FI_Lion Line_8/30/24
8/30/24
Dear Lions,
As we move into September, I must give you a couple of key reminders about drop-off and pick-up of scholars. I have received calls from law enforcement and a county commissioner about parents dropping their children off in a turn lane across CR220 and along CR220 near Claude Road - please don't do this. Use the drop-off and pick-up procedures from the school.
Also, I commend you for trying your best to get here right on time for pick-up - not too early and not too late. Keep working on hitting "the sweet spot" on your arrival time!
Now then, what are you hearing from your children when they come home or at night around the dinner table? I want you to ask them, regardless of age, the following questions: (1) Who did you sit with at lunch today, and what did you talk about? This question will help you develop their social skills and know about the people they meet. (2) What did you learn about in (history, Latin, English, etc.)? Go through the specific subjects and hold them accountable to talk about what they are learning - this will reinforce what they learned that day. Try to avoid the blanket question, "What did you learn in school today?" Force them to be specific about each subject.
We are here to support our parents in educating their children. Without a doubt, the most important educator in a child's life are parents or guardians. It is your responsibility to teach them, partly by sending them to a school like ours, but also by engaging with them in rich, meaningful ways. Make the dinner table that place of conversation as together, we form and develop these young people into intelligent virtuous American citizens.
GO LIONS!
Matt Johnson
I’d like to introduce Matt Bowers, our new Dean of Student Life in the Upper School. Mr. Bowers teaches Personal Financial Literacy, Economics, and Introduction to Moral and Political Philosophy.
Additionally, he will be working with administration to help plan and implement activities that build a positive upper school culture, and he’ll regularly check-in on scholars, especially those new to the school, during lunches and passing periods.
Originally from Georgia, Mr. Bowers served in the Navy as a Master-At-Arms (military police), and was stationed in various locations, including Florida, Virginia, Kuwait, and Japan. He developed his passion for teaching early in his Naval career while completing instructor school, and he continued training and instruction for the next 15 years.
After twenty-two years of service to our country, Mr. Bowers retired with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. He holds a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, where he is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry.
Mr. Bowers and his wife have three children, one of whom graduated as an SJCA Lion and another who is currently attending our school.
He is excited to continue developing our upper school in this new role.
-Written by Angie Casteel, Upper School Principal
Study Tip of the Month
How to Plan Your Work
When a scholar moves to Upper School, more responsibility is placed on the scholar. Scholars leave Grammar School, self-contained in their classrooms with recess and cocurriculars added to their day. Scholars are now expected to change classes every 50 minutes, remember to write down everything in their planners, and remember to complete all of their homework on time. For some scholars, completing all of this successfully comes very naturally. Others however need help learning the skills they will need to succeed.
There are two parts to planning: remembering to complete the tasks you have to complete and ensuring you have adequate time to do so. Using your planner daily allows scholars to remember the things they need to complete, as long as they are writing everything down. When it comes time to work on a task, it is safe to assume that you need more time than you plan for. Lastly, checking one’s to-do list daily to ensure everything is completed when it needs to be completed is the last and most crucial aspect of utilizing a planner.
Below are several methods outlined in Outsmart Your Brain that will help scholars plan their work. Scholars should try some of these tips to see what works best to plan their work successfully.
Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep makes thinking and paying attention harder as well as disrupting the learning that took place the previous day. It is recommended that teenagers get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
Plan a block of consistent, dedicated time for learning: During this consistent and dedicated time for learning, scholars should plan their learning by time and not by task. Even if nothing is due tomorrow, the block of time is consistent and assignments that are due later should be worked on. This will help scholars get ahead of their work rather than feeling they are always just on time or playing catch up.
Use a Calendar: A planner can be a perfect item to use as a calendar. Even if a scholar does not want to use the SJCA planner that can be bought, finding a calendar that works for you is essential to planning your work. It is important to keep your calendar or planner at all times, especially at school and during your consistent dedicated time for learning. Write your assignments and their due dates immediately after you receive them. All SJCA teachers keep an agenda at the front of their classrooms which will include homework, tests, and quiz dates. When writing down these assignments, it is smart to add reminders throughout the time to work on them and the due date. Do not forget to include your social activities in your planner as well. Filling out your calendar/planner in this manner will allow you to sit down during the consistent, dedicated time for learning and determine what do I need to work on first.
Make a to-do list for each study session: Write a to-do list for each study session you begin. Also, make sure to look at the to-do list from the previous day and add any unfinished items to your new to-do list. Look at your calendar/planner for things that might need to be added to your to-do list. If any task on your list is large, consider breaking it up into smaller tasks. If you notice things should be added to your to-do list while you are working, add it. This process should take roughly 10 minutes.
Set and revisit your learning goals: Keep a list of your long-term goals and write down the steps needed to reach those goals. Revisit this list every six months or so. If you monitor your progress in reaching your goals, it is more likely that you will achieve them.
