Miss Candace Jurchen has taught second grade and music at Trinity Lutheran School since 2004. Prior to coming to Trinity, she taught fourth grade for three years in Rapid City, S.D. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a Concentration in Vocal Music from Concordia University, Nebraska.
Miss Jurchen’s teaching schedule is balanced between co-teaching Trinity’s second grade with Mrs. Sheila Ziems and leading music classes. On Mondays and Wednesday her daily activities focus on music. After beginning the day by teaching second grade religion and English language arts, she switches gears by leading music classes for each TLS grade, including the early childhood education classes. The students are given the opportunity to experiment with various instruments and styles of music from around the world. She also leads two choir groups, consisting of kindergarten through second grades and third through fifth grades.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, Miss Jurchen leads the second graders in their daily lessons. “I love that I get to share knowledge and learning opportunities with children. It can absolutely be about the small moments, such as a student showing me that they can write their name in cursive, as well as big activities like dissecting owl pellets, that drives me as an educator,” she said.
No matter the subject, Miss Jurchen strives to keep her students actively involved by keeping lessons relatable for her students. “I like to find connections in classes. Whether real-life connections, cross-curricular connections, Biblical connections, or stories from my own life, I love connecting school to the rest of our lives,” she said.
Miss Jurchen feels that Trinity is a special place to work because God’s love and Word is incorporated into daily lessons. “One of the most special things about teaching here is getting to use my faith and experience to help children learn Christian songs, especially what the words mean for us,” she said. “I also find that I grow in my own faith as I lead lessons from the Bible.”
Miss Jurchen is an organist at Trinity Lutheran Church and coordinates much of the music-related parts of worship there. “I began piano lessons at the age of 4. I have also been a church organist for more than 30 years,” she said. Miss Jurchen also leads Vacation Bible School activities at Trinity Lutheran Church as well as the craft activities for the movie nights held at Trinity Lutheran Church and School.