Episcopal Insider - BEACHES CAMPUS
August 1, 2025
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St. Mark's Campus - October 31, 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
Drop off leftover and/or wanted Halloween Candy in carpool or the library next week. Fifth grade students are organizing a drive to donate all candy to our local Ronald McDonald House.
The drive runs through Friday, November 7.
School and Extended Day Programs are closed on Friday, November 21 for faculty professional development.
Episcopal is closed from November 24 – 28 for Thanksgiving Break. Holiday Care is available on November 24 and 25 if students are already registered.
Registration for Trimester 2 After School Activities is now available.
Once on the registration page, please select the name of the child you wish to sign up. Activities displayed are tailored to each student’s grade and gender.
Please note the following:
- The deadline to register is November 3.
- Due to minimum and maximum participant info, registration does not confirm your child is enrolled. You will receive a final confirmation by November 7 from Isabella Boudreaux.
- Activities will begin the week of November 10.
- Payment is due at the time of registration. A child is not registered until payment is made.
- Refunds will not be issued unless the chosen activity does not reach capacity. Please review after school offerings with your children before registering.
VIEW AND REGISTER FOR ACTIVITIES
Reminders
- October 9 – Parent – Teacher Conferences (All Grades) | School and Extended Day Programs Closed
- October 13 – Fall Festival (4:00-6:00 p.m.) *Afternoon Eagles Closes at 5:00 p.m.*
- October 14 – Early Dismissal *Afternoon Eagles Closed | Holiday Care Open*
- October 15-18 – Fall Break *Holiday Care Open*
- October 19 – Faculty Professional Development | School and Extended Day Programs Closed
- October 21 – Fruit of Joy Gathering (Grades 1-5 | 2:30 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- October 23 – Chapel in the Park ((Grades 1-5 | 8:25 a.m.)
- October 26 – October Birthday Book Blessing Chapel (Grades 1-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- October 28 – October Birthday Book Blessing Chapel (Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and K | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- October 30 – Costume Parade (ELP 1 – Kindergarten | 9:00 a.m., Berg Field)
- October 30 – Fall Class Parties
- November 2 – Eucharist Chapel Wear Maroon (Grades 1-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- November 3 – Yearbook Photo Retake Day
- November 6 – Grandparents’ & Special Friends Day
- November 6 – Early Dismissal *Afternoon Eagles Open*
- November 10 – Book Fair (9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Commons)
- November 10 – Parent Education Event with Dr. Elise Fallucco | Raising Resilient, Capable Kids: When to Step In and When to Step Back (8:15 – 9:15 a.m., Steve Williams Library)
- November 11 – Veterans’ Day Chapel (Grades K-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- November 11 – Book Fair (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Commons)
- November 11 – NO GATHERING
- November 12 – Book Character Parade (Grades 1-5 | 9:00 a.m.)
- November 12 – Dads’ Club Social
- November 13 – Mom’s Night Out
- November 16 – November Birthday Book Blessing Chapel (Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and K | 8:25 a.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- November 16 – November Birthday Book Blessing Chapel (Grades 1-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- November 18 – Fruit of Peace Gathering (Grades 1-5 | 2:30 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- November 20 – Kindergarten Thanksgiving Performance (9:00 a.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- November 23-24 – Thanksgiving Break *Holiday Care Open*
- November 25-27 – Thanksgiving Break *School & Extended Day Programs Closed*
- December 3 – Christmas Musical (Grades 2-3 | 8:25 a.m. & 6:30 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- December 7 – Eucharist Chapel Wear Maroon (Grades 1-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- December 9 – December Birthday Book Blessing Chapel (Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and K | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- December 9 – Fruit of Patience Gathering (Grades 1-5 | 2:30 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- December 14 – December Birthday Book Blessing Chapel (Grades 1-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- December 16 – Pre-K 4 Nativity Program (9:00 a.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- December 17 – Polar Express Day (Grade 1) & Fifth Grade Spelling Bee (1:30 p.m., Lori Schiavone Commons)
- December 18 – Lessons & Carols (Grades 4-5 | 8:25 a.m., Church)
- December 18 – Christmas Class Parties
- December 18 – Early Dismissal *Afternoon Eagles Closed | Holiday Care Open*
- December 21-25 – Christmas Break | School & Extended Day Programs Closed
- December 28-31 – Christmas Break *Holiday Care Open*
- January 1 – Christmas Break | School & Extended Day Programs Closed
- January 4 – Faculty Professional Development | School and Extended Day Programs Closed
- January 5 – Classes Resume
Friday, October 31 at 9:00 a.m.
ELP 1 – Kindergarten
Kindergarten students will lead students in a costume parade around Berg Field to showcase their costumes with parents and older students.
- 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 from 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend!
Scary costumes or props are not permitted.
If your child was absent on October 7 or needs a retake photo, Leonard’s Photography will return to campus on Tuesday, November 4, in Dempsey Chapel. Photos will occur in the morning.
