolf was evil. He was the strong and cunning leader of a large pack but he was selfish, arrogant, falsely proud, bent on dominance and full of rage. White Wolf was Good. He too led a great pack of wolves but he led with kindness, wisdom, patience, humility, generosity, peace and compassion. Each night the two wolves fought for control in Grandfather’s dreams. They tore at each other with their teeth and claws, and growled furiously. After describing the battle of these two wolves Grandfather sat in silence. The granddaughter thought about it for a minute and then asked her grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
All of us, no matter what age, face these battles between kindness and selfishness, immediate gratification and self-regulation, in a word- good and evil. One of the greatest strengths of the Glenview New Church Schools, and I hope a primary part of your decision to enroll here, is the way in which we manage this component of education. When you visit the classroom you will see adults modeling excellent behavior and consistently encouraging the children to be like that White Wolf. Our focus is on the Lord all the time as the source of everything good. Sometimes it is overt, as in worship or chapel. Other times it is less apparent, but the commitment to living a life of kindness, faith and charity are present all the time.
I encourage you to visit your child’s classroom occasionally this year. Participate in one of the fund raisers. Offer to teach a class on a subject you know a great deal about. Attend one of the field trips. Your unique contributions will be a wonderful support to the teacher, but even more, you’ll be amazed at the positive impact your participation can have on the children’s lives as well. While you are there, take some time to soak in the atmosphere of the classrooms; the innocence, the zest for life, the eagerness to learn, and the ease with which God is invited into the conversation. I think you’ll find your White Wolf being fed.
Blessings,
