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EAGLE UPDATES
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Hello St. John’s Family. This month the teachers and school board met to discuss our strategic plan for the next three years. During that discussion, we were asked to voice what we felt our value proposition is. I said that St. John’s is a family. Like any family, St. John’s is not perfect, but we strive to improve. We strive to show Christian love and grace to all our family members. We want to see all of our students succeed. I love St. John’s and feel it is the best place for my two children. I hope we are making it the best place for your students as well.
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With that, I will briefly remind you of a few changes I recently addressed in a letter to our St. John’s family. One, we are expanding our club selection next year, and I would welcome parents to suggest a club that they might want to lead after school. Two, we are restructuring our 5-8 classes to have more subject area rotation. Students in those grades will have at least 4 teachers throughout the day specializing in the four core subjects of ELA, math, science, and social studies. Three, our scholarship application process is a little different this year. With the Choice Scholarship being available to everyone, we want to focus our financial aid efforts more towards those families that qualify for free and reduced lunch. The goal of having more scholarship money being needs based is designed to remove the financial burden from families. It is important to note that our tuition does not cover the full cost to educate a student as St. John’s. We have guidelines to help determine the amount of financial assistance for families, similar to the national guidelines for free and reduced lunch. If you have any questions, please reach out to the office, this change is NOT intended to add financial burdens to families.
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March Events:
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4/14 - Eagle Treat with Tee shirt and/or jeans
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4/15 - Donuts with Grown-ups
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4/17 - Easter Classroom Parties
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4/21-5/8 - ILEARN (grades 3-8)
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Save the Dates:
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5/01 - Project Night, 5:30-7:30
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5/08 - 8th grade (Middle school) Dance
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5/12 - Eagle Treat with PJs
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5/15 - Nelson’s Port-a-Pit
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5/21 - Spring Concert, 5:30
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5/22 - PreK & K Graduation
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5/30 - 8th Grade Graduation
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6/08-12 - Summer Reading Camp for select 2nd and 3rd grade students
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Past Events:
Reading Fundraiser Kick-off, On 2/27, we gathered in the gymnasium to kickoff our reading fundraiser. The students had the opportunity to raise money for supplemental classroom reading materials. The students had a spirit week, treats and prizes throughout the week. There were rewards at the end for top earners and the top earning class (by a per student calculation). Over $4,000 was raised toward classroom reading materials.
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Open House, Open house went very well. Several new families came to explore the school. Pastor Albers and Katie Campbell talked finances and logistics with returning and possible new families.
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Accreditation - The validation team visited for three days in March. Every accreditation ends with an action plan of items to improve, and we are working on scheduling those items to be addressed. Our accreditation is moving forward, and we are recommended for accreditation for another 5 years. It needs to be processed through nationals to be finalized, and should be finalized this summer.
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Math Competition - On March 10th, 8 of our middle school students participated in a math competition at Valparaiso University. Ian Roule was third for the eighth graders, Maisie Cowgill placed fourth for the seventh graders, and Zion placed fifth for the sixth graders. We did not have any fifth graders place in the top five.
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Hat & Treat Day - Our second spirit day for 3rd quarter offerings was a hat day. $17 was collected. Next year I plan to schedule 8 Eagle treat days, 2 per quarter for our chapel offerings.
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Regional Spelling Bee - On March 19, Luke Mobely participated in the Regional Spelling Bee at Purdue Northwest. He placed 5th out of 20.
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ILEARN Checkpoint 3 - Tuesday March 24th started our ILEARN Checkpoint 3 testing. The summative ILEARN test is scheduled at St. John’s to start on Tuesday April 21st.
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Worship is in the church sanctuary: Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 8am.
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Worship is in the school cafeteria: ‘Connect’ service is on Sundays at 9:30am.
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EASTER worship will be in the church at 6:30am and 10am. Join us at 9:30am for refreshments in the chapel before church starts!
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Kid’s Connect, when students leave during the sermon to do a Bible lesson and craft, meets during this time.
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Women’s Tuesday morning is studying David, and meets in the Chapel! All ladies are welcome to join!
