Eagle Express
July 24, 2026
Welcome to a New School Year!
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you are going to have trouble. But be courageous! I have overcome the world." — John 16:33 (EHV)
As another school year approaches, families can get filled with excitement. Fresh school supplies, new teachers, and the anticipation of new opportunities make this time of the year unique. But, alongside this excitement, often come worries that weigh on parents. Will my child fit in? Will my child make friends? Will he succeed? Will she be accepted if she lives out her Christian faith?
Questions such as these are valid at this time of year. Jesus never promised that life would be easy, whether a new school year is about to start or not. In fact, in our school theme verse for this year, he tells us plainly, "In this world you are going to have trouble." Who wants to hear that? But our experiences in life remind us of that truth. It takes courage to live in this sinful world. It takes courage to share our faith with a friend who may not understand. It takes courage to speak the truth in love when God's Word is unpopular. It takes courage to stand firm when others question or criticize what the Bible teaches. It may even take courage to defend your choice of sending your children to a small, Christian school like St. John. In fact, it can take so much courage to share our faith that many times we simply choose not to do it. It sometimes seems easier not to try and wonder what might have happened, rather than give our best effort and fear failure. That holds true for earthly matters, too. Whether adults or children, giving our very best can be difficult when we are afraid of failing or disappointing others. That is usually the main reason why students often choose to avoid answering or asking questions in class. That's also why students may avoid trying something new or participating in an event that they have not done before. Who wants to fail or fear rejection?
We want to guide our children wisely, protect them from harm, and help them grow into faithful Christian adults. Yet we realize that this is not the real world in which they are living. And we realize that there are moments when the path ahead seems uncertain or when God's plans don't make immediate sense. We may wonder why certain struggles enter our lives, why some prayers seem to go unanswered, or why our children might be struggling with something. During those more difficult times, our life of faith can easily lose courage.
Jesus' words give us the confidence we need. Our courage is not based on our own strength, personality, or ability to overcome every obstacle. Our courage rests in the One who has already overcome the world. Because Jesus lived perfectly in our place, died for our sins, and rose again victorious, we have peace with God that no circumstance can take away. Knowing that God is in control allows us to face each day with confidence, even when we cannot see what lies ahead. And this is the message that we need to share with our children.
As we prepare for another school year, our prayer is that this theme, "Be Courageous," will encourage every student, parent, and teacher throughout the year. We want our children to grow not only in knowledge and skills but also in the courage that comes from God's promises. As they study, serve, compete, learn, and build friendships, we pray they will remember that true courage comes from Christ alone.
May God bless us with hearts that trust his promises, stand firmly on his Word, and face every opportunity and challenge with confidence, knowing that Jesus has already overcome the world.
On Tuesday, August 11, at 6:30 p.m. we will have orientation sessions for all classrooms. Parents can head to their child’s classroom, and each teacher will give a quick overview of what to expect for the coming year. Although each teacher won’t be able to provide great detail, it will be a wonderful chance to get prepared for the year and meet other parents in your child’s classroom. This will also be a great time to learn about teacher expectations, begin open communication, and ask whatever questions you may have.
If you have children in multiple classrooms and can divide up as parents, please do so. Otherwise, just pick the classroom of most interest to you. If there are items that you would prefer to discuss with the teacher one-on-one, you can let the teacher know afterwards and schedule a time to do that. We want to make sure that you are comfortable and confident as the new school year begins.
Then at 7:15 p.m. we will end the official business and enjoy some ice cream and fellowship. Please take time out of your busy schedules and plan to join us!
Our schedule:
- 6:00p -Open doors for early arrival. Students can drop off supplies if they have them ready
- 6:30p -Teachers begin their presentations in their own classrooms
- 7:15p -Families head to the fellowship area for ice cream treats and socialization
If children have their school supplies ready and want to drop things off that evening, they may do that. We recognize that things may not be ready yet, so they can always schedule a different time to drop things off or just bring their items on the first day of school - which is Wednesday, August 19.
Child care will be available from 6:30-7:15pm during the teachers' presentations.
If you know of any families in your neighborhood or through other connections that might be looking for a new school this fall, feel free to invite them along for the evening. Mr. Retzlaff will be available to give tours and visit with interested families. If this night doesn't work well, let Mr. Retzlaff know, and he will be happy to reach out and schedule a different time.
We ask for God's blessings as we get prepared for a new school year!
Esther Robinson will be our new Kindergarten teacher, and Diana Bormann will be our new 3rd/4th grade teacher. We would like to show them how great it is to be at our school by welcoming them with gift cards.
