IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR NOVEMBER
Parents, please take a moment to mark your calendars. The following are important dates that you do not want to miss:
- November 6: No School – Teacher Professional Development
- November 8: Admissions Open House – 2:00pm – invite a friend
- November 12: US Chapel – Student Center, 9:28am
- November 16: Senior Lunch – Student Center, 12:35pm
- November 17: US Thespian Showcase – Black Box Theatre, 7:00pm
- November 18: Annual Guidance Meetings – see below – Henry Chapel
- November 19: US Chapel – 9:28am
- November 19-21: District 5 Thespian Festival – Dr. Phillips High School
RECOGNITION
Kelsey Zeng Wins Golf State Championship
Congratulations to Kelsey Zeng (11th) who became the first ever Lady Royals golfer to win the individual FHSAA 1A State Championship Title. Kelsey shot 5 under par, beating out 95 of the state’s best high school female golfers to take 1st place. Click here to check out the Orlando Sentinel article featuring Kelsey’s win. We are so proud of you, Kelsey!
NEW THIS WEEK
Service Before Self: Students Build Gingerbread Houses for Charity
The Gingerbread House community service event was a success! 20 students from all 3 divisions met in Mrs. Collins’ Ceramics classroom to smell the gingerbread and enjoy Christmas music while decorating these beautiful houses! The gingerbread houses will be used for centerpieces at a dinner to benefit Bethany Christian Services. This ministry serves children who would not otherwise have a family; birth parents who have no one to support them; and refugees who need help and hope. God states in His Word that we are to care for orphans, widows, and refugees, protect the defenseless, provide justice, and care for the poor. It was a win win experience!
REMINDERS
Haiti Shoebox Drive
Each year The First Academy students, families and staff raise hope and help for Haiti. Show your support this year by filling a box!
Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack the shoeboxes. Click here to sign up.
Important change: In lieu of sending in checks or money with your shoeboxes, please use this formstack to pay for shipping costs for each shoebox ($7 per box). Donations are also welcomed. Click here to submit payment.
Upper School shoeboxes are due on December 4. Remember, National Honor Society members are required to submit 2 boxes as part of the service requirement to maintain membership each school year.
Upper School Ceramics Raku Firing
Pictured: a student participating in last year’s raku firing
TFA is on fire again! On November 13, students from the Ceramics program will experience the RAKU firing process on campus! Ceramics III, IV, and AP Ceramics students will perform this pottery firing process throughout the school day, while Ceramics I, II, and Middle School Ceramics classes will join during their class periods to watch.
Raku is a pottery technique originating in 16th century Japan. Rather than loading glazed pottery into our TFA electric kilns to cure the surface at 2000 degrees for 24 hours, the Raku process uses an actual 30 minute flash fire process! Similar to original pottery firing techniques in Biblical times using large underground wood-fed pit fires, Raku employs propane gas to bring the pottery to near 2000 degrees rather quickly. Tune in for an update soon!
Annual Guidance Meeting
The annual Henry Chapel Guidance Meetings for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades are scheduled for Wednesday, November 18. In this meeting, all attendees will hear important college information from four different institutions. The four representatives are from Grove City College, University of Central Florida, Auburn University & Palm Beach Atlantic University. In addition, Dr. Natalie Holter will give a presentation on SAT/ACT Test Preparation, and a member of the TFA Guidance team will cover various college and academic updates.
Specific meeting times for each grade level meeting are noted below. All meetings will be held at Henry Chapel.
While students are required to attend, parents are also strongly encouraged to come! We hope to see you there!
11th: 9:00 – 10:00
10th: 10:30 – 11:30
9th: 12:00 – 1:00
Cafe on the Rock Schedule
Upper School students are permitted to order lunch from Cafe on the Rock according to this schedule:
Seniors: Mondays and Tuesdays
Juniors: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Sophomores: 1st and 3rd Fridays
Freshmen: 2nd and 4th Fridays
Students are required to order online here before 10:00am: https://www.orderstart.com/cafeontherock