St. John Nottingham

Principal's Welcome

St. John Nottingham Lutheran School is a special place. Founded in 1892 in what was then the tiny little village of Nottingham, Ohio, the Lord has blessed us with 125 continuous years of educational ministry in North East Ohio! I first came to SJN as a wet-behind-the-ears teacher 17 years ago, and this is more than just a school to me. It's where I really learned to be a teacher. Oh, I learned the theory and the philosophy and the techniques up at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, but it was here, in the classrooms of St John Nottingham that I learned how to teach, that I learned how to put students first, that I learned how to faithfully and carefully cultivate education in each individual student, regardless of what level they might be on. It's where I learned how to roll up my sleeves and get to work serving the Lord and His children. SJN is my home.

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Volume 12, Issue 9, Posted 4:17 PM, 09.03.2020

SJN Prepares for the Fall; Later Start to the School Year

We are certainly living in uncertain times, aren’t we? At this point no one really knows what the fall is going to bring. We all want to return to normal as soon as possible, but we also want to ensure the health and safety of our children above all else, so what does that mean for the next school year?

I wish I had solid answers for you, but right now, no one does. I can tell you what SJN is doing to prepare for the Fall. SJN will be deep cleaning our entire facility over the summer break, top to bottom, side to side. Classrooms are being examined and planned for proper distancing, policies are being reviewed to ensure that everything that can be done to ensure the health and safety of students and staff is being done.

If distance learning is required, SJN is ready to proceed using a model that is a close to a normal school experience as possible. Live classes will be taught. Work will be assigned and assessed on a normal schedule. Tests and assessments will be given as appropriate. Help and tutoring with be provided, and students will not be in a “holding pattern,” they will be actively advancing their studies.

If a blended model of part-time attendance is required, SJN is ready for that as well. Our class sizes are kept small enough that if this is required of schools by the State, SJN may not need to do it. SJN may be able to open much closer to normal than other schools BEACAUSE of our small class sizes.

SJN will open as close to normal as possible, while still maintaining the highest standards and practices for the health and safety of students and staff. One of the things we have done to increase this is our schedule. This year, SJN will be opening for the first day of classes not in the middle of August, but on September 9th. This will give SJN staff additional time to ensure that every single thing has been taken are of to ensure cleanliness and safety. It will also give additional time for the public health situation to further calm down, and for staff to receive more training in safe procedures and practices. SJN believes that this later opening gives us the best chance of beginning the year as normally as possible, and as safely as possible. If there is an increase in Covid-19 cases at the beginning of the regular school year, SJN will know about it time to prevent spread through the school and shift into alternative learning methods before students are placed at potential risk.

SJN will be following all state-mandated recommendations. If the state requires masks, SJN of course will as well. If the state does not require masks, SJN will still permit them for students who wish to wear them. SJN is committed to not only the educational accomplishments of our students, but to their health and safety as well.

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Volume 12, Issue 7, Posted 5:01 PM, 07.06.2020

EdChoice Application Window Opens July 1

The Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program is a financial assistance program administered and funded by the State of Ohio and provides students from designated public schools the opportunity to attend participating private schools. (The program also provides low-income students who are entering kindergarten through 12th grade scholarship opportunities.)

St. John Nottingham is a fully accredited EdChoice alternative school. Our School Office is ready and waiting to assist you in determining if your child is eligible for an EdChoice Scholarship! Call us at (216) 531-8204 and we will help you through the whole process.

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Volume 12, Issue 7, Posted 5:01 PM, 07.06.2020

Congratulations 2020 SJN Grads!

St. John Nottingham would like to congratulate our 2020 grads! This class worked hard and when the Covid-19 shutdown hit, they managed it like champs. They attended classes online, submitted their work, and just rolled with it. SJN commends them on their resilience, fortitude, and perseverance, and we wish them the absolute best! Good luck!

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Volume 12, Issue 7, Posted 5:01 PM, 07.06.2020

Where and How are You Worshiping?

