FI_Lion Line_7/10/26

The results are in and St. Johns Classical Academy earns an "A" in the state of Florida! I am so proud of every one of our teachers, staff members, and scholars. They did it!

My heart is dancing all over again. I never grow tired of seeing the excellent work our scholars produce, and I also know that it doesn't happen by accident. It is the result of daily hard work, determination, care, love, and thoughtful planning from our incredible faculty and staff. Day after day, they continue to raise the bar of excellence, and our scholars rise right alongside them.

As summer continues, our campus is buzzing with preparation for another wonderful school year. Our maintenance and custodial teams are hard at work cleaning and refreshing every corner of our campus, while our faculty and staff are busy planning, preparing, and getting ready to welcome teachers back for training at the end of July.

As you read through these updates, know that each one reflects our commitment to providing the very best for our scholars. Your dedication made our school's "A" possible, and we're excited to build on that success as we prepare for another exceptional year together.

Sincerely,

Carole McCullough

Head of School

Mrs. McCullough will continue serving as Head of School throughout the 2026–2027 school year, providing leadership for the campus while supporting Upper School academics, school culture, and the continued growth of our faculty and scholars.

Mrs. Amy Melquist will continue serving as Dean of Academics for Kindergarten through 6th grade, supporting teachers through instructional coaching, curriculum implementation, and classical pedagogy while ensuring alignment with Hillsdale College and Florida's academic requirements.

Mrs. Hannah Patterson will continue serving as Dean of School Culture for grades K-12, partnering with teachers to support classroom management, scholar behavior, and the positive school culture that helps every scholar thrive.

The SJCA Board of Directors, in partnership with Hillsdale College, continues the search for our long-term Head of School. Mrs. McCullough will continue serving as Head of School throughout the entire 2026–2027 school year, with her planned retirement effective June 30, 2027. Our goal is to welcome the next Head of School during this school year, allowing time to work alongside Mrs. McCullough, become immersed in SJCA's culture and mission, and ensure a thoughtful, seamless leadership transition for our scholars, families, and faculty.

As we enter our second year of integrating 6th grade back into the Grammar School, we have made several thoughtful refinements to further support scholars during this important transition year.

Sixth graders will continue wearing Grammar School uniforms (daily, formal & P.E.) while following a seven-period schedule that mirrors Upper School. Scholars will travel with their cohort throughout the day, begin using lockers, return to their homeroom teacher for writing instruction, and participate in both Art and PE as yearlong electives. Additionally, Latin instruction will be integrated into Language Arts, continuing the model used throughout the upper elementary grades.

At SJCA, physical education is about much more than exercise. Our goal is to help scholars develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime by teaching them to care for their mind, body, and spirit.

Our PE program begins in Kindergarten, where scholars start learning how their muscles and bodies work while developing a love for movement and healthy living. Each year builds on the last, preparing scholars for the next stage of their physical development.

One thing you’ll always find at SJCA is that we’re never afraid to make improvements. We evaluate our programs every year and make changes when we believe they’ll better serve our scholars. Our goal is to continue growing, improving, and providing the best experience possible for every child.

To better align with our Grammar School program, Fridays will be designated as P.E. Uniform Day for all 6th grade scholars. On Fridays, scholars should wear their P.E. uniform to school. There is no need to purchase a new uniform—the Grammar School P.E. uniform will remain the same: a gray top and navy bottoms.

Friday P.E. classes will be designated for more active and outdoor activities whenever possible. During the remainder of the week, scholars will participate in P.E. in the gym and will not dress out. Instead, they should bring a pair of athletic shoes to change into for P.E. activities.

This change also provides several additional benefits. It creates a clear separation between sixth graders and high school students during changing times, and it allows scholars to spend more time moving. Since sixth grade no longer has a daily recess like our K-5 scholars, we wanted to maximize every minute they have for activity, play, and skill development.

With the addition of a dedicated 6th grade PE teacher, Ms. Heather Bolam, we are able to create a program specifically designed for scholars at this important transition year. Ms. Bolam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Florida and will focus on teaching proper form, movement mechanics, athletic skills, and technique to prepare scholars for the SJCA fitness program that begins in 7th grade.

Parents can rest assured that lessons are being planned with this in mind. Scholars will not be running miles or participating in high-intensity workouts while wearing their uniforms. Instead, PE will focus on games, movement, teamwork, skill development, and preparing scholars for future fitness success. The majority of classes will also take place inside our air-conditioned gym, making it a much different environment than outdoor recess.

