Episcopal Insider
St. Mark's Campus
December 6, 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
ELP 1 – grade 5 Christmas class parties will take place on Friday, December 20. Parents are welcome to attend! More details will be shared by the homeroom teacher in your child(ren)’s class.
All students are invited to wear Christmas accessories with their uniforms throughout the week of December 16 – 20. Merry Merry!
Please note the following dates for Christmas Break. ESJ hopes you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!
- Friday, December 20
- Early Dismissal (Eagle Afternoon Program Open)
- Monday, December 23 – Friday, December 27
- School and Extended Day Programs Closed (Christmas Break)
- Monday, December 30 & Tuesday, December 31
- School Closed, Holiday Care Open (Needs Advanced Registration)
- Wednesday, January 1
- School and Extended Day Programs Closed
- Thursday, January 2 & Friday, January 3
- School Closed, Holiday Care Open (Needs Advanced Registration, Contact Betsy Porter at [email protected] with questions)
- Monday, January 6 & Tuesday, January 7
- School and Extended Day Programs Closed (Faculty Professional Development)
- Wednesday, January 8
- Classes Resume
Looking for fresh and effective ways to promote your business? Look no further! Becoming a sponsor of the 2025 Ortega River Run offers unparalleled visibility within the community. From having your business featured on over 1,700 race t-shirts to prominent placement on the Ortega River Run website, the exposure is endless. Plus, you’ll have the chance to connect with attendees in person and distribute promotional materials at the exciting street fair on race morning. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your brand to a wide and engaged audience—don’t miss out!
To secure your sponsorship, complete the sponsorship commitment form and submit the online payment. For more information, contact Susan Kwartler, [email protected] – 904-388-2632 x 1226.
If you or someone you know would like to be considered as one of the 42 artists for this year’s A Vision for Art event, please apply by December 31, 2024.
A Vision for Art features artists from throughout the Southeast United States and beyond. If there is an artist you love, please encourage them to follow @avisionforart on Instagram, contact Bebe Alexander ([email protected]), or visit www.avisionforart.com/opencall.
Reminders
2024-2025 Important Upcoming Calendar Dates
- January 29 – Dads’ Club Gathering (6:00 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- January 31 – Deadline to Re-Enroll for 2025-2026 School Year
- February 3 – 6 – CTP 5 Testing (Grades 3-5)
- February 7 – Chapel in the Park (Weather Permitting) (Grades K-5)
- February 7 – Ortega River Run T-Shirt Day
- February 7 – Ortega River Run Packet Pick-up and Pizza Dinner
- February 8 – W.W. Gay Ortega River Run
- February 13 – Daughter Dance
- February 14 – Valentines’ Day Class Parties
- February 17 – Presidents’ Day – School and Extended Day Closed
- February 21 – Early Dismissal (noon), Eagle Afternoon Program Closed
Grades 4 & 5 Lessons and Carols Service
- December 13, 8:25 a.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Pre-K 4 Nativity Program
- December 18, 9:00 a.m., Lori Schiavone Commons
Race registration fees for the one- and 5-five mile W.W. Gay Ortega River Run will increase on January 1. Join the ESJ community and supporters from near and far on February 8, 2025, on the St. Mark’s Campus for a fun and exciting event benefiting the ESJ, St. Mark’s Campus financial aid program.
The day will feature:
- 1-mile fun run
- 5-mile Jacksonville Grand Prix Running Series race
- A family-friendly street fair with activities for all ages
To sign up, visit www.esj.org/orr.
On Friday, February 7, 2025—just one day before the W.W. Gay Ortega River Run— all faculty, staff, and students are invited to wear their Ortega River Run shirts.
When you register for either the one-mile or five-mile race, you will receive a complimentary short-sleeve shirt.
Toddler, adult long-sleeve, and adult tank shirts are also available by following the link below:
Order deadline = January 8, 2025
If you have parenting challenges related to not listening, emotional tantrums, aggressive tantrums, or sibling rivalry, don’t miss the next book club! St. Mark’s Campus parents will continue discussing Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “Good Inside” Book, Chapters 11-15.
Tuesday, December 10
8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
Youth Center
Picture retakes are on the morning of Tuesday, December 10. If you would like your child to have a new photo, please notify their teacher.
Note for third grade parents: If your child needs a retake, please ensure they arrive at school promptly 7:50 a.m. Third grade retakes will occur at 8:00 a.m. before the class leaves for a field trip.
The ability to register and pay for 2025 spring a la carte holiday care concludes Friday, January 31.
Holiday Care includes the following dates:
- Spring Break (March 10-14)
- Easter Monday (April 21)
Pre-K 3—Grade 5 students receive a book for their birthday that is added to the Steve Williams Library Collection. Please be on the lookout for an email from Mrs. Trumpler regarding book selection. After a special bookplate is placed in the book, it will be blessed at the Birthday Chapel. Your child will be the first person to check out the book, and we ask them to return it after reading it for a few weeks so other children can enjoy it! Please join us at their special birthday Chapel.
8:25 a.m.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
February and July Birthdays
- February 24 (Grades 1-5)
- February 26 (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
March Birthdays
- March 24 (COMBINED Grades Pre-K 3 – Grade 5)
April and May Birthdays
- April 14 (Grades 1-5)
- April 23 (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
Each month, first – fifth grade students are recognized by peers and teachers for demonstrating qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit that the Apostle Paul writes about in his letter to the church in Galatia. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23. Parents are welcome to attend these afternoon gatherings, as they are all Chapels and gatherings.
Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m.
Lori Schiavone Commons
- February 19 – Fruit of Goodness Gathering
- March 19 – Fruit of Faithfulness Gathering
- April 23 – Fruit of Gentleness Gathering
- May 14 – Fruit of Self-Control Gathering