If you would like to purchase gift cards through our RaiseRight program and have a portion of your purchase help out the school, please contact Carol Lemerand for assistance. Otherwise, drop off cards at the school office, and we will take care of things from there. Cards to local convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, Amazon, local restaurants, etc. would all be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help in providing a warm welcome to our new teachers!
We will present them with our gifts on Sunday, August 16. On that morning, we will officially install them during St. John's 9:00am worship service. Following the service, we will have a Welcome Brunch in honor of our new teachers.
Esther Robinson
Esther will be serving as our new Kindergarten teacher. She graduated from Martin Luther College in 2023 and began her teaching career at Grace Lutheran Childcare in Charlotte, NC. There she taught three-year-olds for two and a half years. In early June, she accepted the call to teach here at St. John.
In her free time, Esther enjoys analyzing movies, expressing her creativity through arts and crafts, and golfing. She also loves attending concerts and discovering new music. With family living in Wisconsin, Virginia, and Minnesota, she enjoys traveling to spend time with the people she loves.
Her favorite Bible passage for ministry is from Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” This passage reminds her that God faithfully guides us and lights the path before us, even when we cannot see what lies ahead. In her ministry, this passage reminds her not only to rely on God’s guidance but also to teach her students to trust in Him and seek His direction in their own lives.
Diana Bormann
Diana will be serving as our teacher in the 3rd-4th-grade classroom. She graduated from Concordia College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She received her first call to Trinity Lutheran School in West Bend, Wisconsin, to teach grades 1-2. She spent 34 years there teaching children about the love of God. While there, she also coached volleyball and helped with basketball. She received the call to teach grades 3-4 at St. John Lutheran School in April of 2026. She is very excited to get to know her students and help them grow both academically and spiritually.
Diana enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She especially enjoys hanging out with her grandson. She also enjoys exploring new areas in Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as reading and working on puzzles.
Her favorite Bible verse is John 14:27, which is her Confirmation passage. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let it be afraid.”
Esther Robinson
Dianna Bormann
As we look forward to a wonderful new school year, we are blessed to welcome some fantastic new faces to our teaching staff! To show them our love and support, we are hosting a New Teacher Welcome Brunch, and you are warmly invited.
When: Sunday, August 16th following church service at 9 AM
Where: The Fellowship Hall
It takes a village to raise a community, and we'd love your help to make this event extra special. Whether you have a knack for hospitality or a favorite breakfast recipe to share, there are plenty of ways to get involved:
Bring a Dish: We are looking for savory breakfast bakes, fruits, and sweet treats.
Lend a Hand: Sign up to help us set up tables, decorate, or assist with cleanup afterward.
Ready to RSVP and pitch in?
Do you know a family who you’d love to see attend St. John? Word-of-mouth is still the most effective way to spread the news about the Christian education that we offer at St. John. Because of that, we seek your help and offer a little incentive at the same time. If you refer a family, and they take a tour of the school, you will receive a $100 credit to use toward tuition or ESS. If that family then enrolls and spends at least a trimester at our school, we will award you another $400! Do you have some friends and acquaintances that have school-age children? Are they just starting school, or are they already at a school but looking for a change? Either encourage them to call and set up a tour, or let Mr. Retzlaff know about them, and he will be happy to connect with them.
If you have not yet completed your registration forms for the coming school year, forms can be found here. Registration paperwork needs to be filled out before every school year and can be emailed to office@stjohnslib.com or dropped off in the school office. If you have any questions, please contact Jodi in the office.
With two new teachers arriving and some unexpected technical glitches (a file being accidentally deleted), we have been a bit delayed in getting a school supply list sent out. We apologize for that delay, but the list is now set. You can use the link to access that updated list. If you have any questions about items on the list, please feel free to contact the individual teacher for clarification. Happy shopping!
Saturday, September 12
All of our school families are warmly invited to join us for St. John's annual picnic on Saturday, September 12. We will have our worship service from 4:00-5:00pm. All the school children (preschool through 8th grade) are scheduled to sing for the service. We always look forward to having the students participate and help in this way. After the service, we will have our picnic, hopefully outside on part of our parking lot. We will have a bounce house for the kids, the annual cornhole tournament, and some great food to eat! We hope to see all of our school families there!
If you are able, here's how you can help:
What to Bring: Dessert (families with last name A-J)
Side Dish (families with last name K-Z)
Main Dish: Will be provided by the church/school
This is always one of our favorite events of the year. Everyone is welcome, and guests are encouraged, so feel free to invite others to join with you for worship, fellowship, and a free meal!
Please RSVP and sign up to help make this year's picnic a huge success! https://bit.ly/4pKDSdH
St. John Lutheran School
Email: info@stjohnslib.com
Website: stjohnslib.com
Location: 501 West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL, USA
Phone: (847)362-4424
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnslib/