Lincoln Park’s St. James Lutheran School Expands to Grow Christ-Centered Education
St. James Lutheran School’s new expansion includes updated classrooms, a new gym mezzanine, and enhanced facilities to support growing enrollment and its Christ-centered mission in Lincoln Park.
The honor of cutting the ribbon went to three of our eighth-grade students—Will Stowers, Lexi Palkon, and Riley Wildermuth—who represented their class and all students who have been part of this transformational journey.
This past Sunday, St. James Lutheran School marked a momentous occasion as we officially opened the doors to our newest expansion—a fourth-floor addition housing two brand-new middle school classrooms, restrooms, and a new mezzanine in our gymnasium. With the snip of a ceremonial ribbon, the future of our ministry and mission took one more step forward.
The honor of cutting the ribbon went to three of our eighth-grade students, Will Stowers, Lexi Palkon, and Riley Wildermuth, who represented their class and all students who have been part of this transformational journey. We also thank our seventh and eighth-grade families for their incredible patience and flexibility throughout the construction process. Despite the noise, rerouted routines, and shifting classroom spaces, our teachers and students stayed on track with resilience and grace. Their perseverance is a testament to the spirit that makes St. James more than just a school, it’s a family.
The expansion adds more than space, it adds capacity for mission. With two new classrooms, we are now better equipped to serve our growing student body and provide them with a Christ-centered education, which remains the primary mission of St. James Lutheran School. This space allows us to uncouple middle school classes for more focused instruction while also making room for growth in earlier grades.
This project is part of a much larger vision. Through the success of our Alive in Christ campaign, we've made vital improvements to our facilities. Now, with our Building on Christ ministry campaign, we look forward to even greater possibilities. We aim to:
- Expand enrollment from 205 to 260 students
- Grow our small group and music ministries
- Improve accessibility and family support
- Reach college students with the Gospel
- Strengthen partnerships with local churches and care organizations
- Open our campus further to the neighborhood for connection, learning, and worship
A key highlight of Sunday’s celebration was the dedication of our newly renovated gymnasium in honor of Otto Teske. Otto and his wife Inge (both now with the Lord) were vital to the growth of St. James. Otto was a lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church, established the athletic department and was a basketball and cross country coach at St. James Grade School for 40 years. We were honored to welcome members of the Teske family as we recognized his legacy.
This expansion is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about creating spaces where children grow in faith, where families find support, and where our city experiences the love of Christ in action.
We invite you to continue this journey with us through prayer, participation, or partnership. Because the mission is clear: to bring Jesus into the lives of more children and to share His peace with all who need it.
Let’s keep building on Christ, with Christ, and for Christ.
Thank you to Jeremy Butterfield for taking photos of the event.
