Good afternoon! Here are this week's news and announcements from St. Johns Country Day School:
Grade 8 Trip
Grade 8 is back from last week's trip to Washington DC, which included government buildings, memorials, Arlington Cemetery, museums, a trip to Shenandoah National Park, rafting, and so much more! Welcome back, Grade 8!
Athlete of the Week Arlo Kistner '27
Congratulations to last week's Nichols & Pina St. Johns Athlete of the Week Arlo Kistner '27 from Spartan Cross Country! Arlo set a new personal record with a time of 18:22 in the Duval 5K Cross Country Challenge last week. Congratulations Arlo!
Lockdown Drill Coming
We want to let you know that St. Johns will conduct a lockdown drill next week Monday, September 30. Students will be informed ahead of time and parents will receive texts, phone calls, and email notifications of the drill to keep them informed. This practice will help be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Please reach out to Director of Security Zack Silerzio with any questions.
After School Wrestling Club
Register today for Future Champs Wrestling Club! This 6-week after school beginner program is designed for girls and boys in Grades K-5 and will take place every Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., October 23 - November 20. The program will cover basic skills, drills, and maneuvers of wrestling. Cost for participation is $100 per student ($75 for each sibling), with a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 20. Reach out to Head Wrestling Coach Hunter Hill with any questions and register today!
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.
Lands End Polos Back in Stock!
Lands End polo shirts are back in stock at St. Johns' Spirit Store! Stop by to check out these and other great gift and apparel items. Open on school days from 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Questions? Reach out to Spirit Store Manager Heather Graham at hgraham@sjcds.net.
Lower School Costume Swap
Looking for something different and new (to you!) this Halloween? Lower School is organizing a Halloween Costume Swap. Thanks to everyone who dropped off costumes on Monday, these costumes are now being organized and sorted. They will be available for a small fee on Friday, September 27, from 7:30-8:15 a.m. at the Chapel Oak. Proceeds will help fund future SJPA activities!
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
Each year, 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.
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!
- Campus Update