Episcopal Insider
Beaches Campus
October 11, 2024
All Campuses
Important Dates
February 1, 2025 – Florida School Choice Scholarship application opens for renewal and new applicants. New applicants can apply for the 2025-2026 school year through Step Up for Students. April 30, 2025 – Renewal application deadline. Applications received after April 30, 2025 will be processed as new students.Key Information & New Steps for Scholarship Applicants
Here is some helpful information to be aware of, including a new step that families will need to complete this year:- Application checklist: For a list of documents that may be needed when a family applies, please click here.
- Priority deadline: To ensure renewing students receive priority for the Private School Scholarship and the Unique Abilities Scholarship, families must submit their application by Wednesday, April 30. After this date, all students will be processed as “new students” due to legislative changes for this year.
- New step for families: Once a student is found eligible, the family will be asked to “Accept” or “Decline” the scholarship. Once accepted, the student’s status will be updated to “Awarded.” Please monitor your email for future updates about enrollment.
- Step Up for Students is here to help: In addition to their regular hours, their team will be available to assist families this weekend from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
Many ESJ parents are familiar with The Monique Burr Foundation’s Child Safety Matters curriculum taught at our Lower Schools. ESJ parents are encouraged to join our programming partner The Monique Burr Foundation for a webinar on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Developing Digital Safety, Empathy, and Mindfulness with Richard Guerry.
The webinar is free and you must register to attend. Click here to register.
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_58L7OQvgTwunFpgLObrbsw
About the Webinar
From The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF)
Apps like TikTok continue to grow; Deep Fakes are becoming a more common issue, AI is being deployed on a larger scale, Communication in online gaming is growing more frequent for children at younger ages, and; Wearable tech like Snapchat Specs & Meta Smart Glasses will continue to evolve, thus the need for responsibility, as well as empathy and kindness has become even more paramount.
Richard will provide attendees with information & tips to create responsible decision-making with today’s – and tomorrow’s – technology and understand how to replace blind decision-making with informed decision-making. The information provided will assist attendees in helping youth, and other adults, not just understand how to survive – but how to thrive – with continuously evolving digital tools and technologies.
About Richard Guerry
Richard Guerry is the founder of the non-profit organization the Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2.org) and one of the nation’s most sought-after speakers on digital safety, empathy and mindfulness. He is the author of multiple cyber safety books and has been a featured speaker at numerous national & international conferences. His Programs have received the School Safety Advocacy Council’s:
- Exemplary School Safety Program Award
- Exemplary School Safety Initiative Award
- National Anti-Bullying Award
Richard has appeared as an expert on Radio Disney, CNN, FOX, CBS, MTV’s Thin Line Campaign, as well as in Parade Magazine and many local, regional, and international publications to help humans better understand how to wield the power of evolving technology with wisdom and responsibility through solution-oriented concepts critical to anyone using digital tools.
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are open and now is the time to apply for siblings at all ESJ campuses!
Episcopal families interested in a sibling applying to the Beaches Campus (Grades Pre-K 3 – 5), St. Mark’s Campus (Age 1 – Grade 5) or Munnerlyn Campus (Grades 6 – 12) should follow the steps below and complete the process by January 31. Siblings receive priority consideration, but space is limited, so be sure to complete the application process early.
View Steps to Apply for a Sibling
New This Week
Students in fifth grade from Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Beaches Campus will gather for worship with other local Episcopal schools at a joint service:
Wednesday, October 23
10:00 a.m.
St. John’s Cathedral, (256 E. Church Street in downtown Jacksonville).
Students are asked to wear their Episcopal maroon polos for this service. A bus will depart from the Beaches Campus for the Cathedral at promptly 9:15 a.m.
The Episcopal Schools Celebration Service is an annual event that celebrates the ministry of the nearly 1,200 Episcopal schools and early childhood programs throughout the Episcopal Church. Students in fifth grade from Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Beaches Campus, will participate with other local Episcopal schools. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend.
Each student is asked to bring one item that will be donated to the Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. You will receive a list of suggested items once we receive an update from St. Mary’s about their current needs.. We look forward to this opportunity to worship and service together.
Students who received a Shout Out at Friday Flag in the month of October are welcome to dress down for school on November 1. If your student received a shout out, you will be contacted by their teacher.
The Beaches Campus cordially invites you to a special Veterans Day Chapel on Wednesday, November 6 at 8:15 a.m. at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
Faculty, staff and families are encouraged to submit Veteran information no later than Friday, November 1 so they may be recognized during the service.
Dear Beaches Campus Parents,
For the upcoming school year, the PA has organized activities that will enrich our students’ school experience and support our faculty and staff. It is our goal to create school spirit and a joyful sense of community, organize appropriate events, and honor Beaches Campus traditions.
MEETINGS:
The Beaches Campus PA will hold its next meeting of the 2024-2025 school year, via Zoom November 7 at 9:00 a.m.
