A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Lutheran Symbol

The history of our school begins in 1953 when members of Hope Lutheran Church decided they wanted to provide Christian education for their children. A kindergarten was started that year in the church's parsonage located on Dogwood Drive. While members strongly believed that the religious training of their children was their responsibility, they felt that opening their own school would be a strong supplement to that.

God has richly blessed their efforts through the years as the school quickly moved from the parsonage to the church basement, then to the back of the sanctuary, and then in 1960 into a separate four-classroom building adjacent to the church. By that time the school included kindergarten through grade six.

For a brief time as the number of students outgrew the available space, we utilized rooms at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Croydon and then at Emilie United Methodist Church in Levittown. Subsequently all classes were reunited in our current building in 1978.

In 2001 the congregation embarked on a building campaign which provided for a virtual doubling of the physical plant with the addition of a primary wing, an activity center, meeting rooms and a commercial grade kitchen. The enlargement of our facility has enabled us to expand our educational offerings, so that now we are able to meet the needs of children from ages six weeks to grade eight.


THE PURPOSE OF HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

The purpose of our school, which is an integral part of the ministry of Hope Lutheran Church, is to provide, in partnership with parents, a Christian education for children. It is our goal to offer a comprehensive program of education so that the children in our care will:

• be nurtured in the Word and Will of God in accordance with the Lutheran Confessions.
• learn, by faith, to know and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
• recognize themselves as persons of worth, made by God in His image.
• understand and appreciate their talents as gifts from God.
• grow in their relationship to Jesus and in their service to Him.
• develop their talents and skills for responsible Christian living.
• experience, by God's Grace, a full Christian life on earth and be assured of eternal life.


THE PHILOSOPHY OF HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

We endeavor to emphasize Christian truth and behavior in all aspects of school life. We believe and teach that:

• Belief in Jesus Christ as personal Savior is the one and only way to salvation.
• A child is a spiritual being as well as a physical and social being.
• The Bible gives us direction and purpose in our every act of living.
• God is never divorced from our everyday lives, but is the Ruler of that life.
• The Bible has a primary place in our curriculum and all subjects must be taught in the light of God's Word.
• All students should be challenged to use their God-given abilities as they strive for academic excellence.


THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Hope Lutheran School is a ministry of Hope Lutheran Church.  As such, it is under the authority of its Principal, the Board of Christian Day School, and Church Council.


AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

To enroll in Kindergarten or Grade One, the student must have reached the age of five or six, respectively, on or before September 1. Special permission may be granted by the Principal which allows a child to enroll even if his/her birthday is after September 1.


WHAT MAKES HOPE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA?

Hope Lutheran School is a Christian School! Its primary purpose is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, helping children and adults to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, their personal Savior.

Hope provides a nurturing atmosphere where children can hear God's Word daily and learn how much He cares for them. It's a place where Christian teachers can help children practice Christian living and strengthen Christian values. It's a place of caring that goes beyond the classroom and beyond school hours.


HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL IS A PLACE WHERE: 

• Children learn right from wrong, and practice courtesy and concern for others.
• Children are taught, without question, that each person has high worth and is a unique creation of God, possessing special talents and abilities, set on this earth for a special purpose.
• Each individual is important.
• Hope Lutheran School, although always working towards God-pleasing behavior, is also a place where mistakes are made by both adults and children, where conflicts arise, and where behavior, at times, may not always be God-pleasing. Yet, because of that, it is a place of forgiveness, of saying, "I'm sorry," of learning from mistakes, of working together to overcome problems, of helping one another.


FACULTY
Hope's faculty is both qualified and devoted. Each K-8th grade teacher has a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and a teaching certificate either from Pennsylvania or other states. Teachers have a professional plan to focus on individual skill development as well as a personal dedication to continually reinforce the school's overall academic program. Teachers are required to take professional education workshops and classes to maintain their teaching certificate current and to grow professionally.
Hope's preschool staff has a minimum of a CDA or an associate degree and experience in a preschool classroom. Preschool staff is required to take 12 hours of continuing education each year and all have first aid/CPR training.


STUDENT BODY
A majority of the Hope student body resides in Lower Bucks County in these five school districts: Bristol, Pennsbury, Neshaminy, Bensalem, and Council Rock. Hope parents are those in search of a strong academic and Christ-centered school for their children. Ten percent of Hope students are members of Hope Lutheran Church; the remaining ninety percent are members of other area churches or are looking for a church home.


PROJECTED PROFICIENCY SUMMARY REPORT - STATE TEST PSSA

Hope students took NWEA's Measurement  of Academic Progress (MAP) tests in the fall.  This report shows students' projected performance on the state assessments based on NWEA alignment/linking studies.  Performance categories are defined by the state and are specific to each state.  Here is how Hope Lutheran School ranks in proficiency in the PSSAs. 

 

MATHEMATICS

BELOW BASIC 1.5%
BASIC 7.7%
PROFICIENT 27.7%
ADVANCE 63.1%

 

READING

BELOW BASIC 0.0%
BASIC 1.5%
PROFICIENT 49.2%
ADVANCE 49.2%


SCHOOL COLORS AND MASCOT

Blue and White, LIONS


CLASS SIZE CAPACITY
K-8th grade: 10-15 students per classroom.
Preschool class sizes are set according to DPW standard ratios of number of children to number of adults per room.


ACCREDITATION
Hope has been accredited by National Lutheran Schools Accreditation (NLSA).
Our Preschool presently has a Keystone Star's 3 rating.


STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Hope Lutheran School does not discriminate against qualified individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, or ethnic/national origin. This policy of non-discrimination is exercised at all times during the hiring of faculty, admission of students, and all school administered programs.

Hope Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or make available to students at the school.
"In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."


SCHOOL HOURS

Kindergarten - Grade 8: Drop-off is between 8:45-9:00 a.m.  Class begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.  Dismissal is between 3:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Extended care is available at an extra cost between 6:45 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Preschool care is available between 6:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.  Circle time begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Our church and school office hours are 8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.  Summer office hours are also 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fax: 215-946-5926.  For more information, email [email protected] or call 215-946-3467.