Our goal is simple: keep scholars moving, help them build confidence, and prepare them for success in 7th grade and beyond all while making PE a class they look forward to every day.

Beginning this school year, SJCA's co-curricular classes will no longer receive traditional letter grades. This change allows our co-curricular teachers to devote more time to enriching the scholar experience by collaborating with classroom teachers and supporting learning across campus.

They will have greater opportunities to organize student art shows, performances, special projects, and schoolwide events that celebrate scholar achievement and creativity. By integrating history, literature, science, and other classroom concepts into their instruction, co-curricular teachers help deepen scholars' understanding in meaningful ways.

As a classical school, we believe education extends far beyond a report card, and our goal is to create experiences that cultivate both the minds and character of our scholars.

Interest in athletics continues to grow and we’re excited to expand our volleyball program by offering Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity teams, creating more opportunities for scholars to compete, develop their skills, and represent the Lions proudly.

Volleyball camp participants in front of our completed mural in the gym. Thank you, Mr. Ross, for the beautiful lettering!

Show your SJCA pride with a Semiquincentennial Car Magnet or Vinyl sticker to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence!

$7.00 6” vinyl car magnets
$5.00 4” x 4” vinyl stickers

A heartfelt thank you to our parents and families for supporting this year’s 1776 Promise Campaign! Through recurring donations and participation in our Red, White, and Blue Spirit Days, your generosity has helped strengthen our efforts to support our teachers. We are grateful for your partnership, school spirit, and commitment to our school community!

As we enjoy our summer break from an incredible school year, we are proud to reflect on all that the Lions Council has accomplished and none of it would be possible without the support of our amazing SJCA families.

Because of you, we were able to make a meaningful impact across our school community.

Thank you for your generosity, your time, and your commitment to our school. Whether you volunteered, donated, attended events, or supported behind the scenes — you played a part in this past year’s success.

We will continue to build on this momentum next year!

Want to get involved? Visit lionscouncil.org to learn more and join us.

Please click the link below for the Summer Reading List!

Florida Sports Physical Requirements (Including EKG)

Most school districts require an annual physical for all student-athletes. And now, under Florida’s “Second Chance Act,” high school athletes (grades 9–12) are also required to complete an EKG (electrocardiogram) as part of sports clearance, and CareSpot has you covered!

What You Need to Know

• Who needs an EKG?
  High school student athletes (grades 9–12)
• How long is an EKG valid?
  An EKG is valid for 2 years
• Already completed an EKG?
  If your student had an EKG on or after July 1, 2024, it still meets the current requirement
• Can everything be done in one visit?
  Yes. CareSpot offers sports physicals and EKGs together in one convenient visit

Affordable Sports Physical & EKG Pricing

CareSpot keeps pricing simple and transparent:

• $25* – School, sports, or camp physical (K–12)
• $60* – Bundle: Sports physical + EKG (for high school athletes who need both)

No hidden fees. Just fast, convenient care to get your student ready for the season.

*The above prices are our promotional cash pay prices and only valid during the promotional period of 5/1/26 – 9/30/26.

https://www.carespot.com/school-sports-physicals-florida-urgent-care/

Summer Girls Volleyball Conditioning

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 4:00–6:00 PM

Starting June 2

Dates:

• June 2, 4, 9, 11, & 30 — 4:00–6:00 PM

• June 23 & 25 — 6:00–8:00 PM

• July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, & 21 — 4:00–6:00 PM

Cost: $5 per session, paid at the door.

6th–12th Grade Girls Volleyball Tryouts

July 23 & 24
Scholars must attend both days.

If your scholar is unable to attend both days, please email Jennifer Pearson at Jennifer.Pearson@stjca.org to schedule a make-up tryout.

Practices will begin on July 27 and will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Practices will be 2 hours long.

This is a 4-week camp designed to keep kids active, engaged, and having FUN—just the way OTA does best.

🏃♂️ Camp Details:

• Location: St. Johns Classical Academy (Fleming Island)

• Days: Monday – Thursday

• Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Cost: $125 per week

📅 Camp Dates:

• June 8th – June 11th

• June 22nd – June 25th

• July 13th – July 16th

• July 20th – July 23rd

Each day, your child will enjoy a different sport, mixing skill-building with high-energy games and plenty of variety. From soccer and basketball to kickball, football, and more—no two days are the same!

💥 Special Offers for Our OTA Families:

• Early Bird Discount: Save $25 when you register by mid-May

👉 Register here: www.otathletics.com/jax

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