IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES
Parents, please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you do not want to miss:
- September 6th: Lower School Coffee with the Principal 8:15AM (Field House Lobby)
- September 8th: 6th Grade Team-Building Retreat-All Day (Student Center)
- September 14th: 2nd Grade Trip to Dinoworld and the Phosphate Museum (Dowling and 1/2 of Makar)
- September 15th: 2nd Grade Trip to Dinoworld and the Phosphate Museum (Burns and 1/2 of Makar)
- September 19-21st: Student-Led Conferences-Early Dismissal at 12:15 PM for Lower School students
CHAPEL VENUES, DATES, & TIMES
The following is a list of upcoming chapel dates and times:
- August 31st: K4-5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Bell’s 5th Grade Class Presentation 8:30AM (Faith Hall)
- August 31st: 6th-12th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Worship Center)
- September 7th: K4-5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Walton’s 4th Grade Class Presentation 8:30AM (Faith Hall)
- September 7th: 6th-12th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Worship Center)
- September 14th: K4-5th Grade Chapel- 8:30AM (Faith Hall)
- September 14th: No Chapel for Lower School
- September 21st: No Chapel for K4-6th Grade Due to Conferences
- September 28th: 5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Schuessler’s 3rd Grade Class Presentation 8:30AM (Faith Hall)
- September 28th: 6th-8th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Faith Hall)
A NOTE FROM MRS. JACKSON
What does it mean to put “First Things First?” Pastor Skelton is helping us kick off our first chapel Thursday with a wonderful presentation about the school year theme. In addition to his message, I am going to explain a classroom challenge related to the theme. Each week, a different class will receive our First Things First arrow. Throughout the next week, the class will decide on one way they commit to seek God in their lives and they will write their commitment on the arrow. As we pass the arrow around from class-to-class, we will have a great visual of all the different ways Lower School students are seeking God in their daily lives.
I have made the personal commitment to start each day in God’s word so that my focus and attention begins with Him. Some mornings, I am very tempted to hit the snooze bar and sleep for a few extra minutes (5:15am comes really early some days) or there is a load of laundry that needs to be folded. God reminds us that His word should always be the guiding light and I want to start each day in that light.
Would you consider joining me by making a personal commitment to a specific way to seek God and share that with your children?
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105
Here are the 5 verses we will be doing next week:
- “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” – 2 Samuel 22:29
- “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
- “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-1
- “I have set the Lord continually before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” – Psalm 16:8
- “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
RECOGNITION
First Things First in Kindergarten
Mrs. Cline’s class has been learning about how their tongues can build someone up or tear them down. In line with our school year theme of keeping First Things First, the students are working on using their words to be kind and loving.
4th Grade Science is Heart Pumping!
Our fourth graders have been kicking off the year with a science unit on the human body. This week, they build red and white blood cells and platelets. They also used marshmallows and toothpicks to find their heartbeat. Hands-on learning is so much fun!
NEW THIS WEEK
Plastic Utensils at Lunch
With our new school lunch program, students are no longer able to get plastic utensils to use with their lunch unless they purchasing a lunch through WTCafe. Please help us by sending in utensils with your children in their lunchbox if they need one with their lunch from home.
Reading is Cool Incentive Program
At TFA, we strive to develop the love of reading in all of our students. To help foster that love of reading, the TFA library is excited to announce the Reading is Cool Incentive Program for our Lower School students! All students in 1st through 6th grade who meet their 1st quarter Accelerated Reader goal will be invited to a Popsicle Party at the end of the first quarter! K4, TK, and Kindergarten students who read, or have read to them, 15 or more books and turn in their Reading is Cool reading record by October 3rd will also earn the opportunity to attend a Popsicle Party! We hope to see all of our LS students enjoying popsicles at the end of the quarter!
