FI 042024 The Lion Line

Dear Lion Parents,

If you haven't participated in the weekly Zoom call, be sure to jump on the next one. Each Tuesday morning at 9:00 it is Coffee Time with the Headmaster. I will hold interviews that provide important information for parents. Be sure to tune in each Tuesday morning. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81598119266?pwd=hBsyf6f36vp1HF7Vagek6vQUQQUubz.1

In case you haven't heard, the SJCA Action Shooting Team's Middle School Boys Squad won 1st place in the Rifle Iron Sites event in the Valentine's Shooting Match, a nation-wide shooting competition. Be sure to see the write-up further down in this Lion Line edition. I am so thankful for Mrs. Rogish and this entire team!

There are a couple of key events in the month of April, and we need your participation in both:

1. Lions Council Meeting - Special Edition! We will hold elections for Executive Committee Officer positions, and we will hold a Town Hall meeting with a Q&A session with SJCA staff. I will also have the plans for the new gymnasium building on display and will discuss the plans for continuing school operations during construction.

2. SJCA Sporting Clays Tournament on April 20th. This is the second annual tournament - last year was amazing! Clean your shotguns and come out for a great time. Get your foursome together today and register at this link: https://www.lionscouncil.org/sporting-clay-tournament

Thank you for partnering with us as we strive to develop graduates in mind and character. The parents' part in this endeavor is the most important and we realize that. Let's work together to build intelligent, virtuous American citizens - this is what our nation needs most.

Lion Strong!

Mr. Johnson

The Action Shooting Team competed in a Valentine Virtual match against teams from across the country. The Intermediate Squad (middle school) won first place in rifle iron sights. Some of their individual scores beat athletes at the collegiate level! Congratulations to Mason D., Aiden G., Eric G., and Sam P.

Enter to win one of six guns! The Action Shooting team is participating in a fundraising raffle. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased from any of the team athletes or Mrs. Rogish in the little house. The drawing will be held in July and participants do not need to be present to win.

Imprimis is the free monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College dedicated to educating citizens and promoting civil and religious liberty by covering cultural, economic, political, and educational issues. The content of Imprimis is drawn from speeches delivered at Hillsdale College events. First published in 1972, Imprimis is one of the most widely circulated opinion publications in the nation with over 5.6 million subscribers. Past issues are available at: https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu

Click here to activate your free monthly subscription to Imprimis.

We are looking for some amazing stories from you to publish in future editions of The Lion Line. Simply answer this question, "Why did you choose St. Johns Classical Academy and what has it meant for your family?"

<<< Click Here to Submit Your Story!

03/28 Board of Directors Meeting 6 p.m. @ FI Campus

03/29 Good Friday, No School

04/01 Lions Council Meeting / Town Hall Meeting 6 p.m. @ FI Cafetorium

04/11 Safety Patrol Pinning Ceremony 3:30 p.m. @ FI Cafetorium

04/12 Fair Day, No School

04/12 Senior Grad Bash: Universal Studios 12 p.m. pick-up from FI Campus

04/15 Purple Up Day, No Charge

04/20 Sporting Clays Tournament 8 a.m. @ Jax Clay Target Sports

04/25 Board of Directors Meeting 6 p.m. @ FI Campus

04/26 Spirit Day ($2)

04/26 Yellow vs. Blue Volleyball Scrimmage 5 p.m. @ OP Gymnasium

04/29 Wellness Committee & Menu Revue Team 3:30 p.m. Room 204

04/29 Lions Council Meeting 6 p.m. @ FI Cafetorium

05/02 Spring Band Concert 6 p.m. @ OP Campus

05/03 Annual Spring Cabaret 6 p.m. @ OP Campus

05/04 Junior/Senior Prom 7 p.m. @ The Hilltop

05/06-05/10 Teacher Appreciation Week

05/06 New Parent Orientation 6 p.m. @ FI Cafetorium

05/07-05/08 Cheer Team Tryouts 5-7 p.m. @ FI Campus

05/09-05/11 Grammar School Mary Poppins Musical Production 6 p.m. @ FI Cafetorium

05/18 Mother/Daughter Tea 10:00 a.m. @ FI Cafetorium

If accessing the SJCA-FI Calendar on a mobile device:

1. turn the device horizontal
2. click on the date you wish to view
3. swipe to the right to see the day's activities

• Spending limits can be placed on your scholar's lunch account. Contact lunch@stjca.org for more information.

