IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR DECEMBER & JANUARY
Parents, please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you do not want to miss:
- December 11: Give Week Dress Up Day: TFA spirit wear
- December 10: US Chapel – Optional Worship – Student Center, 9:28am
- December 17: Senior Recharge – Alumni Commons, 10:35am
- December 18: 12:15pm dismissal
- December 21-January 1: Christmas Break – No School – Offices Closed
- January 4: No School – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday
- January 5: Start of 3rd quarter
- January 7: US Student Assembly – Student Center, 9:28am
- January 10: Admissions Open House – 1:30pm-4:30pm – invite your friends
- January 11: US Senior Lunch – Student Center, 12:35pm
- January 14: US Chapel – Student Center, 9:28am
RECOGNITION
US Fine Arts Students Showcase Work
Our band, chorus and visual art students recently had the chance to show off their hard work in various venues. Three members of the Royal Concert Band at TFA were selected to participate in the annual Festival of Winds honor band held at the University of South Florida in Tampa: Jayleen DaSilva (12th-flute), Madison Pollock (12th-clarinet), and Collin Creeden (12th-saxophone). The students had the opportunity to perform with other outstanding high school students from the state of Florida as well as work with internationally renown clinician conductors.
The first annual Christmas Chorus Concert, Candy Cane Lane, was a great success with the first show even selling out. Another show was added to accommodate more guests, and chorus students in grades 6-12 performed in the Black Box last Sunday to rave reviews. Thank you to Mrs. Bynum and our chorus students for their hard work!
Additionally, Mrs. Gegerson’s and Mrs. Collins’ US Art Students prepared and participated in the TFA Fall Visual Art Exhibit in the library last week. These students learned how to host and develop a community exhibit, fulfilling several key points from the State Standards of curriculum for Visual Art. They exercised critical thinking and problem solving skills to solve aesthetic spacial relationships to provide an attractive public display for visitors. They also hosted a Hot Cocoa Reception where visitors joined them at the exhibit to view and discuss their work. At this reception, Mrs. Collins’ Ceramics I students enjoyed Hot Cocoa from their own homemade Ceramic mugs! They learned how to make these mugs food safe by using special glazes and processes. Congratulations to the Principal’s Award recipients! Brooke Hill (12th) received the 2D Principal’s award for her painting entitled “Afraid,” and Visen Li (11th) received the 3D Principal’s award for his Ceramic dish entitled “Life.” Congratulations also to Josh Zigan (10th) who won the People’s Choice award for his Ceramic “Chipmunk” sculpture!
NEW THIS WEEK
Library Announcements
The AR deadline for the 2nd quarter is on Tuesday, December 15th. The library will be open until 4:00 PM on the 15th to provide additional time for AR testing.
Due to the All School Christmas program and noon dismissal, the library will be closing at 9:30 AM on Friday, December 18th.
TFA School Store – Holiday Hours
Tuesday & Thursday through Dec. 17 from 7:30am to 3:30pm
We are located behind the gym. Park in the Lower or Upper School lot and sign in at the reception desk for a gate key.
We have lots of new items including several new jackets, tumblers, coffee mugs, Tervis, water bottles, foam footballs, pom poms and many new long sleeve t-shirt styles for both youth and adult. There are lots of great ideas for stockings.
Don’t forge to wrap up some TFA spirit for all of your favorite people.
Orders placed online will be delivered to your student within 48 business hours. Please order before Dec. 16 to receive your in-stock items before the break. Order online: https://tfastore.lightspeedwebstore.com/
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @TFASchoolStore.
Give Week
Join The First Academy in finishing the Rise Campaign for the new TFA Field House! We will host our Give Week December 7-11, focusing on completing our goals of 100% TFA family participation and $10.5 million raised for the new facility. If you have not already participated in the campaign, Give Week is a great time to jump on board! In support of the campaign and Give Week, students can dress up following these guidelines next week:
Monday – Blue
Tuesday – College/Pro Team
Wednesday – Yellow/Gold
Thursday – Sports hero/coach
Friday – TFA spirit wear
Mark your calendars today for Give Week!
REMINDERS
Haiti Shoebox Drive
Each year The First Academy students, families and staff raise hope and help for Haiti. Show your support this year by filling a box!
Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack the shoeboxes. Click here to sign up.
Important change: In lieu of sending in checks or money with your shoeboxes, please use this formstack to pay for shipping costs for each shoebox ($7 per box). Donations are also welcomed. Click here to submit payment.
Upper School shoeboxes are due on December 4. Remember, National Honor Society members are required to submit 2 boxes as part of the service requirement to maintain membership each school year.
Cafe on the Rock Schedule
Upper School students are permitted to order lunch from Cafe on the Rock according to this schedule:
Seniors: Mondays and Tuesdays
Juniors: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Sophomores: 1st and 3rd Fridays
Freshmen: 2nd and 4th Fridays
Students are required to order online here before 10:00am: https://www.orderstart.com/cafeontherock