OCTOBER DATES

Please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you don’t want to miss for October.

Oct 3             MS Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.” Auditions- Black Box 3:15-5:30pm
Oct 4             1st Quarter AR Deadline
Oct 4             PA Meeting – 8:15am- Faith Hall Room 301
Oct 5             Royal Dads’ Event-7:55am-Faith Hall Room 301
Oct 5             MS Disney’s -“The Lion King Jr.” Call Backs
Oct 6             MS/US Assembly – Faith Hall- 9:30am  Cinderella Special Performance
Oct 7             End of 1st Quarter- Early Dismissal 12:15pm
Oct 10           No School Student Holiday/ Teacher Workday
Oct 11            2nd Quarter Begins
Oct 11            MS Portrait Retakes
Oct 13           MS Chapel- Faith Hall 9:30am
Oct 19           8th Grade PSAT Testing
Oct 19           MS 8th Grade PAL DC Parent Meeting – TFA Library 3pm-4pm

THINKS & THOUGHTS

Philippines 3:20- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”

 

RECOGNITION

Middle School SGA Officers and ECHO Reps 2016/2017-

MS SGA

NEW ITEMS

LIBRARY-

Due to the Homecoming Parade and Early Dismissal, the TFA Library will be closing at 11 AM on Friday, October 7th.

PSAT- 8th Grade Testing

8th Grade TFA Families,

The semester is already flying by and the PSAT is right around the corner. As the PSATCoordinator for this year’s test, I wanted to send you some important information about the upcoming PSAT/NMSQT, and the new PSAT 8/9. Test day is Wednesday, October 19th, 2016!

The Collegeboard website provides comprehensive information about the tests, how they are scored, the significance of the tests, and what to expect come test day. I encourage you to do your research, and explore the website to find out more about how the test is setup, and what to expect.

All of our 8th and 9th graders will be taking the PSAT8/9. For more information regarding this test, please visit the following link:

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/inside-the-test

Here are some important reminders and tips to get ready for test day on Wednesday, October 19th:

Here is a list of what NOT to bring on test day-

  • Any devices, including smartwatches, that can be used to record, transmit, receive or play back audio, photographic, text, or video content
  • Protractors, compasses, rulers
  • Highlighters, colored pens, colored pencils
  • Pamphlets or papers of any kind
  • Dictionaries or other books. There are no exceptions, even if English is not your first language.
  • Food and drinks, including bottled water, unless approved by the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities.

The PSAT is a practice test for the official SAT. Please be aware that the PSAT does carry other special significance. The following things are important for each parent and student to know about the PSAT:

  • For ALL students, the PSAT score is used in conjunction with teacher recommendations for placement in Honors and AP level courses for the following school year.

With the added emphasis pertaining to the PSAT, here are some short-term strategies that we ask you to please review with your student before the test:

  • Earn as many points as you can on easy questions.
  • Read all the answer choices before marking your answer sheet.
  • Do your scratchwork in the test book.
  • Don’t feel you have to answer every question.
  • Work steadily — don’t waste time on hard questions. You can always go back to them later.
  • Check your answer sheet regularly to make sure you’re in the right place.
  • Try educated guessing when you can eliminate at least one answer to a multiple-choice question. Explain to your child the difference between educated and random guessing.

I hope that these tips are helpful to your student. Lastly, but most importantly, pray for your child and all of our TFA students as they prepare for the PSAT on Wednesday, October 19th, 2016!

Thank you for being in support of your student and our TFA family!

Middle School- Homecoming October 3-7

The week of Homecoming starts with the completion of grade level banners for the parade. Student Government representatives are given the responsibility of designing their grade’s banner. All students are then given an opportunity to sign up for a date and time to help with this project. All Middle School banners are created on school property at various assigned locations and days from 3:15pm until 4:15pm. Students are responsible for informing parents if they are assisting with this project. Any parent interested in supervising should contact the appropriate grade level coordinator – your help would be greatly appreciated.

Middle School Dress Up Days

Monday, October 3College Team Jersey: Favorite College Team – T-shirts, Jerseys. Wear with jeans or uniform bottoms.

Tuesday, October 4 – School Year Theme-In God We Trust–Patriotic Themed Clothing ( Red, White, Blue t-shirts, jerseys) Wear with jeans or uniform bottoms.

Wednesday, October 5 – Florida Sunshine State Day: Flip Flops, Sunglasses, T-shirts or Tropical Hawaiian Shirts. Wear with jeans or uniform bottoms.

Thursday, October 6 – Wacky Wig and Hat Day: Wear a hat or wig and a TFA t-shirt with jeans or uniform bottom.

HC Pep Rally  6:00pm–7:30pm at PSAC

Friday, October 7 – Homecoming Shirt Dress Up Day. Students may 2016 Homecoming T-shirt or TFA T-shirt.   Wear with jeans or uniform bottoms.

