IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR MARCH & APRIL
Parents, please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you do not want to miss:
- March 19: US Chapel – Gender Split – Guys: Faith Hall 3rd floor-301 B/G; Girls: Student Center – 9:35am
- March 23-27: Teacher Appreciation Week
- March 26: US Chapel – Optional Worship – Student Center, 9:35am
- March 30-April 6: No School – Easter Break
- April 9-10, 16-18: US Spring Play, Promedy – Black Box Theatre, 7:00pm; Student-only show: April 15, 3:00pm
- April 11: Prom – Rosen Shingle Creek, 6:30-10:30pm (click here to buy tickets)
- April 13: Special US Chapel – Speaker: Bob Goff – Student Center, 8:45am
- April 16: Senior Thesis Presentation – Student Center, 9:35am
- April 20: Senior Lunch – Student Center, 12:35pm
- April 22: US & Senior Award Ceremony – Faith Hall Stageside, 9:00am
RECOGNITION
Crane Crazed Sophomores
Participation as a Way of Life
This year to close out their 3rd quarter literature unit, the Sophomores read a story about a young Japanese girl who attempted to fold 1,000 paper cranes in order to have a special wish granted, according to their heritage’s legend of the crane. Sadako, sadly, did not live to see her wish come true. As a tangible reminder of the unit, which dealt with works from the Holocaust, WWII in Japan, and modern music, Mrs. Patton’s and Mrs. Penny’s students learned to make origami paper cranes.
The original idea was to make one to keep and one or two to put into a display along with the students’ prayers and messages for God’s peace to dwell in our hearts and in our world. The teachers estimated that 100-150 cranes would be created. There was even some conversation about sending the cranes to Japan to be placed at the Children’s Peace Monument, which is dedicated to Sadako and the many children who died as a result of the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII. That was March 10th.
Then, the craze took over. Some students were so enthralled in the origami process and perfecting their skills, that dozens of cranes came flying in. By the end of the day on March 11th, Mrs. Patton tweeted:
Throughout the next few days, the chains of cranes grew in number. What was going to be a small project had taken on a life of its own. It also was no longer just the Sophomores. Several Sophomore students began teaching others to make cranes, and some were reported to spend chunks of their lunch period folding cranes. Students began murmuring their dedication to getting 1,000 cranes. At the start of the weekend, over 500 cranes had been turned in. Apparently the challenge had been set.
By Tuesday, March 17, 860 cranes have been added to our flock. Will the Sophomores make it to 1,000 before Spring Break? Stay tuned to find out!
To learn more about the Holocaust, WWII or Sadako’s cranes:
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
Sending Paper Cranes to the Children’s Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Japan
Learn to Fold Your Own Paper Crane
NEW THIS WEEK
Ceramics Students Participate in Raku Firing
Advanced Ceramics students had a great time firing their work and learning about the Raku process. Mrs. Collins and Mr. Hensley discussed firing variables and how to manipulate them to experiment for different outcomes. After they produced dozens of beautiful works, they enjoyed grilling out burgers and roasting marshmallows for s’mores! Next year they are hoping for cooler weather to Raku fire.
Prom 2015 – Through the Looking Glass: An Evening in Wonderland
Juniors and Seniors,
The prom theme for 2015 is “Through the Looking Glass: An Evening in Wonderland.”
Prom will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015, 6:30pm – 10:30pm at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819. We will be in the Sebastian J. ballroom.
Menu options are:
- Fit For a King – Char Grilled Top Sirloin with Shoestring Onion Straws, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Parmesan Asparagus
- Queens Choice – Grilled Chicken with Marsala Reduction, Potatoes Au Gratin, Sautéed Green Beans
- Jack of Hearts – Vegetarian Bowtie Pasta Alfredo with Peas, Carrots, Sautéed Zucchini, Yellow Squash
All meals will include salad and Enchanted Black Forest Cake dessert. Drinks are water, tea and sparkling punch.
Tickets are $75 per person. There will be complimentary self-parking adjacent to the ballroom entrance.
Please visit https://thefirstacademy.org/academics/upper/student-life/dances/ to purchase your ticket today.
When you submit your order, you should receive a confirmation page. You may need to scroll back to the top if your screen goes blank. You should also receive a confirmation email within 15 minutes from Larissa Galloway confirming receipt of payment.
Please remember that if you plan to bring a guest from outside of TFA, the guest must currently be in high school or be a TFA alumnus (pg. 77 Handbook) and you must fill out the Prom Outside Guest form. There is a link to the form on the prom website.
Raw Footage
Check out this week’s Raw Footage!
REMINDERS
Health Clinic Reminders
Some gentle reminders from the Parent-Student Handbook:
- Please keep your children home if they are sick. They may return once they have been symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of medication. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, or fever (p. 66)
- Students are NOT to transport medications to or from school. Parents must deliver the medications to the Clinic Aide and fill out the appropriate form(s) (p. 67)
- The clinics do not administer medication unless it has been provided by the parents (p. 67)
- Services provided by the clinics include first aid, managing medical emergencies, and monitoring ill students until a parent arrives to pick them up. If your child needs a medical evaluation, please take them to their pediatrician (p. 66)