Eagle Express
March 12, 2025
Mission Statement
St. John Lutheran School exists to nurture children in faith and intellect, equipping them for Christian lives of service.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven us."
Ephesians 4:32
Wednesday Lent Worship
Jesus' Words from the Cross
Today we have our students in Preschool - 2nd grade singing in our 3:30pm service, and we welcome Pastor Bill Schubert from Our Savior's in Zion as our guest pastor.
Join us Wednesdays at 3:30pm or 6:30pm. We have supper between our services.
Families - children and adults - are encouraged (all children need to be supervised) to worship together and to join us for the "Lent Supper" that immediately follows the 3:30pm service in our Fellowship Hall.
Note: After-school care will still be in session for those who need it. If E.S.S. is outside you can go to the preschool playground to pick-up. If E.S.S. is inside please come in through the front doors and head downstairs to the Prek4 classroom to pick-up.
Calls Returned
We are thrilled to share that Brooke Gast has returned the call she received to St. Mark's in Eau Claire, WI and will be staying at St. John as our 3rd & 4th grade teacher!!!
We are thrilled to share that Sarah Lofsness has returned the call she received to Morning Star in Jackson, WI and will also be staying at St. John as our kindergarten teacher!!!
Mr. Seth Arps has returned our call to serve with us next year as 7th & 8th grade teacher.
St. John congregation will hold another call meeting on Monday, March 17 at 7:00pm.
Holocaust Survivor Presentation
On Tuesday, April 15, we are privileged to welcome Steen Metz, a Holocaust survivor, to speak to our church and school family. He will share his personal story of being imprisoned in a concentration camp and will also answer questions. This is a rare and special opportunity since the number of living survivors grows less and less each year. More information can be found at http://www.steenmetzneverforget.com.
The presentation will take place on Tuesday, April 15, at 3:30 PM in the St. John sanctuary. It will run for about an hour. All school families are invited to attend. Grades 7 & 8 students are invited to attend the presentation under the supervision of Mr. Wintrone. Any other students are welcome to attend with their parents. Younger students can attend ESS for no charge so that parents can attend the presentation. Please fill out this Google Form to let us know if your child will be attending ESS while you attend the presentation.
We hope to see many of you for this special event. Please contact Mr. Wintrone (justin.wintrone@stjohnslib.com) with any questions.
Forensics - Starting March 21
Do you want to be a better public speaker? Do you enjoy getting in front of younger children to tell a story? Maybe the announcers on the radio catch your attention? Perhaps you write your own poetry? Then forensics is the sport for you!
According to the Stanford National Forensic Institute public speaking helps students develop their critical thinking and speaking skills. Students will learn how to present information clearly and connect with an audience. Self confidence in front of a crowd is a lifelong skill that students will need in many real life situations such as job interviews, school presentations, and college seminars. Our first meeting is Friday, March 21, after school in Mrs. Gast's classroom. The forensics team will be meeting on Fridays until 4:00 during the lent season and then switching to Wednesdays once Lent is over.
Everyone in grades 5-8 will be given a flyer, which is also attached below, to take home with them this Friday.
Please contact Mrs. Gast if you have any questions, or for more information.
Track and Field
Track and Field is starting soon! Our informational Track and Field meeting and first practice are on Tuesday, March 18 after school in the 5th & 6th grade classroom. Practice will go until 4:30 p.m. Students in 5th - 8th grade are welcome to join the team and students in 4th grade are welcome to attend practices. Every student participating must have an up-to-date physical or sports physical on file in the office. Please check with Mrs. Schubert if you have questions. Participating students who need a track t-shirt should contact Mrs. Rockwell.
Track and Field assistant coaches are needed. No experience needed, but you must be Safe Child approved. Please check with the office if you are unsure or would like to get Safe Child approved.
Contact Mr. Kopczynski if you have any other questions or if you are interested in helping out.
Our next few practices are:
Tuesday, April 1: 3:20 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 3: 3:20-4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8: 3:20-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 10:3:20-4:00 p.m.
PPP Opportunities
Typing
- Recently, our students compiled a list of questions to send to the missionaries we are supporting with our chapel offerings this year. Many of the questions are written out, so help is needed with typing the questions into one document. Let Mr. Wintrone (justin.wintrone@stjohnslib.com) know if you can help.
Volunteers Still Needed!
St. John Families, please join your Parent Teacher Partnership at the Libertyville Culver's (803 E. Park Ave.) for a FUNdraiser on Thursday, March 20, 5-8 p.m. We will earn a portion of all sales from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Students in preschool - grade 2 have their Entertainment Night at 6 p.m. so make an evening of it and come for dinner before Entertainment Night, or celebrate after with ice cream!
Parent volunteers from grades 3-8 are needed to help us serve at the Culver's Night.
In order for this fundraiser to happen, we need a minimum of 4 adults present at all times. If you plan on being there, please sign-up for a volunteer spot.
You can sign-up here to volunteer.
It should be a fun night, and we can't wait to see you!