The COVID pandemic has certainly changed many things: how we shop, how we visit/meet, how we recreation, how we learn and even how we worship. At St John Nottingham we had to move very fast when the stay-at-home orders came out of Columbus. In-person worship or none? Go Live Stream or pre-recorded video upload (what do these even mean)? What do we do about the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)? 

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Volume 12, Issue 7, Posted 5:01 PM, 07.06.2020

Covid-19 Does Not Keep SJN Down

This is truly an unprecedented time we find ourselves in. One day our grandchildren will open up their textbooks to discover a chapter on Covid-19. St. John Nottingham, both the church and the school, have met this challenge with flexibility, ingenuity, and faith. So many things have been abruptly cancelled or altered, from field trips to gatherings, school functions, and even the annual 8th grade trip, and we knew that the number one priority was to ensure that the instructional integrity did not suffer; that SJN students did not fall behind. At first, when we thought it would only be a few weeks, that meant work packets, but, alas, it has not just been a “few weeks.”

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Volume 12, Issue 6, Posted 11:51 AM, 06.07.2020

Zoom Meeting With the Principal of SJN

On Saturday, June 27, the Principal of St. John Nottingham Lutheran School will be hosting a Zoom Meeting for new or prospective parents and students. Topics covered will include information about the school, the programs, the focus and mission of the school and an open forum for questions and answers.

If you would like to attend this meeting, please send an email to dpeck@stjohnnottingham.org. Please say “MEETING INVITE” in the subject line and include your full name, the names of students, the grades of students, and any questions you would like to make certain get answered. (It is not necessary to provide questions in advance.)

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Volume 12, Issue 6, Posted 11:51 AM, 06.07.2020

SJN Now Enrolling for 2020-2021

"Nearly 13 decades ago, St. John Nottingham Lutheran Church established a school for the purposes of providing a distinctively Christian education to the children of the congregation. Every year  since then, SJN has continued to offer this same Christ-centered  education to all families in the greater Cleveland area seeking a  better, faith-filled alternative.

What we offer is a strong foundation in the teachings of Christ  alongside solid academics designed to give every child the tools  necessary to excel, an environment in which every child is welcomed,  safe, and provided the opportunity to learn. We feature small class  sizes, highly qualified teachers, a responsive, accessible  administration and active participation of our Senior and Associate Pastors.

We HAVE an extended care ministry that operates from 7 AM before  school until 6 PM after school, available on an as-needed basis. Additionally, we provide access to the state free and reduced lunch programs for those who qualify. There are no registration fees, and we are fully accredited to process and accept both the Cleveland (Voucher) and  EdChoice Scholarships. Our school ministry runs Kindergarten (full-day)  through 8th grade, with a departmentalized middle  school, and athletics opportunities.
Although we hope to have on-campus instruction for 2020-2021, we are prepared to provide online instruction dynamically if and when the need may arise, or a blended model of on-campus and online instruction, for however long it may be necessary

We are currently accepting applications for the 2020-21 Academic Year. Call (216) 531-8204 or email dpeck@stjohnnottingham.org today to  schedule a consultation with the Principal! Remote consultation via Zoom or phone available."

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Volume 12, Issue 5, Posted 5:54 PM, 05.07.2020

Hunger Center to Re-Open

With the Stay-At-Home order in effect since March, the CCC3 Hunger Center in the Collinwood  Community has been closed to residents. The impact of this has only increased the needs of struggling families.

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Volume 12, Issue 5, Posted 5:54 PM, 05.07.2020

SJN Takes Second In State Finals

Under the leadership of Coach DePriest, the St. John Nottingham 7-8th Grade Boys Basketball team took 2nd Place in the All-Ohio Tournament this year. The boys worked very hard to earn this! If it wasn't for the fact that it was unfortunately cancelled due to the current health crisis, the next step would have been the National Tournament in Valparaiso, Indiana, where we are sure they would have done us proud!

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Volume 12, Issue 4, Posted 4:35 PM, 04.01.2020

SJN Kids Love Theater!

