Cornerstone News - January 2026

As we begin this new year, we hope you had a blessed Christmas and were able to enjoy time with family and friends. January offers a natural opportunity to reflect with gratitude and look ahead with confidence in what God continues to place before us. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and steady support as we move forward together.

School Name Announcement

We are pleased to share that the school naming process is now in its final phase. This has been a thoughtful and deliberate effort, including extensive discussion, research, and prayerful consideration. We are grateful for the excellent work of the Board of Directors and the naming subcommittee, who have approached this responsibility with care, unity, and a strong sense of responsibility.

We recognize that no single name will be everyone’s first choice. At the same time, many will appreciate what this new name stands for and what it represents: unity, shared purpose, and the coming together of three ELS congregations under one school identity. We believe this name reflects both our heritage and our future, and we look forward to officially announcing and celebrating it together as early as January 19.

FACTS Tuition Assistance Reminder

We would like to provide an update regarding tuition support for the 2026–27 school year.

All families will be asked to complete the FACTS online application. As a reminder, each member student will receive a $900 tuition discount for the upcoming school year. Beyond this member support, tuition assistance will be determined through a needs-based assessment using the FACTS system.

Our Office Manager, Jody Tenold, has been working diligently to finalize procedures before parents are asked to submit applications. Because of this brief delay, we will extend the sign-up period beyond the originally proposed February 1 deadline and will work in good faith to assist parents throughout this process. Additional instructions and timelines will be shared soon.

Care Share Update

In addition to tuition support coordinated through FACTS, we would like to share an update on Care Share, which exists to assist families who may need additional financial support beyond FACTS allocations.

Care Share is designed to come alongside families for a variety of reasons, including unexpected financial or medical hardship, loss of employment, or other circumstances where temporary assistance may help students remain connected to Christian education.

We are deeply grateful for the generosity already shown. As of today, the Care Share balance stands at $36,406, reflecting how willing our community is to step in and ensure that no student is left behind.

Care Share funds will be deployed only after the FACTS review process is completed and tuition allocations have been determined, allowing these gifts to be stewarded responsibly and applied consistently. If you feel led, we invite you to consider a one-time gift or a pledge to Care Share. Gifts of any size make a difference, and we are thankful for your continued prayers and support.

Middle School Update

We are encouraged by continued progress at the middle school campus. We now have access to the building, and keys are being distributed to those who need access at this point. All key assignments are being tracked by Jody Tenold.

St. Peter and Paul’s, along with committee members, have completed a detailed walkthrough, identified items needing attention, and is actively working toward remedying these areas. They will also continue installing new flooring between now and the beginning of the upcoming school year. In parallel, all major building systems are undergoing review and recertification to ensure everything is compliant and fully operational before the new school year begins.

Our goal is to begin classroom refurbishment and cleanup around February 1, with organizational meetings and work assignments communicated in the near future. Initial efforts will focus on refurbishing the four primary classrooms on the main level, followed by deep cleaning and refreshing the remainder of the building we anticipate utilizing.

Fresh paint will play an important role in this effort and will be led by Dan Wiechmann and his crew. We are grateful for Dan’s continued willingness to step forward and support Christian education in these very practical ways.

Gala and Grandparents Weekend

Planning continues for the One Mission Gala, and Grandparents Weekend, scheduled for March 19–22, with the formal Gala taking place on Saturday evening, March 21. This event plays an important role in supporting students and faculty as we prepare learning environments, equip classrooms, and strengthen programming across both campuses.

Seating for the Gala will be limited to 300 guests, so early registration is encouraged. The event will be held at The Venue which adjoins The Crooked Pint at The Pond on Madison Avenue. Additional details will be shared soon.

The weekend will conclude with a potluck lunch and wrap-up celebration on Sunday, March 22, at 12:30 PM at Mt. Olive. This brief program will include sharing estimated fundraising totals from the weekend, and we encourage everyone to plan to attend. Sign-up details will be shared soon.

Principal Call Update

We are pleased to share that the Board of Directors voted to extend a call to Mr. Michael Koestler to serve as Principal and Head of School beginning July 1, 2026.

Mr. Koestler currently serves as Principal at Shoreland Lutheran High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We are grateful for the opportunity to extend this call and appreciate the leadership experience and gifts he would bring to our school community. Please keep Mr. Koestler and his family in your prayers as they prayerfully consider where God would have them serve. Additional updates will be shared as this process continues.

Calls to Current Faculty

The Board of Directors has extended calls to our current faculty to continue serving with the school beginning July 1, 2026. We are grateful for their faithful service and dedication, and we are excited for them to continue supporting and educating our students. Please keep our faculty in your prayers as they complete the current academic year and prepare for the year ahead: Mr. Jacob Beilke, Ms. Jamie Chambers, Mrs. Miranda Dittmer, Mrs. Donna Fosburgh, Mrs. Jessica Gunderson, Mr. Anthony Navarro, Mrs. Ashley Olsen, Mrs. Mandy Pavelchik, Mrs. Kari Sehloff, Mr. Benjamin Springer, Ms. Sarah Strom, and Mr. Craig Zibrowski.

A Word of Thanks

We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary work of the Board of Directors, Executive Council, our Pastors, and the many subcommittees who continue to serve. We believe these men and women have been placed in their roles for a reason, and we pray that the work being done is guided by God for the good of our school.

Thank you as well to the many families and members who continue to offer encouragement, support, and prayers. These expressions are deeply appreciated.

May God continue to bless our school, our families, and the work we are doing together.

In Christ,
Mark Smith - Chair, Executive Council
Derek Harstad - President, Board of Directors