The Panther Post

As we move toward the end of the year, we want to highlight our matching gift opportunity for building renovations. A generous alumnus has offered up to $125,000 in matching funds to help offset the cost of our recent improvements, allowing us to direct more resources toward future projects that support our students and teachers.

We are grateful to have already received more than $97,000 toward this match. With Christmas approaching, we invite families to consider St. John’s in their end-of-year giving. Every gift - large or small - helps us move closer to meeting the full match and strengthens our school community for the year ahead.

Let’s meet the match - and surpass it - together.

If you would like to contribute toward this fund, St. John’s gratefully accepts donations in the following forms:

• Cash (preferred)

• Checks (preferred)

• Credit cards (via Vanco, though not preferred because of fees)

• Wire transfers

• Stock gifts

• Cryptocurrency

For assistance with wire transfers, stock gifts, or cryptocurrency donations, please contact Dr. Barnard directly.

We are excited to invite you to our long-awaited combined Christmas celebration: The Promise.

Students from our Kindergarten through Fifth Grade classes will fill the air with joyful music, under the direction of Mrs. Mari Koester and Mrs. Nissa Newsome. Adding to the festive spirit, our middle school drama class, led by Dr. Erica Flesher and Mr. Matthew Walton, and our Handbells Elective, led by Miss Krystal Thompson, will present a beautiful dramatization of the nativity story, bringing the Gospel to life in a moving and memorable way. This joyful celebration will feature many beloved Christian songs, giving you the chance to sing along to cherished carols and reflect on the journey of Joseph and Mary, and the birth of Jesus.

With most of our school participating, we are offering two performances:

• Tuesday, December 16, 6:30 pm
• Wednesday, December 17, 9:15 am

Both shows will require complimentary tickets for entry. If possible, we kindly ask that those with more flexible schedules, including grandparents, consider attending the Wednesday morning presentation. This will help ensure everyone can enjoy the event comfortably. We have limited the number of tickets to 6 tickets per family.

We hope you will join us for a time of music, reflection, and celebration of the true meaning of Christmas!

Join us for some festive dress-up fun as we count down to Christmas Break! No purchase is necessary to participate—just bring your holiday spirit and creativity. Students are encouraged to use their imagination to create unique, cheerful looks each day!

Monday, December 15 – Gingerbread Day
Think gingerbread men, houses, frosting, and all things sweet!

Tuesday, December 16 – Pajama Day
Inspired by ’Twas the Night Before Christmas—cozy, comfy, and festive PJs encouraged.

Wednesday, December 17 – Favorite Christmas Song Day
Dress inspired by your favorite holiday tune—classic or modern!

Thursday, December 18 – Candy Cane Day
Red, white, stripes, and peppermint magic!

Friday, December 19 – Silly Sweater Day
End the week with your most wonderfully wacky holiday sweater.

We can’t wait to see everyone’s creativity and Christmas cheer!

We invite parents to join us for a Dress Code Partnership Conversation on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. As we look ahead to the coming years, we want to work together to consider how our students represent themselves through clothing and how our dress expectations can best support them in achieving our Graduate Promise: Growing in their Faith, Excelling in their Education, and Thriving in our Community.

This will be a collaborative group of parents and staff, focused on listening, sharing perspectives, and shaping recommendations together. If you are interested in being part of this conversation, we would be glad to have you join us.

RSVPs are required. Please email Cara Benton to let her know you’d like to participate.

Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in filling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes! Our school family donated 93 fully stuffed shoeboxes and 12 online shoeboxes, for a total of 105 boxes filled with love and care.

Your gifts will bring joy and comfort to the children who receive them, reminding them that they are seen and cherished. In addition to these tangible blessings, the children and their families will also have the opportunity to learn about the hope of Jesus through classes provided by the Operation Christmas Child organization.

We are grateful for your kindness and the spirit of giving you’ve shared this season.

We are looking for a helpful extra set of hands during lunchtime on Thursdays and would love your support! If you have a little flexibility in your day and enjoy being around our wonderful students, please consider volunteering. Even one Thursday a month makes a big difference and is so appreciated.

If you’re available Sign Up here! Thank you in advance for considering!

Our Parent Teacher Organization has shared some wonderful plans for our upcoming Staff Appreciation Luncheon. Each year, we love to treat our amazing teachers and staff to a hot catered meal and give them the gift of time—time to sit together, relax, and enjoy fellowship with one another.

To help make this special day possible, we are looking for a few drink and dessert donations to help offset the cost of the catered lunch. We are also in need of volunteers to help supervise student lunches in the cafeteria, along with an extra recess to make the day fun for our kids and restful for our staff.

Looking for a simple and meaningful way to bless the amazing teachers and staff at St. John’s this Christmas season? Our Parent Teacher Organization invites you to participate in the Christmas Purse, a heartfelt tradition that allows families to share their gratitude and wish our staff a very Merry Christmas.

