Katy Shields Named Educator Of The Year

 February 2016

First Immanuel teacher Miss Katy Shields was chosen as this year's recipient of the South Wisconsin District Elementary Educator of the Year. 

 

The award was presented by the South Wisconsin District on January 24th.  The Educator of the Year program recognizes outstanding teachers in South Wisconsin District preschools, elementary and high schools. Nominations may be made by administrators, teachers, parents, pastors, congregation members, and students (past and present). 

 

Miss Shields is a native of Pontiac Michigan and a 2014 graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin with degrees in both Education and History.  A typical day in Miss Shields’ class includes daily geography exercises and trivia related to the topic the students are studying at the time.  She likes to mix technology with cooperative learning as well as including more traditional educational strategies to provide students with a well- rounded experience and prepare them for life outside of First Immanuel.  She also uses a variety of projects and guest speakers to give students ownership and new perspectives of Social Studies.

  

In addition to teaching Social Studies at First Immanuel, Miss Shields is an 8th Grade Homeroom Teacher and coordinates the seventh and eighth grade trip to Washington D.C.  “I am a huge proponent of experiential learning and travel.  I am thrilled to direct my students to the marvel of how God works in the course of the story of humanity, and our own personal stories.” Shields said. 

Lutheran Schools Week

January 2016   

First Immanuel Lutheran School celebrated Lutheran Schools Week January 25th – 29th with a variety of activities, talent show and an outreach service project assembling 100 Guatemala Mission Care Packages.

Veteran's Day Assembly

November 2015   

First Immanuel Lutheran School (FILS) hosted its annual Veteran’s Day Service, Tuesday, November 3rd, at First Immanuel Lutheran Church. The event featured special music performed by the Wildcat Music Ensemble, the FILS Band and the school choir of 4th - 8th grade students. Beloved and well-known patriotic numbers included, “Star Spangled Banner”, “America, The Beautiful,” and “God Bless America,” and were dedicated to all Veterans and especially those in attendance from the American Legion Post 288 of Cedarburg.

 

In addition to being guests of honor, the Legionnaires performed a flag-folding demonstration, which explained the significance of each of the 13 folds to the students, faculty, parents, and members of the public who were in attendance.

 

The keynote address was given by SSG David Shields RET of the National Guard, who is also the father of one of the event organizers, FILS history teacher, Ms. Shields. The event was co-organized by Mrs. Grabenhofer, FILS music director. SSG Shields showed photos and talked about some of his experiences during his tour in Iraq.

 

FILS middle schoolers created a special Poppy Installation that was on display during the service. Poppies were also the topic of historic readings, given by a number of FILS students, which traced the flower back to being the only plant that grew in the barren battlefields after WWI. Since then, the students explained, the poppy has become one of the most common symbols to commemorate fallen American soldiers.

 

The service concluded with a receiving line where students could shake hands with and thank all the Veterans in attendance.  After the service, many of the Legionnaires and other veterans stayed and volunteered their time to visit with fourth through eighth grade classes and answer any questions about serving in the military. 

 

The First Immanuel Lutheran School Veteran’s Day Service is free annual event and is open to the public.