Lion Line OP - April 2025

We are heading into the home stretch for this school year. While we are reaching the finish line, there is still much instruction taking place; help your scholars to stay pressed in academically.

March was full of fun activities with the Masquerade Dance and the Talent Show; needless to say, there are many scholars with a wealth of talent on campus, we will continue to work to nurture that talent.

The 7th grade Information night was an enlightening time for students and parents, we are looking forward to our scholars continuing to explore their leadership ability.

Allow me to reiterate the need to avoid using the bike lane on Kingsley as a waiting zone; we are continuing to work to improve carline traffic flow and appreciate your patience and support.

I'd like you to be on the lookout for a school wide survey. On April 3, you'll see an email from School Perceptions, an independent education research firm, that will help us understand how we're doing, what we can improve, and what we need to plan for in the future. The survey must be completed by April 16. I strongly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to complete this survey as it's one of the most effective ways for us to collect feedback from parents and guardians.

Please familiarize yourself with the many activities for this month and purpose to come out to support our scholars. Thank you for partnering with us as we purpose to develop graduates in mind and character and as always, Go Lions!

Please take note of the testing schedule for April and May.

Please make every effort to ensure your scholar is in school on testing days, and that he or she arrives on time and has a hearty breakfast.

The carline gate officially closes at 7:55am each morning and at 3:15pm each afternoon. However, if cars are still in line, the gate will close once we have the last car in line inside the gates.

We appreciate your assistance in this matter.

The clinic is still in need of black crew socks and size 5-7 boys and girls underwear to help our young scholars when they have accidents.

Also, please consider donating ties, which are always needed.

If your scholar has borrowed any clothing from the clinic, please remember to return the laundered item to the nurse.

Noah L: March

Ailey R: April

Bright Smiles Dental will return to campus on April 8. Scholars who were signed up but didn't get a chance to see the dentist in March will be seen.

If you didn't sign up and would like to be added to a wait list, please fill out the form below before 8:00am on April 8.

Spring Picture Day is taking place on Wednesday, April 9.

Only those who prepay will be photographed with a spring-themed background. This is an optional event for parents/scholars to participate in.

You can place your order at www.leonards.com/photoprepay and the access code is C676913.

Students will only have their individual photo taken if they pay online before 7:00am or bring in a payment on photo day.

To follow the Clay County School District schedule and increase instructional time after weather-induced cancelations, the SJCA Board of Directors voted to make April 11, also known as Fair Day, a regular school day. We understand some families have made plans, as a result, absences on this day will be excused.

Reminder: April has two spirit days.

April 15 is Purple Up Day, scholars are encouraged to wear purple tops to show support and appreciation for military families. T-shirts that represent a specific branch of the military are permitted as well. Please wear approved spirit wear bottoms and shoes.

April 25, the last Friday of the month, is also a spirit day.

Please note, this event was originally scheduled as an after-school event on April 17. It has now been moved. Corrected information is below.

Join us on April 16 for the Bunny Hop Fun Jump! This family event offers a variety of activities, including hopping-related events like jump roping and hopscotch, along with a dunk tank,

Easter Basket and Treat Raffles, and a Cake Hop.

Pre-registration is required, but additional tickets for the following activities will be available during the event:

• Dunk Tank Round #2
• Easter Basket and Treat Raffles
• Cake Hop

Costs

$7.00 General Admission: Does not include any activities

$10.00 Upgraded Admission: Does not include any activities, +2 tickets to use for Dunk Tank, Cake "Hop", or the Easter Basket and Treat Raffles

$15.00 Participant Wristband Admission: Includes any scholars or parents/guardians admission to all jump related activities

$25.00 Unlimited Wristband Admission: Includes any scholars or parents/guardians admission to all jump related activities, +3 Tickets to use for Dunk Tank, Cake "Hop" or the Easter Basket and Treat Raffles

$40.00 for 3 Participant Wristband Admissions

$60.00 for 3 Unlimited Wristband Admissions

$50.00 for 4 Participant Wristband Admissions

$80.00 for 4 Unlimited Wristband Admissions

Please note the registration details on the flyer below.

Donation request

Each class will create a basket to be raffled at the event. Donations can be turned in to your teacher through April 14. Teachers may decide to adopt a theme for the basket, which will be indicated on a flyer sent home in your scholar's Tuesday folder.

