Author: Marsh Family (Dell)

The Shooting STAR

Sarasota Academy of the Arts

January 11, 2016

2015 - 2016, Volume 3, Issue 19

Principal’s Corner

Here we are at the last week of first semester, 2015-16. It's hard to believe the school year is going by so quickly. We are already gearing up for next year by sending out re-enrollment papers for 2016-17. Everyone in kindergarten through seventh grade should have received the papers via mail last week. Please let us know if you have not received them. This should also be the time when our eighth graders are checking out the area high schools and making plans for next year. Parents should check with district schools and SMA for deadlines for application to special high school programs, such as Polytech, the IB program, AICE program or VPA. January is a busy month again this year. Please put the Literacy Week (January 25-29) events on your calendar so everyone can participate. The SAA Literacy Team sent home a schedule of events last week so students can get ready to join in the reading and fun. That same week we will be participating in the National School Choice events. The PTO meeting originally scheduled for this Tuesday, January 12, has been moved to January 28 to coincide with the activities. Watch for emails and flyers with more information about both events. It should be an exciting week! This week the 7th graders will be taking their mid-year bench mark test for Civics. This test does not generate a "grade" but is important because it will help show both the teacher and students where gaps may be. The final exam in Civics is given in May and averages into the yearly grade at 30%. Please have your children continue to work in the i-Ready program for both reading and math. Quite a few ducks have found their way into the hands of our elementary students as they successfully complete their lessons. Also, please continue to encourage reading twenty minutes per night and ask them about the weekly vocabulary words. Have a wonderful week! Cecilia Blankenship Principal Cecilia Blankenship, Principal

Upcoming Dates:
Be sure to check the SAA Calendar on the school website frequently as that has the most current information! Monday - 1/11/16 - 8:10am SAA Board Meeting Tuesday - 1/12/16 - 6:00pm PTO Meeting - 4:20pm Run Club Wednesday - 1/13/16 - 4:15pm SAC Meeting - 4:15pm Garden Club - 4:15pm Tap Class Thursday - 1/14/16 - 4:20pm Run Club Friday - 1/15/16 - End of 2nd Grading Period Monday - 1/18/16 - Martin Luther Kind Day - NO SCHOOL Tuesday - 1/19/16 - 1:30pm Gr 5 Reading i-Ready - 2:30pm Gr 4 Reading i-Ready - 4:20pm Run Club Wednesday - 1/20/16 - 1:30pm Gr 5 Reading i-Ready - 2:30pm Gr 4 Reading i-Ready - 4:15pm Garden Club - 4:15pm Tap Class Thursday - 1/21/16 - 9:30am Adv. Chorus boys field trip - 4:20pm Run Club Friday - 1/22/16 - Professional Day - NO SCHOOL

It’s time to order your yearbook and upload photos!
This year we've made it simpler than ever, and you can place your order directly online via a credit card. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to get your 2015 - 2016 Sarasota Academy of the Arts yearbook! This will be a hardcover book, approximately 100 pages in full color. You will also have an opportunity to send a special message to your student by sending in a "Love Note" Also, we will be selling Business Card ad space in the yearbook too, Look for details coming home in early January regarding the love notes and advertising. Regular yearbooks will be $33.75 and then you have the option to add a personalized cover for an additional $4.75. You will need to add both to the cart to complete your order if you wish to have your student's name imprinted on the yearbook cover. Candid Photos Needed for the Yearbook: If you've taken photos of your student, either at shows, during field trips, school events, etc. please upload them to the yearbook website for consideration in this year's yearbook, Both yearbook orders and photo uploads must be completed by January 31st! On the same website as ordering yearbooks, you will see options to upload photos. Please note that you will need to create a username and password, and our school ID is: 55218
Instructions are attached to this newsletter.

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2015 - 2016
Volume 3, Issue 19
January 11, 2016

Sarasota Academy of the Arts

THE Shooting Star

Volunteer Hours
We know many of you have completed your hours, by going on numerous field trips, PTO functions, assisted in the classrooms, helped out at school events, etc. but these hours not properly reflected in the volunteer system.. PLEASE input all your volunteer hours into the PALS system by Wednesday, January 13th. We count on all our volunteers and appreciate your support so much, but so many of you have not logged your hours into the computer so we (and you) are not getting credit for them. Thank you so much for your understanding and your assistance in bringing your hours up to date!