Episcopal Insider - BEACHES CAMPUS
August 1, 2025
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Munnerlyn Campus - September 26, 2025
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Schools are not just bricks and mortar structures – they are centers of life-long learning filled with dedicated educators!
Each year, ESJ faculty and staff participate in professional development to expand their knowledge in the ever-changing world of education. By remaining on the cutting-edge of their field, they serve as a cornerstone to student achievement in the classroom.
Your gift to The Episcopal Fund helps the school to continue to hire, retain, and invest in professional development for exemplary teachers who share their lifelong love of learning and empower students every day. There is no greater return on an investment than the education of our children.
We invite you to make your gift online today.
Double the Impact of Your Gift
Would you like the opportunity to multiply your giving and increase the impact of your generosity?
Many employers offer matching gift programs that can increase the value of your contribution to Episcopal School of Jacksonville. Contact your employer to find out if they offer a matching gift program and what steps you need to take to initiate a matching gift.
When completing your matching gift request, please select:
Episcopal School of Jacksonville
4455 Atlantic Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
EIN: 59-1147278
For more information or assistance with the matching gift process, please contact Lisa Allen at allenl@esj.org.
ESJ’s financial aid application for the 2027–2028 school year is open for students in Pre-K 3 through Grade 12. Families must apply annually to be considered. We evaluate financial aid awards using Clarity, a secure third-party platform. We keep all application information strictly confidential.
- November 13 – Application Deadline
- Applications submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee until early April, after awards have been offered to new families. Please be aware that financial aid may no longer be available at that time.
- January 15 – Award Notification & Re-enrollment
Required Documents:
- 2025 1040 and W2 (auto-imported from IRS)
- Recent paystub(s) or earning statement(s)
Clarity application webinars that will include open Q&A with families.
Dates and Registration Links:
Tuesday September 30, 2026 6 pm ET
Wednesday October 28, 2026 6 pm ET
Questions?
- Email support at support@clarityapp.com
- Clarity phone support at 206-210-3752
- M-F 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
- “HELP” button on the Clarity website
- Application and support available in English and Spanish
- Refer to ESJ’s Financial Aid FAQ for additional information
- Contact the Financial Aid Committee at financialaid@esj.org
For information on the financial aid process and to apply, click here.
As a thank-you for your patience and continued partnership, Lands’ End is offering our school community 40% off with code OURTREAT40. The offer ends October 13.
Use the code when shopping through Lands’ End School Outfitters to take advantage of this special offer.
New This Week
Munnerlyn Campus Parent-Teacher Conferences – 2025-2026
On Friday, October 3, Parent-Teacher Conferences will occur for grades 7-12. These individual ten-minute conferences with each of your child’s teachers are designed to discuss student progress and learning and are for parents only. We do not offer supervision for students/children during the conferences and request that you make other arrangements.
Conferences for grade 6 will also be held on Friday, October 3. Sixth grade parents will receive an email from their child’s teachers regarding the conference process.
Faculty members will be available on October 3 for the following sessions:
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. |
| Session 2 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. |
| Session 3 | 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. |
Registration for conferences is not required. Parents choose which session(s) to participate in and follow the procedure below.
Prior to arriving on campus for conferences, retrieve your child’s schedule through the Parent Portal of My ESJ. Middle School parents, please refer to Q1 electives for conferences.
On conference day,
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- Please wear your ESJ parent name tag.
- Proceed to one of the reception tables located in the lobby of Haskell Center for Science and Student Life or the Semmes Gym. Check-in by scanning the QR code and to receive a map of teacher locations.
- Faculty will be organized by department in Harden Hall, the Semmes Gym and the Alumni Gym. Each teacher will have a table and a designated waiting area.
- It is at your discretion as to which teachers to conference with and the sequence of those conferences.
- To meet with all of your child’s teachers, arriving at least 90 minutes prior to the end of the session is recommended.
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Given that the entire day has been set aside to provide conference opportunities, teachers will be unable to offer alternative make-up dates or appointments to individuals who miss this date.
Classes for all students will reconvene at 8:05 a.m. on Monday, October 6.
Dear Parents,
We want to make you aware that JEA crews will be working in the area around Live Oak Lane and St. Elmo Drive over the next several weeks to upgrade and replace electrical equipment and power lines. This work is expected to continue into October. The project includes replacing older power poles and installing new equipment to improve the quality and reliability of electric service to our school.
As the work progresses, you may notice utility trucks in the area, temporary equipment staging, and occasional lane closures or traffic detours. Episcopal’s security team and on-site JEA personnel will help direct traffic as needed.
Thank you for your understanding as these important improvements are made.
Keesy Goebertus
Associate Head of School
Reminders
Do you want to sit in the best seats in the house at Episcopal’s fine arts performances while also providing financial support for fine arts programs? If so, purchase Fine Arts Preferred Seating (FAPS) tickets.
