Weekly News: February 11 – February 15, 2019

Re-Enrollment

Don’t forget our deadline for Re-Enrollment is February 19. Beginning in February, we will review classroom enrollment number and waitlists for grades could be created. Re-Enrollment must take place online through PowerSchool. If you have trouble re-enrolling your child, please contact Cara Miller, at cmiller@clarksvilleacademy.com. Tuition Assistance applications are due March 1. Tuition assistance will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis this year and review of applications will begin this week. We encourage everyone wanting tuition assistance to apply now.

Winter Break

Don’t forget, winter break begins on Friday and will last through Monday. Students will not report Friday or Monday. School resumes Tuesday, February 19. Enjoy this time of relaxation!

Marketing

Have you seen our new video? We’d love you to share it on social media or with friends or neighbors you think would be interested in CA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6sx–YQUs&feature=youtu.be

Engage, Embrace, Empower

Clarksville Academy is blogging! Our new blog launched the week of Thanksgiving and will post twice weekly. The hope of this blog is to offer insights for parents. We will discuss a variety of topics from technology, to parenting ideas, ways to prepare your child for testing, long breaks, etc. We hope you will choose to subscribe and to encourage your friends to do so as well. These blogs will not be CA centered, but will offer insights for any parent at any school.

Subscribe at: https://clarksvilleacademy.com/category/engage-embrace-empower/

Cupid Grams

Cupid Grams on sale until Feb12for $1. Send your favorite Cougar a Cupid Gram today! See Mrs. Turnage to purchase.

Athletics

Basketball
Both girls and boys Basketball advance to the Regional Tournament this week! Tuesday our girls will take on FRA at 6PM on Procter Court. Wednesday the boys team battle it out with BGA at 6PM on Procter Court. Reminder—Season passes are not valid and admission is $7 at the door.
Congratulations to our Girls All District winners—Sydneey Boykin, Diamond Bryant, Makayla Artis, and Nichole Hunter. Girls All Tournament members were Sydneey Boykin and Ashley Roberts. Congratulations to the boys All District winners—Daniel Loos, Preston Moody, and Nolan Johnson. Daniel Loos was named the District MVP of the regular season! Daniel and Nolan were also named to the All Tournament team. We are proud of everyone on both teams for such fantastic seasons!

Wrestling
CA’s wrestling team is back for the 2018-2019 season and got off to a great start! Freshman Miller Barnett placed third at the Regional competition in Memphis this weekend and now he has qualified for the State Tournament! Way to go Miller!!!!

Cougar Store

All Items in the Cougar Store are 50% off! Lots of Adult Small and Mediums left. If you say you saw this in the newsletter, you will get an extra discount at check out. Go Cougars!!!!

Annual Giving

Our Annual Fund giving has increased this year, but we still haven’t met our goal. In order to cover the needs of our school, we continue to need annual funds. This year annual funds are being directed to Security upgrades, Staff Professional Development, and facility improvements to name just a few. As we continue to look ahead, we have a few projects on the horizon. Our goal is to replace the metal doors at the entrances to our main building and Activities Center. These new doors would include a automated locking system and card swipe entrances. This comes at a cost over $200,000. We would also like to add additional parking to the front of campus, which will require major dirt work and a retaining wall. This would add approximately 20-30 much-needed parking spaces and come at a cost of $25,000. If you are interested in supporting either of these projects or would like to contribute to annual giving, please contact Sally Allen at sallen@clarksvilleacademy.com.

Important Dates

February 15-18 – Winter Break – No School
February 19 – Re-Enrollment Deadline
March 1 – Tuition Assistance Deadline
March 20-22 – Lower School Grandparent’s Day Celebrations
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School
April 6 – Prom
April 13 – Steak Dinner
April 19-22 – Easter Break

Re-Enrollment

By: Sally Allen, Director of Marketing & Development

February is the time when independent schools across the country begin their re-enrollment process. This is a time of excitement and anxiety for both the school and parent. Excitement for parents, as they look ahead to a new grade, and a new experience and excitement from the school for all the wonderful opportunities in the new school year. Anxiety from parents as they look ahead and envision their child in a new grade level and as they commit to another year financially for their child’s education. During this exciting time, it’s important to remember why you chose a private education.

