FI_Lion Line_8/9/24

This past week, the faculty and staff have been preparing for the arrival of scholars on Tuesday, August 13th. We are so excited to start the new school year and look forward to working with parents to truly educate these scholars. This year, we are committed to getting back to the basics of a classical education. Each morning, after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and observing a moment of silence, our scholars will recite the school motto, "I will Learn the True, I will Do the Good, and I will Love the Beautiful."

What does it mean to learn truth, do good, and love beauty? Well, we plan on diving into that discussion throughout the school year. Another tenant of classical education is the concern for the whole person; mind, body, spirit. We will talk much about this topic and even challenge one another with how we are caring for ourselves in mind, body, and spirit.

Please join us on this journey this school year as we address the beauty of a classical education. I look forward to meeting each of you throughout the year, and thank you so much for entrusting us with the education of your children.

Lion Strong!

-Matt Johnson

If your scholar has PE on Wednesday, they will wear their formal uniform - not their PE uniform. Wednesdays are always formal days, regardless of the co-curricular. On any day other than Wednesday, if your scholar has PE, he or she will wear their PE uniform all day.

If your scholar is in K-5 and has PE, he or she will wear their PE uniform to school all day.

All K-5 scholars are required to pay a one-time co-curricular supply fee to support art, music, PE, and piano. This replaces the need for parents to purchase additional supplies. This fee is paid through MySchoolBucks. Please complete this process before the start of school.

The SJCA Athletics Department is growing! If you're interested in playing a sport, please check out these upcoming try outs.

SJCA is looking for the following coaches:

• Head Varsity Basketball Coach
• Assistant Golf Coach
• Assistant Swim Coach

If you are interested - and invested - in the chance to coach our SJCA scholars, please send your resume to Matthew.Sage@stjca.org.

Our JV Roaring Lions Cheer Squad enjoyed another Universal Cheerleading Association Camp at the University of Central Florida.

Be sure to check out the new athletics website and app. We're excited to unveil this new communication tool and encourage parents to check it out ASAP.

Please note the cost of school lunch for the 2024-2025 school year has changed this year.

MySchoolBucks is the digital payment platform that SJCA uses to collect payments, including school lunches. To fund your scholar's account, you'll need to sign up.

With MySchoolBucks you’ll be able to view cafeteria purchases, check your student’s balance, receive low balance alerts, and pay for school meals from anywhere.

Here's how to get started:

1. Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app

2. Create your free account and add your students using their school name/student ID

3. Choose your state - Florida

4. Choose your district - St. Johns Classical Academy

• Note: St Johns Classical Academy is listed as a district. You won't find SJCA listed under Clay County. This is one of the most common issues parents have when signing up.

5. Choose your school St. Johns Classical Academy Fleming Island Campus

6. Add funds using your credit/debit card or electronic check.

• For each transaction, you will be charged a program fee.

7. You can set up automatic payments and never forget to send in lunch money again.

While we appreciate you using this online option as a way to help reduce the amount of physical cash in the serving line, we will still accept cash.

If you need assistance with your account, you can find helpful how-to videos and answers to commonly asked questions by visiting myschoolbucks.com. Or, you can contact MySchoolBucks directly by logging into your account to start a chat conversation or give them a call at (855) 832-5226.

MySchoolBucks will automatically send you low balance alerts so you know when your scholar's account needs to be replenished.

Families are welcome to apply for free or reduced lunches. You use one application per household and must apply for this program each year. To apply, please use the link below:

SJCA Food Services will allow paid scholars to enter into a negative balance up to $21.25 (the cost of 5 meals) and reduced scholars to enter into a negative balance up to $2 (the cost of 5 meals).

The negative balance will be repaid when monies are received, and the remaining balance will be credited to the scholar’s lunch account.

NEW THIS YEAR: All scholars in all grade levels can dip into a negative balance to purchase lunch, however, they cannot go into the negative to purchase "a la carte items" or extras like chips, ice cream, or an additional slice of pizza. If your balance is negative and your scholar has cash, extras can be purchased that way, but cannot contribute to a negative balance on MySchoolBucks.

This year, we have removed the Wednesday lunch period for Upper School scholars. Instead, the time that was allotted for lunch will be used for assembly type activities.

On Wednesdays, Upper School scholars will be able to purchase snacks from the cafeteria before school. A pre-ordered grab and go lunch will be available for upper school scholars on Wednesdays.

The lunches will be picked up from the cafeteria at the end of the school day (12:24 – 12:45). A link to order the lunch will be provided via a Blackboard text and email the week prior.

The deadline to order will be Friday prior. If you would like to set up a "standing order," please contact Leandra.Cramer@stjca.org.

Here's a look at what's cookin' in the cafeteria.

Attention all fourth-grade parents! We would like to invite you to our Parent Orientation meeting on Aug 15th at 6pm in the cafeteria. This orientation is an important opportunity for us to meet each other, discuss the upcoming year, and address any questions or concerns you might have.

Please note: We would encourage only for parents to attend, as the Back to School Bash is intended for scholars.

If you have a kindergartener, please join us for a Boo Hoo to Yahoo Gathering hosted by the SJCA PTA, The Lions Council. On the first day of school, August 13, parents should arrive at 8:15am, after carline, and bring their scholar to the cafeteria. (Please don’t arrive beforehand, it will cause parking issues).

After a welcome from Mr. Johnson and a few moments for pictures, our SJCA senior class, along with our kindergarten teachers, will escort your scholar to their classroom.

Parents will say goodbye in the cafeteria and will not walk over to the classrooms.

If you are a fan of Kendra Scott jewelry, you'll love this spirit night. If you shop in the Jacksonville store on August 24 from 4-6pm or online on August 24 or 25, the Lions Council will receive 20% of your purchase.

Interested in volunteering at SJCA? Please join us for a volunteer orientation on August 29 at 6pm in the cafeteria. You'll learn how to become a volunteer, what opportunities are available, and be able to meet others who give back to the school.

We're planning to bring you a new Line Line every Friday.

If you haven't already, please follow SJCA on Facebook.

Please take a look at the supply lists for the 2024-2025 school year:

Middle and Upper School Supply List

Health Supply List (optional)

Planners

Please note, K-8 scholars must purchase a planner on MySchoolBucks. Grades 9-12 will buy their own planner.

To find the planners:

Login to MySchoolBucks >> School Store >> Browse All Items >> and you'll see both listed.