The Panther Post

Dear St. John’s School Families,

As we close out another meaningful school year, I want to take a moment to express heartfelt gratitude and reflect on the many blessings we’ve experienced together as a school community.

First and foremost, thank you to our exceptional staff, who bring commitment, creativity, and care to their work each day. This year, we especially celebrate Miss Ellie Feldman on completing her first year at St. John’s—it has been a joy to welcome her to our team. We are pleased to hold a full staff for the upcoming school year and are excited to continue building a strong, mission-driven team.

To our K–8 students: thank you. Your perseverance, curiosity, and compassion have been a blessing. We began the year focused on Micah 6:8—'"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Throughout the year, we saw these values come to life in your words and actions. We give thanks to God for your growth and your faith.

Last night, we celebrated the graduation of 17 remarkable 8th-grade students. They now step forward into new adventures across the Denver area, well-prepared and well-supported. Congratulations to our esteemed Valedictorian, Jael DeBruin, and our Salutatorian, Audrey Dixon. To each graduate—and to our students moving to different parts of Colorado, the U.S., and the world—you are Panthers for life, and St. John’s will always be a home for you. Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome the incoming 8th-grade class as they step into their leadership roles. I am confident they will lead with integrity and kindness. We also look forward to greeting two new kindergarten classes. Our future is bright, and we are committed to walking alongside each student throughout their nine-year journey here at St. John’s.

Thank you for your generous support of this year’s Spring Auction. Together, we raised $87,004, which will go toward the refurbishment of our school gymnasium (with bathroom upgrades already in active planning). Your generosity continues to shape the learning and worship spaces we share. We also want to thank all the parents who participated in this year’s Parent Satisfaction Survey. Your feedback is meaningful and helps us set priorities and goals as we continue to grow and improve as a school.

Finally, I’m pleased to share that our spiritual theme for the 2025–26 school year will be:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12). As a school, we are standing together to honor parents and families, to teach our children this simple yet deeply important instruction from God, and to uphold the God-given mandate entrusted to every parent—to serve as the spiritual and physical leaders of their families. We pray this theme will shape the culture of our school, deepen our partnerships with families, and strengthen the hearts of our students.

Thank you for being a vital part of the St. John’s School family. I wish your family a joyful, restful summer, and I look forward to welcoming you back in the fall.

Warm regards,

Dr. Phillip Barnard
Principal, ELC and K-8
St. John’s School

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