Episcopal Insider
Beaches Campus
September 6, 2024
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
The Boo Bash Planning Committee will have its first meeting on Friday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. via Zoom. The Boo Bash is a long standing tradition on the Beaches Campus and is an exciting way to kick off the start of fall. For more information on how to get involved, please contact Ashley Davis, Director of Marketing and Development at davisa@testing-phlexon.online
Jaime L. Simmons, Volleyball Program Director, invites your students in third to fifth grade to practice with the ESJ varsity volleyball team after school on Tuesday, September 24 at 3:30 p.m. in the Beaches Campus Gym. We are excited to offer this great experience for our Lower School Campus students. For any questions, please contact Matt Flakus at flakusm@testing-phlexon.online
*Girls Basketball practice will be reschedule for this day.
Volleyball Clinic Registration
Friday, September 27
Munnerlyn Campus
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Cookout on the Forbes Event Lawn
7:00 p.m. | Friday Night Football at Jangro Stadium
Come cheer on the mighty Episcopal Eagles as they take on the Yulee Hornets! No formal program – this is a casual evening of fellowship and fun!
- Admission is free for St. Mark’s and Beaches Campus families.
- Family Ticket Packets for those who RSVP will be emailed closer to the event.
- All students must be accompanied by an adult.
Click here to RSVP by September 20
Episcopal’s Cheer Program Director invites students in grades 1 – 5 to cheer with the ESJ varsity team at the football game on Friday, September 27 (during Lower School Family Fun Night). We are excited to have our lower school campuses on the Munnerlyn Campus for Friday night lights at Episcopal!
Registration is closed.
What to Wear:
- The junior cheerleaders will receive their shirts on Wednesday, September 25, at practice. They will wear these shirts to Episcopal on Friday, September 27 to cheer in.
- Please have the junior cheerleaders wear black athletic shorts and white socks with sneakers to cheer in on Friday.
- Girls should have hair up in a secure ponytail on Wednesday and Friday.
- Please bring water bottles both days.
Wednesday, September 25
- Practice, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Munnerlyn Campus
- Bus transportation with adult supervision will be available for both campuses to this practice. If you would like to sign your child up for transportation to practice on Wednesday, please email Matt Flakus at flakusm@testing-phlexon.online.
- Parents will pick students up at the Munnerlyn Campus Upper School Drop-Off (campus map) after practice at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, September 27 (no transportation provided)
- 4:30 p.m. – Check-in and drop off at Munnerlyn Campus Upper School drop-off circle (campus map)
- 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Junior cheerleaders practice and get ready with varsity cheerleaders.
- 6:00 p.m. – Junior cheerleaders will be walked over by varsity cheerleaders and coaches to join parents and families at the Lower School Family Fun Night Cookout at the Forbes Event Lawn.
- 6:30 p.m. – Varsity cheerleaders and coaches will walk back over to Forbes Event lawn to pick up the junior cheerleaders.
- First Quarter: Cheer on sideline
- End of First Quarter: Cheer routine
After the Routine:
Cheerleaders may join their parents and families in the stands to continue cheering on the Eagles.
Reminders
2025-2026 Important Calendar Dates
- August 26 – Pre-K/K Chapel (Postponed to September 2)
- August 27 – First – fifth grade Chapel – July/August Birthday Book (New Location: Petway Family Performance Center)
- August 29 – July/August Birthday Free Dress Day/Noon Dismissal/Faculty Professional Development (Afternoon Eagles Available)
- September 1 – Labor Day (No School)
- September 2 – Pre-K/K Chapel – July/August Birthday Book
- September 3 – First – fifth grade Chapel – Eucharist
- September 4 – First Parent Association Meeting via Zoom
- September 5 – August Shoutout Free Dress Day
- September 9 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- September 10 – First – fifth grade Chapel
- September 12 – Spirit Dress Day/Parent Coffee with Dr. Fallucco at 8:30 a.m.
- September 16 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- September 17 – Parent/Teacher Conference Day (No School for Students)
- September 19 – Lower School Family Fun Night on the Munnerlyn Campus
- September 23 – Pre-K/K Chapel – September Birthday Book
- September 24 – First – fifth grade Chapel – September Birthday Book
- September 26 – September Birthday Free Dress/Coffee with Adam Greene at 8:30 a.m.
- September 30 – Pre-K/K Chapel/ Volleyball Clinic (third – fifth grade, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
- October 1 – First – fifth grade Chapel
- October 2 – Blessing of the Animals (8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.)
