To Susan Lake, CommArts Mom

THIS EVENING and YOU are Invited!

Mill Springs Academy Art Gallery and Reception

Friday, March 24th

6:30 - 8:00pm

Stallings Theater - SAC

Artwork, food, prizes, music, fun, celebration!

See you there!

• Peter Capponi
• Matthew Dalluge
• Sean Martin
  
• Paige Norris
• Trevor Parkey
  
• Tommy Ray
• Trey Reid
• Andi Smith
  

Cats vs. Dogs

GBI and Fingerprinting

Guest Journalist - Jack Abram,Upper School Junior

The forensics class has had a few very eventful weeks.  To begin with, we did a field trip to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Headquarters in Decatur.  The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is a state level investigative agency that exists to assist law enforcement agencies with major investigations and runs the state crime lab. We were given a tour of their chemistry lab, and a chemist from the bureau gave us a tour and explained the purpose of the lab.  The Bureau receives drug samples from local law enforcement agencies, and must conduct tests using a variety of specialized equipment to ensure the drug samples are indeed what they say they are for trial purposes.  We were then given a guided tour of the GBI's museum in the lobby, where we were shown highlights of various disciplines of forensic science how the GBI makes use of them. 

This week, we began our fingerprinting unit, where we learned about the science behind fingerprints.  No two human fingerprints are alike ...  READ MORE

Book Club - PM Program

This week, the Tuesday after school Book Club finished a novel called The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. They then created artwork and reviews so that other MSA students might pick it up when browsing in the library. Here are the reviews:

Iris Dunn, PreUpper: 5/5 stars: "I liked the book because the characters were funny and relatable. I also liked the constant suspense and action."

Bradley Dore, PreUpper: 4/5 stars: "I liked this book because it had mystery in it. I also liked the main character Lucy because she was daring."

Aral Seckiner, Middle: 5/5 stars: "I liked that I was like a detective novel. I also liked that it was like a scary story."

--Brittany Emge, Library Media Specialist

Senior Projects Begin Next Week

We cordially invite you to Senior Presentations 2017!

Our Seniors have worked so hard to write, perfect and teach their topics this year. We hope that you can attend to support your former peer, student or friend - the Seniors hope so too!

To find out what topics are being presented by whom and at what time, see the SCHEDULE HERE.

Winners Announced!

THANK YOU to everyone who turned in Box Tops, Labels for Education, Tyson A+ labels or My Coke Reward codes.  We earned over $850 this year from these programs!! 

Spring drawing winners are: Kevan Thieriot (L); Ryan Zant (M); Matthew White (PU); Josh Drew (CA); Emma Harris (U). Email your $10 gift card choice (Barnes & Noble, Dicks Sporting Goods, Target or Toys R Us) to beth-kane@outlook.com

Don't let Box Tops expire over the summer.  Many expire in June so turn in before the end of school. Names will be recorded for the next drawing. Summer is also a great time to collect from neighbors, family and friends.

Thanks for your participation! Contact Beth Kane beth-kane@outlook.com with any questions.

Harmonographs

This project was a collaboration with the Upper School science department, the Fine Arts department and Maintenance. Patrick and Roberto were instrumental in teaching the knowledge of and use of the hand tools necessary to create the harmonograph.

Guest Journalist – Michael Antonucci, Upper Senior

 Vaidehi's physics classes have been constructing an unusual device that makes harmonographs, a 3D image based off of 3 different pendulums. Two of the pendulums are able to tilt at a 180-degree angle, while the middle one can go in all 360 degrees! A pen is attached to a crossed section of wood, which are on a small nail in order to achieve full control. By moving the crossed area and the platform on the 360-degree pole, one can make incredible designs in practically infinite ways! The process of constructing this device requires skills in math, basic carpentry, and science. This project is a perfect example of STEAM, which uses concepts to teach students useful information for their future.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE and see the Harmonograph in action!

Pi Day in CommArts

Sam Adams' math classes discussed the history and secrets of the transcendental number π. Sam led students in a direct demonstration of π as the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a circle outside in the sun. Most people know the number as 3.14… but its value can't be written down in our number system. At lunch CommArts enjoyed the tasty side of Pi Day by eating lots of pie. Pi Day was part of a busy week in CommArts, with Pi Day, the Ides of March, and St. Paddy's Day!

Annual Tradition

It is an annual tradition for Lower School to be visited by Cindy Thorne to read Tim O'Toole and the Wee Fold by Gerald McDermott. Cindy comes every March 1th and uses her fine Irish accent! The students look forward to this special time each year.