Traditionally, parents choose private education for smaller class sizes, more intimate learning environments, specialized course selections, athletics, expanded collegiate scholarship opportunities, etc. Click here and here to read our past blogs reflecting on choosing the right private school for your family. It is important to weigh the facts when deciding whether to re-enroll.

Making the commitment to re-enroll your child, often times causes families to reflect on the past year and evaluate your commitment to your school choice. A few of things you may consider as re-enrollment begins are:

Do you feel your school is meeting the needs of your student?
Does your school adhere to their mission statement?
Do you and your family feel an active part of the school community?
Is your child able to meet the expectations set forth by the school?
Is your family able to continue the financial commitment to send your child there?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then you should immediately re-enroll your child in their current school. If you answered no to any of the above questions, it is important that you reach out to your school faculty and administrators to address any concerns you may have and engage in conversations regarding your child’s educational future. Keep in mind many schools have a set re-enrollment period, giving priority to current students and families. Failing to meet those deadlines could result in loss of space at the school and late fees.

For more information on Clarksville Academy, it’s programs or the re-enrollment process, please visit: www.clarksvilleacademy.com or contact admissions@clarksvilleacademy.com.

Weekly News: February 4 – February 8, 2019

Re-Enrollment

Don’t forget our deadline for Re-Enrollment is February 19. Beginning in February, we will review classroom enrollment number and waitlists for grades could be created. Re-Enrollment must take place online through PowerSchool. If you have trouble re-enrolling your child, please contact Cara Miller, at cmiller@clarksvilleacademy.com. Tuition Assistnce applications are due March 1. Tuition Assistnce will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis this year and review of applications will begin this week. We encourage everyone wanting tuition assistance to apply now.

Kindergarten Preview

All current PreK students and parents are invited to a Kindergarten preview on Monday, February 4 at 3:00 P.M. This event will give you a sneak peek into our Kindergarten program. Join us for refreshments, class tours, and important information about the 2019-2020 Kindergarten year.

White Columns

Our annual White Columns magazine is here! It should arrive in your mailbox this week. We have lots of extra issues and need your help! If your place of business would be willing to display our magazine in their lobby, please contact us! We would like to place 3-5 copies in a variety of businesses in town! Contact Rebecca Beach, at rbeach@clarksvilleacademy.com to arrange for us to drop them off! Thank you!

Engage, Embrace, Empower

FBLA

Jackson Trotter competed in the 2019 Regional Leadership Conference for FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). Jackson placed 1st in our region and he had the highest score across the whole state of Tennessee on the Introduction to Financial Math test.

Cupid Grams

Cupid Grams go on sale Feb 5 for $1. Send your favorite Cougar a Cupid Gram today! See Mrs. Turnage to purchase.

Athletics

IS Basketball
The Intermediate School boys’ varsity team won the championship of the James C. Haile State Tournament. Great job by this team!

Varsity Basketball
This week is our District Tournament! Join us Tuesday, February 5 when the girls compete in the first round of the District Tournament. Game begins at 6:00 PM on Procter Court. On Wednesday, our boys’ team will also play at 6:00 PM on Procter Court. We will host the District Tournament this weekend. Make sure to follow us on social media for up to date game times. Reminder—Sports Passes are not eligible for the District Games. Game tickets are $5 at the door.

Cougar Store

All Items in the Cougar Store are 50% off! Lots of Adult Small and Mediums left. If you say you saw this in the newsletter, you will get an extra discount at check out. Go Cougars!!!!

ColorCycle

We are excited to announce a new conservation program at our school called Crayola ColorCycle – an amazing program devised to repurpose used markers rather than sending them to landfills. All around Clarksville Academy, students and teachers will be collecting used markers, highlighters and dry erase markers in drop-off boxes. Please help support our efforts by sending in any used markers you may have around the house- even non-Crayola brands. Thank you in advance for participating and furthering our school’s conservation efforts!

Communication of School Closing

When inclement weather prevents us from coming to school or causes us to be late, school closing information can be found on News Channels 2, 4, 5, and Fox 17, the Leaf Chronicle and Clarksville Now. We will also email and send text notification. Our website will have any school closing information posted as well. We will do our best to quickly assess the situation and make an announcement. We do not follow Montgomery County School System in these closings.

