Good afternoon! Here are this week's news and announcements from St. Johns Country Day School:
Bare Family Wellness Center Opens
On Friday, St. Johns was thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Bare Family Wellness Center, a new facility that will support our students' physical and mental wellbeing. Thank you for your support!
Athlete of the Week
Congratulations to this week's Nichols & Pina St. Johns Athlete of the Week, cross country runner Becca Stratton '25! Becca won the Clay County Cross Country Invitational last week with a time of 20:25. Not only did she secure a two-time event championship, but she also played a crucial role in leading the Spartans to a strong 2nd place overall finish. We are incredibly proud of Becca and her hard work, dedication, and exceptional talent. Keep up the great work, Becca!
Go Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness!
In honor of Cayden Ingram, who lost his battle with cancer over the summer, make a donation to Dreams Come True, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit that grants dreams to children with life-threatening illnesses. Then show your support by wearing gold with jeans (no rips, tears, or holes) or regular uniform bottoms on Friday, September 27.
Lower School Costume Swap
Looking for something different and new (to you!) this Halloween? The SJPA is organizing a Halloween Costume Swap for Lower School families the last week of September! How will it work? It's easy! On Monday, September 23, bring your gently used costumes and give them to one of the volunteers during drop-off from 7:30-8:15 a.m. The costumes will then be organized and sorted, and available for a small fee on Friday, September 27, from 7:30-8:15 a.m. at the Chapel Oak.
Spartan Fest ~ October 4
Mark your calendars and save the date for Spartan Fest! Coming to campus on Friday, October 4, from 3-5:30 p.m., this school-wide festival will be a celebration for the entire school and their families. Featuring games, inflatables, a student vs. staff basketball game, game truck, food trucks, and so much more! You will not want to miss it! Click here to help out through donations or your time or Spartan Fest items.
Yearbook Tribute Ads
Leave a lasting memory in your child's 2024-2025 Chalice yearbook with a tribute ad! Honor your child's accomplishments, their team, or their friend group by purchasing an ad in the 2024-2025 Chalice. Find out more and get pricing right here.
Spring Break 2025: Costa Rica!
Upper School students, join Dr. Román and your fellow student travelers for a Spring Break 2025 Ecology Trip to Costa Rica! You'll work to protect sea turtles, explore a birding paradise, hike through a tropical forest, and much, much more! The cost for this 9-day trip is $3995, including airfare, accommodations, and meals. A deposit of $1350 is due no later than September 30, 2024. Learn more about this amazing opportunity right here. And please reach out to Dr. Román in U7 with any questions.
College Representative Visits
It's about that time again, when representatives from colleges and universities from across the country (and around the globe!) come to St. Johns to tell us about their schools, visit with our students, and get to know St. Johns. Upper School students are welcome at these visits and juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend. Students must be registered to attend, and be sure to keep an eye on SCOIR for the schedules, as they do change frequently. Direct any questions to your college counselor.
Bus Lane - No Stopping
Parents, please be reminded that there is no parking or dropping off/picking up at any time in the designated bus lane along Spartan Drive (red zones in map above). Parking in these areas inhibits the ability of our school buses to get in and out of the bus parking zone alongside the pool. Please do not park or idle there at any time.
Florida Tax Credit Scholarships
Many St. Johns families are saving money on tuition by putting their tax dollars at work. As of 2023, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTCS) program is available to all resident students who are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten through Grade 12 in a Florida public school. The next enrollment deadline has not yet been determined, however, awarded students are still eligible to receive 100% of their scholarship award for the 2024-25 school year as long as the student is "enrolled" by October 15, 2024. Cut your tuition bill and click here to get started today!
Subscribe to the School Calendar
The School calendar, at sjcds.net/calendar, is your ready reference for dates and events for the year ahead. You may wish to subscribe to the calendar on your phone, so you always have the most current info in your pocket. Just follow the steps above and you're on your way.
Follow Us!
Stay on top of everything that's going on at School by following us on your favorite social media platform! Not into socials? We get it. You can also check out the latest (no registration or login required!) at sjcds.net.
Contact Us!
St. Johns staff stand ready to assist with anything you might need. Please feel free to reach out at any time to:
| Head of School Valorie Baker | vbaker@sjcds.net |
| Head of Upper School Krista Parker | kparker@sjcds.net |
| Head of Middle School Ben Magidson | bmagidson@sjcds.net |
| Head of Lower School Otis Wirth | owirth@sjcds.net |
We hope you have a great week!