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 9: Chapel – Student Center, 9:35am
- October 10: Early dismissal, 12:15pm
College visit: Auburn University – US Lobby, 7:30am
End of first quarter / teacher workday
Early dismissal, 12:15pm - October 13: No school – student holiday / teacher workday
- October 14: US Portrait Retakes – Gym Lobby
- October 15: PSAT Testing (8th-11th grades)
Seniors: cap & gown picture – Worship Center, 8:00am; 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 6-8: Fall Musical, Godspell – Middle School Black Box, 7:00pm
RECOGNITION
Congratulations to the Royal Marching Band! In two competitions this past weekend, they received Best Music in Class, along with a 1st Place Trophy.
NEW THIS WEEK
Picture Retake Day
Students who missed picture day must have their pictures done on Tuesday, October 14 in the Gym Lobby. US students & parents will receive a reminder email.
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!
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:
- 8th Grade SCAN
- 9th Grade SCAN
- 10th Grade SCAN – meetings completed
- 11th Grade SCAN – meetings completed
We’ll see you there!
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.
Clinic News
Parents, as we head into cold and flu season please note the following ways that you can help us:
–Know when to keep your child home. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), and conjunctivitis are automatic “stay home” events. If your child has more than one of the following symptoms, they should also stay home: cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, rash, stomachache, headache or exhaustion.
–Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom free, without the use of medication.
–Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
–Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable, is also acceptable.
–Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.