Episcopal Insider
St. Mark's Campus
December 13, 2024
Please Note: After today, the Episcopal Insider will no longer be sent weekly. Important communications will be shared as needed throughout the summer. Enjoy your summer break!
New This Week
Students who are not re-enrolled by today, January 31, 2025, will not be guaranteed a space in the 2025-2026 school year.
Click Here to Complete Re-enrollment
Please refer to the email sent on January 16 for specific re-enrollment instructions for your child’s campus and grade level. These emails can be found in your My ESJ Portal. To reserve your child’s space for the 2025-2026 school year, all steps must be completed via the My ESJ Enrollment Portal today, January 31, 2025. Please review the key updates listed below.
If you have any questions concerning re-enrollment, please contact Melissa Tucker, Director of Lower School Admission & Enrollment – St. Mark’s Campus, at tuckerm@esj.org. We look forward to welcoming your family back for the 2025-2026 school year!
Key Updates
- Payment Plans: Early Learning Program
- 1 Pay: July
- 2 Pay: July and November
- 10 Pay: July – April
- Payment Plans: Pre-K 3 – Grade 5
(ELP 2 to rising Pre-K 3 families: note there will be one month of tuition overlap as you transition from the ELP payment schedule to the Pre-K 3 payment schedule.)
-
- 1 Pay: April
- 2 Pay: April and November
- 10 Pay: April – January
- Financial Obligation Schedule: Pre-K 3 – Grade 5 contracts that are canceled after the deposit is submitted will have the following financial obligations:
- Upon signing the re-enrollment agreement: 25% of the annual tuition
- April 1 – June 30: 50% of the annual tuition
- After June 30: 100% of the annual tuition
All students are invited to wear their Christmas pajamas to school on Friday, December 20. Children will enjoy class parties on this day as well.
Throughout the week, students may wear Christmas accessories.
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.
Tuesday, January 14
8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
Youth Center
St. Mark’s Campus parents will continue discussing Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “Good Inside” book, Chapters 16-20. Chapters cover Rudeness and Defiance, Whining, Lying, Fears and Anxiety, Hesitation and Shyness. If you have not previously attended a meeting but are interested in these topics, you are welcome to attend!
Reminders
2024-2025 Important Upcoming Calendar Dates
- May 16 – Chapel in the Park
- May 16 – Moms’ Night Out
- May 16 – Uniform Recycle Event (7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
- May 20 – Field Day
- May 21 – Splash Into Summer
- May 21 – Fifth Farewell Reception
- May 22 – Fifth Grade Celebration Ceremony (9:00 a.m., Church)
- May 23 – Trimester 3 Ends
- May 23 – Early Dismissal (Noon). Eagle Afternoon Program Closed.
- May 26-30 – Memorial Day and Post-Planning – School and Extended Day Closed
- June 2 – First week of Camp Create
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
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
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 porterb@esj.org with questions)
- Monday, January 6 & Tuesday, January 7
- School and Extended Day Programs Closed (Faculty Professional Development)
- Wednesday, January 8
- Classes Resume
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!
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
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
- May 14 – Fruit of Self-Control Gathering