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:
- October 2nd-6th: Speech and Language Screenings
- October 6th: Early Dismissal at 12:15pm for Students/Teacher Workday
- October 9th: Student Holiday/Professional Development Day
- October 10th: 1st Quarter AR Deadline
- October 11th: K4 Pumpkins with Pops 8:00AM (KPrep Classrooms)
- October 11th: 3rd-5th Grade Field Trip to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra)
- October 13th: K Donuts with Dads 7:45AM (Kindergarten Classrooms)
- October 13th: New Date for the End of 1st Quarter
- October 15th: Lower School Social at Orlando City Soccer Game 5:00PM
- October 16th: 2nd Quarter Begins
- October 20th: Homecoming Parade 9:30AM (Lower School Loop)
- October 20th: Homecoming Pep Rally 10:00AM (Cramer Family Field House)
- October 20th: 20th Anniversary Carnival 5:00PM (US Lot) Homecoming Football Game 7:00PM (Payne Stewart Athletic Complex)
- October 25th: 2nd Grade Pumpkin Centers 9:00AM (2nd Grade Classrooms)
- October 27th: 4th Grade In-School Field Trip “The Heavens Declare)
- October 31st: Picture Retakes
CHAPEL VENUES, DATES, & TIMES
The following is a list of upcoming chapel dates and times:
- October 12th: K4-5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Williams’ 1st Grade Class Presentation 8:30AM (Faith Hall)
- October 12th: 6th-12th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Faith Hall)
- October 19th: K4-5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Martin’s Kindergarten Class Presentation 8:30AM (Henry Chapel)
- October 19th: 6th-12th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Worship Center)
- October 26th: K4-5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Camblin’s 5th Grade Class Presentation 8:30AM (Henry Chapel)
- October 26th: 6th-12th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Worship Center)September 28th: 5th Grade Chapel-Mrs. Schuessler’s 3rd Grade Class Presentation 8:30AM (Faith Hall)
A NOTE FROM MRS. JACKSON
For the month of October, we will be talking about Honesty in chapel and our classrooms. We define honesty as “watching what you say and do so others with trust you.” This is a character trait that we talk about a great deal in Lower School as it is something that many children (and adults if we are being honest) struggle with, particularly when they are being questioned about saying or doing something they shouldn’t. One of the main points that we emphasize with students is that being honest helps build trust. Being dishonest breaks trust. The same is true with our Heavenly Father. Honesty is holding onto Biblical principles and being consistent with them.
The Lord hates those whose lips tell lies. But he is pleased with people who tell the truth.
Proverbs 12:22
Here are the 4 verses we will be doing next week:
- “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.” – Psalm 62:5
- “I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.” – Psalm 13:6
- Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” – Psalm 16:5-6
- “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” – Psalm 34:5
RECOGNITION
Wonderful Wednesdays in 4th Grade with Coding
The 4th graders got hands-on experience with coding on Wednesday. The students worked in pairs to conquer different challenges with the Spheros.
Mrs. Schuessler’s Chapel Presentation
Mrs. Schuessler’s class presented real-life examples of Endurance to help close out the month of September. Great job 3rd graders!
NEW THIS WEEK
Lower School Day at Fun Spot-November 3rd
Lower School is having a Spirit Day on Friday, November 3rd to celebrate not having school that day. This Spirit Day will be at Fun Spot. The cost for an all-day pass for students is $25. Parents will be admitted for free but will not be allowed on rides unless they purchase a ticket for themselves. Purchase your student tickets HERE
5700 Fun Spot Way, Orlando, FL 32819
Say Goodbye to the Accelerated Reader App
The Accelerated Reader app is being retired and will no longer function on devices with the latest iOS updates. Please read below to find the updated Accelerated Reader Testing Directions for information on how to take AR tests without the app.
2017-2018 AR Testing Directions
Uniform Donation
We will have uniform dropoff before school in the Lower School lobby on Thursday and Friday of this week. There will be a Parent Association representative on hand to issue vouchers for donated items.
Lower School Night at Orlando City Soccer Game
Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 15th at 5:00PM. We have reserved a block of tickets for the final game of the Orlando City Men’s Soccer Team season. Tickets will be on sale HERE. Tickets will be $30 each and are all in the 100 level section. Tickets purchased together will be assigned to sit together. There are only 100 tickets available so make your purchases now.
Lower School Social Events Calendar
Check out our Social Events calendar hosted by our Parent Association in Lower School. There are events for the early release days next week so check them out today.
Lower School Parent University Book Studies
We are very excited to announce two books studies being hosted by Lower School teachers through the new Parent University series. Be on the lookout for information to sign up for these wonderful parent education opportunities.
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Target Audience: Parents of Children in Grades K4-3rd
Shepherding a Child’s Heart is about how to speak to the heart of your child. The things your child does and says flow from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way: “…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” The vision of parenting Tripp presents is more than getting well-behaved children. This vision’s primary focus is the heart of the child. It involves being a kind authority, shepherding children to understand themselves in God’s world, and keeping the gospel in clear view. Through this video series and book study, parents will learn together how this plays out in everyday life.
Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp
Target Audience: Parents of Children in Grades 4-6
The teenage years often present difficulty for parents. As a person passes from childhood into adulthood, the transition can be tumultuous. Paul Tripp helps parents focus on the heart issues during the adolescent years. With practical tips, he equips parents with the tools they need to seize opportunities to deepen communication while learning and growing with their tweens, preteens, and teenagers. He challenges parents to look at the teen years as an “age of opportunity” rather than a survival period, which is the common mindset. This book study and discussion will help parents approach the tough situations that these years can bring with confidence and tools to use these years as growth both in their children and in their relationships.
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!
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.