Upcoming Parent Association Events:
- Daughter Dance – Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
- Son Event – Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
Sincerely,
Laura Smith
2024-2025 Beaches Campus PA President
Please join us for a Parent Workshop with Dr. Cat Baker from Florida Children’s Institute on Friday, November 8, 2024 (after Flag Ceremony).
Mindfulness and Anxiety with Dr. Cat Baker
Friday, November 8, 2024
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Hope Hall Art Room
Register for the event here!
Dr. Cat Baker has spent the better part of two decades working with parents and children through Parent Coaching and Applied Behavior Analysis services. She is passionate about supporting children and families coping with a wide range of behavior issues and learning disabilities, regardless of diagnosis. In spite of having ADHD, Dyslexia, and Anxiety, Dr. Baker earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida, an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis & Developmental Disabilities from Auburn University, a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Florida, and a B.S. in Health & Exercise Science from Wake Forest University. She loves helping children and families who “don’t fit in the box” or who have “brains that work differently” reach their potential because of her own personal experience!
Faculty will participate in professional development on Friday, November 8. Early Dismissal is at 12:00 p.m.
The Eagle Afternoon Program will be open until 6:00 p.m. for pre-registered students. Please contact Melody Harding at [email protected] for questions regarding the Eagle Afternoon Program.
Let us know that your student is coming by signing them up here.
Spirit Day is Friday, January 17, 2025! Don’t forget to wear your ESJ Spirit Shirt with athletic, denim, or uniform bottoms!
Trimester 2 After School Activities registration will open on Monday, October 28. Parents will receive an email when registration is live.
Activities begin the week of November 11.
Reminders
2024-2025 Important Calendar Dates
- January 31 – January Birthday Free Dress/Parent Coffee with Elise Fallucco (after Friday Flag)
- February 3-7 – CTP 5 Testing (second – fifth grade)
- February 4 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- February 5 – Fruit of the Spirit Chapel
- February 6 – Parent Association February Meeting via Zoom
- February 7 – January Shout Out Free Dress
- February 11 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- February 12 – Chapel (first -fifth grade)
- February 13 – Winter Wonderland Daughter Dance (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
- February 17 – Presidents Day (No School)
- February 18 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- February 19 – Eucharist Chapel (first – fifth grade)
- February 21 – Spirit Dress Day/Noon Dismissal/Trimester 2 Ends)
- February 25 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- February 26 – February Birthday Book Chapel and Head of School List Recognition
- February 28 – February Birthday Free Dress/Beach Bash Parent Social (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
2024-2025-Key-Dates-Beaches-Campus-v-2024-02-06
Early dismissal for all grades is Noon on October 16.
The Eagle Afternoon Program is not open that afternoon.
- October 17 – 18 – School closed
- October 21 – School resumes*
* Given the unprecedented disruption to learning this fall with two hurricanes, students will be in school on October 21. Read more from the parent email sent October 11.
Boo Bash
Boo Bash is a Beaches Campus annual tradition and is a family friendly event to kick off the fall season. Boo Bash will be held on Friday, October 25, 3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. This is a free event for all Episcopal families. Students can wear Halloween-themed Free Dress (jeans and a Halloween top, and/or a Halloween dress, bottoms, and/or accessories)
Boo Bash Flyer 2024
Get ready for Halloween festivities including Trunk or Treat (which is a part of Boo Bash) on Friday, October 25!
The Beaches Campus is excited to announce sign ups are now open for Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 25th from 3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Trunk or Treat will be located this year in the Chaucer Court Carpool Loop . There are limited opportunities and spaces this year. All vehicles are welcome! There will be an award for best decorated vehicle voted on by ESJ Faculty.
For questions and information about Trunk or Treat, please email Ashley Davis, Director of Marketing and Development at [email protected].
Register for Trunk or Treat Here!
Students in Pre-K 3 through fifth grade will take part in a brief vision screening on October 28. This free service is provided by Vision is Priceless. Parents will receive the results of the screening only if further action is recommended. This free service is provided by Vision is Priceless and no further paperwork is required from families.
Halloween Parade
Thursday, October 31 will be a festive day on Beaches Campus! Pre-K 3 – fifth grade students are encouraged to wear their Halloween costume to school! At 8:15 a.m., students will lead a costume parade around the church lawn to share their costumes with parents and friends. Students may remain in their costumes for the festivities that include class parties that day. Costumes should not include a weapon or mask and must not have inappropriate insignias, wording, or embellishments, or political references.
A friendly reminder that the carpool line begins on 9th Avenue. This is essential to keeping the carline running smoothly. When cars come into the line from 10th Avenue, it puts a snag in the order, which in turn holds up the carline at the semi-circle, where students wait for pick-up. When cars come to the circle out of order, it also poses a safety concern for our students. Please be patient and kind, and mindful of the neighbors’ property. Our carpool runs as efficiently as possible, and with your help, we can keep it that way!