The Christmas Purse is a monetary collection that is distributed directly to our K–8 and ELC teachers and support staff. In past years, thanks to the generosity of our community, we’ve been able to bless full-time staff members with gifts of around $200 each, a gesture that truly makes a difference during the holiday season.

If you feel led to contribute, please submit your Christmas Purse donation by Monday, December 15th. Every gift, no matter the amount, helps us show our appreciation for the dedication, care, and love our staff pour into our children every day.

Thank you for helping us make this season extra special for those who serve our students so faithfully!

K8 Christmas Purse Link

ELC Christmas Purse Link

Become a Reading Rockstar and help our younger students grow as readers! Volunteers commit to 30–60 minutes a week for 4 consecutive weeks, working one-on-one or in small groups to build strong reading habits and a lifelong love of reading.

You can sign up to be a Reading Rockstar until the end of the school year!

Our chapel offering for the month of December will support new moms connected with Alternatives Pregnancy Center. Through December 19, we will be collecting new, non–holiday-themed items to bless these families.

If you feel called to give, the items most needed include:

• Gift cards ($25 Walmart, particularly)

• Receiving blankets

• Baby plush blankets (super fuzzy/soft)

• Baby hooded towels with wash cloths

• Mom gifts (scented candles, fuzzy socks, lip balm, lotions, and similar items to pamper new mommas)

• Onesies (sizes 3–12 months)

• Sleepers (sizes 3–12 months)

• Bibs

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us care for new mothers and their infants during this season. Your kindness truly makes a difference!

Looking for new ways to show your St. John’s spirit? Our Panther Sideline Store has everything you need—from cozy hoodies and tees to hats, bags, and more! You can even customize your gear to make your Panther pride truly stand out.

Every purchase gives a percentage back to St. John’s School, helping support our students and programs.

Check out the latest styles and stock up on your favorites today!

Shop Our Panther Sideline Store

Thursday Folders have gone high-tech. We will no longer be sending home paper flyers each week. Please see here for your digital flyers!

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Volunteer Sign Up

Donation

MomCo: Click for Event Dates

Calendar of Events Registration

Thriving Families Donation Opportunity (Baby & Child gear)

Thank you for help us save time, resources, and many trees. If you would like a hard copy of these flyers, please ask Molly Hanson.

December

15-19: Christmas Spirit Week (Dress Up)

15: Panthers Dine Out: Chipotle (25% goes to St. John's)

16: 6:30pm, K8 Christmas Presentation: The Promise

16: Pizza Day

17: 9:15am, K8 Christmas Presentation: The Promise

19: Student Half Day / Community Celebration

December 22 - January 2: Christmas Break, School Closed

January

6: Pizza Day

12-16: MAP Testing

16: Student Half Day, dismissal 11:30am

19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

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

The 2025-26 K-8 School calendar is available now. We have updated it to reflect a change in the Christmas program, which has moved to December 16 and 17, 2025.

You can access it by clicking here.

Before School Care

• 7:00–8:00 am: $10 per child/day (for Drop Off between 7am-7:30am, parents must request 24 hours in advance via email)

• 7:30–8:00 am: $7 per child/day

After School Care

• Pick-up at 4:30 pm: $14 per child/day

• Pick-up after 4:30 pm: $18 per child/day

Families only pay for the days their child actually attends.

School Day Out (SDO) & ½ School Day Out

• SDO (No school days, 7:30 am–5:30 pm): $68 per child/day

• ½ SDO (½ school days, 11:30 am–5:30 pm): $38 per child/day

Note: If registered at least one week prior, payment is required regardless of attendance.

Upcoming Dates:

December 19--1/2 School Day Out, 11:30 am - 5:30 pm

December 22--School Day Out, 7:30 am - 5:30 pm

December 23--School Day Out, 7:30 am - 5:30 pm

(Closed December 24 - January 4 for Christmas Break)

January 16--1/2 School Day Out, 11:30 am - 5:30 pm

January 19--Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, NO School Day Out

February 16--Closed for Presidents' Day, NO School Day Out

Our Team

Gloria Roggow (Director), Anniyeli Anderson, Claire Egbert, Caroline Frye, Marcie Meissner.

Contact during After Care or SDO: Call our program cell phone at 720-215-0193.

Key Dates

Please see here for key dates for 2025-26

Registration

Attendance Form

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 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.

Our Early Learning Center still has a few spots available, and we’d love to welcome families into our nurturing, faith-based community. With a strong focus on academic readiness, social-emotional growth, and joyful discovery, our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support each child’s development during these foundational years.

Our experienced and caring teachers create a warm and engaging environment where children thrive in mind, body, and spirit.

If you're exploring options, we’d love to connect and share more about what makes St. John’s a special place to begin your child’s educational journey.

Have questions or want to schedule a tour? Reach out to ELCinfo@sjdenver.org

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

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

December

7: First Sunday Food Donation

7: Pathway to Peace

8: Advent By Candlelight

24: Christmas Eve Service, 3pm & 5pm

25: Christmas Day Service, 10am

RENEWAL CHURCH EVENTS

Follow Here

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.

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