Episcopal Insider
Munnerlyn Campus
February 28, 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
Students and parents are invited to meet with the student’s advisor to reflect on the academic year in Advising Conversations on Tuesday, March 4. These conversations are facilitated by students and focused on student growth rather than individual grades. Conversations will also allow families and advisors to discuss goals for the second semester.
Appointments for Advising Conversations will be offered in person or remotely from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
How do I make an Advising Conversations appointment?
- Log in to My ESJ Parent Portal
- Scroll to Important Right Now
- Click on Schedule Your Advising Conversation
- Click on the drop-down to reserve a time and format (in-person or remote) for an appointment with your child, you, and the advisor
- Once the selection is made, your appointment is saved and may be printed from the My Schedule box.
Registration will be available beginning February 17 at noon and will close March 3 at 3:00 PM.
Any questions should be directed to the appropriate Division Head: Natalie Herford, Head of Upper School, or Paige McGee, Head of Middle School.
Prom 2025: Vintage Safari
Step into the adventure of a lifetime as we transform the Jacksonville Zoo into a vintage safari escape. Surrounded by the charm of the untamed, enjoy an evening of elegance, mystery, and discovery.
Location:
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
370 Zoo Parkway
Date:
April 12, 2025
7:00 – 10:30 PM
Whether you’re dancing under the stars or exploring the night with friends, this is one journey you won’t want to miss. For any questions, please contact Courtney McCaughey at ext. 1174 or mccaugheyc@testing-phlexon.online #Prom2025 #AdventureAwaits
Need some reading for Spring Break? Pick up this year’s Parent Book Study book or come borrow a past Parent Book Study book from the Parent Library located in the College Counseling Office.
This year’s book is Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-And What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. We have read through Chapter 6 and our next meeting will be on March 27. If you’d like to be added to our Parent Book Study group email please contact Beth Collins Himes at bcollinshimes@alumni.duke.edu.
Parent Book Study started meeting in the fall of 2016 and has read the following books:
2023-2024
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour
2022-2023
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
2016-2017 and 2021-2022
Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults
by Amy Ellis Nutt and Frances E. Jensen
2020-2021
Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population by Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak
Summer 2020
Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
by Frank Bruni
Summer 2020
The Blessing of a B Minus: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Resilient Teenagers
by Wendy Mogel
2019-2020
How to Raise an Adult: Break free of the overparenting trap and prepare your kid for success
by Julie Lythcott-Haims
2018-2019
The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age
by Steiner-Adair EdD., Catherine and Teresa H. Barker
2017-2018
The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure And Material Advantage Are Creating A Generation Of Disconnected And Unhappy Kids by Madeline Levine
The goal of Parent Book Study is to promote parent learning through reading and discussion. Not only do we meet in small groups to build relationships and learn from each other, but we also provide a book each year as a community read to increase knowledge and connection in the wider ESJ community. Even if parents aren’t able to attend our meetings, perhaps they are talking with other parents or their students about the information from Parent Book Study books. Enjoy reading and learning!
Reminders
Purchase your tickets to Rock the Dock: Bash 2025 before Spring Break. Make sure you have a spot at the party! It only takes a minute to purchase tickets to do it before Spring Break begins.
The ESJ Fine Arts Department invites parents and students to attend the Middle School Art Gallery Opening, held in the Berg Gallery on Friday, March 7 from 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM. The art show features selected two- and three-dimensional artwork created by 6th-8th grade art students. Light refreshments will be provided.
This is a special time for our community as we prepare for Senior Honors Convocation, Baccalaureate, and Commencement. The next few months are going to pass quickly. Coupled with senior exams, AP exams, and many academic challenges comes the task of keeping track of all the events that you must attend. Attached please find a calendar listing all the events that seniors must attend in preparation for Commencement.
Parents are invited to attend several of these functions as noted in the calendar. Please note the proper dress for each occasion. Caps and gowns will be distributed on Thursday, May 15. At Commencement, please do not hold more than twelve seats for your family. Remember that seats are available on a first come first served basis and that a family member must be present to hold seats.