Annual Giving

We have many ways to give at Clarksville Academy. One area of giving is the Clarksville Academy Foundation. The CA Foundation was created in the summer of 2018 and incorporates our endowed funds. Endowments like Procter and Dan Burden Scholarship are now part of the CA Foundation. On January 12 we hosted a Leanne Morgan Comedy Show with all proceeds benefiting the CA Foundation. I’m happy to announce that was raised $17,938 at this one event! Foundation funds must reach a specific level, determined by the Foundation Board before any monies are spent. Upon maturity, only the interest from these funds will be used. If you have any questions about giving, please contact Sally Allen at sallen@clarksvilleacademy.com.

Important Dates

February 5-9 – CA to Host Basketball District Tournament
February 15-18 – Winter Break – No School
February 19 – Re-Enrollment Deadline
March 1 – Tuition Assistance Deadline
March 20-22 – Lower School Grandparent’s Day Celebrations
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School
April 6 – Prom
April 13 – Steak Dinner
April 19-22 – Easter Break

Foreign Language at Any Age

By: Morgan James, Spanish Teacher

Too often we hear adults share that they do not remember much from language classes taken during school age years. Unfortunately, the expectations of becoming a fluent speaker are somewhat unrealistic. While hoping to become bilingual from a traditional school day or playing on an app for one hour a week are far-fetched, learning a foreign language at any age is not. Although it is true that many times at a younger age we have less fear to try new things, you can in fact teach”seasoned” dog new tricks. With the right tools and motivation, anyone, at any age, can learn a newlanguage.

New teaching trends and technology have made it increasingly easier to access materials to aide in the pursuit of becoming bilingual. However, hopping on an app andcompleting a game-structured lesson once or twice a week is simply not enough to become a fluent speaker. I once had a college professor share that fluency can be compared to singing a song. One of the biggest mistakes made when trying to learn a foreign language is not exercising the different skills that are part of effective communication. Learning a language is not only being able to speak words, but the ability to interpret and use in conversation.

Travel

The benefits of learning a foreign language can be life changing. Languages allow us to experience new cultures. When we travel, we are typically in a state of mind far from the everyday hustle and bustle we experience at home. This mindset often encourages us to be more open to trying new things we may not normally try within our daily routine. While we learn a great deal about others through travel, we also learn a lot about ourselves.

Traveling with children creates a global awareness far from what they would receive hearing about other places through textbooks or stories. Students will often return from school trips saying how much more they appreciate their life at home after experiencing a new country. The same can be said for adults who have traveled for business or leisure.

School and Work

Many studies on students taking foreign language classes have shown that the skills developed in a language class actually benefit core classes, such as math, science, history, and English. According to The College Board, the organization responsible for preparing standardized test like SAT or ACT, students who have studied a foreign languagefor 4 or more years outscored students who had not on the verbal and math portions of the test. Many colleges today promote the idea of “global citizenship”. This is the idea that students have rights and responsibilities as members of the world, rather than members of specific nations. Many colleges like to see that students have not only satisfied college graduation requirements by taking a language, but also surpassed the minimum requirement and shown interest in becoming a “global citizen” through different cultural experiences or travels.

There have also been numerous studies showing that students learning a foreign language have increased problem solving and memorization skills. Speaking another language assists students in becoming more aware of grammar and vocabulary in their native language. Students also benefit through the use of interpersonal skills. In a world that at times feels like it is beingtaken over by machines, we sometimes see students who simply do not know how to communicate with peers outside of text and social media. Learning a second language can be a confidence boost for many students.

In the work environment, the ability to speak a second language can easily help your resume stand out from your colleagues. In some cases, the ability to speak a second language can increase your salary. Many companies operate internationally and have a need to hire staff that isbilingual. This is not only for translation, but to help the company understand customary practices andnorms of the countries they do business in.

Why Now?

