FI_Lion Line_8/15/25

Head of School Carole McCullough recently released a video with campus updates. If you haven't already, please watch for important news regarding topics like technology, school culture, upper school schedules, absences, and our new leadership team.

In case you missed it, Mrs. Rogish shares VERY HELPFUL car line instructions in this video. We encourage everyone - new and existing families - to watch the video in its entirety.

If you'd like to order last year's yearbook, you can! We have 35 available for purchase. If you're interested, please make your payment through MySchoolBucks and the yearbook will be delivered to your scholar.

Please note: This year's yearbooks (2025-2026) will go on sale later in the year.

The SJCA Interact Club is hosting an informational meeting on August 21. If your scholar plans to attend, please RSVP.

If your scholar is in Safety Patrol and would like to attend an upcoming trip to Washington, DC, please read the information below.

Do you love to sing? Act? Perform on stage?

The Lion Cub Chorale & Musical Theater is looking for enthusiastic 3-6 grade scholars to join our performing arts family!

First Rehearsal: August 21

Last day to register: September 5

In the Lion Cub Chorale & Musical Theater, you’ll:

• Learn fun and challenging songs
• Explore acting and stage performance
• Build confidence and teamwork skills
• Share your talents in exciting performances throughout the year

2025–2026 Performance Highlights:

• Constitution Day Chorus Selections – September
• Veteran’s Day Concert – November
• Spring Musical – Spring semester (date TBA)

Let your voice be heard and your talent shine! 🌟

Keeping track of college prep test dates just got easier. Take a look at this handy resource to understand test dates, registration deadlines, costs, and more.

Questions about tests? Dean of Academic Services Kelsey Campbell, kelsey.campbell@stjca.org.

Dean of Academic Services Kelsey Campbell is hosting a College Information Night to help parents and scholars understand the steps they should take if the scholar plans to attend college after graduation.

Please RSVP to this event.

Our first spirit day is Friday, August 29.

On the last Friday of each month, scholars (K-12) are encouraged to wear SJCA-approved spirit wear. To participate in this school fundraiser, we ask that parents pay $20, which covers the entire list of spirit days mentioned below.

To avoid collecting cash on campus and taking away instruction time, please pay through MySchoolBucks.

Approved Spirit-Wear Vendors

The following vendors sell spirit-wear shirts:

Stryker Custom Designs

Nikki’s Cove Creations

Dossco Designs

If you choose not to participate

Participation in spirit days is optional. If your scholar does not want to participate, he or she should wear the appropriate uniform to school. No payment is required.

Dress code for spirit days

TOPS

You can wear tops purchased from an approved vendor listed above, but you can also wear:

• PE shirts

• Upper school house shirts

• SJCA-sponsored club shirts

• SJCA polo shirt

BOTTOMS

On spirit days, you can wear jeans or jean shorts that reach the knee. Jeans may not have any rips, tears, or holes. No jeggings permitted. You can also wear uniform shorts or any khaki or navy blue shorts to the knee. No athletic shorts unless you are in K-5 and have PE that day.

SHOES

Scholars may wear their choice of shoes except for flip flops, Crocs, or sandals. No open-toed or backless shoes permitted.

JACKETS

SJCA jackets, spirit hoodies, or house hoodies are allowed.

Melissa Taylor was recently appointed by the SJCA Board of Directors as SJCA-FI's parent liaison.

Florida Statute 1002.33 requires that each charter school’s governing board appoint a school representative to facilitate parental involvement with the school, provide access to school information, assist parents and others with questions and concerns about the school, and resolve disputes with the school.

Simply put, if you have questions, she is a wealth of information.

A little about Melissa:

Melissa's son Wyatt has attended SJCA for seven years. She has served in several roles on the school's PTA, The Lions Council, including the Lions Support Council, 1776 Chair, and a member of the executive committee for two years as the Finance Director. She's a seasoned room coordinator too.

Her hobbies include thrift store shopping and collecting unfinished craft projects in her garage.

You can reach Melissa by email: Parent.Liaison@stjca.org.

Pictured above: Melissa Taylor and her son Wyatt during the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, DC last year. (Wyatt served on the Safety Patrol for two years).

