Author: Marsh Family (Dell)

The Shooting STAR

Sarasota Academy of the Arts

May 9, 2016

2015 - 2016, Volume 3, Issue 35

Principal’s Corner

Thank you to all of the PTO members who fed and treated the staff last week during Teachers' Appreciation Week. They provided breakfast and lunch, treated us (and all the students) to ice cream, and gave gifts. The students wrote notes to their teachers thanking them for what they do then the PTO distributed them on Friday. Those kind words mean so much to the teachers. . I'll get testing notes out of the way first.. Monday andTuesday the algebra class will take their End of Course (EOC) exams. These exams are mandatory for graduation and count as 30% of the final grade. Students successfully completing the exam with a score of 3 will receive high school credit for the course, one that is required for graduation. The geometry students take their EOC Wednesday and Thursday. All of these students successfully completed algebra last year and are now working on their second high school math credit. All students will also start on the final i-Ready diagnostic test. This will be given in small sessions over the next three weeks to measure growth in reading and math. Students in middle school were given the electives course selection sheet the last week of April. These need to be returned so schedules for next year can be finalized. We are excited to be adding dance, creative writing, digital arts 2, and drama 2 to the list of choices. All students will take the core classes plus Spanish and choose electives to complete the day. Sixth graders must have 1/2 hour of PE every day and must enroll in choral music for at least one semester. Seventh and eighth graders need one semester in PE and may choose any electives (music becomes an elective at this level). In the weekly information packet you will find more information about summer reading programs. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. You should have received via mail the summer reading assignments required of all students returning to SAA next year. You'll also find the flyer about the arts display and awards night. There will be samples of outstanding 2-D and 3-D, digital arts, and video production projects. We hope you'll come see what the students have accomplished this year. We were recognized along with 18 other schools at the School Board meeting last Tuesday for earning the 5-Star award again this year. Look for our banner in car line. We also received a monetary award as part of the Florida High Performing Schools award program for 2014-15. We raised our school grade from a C to a very high B. Thank you to all of the parents, teachers, support staff, and students who made this possible. I have been asked to remind all parents that outstanding balances for meals must be paid by May 11. After that date, any students with a balance due will be served a turkey sandwich instead of the regular lunch. (No one will go hungry.) You can check your balance on line. Students also have been given a slip of paper indicating how much they owe. Notes from Mrs. Julie: It was another busy week in the music department last week. Our precious 1st and 2nd graders performed "Music Man Jr." last Monday and what a great job they did with a show meant to be done by 5th through graders! Three of our elementary Broadway Musicals have now been brilliantly completed and the last one will be tomorrow night when "Peter Pan" takes the stage at 6 pm at Glenridge with our 5th graders performing. This one should be so much fun with Peter Pan flying, huge sets, and many fancy costumes. Remember, anyone can come so let's fill the house for this great show! Please remember that 5th grade students come dressed in their first costume and bring the rest in the bag they were given last week. We leave at 8:15 am and will be back to school at 3:15 pm. Students need to be back at the theater at 5 pm if they wear a microphone first and 5:30 pm if they don't. Also please remember that all seats are reserved so the sooner you get tickets the closer you sit! Please take note of the following: 1. We made $400 on the Applebee's Transportation Fundraiser yesterday thanks to donations from our SAA families. It was not the $1000 we hoped for but we did not realize it was Mother's Day weekend when we scheduled it last fall. We won't do that again! It was still a lot of fun and the students and parents who worked it were terrific. They also got to help "train" an Applebee's employer who will be assisting with future Flapjack Fundraisers. 2. Please remember that 3rd and 4th graders go to watch Peter Pan tomorrow afternoon so be sure permission slips are in. 3. There will be a big work day this coming Saturday where we need to build and paint! The workday is scheduled from 10 to 2 but I (Mrs. Julie) will be here at 9:30 if anyone wants to get an early start. Please come if you can. There is much to do for props and sets. 4. Please keep putting up "Anything Goes" posters. We still have some left and will give more out on Tuesday. 5. Please remember to get your tickets for "Anything Goes" either by calling the Players Theatre at 941-365-2494 or from the website at www.theplayers.org. Also please keep inviting friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. 6. I will send home a flyer on Tuesday with ad information for the "Anything Goes" playbill. I will also email it. Some parents have asked about ads who missed it the first time around. These MUST be in by this Friday, May 13th. The playbill goes to print next week. 7. Thank you to all the wonderful parents who have helped build scenery, paint, chaperone rehearsals and performances, worked at fundraisers, and done many other jobs to help the music department. The SAA parents are the BEST! To close... The Governing Board will meet Monday morning at 8:10 in the front art room. The Gardening Club will meet Wednesday afternoon until 5:15. Friday the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will have a visiting magician share Math Magic with them. Have a great week! Cecilia Blankenship Have a wonderful week! Cecilia Blankenship

Upcoming Dates:
Be sure to check the SAA Calendar on the school website frequently as that has the most current information! Monday - 5/9/16 - 8:00am - SAA Board Mtg - 5:00pm—5th Grade Performance - Peter Pan Tuesday - 5/10/16 - 9:30am - 4th & 5th Grade Field Trip to Van Wezel Wednesday - 5/11/16 - 10:00am - 5th Grade to Ringling - 4:15pm Garden Club
Thursday - 5/12/16 - 6:00pm - PTO/Family Fun Night
Monday - 5/16/16 10:00am K-5 FST Field Trip Tuesday - 5/17/16 - 4:30pm - Spring Art Event Wednesday - 5/18/16 - 4:15pm Garden Club - 4:15pm SAC Meeting

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2015 - 2016
Volume 3, Issue 35
May 9, 2016

Sarasota Academy of the Arts

THE Shooting Star