St. John Nottingham's Kindergarten through Third grade classes had the opportunity to invite "Kids Love Musicals!" to visit us recently. Kids Love Musicals is a theatrical group that supports the State of Ohio K-5 curriculum standards in Language Arts, Music, Drama, Dance and Physical Education. This is a hands-on 2 day classroom residency program that brings American Musicals into the classroom. Our students have experienced "Your a Good Man Charlie Brown" , "Cinderella," "Jungle Book", "The Wizard of Oz" and this year "Jungle Book".

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Volume 12, Issue 4, Posted 4:35 PM, 04.01.2020

Hail To The Chief!

Since August, St. John-Nottingham’s 5th Grade Social Studies class has been learning about two US Presidents a week, from Washington to Trump. Students have read small biographies, learned a few interesting facts, and worked hard to memorize a list of the president’s names in chronological order. All in preparation for memory test on all 45 Commanders-in-Chief.  Mr. Lawlor, St. John-Nottingham’s History and Humanities Instructor, decided to make the test a bit more interesting and offered that any student who was able to achieve a perfect score would be rewarded with a candy bar.

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Volume 12, Issue 4, Posted 4:35 PM, 04.01.2020

Students Lend A Helping Hand

The ancient Greek, Dionysius of Syracuse, once recounted of how plain and unseasoned the food of the Spartans was compared to the food found in other of the Greek city-states. He would go on to explain that the Spartans required no seasoning for their food, often pain broth and porridge, because they would work so hard during the day and always push themselves to the limit with “hard-hunting, labor, sprinting, and sweating” that they would build up such a hunger and thirst, so any food would taste like a banquet. Unlike the ancient Spartans, we don’t push our students to hunger and thirst however, we do encourage a strong sense or responsibility and work-ethic.

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Volume 12, Issue 4, Posted 4:35 PM, 04.01.2020

SJN Celebrates Black History Month

Several times each year, the faculty and families of St. John Nottingham Lutheran School gather together to share a meal, fellowship, and see the work the SJN students are doing. This February, we celebrated Black History Month with a wonderful soul food meal provided by Mr. Paul Walton, a respected member of the St. John Nottingham School Commission. The students displayed research and art projects in which they explored the many, many contributions African-Americans have made (and continue to make) to our great society, told parents and visitors about the accomplishments of a wide variety of black inventors, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, politicians, and authors, and just had a lot of fun.

We call these meetings FACT Nights, which stands for "Families All Come Together," and that's exactly what happens. The families that make up SJN all come together to join as one in celebration and community. Prospective and curious families considering SJN as a school are, of course, always welcome at these events. If you are interested in attending, simply contact the SJN office to find out when the next one is happening!

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Volume 12, Issue 3, Posted 5:26 PM, 03.09.2020

Substitute Opportunities Available at SJN

There are opportunities for Substitute Teachers at SJN for the upcoming and the current school year. Subs must have a minimum of a 4 year BA or BS degree from an accredited university (Education major preferred) and must have a clear FBI/BCI background check. SJN administration is currently interviewing potential substitutes for grades K through 8. Contact the SJN office at (216) 531-8204 if you are interested in exploring this opportunity.

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Volume 12, Issue 3, Posted 5:26 PM, 03.09.2020

SJN Student of the Month: Samuel Boone

SJN's March Student of the Month is Samuel Boone! Sam is a 4th grader in Mrs. Maynard's class. His favorite subjects are Math, because he likes how he gets to learn something new every day, and reading because, well, because in his words he just "likes to read." He loves playing basketball, soccer, and football, and hopes to play on the SJN team next year (as long as his mom says it' OK, that is). He's really into Roblox, a videogame, but in the summer, likes to get outside to play as much as he can. His favorite show is the anime "My Hero Acadamia," which he likes to watch in the original Japanese while reading the subtitles (although he did once typ some words into an online translator, and found out that the subtitles aren't always accurate).