On April 22, we'll welcome new scholars and parents to our campus at 6:00pm in the gym to provide helpful information for the year ahead.

Cheer Clinic

If your scholar is interested in joining next year's cheer team, please plan to attend the cheer clinic on April 15 from 5:00-7:00pm on the Fleming Island Campus. The event is open to scholars in grades 5 and 6.

Cheer Try Outs

Cheer Try Outs will take place on April 28 and 29 from 5:00-7:00pm; both days are mandatory. Scholars in grades 5 and 6 are welcome to try out. Note, try outs are for the 2025-26 team and practices are held on the Fleming Island campus.

Parents MUST sign up via the Google Form ahead of time and MUST complete and upload EL2 forms to the athletic clearance portal.

Both the clinic and try outs are closed events. Parents should plan to drop their scholar off and pick them up at the end of each session.

Save the date for a Spanish Cultural Celebration coming in May. Here are the basics, but we'll have more to share soon.

Friday, May 2

3:00-4:30pm

OP Gym

We'd like you to mark your calendar for our Annual Academic Awards and Expo. We'll provide additional information as the event gets closer, but we wanted to share the event details for those who like to invite family to attend.

The SJCA Board of Directors approved an early release day for May 23 to accommodate the graduation ceremony for SJCA-FI. The day will work like a Wednesday, with scholars released at 1:00pm.

SJCA Orange Park will offer several summer camps in June and July. Registration details to come.

(Please note the Virtue Spirit Camp is now replaced with the Lions Fitness Fun Camp).

Camps offered will include:

• Lions Fitness Fun Camp
• Lion Music Camp
• Literacy Games Galore
• Science Camp
• Lion Soccer Camp

• Drawing Camp

• Sculpture Camp

• Fiber Arts Camp

Lions Fitness Fun Camp

Grade: Incoming 1st-5th graders

Camp Leader: Ms. Donovan

Dates: June 9 - 20

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Limit: 25 campers

Cost: $200

Description: At the Lion Fitness Camp scholars will learn about the benefits of healthy lifestyles, exercise and our school virtues. Discuss how we can support our school and show school spirit! We will learn the benefits of exercise via fun and engaging activities. Some of the activities will be as follows:

-Stretching

-Yoga

-Kids Zumba and dance

-Team building games

-Duck-duck goose and other favorite games

-Read aloud on exercise/health/virtues

How can we show the virtues when we play a team building game? How can we work together? By being supportive when you loose and showing humbleness when you win.

Lion Music Camp

Grades: K-3

Dates: June 9-12

Camp Leaders: Mr. Garand & Ms. Freeman

Time: Half day camp: 9:00am-12:00pm

Limit: 15 campers

Cost: $150

Description: Get ready for a musical extravaganza! Scholars will team up with two superstar music teachers to whip up a week of fun that’ll have everyone singing in harmony and tapping their toes! Half the class will be all about grooving to the beat with bucket drums, laying down some serious rhythm. The other half? It's a pitch-matching, note-reading party where they'll belt out classic tunes and even jam on the Kalimba! And wait for it... at the grand finale, scholars will showcase all the cool tricks they’ve picked up during camp! Let the music magic begin!

Lion Music Camp

Grades: 4-7

Dates: June 9-12

Camp Leaders: Mr. Garand & Ms. Freeman

Time: Half day camp: 9:00am-12:00pm

Limit: 15 campers

Cost: $150

Description: Get ready for a musical extravaganza! Scholars will team up with two superstar music teachers to whip up a week of fun that’ll have everyone singing in harmony and tapping their toes! Half the class will be all about grooving to the beat with bucket drums, laying down some serious rhythm. The other half of the day, our budding maestros will dive into the magical world of the string orchestra! They'll be mastering the art of holding and playing the glorious violin, viola, or cello. These eager scholars will get to try their hands on some of the most stunning instruments ever and discover if they want to serenade the world with their newfound passion! And wait for it... at the grand finale, scholars will showcase all the cool tricks they’ve picked up during camp! Let the music magic begin!

Literacy Games Galore

Dates: July 7-11 (session 1), July 14-18 (session 2)

Grades: K-2

Camp Leader: Mrs. Mencner

Time: Half day camp: 9:00am-12:00pm

Limit: 15 campers

Cost: $150

Description: We will use games and movement to review the 42 sounds, 26 letters, and 72 phonograms that make up our English language! This fun and fast paced course will also include basic handwriting and spelling while also practicing our reading skills.

