2024 Lower New Family Welcome Guide

WELCOME → TO LOWER DIVISION!

BEFORE

THE FIRST DAY

This section explains a few key things you’ll need to know or do in advance, to help ensure that your child’s “big day” goes smoothly.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

All student required uniforms must be purchased from Educational Outfitters, Lands’ End, or St John’s Used Uniform Store.

New Uniforms:

Educational Outfitters: St John’s uniform source that offers in-store and online (tampa educationaloutfitters com) shopping The Educational Outfitters store is located at 3904 West Hillsborough Avenue, Unit D, 33614, and phone number 813.350.0222. Lands’ End: St. John’s uniform source that offers online shopping (landsend.com/school). Scan the QR code to view the uniform requirements in the family handbook (pg. 32-33).

Used Uniforms:

Our Parents’ Association collects gently used uniforms throughout the year and offers them for sale online. Scan the QR code to the right to place your order.

Spirit Wear:

Every Friday students are permitted to wear SJE spirit wear in lieu of their uniforms. Some spirit wear can be found in the used uniform supply. Additional items can be purchased from Educational Outfitters in person or online.

SNACKS/LUNCH

Please be prepared to send a healthy snack and lunch with your child(ren) each day. In lieu of packing a lunch, you have the option to pre-order and purchase a lunch through the school’s outside lunch program vendor, tampalunch com Use the code sjelower Parents are not permitted to bring soft drinks, coffee drinks, or fast food to students Food delivery services are not permitted on school property

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

As part of comprehensive tuition, St John’s provides students the school supplies needed

BEFORE

THE FIRST DAY

This section explains a few key things you’ll need to know or do in advance, to help ensure that your child’s “big day” goes smoothly.

BACKPACKS

Backpacks should be large enough to hold large books, binders, and a lunch box. Student backpacks with wheels are permitted, due to the potential weight of a packed backpack.

PLEASE LABEL ALL YOUR CHILD(REN)’S ITEMS: BACKPACKS, LUNCHBOXES, SWEATERS, WATER BOTTLES, UNIFORMS, ETC.

SUMMER READING

Students entering Grades 2-8 are required to read books from the summer reading list, as they will be discussed at the start of school in the fall Your Division Head will provide summer reading lists before the summer break

REVIEW HANDBOOK

The family handbook is full of important information that should be able to answer any remaining questions you may have. Scan the QR code for access.

REVIEW CALENDAR

The major dates for 2024-'25 have been published. The detailed calendar will be available in MySJE in July. Scan the QR code for the major dates.

CHECK OUT PAGE 5 FOR BEFORE SCHOOL ONLINE TASKS

THEFIRSTDAY

You’ve ordered hot lunches for the week, packed snacks, labeled their backpacks and made sure they’re dressed in their new uniforms. Here’s what you need to know when you ’ re driving to campus to drop them off for their first day:

HOURS, ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

The guiding principles behind our parking and carline policies are safety, efficiency, and respect Accordingly, parents and other drivers are asked and expected to adhere to the established procedures. Parents should be respectful of other drivers and surrounding streets and driveways. Parking in or otherwise blocking private driveways and public streets are inappropriate behaviors.

7:30am Doors open

7:55am Doors close and school begins

8:00am

11:00am

Chapel begins and the church doors will be locked for safety If a child arrives after Chapel begins, he or she must be signed in at the office, and students will be escorted to Chapel via the back hallways

Students cannot be dropped off to school after this time. If your child is tardy, he/she must be signed into the Division office. Your child will be escorted to class by the Division Head or the Administrative Assistant.

2:50-3:15pm Dismissal for drive-up and walk-up students

3:15pm

6:00pm

After School Program (ASP) begins. Children not picked up by 3:15pm will be checked into ASP as “drop-ins,” and charged the daily rate, regardless of how long they stay

ASP ends. Parents picking up children late from ASP will be charged $1 per minute, per child, for each minute late.

