Sharing Christ's Love on San Simeon Way
Our Savior Lutheran Church and School stands at 1500 San Simeon Way in Fenton, Missouri, where a Lutheran congregation and an accredited Christian school share a single campus and a single confession. The motto - "Sharing Christ's Love; Centered in God's Word" - frames everything from Sunday worship to eighth-grade science, and the people here are quick to put it into plain words: "We are not perfect, only forgiven." Visitors and prospective families are warmly invited to step into either side of the ministry at any time.
The church belongs to the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and the school has been empowering, affirming, and guiding Christian learners since 1964. After more than sixty years in Fenton, OSL has become known in the surrounding communities as a place where multiple generations encounter the same Gospel, the same Sunday rhythm, and the same commitment to raising children in the love of Christ.
Worship Every Sunday Morning
Worship at OSL follows the historic Lutheran liturgy, centered on the preaching of God's Word and the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Services are held at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM each Sunday in the church. Because the pastors view every Sunday as a celebration of Christ's resurrection, Holy Communion is shared at both services every week. Members, visitors, and children accompanied by their families are welcomed to receive this gift of grace.
Between the two services, at 9:15 AM, Sunday School gathers for everyone from age three through adult. Classes are organized so that parents and children study God's Word together during this hour, with age-appropriate groups meeting across the building. Bible study and conversation about the Christian life continue beyond Sunday as well, with the pastors offering additional studies and one-on-one conversation throughout the week.
Shepherds of the Flock
Pastor Mark Sell serves as Senior Pastor and Pastor Ryan Rupe as Associate Pastor. Together they preach, teach, lead worship, and provide pastoral care for the congregation. Hospital visits, Bible studies, and unhurried conversations are part of their regular rhythm; both pastors encourage members and newcomers alike to reach out whenever a need arises, whether for prayer, Scripture, or simply an attentive ear.
The pastoral team also extends its ministry into the school. Chapel services, daily devotions, and religion classes are woven through the academic week, so that children encounter the same pastors and the same Gospel in the classroom as their parents do on Sunday morning.
A School Founded in 1964
Founded in 1964, Our Savior Lutheran School educates children from age two through eighth grade on the same campus as the church. The school holds national and state accreditation through NLSA, MNSAA, and NFNSSAA, and its faculty is composed of certified, experienced educators. Linda Dehn leads the school as Principal, supported by Katie Chandler as Assistant Principal.
The school's vision is to empower children to grow in their love for God while reaching their full potential through academic excellence, to affirm daily that they are unconditionally loved and forgiven thanks to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to guide them to use their God-given talents as servant leaders and Christian witnesses. The academic program rests on a low student-to-teacher ratio: an average of 1:8 in preschool, 1:15 in kindergarten through second grade, and 1:20 in grades three through eight. Twelve full-time teachers and eight teacher aides work together to give each child individualized attention. Students in grades one through eight are equipped with 1:1 Chromebooks, while traditional skills like spelling, vocabulary, and cursive handwriting continue to be emphasized alongside the technology.
Early Childhood: Ages Two Through Four
The preschool program at OSL offers a Christ-centered environment where the youngest learners begin to discover their place in God's world. Children begin with daily Jesus time, weekly preschool chapel, and an emphasis on social, emotional, and motor development alongside age-appropriate language, reading, and math concepts. Music, arts, crafts, and unstructured indoor and outdoor play round out each day, and teachers and staff with low student-to-teacher ratios make sure every child is known by name.
Scheduling is flexible to meet the needs of working families. Preschool 2 and Preschool 3 classes meet two, three, or five days per week, with both half-day (8:15 to 11:30 AM) and full-day (8:15 AM to 3:15 PM) options. Pre-Kindergarten follows the same half-day or full-day rhythm for three or five days. Junior Kindergarten is offered five full days each week. Drop-off begins at 8:00 AM, with the school day starting promptly at 8:15 and a staggered dismissal between 3:05 and 3:15 PM.
Elementary: Kindergarten Through Fourth Grade
Elementary students at OSL experience a balanced mix of academics, faith formation, and creative exploration. Daily devotions and weekly chapel services are part of the routine, and teachers partner with families to nurture the whole child. Multi-age classrooms allow older students to lead while younger ones learn from peers, and the school library, the adjacent Meramec Valley Branch, and outdoor spaces become regular extensions of the classroom.
Hands-on projects bring learning to life. In the first- and second-grade Animal Explorers unit, students research an animal of their choice, write a detailed report, and then model their creature in clay - blending science, writing, and art. The Maps to Markets project takes elementary students through map reading, landforms, and oceans before they design and build a three-dimensional city with roads, businesses, and parks; kindergarteners then purchase goods and services with play money to learn about needs, wants, profits, and losses.
Middle School: Grades Five Through Eight
Middle school at OSL follows Missouri State Standards taught from a Christian worldview, with coursework in ELA, science, social studies, religion, music, band, art, physical education, economics, and social-emotional learning. Eighth graders may progress through math levels from pre-Algebra into Geometry, and every student is expected to develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and servant-leadership skills through regular public speaking and presentations.
Off-campus experiences extend learning beyond the school day. Fifth and sixth graders spend three days and two nights at Camp Wartburg for Outdoor Education, exploring low ropes courses, caving, canoeing, and survival skills. Seventh and eighth graders take their own three-day, two-night class trip, with recent destinations including Southern Indiana, Louisville, Kansas City, and Nashville. Students help fundraise for the trip as a lesson in responsibility and teamwork.
Music is woven throughout the middle school years. Students can join band, sometimes alongside peers from Lutheran High School South, as well as choir and music appreciation classes. Graduates of OSL consistently move on to Lutheran High School South for high school.
Student Life: Athletics, Activities, and Extended Care
Beyond the classroom, students can participate in athletics that emphasize teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, with seasons of competition for a variety of sports. Extracurricular offerings from preschool through eighth grade include cooking club, coding league, music lessons, band, and other pursuits that let students explore their God-given talents.
For families whose schedules extend beyond the school day, Extended School Care is available before school from 7:00 to 7:50 AM and after school from 3:15 to 6:00 PM. Students use the time for homework, structured activities, and time with friends in a supervised, Christ-centered environment.
Specialized Education and Assessment
OSL partners with LASE to provide special education services for students with assessed learning needs. A LASE consultant works on campus alongside regular teachers to support individual students. Assessment at OSL happens in two complementary ways. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade take the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress three times a year, giving parents and teachers a current, personalized picture of each child's growth. The Stanford Achievement Test is also administered to kindergartners through eighth graders as part of the school's accreditation.
Summer Adventure Camp and Lions League
When the school year ends, Summer Adventure Camp takes over the campus for children ages three (potty trained) through rising third graders. Weekly themes such as Diggin' Dinosaurs, Sports Spectacular, and STEM Week keep campers engaged, with three-, four-, or five-day options available across June and July. Hands-on activities, games, and outdoor play fill the days, and space is limited each summer.
Lions League is the parent organization that supports the school year-round. Every parent and teacher is part of Lions League, and a core team of parent volunteers coordinates fundraising, teacher appreciation, classroom events, Field Day, and other community-building efforts. Families interested in getting involved can connect through the school's parent network, and admissions visits can be scheduled with the Assistant Principal any time during the academic year.
Music and Worship Beyond Sunday
Music shapes both the worship life of the church and the school week. Julie Binder serves as Music Director, leading the congregation in song and guiding students from preschool through middle school in choir, band, and music appreciation. Because the church and school share the same building and the same confession, the songs learned in chapel often echo into Sunday worship, and the children who sing in chapel one day are soon the same young people standing with their families at the communion rail.