About CLS

Celebrating over a half century of Christian Education (established in 1944)

Scope

The school operates a preschool and elementary program with classes for three-year-olds (age 3 by Sept 1) through the eighth grade. In the classes through the fifth grade the children remain with the home room teacher except for those subjects or activities provided by special teachers or aides. Sixth through eighth grades are departmentalized taking advantage of academic strengths of individual teachers. The focus is also on early adolescent development in a Middle School structure of an 8 period academic/elective  day.

Faculty/Staff

Every effort is made to retain teachers/staff members  who profess their Christian faith, who have demonstrated their love for children and have a degree in elementary education. Professional growth of faculty and staff is encouraged to insure that current educational theory is used and the strongest methods of teaching are used.  Many of the teachers have their  masters degree. As a redeemed individual, a Christian can enjoy the love of God because of the redemptive work of Christ. It is every teacher’s responsibility to reflect that love to the children and to help each child to know and feel the importance of self. A high level of self esteem is vital, not only for learning, but also for success in all life’s endeavors. We want every child to feel that success and the satisfaction of achieving one’s goals.

Sponsorship and Control

Concordia, established in 1944, is a Christian education ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church. Members of the Board of Directors are elected or appointed by these two congregations. The Board establishes broad policies and the principal, with the help of the faculty and staff,  implements those policies and oversees the smooth operation of the school. Comments and recommendations by school parents are welcome and encouraged as reflected in the school handbook.

Accreditation

Concordia has  both National Lutheran School Accreditation and  Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation.

Curriculum

Writing	Science
English	Music
Spelling	Art
Physical Education*	Computer**
Band Instruction
Upper Grades (6-8)
Choral Music, Band, Handbell Choir, other electives

^*Interscholastic sports are centered in basketball with competition against schools of similar size as Concordia.
^**The computer lab, located at the Longfellow campus,  contains a state-of-the-art system of  computers networked by a Master Controller and a shared Resource Controller available for grades 2-8.

Extended Care

At the Redeemer campus,  morning extended care begins at 7 A.M. and after-school care ends at 6 P.M.  This  is available to PS3-grade 3.  Students in grades 4-8 attend extended care at the Longfellow campus,  3705 Longfellow St. (corner of 38th St) and may arrive as early as 6:45 A.M. and stay until 6:30 P.M. Since children are in a structured setting for a good portion of the school day, the after-school program is slightly less  structured but students do choose  organized activities either  indoors or  outdoors. Older students are provided a period of time each day in Extended Care to do school work. Charges are based on a daily flat rate to provide parents flexibility in using this program.

Transportation

One school bus route serves children in an area ranging from northeast Washington DC to Beltsville and from New Hampshire Avenue to Lanham. It is our desire to offer reliable, regular, and safe transportation. Transportation is limited so please call for specific information about availability in your area. Once the routes are all fixed, additions are difficult.

Concordia Serves All

It is our desire to be able to serve children in all stations of life regardless of color, race, nationality, creed, or wealth. All are welcome by Christ who came to serve us all. Ours is a Christian school where there is no place for prejudice or bigotry. It is our prayer that we will always be that kind of school.

Tuition and Transportation Rates for School Year 2010-2011

A registration fee of $350 for each child must accompany your application. Acceptance is granted in a letter from the office after the complete application is submitted and testing (grades 1-8) is completed.  The registration fee is non-refundable once your application has been accepted.  This fee is applied towards application processing, textbook use, consumable materials, school/art supplies, shuttle bus costs, computer use fees, establishing school records, transcript fees, PS/K milk and snack, etc.

Tuition Rate Table

Transportation

	First child		Each additional child
	Yearly	11 Payments	Yearly	11 Payments
Round Trip Daily	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
One Way Daily	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

Transportation rates to be determined (TBD) and is provided within a limited service area.

Extended Care Fees

Extended Care is billed at a daily flat rate:  $4.00 per day for morning use.  $9.00 per day for afternoon use.  $5.00 per day for afternoon use if picked up by 4:00 P.M. @ Redeemer & 4:30 P.M. @ Longfellow.  Families will be invoiced at the end of each month for extended care use.

Redeemer Location (includes the main School Office)
East-West Highway and Queens Chapel Road, Hyattsville 
Preschool 3 & 4, kindergarten and grades one through three.

Concordia (Longfellow) Location
3705 Longfellow Street (between 37th and 38th Ave), Hyattsville
Grades four through eight.

Tuition Assistance is available on a limited basis. An application process through PSAS helps identify eligible families based on income.

