St. Johns Lutheran School History

By Kim McKeon

Edited by Mickey Angerman

The long history of St. Johns Lutheran School, the first parochial school in Fillmore County, had its beginnings in the very earliest days of our St. Johns Church. Just one year after the organization of the church in 1974, a seminary student was engaged to teach school here in 1875. Those first classes were conducted in one room of the parsonage for the school’s first 12 years. In 1883 a new brick church was built, and the basement was used for educational purposes.

A fire in 1900 destroyed the brick church building yet left the walls intact. St. Johns congregation voted to rebuild and turn it into a school building, planning a classroom on the main floor and basement to be used for confirmation instruction. In 1930, an additional classroom was added.

Due to dwindling enrollment and financial challenges, this second classroom was discontinued sometime later in the 1930s. In 1948, the second classroom was reopened. In 1951, St. Johns celebrated the school’s 75th anniversary. The need for a new school building was recognized. This new three-room school was dedicated on December 7, 1952. In 1961, the library was converted into a third classroom.

Art classes were added to the curriculum in 1969. Other changes that year impacted our students. First, after the St. Johns private bus service ended, the responsibility of student transportation returned to each family. Also in 1969, parochial school students were allowed to ride Wykoff Public School buses alongside their peers. Girls were finally allowed to add slacks and pants to their school wardrobe.

Other new changes that occurred in the following 20 years included a concrete slab poured for the school playground in 1983, a kindergarten class was added in 1976, the first classroom computer was purchased in 1981, an annex was built in 1984, providing another classroom and returning a school library, and Christian textbooks were introduced to our classrooms in 1987.

A school addition was added in 2007, making room for the school office, computer room, and library. A preschool was added at this time, but was discontinued in 2022. All-day kindergarten began in 2015. Before and after-school care for St. Johns students began in 2022.

St. Johns students have been gifted with excellent education beyond core subjects over the years. Subjects such as computer, art, physical education, and music classes, including optional private music lessons during school hours have been offered. Students also experience special projects, activities, and field trips.

Student extracurricular activities through the years have included athletic activities: softball, flag football, track & field, cross country, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. In 2008, five acres of land was purchased, adjacent to the church yard and school playground. Funding was obtained from the Minnesota Twins Community Fund to build the softball diamond and soccer field found there today. The playground was improved with the installation of picnic tables in 2023.

In addition to athletics, St. Johns students have also enjoyed spelling and geography competitions, musicals, and volunteer work projects in our local community.

The people who have impacted, supported, volunteered, and contributed to St. Johns School have been numerous. Indeed, all of God’s blessings to St Johns School through these 150 years have been countless, for which we give thanks. We pray for His continued blessings and ongoing opportunity to care for God’s children through the next 150 years!

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk

and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:31