FAPS is designed to give Fine Arts supporters preferred and reserved seating at eligible ticketed Munnerlyn Campus performances such as the Upper and Middle School plays and musicals, and the choral, band, and dance concerts. Purchasing FAPS tickets also allows for patrons to make a restricted gift to the Fine Arts Department. In the past, money raised from the restricted gifts have been used for projects such as improved sound in the theatres, purchase of additional classroom instruments, costumes for productions and bringing in professional performers and artists to work with our fine arts students.
To purchase FAPS tickets, go to https://events.veracross.com/
College Counseling is hosting a series of application help opportunities in September and October. 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.
- Drop-in application clinics in the College Counseling / Towers House for seniors to work on their applications with the help of their College Counseling team (and snacks)! Students can come for an hour or stay the whole time!
- Saturday, September 6 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and
- Wednesday, October 15 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (PSAT day)
- Students should RSVP (must be logged in to their ESJ account) for planning purposes; though drop-ins are welcome!
- ‘Office Hours in the Buck’ every Tuesday and Thursday during each class period from September 9 to October 30. A counselor will be available in the glass pod closest to the nurse’s entrance.
Financial Aid Workshop Series Begins September 30
For this academic year, Episcopal College Counseling is partnering with Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method, to bolster support in a critical area of your journey to college – understanding what it means to pay for college today and opportunities for financial aid. The first of six workshops will take place virtually on Sept 30 at 7pm:
Succeeding in the Financial Aid Process
A guide for seniors applying for need-based aid and merit scholarships.
Financial aid has become an integral part of the college application process. Merit scholarship requirements and deadlines don’t always match a college’s admission cycle, making the merit application process increasingly complex.
Having a roadmap for the different timelines and how to complete the various applications gives you the best opportunity for the greatest awards. October remains a critical month to complete the CSS Profile, prepare for the FAFSA, and apply for merit opportunities.
This workshop will help you stay informed and get answers to your questions, including…
- What are the deadlines for financial aid and merit applications?
- What can we do to prepare for the process?
- How do we complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile to ensure the most financial aid?
- How can we take the most advantage of merit scholarship opportunities?
Join this workshop for a comprehensive overview of the need-based and merit-based financial aid application process. You’ll receive expert guidance to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile and advocate for your unique financial situation. You’ll also understand how to research, track and apply for merit aid.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/sept30
Is your child thinking about continuing their sport in college? Prospective college athletes and their parents are invited to College Knowledge: Athletic Recruitment, presented by Episcopal College Counseling. Join us from 6:00-7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 7th in Harden Hall for this informative presentation on the college application process for student athletes.
The program will focus on the college counseling side of the recruitment process and what students should do to prepare themselves when it comes to the college application. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer segment.
Spanish Exchange Program Invitation Letter
Episcopal-Colegio Inglés, Zaragoza, Spain
Traveling: June 4-18, 2026
Hosting: March-April, 2027
Dear Students & Parents,
I am pleased to announce that Episcopal will begin the new 2026-2027 Spanish Exchange cycle with Colegio Inglés. Our community did an amazing job this past spring hosting Colegio Inglés and they are very excited to receive us this summer! We will travel to Spain June 4-18, 2026 and stay in Zaragoza with host families for 10 days. Afterwards, we will spend two nights in Barcelona and then return to Florida. In turn, ESJ students and families will host Spanish exchange students in Jacksonville in March/April of 2027. There are spaces for 18 students in grades 9-11, ages 14-17; they will be matched with students in the same gender & age range with similar interests, subject to host family availability. Priority is given to students who can both travel and host. This is an exchange program and character is very important. Students need to be in good standing, academically and behaviorally, with the ESJ community and Student Life.
Mrs. Nitza Plaski and Mr. Alex Hernández, ESJ teachers, will be the trip leaders for the program in Spain. The total cost for the program will be determined once we have a final list of students, but is not expected to exceed $5,500. It will include airfare, accommodation with a host family, all ground transport within Spain, all excursions and activities listed on the itinerary, medical insurance, ESJ chaperone accompaniment, two nights hotel accommodation in Barcelona and three meals a day as provided by the host family, and meals in Barcelona. The application and $1,500 deposit is due for the first deadline of November 6, 2026 and checks should be made to Episcopal School of Jacksonville.
If you are interested in participating in the new 2026-2027 cycle, please
- fill out the Spanish Exchange Travel to Zaragoza Interest Form,
- view the Zaragoza-Barcelona Presentation for more information on the proposed activities,
- renew/apply for passports, which must be valid for a minimum of 3 months post departure,
- complete 2026-2027 Application , 2026 Teacher Recommendation and Introductory Letter instructions.
- All forms are due by November 6, 2026; forms can still be submitted after this date until trip is full.
I hope you can join us! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions: plaskin@esj.org
¡Zaragoza Te Espera!
Sincerely,
Nitza Plaski
MS and US Spanish Instructor
Spanish Exchange Coordinator
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