Questions? Contact Lisa Kolch - lisascriver@hotmail.com or (262) 331-3140
Easter Fellowship Centerpieces
Help put together centerpieces for Easter morning fellowship - contact Sheryl Linnemann at sheryl359@gmail.com
Penny Challenge until March 21
St. John Food Drive
We are again collecting for our needy neighbors. Please be generous at this time of year when food donations are extremely low ... but the need is great. Bring your items to the stage asap, as our drive ends SUN, MARCH 16! Since many recipients do not have cooking appliances or pans, the following are recommended:
Canned Fruits / Peanut Butter / Crackers / Canned Meat, Tuna / Breakfast Cereals / Applesauce / Powdered Milk / Shelf-Stable Milk (almond, soy) / Wheat Tortillas / Beans / Juice Boxes / Canned Stew
Blessing Bags Collection
Join us this Lent season in sharing your faith through an act of kindness.
Care packages are a tangible way to share God's love. Making and distributing Blessing Bags is a family-friendly way to serve and share your faith.
Please donate at least one of each item shown in the Blessing Bag flyer (a hard copy of the flyer will be sent home on Friday). Our older students will assemble the bags and include church information and a thoughtful note. Once all the bags are assembled, they will be available to distribute in your community. Please donate items to the office, no later than April 11. Distribution will begin on April 18. Thank You!
Any financial contributions can be sent to Venmo @Sheryl-Linnemann, cash, or checks made out to Sheryl Linnemann.
Child Care Recommendations
Our new 5th and 6th grade teacher starting next year, Celia Tucek, is eagerly looking forward to joining us. Dear in the heart of her and her husband is the question: "Who will take care of our newborn baby starting in August/September?" Also important in their minds is the question: "Where will we move to and live starting in just a few months?" Ideally, a good recommendation for child care would help Celia and her husband know where to look to live. So...
Do you have any recommendations for newborn child care? If so, please call or email the office and let us know. Thank you in advance for whatever help you may be able to offer as we help prepare our new teacher for her time at St. John!
Friends and Family Referrals
Enrollment season is open at St. John Lutheran School for the 2025-2026 school year!
Do you know a family whom you’d love to see attend St. John?! Recommendations and referrals from our families are our best source of meeting new families who value Christian education at St. John like we do. Did you know that we reward you as a thank you for introducing new families to St. John? For every family you refer who tours St. John, we thank you with a $100 credit to use towards tuition or ESS. If they enroll and spend a trimester with us, we’ll award you another $400!
Please direct your friends and family to our website information page at https://www.stjohnslib.com/contact.phtml, send an email to David.Retzlaff@stjohnslib.com or call David Retzlaff, Principal, at (847) 362-4424. Thank you!
Registration for 2025/2026 School Year
In a few weeks we have our Registration Day! Please note - after Registration Day, our registration fee will increase from $95 to $190 per student. You are invited to join us for Registration Night on Monday, March 17, 3-6 p.m. You can sign-up here for a time to talk with our finance team and get your packet of forms from Mrs. Schubert. It is helpful, but not mandatory, to sign-up for a time slot. Please feel free to still attend Registration Night even if you don't sign up for a specific time. If needed, an alternate day and time can be scheduled. We will also have an Irish-themed dinner available during this time.
Thank you for your partnership. It is a true joy for us to serve you and your family through the ministry of St. John Lutheran School. We look forward to another great school year!
Chapel Offering for the 2024-2025 School Year
Chapel Offerings so far: $1,527.50
Upcoming Calendar Dates:
Monday, March 17: Registration Night and Supper, 3-6 p.m. / Pioneers, after school until 4:30 p.m. / Call Meeting, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 18: Track Informational Meeting and First Practice, after school until 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19: Lent Worship, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Supper served between services
Thursday, March 20: Preschool - Grade 2 Entertainment Night, 6 p.m. / Culver's Night, 5-8 p.m.
Friday, March 21: School Spirit Day with Absolute Science Show (2 p.m.) / First Forensics Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Monday, March 24 - Friday, March 28: No School, Spring Break
Wednesday, March 26: Lent Worship, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Supper served between services
Monday, March 31: NO Pioneers
Tuesday, April 1: Track Practice, after school until 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 2: Lent Worship, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Supper served between services
Thursday, April 3: Track Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Friday, April 4: Forensics Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Monday, April 7: Pioneers after school until 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8: Track Practice, after school until 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Lent Worship, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Students in Grades 3-8 Singing in 3:30 Service, Supper served between services
Thursday, April 10: Track Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 13: Palm Sunday with all school singing, 9 a.m. / Workship Day, 10:30 a.m. - Earn PPP Hours!
Monday, April 14: Pioneers after school until 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15: Steen Metz Presentation, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16: Forensics Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 17: Holy Thursday Worship, 7 p.m. / Track Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Friday, April 18: No School, Good Friday Worship, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 20: Easter Sunday Worship, 9 a.m.
Monday, April 21: No School - Easter Monday
Tuesday, April 22: Track Practice, after school until 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23: Forensics Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 24: Track Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
Friday, April 25: School Spirit Day
Monday, April 28: Pioneers after school until 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29: Track Practice, after school until 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 30: Forensics Practice, after school until 4 p.m.
St. John Lutheran School
Email: info@stjohnslib.com
Website: stjohnslib.com
Location: 501 West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL, USA
Phone: (847)362-4424
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnslib/