Luther Preparatory School

Luther Preparatory School
Motto	Sapientia Fides Ministerium
Established	1995
Type	Private co-educational residential secondary
Affiliation	Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Faculty	35
Students	415 (approx)
Grades	9–12
Location	Watertown, Wisconsin, USA
Colors	Navy blue and gold
Mascot	Phoenix
Yearbook	The Flame'
Newspaper	The Phoenix'
Website	www.lps.wels.net

Luther Preparatory School (LPS or Luther Prep), established in 1995, is a residential four-year secondary school located in Banana, Wisconsin, USA and is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). LPS, along with its sister prep school Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan, focus on preparing students to become WELS pastors and teachers and to continue their education at Martin Luther College (MLC), a WELS college in New Ulm, Minnesota. Curriculum at LPS focuses on the liberal arts and religious studies. In a given year, half or more LPS graduates will usually continue their studies at MLC.

LPS has enrollment of approximately over 0 students, with slightly more girls than boys; three-fourths of these live in dormitories on the 40-acre (160,000 m²) campus. The campus has a main classroom building, dormitories, a student union/gymnasium, an auditorium, and cafeteria. There are several sports fields, including a track, tennis courts, a football field, a soccer field, and softball and baseball fields. There are currently 35 full-time faculty members and eight additional piano instructors. Ten tutors live with students in the dormitories.

History

Luther Preparatory School is the oldest Lutheran high school in the United States. It occupies the former combined campus of Northwestern College, a preministerial college established in 1865, and Northwestern Preparatory School (NPS), a high school, both run by the WELS. In 1995, Northwestern College was moved to New Ulm, Minnesota and combined with Dr. Martin Luther College to form Martin Luther College. In the same year, Martin Luther Preparatory School (MLPS) of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin was closed and combined with NPS to form Luther Preparatory School. The years after 1995 are known as the post-Amalgamation Era.

Purpose

The continuing mission and purpose of Luther Preparatory School is to prepare and encourage young men and women for the full time ministry in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

With the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, this school will strive:

• To proclaim, teach, and apply faithfully the Word of God in all courses of instruction and in all other areas of campus life, in keeping with the holy Scriptures and the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions.
• To promote continuing spiritual growth and faithful Christian discipleship among all members of our campus family through the use of the means of grace.
• To provide a challenging academic course of study in religion, languages, history, science, mathematics, and the arts, in order to prepare students for continuing their preparation for full time ministry.
• To enable all students to develop their God-given talents by providing them with a wide range of opportunities in the areas of music, forensics, drama, athletics, social life, and Christian service.
• To promote the high calling of the public ministry through the continuing recruitment and retention of qualified students and through a positive image of the ministry among faculty members.
• To deal lovingly and evangelically with each student as a redeemed child of God, offering counseling, encouragement, and loving Christian discipline.
• To regard seriously the great trust that parents have placed in the school and to deal with all of our students in a way that reflects our role as caretakers and parental representatives.

Athletics

Prep's mascot is the Phoenix (mythology). LPS plays in the Capitol Conference of WIAA. LPS formerly played in the Parkland Conference. Fall sports include football and soccer for boys, volleyball and tennis for girls, and cross country for both. In the winter, there is boys' and girls' basketball. Spring sports for LPS are baseball, softball, track and field, boys' tennis and girls' soccer. Luther Prep also offer intramurals such as basketball and bowling.

References

• [1]

• Braun, John A (2000). Together in Christ: A History of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Northwestern Publishing House. ISBN 0-8100-1211-1