FI_Lion Line 10/4/24
10/4/24
A Letter From Head of School Carole McCullough
SJCA families,
Be looking for an email from Mrs. Amy Phillips in regard to a recorded-in-advance video message. I will be creating this for each of you to click on and enjoy from your home, where I will further introduce myself personally and professionally. Included also in the email will be a window of opportunity allowing you to send in a question you'd like for me to address in the video. Be looking....
Happy October and have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.
-Carole McCullough
Head of School
Upper School News
No Food or Drink (other than water) in the Building
Reminder: Scholars should not be bringing food or drinks (other than water) into the building unless they have special permission for a classroom party.
Scholars who need to finish breakfast food or coffee shop drinks are welcome to sit at the tables in the courtyard to do so. However, no food or drinks (other than water) should be carried into the academic building.
Water containers should have lids that do not allow water to spill out if the container is turned upside down. Teachers will take water containers that can spill.
Thank you for helping us maintain safe, clean academic facilities.
Upcoming Halloween-Themed Events
Upper School Dance
Celebrate Halloween at an upcoming dance. The event, exclusively for upper schoolers in 9-12th grade, will take place on October 12 in the cafeteria at 7pm.
Classical Literature Parade
Get your costumes ready! Grammar school scholars and upper school scholars can dress up as their favorite classical book character on Wednesday, October 30.
Scholars should wear their costume to school and will keep it on for the day.
Grammar school scholars will participate in a short, parade outside at 8:20am. Upper school scholars will serve as the parade audience.
Costumes with skirts/dresses/shorts must be no shorter than an inch above the knee, and tops must have sleeves.
Due to parking constraints, parents can't attend in-person but can watch the fun on Facebook live.
Need some costume inspiration? Here's a list of books that scholars read throughout K-5:
- Pinocchio
- Charlotte’s Web
- Peter Pan
- Sign of the Beaver
- Trumpeter Swan
- Aladdin
- Black Beauty
- Farmer Boy
- Princess and the Goblin
- The Jungle Book
- Anne of Green Gables
- Johnny Tremain
- Robin Hood
- Treasure Island
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Books from the upper school curriculum include:
- Prince and the Pauper
- The Count of Monte Cristo
- Fahrenheit 451
- Call of the Wild
- Romeo and Juliet
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Lord of the Flies
- Robinson Crusoe
- Much Ado About Nothing
Trunk or Treat: Sponsored by Student Government
Get ready for this year’s fun and spooky Trunk or Treat!
This year's trunk-or-treat has limited space so there are only 10 slots available for cars to participate. This is due to the construction and other events at the school. Bring your decorations and candy (we will have a little extra to help top you off). This is one of SJCA's biggest events of the year, and we appreciate your participation!
· "Trunk or Treat" will be set up in the back teacher parking area.
· Games will be strategically placed around the campus.
· There will be a silent auction that takes place in the cafeteria.
· Grammar school can donate items for the themed baskets to their classroom.
· Upper school candy donations will be taken by House Chancellors.
· Set-up and clean-up will be 30 minutes before and after the posted times.
Be sure to visit the Student Government table to buy drinks and snacks. Also, in the cafeteria, bid to win fabulous SJCA baskets.
The event benefits SJCA's Class of 2025 .
Lost and Found: Time to Claim Your Items
It's the end of the 1st quarter, so the lost and found items will be on display from Monday, 10/7 through Friday. Scholars will be encouraged to check for items, but if you're missing something, give them an extra reminder.
Parents, you can come on campus to look through the lost and found, but you must check in at reception and arrive outside of carline times.
Any items not claimed by end-of-day Friday will be donated.
A few pictures are below of items in the lost and found; pictures taken on 9/13.
Fine Arts News
Grant Money Funds New Pianos
The SJCA Fine Arts team received a generous music grant from the state towards the end of last school year. It was decided that this grant should go towards providing new pianos of the highest quality. Along with the pianos, we were able to purchase classroom needs such as headphones, pencils, paper, and tech supplies.
The new pianos have provided the chance for every scholar to have his/her own piano, allowing for more independent practice. The pianos sound beautiful, and it is a rare opportunity that SJCA scholars have to play on these instruments weekly.
The blessing of having a piano lab for Grammar school, in particular, is not lost on the Fine Arts team, and we do not take this task lightly. We are thrilled to see each scholar progress through the years, and we are looking forward to seeing how their music skills grow within this school year!
Your Scholar Can Practice Piano at Home
Your scholar has access to the music on Google Classroom. Mrs. Little posts the music the scholars are learning throughout the school year so that they can print it at home.
1. Log into your scholar’s myoneclay account using your scholar’s school ID. (Example: 123456@myoneclay.net).
The password will be one of the following: sjc.2024 (Kindergarten-2nd) Student1 (3rd -5th)
2. Go to “Google Classroom” and click the “+” to “Join class”
3. Enter the code provided for the grade level:
K: jlbsivy
1st: tnhu4dd
2nd: 46bacee
3rd: n6gmamx
4th: m5gvl65
5th: qpzlzlg
Questions: Madeline.Little@stjca.org
Join Us for a Veterans Concert
We'd like to invite all SJCA families, especially those with military service, to attend an upcoming concert full of patriotic music.
Please note the location of this concert is the Fleming Island campus, not the Orange Park campus.
Invite the Family to Upcoming Holiday Concerts
Get ready to "Ring in the Holidays" with four musical events this season. Be sure to mark your calendars for each event, and bring the family out to celebrate the holidays.
