Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Hanna Beardsley Middle School Principal Ron Ludwig Reaches Out To Fellow Christians To Help Crystal Lake Kids
Noting, “We have many teachers with great big hearts who will stay ‘til three o’clock and help kids,” he said he also knew many people in many churches who would be willing to assist, if they were asked.
He pointed out that churches have volunteers who work weekly or daily at their own churches. Another group of church members are attracted to mission trips, “but I didn’t see a lot of the middle—something outside the walls of the church, but (which) wouldn’t require going out-of-town.
“Church and school are the only two places in town where you see reality,” Ludwig, who opened Hanna Beardsley nine years ago, suggested. “You folks see it in a small way. We see about 90%.
“I had DCFS I my building in three different situations this week and, of course, who’s caught in the middle—the child.,” he said referring to divorce disputes.
“If we could create some kind of program where we could catch some people, even if it’s only a couple,” he mused.
So far, the Methodist Church, Harvest Bible Church, Willow Creek and the Evangelical Free Church have members participating in the “Save Our Students” program he is trying to make work. Volunteers spend from an hour to 2-3 hours once a week on any day that is convenient. Ludwig is trying to recruit retired folks, high school kids and empty nesters.
From a Christian perspective, he’s looking for “those who are in their walk where this would fit.”
Ludwig hopes to find people who “are at a point in their journey where they are looking for one more thing—this is my ‘thing’ to look forward to each week.”
The program’s starting point was those kids who had to attend summer school in an attempt to catch up with their classmates.
“A lot of kids come from single parent homes,” he explained. “Mom comes home from work at 6…tired.”
He wants the program to relieve the Moms from having to hound their kids to do homework, while providing a safe place to be after school lets out at 2:15.
The program’s first hour tries to help the students finish their homework.
“A lot of these kids have hidden (their academic shortcomings) from their parents,” Ludwig explained. He referred to “the boy who didn’t tell his parents he couldn’t spell.”
After about 3:30, what he wants is to engage them in sports, educational computer games or reading.
“Again, it’s up to the kid.”
He explained that, so far, there have been “some huge success stories. Some homework is coming in…from 4-5 kids.
“But, more important is the relationships,” he continued. “We have two the youth ministers--from Harvest and E Free--but we’re not looking for devotions.
Instead of having something to do every minute of every day as some kids do, Ludwig said, “Some of these kids have zero.”
He said just being invited to a youth group would be a big thing for them.
Indeed this past week, one girl was complaining to one of the youth ministers that he had not personally invited her to his church’s Halloween (replacement) party.
Ludwig said he was even “going out on a limb with some parents, asking the parents, ‘Have you ever considered a youth group?’”
While thankful for the people who has stepped forward already to assist, Ludwig is “looking to up the ante in this next quarter.
“I really believe it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we haven’t tapped (all the resources).
“I’m not trying to go over the line of separation of church and state,” he explained. But, before and after school, he pointed out there is more flexibility, if it is student-led.
He noted that there was an after school Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And, he revealed that after uneasily watching kids “Pray at the Pole” from his office window in the early years of being principal, now he joins them outside at the flagpole in the September event.
“I don’t want to upset anybody,” he stressed, but added, “If nothing else, pray for us and pray for the kids of Crystal Lake.”
Speaking of his religious life, Ludwig said that his “journey with Christ started six years ago on Ground Hog Day.” He related how Elyce Meador had served as his school’s PTO president for two terms.
“My son and I were able to go with the (Methodist) Church on a mission trip to South Dakota,” he continued.
“I went on my Walk to Emmaus two years ago. It was probably the best three days in my life.”
He explained that members of the Methodist Church had encouraged him to do so. The Walk to Emmaus is modeled after the Catholic Church’s Cursillo. The retreat, held at Resurrection Center between Woodstock and Crystal Lake has been described a “short course in Christianity.” Cursillo retreats are also available locally.
“I thank this church. It has really been a blessing.“
To return to the main blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 9:13 AM 0 comments
He pointed out that churches have volunteers who work weekly or daily at their own churches. Another group of church members are attracted to mission trips, “but I didn’t see a lot of the middle—something outside the walls of the church, but (which) wouldn’t require going out-of-town.
“Church and school are the only two places in town where you see reality,” Ludwig, who opened Hanna Beardsley nine years ago, suggested. “You folks see it in a small way. We see about 90%.
“I had DCFS I my building in three different situations this week and, of course, who’s caught in the middle—the child.,” he said referring to divorce disputes.
“If we could create some kind of program where we could catch some people, even if it’s only a couple,” he mused.
So far, the Methodist Church, Harvest Bible Church, Willow Creek and the Evangelical Free Church have members participating in the “Save Our Students” program he is trying to make work. Volunteers spend from an hour to 2-3 hours once a week on any day that is convenient. Ludwig is trying to recruit retired folks, high school kids and empty nesters.
From a Christian perspective, he’s looking for “those who are in their walk where this would fit.”
Ludwig hopes to find people who “are at a point in their journey where they are looking for one more thing—this is my ‘thing’ to look forward to each week.”
The program’s starting point was those kids who had to attend summer school in an attempt to catch up with their classmates.
“A lot of kids come from single parent homes,” he explained. “Mom comes home from work at 6…tired.”
He wants the program to relieve the Moms from having to hound their kids to do homework, while providing a safe place to be after school lets out at 2:15.
The program’s first hour tries to help the students finish their homework.
“A lot of these kids have hidden (their academic shortcomings) from their parents,” Ludwig explained. He referred to “the boy who didn’t tell his parents he couldn’t spell.”
After about 3:30, what he wants is to engage them in sports, educational computer games or reading.
“Again, it’s up to the kid.”
He explained that, so far, there have been “some huge success stories. Some homework is coming in…from 4-5 kids.
“But, more important is the relationships,” he continued. “We have two the youth ministers--from Harvest and E Free--but we’re not looking for devotions.
Instead of having something to do every minute of every day as some kids do, Ludwig said, “Some of these kids have zero.”
He said just being invited to a youth group would be a big thing for them.
Indeed this past week, one girl was complaining to one of the youth ministers that he had not personally invited her to his church’s Halloween (replacement) party.
Ludwig said he was even “going out on a limb with some parents, asking the parents, ‘Have you ever considered a youth group?’”
While thankful for the people who has stepped forward already to assist, Ludwig is “looking to up the ante in this next quarter.
“I really believe it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we haven’t tapped (all the resources).
“I’m not trying to go over the line of separation of church and state,” he explained. But, before and after school, he pointed out there is more flexibility, if it is student-led.
He noted that there was an after school Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And, he revealed that after uneasily watching kids “Pray at the Pole” from his office window in the early years of being principal, now he joins them outside at the flagpole in the September event.
“I don’t want to upset anybody,” he stressed, but added, “If nothing else, pray for us and pray for the kids of Crystal Lake.”
Speaking of his religious life, Ludwig said that his “journey with Christ started six years ago on Ground Hog Day.” He related how Elyce Meador had served as his school’s PTO president for two terms.
“My son and I were able to go with the (Methodist) Church on a mission trip to South Dakota,” he continued.
“I went on my Walk to Emmaus two years ago. It was probably the best three days in my life.”
He explained that members of the Methodist Church had encouraged him to do so. The Walk to Emmaus is modeled after the Catholic Church’s Cursillo. The retreat, held at Resurrection Center between Woodstock and Crystal Lake has been described a “short course in Christianity.” Cursillo retreats are also available locally.
“I thank this church. It has really been a blessing.“
To return to the main blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 9:13 AM 0 comments
# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:16 AM