Reading is Cool Reading Record
WT Cafe-New Lunch Program
We are so excited to be partnering with WT Care for our school lunch program. Many of you were able to sample some of the offerings during New Family Orientation. The process for Lower School Instructions for registering your account and adding funds:
- Visit www.wtcafe.com
- A box should pop-up in your browser window with “Welcome to WT Cafe” at the top. In this window select your location, which is Orlando
- Once “Orlando” has been selected, click “Order Now” (located in a big red box on the right side of the page, at the top)
- Once on the next page, you will need to sign-up. Find the area labeled “Not A Customer? Sign Up” and click there
- Continue on, completing the required fields
- Once all of the fields have been successfully filled out, your registration will be complete and you will receive an email from WT Cafe with your login information
- You will need to follow the instructions provided in the email to login to your newly registered account, add funds, and view the menu. You can even sign up for Auto-Reload so you don’t have to worry about manually re-filling your account. As long as your account is funded, your student will come through the line and enjoy a fresh, delicious, made from scratch lunch!
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What if I had a balance on my “GetFunds” account from last year? Once your account is created in WT Cafe, First Baptist will transfer your funds balance to your new WT account. First Baptist will NOT cut checks and mail them.
- What if the site won’t let me register because my email is already in their system? We have run into several instances already where parents cannot register at WTCafe.com because their email is already in the system from when they were a past customer. If this happens, please contact WT Café via their online Chat Helpdesk or via email at orlando@wtcafe.com.
- My child is in K4 or TK, are they able to purchase lunch as well? K4 and TK students will have the ability to purchase lunch and it will be delivered to the classrooms as has been done in years past. Please follow the same registration and account funding instructions above.
- What if the form asks for a “Teacher Name” when I am trying to register? I don’t know who my child’s teacher is yet. WT Cafe has added an option called “TBD” under TEACHER NAME. Lower School parents should choose this option for now, and then update it later once their teacher assignments are known.
- What if my child has food allergies? If your child has food allergies, you will be able to pre-select their allergy-friendly meal by ordering online at WTCafe.com. Children with pre-orders will not be permitted to add A La Carte items to their meals, and their side items will always consist of one fresh fruit and one fresh veggie (no dips, dressings, or sauces will be provided).
- Who do I contact if I am having problems setting up my account or adding funds? You can contact WT Cafe on WT Cafe’s online Chat Helpdesk or by email at orlando@wtcafe.com. You can also call the Orlando office at 407-618-5555.
Sunshine State Book Lists for 2017-2018
Are you looking for a new book to read? Check out the Sunshine State Books for this school year.
These books are chosen by the Florida Association of Media in Education and have not yet been pre-approved by the TFA Library staff. Parents, as always, please use your best judgment in helping your child choose books to read.
Extended Library Hours
For the 2017-2018 school year, the Boyd Moline Library will have extended hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:15PM. The library will be open on Mondays and Fridays until 3:45PM and on Wednesdays until 2:35PM. It opens daily at 7:30AM. Students may be in the library in the morning without a parent or adult but any student wishing to be in the library must be accompanied by a parent or another adult. Any student in the library after school without a parent or adult will be taken to the After Care program in the Lower School building.
REMINDERS
Morning Dropoff-7:30AM
This is just a friendly reminder that students may be dropped off beginning at 7:30AM. If you arrive to school prior to that time, we request that students remain with their parents until 7:30AM. The library and the gym are open at that time. Student supervision does not begin until that time.
AR HomeConnect
Many parents like to receive email updates when their children take Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math tests. You can set your preferences using Renaissance Learning HomeConnect.
Calendar Link
The TFA Calendar is a wonderful way to find the dates of upcoming events. Access our web-based calendar anytime. We recommend that you subscribe to all relevant calendars so you can keep up with all of the events going on around the school.
Parent Volunteer Background Check
If you are a new parent and would like to volunteer in your child(ren)’s classroom(s) or chaperone on field trips please complete our free background check. Please note that the background check site only works on Internet Explorer or Firefox on a desktop computer. Safari and Chrome are not supported by the site. Approvals take a few weeks so plan ahead! All parents must have a completed background check before volunteering in the classroom or chaperoning on a field trip.