The Panther Post

Thank you so much to everyone who attended our Annual Parents' Night.

Moments like last night highlight what makes St. John’s so special. From connecting as a community to sharing our academic growth and setting a grounded, Christ-centered vision for our students' mental and spiritual well-being, your presence made a powerful impact.

We were also grateful to hear from Justin Nelson as he shared our exciting vision for the Building Campaign - our $6M goal to bring our campus to a fully refurbished standard of excellence. It was equally inspiring to hear Pastor Andrew share that our St. John’s community, including the Church, has already pledged just over $3M toward that vision.

Thank you for your partnership, your engagement, and the trust you place in us every day. We are deeply blessed to serve your children and walk alongside your families.

You can see slides from the night here, and Justin's presentation here.

Please join us for our annual St. John’s Summer Potluck Picnic this Sunday, August 23rd at 11:15 a.m.!

It’s a fun way to connect with school and church families and celebrate the start of a new school year.

This is a potluck picnic, so please bring a dish to share based on your last name:

A–F: Main Dish | G–L: Side Dish | M–S: Fruit or Salad | T–Z: Dessert

We are so excited for PICTURE DAY!

What You Need to Know:

• Date: Wednesday August 26th
• Siblings: Taken on the younger sibling's scheduled day
• Dress to Impress: Dress your child for pictures! Leave any notes with their teacher.
• No Deposit Needed: No payment is required up front!
• Opt-Out: We will photograph EVERYONE unless we receive an opt-out note.
• Morning Sessions: Finish by lunch. Drop-ins should come early.

The OTUS Student Letters have arrived and have been distributed in the student Thursday Folders. These letters are specific to each student and provide parents with access to our grading system, OTUS. The letter includes your login information and your child’s unique student code.

Please note the following regarding how the letters will be distributed:

• Kindergarten–5th Grade: OTUS letters have been sent home in your child’s Thursday Folder.
• Middle School: OTUS letters will be mailed directly to your home.
• Families with both Elementary and Middle School students: All of your OTUS letters will be included in the youngest student’s Thursday Folder.

Please keep the letter in a safe place, as you will need the information to access your child’s academic information in OTUS the whole school year.

The student code is case sensitive, so please enter it exactly as it appears on the letter. If you have trouble accessing your child’s information or experience any other hiccups getting set up, please reach out to Cara Benton. She will be happy to help troubleshoot most issues and get you connected.

Thank you for taking a moment to review the information and set up your access to OTUS. We hope this will be a helpful tool for staying connected to your child’s academic progress throughout the school year!

We’re thrilled to have nearly 40 parents signed up for Panther Parents this year! Please join us for our first meeting on Thursday, August 27 at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room to meet other parents, hear what’s ahead, and learn how you can get involved. We’ll have bagels and coffee to help get your day started!

Please RSVP

Volunteer: Our master SignUpGenius is now open! Sign-up to help with lunch, classroom activities, staff meeting snacks, events, and more.

Sign up to Volunteer

Support Panther Parents: Donations help make our events and activities possible throughout the year. Donate online below or drop off a check in the Main Office with “Panther Parents” in the memo line.

Make a Donation

Thank you for helping make this a great year for our St. John’s community!

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.

Through the India Transformed Love India Program, our school proudly supports five children in India. Our sponsorship helps provide these children with the opportunity to attend a high-quality Christian school, as well as receive birthday and Christmas gifts. It also helps provide food and essential supplies for their families.

Students are invited to support our sponsored children by bringing coins, cash, or checks to school. Donations may be placed in the offering box located in each classroom.

Every gift, no matter the amount, makes a meaningful difference. Thank you for your generosity and for helping us share God’s love with children and families in India!

Please take a moment to follow the links below to review the most recent information and updates. We appreciate your attention to these details as we continue working to provide a smooth and supportive Extended Care experience for our students and families.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue the search for a new Director. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

Letter from Robert Deserino, Interim Coordinator

Kid Check

Extended Care Email

Welcome to the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Feel free to invite grandparents, uncles and other special men.

The purpose of Watch D.O.G.S. at St John's School is:

-To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.

-To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and increase student welfare.

-To help fathers get an inside peek at our school and their child's education.

Example of half-day or daily duties:

7:30 Welcoming students at the front entrance

8:15 Perimeter check

8:30 Reading to a class

8:45 Small group support

9:45 Recess

10:15 Math

11:00 Teacher Support

11:30 Lunch with your child/ren [finish the day]

Sign Up to be one of our WatchDOGS . Dates for the whole 2026-27 school year are available. Pick dates and times best for you!

If you have little ones (Birth-2nd grade) and are looking for some other moms to connect with, join us in the Community Room. Every other Tuesday 6-7:30pm

Dinner and childcare provided. Let us know you are coming by clicking the link. MomCo:

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.

Our 2026-27 K8 School Calendar

August

23: St. John's Summer Picnic

26: School Picture Day

28: MAP Testing

28: Half Day of School | Dismiss at 11:30am

September

1: Pizza Day

1-4: MAP Testing

7: Labor Day, School Closed

15: Pizza Day

18: Big Breakfast

25: FUN RUN & Half Day

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."

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH EVENTS

August

23: St. John's Summer Picnic 11:15am

26: Middle School Youth Group Hangout

September

6: First Sunday Food Donation

12: MomCo | Sunrise Pilates Sculpt

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.

Please click on a sponsor for more information.

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