The Panther Post
December 20, 2024
News of the Week
Christmas in Harmony
Congratulations to our K-5, Drama and Handbells students for presenting an absolutely incredible Christmas program this week! Your performance was a beautiful display of authenticity, enthusiasm, and creativity, truly capturing the heart of the Christmas message. We are so proud of the way you shared this story with such joy and excellence. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came to support these talented students—it was a blessing to celebrate this season together!
St. John's School is Closed for Christmas Break
As the festive season approaches, we want to wish you all a joyful and relaxing holiday! This is a reminder that St. John's will be closed for Christmas break from December 23rd to January 3rd. Classes will resume on January 6th.
We hope this break gives everyone an opportunity to spend time with loved ones, create lasting memories, and recharge for the exciting new year ahead. Whether you're staying cozy at home or embarking on holiday adventures, we wish you peace, happiness, and plenty of holiday cheer.
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. From all of us at St. John's, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Staff Farewells
We want to share our heartfelt gratitude and say goodbye to Kadie Cleveland, who has faithfully served as the Children's Minister at St. John's Church for 9 years. Kadie has made a lasting impact on our community, working closely with all our elementary students through Bible studies and mentoring many of our middle school girls as a huddle leader. Kadie is stepping into an exciting new chapter as she prepares for marriage and a move to Washington state with her new husband. We are so grateful for Kadie’s dedication and the joy she brought to our students.
We also want to thank Michael Stephens, who has served as our Day Porter. Mike is exploring new opportunities, and we wish him all the best in his next steps.
Please join us in praying for both Kadie and Mike as they transition into these new seasons.
Could You Be a Reading Rockstar?
We are thrilled to announce a new initiative at St. John’s School: Reading Rockstars! This exciting volunteer opportunity invites adults to support our younger students by listening to them read regularly during the school day. For many children, this extra practice is transformative—consistent reading builds confidence, boosts academic success, and lays the foundation for future achievement. Strong reading skills open doors to learning, growth, and life-long opportunities.
In 2025, we will be looking for volunteers to join this meaningful program. After the break, we will share more details on what’s involved and how you can sign up to be a Reading Rockstar. For now, we encourage you to prayerfully consider this opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of our students.
Volunteer Spotlight
Thank you for the incredible dedication and passion you bring to St. John's School. Your hard work and generosity make a profound difference, and we couldn’t achieve our goals without you.
Every hour you spend and every effort you make helps us create a stronger, kinder, and more connected community. Please know how deeply appreciated you are by all of us.
Notes
2025-2026 Re-enrollment
Re-enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is just around the corner. Click the links for further information. Re-enrollment opens January 9, 2025. For enrollment questions, feel free to reach out to Molly Hanson.
A Friendly Reminder: Neighborhood Courtesy and Safety
As we continue to build a strong and vibrant school community, please remember the importance of being considerate neighbors and prioritizing safety in and around our school.
Our school is fortunate to be nestled in a welcoming neighborhood, and we share our streets and sidewalks with local residents. To ensure we maintain positive relationships with our neighbors and uphold the safety of everyone in our community, we kindly ask for your attention to the following:
Driving and Parking: When arriving at or leaving the school, please drive slowly and cautiously, especially during peak drop-off/pick-up times and events. Be mindful of speed limits and always watch for pedestrians, particularly young children who may not always be easily visible.
Parking Considerations: If parking on nearby streets, please avoid blocking driveways, crosswalks, or fire hydrants. We encourage everyone to park only in designated areas to ensure our neighbors can access their homes without difficulty.
Pedestrian Awareness: Whether walking to school or navigating the parking areas, please use designated crosswalks and remind students to stay alert when crossing streets. Let’s all work together to set a good example for our students.
Courteous Behavior: A friendly wave or smile can go a long way in fostering goodwill with our neighbors. Let’s make every effort to be respectful and considerate in all interactions.
By observing these simple guidelines, we can ensure that our school and church remains a valued and respectful part of the community. Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation in making safety and neighborliness a top priority.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding neighborhood relations or school safety, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cara Benton.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for all you do to support our school and community.
Chapel Focus (January)
This December and January, we are collecting monetary donations for the Colorado Family Life Center in Aurora. This faith-based organization is dedicated to helping moms and dads raise their children in nurturing, loving, and safe ways.
Your generosity will make a meaningful impact on the lives of families in need. We also encourage you to involve your children in this act of giving by challenging them to contribute from their own savings. It's a wonderful opportunity to teach the value of compassion and sharing.
Thank you for considering a donation and for supporting this important cause.
Upcoming Events
Dates for your Calendar
DECEMBER
24th: St. John's Church Christmas Eve Service 3pm & 5pm
25th: St. John's Church Christmas Day Service 9:45am
Dec 23-Jan 3rd: Christmas Break - School Closed
Monday, January 6 - First day back at school for 2025.
Before and After School Care Options
Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3 CLOSED for Christmas Break
Need Before and After Care - space is still available
Click HERE to sign up!
For more info, contact Gloria Roggow at gloria.roggow@sjdenver.org
or 303-733-3777, x156
Resources
Wholesome Food Services
Need to order lunch for you student? Check out Wholesome Food Services. Go to their custom website, order food for the week, happy kiddo.
PTO Pizza Days
November 5th & 19th
All proceeds for the Pizza Day fundraiser goes to PTO and Love India
$3 per slice. Follow the link for purchase
Milk Card
Need to add money to your student's milk card?
Feel free to come by the School Office with Cash or Check and funds will be applied to the balance.
Our Church
"We walk together towards renewed hope and life in Jesus Christ."
Wash Park
St. John's Wash Park campus has in-person worship at 8am (classic-style worship) or 9:45am (modern-style worship). We also offer our service online for 9:45am service at 9:40am. Livestream St. John's Church
Highlands
Join us in the Highlands for worship on Sundays at 10:00am, either in-person, or online! Our services are modern, rooted in the ancient faith, and community-oriented. You'll experience band-lead music, compelling messages, and meaningful moments centered on God's Word. Livestream Renewal Church
Celebrate Christmas with Us!
Come as you are and bring your family and friends. Let us come together to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and rejoice in God’s love.
Service Times:
- Christmas Eve: Sunday, December 24th at 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM
- Christmas Day: Monday, December 25th at 9:45 AM
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Celebrate Recovery
Are you looking for a safe space to find healing, hope, and freedom? At Celebrate Recovery, we believe that no hurt, habit, or hang-up is too big for God to handle, and we’re here to walk alongside you on the journey toward wholeness.
Come as you are and join us in a welcoming, non-judgmental community where we celebrate each step toward recovery. Whether you’re dealing with addiction, anxiety, anger, codependency, grief, depression, drugs, family problems, gambling, insecurity, the need to control, overworking, perfectionism, stress, or just need a place to find peace, we’re here to support you as we are all in this together.
When: Interest Meeting on Sunday, January 12, at 11:15am
Where: St. John's Chapel, 700 S. Franklin St. Denver, CO 80209.