Dress Code

Compliant

Items below are in compliance with the uniform policy. This policy is for all students, Grades 1-8
2009-2010

• shirts-polo or cotton oxford, white or navy
• shirts must be sized and fit comfortably
• long or short sleeved; collared, polo style with two or three same- colored buttons at the neck, white or navy. All undershirts must be white
• turtlenecks (solid white or navy) may be worn under the same color polo shirt or worn separately
• all shirts must be tucked in at all times, before and after school and for all activities and school events and kept buttoned (except for the top button)
• Concordia DRESS UNIFORM: Navy Blue bottoms and white polo/oxford shirt
• pants may be navy blue or khaki
• pants should not extend below the heel of the shoe or above the ankle
• pants are to be worn at the waist, and securely arouud the waist with a belt through the loops, not below the waist (the belly button must be covered by the pants, no low rise)
• pants are to be twill (no corduroy, denim, polyester stretch)
• skirts, shorts, skorts, jumpers
• khaki or navy
• worn at the waist, not too tight, not rolled at the waist, not low rise (belly button must be covered by the skirt, skort, shorts, etc.)
• NAVY only shorts or bloomers should be worn under a skirt or jumper for all ages for modesty purposes (no other colored shorts may be worn.
• sweaters/sweatshirts
• solid navy or white (not cream, ivory or gray)
• any sweater must be worn over a shirt, collar showing and may be vest, crew-neck, v-neck, or cardigan
• belts (solid black, navy, or brown)
• leather or leather-like, or braided belt must be worn through the loops and be buckled securely at the waist.
• belt buckles must be black, gold, or silver toned and not oversized
• shoes; solid black, solid white, or a modest black/white mix
• dress shoes or tennis shoes may be worn
• any stripe or insignia must be the same color as the shoe
• shoes must be fully enclosed and always laced up, low quarter or high top, and pants may not be tucked into the shoe.
• soles not more than one inch in height
• socks ( solid white, black, khaki or navy)
• socks may be ankle, crew, or knee length, and must always be visible above the edge of the shoe
• navy or white stockings/tights and knee highs or stockings for girls in a natural color
• jewelry and accessories
• one necklace, must be tasteful (and NOT LARGE) and worn INSIDE THE SHIRT
• one watch
• earrings: stud – ONLY
• ONE bracelet and ONE ring (not large or gaudy or having any unacceptable object on it).
• hair accessories must match school colors (navy, white, khaki) be simple in style and size.
• ribbons, barrettes, headbands, scrunches/pony tad holders are acceptable (in school colors)
• PE uniforms for grades 4-8:
• shorts are navy, printed school logo, draw string waist.
• Shirts are gray with school logo.
• Insure that child’s name is printed on both shirt and shorts. Any lost item must be replaced by the next PE class.

Dress Violations

Items listed below are in violation of the uniform policy. This policy is for all students, Grades 1-8
Thanks to our families for their support & cooperation with dress code standards.

• shirts cannot have any colored piping,
• lace, embroidery, designs, logos, characters, names or numbers of any size,
  more than three buttons (except oxford) —this will be strictly enforced
• t-shirts worn under the uniform (navy or white) cannot be colored, white only, no writing or art may show through — shirts may not be too tight as to fit snuggly at the tummy accentuating weight, bulges, etc.
• ALL navy polo/turtlenecks/navy spirit shirts may only be worn with khaki pants/shorts/skirt, etc.
• Every child must have a Dress Uniform combination for wearing. (1st-8th grade). This Dress Uniform will be prescribed for wear at evening concerts, school/class picture day, field trips, and on other designated occasions.
• pants cannot fall below the waist, be at the hips, be baggy or sag, and may not contain any type of visible logo–even if these items are sold by a store as ’school uniform items’; they do not fit our dress code.
• no adornment, extra stitching, rivets, etc. on the pants
• pants cannot be rolled up (cuffed) or tucked into shoes (high top tennis)
• pants cannot be form fitting, snug, or too tight; flared, cut/torn or the material be denim (only twill is permitted)
• no cargo pants with extra pockets on the leg
• no flaps on front or back pockets, all pockets simple
• no Capri or short pants, or pants longer than acceptable  shorts
• no cargo shorts, no pockets on the legs, no flaps on any of the pockets
• no form fitting shorts (not too tight or snug fitting, as determined by school staff) even though a store may sell a uniform bottom, if it is low rise, extra pockets, etc. it may violate school standards. These standards take precedence over the simple fact that any store may sell a variety of items considered to be uniform for some particular school.
• Skirts, shorts, skorts or jumpers are never to be more than two inches above the knee nor extend below or cover the knee.
• no other sweaters may be worn in the classroom except as outerwear and must removed upon entering the classroom
• crew-neck spirit sweatshirts may be worn during cold weather over a collared polo shirt/turtleneck. All hooded sweatshirts/hooded sweaters are considered outerwear and are not to be worn in the classroom.
• belts and buckles cannot contain stripes, additional colors, designer insignia,
  characters, rhinestones, patches, language, eyelets, metal studs, holes, etc.
• belts may not hang down, out of loops, and nothing may hang out of any pants/short pocket (i.e. keys, lanyards, etc.)
• ribbon or material may not be used as a belt.
• shoes cannot contain ANY other colors; no stripes, writing, names, numbers, art, threading, excessive wear, holes, etc.
• the sole of the shoe must be the same color as the top and the rest of the shoe and should be rubber (not leather) for safety reasons.
• no sandals, flip flops, slippers, dance shoes, crocs, boots, etc.
• boots worn in inclement weather must be exchanged for acceptable school shoes when in school
• socks must be clean, absent of multi-color print, designs, characters, names, all logos, colored trim, any stripes, etc.
• jewelry and accessories cannot pose a safety hazard (spikes, oversized,
  hoops of any size, easily caught in the hair or fingers during sports)
• no oversized necklaces or lanyards
• lanyards must be solid navy or black; may only contain the school photo ID and single key, no other items or the lanyard becomes an item of jewelry and must be considered as such and limited. The lanyard may be worn around the neck as long as it is not a distraction. It may not be carried ont in a pocket.
• Jewelry MUST NOT draw attention to itself- as determined by faculty/staff
• Boys are not permitted to wear earrings
• no bandanas, hats (of any kind in the building), scarves, hair nets, etc.