Set goals with the hidden factors in mind: When setting long-term goals, consider the following factors: follow your purpose, assess if your environment is supportive, neutral, or toxic to achieving your goals, and see if your emotions are preventing you from thinking clearly about your goals.
Develop a plan: Make your plan specific and have a backup plan. It is also helpful to plan for obstacles that you may have to overcome.
Mental Health Services Available
SJCA has several mental health services available for scholars this year. Both the Youth Crisis Center and Clay Behavioral will visit our campus to provide services. Youth Crisis Center will be on campus on Thursdays, and Clay Behavioral will be on campus on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Youth Crisis Center will provide 12 free sessions, with master level therapists, to scholars during school hours.
If your scholar is facing issues with peers, battling test anxiety, struggling with life changes, or is having difficulty coping, please reach to to Kayla.Flannagan@stjca.org for a referral.
No Stanleys with Straws
For all grade levels, all water bottles must have a lid that seals so that the bottle cannot leak when tipped on its side or turned upside down. We are cleaning up too many spills in the halls, lockers, and classrooms. This means that scholars cannot have a Stanley-type container with a straw, even if the straw has a stopper. We did not have this problem before Stanleys became so popular. Thank you for supporting a safe, dry learning environment!
Flu Clinic: 9/11
Health Hero Flu Vaccine Clinic will be on campus Wednesday, 9/11/24 to administer Flu Vaccines.
Only scholars who have a completed and signed consent form from their parent/guardian will receive the vaccination.
Questions? Reach out to HealthRoom@stjca.org.
All That Jazz!
The Music Department would like to gauge participation interest in an after-school Jazz Band. This new ensemble would be open to scholars in 8th-12th grade who have experience playing saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drum set, piano, guitar, or bass. No jazz-specific experience is required. If your scholar is interested in being a part of this exciting new opportunity, please click the link below to complete the Google Form, no later than Friday, September 6th.
Reach out to Mrs. Crosby with questions: cassie.crosby@stjca.org
Break a Leg, Drama Club!
Recently, the cast was announced for the Drama Club's annual spring production, Fiddler on the Roof, Jr! After an incredible afternoon of auditions, our talented scholars have begun rehearsing for what promises to be a spectacular musical. Mark your calendars now for February 21-23. Ticket information will be available in January. You don't want to miss this "TRADITION!"
Congratulations to the Cast:
Angelimar F
Aubrey J
Cole M
Elleni P
Emily L
Emmalyn F
Gavin D
Hailey M
Isabella R
Joylynn A
Kenzie B
Laura Lee P
Leah R
Mallory R
Marcy R
MariaRenee B
Marnie B
Megan T
Patrick M
Payton Y
Peyton S
Sarah M
Victoria M
Violet B
Zach D
Evelen D
Supporting Our Teachers Through The 1776 Promise
What is the 1776 Promise?
The 1776 Promise is a fundraising program that allows parents, grandparents, alumni and the community to donate funds to support our classically trained teachers for their hard work and dedication. Because charter schools receive approximately two-thirds as much funding as traditional public schools to cover operational, capital and indirect costs, the funds donated through the 1776 Promise program allow the school to give back directly to our teachers and bridge the gap between charter school funding and traditional public school funding.
Do all the donations go to our teachers?
Yes, 100% of the donations to the 1776 Promise are allocated annually to our teachers based on their years of experience and performance reports.
Are my donations tax deductible?
The 1776 Promise is a 501(c)(3) and your donation may be tax deductible. Please consult your accountant to confirm.
How much can I donate?
You can make a donation of any size! We ask parents to consider donating $17.76 on a monthly, recurring basis per scholar to our support our teachers, but we welcome any and all donations regardless of size. Both recurring and one-time donations are greatly appreciated and can be setup on the 1776 Promise website.
Do I need to setup my donation every school year?
No, if you set up a recurring donation through our website, that donation will continue until you request it be stopped.
How to I become a volunteer for the 1776 Promise Committee?
Please reach out to 1776 Committee Chair, Lindsay Harmon, at the email below to learn more about how you can participate in the 1776 Promise Committee. We are always looking for additional volunteers to donate their time and talents.
Thank you for your consideration and for supporting our teachers for their hard work, dedication and commitment to our school and scholars. It is because of your generosity we can reward and retain the best teachers to provide the best education for our scholars. If you have any questions or would like to become a volunteer on the 1776 Promise Committee, please reach out at 1776promise@stjca.org.
Charleston Gift Wrap Fundraiser
SJCA Athletics has already raised $1300 through the Charleston Gift Wrap fundraiser and we're looking to keep the momentum going!
Here's how to participate:
1. Register as a participant at www.registercw.com to access invitation tools in the Participant Portal.
2. You can share and invite 10+ friends and family to support our cause! Share a link to our sale using the invitation tools.
3. Shop online and help us reach our GOAL today! With over 2,500 gift ideas there is something for everyone.
Our Organization ID: 28039
