Author: Marsh Family (Dell)

The Shooting STAR

Sarasota Academy of the Arts

September 12, 2016

2016 - 2017, Volume 4, Issue 4

Principal’s Corner

Last week was a short one, but busy for students and parents. Thank you to the parents and teachers who attended the first PTO meeting last Thursday. The PTO Board and parent volunteers have lined up events for students and families as well as taken on fundraiser coordination. If anyone wants to assist on these projects, you would be most welcome. You can find out how to help by calling the office or emailing PTO president, Jeff Kolowith (jkolowith@sarasotaacademyofthearts.com). The aftercare clubs are off to a good start and we hope to see even more students participating. Remember that there is no extra charge for students who are enrolled in the monthly program, but we do need them to register for the club so we know how many materials to prepare. Also, please be sure to sign your child out so we can account for everyone. Tuesday is Picture Day. Every student and staff member will have pictures taken for the yearbook and a school ID card. Pictures must be pre-ordered either by check or cash sent in with the student envelope or pre-paid on the their website. Students absent from school will have an opportunity to be photographed on the picture retake day in October. Our new fifth grade teacher is Ms. McDonald who is a recent graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in Elementary Education. She is a Sarasota native who graduated from Sarasota Military Academy. If you walk into her classroom, you'll readily see her fascination with all things "Harry Potter". Ms. McDonald tutors and provides homework assistance on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons during aftercare. Parents will be able to follow their children's assignments through the fifth grade google classroom when they respond to an invitation from the teacher. They can also access the site ( a work in progress as we just now starting to use google classroom) through the student ID/password. Mr. Thomason, IT Coordinator, asked that I share the following with regards to google classroom: "Sarasota Academy of the Arts uses Google Apps for Education for grades 4-8. This will give students access to email, documents, and calendar. Some teachers are starting to implement a tool called ‘Google Classroom’. Classroom saves time and paper, and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate, and stay organized. Keep track of your student’s classroom progress through guardian email summaries. You can choose the frequency of the emails—daily or weekly. Guardian email summaries include:
Missing work—Work that’s late at the time the email was sent
Upcoming work—Work that’s due today and tomorrow (for daily emails) or work that’s due in the upcoming week (for weekly emails)
Class activity—Announcements, assignments, and questions recently posted by teachers
As a guardian, before you can receive email summaries, you must receive and accept an invitation from your student’s teacher. Not all classes will be on classroom, but more and more will be added throughout the year. Encourage your student to login at home to show you what it looks like." Look for the agenda books, teacher emails, Remind, and google notifications to keep current on student assignments and projects. You are encouraged to sign into the Gradebook Parent Portal as well. Report cards are issued through the portal and you can register for a weekly notification of grades, missing assignments, and attendance. If you need assistance, please call the office. Have a wonderful week!
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 - 9/12/16 - 8:00am - SAA Board Meeting - 4:15pm Volleyball practice Tuesday - 9/13/16 - School Picture Day
- 4:00pm SAA Volleyball @ Imagine School of Lakewood Ranch (Student athletes leave school at 3:25) Wednesday - 9/14/16 - 4:15pm Volleyball practice Thursday - 9/15/16 - 4:00pm SAA Volleyball vs Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences @ SAA (Student athletes leave school at 3:50) Friday - 9/16/16 - Spirit Day - Wear your SAA Shirt Tuesday - 9/20/16 - 4:00pm SAA Volleyball @ Imagine School of North Manatee (Student athletes leave school at 3:15) - 6:00pm - 8:00pm SAA Skate Night at Stardust Skate Center Wednesday - 9/21/16 - Volleyball practice at 4:15pm Thursday - 9/22/16 - 4:00pm SAA Volleyball - St. Joseph Catholic School @ SAA (Student athletes leave school at 3:00) Friday - 9/23/16 - Spirit Day - Wear your SAA Shirt

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2016 - 2017
Volume 4, Issue 4
September 12, 2016

Picture Day - 9/13/16

Don't forget school pictures are being taken on Tuesday, September 13. Individual portraits will be taken of all students and faculty for individual purchase, and for the yearbook. You must send in the envelope AND PAYMENT information, or prepay confirmation if you wish to purchase pictures.

Sarasota Academy of the Arts

THE Shooting Star

SPIRIT WEEK IS NEXT WEEK!!

Week of September 19th - 23rd Get ready for a fun filled week! Prizes will be given out each day to the student & staff member who shows the most spirit in each theme Monday, Sept 19th - Mismatch Day - Who will be the most mismatched? Tuesday, Sept. 20th - Sports/Jersey Day - Are you really a big fan? Prove it! Wednesday, Sept. 21st - Super Hero Day - Who will be our favorite Super Hero? Thursday Sept. 22nd - Country/Western Day - Giddy up Cowboy! Friday, Sept. 23rd - School Spirit / Blue & White Day - Who will be the most school spirited?