Scholars in grades 6-12 are welcome to rent both a hallway locker and a PE locker.

SJCA has purchased more hallway lockers, so there will not be a shortage this year. Locker rentals are $20 on MySchoolBucks. Once it's paid for, Mrs. Glod will assign one to you.

For PE lockers, you'll pay $10 for the year or $5 for the semester for those in grades 7 and 8. Once paid through MySchoolBucks, lockers will be assigned by PE teachers.

Please use the links below to pay for your lockers on MySchoolBucks.

SJCA offers a series of clubs on campus. Many of our clubs start in late August to give scholars time to adjust to their school schedule. When clubs are ready to recruit new members, we'll provide the details in the Lion Line.

Please note, the following clubs are offered by third-party vendors, which means they're hosted on our campus, but you pay the vendor directly.

Scholars who join clubs that are hosted immediately following dismissal must update Silent Dismissal to inform teachers.

In Drone Club, scholars will:

✅ Code drones to complete missions
✅ Fly through obstacle courses with precision
✅ Compete in aerial challenges in our Drone Dome
✅ Develop teamwork and problem-solving skills
✅ Explore real-world drone technology

Drones are made to fly in a classroom, not outside.

Start date: August 27, 2025

Limited to 16 scholars

Questions: Flemingislandfl@codeninjas.com

Please note: This club replaces the Lego Robotics Club hosted by Code Ninjas last year.

All Stars Twirling Academy is a competitive baton twirling team within the National Baton Twirling Association system.

In this after school class, your scholar will learn to twirl, improve team-building skills, and participate in holiday parades and an end-of-the-year recital.

State date: August 27

You may come try a class for free to see if you like it.

Contact: June Stoeber, jjbug@hotmail.com

Scholars who join Little Dancing Stars enjoy tap, ballet, and jazz. Currently, the only class with openings is on Tuesday from 4:00-4:45pm on the SJCA-FI campus. To attend this class, your scholar must be picked up at dismissal and brought back to school or be enrolled in the YMCA for after school care.

If you have interest in a class that is directly after school, please email Haylee Bessent so she can gauge interest, hblittledancingstars@gmail.com.

If you'd like to drop-off or pick-up your scholar through the biker/walker gate, you'll need to complete paperwork, which must be notarized. The school does have a notary on staff. Scholars under 12 years old must have an older sibling or an adult with them to leave campus.

Morning gate times:

• Upper school: 7:10am-7:25am (Class starts at 7:30am)
• If you have upper and grammar school scholars, grammar school scholars wait in the cafeteria until class begins.
• Grammar school: 7:30-7:55am (Classes start at 8:00am)
• All scholars enter through the new push-bar gate near the reception building.

Afternoon gate times:

• Upper school: 2:27pm, exit through the push-bar gate near the reception building.
• Grammar school: 2:55-3:20pm, exit through pull ahead gate, like last year.

Questions: Dismissal@stjca.org

Families are welcome to apply for free or reduced lunches. You use one application per household and must apply for this program each year. To apply, please fill out this online application.

If you'd like to set spending limits for your scholar or have general questions about lunch, please email Lunch@stjca.org.

In an effort to be a cashless campus, SJCA uses MySchoolBucks to collect payments. You'll need to download the app or access it on your desktop and create an account to make payments.

MySchoolBucks for lunch:

With MySchoolBucks you’ll be able to view cafeteria purchases, check your student’s balance, receive low balance alerts, and pay for school meals from anywhere.

Here's how to get started:

1. Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app

2. Create your free account and add your students using their school name/student ID

3. Choose your state - Florida

4. Choose your district - St. Johns Classical Academy

• Note: St Johns Classical Academy is listed as a district. You won't find SJCA listed under Clay County. This is one of the most common issues parents have when signing up.

5. Choose your school St. Johns Classical Academy Fleming Island Campus

6. Add funds using your credit/debit card or electronic check.

• For each transaction, you will be charged a program fee.