• The Wellness Committee and Menu Review Team will meet in April. 04/29 Wellness Committee & Menu Revue Team Meeting 3:30 p.m. Room 204Please remember the menu is subject to change based on product availability.

• Please review the Unpaid Meal Policy on page 45 of the Family and Scholar Handbook. The negative charge limit is $20, the cost of 5 meals.

• Please use the MSB app/web version to load funds so that the campus can be cashless.

• Per the National School Lunch Program, your scholar(s) must take the full meal served including the milk, UNLESS there is a medical statement on file with the school. If you have questions, concerns, or need a medical statement form, please contact lunch@stjca.org.

• Scholars with the barcode ID will be moved to the front to expedite the line.

• Per the National School Lunch Program, your scholar(s) must take the full meal served including the milk, UNLESS there is a medical statement on file with the school. If you have questions, concerns, or need a medical statement form, please contact lunch@stjca.org.

04/02 In School SAT Testing*

04/02 Sixth-Tenth Grades Writing

04/04 Fourth-Fifth Grades Writing

05/01 Kindergarten ELA PM3 Testing

05/02 Second Grade ELA PM3 Testing

05/02 Sixth-Tenth Grades ELA PM3 Testing

05/02 Eleventh and Twelfth Grade ELA PM3 Make Up

05/03 Third-Grade ELA PM3 Testing

05/06 Second-Grade Math PM3 Testing

05/07 First-Grade ELA PM3 Testing

05/08 First-Grade Math PM3 Testing

05/09 Fourth-Fifth Grades ELA PM3 Testing

05/10 AP US History Exam - 8:00 a.m.

05/10 US History EOC - 8:00 a.m.

05/10 Civics EOC - 8:00 a.m.

05/10 Biology EOC - 8:00 a.m.

05/10 Financial Literacy Exam - 8:00 a.m.

05/13 AP Calculus Exam - 8:00 a.m.

05/13 Sixth-Eighth Grade Math PM3 Testing - does not include any middle school scholars taking Algebra1 or higher

05/13 Geometry EOC

05/13 Algebra 1 EOC

05/13 US History EOC for AP US History Scholars

05/14 Kindergarten Math PM3 Testing

05/14 Fifth and Eighth-Grade Science Testing

05/16 Third - Fifth-Grade Math PM3 Testing

05/17 AP Physics Exam - 8:00 a.m.

05/20-05/24 Make-Up Testing

*All juniors will take the SAT, in school, at no cost, on April 2, 2024. All scholars must provide their own calculator for the exam. Please use the link below to look at the list of approved calculators for the SAT. We will only have basic 4 function calculators to provide but do not have enough for the entire grade level.

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bring-do/calculator-policy

If you have any gently used uniforms that you’re no longer using, please consider donating them to the clothes closet. The uniforms are given to families in need and lent to new families while they await their Lands End order.

All school-approved items are welcome including uniforms, spirit wear, shoes, SJCA jackets, and PE uniforms.

You can drop your donation off at the Little House.

Date: Monday, April 1, 2024

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Cafetorium Fleming Island Campus

The Lions Council will host a Town Hall Meeting. Mr. Johnson and SJCA administration will talk with parents about a variety of topics. It’s a great way to stay informed, ask questions, and voice concerns.

Please note, prior to the Town Hall Meeting, the Lions Council will have a short 15-minute meeting to vote on its executive committee. All Lions Council members are encouraged to attend and place their vote.

Over the recent Spring Break, three SJCA teachers traveled to the isolated village of Playa Muerto, home to a tribe of Embera Indians, to complete the final step of a service project begun by SJCA's fourth through sixth-grade Safety Patrol.