For sale in the Student Store at Longfellow and prescribed for grades 4-8. They must be worn on all designated days for PE.

• Grades 4 and 5 wear only the PE shirt (shorts are optional)
• Girls are encouraged to wear their hair pulled back for PE
• Water bottles are permissible for PE.

Click here for detailed map

Background Information on Concordia

There are more than 2,800 Lutheran Schools in Australia, China, Canada, and the U.S. Concordia is so very proud to be a part of that system, the largest Protestant school system in the world. Since 1944 when we began as Trinity Lutheran School, Mt. Rainier, with 80 students grades 1-8, in two rooms, we have been blessed to have grown to be 210 students on three separate campuses over these 63 years.

In Lutheran Schools across our nation, more than 17,000 teachers provide a quality Christian education to more than 290,000 students each year. Concordia’s 20 full and part-time faculty, along with classroom aides and support staff, “strive to create a love of learning by stirring the heart, mind, and soul of every child.” We are an experienced, competent, and loving faculty and staff. It is wonderful to feel like a family at school and to have our kids and parents love attending each and every day. We are “a great place to grow.”

Our 8th grade graduates do well wherever they choose to attend high school. They are successful in academics and their social and emotional adjustment is always strong. Local area high schools are eager to admit our students. In our 60+  years we are proud to have graduated more than  1,000 students. They have a history of honors, accomplishments, and scholarships for both high school and colleges. Two of our graduates are even teachers on our staff at this time.

Concordia has an excellent parent teacher relationship with weekly classroom communication letters going home to parents along with four midterms and four report cards to chart academic and social progress. Teachers are easily accessible to parents, and parents are always welcome to visit and provide assistance to the school and its program. PALS, the Patrons Association of Lutheran Schools,   is another strong avenue for parental involvement at the school.

Concordia provides bus transportation for many of its students. Before and after school child care is available at two locations. Buses enable a field trip emphasis across the grades.

Concordia has a computer lab (15+ stations); an art program for grades 1-8; a music program including band, chorus, liturgical dance, rods (God Squad), two handbell choirs  in the upper grades; an upper grade Spanish program; physical education in all the grades (1-8) along with after-school basketball and cheerleading in the upper grades. For three consecutive years Concordia has been recognized by the State of Maryland as being a Maryland Character Education School.  We maintain this status with  weekly classroom guidance/character development lessons lead by our principal in  every classroom,  PS3 through Grade 8.

The Faculty and Staff of Concordia are here because Christ commanded Peter and us to “feed my lambs.” This we do regardless of color, race, nationality, creed, or wealth. All are welcomed by Christ who came to serve us.

Prospective Parents

“What are the effective school practices that help to insure a quality school and how will you find them at Concordia?’

It is a  challenge for parents/families to find the best possible school for their child(ren).  We wish to make that process easier for new and prospective families.  School Reform Research identifies 15 most critical “effective school attributes” and divides them into ‘contextual’ and ‘instructional.’   We encourage you to look for them to some degree, wherever you visit.

“Contextual Attributes”

• safe and orderly school environment
• strong administrative leadership
• primary focus on learning
• maximized learning time
• monitoring of student progress
• academice emphasis attainable by all
• flexible class groupings
• strong curriculum
• supportive classroom environment
• parent and community involvement

“Instructional Attributes”

• careful  orientation to lessons
• clear and focused instruction
• effective questioning techniques
• feedback and reinforcement
• review/reteaching as needed

Concordia has shaped these  15 attributes in a quality, Christian setting.  We would like to provide you the personal attention that we feel will benefit you the most and enable you  to see Concordia as we operate each day.

Family Education

 

What next?

If you are interested in Concordia, we will be happy to meet with you and give you a tour of the facilities. Please call Mrs. Joyce Varona, Administrative Assistant, or Dr. Falkner, Principal, (301- 927-0266) to request a packet of materials or to  arrange a classroom visit and school tour. We look forward to meeting you and telling you more  terrific things about Concordia Lutheran School.  We hope to meet  you soon so that we may provide you with information on any aspect of our school. We welcome the opportunity for a more personal contact.

God be with you and be gracious to you!

Concordia Lutheran School 3799 East West Highway Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 Phone: (301) 927-0266 Fax:(301) 699-0071 E-mail: concordia@clsmd.org (Concordia Administration)

---