Join the SJCA Productions Team
Productions is an organization of upper school scholars with interest in Audio/Visual and theatre management (sound, lighting, props, scenery, backstage, etc).
This team provides technical services for Fine Arts Dept. performances and events, as well as school-sponsored assemblies, meetings, and other events. New members will work alongside veteran crew to learn practical skills such as operating the sound board, lighting design, props and scenery, and proper setup of mics/speakers.
Scholars wishing to work tech and backstage for Drama Clubs's Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. and/or the grammar school musical should join. Scholars will "do the good" for our school community while developing leadership and applying problem-solving skills.
The $15 registration fee covers the cost of the official SJCA Productions t-shirt to be worn at events; may also be worn on spirit days. Scholars must register on My School Bucks and join the Google Classroom (jgh5hit). Registration closes Friday, October 18.
Faculty Sponsor: Mrs. Crosby: cassie.crosby@stjca.org
Athletic News
Soccer Update
We will have a team. Our season does not start until March and tryouts will be at the end of February. It will be 9v9 soccer and is middle school only. This is a FCAA conference so that is why the season starts late.
Coach Church and Mr. Sage have been talking about a camp in December. More to come.
Cross Country Update
The Cross Country team competed in the Bale 'N Trail Meet this past weekend at Bartram Trail High School. This course contains hay bales as obstacles that the runners encounter throughout the race.
Despite having to jump over hay bales, our running Lions did excellent, with three of the boys and four of the girls improving their PR times: Zachary D., Cullen L., Evan R., Allison C., Isabella C., Jalayah V., and Sydney W.
The SJCA Running Lions will compete against teams from all over Florida in their final meet of the season on October 19 at Cecil Field.
Please join us as we cheer them on and support them from the sidelines!
Volleyball and Flag Football Updates
There is one more week left in the volleyball season and flag football season and both teams have clinched the playoffs. Please come out to a playoff game this year! Please see the game schedule below.
Club News
Join Needle Arts Club
This club is open to all scholars (K-12) who are interested in learning about needle arts, needle point, crochet, and knitting. However, scholars in kindergarten or first grade will need a parent to attend with them.
✅ Meetings: Mondays, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
✅ Location: Mrs. Kujawa's classroom (4th grade classroom)
✅ Start date: Monday, October 21
✅ Timeline: The club will meet each Monday until mid-April
✅ Fee: $10 per scholar, which covers costs of some supplies.
✅ You must register in MySchoolBucks. Link to register is below.
Adult volunteers: Do you have any experience in needle arts and would like to volunteer? Please email Nicole Chapman: ntchapman13@gmail.com. All volunteers must be an approved volunteer through the school.
Questions?
Mrs. Kujawa, Club Host, sarah.kujawa@stjca.org
Nicole Chapman, Club Volunteer, ntchapman13@gmail.com
Lions Council News
Skate Station Spirit Night Raises $1400
The Skate Station fundraiser in September was our most successful yet! The event raised a combined $1400 for the Fleming Island and Orange Park campus.
Thank you to everyone who joined us! If you missed September's spirit night, stay tuned for our spring event! More information to come.
Join Us for the 5th Annual Golf Tournament
You only have two weeks left to sign up for our 5th Annual Golf Tournament! Don’t miss out on the chance to win some fantastic prizes, including gift certificates to Fogo de Chao, iFly, Total Wine, Topgolf, and various gift baskets, as well as tickets to the zoo, a Jumbo Shrimp game, and an Icemen game!
We’ll also have some fun interactive holes, featuring samples from Mission BBQ, and a taco bar dinner following the tournament.
Register below.
Register for a Fun Halloween Event
Scholars in K-5 are invited to a Pumpkin Party! Scholars will stay after school on 10/25 and make a Halloween craft and enjoy a themed snack. Spots are limited. Register today.
Show Us Your Talent!
If you're interested in participating in the talent show, please read the rules and register your act online ASAP. The deadline to register is quickly approaching. You must be registered by October 16 to participate. The link to register is below.
Academic Services News
Each month, SJCA's Department of Academic Services puts out a newsletter with great information. In this month's edition, you can learn about upper school tutoring, tips to prepare for post-graduation by grade level, and college entrance exam dates. Click the link below to read, The Academic Avenue.
Classic Learning Test Launches "Teaching Corps" for Current College Seniors
Open to current college seniors, applications for the CLT Classical Teaching Corps are now live. Corps members admitted to the program will be guaranteed a teaching position at a select cohort of top classical schools which include Catholic, classical Christian, and classical charter. Corps members will commit to teach at their assigned school for two years.
CLT is also partnering with Benedictine College, Belmont Abbey, and the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University to provide on-campus teaching training and formation for Corps members in the summer of 2025. This training will be for graduate credit and Corps members will have opportunities to complete the graduate program at these universities during their time of service in the CLT Classical Teaching Corps.
This is a highly competitive program. Applications close December 1st, 2024 or when capacity is reached. Applicants will be notified if they have been admitted by February 1st, 2025.
If you are not a senior in college, but are looking to teach at a great classical school, research Classical Commons.
Lunch Menu
Classroom Corner
Mrs. Patterson's PE class installed new nets for the outdoor basketball court! Thank you for all the hard work, Colin, Carter, and Christian!
Mark Your Calendars
FortifyFL
FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. You can submit a tip at any time.