Episcopal Insider
St. Mark's Campus
October 4, 2024
All Campuses
New This Week
We need your help to make our Book Fair and Fall Festival a success! Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to engage with the school community, meet other parents, and contribute. Your support makes a difference, and the Parents’ Association would love to have you on board!
Credit card, check, cash, and eWallet are all accepted at the Book Fair on October 25. If you prefer your child(ren) to go to school without cash, the option to set-up an eWallet in advance with pre-loaded funds is available. Please account for 7% sales tax on items when factoring in the amount. Volunteers will have eWallet information for all participating students at the Book Fair.
Parents are welcome to shop with their children during class shopping times. Credit card, check, cash, and eWallet are accepted. If sending funds to school with your child, please account for the 7% sales tax.
Pre-K 3: 9:00-9:30 a.m.
- An adult must be present for the child to shop at the Book Fair
Pre-K 4: 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
- An adult must be present for the child to shop at the Book Fair
Kindergarten: 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
First Grade: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Second Grade: 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Third Grade: 1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Fourth Grade: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fifth Grade: 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Reminders
2024-2025 Important Upcoming Calendar Dates
- December 19 – Fifth Grade Spelling Bee (1:30 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- December 20 – Christmas Class Parties
- December 20 – Early Dismissal (Eagle Afternoon Program Open)
- December 23 – 27 – School and Extended Day Programs Closed (Christmas Break)
- December 30 & 31 – School Closed, Holiday Care Open (Needs Advanced Registration)
- January 1 – School and Extended Day Programs Closed
- January 2 & 3 – School Closed, Holiday Care Open (Needs Advanced Registration)
- January 6 & 7 -School and Extended Day Programs Closed (Faculty Professional Development)
- January 8 – Classes Resume
- January 8 – Deadline for ordering Ortega River Run toddler, long sleeve, and tank shirts
- January 10 – Kindergarten joins Grades 1 – 5 Chapel, 8:25 a.m. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
- January 16 – Re-Enrollment for 2025-2026 School Year Begins
- January 17 – Fathers’ and Special Friends’ Chapel (Pre-K 3 – Grade 5, 8:25 a.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church)
- January 20 – MLK Day. School and Extended Day Program Closed
- January 23 – Family Open House, All Grades, 5:30 p.m.
- January 23 – Eagle Afternoon Program Closes at 5:30 p.m.
- January 29 – Dads’ Club Gathering (6:00 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- January 31 – Deadline to Re-Enroll for 2025-2026 School Year
Vision is Priceless will be on campus Monday, October 7 to conduct vision screenings for Pre-K 3 – grade 5 students.
On Wednesday, October 9, at 8:25 a.m., Pre-K 3 – grade 5 students will gather in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for one combined Chapel. The Wednesday afternoon Gathering will not take place on this day.
Following Chapel, fourth and fifth grade students will take a bus to the Episcopal Schools Celebration.
Students in fourth and fifth grade from Episcopal School of Jacksonville, St. Mark’s 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 invited to wear their Episcopal maroon polos for this service. At 9:15 a.m., a bus will depart from the St. Mark’s Campus for the Cathedral.
Each student is asked to bring one item that will be donated to the Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Click here for a list of needed items.
- Pre-K 3 – Grade 5 will have individual and class photos on November 5.
- ELP students will have individual pictures only. ELP class photos will take place on April 10.
- A picture retake day for individuals will occur on December 10.
Parents may place an order on mylifetouch.com using the Picture Day ID: EVT6KDKS2. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping! Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day.
Weather permitting, first through fifth grade students will enjoy worship in the park. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Friday, October 11
8:25 a.m.
Stockton Park
Don’t miss a fun evening celebrating our sons. The event is tailored for Pre-K 3 – grade 5 students and will include pizza, games, a parent/student dodgeball game, and lots of room to play on Berg Field! Come dressed in your favorite sports team t-shirt or jersey.
Friday, October 11
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Lori Schiavone Commons & Berg Field*
*In the event of inclement weather, this gathering will be canceled.
Early dismissal for all grades is Noon on October 16.
The Eagle Afternoon Program is open for registered students.
- October 17 & 18 – School Closed. Holiday Care open for preregistered students
- October 21 – School resumes*
For questions regarding holiday care, please contact Betsy Porter at [email protected].
* 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.
Please save the date for the Scholastic Book Fair on St. Mark’s Campus (Lori Schiavone Commons).
Friday, October 25
9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Additional Book Fair Information
- Volunteer opportunities
- Student shopping times
- Sign up for eWallet and pre-load money into your child’s account!
Friday, October 25
Grades 1-5
9:00 a.m.
The Quad
Students are invited to dress as their favorite book characters to celebrate this year’s Book Fair. Grades 1 – 5 will parade around the Quad in the grassy area by the music and art classrooms. Younger students will enjoy being spectators and parents are welcome to attend!
Students should wear their costumes to school either over their school dress code attire or bring a change of clothes with them to school.
Save the Date: Fall Festival – Fun for All Ages!
Friday, October 25
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Berg Field
Important notes:
- Eagle Afternoon Program closes at 5:00 p.m. this day.
- In addition to regular parking in the front of the school, parking will be available from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. via Baltic Street. The Baltic Street gate entering Berg Field will be open during the festival.
- In case of inclement weather, the Fall Festival will be canceled.
When:
Thursday, October 31 at 9:00 a.m.
What:
Kindergarten students will lead students in a costume parade around Berg Field to showcase their costumes with parents and older students.
Who:
ELP 1 – Kindergarten students and their families
- ELP Parents: Please send your child to school in costume and plan to walk with your child in the parade. Afterwards, please come to the classroom to help your child change back into school clothes and attend your child’s class party.
- Pre-K Parents: Please send your child to school in costume. Head to Berg Field and enjoy the show! After the parade, meet at your child’s classroom for a special snack.
- K Parents: Please send your child to school in costume. Parents are invited to watch the parade from Berg Field while the kindergarten students lead the parade. The kindergarten class party will take place at 2:15 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend!
Scary costumes or props are not permitted.
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
- January 22 – Fruit of Kindness Gathering
- 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
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
January and June Birthdays
- January 27 (Grades 1-5)
- January 29 (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
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)