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I have some exciting news to share about the Administrative Team at SJCA. I have changed the duties of Mr. Matt Bowers in order to include Dean of Students K-12. He is currently an Upper School History Teacher for three periods of the day and works four periods as a Dean of Student Life coach. He will continue to teach his three academic subjects each morning. I am extending his duties for the other four periods of the day to include discipline, classroom guidance lessons and coaching and mentoring upper AND lower school scholars.

I am super excited about this partial change in assignment. Mr. Bowers is a natural in regard to talking to our scholars and assisting our scholars in how to think more clearly in regard to choices that they make. He is an excellent problem solver and solution finder.

Look for him to call you in regard to any discipline issues. Also reach out to him with concerns that you may have in regard to behavior situations or happenings. His email is: matt.bowers@stjca.org

Have a wonderful weekend.

-Carole McCullough

The Lions Council is kicking off their third annual online silent auction this Friday, February 7 at 6:00pm. Proceeds from the Lions Council Winter Gala Silent Auction directly support Teacher Appreciation Week, campus improvements, and gym enhancements.

📅 Auction Dates
Opens: Friday, February 7 at 6:00pm.
Closes: Sunday, February 9 at 8:00pm.

Featured auction items:

• Gold car line passes
• Preferred seating at events
• Prom package
• Preferred lockers
• Class treasures
• Spirit days
• Exclusive items for juniors and seniors
• Painting party with Mr. Ross
• STEM & coding package
• Baskets donated by local businesses
• Family-curated baskets (to benefit the senior class Grad Bash & junior/senior prom)

After the auction closes, Lions Council volunteers will coordinate item pickup or e-delivery during the week of February 10.

Questions? Contact chairman.lioncouncil@stjca.org.

Please note, several picture days are coming up in February.

Tickets for the annual Father Daughter Dance are on sale now. The dance will take place on March 29 at the Orange Park Campus.

The Lost and Found is full of items. If your scholar is missing any items, please encourage them to check the Lost and Found, located in the cafeteria. Parents may come on campus to check for items before and after school.

Volunteers will work to return items with names on them.

Any items not claimed by February 21 will be donated.

Pictures below are of items that do not have names.

Please be cautious when exiting campus. If the vehicle in front of you puts their hazard lights on, this is a student driver setting themselves up to back into their parking spot. Please give them room and do not get right up on their bumper.

If you have any stuffed animals that you'd like to donate, the National Junior Honor Society is collecting them. If you'd like to donate, please have your scholar give them to their teacher.

Contact: Carmen.burgess@stjca.org

Mark your calendars for the inaugural Post High School Retreat & Fair.

During the school day on March 4, juniors will meet with their academic advisors for a post high school retreat (periods 1-3) to learn about future options.

At night, scholars are encouraged to return to campus with their parents to visit various post high school tables that represent colleges, trade schools, community colleges, and the military.

Light refreshments will be provided by the Lions Council.

Please RSVP using the form below.

Our upper school Drama Club is hard at work rehearsing for the upcoming spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Jr! Mrs. Kiep and Mrs. Crosby are so impressed with our thespian scholars. This will be a production you don't want to miss!

Mark your calendar now for February 21-23 at the Orange Park campus stage.

Stay tuned to the Lion Line for ticket information to be released.

The American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge forms went home on January 28. You can sign up and raise $150 before Feb 10 to receive a key chain. If you raise $300, you'll receive a car line sign.

The girls and boy basketball team and coaches are invited to a Winter Sports Banquet at the end of the month. We'll acknowledge the players and coaches while celebrating their commitment to the team.

This past week our athletes represented SJCA at the Jacksonville Icemen hockey game. We all had a great time as we watched them win 2-1 in OT. It was a great learning experience. Many were new to the sport. And, they got to watch Coach Sage get covered in popcorn!

After gauging interest in soccer through our camp in January, SJCA plans to field a 7v7 boys middle school soccer team.

SJCA will host soccer try outs over the course of three days at the end of February. If your scholar plans to try out, plan for them to attend all three days.

As we build out a soccer team, we're looking for a soccer manager. This manager can be in grades 8-12 and can earn service hours.

You can wish your scholar a happy birthday on SJCA's outdoor sign. If you're interested, go to MySchoolBucks and register at least TWO WEEKS BEFORE your scholar's birthday. The cost is $20. The birthday announcement will run from 6:00am to 6:00pm on your scholar's birthday.

All funds raised benefit SJCA Athletics and PE.

The Athletics Department and The National Honor Society will host SJCA's Inaugural Color Run. Don't miss out on the fun! If you register early, you can save money. The registration fee of $25/participant includes a t-shirt and a medal. Parents are invited to run too.

Grades K-1 ~ One lap run

Grades 2-12 ~ Two mile run

Food and concessions will be on site for purchase.

Points of Contact: Coach Sage: matthew.sage@stjca.org or Mrs. Cosme: anamaria.cosme@stjca.org.

Mrs. Hancock’s fourth grade class had a blast exploring magnets! Scholars tested various materials to see if they were magnetic, then had fun creating temporary magnets by rubbing paperclips on magnets. It was a hands-on way to learn about magnetic fields and the science behind magnetism.

The SJCA Yearbook Staff is looking for pictures of sporting events, field trips, and on-campus activities. If you have pictures to share, please email them, along with a description, to: editor@stjca.org.

Last year, our Safety Patrols led an inspiring philanthropy project that collected and delivered supplies to a remote Indigenous tribe on the Pacific coast of Panama. SJCA teachers traveled to the village to personally hand these supplies over, making a meaningful impact. We are excited to announce that we are scheduled to return this spring break for another trip.

This year, let’s continue “Doing the Good” by helping the Safety Patrol bless this community with the supplies they need. We’ve been in touch with the tribe's chief and teacher, and they’ve provided a list of items they are currently in need of. If you can, please donate:

• School supplies: modeling clay, notebooks, binders, filler paper
• Coloring books
• Outdoor play equipment: soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, baseballs, volleyballs, kickballs, etc.
• Children’s bikes or scooters (gently used are welcome)
• Learning materials in Spanish: books, posters, etc.

For more details about our trip and to learn more about the Embera Tribe, please join our Google Classroom using the code: jpa52pl

If you have any questions about the donations, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Hancock at liberty.hancock@stjca.org

Let’s continue to make a positive impact by “Doing the Good” together!

Pictured below are three of our teachers who visited the tribe last year.

Get ready for another 1776 Promise Spirit Day. Scholars may wear red, white, and blue spirit shirts or outfits. All proceeds collected will go directly towards the 1776 Promise Campaign to benefit our teachers.

When: Thursday, February 13

Cost: $2 to participate, per scholar

Payment: You can pay in cash and give it to your teacher, pay online with this link, or scan the QR code. Please note, you cannont pay via MySchoolBucks.

Tops: Should be primarily red, white, or blue in color. No political language or pictures. No face paint.

Bottoms: Standard spirit day bottoms. Jeans or jean shorts to the knee without tears or rips. Uniform shorts or any khaki or navy blue shorts to the knee. No athletic shorts unless you have PE that day.

✅ If you need or want to set limits on spending, please contact Lunch@stjca.org.

✅ To view your lunch account(s) and add funds, please visit: http://www.myschoolbucks.com/.

✅ If you would like to check your eligibility for Free/Reduced Lunch, please click HERE.

Please note, we've made changes to Wednesday's co-curricular schedule. These changes are effective for the rest of the school year.

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