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All men are invited to join a discussion on Acts 5 and John 20 in the chapel, on April 12 at 8:30am.
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On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the basketball teams held their Third Annual Boys vs Girls basketball games. Tip off was at 9am with the Eaglettes facing off against each other in what was a pretty good game; however, the boys managed to come out in the end with a victory after the girls scored the first two points of the game. The older Eagles game tipped off at 10am. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead but the Lady Eagles were tenacious on defense and tried to get back in it. After that it was a back and forth game where the boys team pulled ahead for good. All of the teams had fun as well as their family and friends that came to watch. After the team games they had a party where they celebrated the 8th graders last season here at St. John’s then went back to the gym and played their parents in a game of basketball.
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I’d like to thank the coaches once again for giving their time and effort to help our students grow in sportsmanship, cooperation, and teamwork. Thank you Chas Grott and Angie Aquino for coaching the girls teams, Dave Farris for coaching the younger boys team, and Devlin McCoy for coaching the older boys team. Without you there would not be a season. Thank you to all of the parents for working the concessions and gate as well as signing your child up for the sport making this happen.
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On Tuesday, March 24th, the Intramural Floor Hockey begins for those in grades 4 through 8. They will play every Tuesday and Wednesday right after school until 3:45 PM, except over spring break. They will play until April 15th. After a week we will move into Badminton, one of the favorites of the students.
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Thanks to everyone for making the Sock Hop and Reading Fundraiser a success, especially Mrs. Vallencourt, Mrs. Grott, and Mrs. Watkins. Upcoming events: Donuts with Grownups on April 15 (7:15–7:45 a.m.), Treat/Spirit Day on April 14, and another Give Back Night (details coming soon).
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May events: Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8), Middle School Dance (May 8), Nelson’s BBQ (May 15), Kona ICE (May 27), and Field Day (May 29).
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Next NEST Meeting: April 15 at 4 p.m. in the Ladies Lounge.
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Student Council members have also been busy serving others in our school and church community. This month, they made thoughtful cards for shut-ins from the church, sharing kindness and encouragement.
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In addition, the Student Council visited the School Board to show their appreciation. They delivered thank-you cards along with snacks as a small token of gratitude for the Board’s continued support of our school.
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The Student Council also led a chapel for the entire school, sharing the story of "the Samaritan Woman at the Well" and helping students reflect on its message.
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The Student Council this month found meaningful ways to serve, lead, and give thanks!
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Looking for tips around spring break, I found this article to share. I have only cut and paste a portion of the article, but have provided the link below it.
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Managing Spring Break Stress: Tips for Parents of School-Aged Children and College Students
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Spring breaks are officially underway, and students are excited for a well-deserved break from their regular routines. Whether it's a family trip, downtime at home, or simply taking a moment to relax, spring break is often seen as a time to unwind and recharge. However, for many kids and college students, the shift in routine can lead to stress and anxiety, leaving them feeling overwhelmed rather than refreshed.
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We understand that transitions, even those that seem exciting or positive, can sometimes negatively impact mental health. The break in structure, academic pressures, and changes in social dynamics can bring added stress, especially when students aren’t sure how to cope with these shifts.
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Tips to help manage stress and stay balanced during spring break:
A change in routine, even a positive one, can feel unsettling—especially when you’re used to the structure of school, extracurriculars, and social obligations. It’s okay to feel a little anxious when routines shift. Parents can encourage kids to recognize and express their feelings, while college students can benefit from journaling or talking to a trusted friend or counselor to process their emotions. Acknowledging stress is the first step toward reducing it.
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It may be tempting to completely abandon the usual schedule during school breaks, but keeping some elements of routine can help kids and college students feel more grounded. This could be as simple as waking up at a similar time each day, eating balanced meals, or setting aside time for study or reading. Keeping a loose routine can provide a sense of control and reduce stress.
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Know When to Ask for Help
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If stress or anxiety becomes overwhelming, it’s important to seek support. Parents can guide kids and teens to talk to a counselor, while college students should feel encouraged to access campus mental health services or professional support. Mental health is just as important during school breaks as it is during the academic year, and there’s no shame in reaching out for help when needed.
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