At this time, the resources available for those wishing to acquire a second language are endless. While applications and workbooks are awesome tools, aforeign language learner needs to remind himself or herself that foreign language communicationtakes practice and, moreimportantly, use. In order to achieve fluency, you need to exercise all the areas crucial to communication. No single program can achieve that. Making the language part of your everyday life is key.Even without a friend or colleague to converse with in the language being studied, there are things that can be done to aid in learning. Set your TV orNetflix account to the language you are learning, look up 2 or 3 new vocabulary words a day in a foreign languagedictionary, get a workbook and do a page or two a day, or listento music in the target language.

One of the biggest takeaways is that adults and children do not learn new things the same way. Children learn through play and repetition. They also have stronger echoic skills or the ability to mimic sounds. However, adults learning a foreign language can be more motivated and have a greater understanding of what it takes to master a new skill. Learning a foreign language does take commitment. Learning something new can be frustrating when we find that we cannot simply pick up a manual or watch a YouTube video and teach ourselves how to do something. While the gratification of learning a language is far from instant, sometimes the things in life that take the most time and effort bring the greatest reward and fulfillment.

Dominican Republic Days 5-8

Danny Magrans, Spanish Teacher

“Laugh, Think and Cry”

The final days of our trip passed so quickly. Each day was filled with tremendous excursions which included a tour of Santo Domingo’s historical district, the Museum of Resistance, a visit to Christopher’s Columbus’ tomb, and finally a tour of the Chocolate Museum. We learned so many valuable lessons about the Dominican Republic’s past and present social climate. We were able to compare and contrast the similarities and differences of our culture to theirs. We were able to walk the streets where many defining moments were decided. Moments that probably molded our world. As exciting as these excursions were, I wondered if perhaps there would be another opportunity for us to capture. One more opportunity to serve.

The last dinner we shared was at a restaurant called Adrian Tropical. The menu was exciting and filled with so many delicious options. Included in the menu were options for traditional dishes as well as dishes that some of my students were missing from home…..cheeseburgers and fries. The desserts were amazing. The natural fruit juices even better.

At first I worried about the amount of time it would take to serve our group. There were 26 of us and only 1 of them. Unfair odds if you ask me. I wondered if our waitress would be able to handle these odds. While she did receive some help, it wasn’t nearly enough. Towards the end of our two hour meal I paused long enough to sit with some students and ask the waitress some questions. I wanted to get a feel for what it was like to be a part of the working class and young in the DR. I wanted the students who were around me to listen to her responses. Here is what we learned.

The waitress is 21 years old and lives in a single bedroom apartment with her sister who is also a waitress. The rest of her family lives in a village outside of Santo Domingo. She is currently attending a public university where she hopes to become an administrator for the hotel industry. Tourism is huge in the DR and so this makes sense. Attending a public university in the DR is relatively inexpensive but not the living expenses nor the books. The rest of the information she offered is worth sharing. When asked about her work schedule and payment structure this is what she said. She works 77 hours per week and on occasions gets a Saturday off. She earns a monthly salary of 200 dollars. While I do not pretend to be a math wizard I believe this means she earns 65 cents per hour. One may claim that the cost of living is much cheaper in the DR. Perhaps they’re right in some ways but certainly not in all.

I often reflect on my ability to capture the moments that matter most. I’m sure I am like most….too busy to notice if its happening or not. Like a baseball player who at the plate fails more than he succeeds I wondered if the moment we were given to talk to this waitress was an opportunity for us to hit a grand slam. Should I swing or simply watch the opportunity go by? I decided to swing and this is what happened next. I rallied my students for a simple presentation of our waitress’ reality. I asked them to tip a little more than what we normally gave which is a dollar per meal per person. After collecting all the tip money I presented the waitress with 165.00. As expected she was speechless. While she was barely able to mutter a thank you her tears spoke to our hearts.

At this point I felt certain we had completed our purpose. Jim Valvano stated in his last ESPY speech, “There are three things we should do everyday….Laugh, Think and Cry. If we can do all three then we know we lived a full day.” Mission accomplished for the Dominican Republic Crew.

“Whether for a reason, season, or lifetime we are placed in each others’ lives to serve a purpose.” I hope we served our’s well.

