Dear Parents,

Your generosity is overwhelming! If you stopped in the front office at either McCormick or Stormes Hall this week, you saw the wonderful response to our request for toys going to the Salvation Army. Both bins were overflowing! The students reacted with excitement every time they walked by. When there is a need to be met, this community always rises to the occasion to make it happen. Thank you!

We have a busy week ahead of us, and we would love for you to be part of any or all of the activities. First, our traditional Lessons and Carols Service is Wednesday, December 14th at 8:30 a.m. The sixth graders are the main characters in the re-telling of the Nativity story. It is always a special time for the school to worship together. Students may wear dress clothes or school uniforms on this day.

Our annual Pajama Day party is on Friday, December 16th. This is a wonderful tradition filled with hot chocolate, the reading of a Christmas story, a carol sing-a-long, and classroom parties. We have early dismissal at 11:30 a.m. that day (no Extended Day). Christmas Break will continue through Monday, January 2nd, with classes resuming on Tuesday, January 3rd.

Re-enrollment letters are mailed out when you return in January. We are looking forward to a robust enrollment season and having your children return to the BEST school at the beach!

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

Martha Milton

Thank you to all who have given to the Starfish Fund! For those who have not given or pledged, it is not too late! (please see information below in regard to donations for the 2016 tax year).

Mrs. Milton would still love to take each class to Sweet Frog for an ice cream party! Third grade remains in first place at 69% participation!

Total parent participation 44%

PK3- Marshall: 36%
Pk4- Harding: 33%
PK4- Palmer: 50%
K- Peters: 33%
1A-Lamm: 36%
1B-McGhee: 40%
2nd- Mrs.T: 50%
3rd- Mrs. Jones: 69%
4A- Bittengle: 33%
4B-Glasser: 50%
5th -Hartman: 41%
6th- Wellman: 45%

As we approach the end of 2016, we hope that you will consider a donation to The Starfish Fund as a part of your year-end charitable giving. To ensure that your gift is tax deductible in 2016, please follow these Year-End Giving Guidelines:

Gifts of Cash or by Credit Card
· All checks sent by mail must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2016. Please mail to: Beaches Episcopal School, 1150 5th Street North, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250  Attn: Stacy Nash.
· Credit card gifts may be made securely online here (Credit card donations must be received by December 31 at midnight).

Gifts of Stock and Other Appreciated Securities
· Beaches Episcopal School accepts gifts of stock and appreciated securities. Transfer of securities must be executed by your broker and received by our transfer agent by noon on December 31, 2016. Please allow 3–5 business days for electronic transfers to be completed. For detailed information about transferring stocks and securities to BES, contact Peggy Davis by email.

Other Ways to Give...
Gift Matching
· Matching gifts are a wonderful opportunity for you to double your donations. Many companies offer varying levels of corporate matching for their employees charitable interests. Please check to see if your employer has a matching gift program.

Pledges
· Beaches Episcopal accepts pledges to The Starfish Fund. Pledge reminders will be mailed in the months of December, February, April and May. Pledges to The Starfish Fund must be paid by May 31 each year. Please contact Stacy Nash by email to make a pledge.

Lessons and Carols Service (students may wear BES uniforms or dress clothes on this day)
Wednesday, Dec. 14th at 8:30 a.m. in the church

Denim Day (proceeds to Angels of Fashion, in honor of Kate Amato)
Thursday, Dec. 15th

School Store
Thursday, Dec. 15th from 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. in Stormes Hall and McCormick Hall

Pajama Day/Class Parties/Early Dismissal
Friday, Dec. 16th
- Pajama Day: 9:30 a.m. in Parish Hall
- Class Parties at 10:30 a.m. in classrooms
- Early Dismissal at 11:30 a.m. - No Extended Day

Christmas Break (School Closed, No Extended Day)
Monday, Dec. 19th - Monday, Jan. 2, 2017

Classes Resume
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017

Parents,

Please make sure your students' pictures or picture money is turned in to the school office by Friday, December 9th. Thank you!

Parents, please order your students' hot lunches for the month of January by Thursday, December 15th at 11:59 p.m.

Please see the RenWeb ordering instructions below...

Placing Lunch Orders through RenWeb's ParentsWeb:
1. After logging into ParentsWeb, expand the Student Information menu. The school code is BE-FL.
2. Click Lunch.
3. Arrow forward to January.
4. Click Create Web Order to enter the lunch orders for your student.
5. Type the number of items to order for your student in the QTY (quantity) column. The Total column displays the cost.
6. The Grand Total is listed at the bottom.
7. Click Order Items.
8. Enter the Payment Amount into the lunch accounting system and select the Pay Now button.

If you have any questions about the system or cutoff dates, please contact Peggy Davis at 246-2466 or email her at pdavis@beachesepiscopalschool.org.

Order Hot Lunches Now

This is the last week to register for Flag Football or Volleyball for the BES Rays!

Flag Football is open to all 4th to 6th grade girls and boys. Please return both forms to the front office to register. Practice will be on Thursday after school, starting January 12th. The games will begin January 24th and continue every Tuesday until the tournament on March 12th.

Our Volleyball Jamborees will be February 23 and March 9th at JCDS. Volleyball is open to all 3rd to 6th grade girls and boys. We have beginners to returning players on our squad. Practice will be Tuesdays after school, starting January 10th. Come join the fun and be a part of the BES Rays team. Sign up by returning both forms to the front office.

To sign up for Flag Football or Volleyball, please complete the two forms and return them to the front office by December 16th. 

In order to compete in Flag Football, parents must return BOTH a Flag Football Registration Form for 4th-6th Grade Students and Parent Waiver and Consent Form.

In order to participate in Volleyball, parents must return BOTH a Volleyball Registration Form for 3rd-6th Grade Students and a Parent Waiver and Consent Form.

Please email Mrs. Novak with any questions at tnovak@BeachesEpiscopalSchool.org.

Free Lacrosse Clinics at Jax Beach!

Coach Carter, from Episcopal, is offering a Free Lacrosse clinic at the Beaches this weekend. Coach Carter is starting a Beaches Lacrosse League and would like you to be a part of the action. 

Learn more: Lacrosse Clinic Flyer

The lacrosse clinic is free, so register online here!

St. Paul’s by-the-Sea is excited to invite you to our Advent Program for this year! For the next four weeks, we will offer programs that lend themselves to our theme of “Wellness Wednesday.” Looking for a Bible study? Our Adult Bible Study meets at 9:00 a.m. in the Christopher Lobby with Eucharist immediately afterward.

For youth in 6th through 12th grade, we offer dinner and Bible Study from 6:00 p m.– 7:00 p.m. in the Youth House! While that is going on, we invite you to join us for our Book Study of “Breathing Underwater.” In this book written by Franciscan priest Richard Rohr, we will be using the 12 Steps to Spirituality to prepare for Christ’s coming in Advent through the season of Lent. Books are $12, but scholarships are available for those who need them. We sincerely hope that you will join us for Wellness Wednesdays!