Science Camp

Grades: 4, 5, 6

Camp Leader: Mr. Rawls

Dates: June 23-27

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Limit: 24 scholars

Cost: $150

Description: Scholars will have the opportunity to dive deeper into various science concepts from our curriculum through demonstrations, discussion, and hands-on activities. We will be investigating weather, cloud formation (making a cloud in a bottle), the water cycle, and climate. We will also discuss the major organs and systems of the body (making a working model of our lungs). We will discuss electrical energy and build a working circuit. We will also observe chemical reactions and the affects they produce. Scholars will also learn about the universe and how gravity holds everything together.

Soccer Camp

Grades: K-3

Camp Leader: Kaitlyn Scherer
Dates: Session 1 June 23-27 (Grade K-3), Session 2 July 7-11 (Grades 4-7)
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Limit: Limited spots
Cost: $150/wk

Description: Join us this summer for a fun and exciting soccer camp that will develop your skills and bring out your best on the field! No matter if you are an advanced or beginning player, our camp will offer extraordinary sessions that will focus on teamwork, technique, and fun. Students will have the opportunity to improve their dribbling, passing, shooting, and defensive and offensive strategies while making new friends and developing memories. Our camp is the perfect place for players to build their game in a fun, supportive environment. Don’t miss out on the chance to take your skills to the next level!

Drawing Camp

• Grades: 2nd-4th

• Dates: 2-5 June

• Camp Leader: Ms. Tetterton

• Time: 9:00 – 12:00

• Limit: 15

• Cost: $150

-Thoroughly learn and apply the seven elements of art to their own creative works of art

-Explore the creative process from ideas through execution

-Explore different types of art mediums with a focus strong focus on drawing

*Optional Additional Fees: Please have scholars bring a 9” x 12” SPIRAL BOUND blank sketch book (can be similar size) or plan to purchase a sketchbook for $10. Scholars will keep their sketchbooks.

Sculpture Camp

Grades: 3rd-5th

Dates: July 14-18

Camp Leader: Ms. Tetterton

Time: 9:00am–12:00pm

Limit: 15

Cost: $150+$10 Materials Fee = $160 total

-Explore Shape, Form, and Texture while creating 3D artworks.

-Will work with a variety of mixed media. To include:

-Wire forms

-Hanging Sculptures or Mobiles

-Creating a small stuffed felt animal

-Paper Mache Project

-Working with found objects

*$10 materials fee: Will cover the cost of felt, poly-fil, wire, spray paint, hot glue, etc.

Fiber Arts Camp

Grades: 4th-7th

Date: June 23-27

Camp Leader: Ms. Tetterton

Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Limit: 15

Cost: $150 + $20 Materials Fee = $170 total

-Introduction to knitting

-Introduction to embroidery

-Fabric dying techniques – to include ice dying and dip dying – MUST BRING OWN T-Shirt

-Learn how to iron & put a button on (perfect for keeping uniforms in good order and ironing for formal day)

$20 materials fee: This will cover the cost of embroidery thread, fabric, dyes, etc during the course. Additionally, each scholar will get their own pair of knitting needles and one skein of yarn to use during the course AND to take home afterwards to continue knitting with if they do not finish their knitting project during the week.

All camps will take place on the Orange Park Campus.

Faculty and staff are not permitted to accept cash or check for lunch.

When sending lunch money in with your scholar, please instruct them to either:

✅ Bring it to the lunch staff during their lunch (for immediate deposit to account) or;

✅ Drop it in the Lunch Money slot in the wall outside the administrative offices (allow up to 72 hours for deposit to account). Be sure to include your scholar's name on the envelope/baggie!

Addition lunch information:

✅ 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.

SJCA-FI would like to invite you to Mother Daughter Tea on Saturday, May 17. Registration via MySchoolBucks is now open.

Tables seat eight. If you'd like to make seating arrangements, please contact Mrs. Cosme. Your request will be honored on a first come, first served basis.

Attire: Sunday best/princess dresses welcome

Deadline to register: May 9

Questions? Mrs. Cosme, Anamaria.cosme@stjca.org

Third graders have a few tiny visitors in their classroom as they learn about habitats.

Mr. Garand taught kindergarteners about the kalimba, also known as a thumb piano.

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