FI_Lion Line_11/15/24

Please be on the lookout for another video announcement next week. I'll highlight some campus news and events to look forward to, but in the meantime, we have a busy few days ahead of Thanksgiving Break.

Tonight, 11/15, is our annual talent show. Our scholars have worked hard to perfect their performances and are excited to take the stage tonight. Saturday night, 11/16, middle school scholars will be on campus for a dance, and next week we'll host a Fall Sports Banquet to honor our athletes and coaches.

Plus, our lunch crew has teamed up with the Lions Council to give scholars a really special meal on the Thursday before break. You'll learn more about that below.

Great things are happening on our campus with more to come.

During a recent Wednesday assembly, two 11th grade scholars, Carlos and Julio A, who are also brothers, spoke about working with teenagers with intellectual and developmental differences at Camp I Am Special this past summer.

The focus of the assembly was on our virtue of respect, especially the part of our respect standard which reads, "We regard others...as deserving of kind and just treatment...We look for the good in others and demonstrate compassion."

The brothers captivated the attention of all scholars with their slideshow and discussion. They talked about how much they learned about courage and perseverance through their interactions with campers and learning about their family struggles.

I am so proud of their eagerness to share this experience with our upper scholars!

(Pictured below is one of the brothers fishing with a camper).

Mark your calendars! Homecoming week is December 9-14. The schedule of events is below, as is the list of dress-down days.

Scholars in grades 5-8 will compete in classroom spelling bees with winners from each class competing against each other in school on December 5. The winner will advance to the district spelling bee in February. Due to limited space and parking restrictions, parents won't be able to attend, but stay tuned to the Lion Line for updates.

As a special Thanksgiving treat to complement the holiday-themed lunch on 11/21, the Lions Council will treat every scholar to a piece of pie. Whether scholars buy the school lunch or bring their own, they're welcome to select a piece of apple, pumpkin, or chocolate silk pie to enjoy during their lunch time.

To serve pie to hundreds of scholars, the Lions Council will need volunteers to help. With permission from leadership, the Lions Council will bring in up to 20 volunteers, split into two shifts, to help with this event. Be on the lookout for the volunteer sign up soon.

The Lions Council is also purchasing the holiday-themed lunch for all teachers and staff to show appreciation for all that they do.

If you'd prefer your scholar not have pie or are concerned about food allergies, please opt-out by using this form.

On Friday night, November 15, scholars of all ages will come together to perform in the annual SJCA Shines! Talent Showcase Finals.

Join us in the cafetorium Friday evening, November 15 at 6 pm. There will even be surprise SJCA celebrity judges revealed. You don’t want to miss this!

The Fine Arts Department is very excited to announce our first ever piano recital, presented by the scholars in our upper school Studio Piano class, will take place in early December. Each pianist is hard at work rehearsing an individual piece to perform at the recital.

Mrs. Crosby and Mrs. Urban couldn't be prouder of all they have accomplished and can't wait to watch them perform on stage. Selections will include classical pieces, folk music, and traditional Christmas tunes.

Please join us for this beautiful performance on Thursday, December 5 at 6 pm in the cafetorium!

There is no cost for admission and all are welcome.

The Piano Recital kicks off a series of holiday concerts. Mark your calendars for these events.

Mrs. Rice and the grammar scholars have been visiting Mr. Ross’ art room to create a special clay Christmas ornament with the assistance of upper school art scholars. This heart-warming tradition began last year and is back by popular demand.

This year, you will have the opportunity to purchase an ornament made by your child and DO THE GOOD by supporting our ever-expanding Fine Arts programs. Please use the link below to reserve your Christmas keepsake.

(Picture below shows the ornaments in-process. Stay tuned for more pictures of the final pieces).

If you're interested in playing a sport at SJCA, at the middle or upper school level, you must:

• Get a physical and have your doctor fill out the Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation.
• Complete the Consent and Release from Liability form.
• Complete three online courses: Concussion for Students, Heat Illness Prevention, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest, which can be found on the FHSAA website.
• Once courses are complete, you must upload your certificates (which provide proof of course completion) to the FHSAA website. Paper forms may NOT be given to coaches.

Head over to Jeremiah's for a tasty treat and support SJCA's cheer team at the same time.

Calling all SJCA athletes who participated in fall sports, please join us for a banquet.

This holiday season, the 1776 Promise Campaign asks you to consider donating on Giving Tuesday to support our teachers.

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving celebrated each year. This year, on December 3, we humbly ask for your support of our campaign to give back to our teachers for their hard work and dedication to our scholars.

If you are led to give, please use the link below to make a one-time donation. Any amount given makes an impact and together we can show our teachers how much we appreciate them. Thank you so much for your continued support this year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and makes a difference!

Scholars can stay after school to make a fun craft and enjoy a festive snack. All proceeds go to the Lions Council Fine Arts Booster Club. Please reserve your spot soon. Spots fill up fast.

The SJCA Interact Club is a service based organization that is affiliated with the Rotary Club.

Each year, we partner with Wreaths Across America to lay wreaths at veterans' graves before Christmas. We are fundraising to buy as many wreaths as we can.

Last year, Interact sold over 100 wreaths to lay at Jacksonville Memory Gardens and we are hoping to lay more this year. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of graves that go unrecognized each year at Jacksonville Memory Gardens because of a lack of wreaths. Let's not let that happen again!

We need to have all wreaths purchased by Giving Tuesday, which is 12/03, so they can be shipped in time for the wreath laying ceremony on 12/14.

To order, please click the link below.

Thank you for your support.

**For every two wreaths sponsored, an additional free third wreath will be placed on a veteran's grave by an Interact scholar.**

Let's 'Do the Good' and help those in need. Interact Club's annual school-wide food drive to benefit Good Samaritan Anglican Church's monthly food giveaway has begun. There will be a prize for the grammar school homeroom class and upper school 1st period class with the most donations.

Questions: sally.mcginn@stjca.org

Mrs. Morrison's 5th grade class conducted a science lab on the rock cycle. Scholars used Airheads, a candy, to simulate sediment, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, magma, and igneous rocks.

The PM2 testing schedule is set. Please avoid scheduling morning appointments for your scholars on their test dates to help preserve class time.

Kindergarten

ELA: January 8, 2025 9:50-10:30 AM

Math: January 15, 2025 9:30-10:30 AM

1st Grade

ELA: January 8, 2025 8-9 AM

Math: January 15, 2025 8-9 AM

2nd Grade

ELA: January 8, 2025 11:30-12:30

Math: January 15, 2025 11:30-12:30

3rd Grade - 5th Grade

ELA: January 7, 2025

Math: January 14, 2025

6th Grade - 8th Grade

ELA: January 9, 2025

Math: January 16, 2025

9th - 10th Grade & 11th - 12th Grade Retakes

ELA: December 16, 2024

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