Home/Royal News/Upper/Upper School Newsletter, Week of 2/26

IMPORTANT EVENTS & DATES FOR FEBRUARY & MARCH

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

  • February 26: US Chapel – Optional Worship – Student Center, 9:35am
  • February 27: Seniors – Josten’s rep available for graduation announcement orders – US Lobby, 7:30am
  • February 28: Central Florida College Fair – UCF Student Union, 11:00am
  • February 28: Sweetheart Dance – Alumni Commons & Gym Lobby, 7:30pm
  • March 3: Senior Cap & Gown Retake – Henry Chapel, 8:00am
  • March 5-6: WRaP Testing (grades 3-11)
  • March 13: 12:15pm dismissal; end of 3rd quarter
  • March 12-16: Senior Ski Trip – Breckenridge, CO
  • March 19: US Chapel – Gender Split – Guys: Faith Hall Lakeside; Girls: Student Center – 9:35am
  • March 26: US Chapel – Optional Worship – Student Center, 9:35am

RECOGNITION

Humanities Scholar Bowl Finalists

The Social Science Department is pleased to announce the four finalists in the Second-Annual Humanities Scholar Bowl Competition: Lexi Berger (11th), Andrew Miller (12th), Brittany Smith (12th), and Scout Westerskov (12th).  This contest showcases our brilliant Humanities students and provides an opportunity to highlight their achievement in a variety of subjects including Human Geography, World History, European History, American History, and American Government. To add to this achievement, the four finalists placed among a very competitive field of students this year. The final game show style competition is April 23 at during the Upper School assembly.

Scholarships & Awards:

1st place: $3,000 scholarship and $600 cash prize

2nd place: $2,000 scholarship and $300 cash prize

3rd place: $1,000 scholarship and $100 cash prize

NEW THIS WEEK

Ceramics Classes Experiment with Raku

TFA is on fire! A new tradition begins in the TFA Visual Art Department…On March 3rd, 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 2,000 degrees for 24 hours, Raku 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 2,000 degrees rather quickly. Tune in for an update soon!

Wrap Testing

Next Thursday & Friday (March 5-6), TFA students in grades 3-11 will participate in the Standardized Writing Assessment Program (WrAP). Students ARE permitted to utilize dictionaries & thesauruses during the 2-day writing assessment.

Materials needed for the WrAP:
a) 2 sharpened #2 pencils & 2 ink pens (blue/black)
b) Thesaurus (can be electronic)
c) Dictionary (can be electronic)
d) 4-5 pages of loose leaf notebook paper
*electronic spellers (ie: Franklin) are not permitted

Students in Grades 9-11 will be provided with 50 minutes on each day for the standardized assessment
– Day 1: Thinking Map & Rough Draft
– Day 2: Final Draft

Students will be testing in assigned rooms with their chapel groups.  Room numbers can be located outside Ms. Gooseman’s office downstairs and Mr. Bohner’s office downstairs.

Students will report directly to their testing site on both March 5th and 6th.

There will be no chapel on March 5th due to WrAP testing.  All classes will still meet both days.

Seniors will be working on their Senior Thesis in specified rooms.

Seniors – Another Chance to Order Graduation Announcements

Several parents have recently asked about purchasing the formal TFA graduation announcements. Josten’s has agreed to have another time to place orders for those of you still interested. They will be coming this Friday, February 27th beginning a 7:30am in Mr. Baker’s, which is located just inside the front doors of the Upper School. They will have samples and order forms to fill out. They will be there for just a couple of hours, so please be sure to stop by if you are interested in purchasing announcements.

Seniors – Cap & Gown Retake

We will be retaking the picture next Tuesday, March 3rd at 8:00am in Henry Chapel. We will have the robes there for you. We ask that you dress in “Sunday dress.” Ladies, please wear a dress and guys please wear dress pants, shirt and tie (can be a bow tie). We ask that everyone wear dress shoes. Please do not wear tennis shoes, sandals or flip flops. If everyone is there on time, then we should be done by 8:45am at the latest.

REMINDERS

Central Florida College Fair

Attention 9th, 10th, & 11th graders!The 12th Annual Central Florida College Fair will take place on Saturday, February 28th from 11:00am-1:30pm.  Hosted by The First Academy and the Central Florida Consortium of Private School Counselors, this college fair is only open to private high school students of Central Florida.  More than a hundred colleges from across the country will be available to meet with prospective students!

Juniors-you will have a chance to enter a drawing to win a scholarship to use towards your college applications!  Last year, Karla Geigel attended this college fair and won a scholarship.

For more info:  http://www.cfcpsc.org/

Location: University of Central Florida, Student Union: 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL 32816

Upper School Sweetheart Dance

When: Saturday, February 28, 7:30pm-10:00pm

Where: Alumni Commons & Gym Lobby

What to Wear: girls – casual dresses (within TFA dress code); boys – khaki pants & button down shirts

Desserts and refreshments will be served.

Tickets: $10 per person; click here to purchase tickets (Outside guests need to be approved by Mr. Bohner)

Half of ticket sales will be donated to the charity Love Unveiled.