Finding a school that is the right fit for your family and your child always brings up feelings of uncertainty and the unknown if you are making the right choice. When we heard about Bethany Lutheran we decided to take the leap to check it out. After initial conversations with Linda and meeting many people we have never felt more welcome and instantly had the feeling that this was the right choice. Having the light of Jesus shine through the staff, students, and families is something you just don't get at public schools. Spending the investment for our son in private school to help guide his faith and education in his impressionable years is so important to our family. We couldn't be happier with our new normal at Bethany Lutheran School!
From Preschool 2s to 8th grade...
Dear Bethany Staff,
My letter has been 12 years in the making—words of reflection and gratitude gathered since the first day that Mason walked through the doors of Bethany Lutheran School for his very first day of Early 2s Preschool. I cannot believe it is now his last first day! They say all good things must come to an end—but I don’t believe 8th grade is an ending. While it is Mason’s 12th, and final first day walking through the doors of our school, it is not where his journey with Bethany will end. What Bethany has given our family, and especially Mason, is not something that concludes with a goodbye. It’s something we carry forward—woven into the fabric of who he is and who he’s becoming.
As a parent, you always want the best education for your child—but I’ve come to understand that “best” means more than rankings, ratings, first place sports banners, or accreditation. Bethany of course has all of those, yes—but what sets Bethany apart is the heart and soul of this Church and school. It’s where children are not only taught, but nurtured. It is an extension of family.
Bethany Lutheran School is a place where trust is built, resilience is modeled, hope is believed, and connection is woven into every lesson. It’s where confidence is gently drawn out, and where creativity is celebrated through art, music, and play. It’s where voices are heard and respect is displayed. Bethany doesn’t just prepare children for tests—it prepares them for life. And in a world that often rushes past the heart of a child, Bethany stops, listens, and helps that heart grow.
The foundation you’ve laid here is more than academic. It’s spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal. You’ve helped secure the soul of our son—the quiet strength he walks with, the kindness and compassion he offers freely, the courage he shows in being himself. These are not just traits. They are gifts. And they were nurtured in your classrooms, your prayers, your gentle corrections, and your unwavering belief in him.
Bethany has been a sanctuary—a place where faith and learning are not separate paths, but one radiant journey. And because of all of you and the compassion, love, and guidance you bring to your classrooms each and every day, Mason doesn’t just know facts and figures. He knows grace. He knows grit. He knows purpose. He knows what it means to be part of a community that sees the light in him and calls it forth.
As we step into Mason’s 12th and final year at Bethany, we do so with full hearts. We carry Bethany with us—not as memories, but as a living part of Mason’s story. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11
I wish there were words more powerful than thank you—something to express the depth of our gratitude. Your presence has been a steady light all of these years, a reminder that kindness is both gentle and fierce. Your support, your wisdom, the ways you show up for each student and family at Bethany makes a lasting imprint and does not go unrecognized. While “thank you” feels small, your impact has been massive. Thank you to each and every one of you for being the architects of something eternal.
May God continue to bless the halls of Bethany, the hearts of its staff and teachers, and the journey of every child who walks through its doors. May Mason’s life and journey at Bethany be a reflection of the love, wisdom, and faith that were first planted here at Bethany Lutheran School. If given the choice we would do it all over again and not change a single thing.
Choosing Bethany, and continuing to choose Bethany for twelve consecutive years, was the best decision we have ever made for our son, Mason Sidney Scheimann, Bethany Lutheran School Class of 2026!
With deepest gratitude and love,
Courtney Scheimann
"This is the place..."
Children are uniquely loved at Bethany!
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Bethany! Classes are small enough so students get enough attention from caring teachers that instill Christian values. Parents are encouraged to help out for events and the school appreciates it very much. All staff/faculty are available to meet if there is ever an issue. Bethany was the perfect choice for us when it came to our son’s education and we plan on staying for many years to come!
Bethany is a place for the whole family
“We have been at Bethany Lutheran School for their preschool program and now kindergarten. Our daughter has had a wonderful experience so far with loving teachers and administrators. We appreciate the strong family values and supportive community. We’ve also made some really good friends here and have been very happy to have such nice kids and parents to interact with. Especially in today’s world we find it important to be surrounded by positive influences in our children’s lives.”
"Where childhood shines in its purest form...."
From the very first time I walked into Bethany, I felt in my heart that I was in the right place. Throughout my professional journey, I’ve had the opportunity to work in many educational settings, and I can truly say that the loving atmosphere at Bethany is exceptional.
This is a place where the Golden Rule — treating others as we would like to be treated — is not just taught, but lived out daily. The children are at the center of everything, and their well-being is always the top priority. It’s a beautiful thing to witness their joy as they begin each day with bright smiles and eager hearts.
The kindness in the words of the teachers, the way Jesus is present in their daily lives, and the genuine care that surrounds each interaction all speak to a school culture rooted in love and faith. Extracurricular activities and sports are also taken seriously at Bethany, and it’s wonderful to see how they help shape confident and happy children.
There are countless moments here when childhood shines in its purest form—through laughter, play, learning, and joy. Bethany is truly a special place where children grow not only in knowledge, but in love, character, and spirit.
