The Panther Post
January 9, 2026
MAP Testing: January 12th - 16th
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments help us better understand each student’s individual academic growth in areas such as Math, Reading, and Science. The results provide teachers with valuable insight, allowing them to personalize instruction, identify learning gaps, and thoughtfully tailor the curriculum to meet each student’s unique needs.
MAP assessments are not used for grading or retention. Instead, they show what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, helping us best support their continued academic growth.
To help your child feel prepared and confident, we encourage students to eat a healthy breakfast each morning and get a good night’s rest before testing days. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s learning.
Emergency Communications
In the event the school needs to communicate immediately with parents, we use Remind to send a short message directly to your phone. This might be for school closures, delayed starts, or other time-critical situations. We will also send a secondary email with the same information.
We expect all parents to sign up for these alerts to ensure you receive this information promptly.
If you are not yet signed up, please click the links below to join the appropriate notification group(s). If you have multiple students, you may join more than one group, but it is not necessary—all groups receive the same communication at the same time.
Click here to join the ELC notification list
Click here to join the K-5 notification list
Click here to join the 6-8 notification list
Over the next week, we are migrating some parents into different Remind groups. You may receive a short notification that you have been added to or removed from a group. This is expected, no action is needed from you, and it will not affect the level of communication you receive.
Thank you for your partnership as we ensure our communications system meets the needs of our school community.
Dress Code Partnership Conversation
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.
Volunteer for WatchDOGS
We invite the men of our community—dads, grandfathers, uncles, and other special men—to join Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) at St. John’s ELC–8th Grade. This one-time, 4-hour program provides positive male role models, supports safety and student well-being, and gives fathers and father figures a meaningful way to experience school life alongside their children.
Volunteer for Reading Rockstars! (Sign Up for the Rest of the Year)
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!
Chapel Focus: Community Ministry Food Pantry
Thank you for the generous gifting of onesies, blankets, toys, and other baby items for Alternatives Pregnancy Center. The moms and babies were truly blessed!
During the month of January, we are proud to support the Community Ministry Food Pantry by collecting much-needed food items. We are accepting donations of breakfast cereal, spaghetti, and pasta sauce.
Please drop off your contributions in the donation bins located near the school office and in the community room. Thank you for your generosity and for helping us support families in our community.
ST. JOHN'S PANTHER SIDELINE SHOP
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!
DIGITAL FLYERS
Thursday Folders have gone high-tech. We will no longer be sending home paper flyers each week. Please see here for your digital flyers!
Colorado Christian Sports League
March-May 2026
1st & 2nd Grade Soccer Sign Up
3rd & 4th Grade Soccer Sign Up
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
MomCo: Click for Event Dates
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.
Dates for your Calendar
January
12-16: MAP Testing
16: Student Half Day, dismissal 11:30am
19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No School
20: Pizza Day
22: Dress Code Partnership Conversation
25: Cherub and JoyFilled Choir presentation
26-30: National Lutheran Schools Week
February
3: Pizza Day
11: Panthers Dine Out: Hapa Sushi Cherry Creek
16: Presidents' Day | No School
17: Pizza Day
20: End of 2nd Trimester
26-27: Teacher Conference | No School
2025-26 K-8 School Calendar
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.
Support St. John's through Groceries: King Soopers Community Rewards
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.
Lunch Link
Need to order lunch for you student? Check out Lunch Link by Wholesome Food Services. Go to their custom website and order food for the week. Click the Lunch Link logo to order.
PTO Pizza Days
All proceeds for the Pizza Day fundraiser goes to PTO and Love India
$3 per slice. Click the Pizza logo for purchase.
Milk Card
Need to add money to your student's milk card?
Click the Milk logo for purchase!
2026-2027 Open Enrollment for ELC begins February 2
The Early Learning Center will begin 2026-2027 Open Enrollment February 2. Follow the link for more details: Open Enrollment and Tuition
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.
At St. John's, our 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.
Have questions or want to schedule a tour? Reach out to ELCinfo@sjdenver.org
Wash Park
St. John's Wash Park campus has in-person worship at 8am (classic-style worship), 9:45am (modern-style worship), or join our Livestream at 9:40am (click the link) St. John's Church
Highlands
Renewal, St. John's Highlands campus: Sundays at 10:00am in-person, or Livestream. (click the link) Renewal Church
Alpha Course
You’re invited to Alpha, a welcoming, judgment-free space to explore life’s big questions together.
Is the Bible relevant today? Is there more to life than this? Do you ever pray? Who was Jesus? What does faith mean to you?
At Alpha, no question is off-limits. It’s a safe, open environment to wonder, discuss, and reflect. Whether you have deep faith, little faith, or none at all. Everyone is welcome, no matter your background or beliefs.
Dinner and childcare are provided—We’d love to have you join us.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH EVENTS (click links for information)
January
February
RENEWAL CHURCH EVENTS
