IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR OCTOBER

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

  • October 2: College visit – DePauw University – US lobby, 7:30am
    College visit – Suwanee College – cafeteria, 12:55pm
    Chapel – Student Center, 9:35am
  • October 9: Chapel – Student Center, 9:35am
  • October 10: Early dismissal, 12:15pm
    End of first quarter / teacher workday
  • October 13: No school – student holiday / teacher workday
  • October 14: US Portrait Retakes
  • October 15: PSAT Testing (8th-11th grades)
    Seniors: graduation announcements, Senior Thesis
    Juniors: class rings
    Early dismissal, 12:15pm
  • October 16: Homecoming fashion show – Student Center, 9:35am
  • October 20-25: Homecoming Week
  • October 20: Powder Puff Games, 6:30pm
  • October 25: Homecoming dance – Student Center, 7:30pm
  • October 30-31, November 6-7: Fall Musical, Godspell – Middle School Black Box, 7:00pm

RECOGNITION

Congratulations to Mrs. Marsha Gegerson, who received the Royal Brush Award from the Florida Art Education Association for her artwork titled Gearing Up. We are honored to have her as a part of the Upper School team!

An update from Mrs. Gegerson: It amazes us that God sees all (omniscient), created all we see, and I believe He had a grand time thinking of all the ways He could “design” birds of the planet. It boggles the mind. God sees even in the darkness, when we are blinded by the absence of light (Psalm 139:11-12). Our Drawing class is in the process of learning to see “air.” This is called negative space around a solid object. They are even drawing the “air” and designing in it. This process is part of the training to increase cognitive thinking skills and enable our students to think OUTSIDE the box. This is what corporations look for in prospective employees: INNOVATION. We’re starting here at TFA, in our 2D art classes, to train the brain to express innovation.

NEW THIS WEEK

PSAT Testing

The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered on Wednesday, October 15 to all TFA students grades 8-11. The PSAT is a prep-test for the SAT which is used by colleges and universities as a standard for college admission.

The following links may be helpful to you and/or your student as you make preparation for this day.

PSAT/NMSQT – Understanding the PSAT and Benefits for parents

PSAT/NMSQT – Understanding the PSAT and Benefits for students

Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT – This guide offers practice questions and can be used in conjunction with the following PSAT Practice Materials. Paper copies of this guide is available to TFA Students in the US Guidance office as long as supplies last.

PSAT Practice Materials

Practice Test Answer Explanations: Writing Skills Questions 1-37

Practice Test Answer Explanations: Mathematics Questions 1-20

Practice Test Answer Explanations: Mathematics Questions 21-38

Practice Test Answer Explanations: Critical Reading Questions 1-24

Practice Test Answer Explanations: Critical Reading Questions 25-48

Students are encouraged to prepare for the test with the materials above. Get plenty of rest the nights before October 15th and eat a good breakfast. Having a clear mind and proper nutrition and hydration is important.

May God bless you richly on October 15!

Soccer

SOCCER SEASON IS HERE! Girl’s soccer tryouts are October 6-9th from 3:30pm – 5:15pm at PSAC. Grades 6-12 are welcome! Come show us your stuff!

New Early Dismissal Day

Please note that October 15 will be a 12:15 dismissal for Upper School only.

Top Colleges visiting the Orlando area!

Emory University-Sunday, Oct. 5th: apply.emory.edu
University of Pennsylvania-Thursday, Oct. 9th: admissions.upenn.edu
Duke Univeristy-Sunday, Oct. 12th: admiss.ugrad.duke.edu/discover-duke
Washington University in St. Louis-Sunday, Oct. 19th: admissions.wustl.edu

REMINDERS

Raw Footage

Check out this week’s Raw Footage!

SCAN Meetings

SCAN Meetings are offered to parents of US students by the Guidance office of The First Academy and will be held in the month of September. SCAN stands for Student, College & Career, Academic Planning & Naviance. SCAN Meeting invitations have already been sent to families of 8th-11th graders. Families will have the opportunity to sign up for a small group session with a TFA Academic Advisor through this email invitation. Tim Covey will be leading the 8th Grade and 9th Grade SCAN Meetings and Rob Hensley will be leading the 10th and 11th Grade SCAN Meetings. Each meeting should last 50 minutes or less.

SCAN will cover specifically the items that each grade level student should be focusing upon right now in their college application process. That is right! The process begins even as early as 8th grade. The Guidance Office’s goal is to help families through the maze of decisions that need to be made on the road to college. The SCAN Meeting invitations are for parents only. The Guidance office will hold a separate meeting with your student during the school at a different time.

There is great information available in your Grade Level SCAN Meeting. If you missed the email invitation or can’t find the one that was sent to you, here are some handy links to sign up for SCAN:

We’ll see you there!

College Application Sessions

Mrs. Kwak will be hosting College Application Sessions to assist you through the application process as deadlines are fast approaching! All seniors are high encouraged to come during Late Arrival/Early Dismissal or study hall times. Mrs. Kwak will be available to answer questions regarding Naviance and college applications.

Due to limited space, please make an appointment by contacting Mrs. Kwak at joycekwak@thefirstacademy.org with the date and specific period time slot. Sessions will held in the Library Computer lab.

*Students are required to have started at least one application prior to coming to the session*

Library Computer Lab
Monday, 10/6 (7:50 am-3:10 pm)

Yearbook

Order your yearbook at www.jostens.com while supplies last!

Pictures can be submitted to the yearbook staff directly by downloading the ReplayIt app on your phone or iPad.