The following items are not acceptable:

  • Tank tops
  • Spaghetti straps, strapless, midriff tops
  • Torn clothing
  • No outfits above 3” from the knee
  • Low cut shirts/blouses
  • Tight fitting outfits
  • Pajama pants
  • Any non-uniform clothing not going with the theme of the day

 Friday Schedule

Special Homecoming Alternative MS Schedule

Parade at 11:00am, Half-day/ End of Quarter

Of course, you have to experience the Homecoming football game against P.K. Yonge (7:00pm kick-off) and the halftime crowning of our new King and Queen. If you plan on attending, admission to the game is free for students with I.D.’s and $7 for adults.

REMINDERS

Upper School College Advisors are holding SCAN (Student, College/Career, Academic, Naviance) meetings with 8th grade parents to cover

  • College Admissions Process
  • Standardized Testing Information
  • Upper School Grading Scale and GPA
  • Upper School Curriculum Levels
  • Upper School Course Scheduling Process for rising 9th graders

You can Click Here to Sign Up for any one of the dates below: Room 151 in the Upper School

Thursday, September 29 at 7:50 am- 8:40 am

Thursday, October 6 at 7:50 am- 8:40 am

Thank you to all those who made it to the first meeting!

Attendance

All attendance notifications and questions should be communicated directly to Ms. Lyn Maxime, the new attendance clerk for both the Upper and Middle School divisions. All Middle School students who are tardy to campus must check in with Ms. Maxime when they arrive at school.  You may contact Ms. Maxime concerning your student being tardy or absent at (407)206-8630 or email her at msattendance@thefirstacademy.org.Middle School Attendance

E.C.H.O.…..E.C.H.O.!

E.C.H.O. stands for Every Child Has an Opportunity! It’s your student’s opportunity to grow and provides a home base for communicating here in the Magnificent Middle School! E.C.H.O. is your key (Did you hear that E.C.H.O.?) to communicating with your Magnificent Middle School Scholar. Let me E.C.H.O. that! It is your key (E.C.H.O) to communicating with your Middle School Scholar!

Here are the ABC’s of how E.C.H.O. can serve you and your student:

  1. Ask your student WHO their E.C.H.O. teacher is. That is vital information; let me encourage you to let that name E.C.H.O. in your mind. It will serve you well all year!
  2. Make-up work or testing can easily be arranged and completed during your student’s E.C.H.O. class.
  3. Inclement weather dismissal is always done through E.C.H.O. class.

7th Grade E.C.H.O. teachers:

  • Dana Menz Room 156
  • Jeff Rossemiessl Room 160
  • Bette Gordon Room 153
  • Becky Render Room 158
  • Katie Taurisano Room 162

8th Grade E.C.H.O. teachers:

  • Lindsey Hurlebaus Room 246
  • James Grosshans Room 248
  • Christy Requejo Room 259
  • Yvonne England Room 250
  • Shannon Rymer Room 252

Severe Weather Inside Dismissal

-Students are dismissed from 7th period to ECHO classrooms
-Students without signed parent permission slips are dismissed when a parent visits the lobby to pick them up. MS Office will contact ECHO classroom teacher.
Students with signed parent permission slips are dismissed
Student shows text from parent stating location of parent on TFA campus
Parent emails ECHO teacher stating their arrival and location on TFA campus

Start & Dismissal Times

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 7:50am-3:15pm
Wednesday: 7:50am-2:40pm

Gluten Free Options Available in the Cafeteria

Students with gluten sensitivities have a few options in our cafeteria. Please ask for Chef Jaime, Greg, or Emily for assistance. Options include gluten free pasta available daily as well as grab and go salads, grilled chicken and hamburger patties. There are also a few items on the menu that can be tailored to be gluten free.

Dress Code

  • Only Dennis or Sunshine uniform tops and bottoms are acceptable.
  • Female skirts, skorts, and shorts must rest below mid-thigh while seated.
  • Male shorts must be an appropriate length
  • Skirts, skorts, and shorts may not be hemmed to an inappropriate length.
  • Students must wear flat, closed-toed, closed heeled shoes (heels, platform shoes, boots, sandals, etc., are not permitted).

Our goal with the uniform policy is for students to maintain a professional look while at school. We appreciate your understanding and partnership.

New Uniform Item Available

Want to stand out from the crowd? Dress blazers are now available for all 6th-12th-grade students (male & female). Step up your wardrobe game and come to school dressed to impress! Blazers can be purchased in person at the Dennis Uniform Store (1101 N. Keller Road, Suite G-3 , Orlando, FL 32810) or online here: http://www.dennisuniform.com/ONLStore/d-store-home.asp?pageitem=12&pagenumber=1&gn=2&sc=ETF&dis=20851816