THEFIRSTDAY

You’ve ordered hot lunches for the week, packed snacks, labeled their backpacks and made sure they’re dressed in their new uniforms. Here’s what you need to know when you ’ re driving to campus to drop them off for their first day:

CARLINE

All Lower Division drop-off and pick-up traffic should approach Orleans Avenue from Watrous Avenue.

Parents driving to school from Bayshore Blvd. should turn onto S. Rome Ave and then approach the School via Watrous Ave.

If you are driving south on Bayshore Blvd, DO NOT turn right onto Watrous to then turn up S. Orleans. This is unfair to drivers waiting in the carline who are coming east on Watrous as directed (If our parents are delinquent in this matter, the city will force the School to hire police officers and to absorb all associated expenses )

Children should not be dropped off or picked up from cars in the middle or left lane

Arriving children should be ready to exit the vehicle immediately, from the passenger door only

Departing children should enter the car on the passenger side, as well

Please do not have book bags or other school items in the trunk

Please do not park or stand within 10 feet of a driveway.

Please do not park in the School pick-up lane (yellow curb) during school days or in a designated 5-minute zone.

If you need to walk into the School, please do not park along the School side of Orleans. Parents and children should use the crosswalk, and children should be physically escorted across the street by their parent.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

For afternoon dismissal, the Lower Division employs the use of an app called PikMyKid. You will receive information in July regarding registration for this app

Please affix the PikMyKid sticker (dispersed to families at the start of the school year) on the right, lower portion of your windshield so that the faculty dispatcher can clearly see the appropriate information

Please also be sure to “ announce ” your child(ren) at the appropriate check point within the dismissal carline or walk-up line

If a dismissal change is to occur (i e , carpooling or another person picking up a student), please add the appropriate delegate within the PikMyKid app

The Division Head can assist with any technical questions regarding the use of PikMyKid.

Dismissal Changes: The School must be notified of any dismissal change via phone call (813-849-5200) or email to the campus Administrative Assistant by 12:00 p.m. If a child has a medical appointment before dismissal or departs early for any reason, parents must sign their child(ren) out in the office.

THEFIRSTDAY

You’ve ordered hot lunches for the week, packed snacks, labeled their backpacks and made sure they’re dressed in their new uniforms. Here’s what you need to know when you ’ re driving to campus to drop them off for their first day:

CARLINE ROUTE

CAMPUSMAP

SECOND

SPORTS DECK

GET INVOLVED

The St. John's Community is truly a family! There are so many ways you can get involved, from volunteer opportunities to parent socials and more.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteerism is the heartbeat of the St. John’s community, and a cornerstone of philanthropy within the independent school experience. Parents, grandparents, alumni, and community partners model our school’s core values of citizenship and diligence, and provide the support and service we need to provide a superior educational experience within a nurturing Christian environment. SJE volunteers, especially parent volunteers, collaborate and partner with school administration and faculty to promote a healthy parent partnership experience and engage their peers in school life in the most meaningful way possible

PARENTS' ASSOCIATION

All parents and guardians with children enrolled at the School are automatically members of the Parents’ Association and are encouraged to participate. The PA supports the mission and strategic goals of the School, encouraging parent involvement by promoting community among SJE families All levels of participation are welcomed and encouraged

PARENTS' NIGHT DADS' CLUB

Parents’ Night is held early in the fall each year

The aim is to enable our teachers to share with parent-specific course content and class activities

We look forward to this opportunity to meet with all of our parents and strongly encourage full attendance. This event is for parents only.

The Dads' Club is a school-based, volunteer-driven service organization open to all fathers or guardians of current St John’s students The Dads’ Club provides fathers/guardians the opportunity to engage with one another and be involved in their children’s school experience, contributing their time, talent, and resources to support St. John's.

GRANDPARENTS & GRAND FRIENDS DAY

Grandparents and 'grand friends' are valued members of our SJE community and enhance our students’ lives and experiences. Grandparents & Grand Friends Day is held each year and provides an opportunity for grandparents and their grandchildren to spend time together with classroom visits, hands-on activities, and more.