Playa Muerto is located in the remote Darien region of Panama. Mr. Ross, upper school Art teacher, has made several trips to the village and shared with his colleagues about the beauty and uniqueness of the culture there, as well as the needs of the local school. His stories piqued the interest of fourth grade teachers and Safety Patrol sponsors Mrs. Hancock and Mrs. Kujawa, who saw an opportunity for their scholars to "Do the Good" by collecting supplies for the school in Playa Muerto. All together, the Safety Patrol collected several thousand dollars worth of school supplies. United States Border Patrol flew the supplies to Panama, where Mrs. Hancock, Mrs. Kujawa, and Mr. Ross collected the boxes and began their journey to the village. It took twelve hours of travel by plane, bus, and boat, but Mr. Ross's extensive travel experience helped ensure a safe and smooth trip and the group arrived at Playa Muerto on March 10, 2024.

While the primary objective of the trip was to deliver much-needed school supplies to the village school, the SJCA teachers also received invaluable opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual understanding. They learned about indigenous traditions, art, culture, and daily life, which will help them expand the world for their students.

This Spring Break journey not only provided tangible support to a deserving community, but it also instilled lifelong lessons of empathy, compassion, and global citizenship in the hearts of the teachers and their students.

Thank you to everyone who donated supplies and funds to make this service project possible. Mrs. Hancock, Mrs. Kujawa, and Mr. Ross look forward to sharing these experiences with students, co-workers, and parents in the near future and in the years to come!

BIG BIG NEWS from our Sixth-Grade Flag Football team as they won their first Championship in the NFISAC. In the semi-finals our Lions were down late but when for 2 after a touch down to seal the deal on a 14-13 win to the victory. In the championship game the Lions scored first and lead by a strong defense stopped the opposing team multiple drives on the way to a shut out and won 20-0.

This is just a great example showing how our school athletics are growing. We are state wide now competing against everyone. So spread the word and tell your family and friends that going to a Lions game, meet or competition is ALWAYS a great time! GO LIONS!!!

The 4-6th grade track team competed in the Clay County Elementary Track Meet. They brought home multiple 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons! Great job, Lions!

Recently, the First-Grade musicians have been learning about the role of a conductor and how he or she communicates information to instrumentalists or vocalists using non-verbal communication, and most excitingly, a baton. They participated in a lesson on what conductors DO (steady beat, tempo, dynamics, cues, cutoffs) and DO NOT (notes and rhythms-that's what the sheet music is for!) communicate to the performers. They also heard a read-aloud about a conductor who must persevere when he loses his baton, and then the First Graders earned their own batons. They practiced conducting patterns for 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time signatures while they explored matching their musical body language to the elements heard in the music. This unit was a hit among the scholars and we may just have some future conductors among us!

The Third-Grade musicians just finished up an in-depth unit on The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst, combining their knowledge of music, history, astronomy, and mythology to listen deeply and write about what they heard. Now they are excited to begin their long-awaited study of ukulele with a fitting song from the curriculum, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, which will help them to master the basics of strumming, as well as changing between two chords. They are looking forward to adding more songs to their ukulele repertoire!

The Fourth-Grade musicians have also just recently finished up an exciting unit on music of the Revolutionary War, which went hand in hand with their studies in history. They learned about Drum & Fife Corps, the three most important purposes for music during the war (communication, morale, and regimentation), the role music played during the Surrender at Yorktown, and even heard what General Washington himself had to say about the great importance of the musicians to the revolution effort. Then, after a crash course in marching basics, we took to the parking lot with our drum, fife, and flag to proudly reenact an experience depicted in The Spirit of '76 (Yankee Doodle), a painting by Archibald Willard which is on display in the cafetorium. The scholars enjoyed taking turns leading our company with the drum as well as carrying the flag. A few scholars even assumed a leadership role and tried their hand at commanding the infantry. We had a great time, while also learning just how difficult it can be to march in step while maintaining rank and file! If you are interested in learning more, MountVernon.org has a fantastic resource that can be accessed here!

Outsmart Your Brain

By: Daniel T. Willingham, PhD

_____________________________

How to Plan Your Work

When a scholar moves to Upper School, more responsibility is placed on the scholar. Scholars leave Grammar School where they are self-contained in their classrooms with recess and co-curriculars added to their day. Scholars are now expected to change classes every 50 minutes, remember to write down everything in their planners, and remember to complete all of their homework on time. For some scholars, completing all of this successfully comes very naturally. Others however need help learning the skills they will need to succeed.

