Episcopal Insider
Munnerlyn Campus
August 8, 2025
All Campuses
Grandparents’ Day 2025-2026 will be held the first week of November 2025. Specific dates and times will vary by campus. Details will be updated as the school year begins.
Complete updates by September 1 to ensure grandparents receive all communications including the Grandparents’ Day invitation mailing that will provide them with additional details for each campus.
To update grandparent information in My ESJ:
Log in to the My ESJ Parent Portal
Click on “Update My Profile” located under My Tools
Click on “Grandparent Households” to update their information
New This Week
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope that you enjoyed some time over the summer to connect and make memories with your family. As we prepare for the 2025-2026 school year, we are excited to introduce a new Health, Safety, and Well-Being series created specifically for parents and caregivers of older students. This series is designed to empower you with tools and strategies to support your pre-teen or adolescent’s social and emotional health and well-being. In addition to addressing healthy social-emotional development, this series will also help parents recognize early signs of common social, emotional, and behavioral challenges that may arise during late childhood and adolescence.
Upcoming Sessions
What to Expect in Middle School: Major Academic and Social-Emotional Changes and How Parents Can Help
Speakers: Paige McGee, Head of Middle School; Christy Hodges, Dean of Student Life; Amy Perkins, Director of Student Services
Target Audience: Parents of 6th/7th/8th grade students
When: Thursday, September 4 – 8:15-9:30 a.m. and 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Where: Harden Hall
Supporting Your Teen through Upper School Stress: Reframing the College Search and Promoting Well-Being Along the Way
Speakers: Julie Carter, Director of College Counseling, and Elise Fallucco, Director of Health, Safety, and Well-Being Programming
Target Audience: Parents of Upper School students
When: Tuesday, October 28 – 8:15-9:30 a.m. and 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Where: Busey Board Room
Previous Sessions
- August 19 – What to Expect in Upper School: Major Academic and Social-Emotional Changes and How Parents Can Help
Through workshops, resources, and open dialogue, we aim to build a stronger bridge between home and school, helping families feel informed, confident, and connected as we work together to raise well-rounded, emotionally healthy children.
We hope you’ll join us in this important initiative.
Warm regards,
Elise Fallucco, MD
Director of Health, Safety, and Well-Being Programming
Revolution Prep is offering the following ACT 101 Strategy Session, free to Episcopal students:
ACT 101 Strategy Session: Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 7pm-8pm | live online
This one-hour session is designed to give students insight into the ACT exam, as well as provide tips and tricks for test day. One of Revolution Prep’s professional tutors will teach core test-taking strategies, including a dive into the exam content and structure, how to avoid common traps, and how to create the best plan for success.
Register here: https://www.revolutionprep.com/partners/4275
Questions? If you have questions or want to learn more about Revolution Prep, you can reach out to Christina Brownell at (904) 862-2663 or by email at christina.brownell@revolutionprep.com.
Parents of seniors are invited to join the College Counselors for an informational coffee on August 26 from 8:00 to 9:30 am in the Busey Boardroom, located on the third floor of the Haskell Center. During this session, the counselors will share important information about the application process and timeline, as well as office policies and procedures, and ample time for an open forum of Q&A, giving parents the chance to connect with our counselors and ask any questions they may have.
The information from our presentation will be shared after the meeting for any parents who are unable to attend or who would like to revisit the information shared.
Parents are always welcome to reach out to their College Counselor with questions or concerns.
Reminders
Dear Parents of 9th graders,
The Freshman Orientation Adventure (9GOA) is approaching quickly! Counselors and teachers have been busy making plans to take the entire freshman class camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting. Please note the following reminders:
- Hiking boots (not hiking shoes) are the only permissible footwear on land during the trip. Students who have new boots should wear them many times throughout the summer. By breaking the boots in, the students are less likely to get blisters on the trip. Each student will also need a pair of closed-toed water shoes for stream activities.
- The mandatory Pre-Trip Freshman Meeting will be held in the Munnerlyn Center from 12:15 – 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, which is the day before we leave on the trip. Students must wear their hiking boots to this meeting. This meeting is for students only.
- Freshmen should arrive at school on Wednesday, August 13, at 5:30 a.m. to board the buses to Georgia. There will be two locations for boarding the buses. During the orientation meeting on Tuesday, the students will get their boarding information.
- If your child will be taking prescription medications during the trip, they will be collected at the start of the meeting by Tonya Carter. Please bring a 4 day supply of each medication in the original container.
- Teachers will carry common over-the-counter medications that they can administer to students as needed. If there are other non-prescription medications or supplements that your student takes regularly, please include them.
- The packing list, itinerary, trip video trailer, and an informational podcast are all available on the 9GOA link under the “Important Now” section of your My ESJ Parent Portal. If you have questions or concerns you can reach Megan Wickenden via email: wickendenm@testing-phlexon.online
The third senior Application Kickoff is tomorrow, August 16, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am in the Gooding Boardroom (library conference room). We look forward to kicking things off with the class of 2026!
All seniors must attend one of two remaining sessions offered Aug 16 or Aug 23 if they haven’t already attended one of the previous sessions. Each session will take place in the library conference room from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Seniors who have not yet signed up need to complete the Application Kickoff RSVP (available only through the student’s esj.org account) to reserve a seat. Students may change their date through the same link if their plans change.
About Application Kickoff
Episcopal College Counselors meet with all seniors to ensure a smooth start to the application season and senior year.
We’ll revisit essential tools, including the Common Application and Scoir, ensuring each senior understands the necessary policies, procedures, and requirements.
In addition, seniors will complete important authorization forms, update their college lists, learn about required procedures, and set up individual meetings with their college counselor.
Throughout the year, we (college counselors) guide and support seniors with every aspect of the admissions process – from balancing the college list to brainstorming essay responses to reviewing applications and essays prior to submission.
Application Kickoff is one of many programs Episcopal College Counseling hosts each year to ensure that students are well-informed and well-supported.