St. John's Classical Lutheran School

Another great year finished with additional activities including volcano and hot air balloon art projects, singing at nursing homes, embroidery and painting for Mother’s Day, and field day with Gage Park and the zoo. We also give thanks to our wonderful volunteers and all the support received from the congregation, many of whom joined us for our closing chapel service. Have a great summer!

We had a lovely evening last week gathered around the beauty of art, poetry, recitation, and song, presented by the students in their first Fine Arts Showcase. It is a true blessing to gather as a community around the gifts of art that God has given to us!

We give thanks to God for Mrs. Bethany Johnson, who teaches Latin and Choral Music. She loves to read original fairy tales and other good stories that contain wonder, beauty, and grief braided together. This year she enjoyed reading some of these stories to the children with Latin words inserted throughout. Her favorite memories this past year were translating Latin stories with the students and sharing in their delight. She says, “I love teaching in a Lutheran school because of its closeness to the worship life of the church as the kids learn, sing, and live together throughout the church year.”

We give thanks to God for Mrs. Erin Grass, who teaches Physical Education and Music part-time. The students performed some patriotic music last night at the Fine Arts Showcase and did a wonderful job! When asked what she loves most about teaching in a Lutheran school, she said, “I love being a part of a Lutheran school because God’s Word is at the center of everything. Whether we are teaching, engaging in play, or disciplining, our words and actions are guided by Scripture and the Ten Commandments.”

We give thanks to God for our 3rd-6th grade teacher, Mrs. Rachel Kathman, who teaches the majority of their classes in the afternoon. She loves sharing the faith with her students in every subject. Her favorite book in classical literature is “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis, and she had the joy of teaching that book to the 5th/6th graders this year, particularly the allegories and correlations to Biblical truths. She loves reading great books with them and sharing in those adventure together, saying, “As a recent poem (which they studied) read, ‘There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away…’”

Rachel enjoys seeing her students grow over the year and build on what they learn. “They use everything they learn in Grammar when they write essays for any class, and they build in Math throughout the year as well. At the end of the year, it’s wonderful to look back and see how far they’ve come and what complex learning we have built up to!”

We give thanks to God for our lead teacher, Mrs. Andrea Kosmicki, who teaches most of the lower school classes and a few upper school classes, all while maintaining the organization of the school year. What she loves most about teaching in a Lutheran school is starting each morning with chapel, incorporating the faith into each class and each small moment of the day, and sharing with the students the wonder of the beauty of God’s creation.

Her favorite book growing up was Anne of Green Gables, which portrays the journey of a child into adulthood. Andrea’s favorite memory this past year was taking the students to the Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee. “It brought me so much joy to see them exploring and just being kids.” When asked what she loves most about the classes she teaches, she said, “I love helping students see how what we learn is all connected. I spend a lot of my day teaching history, geography, and literature. I love showing the students how what happened in history was affected by the geography of the area and how history has influenced literature.”

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! We are very blessed with teachers who support and carry out the parents’ role in the education of their children as they also maintain a good relationship with them throughout the process. They have a deep love for children and their growth in all areas of education, particularly as they grow in their faith and love toward one another. One tremendous blessing is that they worship with our students in the our weekly Divine Service and receive God’s gifts of life together.

This week we will be featuring each teacher and sharing more about them, what they teach, and what they have enjoyed from this year!

We also give thanks to God for Pastor Wright who leads daily chapel, teaches the children about God’s Word, and assists with discipline and order in the school according to the Ten Commandments.

You are welcome to join us next Wednesday for annual Choral Evening Prayer service at 6:30 p.m. The students have been working hard to learn music by various composers, such as Bach and Praetorius, and they are looking forward to sharing their music within this beautiful service of Evening Prayer. The handbell choirs and St. John’s Music Academy students will also perform preservice music.

Before Spring Break last week, the students and families enjoyed a nice field trip to the Combat Air Museum. Afterwards, they spent the rest of the afternoon in nature at the Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee. We thank God for His beautiful creation and for the time spent together!

This past week the students enjoyed taking their school work outside and applying their knowledge in the kitchen by making omelets. The K-2 students also made lemon pie today! We are thankful to have these special opportunities for learning outside of the classroom.