IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR DECEMBER

Parents, please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you do not want to miss:

• December 15: US Dress Up Day: Christmas Hats
• December 15: House Mentor Group Meetings during chapel time – US building, 9:33am
• December 16: US Dress Up Day: Ugly Christmas Sweaters
• December 16: Report to Mentor Groups at 7:50am
• December 16: All School Christmas Program – Worship Center, 10:00am
• December 16: End of 2nd Quarter – 12:15pm Dismissal
• December 19-January 3: No School – Christmas Break
• January 4: Students return to school; 3rd Quarter Begins

RECOGNITION

Brynna D. Selected to Under Armour All-American Team

Congratulations to Brynna D. (Class of 2017) who was selected to the Under Armour High School All-American Volleyball Team. Read more info about this award here: https://www.avca.org/awards/all-regional-all-america-awards/2016-under-armour-all-america.html

Visual Arts Principal’s Award Winners

Congratulations to two students for earning the Principal’s Award during the recent Upper School Visual Art Exhibit! Our awesome Principal, Mr. Sullivan, was asked to choose two works, one 2D and one 3D. For 3D/Ceramics, he chose Bruce Z.’s blue ‘T-Rex’! And for 2D, congrats to Jiuwell S. for her colored pencil work, ‘Tibetan Smile.’

NEW THIS WEEK

Chapel Recap 12/8

By Meghan C.

Last Thursday’s chapel was an amazing time of worship. Due to it being the end of the quarter, last week’s chapel was an optional chapel. The end of the quarter can be a very stressful time of the year for all students with the many exams and projects due. Although we were given the option to relieve some of that stress with a study hall, many students decided to attend chapel to worship God and rely on Him for their strength. Seeing so many students give up going to study hall to attend chapel always warms my heart. Optional chapel consisted of many amazing worship songs, a special dance by the Sapphires and a time of personal prayer.

Chapel band did an amazing job of energizing everyone in the building by getting them ready to worship. I loved hearing all the songs the band chose. Looking around and seeing God move in the building as we all worshiped was breathtaking.

We were fortunate to be able to have a special performance by the Sapphires. Their performance was spectacular and allowed for the girls to worship and show God’s gifts through dance.

Probably one of my favorite moments was the time of personal prayer. For about five minutes everyone in the chapel was sitting or kneeling on the floor praying to the Lord. This was a time when I was able to lift up my stress from school and everything else and surrender to God. Opening my eyes and seeing all of the students and faculty praying to the Lord is a sight and feeling I will never forget. The Lord was moving in all of our hearts. You could definitely feel his love.

The last few songs played where a great transition from the time of prayer and allowed for the students to praise the Lord before having to go back to class. Although, I love hearing a new message each and every week, all Worship Chapel probably is my favorite.

REMINDERS

Upper School Attendance

All emails regarding attendance can be sent to our receptionist, Lyn Maxime, at usattendance@thefirstacademy.org. If your student is arriving late, will be dismissed early or absent from school, please email Lyn at usattendance@thefirstacademy.org.