How to Keep Your Child Safe on the Internet

By: Stan Rozar, Upper School Computer Science

By definition, the Internet is a globally connected network system used to transmit data through various types of media. An Internet World Stats survey from 1999-2019 shows a formidable increase in Internet usage over those 20 years. In 1999, approximately 248 million people (0.4% of the world population) used the Internet; 2019 figures show usage by approximately 4000 million people, which is over half the world population. . These eye opening numbers clearly state the obvious, that the use of the Internet is increasing at a drastic rate year by year. I can imagine that these numbers may be very alarming to parents with regards to their children using the internet, when recent studies from a multitude of sources show that, on average, American teenagers spend six to nine hours a day with digital technology exploring various platforms (with the two most popular being social media and online gaming.) Even though social media and gaming are intended to serve as a source of positive interaction, communication, and fun, there are individuals in the world, known as Internet predators, who use these different outlets to take advantage of unsuspecting minors.

By the time a child has reached his or her adolescent years, they have heard something along the lines of “never talk to strangers under any circumstances” more than enough times, or at least they should have. Though that statement should be imbedded in a child by the time they become a teenager, contact with a stranger via internet is still much more common than one would think, due to online camouflaging and access to profiles being so easily attainable. According to the New England Journal of Public Policy, contact with online predators happens mostly in chat rooms, on social media, or in the chat feature of an online multiplayer game. Social networking websites often ask users to post a profile with their name, age, gender, hobbies, and interests. Many of these social networking sites are free and easy to use, which results in these being very appealing to online predators. As for gaming, researchers have discovered that this is just another easy way for predators to connect with children. Unlike social networks, gaming provides a unique connection composed of both a shared interest and a relationship stemmed from being on the same team, or fighting the same missions.

Internet predators often begintheir initial interactions with a child through a process called grooming. Grooming is the process by which a child predator gains the trust of a victim by building a relationship with the child and then breaking down his or defense. As I mentioned earlier, an Internet predator can go about pursuing this relationship through social media or online gaming using many different approaches. The most vital question and concern regarding these possibilities would include knowing when an online predator is either trying to, or isalready in contact with your child. If you notice that your child is spending a tremendous amount of time online and doesn’t tell you why, or seems to be very secretive about whatever they are doing on screen during your presence, those can be signs they are trying to hide an online relationship with a stranger. Also, if you happen to ask your child about their online activities and they respond in one or both of the following ways, it is vital that you take notice. They will either immediately get defensive or annoyed from the constant questioning, or they will clearly give off a nervous or anxious vibe during the conversation. Both reactions should result in immediate action taken by the parent.

There are several ways as a parent you can improve your child’s Internet safety; although none are completely bullet proof. These simple actions, if monitored properly and consistently, can limit the possibilities of your child falling victim. For social media, the most important action you can take is checking the privacy settings for each of your child’s online social profiles. Each separate social media account generally has the same privacy settings as others, and you can choose exactly who has access to your child’s profile for messaging and viewing. For gaming, you can check the parental controls on the game console and restrict strangers from gaining access to your child’s profile. Most games that are designed specifically for kids have specified settings that aid in preventing inappropriate comments and messages. However, games that are designed for a more general audience have fewer controls, settings, and safeguards, and should require more surveillance from the parent.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do to protect your child on the Internet is to get directly involved. Having direct access to your child’s profile allows you to get a front row seat to seeing exactly what they see. It allows you to get a personal feel for other people your child are interacting with, the language that they use, and whether or not your child is at risk of being groomed. Sadly, however, FBI.gov states that even with all the media attention on the dangers of social networking, they still receive hundreds of complaints per year about children who have been victims of criminal incidents on social networks. My intention inpointing out this statistic is not to strike fear, but to expand awareness, and to bring additional light in taking proper precautions. With an appropriate combination of a parent’s direct involvement, along with a constant emphasis of the importance of never sharing any personal information with a stranger, I can confidently state that your child’s chances of falling victim to Internet predators will decrease profoundly.