Recent Kindergarten & Preschool Parent Testimonial!
From a Middle School Dad
Our family found Bethany in 2021, as a result of our questioning whether or not the Naperville public schools were any longer putting the students’ best interests above their own. Prior to this, we had nothing but good things to say about our children’s public education - in fact, both of our kids entered Bethany “under protest”…
It didn’t take long for both us as parents - and the children themselves - to understand what a blessing this unexpected change of plans truly was. Immediately, we could feel what a difference there was in the administration’s willingness - almost insistence - to keep us apprised and involved with our children’s development. This was of particular importance to us, as one of our children was eligible for accommodations in the public schools - yet it wasn’t until we got to Bethany where we truly felt completely “in the loop” with his development, as well as any challenges he was facing. It was a night and day difference, and we could not have been more thankful.
The most important investment…
Bethany Lutheran School holds a very special place in our life. As a preschool-8th grade alumni, I fondly remember my own experience at Bethany and wanted that for our own children—the joy of going to school each day, the challenging and differentiated instruction, a faith based curriculum, the loving teachers and lifelong friendships. The school really is one giant family and it is the biggest comfort to know that the school is truly an extension of what we teach at home. We have watched both our son and daughter grow leaps and bounds since starting at Bethany last year. Our children are the most important investment we will make in our lives and we are so thankful we decided to invest in Bethany, and for their investment in our children!
A strong sense of family connected in Christ
Last year, our family made the decision that it was time for our two children to leave the public school system. We are incredibly blessed and grateful that God led us to Bethany Lutheran School. From the moment we walked through the doors, we could tell right away that Bethany was special. The strong sense of a school family connected in Christ was exactly what our family needed.
Since we started this school year, our 3rd grade daughter and 6th grade son have flourished. The profound loss of learning during the events of the past few years shattered our daughter’s confidence. Watching her thrive at Bethany with a smile on her face has been emotional for us. We are so thankful for the amazing teachers! The bar is held high academically, and we appreciate the open communication and regular progress updates. It’s a blessing to know that our kids are not only encouraged academically, but also to grow in their relationship with God. The integration of Biblical truth into the classroom is something we deeply value.
The many opportunities for extra curricular activities, athletics, and parent involvement have made us feel welcome as a new family into the community. Our son couldn’t be happier with the amazing experience he’s had so far participating in the Bethany volleyball team. Go Royals!
In a world that often feels turned away from God, we are thankful that our children are in an environment where they are receiving an outstanding Christ-focused education. We look forward to watching them grow in the years to come.
To God be the Glory,
The Daskas Family
October 2023
Bethany is like coming home
Our children go to Bethany Lutheran School for the very same reason my husband and I decided I would stay home to raise our children. Because the alternative just didn't feel natural to us.
Bethany is like coming home, the teachers and staff make it hard to ignore that when leading with respect and love, everyone feels healthy and strong.
My children get hugged, my children get corrected when needed, my children are taught to love God and to understand that alone, we are nowhere near as strong as we are together in faith.
It is a huge financial sacrifice, but there is nothing I see being a bigger return on our investment than Bethany!
Putting God First....
When we toured Bethany I knew we belonged there the minute we met Linda. We joined Bethany this year with a 5th grader and a 2nd grader. My kids love going to school every day. We were scared to be the new kids but the classmates and staff are more than welcoming. The sports and band programs are amazing! My kids especially love their teachers. Everyone works great together and they put God and the kids first. Bethany feels like one big family and I’m thankful we found such a great school.
The best path for her children....
"Having been a public school teacher myself and having our oldest daughter start out in district 203, we had a very hard time deciding what path would suit our family best. We have a strong Christian faith, which ultimately became the most important factor in our decision as God feels more and more absent in the public schools, to us. I am continually blown away by the love and kindness of the staff at Bethany. I truly feel that my kids are in the hands of people that have such a heart, mission and talent to be the best kind of influence and educator for them. My daughters are soaring academically, socially and emotionally. I really appreciate how much I am heard, listened to and treated as a team player in their education. It's hard to explain until you experience it, but it's something pretty darn special that we are so grateful for!"
A Christian Education at Bethany
We chose Bethany for our daughter who is in Kindergarten this year because we felt confident she would receive an education that aligned to our Christian values and beliefs. Bethany has given us complete peace of mind with the curriculum they teach.
Bethany has become an extension of our family. The nurturing and loving environment has made our daughter feel safe and accepted. It’s amazing to see how much she has grown academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually already this year.
We also appreciate the level of parent-teacher communication. We receive a detailed weekly email that includes what our daughter will work on every week as well as pictures of our daughter in action from the week before. Additionally, we have a folder that comes home daily with hand-written feedback on her work completed at school, items we can be reviewing/practicing at home, and assignments she needs to complete and return to school.
Bethany has also made a program called eSpark available to their kindergartners. This online, self-paced program allows our daughter to get additional and more challenging practice with math and reading skills at home.
Our daughter tells us regularly that she LOVES Bethany. In her words, “I love getting to learn new things, how nice my teachers are and all of the new friends I’ve made.”
