Our staff of caring Christians wants what’s best for each child.
Christian values, faith and joy are shared and nurtured naturally through Bible lessons and daily living.
Shepherd of the Desert School...
A dynamic, growing setting especially attuned to the needs of children…
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Our staff of caring Christians wants what’s best for each child. |
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Christian values, faith and joy are shared and nurtured naturally through Bible lessons and daily living. |
| Meets the needs of the whole child from academic development to physical needs, from social development to creative expression. All that and a special emphasis on spiritual needs and nurture. |
Preschool
| Curriculum based on research on how children learn. |
| A richly prepared learning environment. |
| Teacher supported, child directed activities. |
| Building foundations for a life-long love of learning and discovery. |
Kindergarten
| Respect and understanding of differing learning styles direct the curriculum. |
| Child to adult ratio and small class size allow the individual attention supportive of difference in development needs of children. |
| Literacy skills introduced and expanded through active interaction between teachers, students and materials. |
| Math concepts reinforced through hands-on activities. |
Elementary Grades
| A curriculum of depth. Children are led to dig deeper through projects, discussions and field trips. |
| Emphasizing traditional academic excellence plus the freedom to learn of God, His love, and His way of living. |
| Beyond the ordinary by including Spanish, French, physical education, art, music, computer education—all taught by specialists. |
| Children are led to love reading through phonetic instruction with real literature |
Tradition—at its Best!
Shepherd of the Desert School is one of over 2,000 Lutheran early childhood centers and elementary schools across the United States. Since its organization in the mid-1800’s, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has provided national, regional and local support to its schools.
In 1983, Shepherd of the Desert was established to meet the needs of children age 3 and 4. Sessions for children age 2 were added in 1989 and, in 1994 the school expanded to include kindergarten. Most recently, a gradual expansion into the elementary grades was begun in 1999 with the addition of grades 1 through 6. By adding one grade level per school year, the school will continue its gradual expansion through grade 8
Even as the school changes, values remain the same...to help parents through Christ-centered, exceptional education
The Children Attending Our School...
| Are from varied church backgrounds. |
| Are from varied socio-economic backgrounds. |
| Have similar values and tremendous parent support. |
Classes Offered
Children Age 2:
Half-Day Sessions, Two Days Per Week
Children Age 3:
Half-Day Sessions, Two Days Per Week
Children Age 4
Half-Day Sessions, Three or Four Days Per Week
Kindergarten
Full-Day Sessions, Three Days Per Week
Grades One through Eight
Full-Day Sessions, Five Days Per Week
Accreditations & Qualifications
Like you, what others say about our school is important to us. That’s why Shepherd of the Desert has always valued earning accreditations.
Current recognitions include:
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National Academy of Early Childhood Programs (since 1989), |
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Early Childhood Accreditation Commission of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (since 1996), and |
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National Lutheran School Accreditation (awarded in 2005). |
Our teachers are trained professionals. For example elementary grade teachers have education degrees and state certifications. Administrators and teachers are kept current through in-service and continuing education.
Financial Support
Support for the church-school joint-use facility is provided through Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church. That funding allows the school to provide an excellent educational experience with tuitions and fees at levels affordable to the typical family.
A registration fee and annual tuition are charged. Contact the school office for current charges.
Need-based scholarships are available through the Shepherd of the Desert Education Foundation. Families provide much of that funding through financial donations and use of their Arizona Education Tax Credit.
Admissions
You will be notified of your child’s admissions standing. Unfortunately, applications often exceed openings. If openings develop, children are accepted from the waiting lists .
Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
Visit Us!
Parents should spend time with the administrators and in the classrooms of schools they are considering. Such visits are welcomed at Shepherd of the Desert. Call the Early Childhood Department Office (preschool and kindergarten) or the Elementary Department Office to schedule a convenient time for your important visit to the school. Yes, children are welcomed!
For enrollment information...
| Call 480-860-1188 ext. 6 and ask for the Early Childhood Department (preschool and kindergarten) or the Elementary Grades Department. |
| Or, write to the school at 9590 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. |
| Or, e-mail the school at: schooloffice@sotdaz.org |
| Principal Steve Richie also welcomes your comments & questions at: srichie@sotdaz.org |
There’s no end to a great beginning!