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Volume 12, Issue 3, Posted 5:26 PM, 03.09.2020

SJN PROSPECTIVE STUDENT DAY MARCH 14

On Saturday, March 14th, 2020, Mr. Miziker, Vice Principal of St. John Nottingham Lutheran School will be hosting a Prospective Student Day from 11 AM to 4 PM! Come meet the teachers, see the facilities, and more! There will be raffles for prize baskets, SJN Spirt Wear will be available to be ordered, and Mrs. Rollins, the Secretary will be on hand to assist with any and all paperwork, from applications to records transfers and even scholarship applications for Cleveland (Voucher) Scholarships and EdChoice/EdChoice Expansion.

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Volume 12, Issue 3, Posted 5:26 PM, 03.09.2020

SJN Students Lead Christmas Worship Service

On Thursday, December 19, the students of St. John Nottingham helped to lead a special Christmas worship service centered on Lessons and Carols. A packed Sanctuary joined in in praising and hearing the Word of God presented by the students and Senior Pastor Marcis.

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Volume 12, Issue 1, Posted 5:13 PM, 01.12.2020

Principal's Corner

What would New Year’s Day be like in Heaven? Would there even be one? Now, the Bible says in Revelation 21:23 that “[Heaven] does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” So I guess there won’t be a New Year’s “day” at all. No sun; no day, no year. But in Isaiah 65: 17-20, the prophet talks about how in the new creation being a century old won’t be that old at all, so maybe years in Heaven are a thing after all.

One of my favorite hymns, “Amazing Grace,” talks about how, after singing His praises for 10,000 years, we will still have as many years to go as we did when we started, so time in Heaven again doesn’t really seem to be a thing, but time here on Earth? That’s a thing of which we never have enough.

New Year’s Day is a good time to stop and think about that time. The time we have here as well as the time we will have in Heaven. We can be assured that God will bless us in the coming year, even if the thought of the coming year is causing us stress and worry. I try to live my life by Philippians 4:6 at this time of year: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Probably the hardest thing to do, right there. To let go of anxiety and worry and pray. January is the best time to get back into this habit.

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Volume 12, Issue 1, Posted 5:13 PM, 01.12.2020

10 Reasons Why

I’ve been at SJN for two decades now, first as a teacher, and now as Principal. I’ve seen the school go through many transformations, and I’m proud of where we are and where we are going. The most common question I get as Principal is “Why should we go to Nottingham?” Well, here we are: the Top Ten Reasons to Attend St. John Nottingham Lutheran School.

1. HISTORY. St John Nottingham is one of the oldest continually-operating parochial schools in Ohio, having opened in 1892 when the area wasn’t even part of Cleveland. It was a small farming village named Nottingham. Over the last 120+ years, SJN has continued to be a central figure in the East Cleveland area, heavily involved in education, community service, and worship. Coming to SJN, you would be joining that long history.

2.  FAITH. St. John Nottingham is, first and foremost, a school based on faith in Jesus Christ, His teachings, and the Word of God. Coming to SJN, you will be joining that faith community.

3. EXPERIENCE. St. John Nottingham may be traditional, but it’s a tradition based on more than 12 decades of experience. More than half of the teaching staff at SJN have 20+ years of direct classroom experience. The Senior Pastor has been serving the school for more than half a century. Coming to SJN, you will be benefitting from that experience.

4.DEDICATION. St. John Nottingham faculty and staff are some of the most dedicated and committed educators I have ever worked with. They consistently put in the extra mile to help every student and family that needs it. Coming to SJN, you will be on the receiving end of that dedication.

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Volume 12, Issue 1, Posted 5:13 PM, 01.12.2020

Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Alec Lawlor

Featured today is our 5th grade homerrom/Social Studies Specialist, Mr. Alec Lawlor. Alec is a 9 year teaching veteran who came to SJN in 2015 from Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills. He holds degrees from Concodia University Chicago and oversees the social studies curriculum at the school. One of Mr. Lawlor's favorite class to teach is U.S. History because he hopes to help his students realize their true potential as citizens and inspire them to shape the world into a place of freedom and justice. Mr Lawlor also works dilligently to help guide his students on their walk in faith and spiritual growth.

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Volume 11, Issue 12, Posted 6:21 PM, 12.02.2019