Heartland Community Schools officially began on Thursday, August 14, for its traditional half day, with school dismissal at 11:40 a.m. This year was special, considering all the construction and expansion Heartland has had over the past year.
The brand new entryway was a welcome sight for everyone entering the school, alongside the four new classrooms and many other updates the school has undergone. It’s good to have the playground back!
Heartland students are going home after their first half day of school on Thursday.
This year’s annual “Prayer at the Playground” was held at 8:15 a.m. on Heartland’s first day of school, with about 25 in attendance. Pastor Luke Haidle from Living Hope Church led the group in getting started praying for the upcoming school year.
Here are the 12 prayer items that were prayed over by the 25 who broke into small groups to offer their prayers for the upcoming school year.
1. For wisdom and discernment for the administration as they guide our school.
2. For teachers (new and returning), support staff, administration, bus drivers, lunch staff, janitorial staff, and coaches: Jeremy Klein – Superintendent, Tim Carr – Secondary Principal, Dana Reinke – Elementary Principal
3. Protection from violence: “Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27
4. For the students who know Christ to shine in example, stand firm in their faith, and share the hope they have: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” I Timothy 4:12
5. Good relationships between staff, students, and parents.
6. Wisdom and patience to meet each child’s individual needs. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.” James 1:5 & 6
7. Safety in sports
8. Safety in travel to and from school and extracurricular events.
9. For families as they support their children in school.
10. Balance in our homes, work, and school.
11. Discernment and wisdom in teaching sensitive material.
12. For our education system, beginning with our own school board, our state education board, and on to the federal level, that it would seek wisdom and integrity.
