IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR DECEMBER

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

• December 1: US Chapel – Student Center, 9:33am
• December 2: Peace on Earth – MS/US Choral Concert – Faith Hall, 7:00pm – Purchase tickets here
• December 2-7: US Visual Art Exhibit – Library, throughout the school day
• December 7: US Visual Art Reception – Meet the Artists – Library, throughout the day
• December 8: US Chapel – Student Center, 9:33am
• December 16: All School Christmas Program – Worship Center, 10:00am
• December 16: End of 2nd Quarter – 12:15pm Dismissal
• December 19-January 3: No School – Christmas Break
• January 4: Students return to school; 3rd Quarter Begins

RECOGNITION

Thespians Earn High Marks at Districts

Before Thanksgiving Break, our theater students competed at the District V Thespian Competition at Dr. Phillips High School. Students competed in various events, including individual and group events. Under the leadership of Ms. Levine and Mrs. Bynum, our students had a great showing and even earned the highest awards given. Brady and Bekka, both seniors, earned Best in Show in their technical categories. In addition, Bekka earned the Critics Choice Award, the highest award given at the competition.

One Act – Once Upon A Playground
Superior – Acting
Superior – Tech

Araujo & Co – Small Group Musical – Superior
Halie B. & Hannah C. – Duet Musical – Superior
Enzo B. – Monologue – Superior
Abby B. & Emelyn M. – Duet Musical – Superior
Hannah C. – Solo Musical – Superior
Claire D. & Lindsey N. – Duet Musical – Superior
Bekka H. – Costume Design – Superior, Best in Show, Critics Choice Award
Brady P.- Publicity Design – Superior, Best in Show
Mackenzie W. – Monologue – Superior
Araujo & Co – Large Group Musical – Excellent
Bell & Co – Ensemble Acting – Excellent
Duncan & Co – Small Group Musical – Excellent
Jackson E. – Solo Musical – Excellent
Caleb G. – Monologue – Excellent
Ana K. & Faith W. – Duet Acting – Excellent
Miller & Co – Large Group Musical – Excellent
Lindsey N. – Solo Musical – Excellent
Kendall P. – Solo Musical – Excellent
Bethany T. – Solo Musical – Excellent
Ana K. – Monologue – Good
Jessica K. – Monologue – Good

NEW THIS WEEK

US Visual Art Exhibit

Administrators, Faculty, Students, Parents…You are invited to the US Visual Art Exhibit! The exhibit will be open in the TFA Library beginning Friday, December 2 through Wednesday, December 7 during Library hours. Throughout the school day on Wednesday, December 7th, stop by the library throughout the school day to meet the artists, as they will be on hand during their art classes.

Teachers: bring your classes!

Parents: Meet your student during his/her Art/Ceramics class!

During Mrs.Collins’ Ceramics I classes, students will be drinking their Hot Cocoa from their own homemade Ceramic mugs, and taking class Mug Shots (photos with their mugs)! They learned how to make these mugs food-safe and microwave/dishwasher safe by using special glazes and processes.

Come support our ‘Silent Performers’!

US Chapel Recap 11/17

By Kyle H.

Last week in chapel we had the honor of hearing from the pastor of Bow Down Church, Chris Tress. It was an amazing time to really analyze the type of faith that we have. Pastor Tress was a truth speaker and dove into the truth of scripture and its promises. He challenged us with the question, “do you believe like a camel or a demon?” In the book of James, it tells us that even the demons acknowledge who Jesus is. Now the word belief comes from an action that camels would do. They would bow down, letting the packages roll off their backs. Just like this, we are called to have belief like a camel and bow down, and relinquish ourselves. We are not just called to acknowledge who Jesus is, like the demons, but rather bow down to the king.

Pastor Tress used his personal experience with the strong hold of pornography, and explained how strong holds keeps us away from the knowledge of God. When you have a strong hold, you begin to believe lies about yourself and God. So how do we overcome strong holds? We must replace the lies with the truth of God’s word. We must start believing scripture. The three things that help us do that is first, be real with God. Second, be real with others. Lastly, be like the camel where you entrust your packages (strong holds) to God.

REMINDERS

Upper School Attendance

All emails regarding attendance can be sent to our receptionist, Lyn Maxime, at usattendance@thefirstacademy.org. If your student is arriving late, will be dismissed early or absent from school, please email Lyn at usattendance@thefirstacademy.org.

Upcoming College Visits

University Representatives from all over the country will be traveling to TFA to visit our 11th and 12th-grade students starting this month! College visits will be posted on Naviance, and students must sign up in Family Connection in order to attend. Meetings will be held during Upper School lunch, and the representatives will give a presentation in a teacher’s classroom, then take the time to answer any questions from students. Juniors and Seniors, be sure to sign up! Please, note, students must bring their own lunch.

Upcoming Visits

Friday, December 9 – Manhattanville College