Panther Paw News

Hello ELC Families,

Thank you to all the families who attended our St. John's Church and School Picnic. It was great to see the kids having fun on the slip and slide and in water play. Our students have settled in nicely to the school routine and it is great to walk through the classrooms and see them engaged in learning. There are always so many smiles and they are forming great friendships. I've also enjoyed getting to know all of our families. Thank you for partnering with us in your child's education.

St. John’s has been nominated in the 2026 Best of the Front Range, and we need your help! Please take a few minutes to vote for St. John’s Lutheran School in these categories:

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• Preschool
• Faith-Based School
• Private School

How to vote:

1. Visit the Best of the Front Range voting site.
2. Navigate to the Education section.
3. Find each of the five categories above.
4. Select St. John’s Lutheran School and submit your votes.

In the event of a schedule change (closure, delayed start, or early dismissal) or an emergency situation, we will notify parents as soon as possible via email and the Remind app. If you haven't signed up for Remind notifications yet, please follow the instructions below. Parents with multiple students only need to join one group - all groups receive identical communications simultaneously.

• To join the ELC notification list: text @26f23d to the number 81010
• To join the K-5 notification list: text @4fc467 to the number 81010
• To join the 6-8 notification list: text @he3acac to the number 81010

We only use Remind for urgent, time-sensitive alerts.

If you lose one or both of your key cards, please notify the ELC office staff right away so we can deactivate the card’s building access. If the card is later found, we can easily reactivate it—there’s no need to purchase a replacement.

For the safety and security of our ELC, it’s important that we know where all active key cards are at all times. Thank you for helping us keep our students, families, and staff safe!

Join us this fall for Women's Huddle, a welcoming Bible study where women gather to grow in God's Word, encourage one another, and build meaningful friendships. This semester we'll be studying Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me by Jennifer Rothschild.

We meet Monday mornings from 8:30–9:30 AM at St. John's Church, alternating between homework discussion and the accompanying video each week.

Kickoff Brunch: Monday, August 31 at 8:30 AM at the Hensley Home (2856 Zang Way, Golden). We'll break for Labor Day, with our first study discussion on Monday, September 14.

Whether you've studied the Bible for years or are just beginning, we'd love to have you join us! For more information or to RSVP, contact Melani Hensley at hensleyfam4@gmail.com or text 407-952-9541.

• Sept. 8 at 6:00 PM: Children’s Nutrition with Monica Strachan in the Community Room
• Sept. 12 at 6:30 AM: Sunrise Sculpt Pilates on the West Patio
• Sept. 22 at 6:00 PM: Kate Silverman of School Savvy discusses school choice guidance and support

6th Annual Pie-a-Thon Fundraiser - Order Your Pie Today!

Once again, the St. John’s community will be working together to raise money to support the ARISE! Women’s Empowerment Program of India Transformed.

Support the cause by ordering a delicious homemade apple pie.

● Regular 9-inch apple pie: $25

● Small 6-inch apple pie: $17

● Choose baked or frozen/unbaked

A frozen pie is easy to save and bake fresh for a holiday gathering. A baked pie makes a tasty treat to share with a neighbor or to give away as a thoughtful gift. All pie purchases and financial contributions help move us closer to our $25,000 goal.

Don’t miss out! You are only guaranteed a pie if you pre-order.

Monday, December 7th 6-8:30pm. Join us for a festive and beautiful evening of reflection allowing our hearts to settle into the advent season. It’s our largest women’s community event which so many look forward to every year. It takes place in our Worship Center. Men, we need you as well to serve that night. More info to come!

St. John's is seeking a Full-Time Director responsible for leading our before-and after-school programs, School Days Out, and Summer Camp. Proven experience supervising children and managing staff is required; important skills include program development, staff management, marketing, and safety administration.

Our 2026-27 ELC School Calendar

• September 7 - ELC CLOSED; Labor Day
• September 18 - Dad's Big Breakfast
• October 2 - Mom's High Tea
• October 9 - Fall Festival; ELC closes at 4:30pm
• October 14-16 - ELC Closed for Staff Training
• November 4 & 5 - Kindergarten Open House 4-6pm

Monday Lunch: Beef Tacos with Whole Wheat Tortillas

Pinto Beans

Cold Corn Salad

Snack: Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffin & Sliced Turkey

Tuesday Lunch: Chicken Paprikash

Whole Wheat Pasta

Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing

Par Steamed Broccoli

Snack: Whole Grain Graham Crackers & Sliced Peaches

Wednesday Lunch: Beef with Spanish Brown Rice

Sautéed Zucchini

Par Steamed Cauliflower

Snack: Pinto Bean Dip & Whole Wheat Tortilla

Thursday Lunch: Three Bean Chili

Whole Wheat Cornbread

Steamed Mixed Veggies

Sliced Pears

Snack: Yogurt & Whole Grain Granola

Friday Lunch: Sliced Turkey

Whole Wheat Bread

Par Steamed Carrots

Ranch Dressing

Sliced Cucumber

Sliced Cheddar

Snack: Whole Grain Soft Pretzel Bites & String Cheese

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

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

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support of St. John’s School. Their partnership strengthens our mission and helps us see our Graduate Promise—Grow in Faith, Excel in Education, Thrive in Community—come to life in the lives of more than 300 children each year.

When it fits your family’s needs, we hope you’ll consider supporting the sponsors who pour into our school community and into your children.

Please click on a sponsor for more information.

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