The Panther Post

Thank you ALL for making Teacher Appreciation Week such a wonderful success! Because of your generosity, time, and heartfelt efforts, our teachers truly felt the love and warmth surrounding them each day. From thoughtful notes and delicious treats to beautifully organized surprises, gorgeous flowers, and kind gestures. Every detail contributed to a week filled with joy and gratitude.

We are so fortunate to be part of a community that values and uplifts its educators. Your support means the world—not just to the teachers, but to the entire school family.

Bravo! We are so proud of our K–5 students for their wonderful performance of Danny and the Shacks! Their energy, enthusiasm, and joy shone brightly as they brought the story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to life on stage. It was truly a delight to watch their hard work and talent come together in such a meaningful way.

A very special thank you goes to Mrs. Newsome and Mrs. Koester for their incredible dedication and creativity in leading this program. Your guidance, patience, and passion made this production a memorable experience for everyone involved. We are grateful for the many hours you poured into making it such a success.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to complete our parent survey—your input is truly appreciated!

If you have not had the opportunity yet, we would love to hear about your family’s experience at St. John’s School this year. Your feedback helps us grow, celebrate what’s working, and respond thoughtfully to areas of need. Survey responses are anonymous. Your responses will be carefully reviewed by school staff, leadership, and the School Ministry Team.

Please click here to begin the 2024-25 Parent Satisfaction Survey

Why your feedback matters:

Previous survey responses have led to meaningful changes, including:

• A full refurbishment of the Middle School hallway (giving our Middle School students some extra love and attention)
• The addition of our Entrepreneurship program in 8th Grade
• Improved focus on teacher development, the teaching/learning cycle, and a revised approach to professional development and assessment analysis
• The creation of the Parent Calendar for better communication
• The development of our school values (P.A.W.S.) and regular celebration of students who demonstrate these positive traits
• Recognition of our volunteer helpers through our Panther Partner Morning.

As a thank you: The grade level with the highest participation will enjoy a Popsicle Party during the last week of school!

Your voice makes a difference, and we are grateful for your partnership and support.

We are proud to recognize the accomplishments of our talented piano students who participated in the National Piano Guild Auditions on April 23 and 24. Each student performed their pieces from memory and completed musicianship phases before a professional adjudicator—earning high marks and praise for their hard work and dedication. We applaud each of you for your commitment to musical excellence!

Outstanding work to all of our performers!

National Winners (10 memorized pieces)
Ellery Handberry, Elly Hanson, Levi Hanson, Mia Zolman

State Winner (7 memorized pieces)
Alyvia Michalson

District Winners (4–6 memorized pieces)
Elin Ahlgren, Ryder Boland, Alexis Fierro, Edit Graber, Walden Handberry, Claire Newquist, Emma Newsome

Local Winners (2–3 memorized pieces)

Abigail Meissner, Anastacia deGraaf, Margot Grant, Palmer Nelson, Atticus Newsome, Esme’ Newsome

Interested in Piano Lessons?
There are a few openings for piano instruction at St. John’s, beginning this summer and continuing into the 2025–26 school year. Lessons are led by Mrs. Nancy Nordby and are a wonderful way to enrich your child’s education through the joy of music. For more information or to enroll, please click the link to contact Mrs. Nordby directly.

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 23rd, right after school dismissal—we’re celebrating the end of a fantastic school year, and we’d love for you to join us!

We'll be gathering at Washington Park, in the grass field by the big playground, for an afternoon of delicious food, outdoor fun, and great company. Bring a dish to share and something comfy to sit on, if you’d like.

To make the day even more enjoyable, we could use a few extras—tables, coolers of ice, canopies, and outdoor games. If you’re able to bring any of these items, please reach out to Monica Strachan

Need ideas on what to bring? Here’s a helpful guide based on last name:

• A–D: Drinks (juice, water, sodas, etc.)

• E–K: Side dish (fruit, chips, salad, veggies)

• L–Q: Kid-friendly food

• R–T: Main dish

• U–Z: Dessert

We’ll provide plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery—just bring your food, your smile, and your picnic spirit!

We hope to see you there to help us close out the school year in a fun and memorable way!

Join us for one of the most anticipated events of the school year — Panther's Dine Out at the Campus Lounge!

This special evening is all about coming together as a community to enjoy great food, connect with fellow families, and share some laughs. Whether you're a long-time parent or new to the school, Campus Lounge is the perfect chance to relax, catch up, and support our Panthers in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Conveniently located up the street. We can't wait to see you there!

Date: Tuesday, May 20th
Time: 4pm-10pm
Location: Campus Lounge, 701 S. University Blvd

Click the Links below to sign up! Look for new opportunities coming soon.

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Watch D.O.G.S

Reading Rockstars- MAY

Early Bird Pricing Ends: May 31st

Schedule: Week-long half-day and full-day camps available from June 9 to July 11.

Pricing: Early bird rates available until 5/31!

Half-day camps (3 hours / day) $319

Full-day camps (7 hours / day) $525.

Camp offerings: Youngest students (ages 5-7), Little Coders (creative coding in Scratch) and Minecraft Modding camps tailored for early readers. Campers ages 8-12 can choose their own adventure in Roblox, Python, AI & Machine Learning, Minecraft Modding, Scratch, Micro:bit, or Robotics!

Explore the full schedule and register now!

MAY

12th-16th: 8th Grade Trip, Washington DC

14th-16th: 7th Grade Trip, Service Project

15th-16th: 5th Grade Trip, Lutheran Valley Retreat

15th-16th: 4th Grade Trip, Sand Dunes National Park

20th: Pizza Day (Last One for the Year)

22nd: 8th Grade Graduation - 7:30pm

23rd: Last Day of School! - 11:30am Dismissal, Family Picnic

Add the St. John's Parents' Calendar to your calendar here.

The 2025-26 K-8 School calendar is available now.

You can access it by clicking here.

Need Before and After Care - space is still available

Click HERE to sign up!

Upcoming School Day Out Calendar

Friday, May 23: K-8 1/2 Day, Last Day of School, NO School Day Out (We encourage you to join the family picnic at Wash Park.)

For more info, contact Gloria Roggow at gloria.roggow@sjdenver.org 303-733-3777, x156

An easy way to support St. John’s School is through your grocery shopping! We’ve partnered with King Soopers in the Community Rewards Program. Simply create an account at www.kingsoopers.com by either using your loyalty card or alternate ID. Once you have logged in, select My Account and then Community Partners. Search for St. John's Lutheran School or select organization number HM299.

Each purchase made, King Soopers donates to St. John’s. All proceeds go to the Teacher Wish List.

Do you believe that the early years are full of wonder? So do we.

At St. John's, we are called to nurture young hearts and minds through love, faith, and learning. We’re seeking a Preschool Assistant Teacher who is passionate about early childhood education and committed to helping little ones grow—academically, socially, and spiritually.

View job description here

To apply: Send your resume and a brief note to Abi Newell.

The Early Learning Center (ELC) is currently seeking a friendly and organized Part-Time Office Assistant to support our administrative operations.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with computer-based systems, answering phone calls and emails, scheduling tours, and helping to maintain a welcoming and well-organized office environment.

We are looking for someone available to work three days a week, for approximately 6–8 hours per day.

If you or someone you know would be a great fit for this role, we’d love to hear from you!

View job description here

To apply: Send your resume and brief note to Abi Newell

"We walk together towards renewed hope and life in Jesus Christ."

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH EVENTS (click links for information)

May 11: Path Way to Peace, 11:15am

May 18: St. John's Plaza Grand Opening, After each Service

June 1: First Sunday Food Donation

RENEWAL CHURCH EVENTS

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Editions dating back to October 25, 2024, can be found here.