Episcopal Insider
Munnerlyn Campus
April 4, 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
Celebrating Service Day is happening next week. Follow spirit dress guidelines including appropriate footwear (no Crocs, no sandals). Advisors will provide detailed schedules for their advisory.
Campus-wide drive: Please bring in non-perishable food items for St. Mary’s food pantry. Requested items include peanut butter, cereal, pasta and pasta sauce, and canned goods. A van will be parked at Upper School drop off to collect all food donations.
- 6th, 7th, and 8th grades – Hunger Fight food packing event
- 9th grade – North Florida School for Special Education – host students for a field day
- 10th grade – Haiti Health Promise food packing event
- 11th grade – Off campus serving our community
- 12th grade – Service day & senior retreat at the Boathouse
Donate diapers and baby wipes for Beyond90 (thru April 25)
Donations of diapers and baby wipes are appreciated in support of the refugee organization Beyond90, and will be collected through April 25 (including at the Coffee House event). Diapers and wipes may be donated at the photography house located between Kurlas House and the Grebe Ceramics Studio.
Coffee House Event Info (April 10)
Come join us for a Coffee House event with free coffee and entertainment, Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the photography house located on “Art Row” (the office houses on St. Elmo Drive). The photography house is located between Kurlas House and the Grebe Ceramics Studio.
The event is open to everyone, and attendees can even perform if they would like! Regular coffee and decaf options will be available.
We hope to see you at the Coffee House event on April 10!
Uniform Exchange (Free Event) and Lost and Found Items will be displayed on the Flag Plaza on Wednesday, April 16. Uniforms will be available to take for free starting at 8:30 a.m. – first come, first served. The event time is 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Please email Heather Douglas at douglashe@testing-phlexon.online with any questions or if you can volunteer on event day setting up at 7:30 a.m. and/or throughout the event time.
Bins will be placed at Upper and Middle School drop offs all day Friday, April 11, if you have any uniforms to donate.
The ESJ Fine Arts Department invites family and friends, faculty, and students to the AP Art Portfolio Show Opening Reception, held in the Berg Gallery in the Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts on Wednesday, April 16, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The AP Art Portfolio Show features selected two- and three-dimensional artwork of 42 senior visual art students that represent their body of creative work. Light refreshments will be provided.
The schedule for Grandparents’ Day on April 17 can be found here. Grandparents were mailed invitations at the addresses provided in the Student Portal. If you have any questions about Grandparents’ Day please contact Jennifer Windley at windleyj@testing-phlexon.online or 904.396.5751, ext. 1219.
If you would like to support ESJ Fine Arts, please join us for a FANS meeting on Thursday, April 17, in the Fine Arts lounge located in the Munnerlyn Center from 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. We always have coffee and treats, so please join us in support of the Fine Arts program! We will share updates from all disciplines in the Fine Arts.
Fine Arts Nurturing Students is a parent volunteer organization that serves to enhance the fine arts experience for every Episcopal student and the entire ESJ community. FANS provides essential support to the fine arts’ students and faculty. As an Episcopal parent, you are automatically a member of every parent organization, including FANS!
We invite all 11th grade parents to join us for our Coffee with the College Counselors on April 24 from 8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. in the Busey Boardroom located on the third floor of the Haskell Center. This informal gathering will feature an open forum and Q&A session, giving you the chance to connect with our counselors and ask any questions you may have.
Parents are always welcome to reach out to their child’s College Counselor directly with any questions or concerns.
Reminders
Parents of rising freshmen (current 8th graders) are invited to an informational meeting about the Freshman Orientation Adventure (9GOA) on April 9 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Sikes Theatre. This meeting is only for parents. At the meeting, an overview of the trip schedule, a packing list, and the required forms will be reviewed. Current 8th grade students will be meeting shortly after for their own informational meeting.
The ninth graders will camp on platform tents or in traditional tents at Unicoi State Park in Helen, attend outdoor field and stream activities at Smithgall Woods Environmental Center, hike the Smith Creek Trail, and raft the Chattooga River. All freshmen are expected to attend the trip, which is scheduled for Wednesday – Saturday, August 13-16. A final instructional meeting for the freshmen will be held on August 12 in the Deming Theater following new student orientation. Students should wear their hiking boots to that meeting.
This will be the 33rd class to experience this exciting adventure, which is a strong testimony to the educational and spiritual benefits of the trip. Graduating seniors have consistently named this trip one of their top memories of their years at Episcopal. The trip has been designed not only to meet specific English, history, and science objectives but also to create a sense of community within the class. The class bonding, the formation of new friendships, the peacefulness of the land, and the excitement of a water activity made the trip a memorable experience.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Megan Wickenden at wickendenm@testing-phlexon.online.
Join us for a Parent Book Study end of year social gathering on Thursday morning May 1 at Southern Grounds-San Marco, 1671 Atlantic Blvd, 32207. Come by whenever you want after drop-off 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. All are welcome, including those of you who may have read without coming to the groups or may be interested in participating next year. We hope you enjoyed reading Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-And What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace and found it helpful. We’ll be visiting and talking about books for next year. Hope you can stop by!
Registration for Summer School 2025 is now open and based on grade level.
- Rising seniors may register Thursday, March 27, 7:00 p.m.
- Rising juniors may register starting Thursday, April 3, 7:00 p.m.
- Rising sophomores and freshmen may register starting Thursday, April 10, 7:00 p.m.
Available courses are as follows:
- Introduction to Christian Theology: June 2-5, June 9-12, June 16-19
- Geometry: June 2-5, June 9-12, June 16-19, June 23-26, July 14-17, July 21-24
- History of the Old Testament: July 14-17, July 20-24, July 27-July 31
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.