- October 3 – September Shoutout Free Dress Day
- October 7 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- October 8 – First – third grade Chapel/Episcopal Schools Celebration (fourth and fifth grade)
- October 10 – Spirit Dress Day
- October 14 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- October 15 – First – fifth grade Chapel – Eucharist/Noon Dismissal
- October 16 – 20 – Fall Break
- October 21 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- October 22 – First – fifth grade Chapel – October Birthday Book
- October 24 – October Birthday Free Dress Day/Boo Bash (3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- October 27 – Vision Screening
- October 28 – Pre-K/K Chapel – October Birthday Book
- October 29 – First – fifth grade Chapel – Eucharist
- October 31 – Halloween Parade (8:15 a.m.) and Class Festivities
- November 5 – Grandparents and Special Friends Day
- November 6 – Trimester 1 Ends
- November 7 – October Shoutout Free Dress Day/Noon Dismissal/Faculty Professional Development (Afternoon Eagles Available)
- November 11 – Pre-K/K Chapel – November Birthday Book
- November 12 – Veterans Day Chapel
- November 14 – November Birthday Free Dress Day
- November 18 – Pre-K/K Thanksgiving Chapel
- November 19 – First-fifth grade Thanksgiving Chapel and November Birthday Book
- November 20 – Spirit Dress Day/Fifth Grade Pasta Dinner
- November 21 – Professional Development for Teachers (No School)
- November 24-28 – Thanksgiving Break (No School)
- December 2 – Pre-K/K Chapel
- December 3 – First – fifth grade Chapel
- December 5 – November Shoutout Free Dress Day
- December 9 – Pre-K/K Christmas Chapel
- December 10 – First – fifth grade Chapel – Eucharist
- December 12 – December Birthday Free Dress Day/Lessons & Carols
- December 16 – Pre-K/K Chapel – December Birthday Book
- December 17 – First – Fifth Grade Chapel – December Birthday Book
- December 18 – December Shoutout Free Dress Day
- December 19 – Noon Dismissal/How the Grinch Stole Christmas Performance/Storytime/Caroling
- December 22 – January 5 – Christmas Break (No School)
- January 6 – School Resumes
We are pleased to announce our visiting author for the fall semester – Victoria Piontek. On Friday, September 6, Victoria will join fourth and fifth grade students for an interactive presentation of her book, Better With Butter. We are so excited for Victoria to share her book with the Lower School community!
About the Book:
A girl with anxiety disorder finds an unlikely friend—and emotional support animal—in the form of an adorable fainting goat.
Twelve-year-old Marvel is afraid of absolutely everything-amusement park rides, food poisoning, earthquakes, and that big island of plastic floating through the ocean. She also obsesses about smaller worries like making friends, getting called on by the teacher, and walking home alone. Her parents and the school therapist call her worries an anxiety disorder, but Marvel calls them armor. If something can happen, it will. She needs to be prepared.
But when Marvel stumbles on a group of older kids teasing a baby goat that has mysteriously shown up on the soccer field, she momentarily forgets to be afraid and rescues the frightened animal. Only Butter isn’t any old goat. She’s a fainting goat. When Butter feels panic, she freezes up and falls over. Marvel knows exactly how Butter feels and precisely what Butter needs-her.
Soon, Butter and Marvel are going everywhere together, and Butter thrives under Marvel’s support. Butter also helps Marvel. Everything is easier for her with Butter by her side. But just when Marvel starts to imagine a life in which she can manage her anxiety, instead of letting it control her, Butter’s owner shows up to claim her. Will Marvel find a way to keep her friend? Or will she revert back to the anxious, lonely person she used to be?
About the Author:
Victoria Piontek is the author of The Spirit of Cattail County (Scholastic Press, 2018), a ghostly story of magic and friendship set in the Everglades. The Spirit of Cattail County was a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year (2019) and selected for the Sequoyah Children’s Masterlist (2019-2020). She is also a Literary Associate for Executive Agent Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Prior to her current roles, Victoria had a myriad of other jobs, from waitressing to sales, but her favorite occupation was teaching middle school children in New York City as a Teach for America Corps Member. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hollins University, and an MST in Education from Pace University. Her forthcoming novel, Better with Butter, is about a twelve-year-old girl struggling with anxiety and the fainting goat that changes her life. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking in California, where she lives with her husband, three children, bunny, and fluffy dog.
Students who received a Shout Out at Friday Flag in the month of August are welcome to dress down for school on September 6. If your student received a shout out, you will be contacted by their teacher.
Beaches Campus Parents,
The Beaches Campus Parent Ambassadors warmly invite you to join them for a parent meet up this September. Be sure to check the invite below for your specific date and time—and don’t forget to wear your ESJ nametag!
Spirit Day is Friday, April 11, 2025! Don’t forget to wear your ESJ Spirit Shirt with athletic, denim, or uniform bottoms!
Greetings Episcopal Parents,
Welcome back to a new and exciting school year at Episcopal! You are invited to join us for a “Coffee and Conversation” with The Reverend Adam Greene. All parents are welcome to meet after Flag on Friday, September 13, from 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. for coffee and Q&A.
The Reverend Greene will update us on the upcoming school year and we will allow time for a question and answer period. Please feel free to come for as long as time allows. We look forward to seeing you all on Friday, September 13!
Let us know you are coming!
Beaches Campus Dads,
You are invited to attend the Beaches Campus Dads’ Club Meet and Greet on Thursday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. at Southern Swells Brewing Company in Jacksonville Beach, FL.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet other Beaches Campus dads in an informal and relaxed setting. All dads are welcome and don’t forget your ESJ nametag.
If you plan on attending, please RSVP here!
Sincerely,
Beaches Campus Dads’ Club President
Patrick Aland
School is closed on September 20, 2024 for Parent – Teacher Conference Day. Childcare will be provided during your scheduled conference time.
Please be on the lookout for an email to sign up for Pre-K 3 – fifth grade parent-teacher conferences.
The Beaches Campus Parent Book Study is back! Hosted by Mary Broe (Kai Bear, Grade 1), the group will meet in the Music Room every Wednesday after Chapel, September 4 – November 13. The book selected for this fall is The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. The author regarding his book: “I explain the major causes of the international epidemic of mental illness that hit adolescents in the early 2010s, and I offer a path forward for parents, teachers, friends, and relatives who want to help improve the mental health of children and adolescents. Change is possible, if we can act together.”
If you would like to join this book study, please sign up here by next Wednesday, August 28. The School will purchase copies of the book for the book study members.