Head of School Message

Dear JCDS Families and Friends,

At Jacksonville Country Day School, our mission is our guiding principle: to prepare students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility. That mission shows up in daily, practical ways, in how children learn to ask thoughtful questions, how they face challenges, how they treat one another, and how they begin to see themselves as active participants in a community.

Because we serve children from Pre-K 3 through 5th grade, we get to focus on what matters most in the elementary years. This is the season when confidence is built one experience at a time, when curiosity becomes a habit, and when character is shaped through repeated practice. In classrooms, on the stage, on the field, and outdoors, students are surrounded by knowledgeable and caring adults who know them well, set high expectations, and provide the support that allows them rise to meet those expectations.

One of the most powerful parts of that growth is often the partnership between the school and families. When families and faculty share a common language, a common purpose, and provide steady encouragement, children feel secure enough to take academic risks, learn from feedback, and persist through challenges. They also learn something just as important: how to communicate thoughtfully, act with compassion, and lead by example in age-appropriate ways.

Thank you to our friends and families for the many ways you strengthen JCDS. Your involvement makes a real difference for every student.

Together, we are laying the foundation for the future.