Weekly News: January 28 – February 1, 2019

Lower School Robotics

This weekend, two CA Lower School Robotics teams attended the West TN First Lego League Championship in Memphis. They put their “INTO ORBIT” STEM knowledge to the test against 48 teams of which very few were from lower schools. They competed in four categories, Robot Missions, Robot Design, Project and Core Values. CyberCougars, (Jack Catellier, Jay Patel, Evan Mixon, Shelby Maynard, Will Copeland, Jackson Gardner, Nathan Reifenstahl ), placed 24th in the Robot Missions and did well in the other categories. CougarCubs, (Cammie Johnston, Liya Abubucker, Madeline Dikeman, Parker Kent, Carmen Skaggs, Izzy Salmeron), placed 38th in the Robot Missions and did well in the other categories. Coaches Julie Catellier, Joanne Askew and Mentor, Caroline Salmeron, are so proud on how these two lower school teams represented Clarksville Academy.

Kindergarten Preview

Engage, Embrace, Empower

Athletics

IS Basketball–The Intermediate School boys’ varsity team made it to the championship of the James C. Haile State Tournament. We will play Saturday, February 2, at 10:30 AM.

Varsity Girls Basketball—Sydneey Boykin hit the 1000-point mark in basketball last week. On Friday night she was presented with a banner in the gym in her honor.

Cougar Store

All Items in the Cougar Store are 50% off! Lots of Adult Small and Mediums left. If you say you saw this in the newsletter, you will get an extra discount at check out. Go Cougars!!!!

Forensics

Investigator Sergeant Mark Wojnarek and Angela Christian of the MCSO spoke to forensic science students about the concept of preconceived notions. Sergeant Wojnarek is the commander of the sheriff’s office forensic science team, and Angela Christian is a member of the team. They shared information about crime scene investigation basics and what the field of forensics entails from a law enforcement point of view.

ColorCycle

Dress Code

New dress code policies went into effect today, Tuesday, Jan 22. Everyone should have received an email from our Student Council President regarding these. Please contact your Head of School with questions regarding these changes.

Communication of School Closing

Annual Giving

We have many ways to give at Clarksville Academy. One area of giving is the Clarksville Academy Foundation. The CA Foundation was created in the summer of 2018 and incorporates our endowed funds. Endowments like Procter and Dan Burden Scholarship are now part of the CA Foundation. On January 12 we hosted a Leanne Morgan Comedy Show with all proceeds benefiting the CA Foundation. I’m happy to announce that was raised $17,938 at this one event! Foundation funds must reach a specific level, determined by the Foundation Board, before any monies are spent. Upon maturity only the interest from these funds will be used. If you have any questions about giving, please contact Sally Allen at sallen@clarksvilleacademy.com.

Important Dates

February 9 – CA to Host Basketball District Tournament
February 15-18 – Winter Break – No School
March 20-22 – Lower School Grandparent’s Day Celebrations
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School
April 6 – Prom
April 13 – Steak Dinner
April 19-22 – Easter Break

Why is a balanced Pre-Kindergarten program best?

By: Shelley Holt, Pre-K Teacher

Parents are faced with many choices for their young children before they formally start kindergarten. Choosing a pre-kindergarten program which balances the structured and un-structured learning time will better prepare them on all levels for the more structured school years to follow.

“Early experiences affect the quality of that architecture by establishing either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for all of the learning, health and behavior that follow.” – Center for the Developing Child, Harvard University

Play-based learning time or “center time” gives your child the freedom to make choices, explore, learn, and develop in an engaging and evolving learning environment with their peers. This play-based time is a very important part of their school day. They will learn valuable social skills such as sharing, compromising, self regulation, and being a good friend. Whether they are mixing colors in the art center, weighing pine cones in the science center, or pretending to be an astronaut in dramatic play – they are practicing language skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, all the while exploring and learning through their interests.

Each child is unique and all develop, grow, and acquire skills at different rates. This makes small group time an integral part of the Pre-K day. Teachers use the small group time to individualize fun learning activities to target each child’s needs in one-on-one or in a small group of students with similar needs. These learning games can be adapted to each child’s interests and learning styles for better retention and success.

Large group time, morning meeting, story time, and lesson times are also used to reinforce weekly and daily concepts. These times are also used to encourage them to raise their hand and wait for their name to be called to develop self control and regulation and better prepare them for their Kindergarten year. Although developing self regulation is important, teaching four year olds requires teachers to be flexible and aware that students may need impromptu brain breaks or dance breaks to get their wiggles out. Maintaining a fun, loving, and exciting learning environment is important to develop your child’s love of school.

