FI_Lion Line_11/21/25

Dear Parents and Families,

As we head into Thanksgiving break, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. At SJCA, we are blessed with the freedom to pursue an education rooted in virtue and excellence, dedicated teachers who give their very best each day, and a school filled with the energy and enthusiasm of scholars who truly love to learn. Even the cooler temperatures at carline have been a welcome gift this season!

Most of all, I am grateful for our strong community—families who support one another and who have become one big Lion family. Our shared traditions at SJCA make this school a special place, and your partnership strengthens everything we do.

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I wish you and your loved ones a restful, joyful, and truly blessed Thanksgiving break.

Respectfully,

Carole McCullough
Head of School

In her first year at SJCA, Mrs. Whitney has made an immediate and positive impact as our Grammar School PE teacher. She creates engaging and energetic activities that keep our scholars moving, learning, and growing in virtue through sportsmanship. She is also a great support to classroom teachers, creating science lessons about the human body and reinforcing academic learning through hands-on experiences. We are grateful for her dedication, creativity, and joyful spirit!

As one of the school's full-time custodial team members, Alberta plays a vital role in keeping our campus clean, orderly, and welcoming each day. She works steadily and reliably, often stepping in to help when unexpected needs arise. We are grateful for her hard work and commitment to our school community!

Thanksgiving break begins on Monday, November 24. Scholars and teachers have the week off. The Christmas season begins shortly after. Please note the special spirit days, early release times, and break schedule below in December and mark your calendars.

Please note, on December 19, grammar school scholars (K-6) may wear holiday pajamas while upper school scholars (7-12) may wear spirit wear with holiday accessories.

The second annual Slice of Gratitude took place this week. Teachers and staff ate lunch with their class and everyone enjoyed a slice of pie, purchased by the Lions Council. This new tradition builds SJCA's sense of community while celebrating the joy of the season. Thank you, Lions Council!

The Winter Wonderland Shop will make a comeback this year, giving scholars a chance to buy affordable holiday gifts. Gifts range in price from $0.25-$20, with most hovering gifts priced between $1-$5 each.

We are excited about this opportunity to foster a love of giving while demonstrating in a practical way how to plan, budget, and spend wisely.

This event, hosted by the Lions Council, requires volunteer support. Please sign up for a volunteer shift if you're able.

With your support, no veteran shall be forgotten!

Your contribution will help place a fresh, decorated, balsam wreath on every eligible grave and memorial at Jacksonville Memory Gardens on December 13, 2025.

Orders must be placed by December 1st, 2025.

SJCA’s Interact Club will attend the ceremony and volunteer in the laying of the wreaths. All are welcome to attend!

Thank you for helping the SJCA Interact Club with this service project to honor our veterans!

For more information, please Mrs. McGinn sally.mcginn@stjca.org

Giving Tuesday is a national day of generosity that encourages everyone to strengthen their communities. On December 2, you can help strengthen our commitment to our teachers. Every cent raised by the 1776 Promise Campaign is awarded to teachers at the end of the year as show of our appreciation and support.

Be on the lookout for an email on December 2 to give, if you're called to do so.

Jingle Jam is back by popular demand. K-5 scholars can stay after school for this festive holiday event. Questions: Megan.Cutlip@stjca.org

As we head into the holiday season, the SJCA Fine Arts Department has a host of concerts planned. Mark your calendars and join us as we celebrate the season through music.

With the help of our art teachers, upper and grammar school scholars are creating clay ornaments to celebrate the holiday season. The project strengthens our school culture -and- provides a fundraising opportunity that supports the arts.

Our K-6 scholars will make the ornaments while upper school scholars will help manipulate the clay, press the pattern, and prep the ornaments for the kiln.

Reminder: Orders are placed through the Lions Council website, not MySchoolBucks.

Our 3rd Annual SJCA Ornament is Here!

It’s that magical time of year and our 2025 SJCA Ornament has officially arrived! Each ornament is just $12 and proceeds benefit special projects funded by the Lions Council.

While holiday gifts are never expected, if you'd like to treat a teacher or staff member to something special this year, you can find gift inspiration online. Teachers and staff members were given the option to fill out a "Favorite Things" list. The Lions Council has collected their input and shared their lists on the Lions Council website, organized by grave level.

St. Johns Classical Academy is successfully integrating classical education with essential twenty-first-century skills by teaching kindergarten through second grade scholars basic computer skills, such as clicking, dragging, and dropping using the computer trackpad. This early exposure to technology ensures young scholars develop foundational digital literacy that will support their learning across all subjects.

-Submitted by Grammar School Technology Teacher Jamie Moudy

To show appreciation, Lions Council gave each teacher and staff member a gift this month.

Lions Council is excited to begin recognizing outstanding volunteers each month who go above and beyond to give back to our campus and our scholars. For the month of October, we are proud to honor Jessica Brand as our Volunteer of the Month!

Jessica generously gave her time on multiple days to assist with health screenings; even stepping in on days she wasn’t scheduled because she knew the help was needed. Her support didn’t stop there; she stayed after screenings to help calculate BMIs and even took home lost and found items to wash and return to school.

Jessica’s dedication, initiative, and kindness truly embody the spirit of service that strengthens our community. We are so grateful for all the time and care she devotes to making St. Johns Classical Academy a better place for everyone!

The SJCA deans are hosting a campus beautification day on January 5; the day before scholars return to school after Christmas break. We're inviting the entire Lions community to this event, where everyone can work together and DO THE GOOD. You can RSVP today using the link below.

SJCA athletes had the opportunity to see an Icemen game earlier this month. Scholars and chaperones enjoyed the game and the chance to bond with their fellow athletes.

SJCA is looking for several flag football coaches. The season begins in January. Please reach out to our athletic director to learn more about this commitment.

Want to stay up-to-date with our sporting events? Download our app to see our game schedules, get scores, and learn about upcoming events.

Help support our basketball team by purchasing fun, curly shoelaces. Available in many colors!

Want a unique way to say Happy Birthday? Say it on the outdoor sign in front of school. Your scholar's big day will be one of several graphics on the sign and will run from 6:00am to 6:00pm on the designated day.

Funds raised go to Athletics and PE.

Mrs. Patterson went back to her roots and visited a second grade PE class. They had a blast playing "Turkey Tag" in the gym!

The second round of state testing will begin in early December. Please take a moment to review the testing dates that pertain to your scholar.

Please note: the Algebra 1 retakes are now scheduled for December 14.

All high school scholars in grades 9-12 can benefit from taking the CLT/CLT10. The CLT is used as a concordant score for the SAT/ACT to help with the Bright Futures scholarship and college admissions. The CLT 10 is great practice and preparation for the CLT.

Please ensure your scholar is on campus on his/her test day to complete the exam.

We're takin' it back to the 1950s for an upcoming upper school dance. Before the dance in mid-December, scholars can attend swing dancing lessons with Ms. Green.

• Be sure to check lunch balances and send cash in or load funds through MSB.
• Review the menu with your scholar(s) in order to prepare them for the service line.
• All questions, concerns, and praise 😊 regarding food services should be sent to lunch@stjca.org.

New Checkout Process

Beginning Tuesday, October 14 (the start of the 2nd quarter), all 6th-12th grade lunch buyers with Barcode IDs will be moved to the front of the line. Those without their IDs will be able to purchase lunch after the barcode IDs go through.

Buongiorno! Join the National Honor Society for a fun-filled evening of food, friends, and community spirit at our Family Spaghetti Dinner Night.

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. A downloadable training presentation about this tool is available on our website, under FortifyFL.