7. You can set up automatic payments and never forget to send in lunch money again.

MySchoolBucks for other payments

Parents use MySchoolBucks to pay for things like field trips, club dues, athletic fees, yearbooks, lockers, etc. To pay for these items, navigate to School Store >> StoreHome. Click on an item that you'd like to pay for and complete your purchase.

This year, SJCA has added Technology to its cocurricular schedule for K-5. As a result, your scholar's PE day will now rotate each week. To ensure your scholar is in the proper uniform, please refer to the schedule regularly.

After a long wait, the gym is finally open! Here it is in action. We can't wait to host games and welcome everyone to enjoy this fresh, active space.

August is National Shooting Sports Month!

Seven athletes went to Nationals in Ohio this past July. While they didn't bring home any medals, they hit a bunch of personal best times!

Owen M and Emily L had two perfect pistol stages going five for five. (Meaning: They shot all five targets, five times in a row without any misses. Not easy to do, especially with pistols!)

It is common for athletes to shave a couple seconds off their score, but Emily L shaved 19.80 seconds off her rimfire pistol from her score at State back in April. That is an incredible feat!

Eric G had an impressive Iron Rifle Match time of 38 seconds flat, finishing 11th nationally for his division!

Amelia L had an impressive Iron Rifle Match time of 45.04, finishing seventh nationally for her division!!!

Our Iron Rifle Intermediate Squad took fifth place, a fantastic placement on the national stage for these scholars:

Eric G

Amelia L

Emily L

Sam P

Our Optics Rifle Non-Collegiate Open took fifth place, an incredible placement on the national stage for these scholars:

Eric G

Owen M

Kane M

Sam P

This was our team's first time shooting pistols at Nationals.

Our Iron Pistol Intermediate Squad took 12th place, another great job on the national stage for these scholars:

Eric G

Amelia L

Emily L

Sam P

Congratulations to our Roaring Lions Cheer Squad! They attended the high school UCA camp at UCF and came back with FOUR trophies.

• 1st Place - Stunt Sequence Routine
• 1st Place - Camp Routine (Stunts, Dance, and Pyramid)
• Best Technique
• GRAND CHAMPIONS 🏆

We are so excited to see what the rest of this season brings!

Interested in making a meaningful impact in the lives of scholars? Consider coaching. We are currently looking for a soccer coach.

As a fundraiser for Athletics and PE, you can pay $22 and have your scholar's birthday on the outdoor sign. The message will run from 6:00am to 6:00pm and be an additional slide on the marquee.

Please note: All requests must be made two weeks in advance.

To participate, use the MySchoolBucks link below.

The Lions Council is hosting a spirit night at Maggie D's. Come celebrate the start of a new school year on Tuesday, August 19. Maggie D's will donate a portion of the sales to the Lions Council Support Committee, which helps fund things like Teacher Appreciation Week.

It's everyone's favorite spirit week! Head to Chick-fil-A anytime between September 8-12 to help raise funds for the Lions Council. You can order any meal, any time. You can dine-in, take-out, or place a mobile order, just tell the cashier or make a note in the mobile app that you're supporting SJCA.

Scholars in grades K-3 can stay after school to make a clay handprint with Mr. Ross, the upper school art teacher. Scholars go directly to this activity after dismissal and be picked up at the end of the event. The handprint needs to go in the kiln, so it will be sent home with your scholar when it's complete.

The Lions Council welcomes all parents and teachers to join us at our monthly meetings. Our next meeting is September 4 at 6:00pm in the cafeteria.

This is your official invitation to the St. Johns Classical Academy 6th Annual Golf Tournament—and trust us, this event is a real hole-in-one!

Even if golf isn’t your game, you can still score big:

• Dinner that’s above par

• Raffle prizes worth swinging for

• Great company (the best club to be in!)

And here’s the kicker—you don’t have to be present to win raffle prizes. Yes, you could be at home in your PJs and still take home the goods.

Spots are filling fast, so don’t get stuck in the rough!

We are also looking for golf sponsors! If you're interested, please reach out to Hannah.Patterson@stjca.org.

We strive to do what we know to be right despite fear, hardship, and opposition. We resist negative peer pressure, defend our rights and the rights of others, and encourage others to do the same.

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 anytime.