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 8th: 6th Grade Team-Building Retreat-All Day (Student Center)
- September 8th: Kindergarten Brown Bear Play-2:30PM (Kindergarten Classrooms)
- September 12th: LS Picture Day
- 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
- September 25-26th: Library Closed for Morning Care and After School
CHAPEL VENUES, DATES, & TIMES
The following is a list of upcoming chapel dates and times:
- 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: 6th-12th Grade Chapel 9:25AM (Worship Center)
- 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
The metaphor of training for a race or other athletic event is so similar to living a Christian life. Even the apostle Paul could see the connection.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I Corinthians 9:24-27
In these verses, Paul challenges us to put as much training and commitment to our spiritual lives as we do to our physical lives. I don’t know about you but I rarely miss a meal. The same is not always true about my quiet times or my prayer times. Through the Scriptures, God calls us to live our lives with commitment like we would if we were training for the race of a lifetime. . . because we are. Just like a training regimen for a race, God has a training regimen for us that includes studying His word, prayer, meditation, and even fellowship with other believers.
Here are the 5 verses we will be doing next week:
- “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:20
- “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
- “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
- “But now, this is what the Lord says— He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” – Isaiah 43:1
- “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58
RECOGNITION
Mrs. Bell’s Chapel Presentation
We were blessed last week to have Mrs. Bell’s class do our first classroom chapel presentation for the school year. The students offered practical application to the ideas that Pastor Derrick taught us the previous week about putting ourselves second and always putting God first. We are so proud of the students because having the first chapel presentation of the year is challenging but they really honored God with their student-created presentation.
NEW THIS WEEK
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 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.
Library
The TFA library will be closed on Monday, September 25th and Tuesday, September 26th, including before school and after school. Lower School students should report to the gym for morning care on those days. Thank you for your understanding.
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.