Episcopal Insider
Munnerlyn Campus
September 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
College Counseling is hosting another drop-in application clinic in the College Counseling / Towers House for seniors to work on their applications with the help of their College Counseling team (and snacks)!
Wednesday, October 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (PSAT day)
Whether your student is knee-deep in their application process or just getting started, their college counselors will be available to assist them and answer questions about applications, self-reported academic records (SSAR), college essays, resumes, and more. They can come for an hour or stay the whole time! Students should RSVP (must be logged in to their ESJ account) for planning purposes; though drop-ins are welcome!
Dear Parents and Students,
One of the important annual events on the school calendar is the Holy Eucharist at St. John’s Cathedral. Episcopal School of Jacksonville began in 1966 as a result of the vision and persistence of the Dean, Vestry, and people of the Cathedral. We celebrate our historic link with the Cathedral in Eucharistic worship because that is where the mission and ministry of our school were born.
This year, students in 7th, 9th, and 12th grades will go to St. John’s Cathedral to participate in the Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11. These students will worship at the Cathedral, where our great school was founded. They will meet the Cathedral clergy, worship in this sacred space, and hear the beautiful organ music.
Students in 6th, 8th, 10th and 11th grades will stay on campus on Wednesday, September 11. They will also participate in the Holy Eucharist. They will gather in the Deming Theatre after their first class. After the Holy Eucharist they will go to advisory where they will engage in Spiritual Life activities.
On September 11, ALL students will attend their first class of the day (6th period) from 8:05 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. At 9:10 a.m., students will go to Advisory.
Chapel Dress is required of ALL students on this day.
- Students in grades 7,9, and 12 will get on the bus with their advisor and will stay with their Advisory through the program at the Cathedral which will include the Holy Eucharist.
- Seniors will not be permitted to drive themselves to the Cathedral. All students must ride the bus to the Cathedral.
- After the service, students will return to campus. They will go to Advisory and then have both Activities period and Lunch period.
- Students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 11 will stay on campus for Chapel/Holy Eucharist all together followed by Spiritual Life activities based in their advisory.
Following these special events, all students will continue with their regular schedule including 7th period, Activities/Lunch periods and then the final two class periods of the day (periods 1 and 2).
Student attendance is required at school and at St. John’s Cathedral. Parents are always welcome to attend Chapel services at Episcopal School of Jacksonville, the Cathedral, and all other school Chapel services.
Faithfully,
Teresa Seagle
Dance Ensemble parents are invited to attend the Dance Ensemble Parent Meeting in the Sikes Theatre on Thursday, September 12. from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Please contact Dawn Maldonado, Dance Director, with any questions at [email protected].
All parents are invited to attend the Bash Kickoff meeting at the Walton Boathouse (6757 Atlantic Blvd.) on Monday October 14. Feel free to come to the Boathouse after drop-off. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. Come see the beautiful location and learn about the many opportunities available on the Bash Committee. This is a great way to get involved, meet new people and have fun. If you have any questions about Bash or the meeting, please contact Jennifer Windley at [email protected].
Our 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will take the CollegeBoard digital administration of the PSAT on Wednesday, October 16.
Students completed a device survey in Advisory this week to help us identify students who can test on their own device. CollegeBoard’s “Bluebook” software does not run on individually owned Chromebooks. Students who are Chromebook users will be assigned a school-owned device for on-campus use on their testing day.
Over the next few weeks, students will download or sign into their preexisting “Bluebook” software. Information about PSAT preparation and testing will be shared in upcoming editions of the Insider.
Reminders
Boosters Meeting Dates:
September 6
October 4
November 1
January 10
February 7
March 7
April 4
May 2
Episcopal School of Jacksonville encourages parents of 9th, 10th, and 11th graders to attend a critical and timely webinar:
What Every Parent Needs to Know Now about Paying Less for College
Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 7:00 PM (Eastern)
If you are within 4 years of sending a child to college, now is the time to think strategically about how best to cover – and reduce – your share of costs, regardless of your income or assets.
Topics include:
- Regardless of income or assets, you may be eligible for significant scholarships, grants, and merit money. Don’t assume you won’t qualify!
- Structuring your businesses, assets, real estate, taxes and debt before the college years can make a substantial difference in your college costs and the amount you pay out-of-pocket.
- Paying for college shouldn’t jeopardize your retirement or financial well-being.
Attend the Zoom webinar from the privacy of your home.
Pre-registration is required – Click here to secure your spot.
This program is presented by SMARTTRACK® College Funding.
If you would like to support ESJ Fine Arts, please join us for a FANS meeting on Thursday, November 21, in the Fine Arts lounge located in the Munnerlyn Center from 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. After the meeting, we will decorate the Christmas tree in the Munnerlyn Center. We always have coffee and treats, so please join us in support of the Fine Arts program!
Fine Arts Nurturing Students is a parent volunteer organization that serves to enhance the fine arts experience for every Episcopal student and the entire ESJ community. FANS provides essential support to the fine arts’ students and faculty. As an Episcopal parent, you are automatically a member of every parent organization, including FANS!
Last call for a great night in the Sky Deck, exclusively reserved for our group behind home plate. Dads (and their families) are welcome. The price is $50 per person and includes admission to the game, unlimited buffet, soda and water, and premier seating in our area. Please Venmo Kevin Davidsen at @kevin-davidsen by September 15 and include your full name in the Venmo order. For those who sign up, tickets will be held in your name at Will Call.
The game is Wednesday, September 18, begins at 7:05 p.m. and food and drink will be available from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.!
Unlimited Buffet includes: Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Loaded Potato Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad, Homestyle Coleslaw, Double Chocolate Brownies, Fresh Baked Cookies, Soda and Water. Private Bar with Beer and Wine is available for purchase during the food service.
Please join the Parents Association in partnership with FANS, Boosters, and the Dads’ Club in welcoming Reverend Greene at the PA meeting on Friday, September 20. Reverend Greene will be providing a Coffee Chat on the state of the school.
The Coffee Chat begins at 8:15 a.m. in Harden Hall (the dining hall located in the Haskell Center for Science and Student Life).
We hope to see you there.
— Beth Gibson, PA President, [email protected]