Students around the country have gone back to school – whether virtually, homeschooled, in-person, or hybrid. This season is unprecedented and is posing unexpected challenges, highlighting inequities, and putting long-held dreams on hold. One of the best things we can do is cover this year in prayer.
This post is sponsored by Northwest University.
Here are specific people to pray for as we begin this new school year. Add them to your prayer list and focus on a different one each day.
TEACHERS: Teachers have been tasked with a job they never expected. They have spent countless hours learning new teaching strategies and technology tools, all in the name of doing the very best job they can for their kids. They may be returning to a classroom with anxiety in their hearts. Or maybe their new “classroom management” includes trying to keep their kids 6 feet apart. Pray for teachers to have peace about this year, to develop effective strategies for whatever modality they’re teaching in, and to have patience when things don’t go well. And while you’re praying – say a prayer of immense gratitude for the teachers in your life.
STUDENTS: Pray for students enduing a year they never imagined. Pray for peace, pray for health, and pray for patience. Pray for the children for whom home is not a safe or peaceful place, and the students who struggle with online learning. Pray that they find way to make social connections despite the distance, and that they feel like they’re a part of their school community – whatever that looks like.
PARENTS: Pray for the parents who are schooling their kids at home, worried about sending their kids off to school, have their older children back at home with a full & chaotic house, or just dropped their baby off at college. Pray for the working parents who are trying to navigate work-at-home and school-at-home; the parents who work out the of home and worry about whether their child will be safe, healthy, and learning at school/home/childcare. Pray for the single parents who are carrying this year’s burden alone, and who worry about a loss of income if they or their kids get sick or have to quarantine due to exposure.
TECHNOLOGY STAFF: Pray for the huge job of school technology staff. Help them exercise patience when dealing with frustrated parents, students, and staff, and to quickly find solutions to problems. Pray for God to help them be creative and innovative, and to give them perseverance on the toughest days.
ADMINISTRATORS: Pray for divine help in making the hard decisions. No option is perfect. Give them grace in dealing with those who disagree, and discernment when having to make middle-of-the-year choices that nobody anticipated. Give them peace knowing God is in control, and that they don’t have to shoulder the burden of their entire district alone.
FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS: Pray for the first-year students for whom this was not the year they (or their parents) expected: preschoolers, kindergarteners, middle schoolers, high schoolers, college freshmen. Help temper their disappointment with a good school year, great teacher & peer connections, and an inspiring learning experience.
MILESTONE STUDENTS: Pray for the milestone students that are grieving the experience they’ve been dreaming about for years – the college and high school seniors, middle & elementary grads, and others. Pray that they feel and acknowledge their grief, but also find ways to get creative and make spectacular memories, traditions, and celebrations in place of the milestone ones that are canceled.
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN: Pray for the children with special needs, the ones who can’t understand why things are so different, and who miss the routine of school. Pray for the ones who have regressed, that they can regain the progress they’d made. Pray for their parents who are weary and miss the team that surrounds and loves their child. And pray for the teachers of special needs children who have been given an impossible task.
HOMESCHOOLERS: Pray for the new homeschooling mama and students. Pray for grace as they begin their journey, and that they figure out a routine quickly. Give them perseverance on the challenging days, and make this a year of connection for their family. Also pray for the seasoned homeschoolers – the ones who aren’t accustomed to being so homebound. Pray that they find ways to supplement their schooling in innovative ways to make this a great year despite the challenges.
Things had to pivot quickly this year, but Northwest University has risen to the challenge. We firmly believe that a high-quality educational experience for our students remains a vital priority for their lives. So, we’re taking every necessary step to continue providing that education in this unique Christian learning community that we all love so much. With on-campus precautions and an innovative hybrid model, Northwest University has demonstrated its commitment to both education AND safety.
No one can predict the future, but every student and parent should know that we are following all of the best practices recommended by public health authorities to make sure students remain as healthy at Northwest University as they would be anywhere else. Students, if God has called you to attend Northwest University, you can count on us to do everything in our power to facilitate your success. Learn more here!
