Dear Parents,

As we begin a new school year, I’d like to remind you about a couple of things. First, although we are not a peanut-free school, I do want to encourage you to be sensitive to the children at BES with allergies. If possible, it is best to send a snack that is free of tree-nuts and peanuts. Lunch time is easier to control because we have an allergen-free table. Living with food allergies is a process that is quite complex and scary. It is my hope that our children learn compassion by being sensitive to others.

Second, Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day is right around the corner on Monday, September 26th.

Students should come to school as usual at 8:00 a.m. Grandparents and special friends do not need to arrive until 9:30 a.m. where there is a reception waiting for them in Stormes Hall.

At 10:00 a.m., the children will meet their guests in the St. Paul's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church sanctuary and sit together for a special chapel service. At the conclusion of the service, they may walk across the street together and visit classrooms. We will have a photo station available for families to be photographed together.

This year, the children will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. to go home with their grandparents, special friends, or be picked up at the carpool line. Extended Day is available as usual that day until 6 p.m. However, there will be no After-school Activities. Click here to see the full schedule for this special day.

I hope your year is off to a great start! It is a pleasure to work with such a wonderful group of families!

Fondly,

Martha

Beaches Episcopal School is proud to offer a Book Writing and Illustrating Presentation for students in grades PreK4 through sixth grade in late September. Two wonderful authors and an illustrator will speak to our students during this special event on Friday, Sept. 30th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Hope Hall.

This presentation ties in perfectly with our theme this year of "Readers are Leaders!" We hope it will engage our students to discover how writing skills they are learning in school apply to the real world. The goal of this event is to awaken a desire in our students to not only love reading, but to also ignite a passion to utilize language and art to express themselves.

Guests will include Jane R. Wood, an author who uses mystery, adventure, and kids' natural love of animals to capture the imagination of young readers while also teaching them about history of places such as St. Augustine, Amelia Island, the St. Johns River, Savannah, and Boston. She will share photographs and personal anecdotes about the people, places, and animals featured in her books.

Also presenting to the children will be Mark W. Adams, illustrator, and Linda Smigaj, author, whose "Fly on the Wall Series" brings history to life in a third person perspective that captures the attention of children and helps them feel as though they are part of the story.

Parents, we encourage you to partner with us in fostering a love of reading in your family. Books take us places, move us, and inform our hearts and minds. Elementary school is where that foundation is established, and we are excited to stand with you so that our young readers become leaders in and out of the classroom.

CTP4/OLSAT - 2nd and 6th Grades
Monday, Sept. 19th - Thurs., Sept. 22nd

School Store (7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. in Stormes Hall and McCormick Hall)
Thursday, Sept. 22nd

Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day
Monday, Sept. 26th from 9:30 -11:30 a.m.; Early dismissal for guests and students at 11:30 a.m. (Extended Day Available)

See You at the Pole Prayer Time - McCormick Hall Flag Pole
Wed., Sept. 28th at 7:30 a.m. (students, faculty, and families welcome)

Birthday Book Chapel (July, August, September Birthdays)
Wed., Sept. 28th at 8:10 a.m. in the church

Book Writing and Illustrating Presentation for PreK4 through Sixth Grade
Friday, Sept. 30th from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Denim Day (Unravel Pediatric Cancer)
Friday, Sept. 30th

Picture Day for Students
Monday, Oct. 3rd

SPBTS Alhambra Dinner Theatre (Sister Act) to benefit BES Scholarship Night
Tuesday, Oct. 4th at 6:00 p.m.

Blessing of the Pets
Friday, Oct. 7th on the church lawn at 8:10 a.m.

Basketball

Are you ready to rumble?! Basketball is season is here. Our JV 3rd and 4th graders had their first game on Monday. Coach Clausen said he enjoyed their first game, and he thinks the boys played with energy and enthusiasm. They've been playing hard in practice, paying attention and, most importantly, having fun! All season, the team will be working on basic basketball skills (lay ups, dribbling, passing, spacing, and defense). Coach Clausen has already seen improvement in everyone. Great job, JV Team! On Thursday, our girls will travel to St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School. The girls have been practicing hard and having fun.

Let’s Go Rays!

2016 Basketball Schedule for 2016

Running Club

This morning's Running Club was electric as 23 of our students and a couple of our parents joined us to run or walk 2-3 miles down 1st Street. We applaud their efforts and are excited to see this group take off!

The Running Club is supporting the Avondale 5K and 1 Mile Classic. Make plans to join us on September 24th to run a 5K or 1 mile run. The school with the most students will be recognized. Come show your school spirit and join the run. All runners are welcome. 

RSVP to tnovak@beachesepiscopalschool.org if you will be running so we can coordinate a large group. Our Running Club will be at this event.

Click here for more info about the Avondale 5K and 1 Mile Classic!

Go Rays!

We ask that all of our families support "Unravel Pediatric Cancer" during Denim Day on Friday, Sept. 30th. Two years ago, a friend of one of Niki Philip's best friends lost her seven year old daughter Jennifer to DIPG, which is a type of terminal brain cancer.  After her death, her family created "Unravel Pediatric Cancer."  Mrs. Philips, who is a BES parent, has always wanted to help this organization in whatever way she could, and so she approached us about supporting it through Denim Day proceeds.

The month of September is also "Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month." Mrs. Philips placed 10 beautiful dragon flies on garden stakes in the McCormick courtyard one Friday in September, as part of what the organization calls "fluttering." We enthusaiastic ask all of our families to give to this worthwhile organization that directly impacts kids' lives.

BES students may bring in $1 or more on Friday, Sept. 30th, and they will be able to wear jeans and uniform tops.

Thank you for your generosity.

Learn more about "Unravel Pediatric Cancer" here.

Beaches Episcopal School has a full calendar of events and programs designed to make our school the best it can be. Our parents and grandparents are so generous with their time and energy - but we always have room for more helping hands. The Parent Support Organization (PSO) is a great way to become involved in your children's school and meet other BES parents. We invite you to get involved during the 2016-2017 school year. Investing in children is always time well spent!

Click here for a detailed list of volunteer opportunities for our parents this coming school year.

Please complete the Invitation to Participate Form for 2016-2017 to indicate the areas in which you would be interested in helping, and then return it to the Development Office.

If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Development, Stacy Nash, at 246-2466 ext. 112 or snash@BeachesEpiscopalSchool.org.

We look forward to another great year at BES!