Welcome to St. John Lutheran Church of Libertyville. We're glad you're thinking of coming! It's a real joy for us to meet newcomers and families to tell you about all the good things God is doing in our church family.
At St. John Lutheran, God has connected us to live as a family of Christians growing in a faith that shows itself in love and action.
Whether you're new or a life-long member of our family, we hope you find us to be about Jesus Christ -- living in his hope and power, sharing his love and promise, and connecting with him as the family of God.
St. John Lutheran provides a Christian education for preschool through grade eight. If you live in Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Grayslake, Great Lakes Naval Station, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Mundelein, Round Lake, or Vernon Hills, check us out.
We are here to answer any questions you many have about the St. John Lutheran experience. Give us a call, follow us on Facebook, or pop in and say hello.
A Christian education with emphasis on Jesus Christ and faith
Achieved exemplary WELSSA and NCPSA accreditation
Emphasis on creating intellectual curiosity in a safe environment
12:1 student-to-teacher ratio
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) transformative STEM curriculum
Experienced, caring teachers who truly get to know your child
SEVP-Certified International School Program
Proudly celebrating 50 years of Christian education in Libertyville!
St. John Lutheran School, located in Libertyville, is a private Christian school for children from preschool through 8th grade.
At St. John, we believe in providing a Christ-centered education that fosters intellectual curiosity in a safe and nurturing environment. Our experienced and caring teachers are dedicated to getting to know each child individually, allowing us to create personalized learning experiences tailored to their unique strengths and interests.
St. John has achieved and maintains exemplary WELSSA and NCPSA accreditation, and we are proud to offer a transformative STEM curriculum through Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Additionally, our SEVP- certified international school program extends our reach to students from diverse backgrounds across the globe.
With small class sizes and a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio, our teachers are able to provide individualized attention and support to every student. Through innovative teaching methods, personalized instruction, and a rigorous curriculum, we empower students to excel in their studies and to develop critical thinking skills that will serve them well in high school, college, and beyond.
At St. John, we embrace a multigrade classroom model, providing numerous benefits for our students. Younger children are inspired by the achievements of their older peers, while older students benefit from reinforcing their knowledge and skills through teaching younger classmates. This approach fosters academic growth, social development, and strong teacher-student relationships.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about St. John Lutheran School and the exceptional Christian education we offer. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a personal tour. We look forward to welcoming you to the St. John family!
David Retzlaff
224.206.0008
ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL
David Retzlaff graduated from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. In 2016, he completed a Master's Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on leadership. He has taught combinations of 4th through 8th grade, but has spent most of his teaching years working with grades 7-8. He has previously served as a teacher and principal in Eau Claire, Michigan, for 9 years, Madison, Wisconsin, for 15 years, and Burnsville, Minnesota, for 14 years. He moved to Grayslake in 2024 and enjoys serving at St. John as Principal and Staff Minister of Outreach.
David and his wife, Bobbi, have one son who attends Marquette University in Milwaukee. David and Bobbi enjoy taking their dog, Odie, for walks and exploring new areas around northeastern Illinois. Whenever they get a chance, they enjoy traveling to Wisconsin and spending time in southern Door County. In his free time, David also enjoys casual bike riding, golfing, and watching Wisconsin sports teams.
"My favorite Bible verse for ministry is John 15:5, 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.' As I carry out the work God has placed before me at St. John, this verse is a great reminder of how important it is to stay connected to Jesus through his word. My goal is to not only do this personally but also provide help for others to do the same."
Our small class sizes enable our teachers to learn each student's strengths and weaknesses and what methods of instruction work best for the education of your child. Our teachers are trained to differentiate instruction to meet individual needs and offer additional help and resources. Additionally, our Academic Dean, Sarah Lofsness, has a Master's Degree in elementary education with an emphasis in special education. She is excited to speak with you about how we can partner together to help your child succeed!
Yes, we are! In 2014, we received our Exemplary Accreditation status through WELSSA. Accreditation means that we have demonstrated that we meet and exceed the standards that parents and educators expect from a high-quality school.
These standards range from what we teach in our classrooms to administration behind the scenes. If you have questions about accreditation or our standards for curriculum or administration, please ask our principal or academic dean.
There are many advantages of being part of a multigrade classroom. Younger children in multiage groups strive to attain the academic levels they see the older children achieving while the older ones get the benefit of hearing and reviewing what was taught in previous grades. Children's social behaviors also mature along with an increased feeling of accomplishment and a stronger teacher-child relationship.
This video also explains the benefits of a multigrade classroom.
We strive to offer a Christian education, creating intellectual curiosity in a safe environment, in a smaller classroom setting that gives every child the opportunity to excel.
Each child in grades 3-8 receives a school-owned Chromebook to be used for instructional purposes.
Our kindergarten and grades 1-2 classrooms have interactive tablets which will sometimes be used to assist in instruction.
Each of our classrooms has an interactive CleverTouch board, which allows our teachers lots of flexibility in delivering instruction. These boards can function as interactive whiteboards, video screens, and instructional displays.
Our three-year-old program offers five half-day and five full-day options. Our four-year-old program offers a five full-day option. If you have questions about what options may be available for you and your child, please ask. Our preschool teachers would love to talk with you and meet your child!
We live in a world full of dangers. At St. John we strive to provide safety for our children through typical 21st century ways - secure entry doors, camera systems, lock-downs drills, First Aid, CPR, AED training, etc. Perhaps more importantly, one of the blessings of a smaller school is that parents, faculty, and staff get to know each other - we aren't just masses of strangers dropping off children and driving off or just passing by in the halls; we get to know each other and look out for each other. In addition, we have our Safe Child Program so that adults who work and volunteer with our children undergo background checks and provide reference checks. We want your children to be as safe as our children.
Our St. John Safe Child Policy is available in the school office.
Our St. John Employee Code of Professional Conduct Policy is available in the school office and here.
The Illinois State Board of Education offers a Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide that is available from the school office and here.
No, you do not have to be a member. We would love to have you join both our school and our church families. Since we want you to know what we teach, we ask our new parents to join us for a short class on what we believe and teach as a congregation and school.
Yes! The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has been providing Christian education for over 150 years. Considering its early childhood, elementary, and high school system, the WELS manages the fourth largest private school system in the United States. Currently, WELS congregations operate nearly 400 early childhood centers, 300 elementary schools, and 27 high schools.
Locally, we are a Shoreland school, belonging to the association of northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin congregations that own and operate Shoreland Lutheran High School. Over the years, many of our graduates have continued in their Christian education at Shoreland.
Yes, we do! Our Before-School Program opens at 6:30 AM. Our After-School Program is available until 6:00 PM. Our Before- and After-School programs are for an additional fee. You can find more information on our Extended Care page or by calling our office.
Call: 847-362-4424
501 West Park Ave