Please let your child’s teacher know if you would like them to have a retake photo.
We look forward to celebrating Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day at the St. Mark’s Campus on Thursday, November 6. Grandparents are invited to attend special Chapel services at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, followed by refreshments and classroom visits. The full schedule by grade is located below.
If parents are interested in experiencing Grandparents Day, please sign up to volunteer online. Because so many of our grandparents are unfamiliar with campus, we rely heavily on volunteers to help greet guests, guide them to classrooms, and create a welcoming, memorable experience! This is such a wonderful tradition on campus and your presence makes a huge difference in the event.
We ask that all guests please RSVP online or contact Lauren Griffith at (904) 388-2632 ext.1226 or griffithl@esj.org with any questions or to RSVP by phone.
Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and Kindergarten Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Schedule
- 8:15 a.m. – Check-in in front of the school.
- Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 grandparents will retrieve students from their homeroom. Student ambassadors will be present to assist guests in locating classrooms. Knowing your students’ homeroom teacher will expedite the check-in process.
- Kindergarten grandparents will meet students outside the church and enter Chapel together. Grandparents do not need to retrieve kindergarteners from their classroom.
- 8:25 a.m. – Chapel service in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
- 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. – Refreshments in the Lori Schiavone Commons
- 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. – Visit homeroom classroom(s)
First – Fifth Grade Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Schedule
- 9:45 a.m. – Meet grandchildren or special friends outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for Chapel
- 10:00 a.m. – Chapel in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
- 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Refreshments in the Lori Schiavone Commons
- 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. – Campus tours. Students will help tour guests to their homeroom and enrichment classrooms.
Parking is available in the public parking spaces located around St. Mark’s Campus and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Additional parking is located across the street at Stockton Park. Golf carts will be available to transport guests to the school campus.
View past event photos from Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ day online.
Early Dismissal is at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7.
Afternoon Eagles will be open until 6:00 p.m. for pre-registered students.
Along with a special Veterans Day Chapel on Tuesday, 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 Thursday, November 6.
If you submitted information during the past two school years, ESJ has it on file already. Families do not need to resubmit.
Parents are invited to join the St. Mark’s Campus Parent Book Club to read and discuss The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey (Amazon link to purchase).
In The Gift of Failure, Lahey explores how allowing children to face challenges and setbacks helps them develop resilience, confidence, and independence. With relatable examples from school, home, sports, and friendships, the book offers a hopeful guide for raising capable children.
Meeting Details
- Date: Thursday, April 9
- Time: 8:15–9:15 a.m.
- April 9, 2026: Chapters 11, 12 & Conclusion
Thursday, November 13
6:00 p.m.
Lillian’s Sports Grill (5393 Roosevelt Blvd # 6)
Take a load off and enjoy the company of ESJ dads! This social takes place the day before Moms’ Night Out, so dads have a chance to get out before staying in!
Friday, November 14
6:00 p.m.
Home of Chloe Wood
Moms’ Night Out is a chance to connect and unwind with fellow St. Mark’s Campus moms. Thank you to ESJ mom Chloe Wood for hosting Moms’ Night Out this year in her beautiful home on Venetia Blvd (address provided with RSVP).
Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a signature cocktail will be provided. Please bring wine or your beverage of choice to share.
Kindly RSVP for planning purposes
RSVP
Looking for a fresh way to promote your business? Becoming a sponsor of the W.W. Gay Ortega River Run on Saturday, February 20 offers unparalleled visibility within the community. From having your business featured on over 1,900 race t-shirts to prominent placement on the Ortega River Run website, the exposure is endless. Plus, you’ll have the chance to connect with attendees in person and distribute promotional materials at the community street fair on race morning. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your brand to a wide and engaged audience—don’t miss out!
To secure your sponsorship, view the sponsorship brochure, complete the sponsorship commitment form and submit the online payment.
For more information, contact Lauren Griffith at griffithl@esj.org or 904-388-2632 x 1226.
Race registration will open up in November.
Episcopal School of Jacksonville, St. Mark’s Campus, offers Holiday Care for preregistered students on predetermined dates over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break. To confirm your child is registered, please follow the following steps.
- Login to your Parent Portal on My ESJ
- Click “Classes and Reports” under the name of the child you wish to view.
- Scroll to the bottom of classes. If your child is registered, holiday care will be shown.
If you are not registered and would like to be added to a wait list, please contact Isabella Boudreaux at boudreauxi@esj.org.
Pre-K 3 – Grade 5 Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day is Thursday, November 5. If you have a child in Pre-K , please let us know if your child will be going home with a grandparent or special friend. For safety reasons, if the permission form is not completed, your child will be unable to leave the school campus.
Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day is Thursday, November 6. Parent volunteers are essential to making this event a success and positive experience for hundreds of guests attending this special day. We are in need of volunteers to help during the event, as well as golf carts (and drivers) to transport visitors from their cars to campus.
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