Bethany truly is the full package!
The Tomczyk Family
Bringing Jesus into the home...
Our oldest daughter was starting kindergarten, we were in the middle of a pandemic, we weren’t feeling heard at our public school here in Darien, and we had lost touch with God, then that is when we realized that Bethany Lutheran School had been the missing puzzle piece to our family.
Becoming a part of the Bethany family has been the biggest blessing. Making big parental decisions is not always easy, but we have to say that as soon as we toured and met the staff members at BLS, we knew we were home! Bethany came into our lives when we needed it most, and we will continue to thank God for making this all possible.
We are so grateful for the amazing staff members who are always going above and beyond for the well-being of the students. They take time to get to know all the families, run a seamless program, and truly take pride in what Bethany Lutheran School stands for.
Since our two kids have been in school, they have brought Jesus back into our house. Nothing warms our hearts more than hearing our kids reflect on their days, but hearing them reminisce about their Jesus time is priceless. It makes the commute and the cost of tuition worth every penny!
We are so blessed to be able to send our children to Bethany Lutheran School. We look forward to the many memories these blossoming friendships will bring for both the kids and us!
There's no place like home.
Home is probably the best word I can think of to describe our feelings towards Bethany Lutheran School. While our enrollment in Bethany's program was not our initially planned path for our daughter's Kindergarten year, within just a few short weeks into the school year, my husband and I sat across the dinner table from one another and breathed a sigh of much needed relief as we engaged in a discussion about the unexpected blessing Bethany had become in our life. The staff and faculty at Bethany truly swept into our world during a confusing time and found a way to make sense of everything for us. This was now where we were supposed to be and is now where we will continue to choose to be moving forward.
Our daughter spends each day with teachers that so obviously care for her growth and development academically, socially, and spiritually. The culture of the school is focused on the best interest of the children's education placing their needs first and foremost in their decision making. This sincere care, I have witnessed in so many facets -- whether it be the administration that has worked tirelessly to navigate these confusing times to provide a safe and high quality educational setting, or the teacher on her way home after a long day only to see her students at the school's jungle gym and chooses to stay longer to watch them play, or the casual but meaningful emails about funny happenings in the classroom, or the open arm hugs my daughter gets as she runs out of school each day -- leave me feeling nothing short of grateful.
What started as an interim decision for our daughter has now truly become the school HOME we are choosing for her moving forward. She will be attending Bethany, yet again, next year to continue her growth and development with these amazing educators. We are so happy that we will now be sending our son to their preschool program as well. I cannot thank God enough for guiding our family to Bethany Lutheran School where the faculty and staff have truly given our children a second place to call home and one that now holds a special place in all of our hearts.
"We have so much to be thankful for...."
“We feel so incredibly blessed that God brought us to Bethany! It might not have happened but for the pandemic. Amazing how His plan comes together. We have so many things to be thankful for this year and finding BLS is definitely at the top of our list! I can’t say enough how blessed we feel and I hope it can help others who might be considering Bethany. I know it's tough making big decisions for your children but the experience has been priceless for us.”
We are on a mission!
I am a long time resident of Naperville and when Bethany Lutheran Church used to be over on Washington Street, I attended Sunday school as well as confirmation class. Later in life I had my beautiful daughter Kenna, Who attended preschool at Bethany. We had moved out of the area but when we came back I really wanted her to be at Bethany. She started second grade there this year and is just loving it. She comes out of school every day skipping which is a sure sign of her happiness ! The school is amazing and the administrator, Linda Fox, is the absolute best. Whenever I have any questions she gets back to me very quickly and we have been very happy with the school. I highly recommend the school to anybody looking for a private, Christian school that will teach your children about God as well as a high level of academics.
Looking forward to many more years with this wonderful new family!
Dear Bethany Lutheran School,
This, our first school year at Bethany Lutheran, has been amazing on many levels, which would not be possible without the true dedication your entire staff have in educating our children. Having a proper in-school environment for the children to learn has been tremendous and has truly been a blessing. The focus on the children’s education with the limited class sizes has also given our children an opportunity they would not otherwise have had, had we continued with the public-school system. Living in Naperville, and as products of the public-school system ourselves, we never fathomed we would be sending our kids to Bethany Lutheran School, but here we are! We love it, our kids love it, and they are always eager to go to school each, and every day. They are not only enjoying it, but they are also thriving, and for that we are truly grateful to you all and look forward to many more years at Bethany Lutheran School.
❤️ The Smith Family
Showered with love from a Bethany Family
Hello Bethany Staff,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for the incredible work everyone has put in this year to make our school year successful. It has meant so much us to have been embraced into this wonderful family since we first joined 3 years ago. I can't express how amazing all of you are, and how much you care about all the students and parents that are a part of this family. I really wanted to do something to show some appreciation for all that you do. I know its nothing crazy but I hope you enjoy the food today. I could not have done this without the contributions of [the other parent] who really help pull it all together at the end. I hope to do even more in the future once all this crazy pandemic stuff has ended. I love and thank you all.
❤️