There are two parts to planning: remembering to complete the tasks you have to complete and ensuring you have adequate time to do so. Using your planner daily allows scholars to remember the things they need to complete, as long as they are writing everything down. When it comes time to work on a task, it is safe to assume that you need more time than you plan for. Lastly, checking one’s to-do list daily to ensure everything is completed when it needs to be completed is the last and most crucial aspect of utilizing a planner.

Below are several methods outlined in Outsmart Your Brain that will help scholars plan their work. Scholars should try some of these tips to see what works best for them to successfully plan their work.

• Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep makes thinking and paying attention harder as well as disrupting the learning that took place the previous day. It is recommended that teenagers get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

• Plan a block of consistent, dedicated time for learning: During this consistent and dedicated time for learning, scholars should plan their learning by time and not by task. Even if nothing is due tomorrow, the block of time is consistent and assignments that are due later should be worked on. This will help scholars get ahead of their work rather than feeling they are always just on time or playing catch up.

• Use a Calendar: A planner can be a perfect item to use as a calendar. Even if a scholar does not want to use the SJCA planner that can be bought, finding a calendar that works for you is essential to planning your work. It is important to keep your calendar or planner at all times, especially at school and during your consistent dedicated time for learning. Write your assignments and their due dates immediately after you receive them. All SJCA teachers keep an agenda at the front of their classrooms which will include homework, tests, and quiz dates. When writing down these assignments, it is smart to add reminders throughout the time to work on them and the due date. Do not forget to include your social activities in your planner as well. Filling out your calendar/planner in this manner will allow you to sit down during the consistent, dedicated time for learning and determine what do I need to work on first.

• Make a to-do list for each study session: Write a to-do list for each study session you begin. Also, make sure to look at the to-do list from the previous day and add any unfinished items to your new to-do list. Look at your calendar/planner for things that might need to be added to your to-do list. If any task on your list is large, consider breaking it up into smaller tasks. If you notice things should be added to your to-do list while you are working, add it. This process should take roughly 10 minutes.

• Set and revisit your learning goals: Keep a list of your long-term goals and write down the steps needed to reach those goals. Revisit this list every six months or so. If you monitor your progress in reaching your goals, it is more likely that you will achieve them.

• Set goals with the hidden factors in mind: When setting long-term goals, consider the following factors: follow your purpose, assess if your environment is supportive, neutral, or toxic to achieving your goals, and see if your emotions are preventing you from thinking clearly about your goals.

• Develop a plan: Make your plan specific and have a backup plan. It is also helpful to plan for obstacles that you may have to overcome.

The mission of St. Johns Classical Academy is to develop graduates in mind and character through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the principles of virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility. We are building intelligent, virtuous American citizens. But why do we teach Latin? This is one of the most frequently asked questions classical educators hear. Even though Latin is viewed as a “dead language,” there are an abundance of benefits to studying the Latin language.

Classical education is a return to the tried-and-true methods of education seeking truth, goodness, and beauty in the study of the liberal arts and the Great Books. The purpose of classical education is to teach students how to learn and how to think. All the greatest thinkers in history, such as Aristotle, Plato, and our Founding Fathers, all studied Latin. Studying Latin allows scholars to enhance their problem-solving abilities. Latin is a highly organized and logical language. Studying Latin requires scholars to be attentive to detail and develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Since Latin is a highly organized and logical language, Latin can also aid in a scholar's ability to be attentive to detail and to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which is also required in a mathematics class.

Latin also improves scholars' English vocabulary in addition to their reading, writing, and speaking skills. More than 60 percent of English words have a root, prefix, or suffix that originates from the Latin language. Studying Latin allows scholars to develop a deeper understanding of the English language, expand their vocabulary, improve grammar, and improve composition skills. Since Latin expands one's vocabulary, studies will also aid in understanding science vocabulary. These words were developed during the Renaissance when all scholars learned Greek and Latin, making the use of the Latin language very beneficial in science. With a scholar’s increased proficiency in the languages of Latin and English, it is quite common for SAT, ACT, and CLT scores to improve. Studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service show that students who study Latin consistently outperform other students on national assessments.

At St. Johns Classical Academy, we believe that offering a true Classical curriculum will not only provide a pathway for our scholars to be successful in their educational endeavors but also to become intelligent, virtuous American citizens. We believe that the study of Latin aids in fulfilling this mission.

Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 2:25 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.

Wednesdays 12:25 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

Fridays by appointment only

Additionally, each Upper School teacher has tutoring for 15-20 minutes before their carline duties. Your scholar should have the days and times written in their planners.

For more information, please contact Student Services.

Any upcoming juniors and seniors interested in dual enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year must have their applications to SJCA's Academic Advisor, Kayla Flannagan, no later than July 1, 2024. Please use the following link to research the requirements and process. https://www.sjrstate.edu/dual-students

CLEP exams help you receive college credit for a fraction of the cost of a college course. Exams are administered year-round on a flexible schedule and last between 90-120 minutes with scores released immediately. Passing a CLEP exam with a score of 3 or higher allows scholars to earn college credit at 2,900 colleges across the country.

When selecting which CLEP exams to take, I caution that all scholars not take a CLEP exam for credit in a course in which they want to major. While a scholar will earn credit for passing the exam, the college or university has the autonomy to award the credit where they see fit. For example, if a scholar majors in chemistry and passes the chemistry CLEP exam, the scholar will earn a college credit for chemistry. Most colleges and universities, however, will award that credit as an elective credit rather than a credit toward the degree one is seeking. Colleges and universities want scholars to take their chemistry course because they believe it will best prepare them for the degree. College credit is awarded for a passed exam, but not in the manner you think.

When signing up for a CLEP exam, you will be presented with the option to purchase a study guide. While SJCA believes our curriculum will help prepare scholars to pass a test on a specific subject area, we cannot guarantee that every scholar will pass. The study guide is an excellent tool to bridge the types of questions on the exam with our curriculum.

Does your senior have acceptances coming in? Be sure to share the information with our Academic Advisor so we can celebrate your senior scholar!

Congratulations to Emma and Amara for earning the title, "Safety Patroller of the Month". Their commitment to promoting safety is a valuable contribution to our school!

SJCA Safety Patrol scholars are raising funds for their trip to Washington D.C. in June 2024. Please help support these Scholars earn their trip!

Order Pizza Now!

Order Cookie Dough Now!

It's time to start collecting those pop tabs if you haven't already started! The SJCA Interact Club needs your soda/pop tabs from aluminum cans. Please collect them, and bring them to your scholar's teacher. This fundraiser will run through Tuesday, May 7th. We will give the Lower School homeroom class and Upper School 7th period class with the most tabs collected (by weight) a pizza party. ​**Minimum amount for a class to win a pizza party is 10 lbs. of pop tabs.** These will be delivered to the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, and they will be recycled for cash to help provide housing for families visiting Jacksonville while their children receive medical care. Thank you for helping us do the good!

Join us for our 2nd Annual Sporting Clay Tournament, light breakfast, clays, shells, golf cart and lunch Included.

Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024

Time: 8:00 a.m. - Noon

Location: Jacksonville Clay Target Sports

Price: $175 per shooter

$600 per team of 4

Register Now!

Date: 05/06-05/10

Theme: We’re not LION, our teachers are PAWsitively the BEST!

The Lions Council is working on several treats to spoil our teachers during this week and invite parents to participate in the following daily events.

Monday 05/06: L- Load Em’ Up! Bring in a gift card for your teacher to one of their favorite places/restaurants!

- Upper School- Periods 1 & 2

Tuesday 05/07: I – Indulge! Bring in your teacher’s favorite snack/treat

- Upper School- ALL Periods

Wednesday 05/08: O – OH how beautiful! Bring in a single flower to fill their vase!

- Upper School- Periods 3 - 5

Thursday 05/09: N – Note of Encouragement! Write your teacher a note of encouragement and/or tell them why you’re thankful for them!

- Upper School- ALL Periods

Friday 05/10: S – Something Special for Summer! Start your teacher’s summer off right and bring them in something they can enjoy over the summer break!

- Upper School- Periods 6 & 7

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location: Fleming Island Campus Cafetorium

Attire: Sunday Best (Hats and Princess Dresses permitted)

Cost: $30 (per family)

Save the date, SJCA's annual golf tournament is already on the calendar!

Date: Monday, October 14, 2024

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Eagle Harbor Golf Club

Email: info@stjca.org
Website: www.stjca.org
Location: 114 Canova Road, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904)-458-8240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjca