OCTOBER DATES
Please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you don’t want to miss for October.
Oct6-7 No School
Oct 10 No School Student Holiday/ Teacher Workday
Oct 11 2nd Quarter Begins
Oct 12 8th Grade-College Workshop w/US Guidance- Wear College t-shirts
Oct 11 MS Portrait Retakes- Gym Lobby
Oct 13 MS Chapel- Faith Hall 9:30am
Oct 19 8th Grade PSAT Testing
Oct 19 7th Grade Leadership/Social Media Workshop
Oct 19 MS 8th Grade PAL DC Parent Meeting – TFA Library 3pm-4pm
THINKS & THOUGHTS
RECOGNITION
The 7th-grade students created puppet shows called “Life at the Greek Academy”. The students had a fun time sharing and utilizing their puppet skills.
7th Grade Science- Student engagement at its best. learning and having fun while modeling amoebas and parameciums with play dough.
NEW ITEMS
College Workshop
REMINDERS
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:
- Graphing and Scientific calculators are recommended for the test. A list of prohibited electronics for test day can be found at this link:https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/taking-the-tests/test-day-checklist/approved-calculators
- Bring two sharpened #2 pencils for the test, an approved calculator, and your best effort!
- Students will be given all important information such as ID numbers on test day.
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!
SCAN Meetings
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, 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:
- 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!
- Make-up work or testing can easily be arranged and completed during your student’s E.C.H.O. class.
- 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