These programs should also offer outdoor play time, physical education, foreign languages, art, music, and other sporting activities which can expose your child to many areas of interest and enrichment.

Choosing the right program for your child that will foster a positive learning experience during their pre-kindergarten year is crucial. Many studies have shown that early school experiences may impact a child’s perception of learning and the school environment for years to come.

A balanced pre-kindergarten program will develop the whole child – socially, emotionally, and cognitively. This will provide a strong foundation for your child to be prepared for their kindergarten year and beyond.

What to Look for When Choosing Private Education

By: Christie Burger, Admissions

As part two of private vs. public education series, we want to look more deeply at what parents should look for when choosing private education. Private education is an increasingly popular option for many families and one that may be the right fit for yours.

Here are a few questions to ask as you begin the process of choosing a school.

What is the philosophy of the school? It is important to make sure the philosophy of the school matches what your family is looking for in educational goals, as well as values.

Is the faculty of high quality and committed to challenging students to reach their potential? When looking at the quality of education, you have to start with a strong faculty. Dedicated, well-trained teachers are the key to a strong high-quality education. Ask the levels of education, years of experience, and certifications held by the faculty.

How involved can I be as a parent? Independent schools have many opportunities for parent involvement. Ask about parent organizations, policies for volunteering, and ability to visit on campus with your student. Partnership in your child’s education can go along way in their educational development.

What extracurricular opportunities are available for students? Education is the main focus of schools, but the extracurricular opportunities can truly shape the student’s experience during their school years. See what clubs, sports, and organizations are available for your child’s age group.

What is the success rate of the school’s graduates regarding progressions to secondary education, as well as, awarded scholarships? For high school students, progressing to the college level, and college acceptance rates should be a priority of most independent schools. Ask the guidance office, what the rate is for college acceptances for the graduating classes, ACT/SAT score averages, and scholarship amounts awarded each year.

What is the student profile and admission requirements? Ask yourself, does your child fit the type of student that each school’s student body represents? Ask each school what their requirements are for admissions and see if those characteristics are also important to your family’s goals.

How happy are the students and faculty? Happy students say so much about a school. They are generally more enthusiastic, eager to learn, and ultimately become successful. A teacher that is happy and content is one that will form a partnership with each family and provide a solid educational experience.

As you begin your search, make a list of these things and the qualities you most want in a school. Keep in mind that no one school is perfect, or will meet all of the criteria on your list. However, you want to select the school that best fits your student, family values, and educational goals.

Dominican Republic Day 4

By Danny Magrans, Spanish teacher

Christopher McCandless, the reason why Back to the Wild was written, once said, “the very basic core of every persons’ living spirit is their passion for adventure.” And that’s exactly what we accomplished today. Adventure beyond our wonders and dreams.

This morning started with a team scavenger hunt. Each team consisted of a blend of Dominican students and ours. We worked collaboratively to find answers to questions scattered around a main strip in the city of Cabarete. While the clues were written in English our students had to translate each clue into Spanish so that the Dominican could understand how to help. A wonderful activity to start the day. I am happy to report that all teams finished and found all of the clues.

After our session with the school and the Dream Project we then went on a 15 minute hike into another small village called Loma. The purpose of this hike was to find the famous location where the Taino civilization once lived…..a cave. One by one we entered the cave so that we could swim in the naturally fed pool that exists inside. An unbelievable experience to say the least. It’s probably better that I afford you the opportunity to hear more about this excursion from our students.

We then took a bus ride to snorkel in the Caribbean. Doesn’t that sound amazing? The waters were choppy today but we were able to see so many different kinds of fish. My personal favorite are the Tiger fish.

We then went on a boat ride down the Yasika River to eat dinner at a well known but very remote restaurant. Quite frankly….I think it might be the best meal I have ever eaten. Simply amazing.

I have to confess, I am starting to believe that these students are part Latino or maybe my love for dancing is rubbing off on them. So far, every night has turned into a Latin American Salsa Party. Don’t be fooled by what our students may tell you….they have all danced and have really enjoyed the experiences. And for the record I have a ton of video recordings just in case you need proof.

Tomorrow we leave for Santo Domingo. Pray for safe travels and a wonderful day.