Episcopal Insider
St. Mark's Campus
October 25, 2024
All Campuses
The ESJ Fine Arts Department invites students, families, and community members to attend The Art of Art, a night of creativity and exploration of visual arts. Come try throwing a pot on a ceramics wheel, participate in a photography demonstration, or create artwork that you can bring home.
This free event takes place on January 16 from 5-8 PM on Arts Row on St. Elmo Drive at the Munnerlyn Campus.
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
Along with a special Veterans Day Chapel on Monday, November 11, St. Mark’s Campus will prominently display photos and information about veterans and active military special to the St. Mark’s Campus community.
Faculty, staff, and families are encouraged to submit information about loved ones before Wednesday, November 6.
If you submitted information during the past two school years, ESJ has it on file already. Families do not need to resubmit.
Monday, November 11
8:25 a.m. in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
All families are invited to join kindergarten – fifth grade students during a special chapel honoring veterans and current military personnel. Commander Doug Hale, US Navy (ret) will speak to students about his experience serving nearly 22 years in the military.
Along with a special Veterans Day Chapel , St. Mark’s Campus will prominently display photos and information about veterans special to the St. Mark’s Campus community. Faculty, staff and families are encouraged to submit information about loved ones. If you previously submitted information, you do not need to resubmit.
Supporting Young People in Our Digital Age
Episcopal School of Jacksonville Lower School parents are invited to attend a panel discussion on The Anxious Generation: Supporting Young People in Our Digital Age, addressing the impacts of mental health issues, pressure, and technology on today’s youth and exploring how parents and the school community can respond.
Tuesday, November 19
8:15 a.m.
Lori Schiavone Commons
Panel discussion led by:
- Dr. Elise Fallucco, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, ESJ Director of Health, Safety, and Well-Being
- Amy Burrows Perkins ‘92, LMHC, ESJ Director of Student Services
- The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School
Reminders
2024-2025 Important Upcoming Calendar Dates
- 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
- February 3 – 6 – CTP 5 Testing (Grades 3-5)
- February 7 – Chapel in the Park (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 Open
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.
Just in time for sweatshirt weather, the ESJ campus store will visit the St. Mark’s Campus on October 25 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Lori Schiavone Commons. This is the same day as the Book Fair and Fall Festival!
Episcopal School of Jacksonville, St. Mark’s Campus is excited to host a new Parent Book Club! The first book is Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy. The Book Club will meet monthly after drop-off. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to every meeting or are behind on the book — it’s all about sharing and supporting each other!
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 29 at 8:15 a.m., Youth Center (corner of Ionic and Oxford Avenues).
Covering the Introduction – Chapter 5
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.
- 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.
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.
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)