The First Hope Blog, Week of March 30th

March 30, 2017 | Patty Myers |

The First Hope Blog, Week of March 30th

IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES

Parents, please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you do not want to miss:

April is Autism Awareness Month
Tuesday, April 4- TFH Parent Tours for Prospective Students
Thursday, April 6- Autism Awareness Day
Thursday, April 6- TFH Parent Association Meeting at 8:15 am (E2, 215/225)
Monday, April 10- Thursday, April 13- Library will be closed from 7:30 am-11:00 am
Tuesday, April 11- TFH Parent’s Fellowship at 8:00 am (Cafe on the Rock)
Tuesday, April 11- Equine Angels Field Trip (Transitions Secondary Classes)
Friday, April 14- Monday, April 17- Easter Holiday (No School)
Tuesday, April 18- TFH Parent Tours for Prospective Students

PARENT RESOURCES

Summer Camp Ideas

Learning Rx: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/brandpublishing/summer-camps/featured-camps/os-learningrx-brain-camp-20170217-story.html

Sports Hangout Camp with Mr. Matt: https://thefirstacademy.org/academics/summer-quest/

TFH/TCS PARENT ASSOCIATION SIGN UP

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AALwpE1NELfC-7ZQX3Y2yTJRHIRYYoRlscqbpO2ZLoU/pub

A MESSAGE FROM SARAH DONOVAN, DIRECTOR OF THE EXTENDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

“Growing little hearts and minds in God’s love.” These words encompass The First Academy Preschool. Our Preschool has been blessed with tremendous growth since its inception over the past two years. Growth in enrollment, growth in families (so many little siblings have come on board :), growth in learning, and growth in God’s love. It has been a crazy, beautiful experience and we are so proud of our Preschool leadership, team, and program. We recently released our new marketing video- take a moment to experience TFA’s Preschool and the blessing of our littlest Royals. Link below:

https://thefirstacademy.org/academics/preschool/

CLASS AND STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

The First Hope of The First Academy is committed to bringing both awareness and inclusion of individuals with Autism to our school community. April is Autism Awareness Month. Please take a minute to watch the video about Sam the Barista and read the following information to learn more about interacting with children with Autism. Plan to support your fellow Royals by wearing BLUE on Thursday, April 6th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaRqqVDAaQo

For additional resources please visit http://autismspeaks.org

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

I love this quote. As parents of children that have unique needs we can have a lot on our plate.

We are concerned where our child will live when they get older, who will take care of them. We struggle to get them to speak, to know what they need or want. We wonder how their siblings are dealing with all the demands of taking care of their brother or sister. We struggle to find the school that will help them the best and one we can afford. We struggle to get them to eat a well-balanced meal or even eat at all. We struggle with behaviors out in public and having to carry them out screaming at times.

Whew! It can feel like a whole lot. The good news though is God is always there to carry us, to walk us through those tough times. I have learned so much through my Charlie’s struggles. He teaches me way more than I could ever teach him. I always have to be mindful of being open to learning through the struggles, not just afterwards.

Let me encourage you today to dance in the rain. God tells us in James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

-Patty Myers