Evolution of Life

Guest Journalist - Brian Orkin, Upper School Freshman

Monisha Rallapalli, the daughter of Ms.Vaidehi presented a PowerPoint on the evolution of life with many great slides and videos to help my classmates and I understand the process of evolution more thoroughly. The process of evolution began as a prokaryotic cell, which then formed into communities of these through mutation. Soon after, the first eukaryotic cell formed, followed by the evolution of bacteria. Soon after, the cells kept multiplying to form algae and sponge, and eventually more complex aquatic organisms form, especially a diverse species of fish. The fish grew much larger to evolve into bigger fish. One day a very curious fish crawled up onto land due to a reduction of oxygen levels in the ocean, and over the course of millions of years, this species of fish developed small arms and hand like fins that caused them to evolve into amphibians and reptiles.  READ MORE

EARLY DISMISSAL
Wednesday, December 21, 2016

12:15p – L/M Carpool
12:30p – PU/CA/U Carpool
12:45p Bus Departs

Don't Miss Your Chance!

Purchase your yearbook before
March 31, 2017
to have your student's name imprinted on the front cover.
Just CLICK HERE
And place your order TODAY!

Author Amalie Jahn Visits Middle School

On Friday, March 17th, author Amalie Jahn came all the way from Charlotte, NC to meet our Middle School students. Back in the fall, Gretchen's classes studied her novel The Clay Lion. It was an emotional and thought-provoking story, and the students wrote her very heart-felt, detailed letters. Mrs. Jahn was so impressed and moved by their letters, she decided the drive was worth a trip to meet our students. Mrs. Jahn spent half the day with the entire Middle school, teaching them about being an author, careers in publishing, and even doing a creative writing workshop with them. She spent lunch with Gretchen's classes, where she answered a few questions from each student's letter. It was a very special day for our students and teachers, and we felt honored to have such a distinguished author on our campus.

--Brittany Emge, Library Media Specialist

The Lowdown on MAP Testing

At Mill Springs Academy we utilize Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) tests to determine your child's instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year in the areas of reading and math.

MAP tests are unique in that they are taken on the computer and adapt to be appropriate for your child's level of learning. That means that the test becomes more difficult the more questions your child answers correctly. When your child incorrectly answers a question, the test becomes easier. Therefore, your child takes a test specifically created for his or her learning level.

And with MAP tests, we can administer shorter tests and use less class time while still receiving detailed, accurate information about your child's growth. MAP testing is a powerful tool for monitoring student growth over time. READ MORE

Fun Forensics Solving Murder Mystery

Guest Journalist - Carly Mulligan, Upper School Junior

Last week on Friday Vaidehi's 6th period forensics class had a lethal luau. I planned the party and Nate Foster helped me set it up. We put up Hawaiian decorations and put out different types of desserts including a pineapple upside down cake that I made. We had three guests join us which were Victoria Toscano, Drew Maichle, and Brittany Emge.

We started off the game with our cast of characters introducing themselves. Many had made up funny accents for their characters. For example, Nate Foster played the part of Nadia Seymour, a bikini model, so he spoke in a high pitched voice and Jack Abram played the part of Joey Breakers, the Californian surfer dude. After many funny arguments the killer turned out to be Joey Breakers, who held the crowd at gunpoint as he explained his role in the day's events, before making his grand escape. It was fun and I hope our class and future classes will do something like this again. Forensics is a fun class.

SCHOOL CLOSED

Spring Break

April 3 - 7, 2017

Be safe and have fun! Don't forget to send Cheri your vacation pictures. 

Makers Club

The Lower and Middle School Makers Club/STEM students (PM program) had a lot of fun with creativity and invention doing amazing activities and also in discovering the joy of science together. They worked on a variety of activities that included learning the parts and workings of the 3D printer, the software used in designing and printing; physics in motion, polymers, electricity (assembling the parts, completing the circuit and making it work), and even aerodynamics and rocket science. They wished they had it during spring semester as well.

Daniel Moses: "I like the Makers club because I got a chance to learn about 3D printer, SNAP circuits and the long name of the polymer (sodium poly acrylate) used in diapers too. It was a lot of fun." (pictured on the left)

Aidan Burris: "I like the Makers club as I was able to be with my classmates, meet new people. I enjoyed learning about mechanics, physics, electricity, a lot about 3D printer. I would recommend other students as well to join this club." (pictured on the right)

CommArts Holds Field Day

Communication Arts had a field day. We did three-legged races, spinny bat, egg toss and more! We ended the fun day with popsicles. Yes popsicles, on a cold day. The pictures shows everyone lined up for an exciting egg in spoon race. Wow these kids were fast and coordinated. None of the teachers won any of the competitions. We better train up for next year.

--Bonnie Bergstresser, CommArts Instructor

Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Guest Journalist - Tyler Goodwyn, Upper School Freshman

In this week's classes for Honors Biology we learned about invertebrates, vertebrates, and how to dissect a frog and fetal pig. We had to know the difference between invertebrates and vertebrates and know some of the important characteristics. Some of the details about vertebrates include how some of the sting rays, manta rays, and sharks had bones made of cartilage. Vertebrates of fish are able to use buoyancy to their advantage so they are able to float, whereas sharks are so heavy that if they did not swim upward they would sink to the bottom of the ocean. That's why many of the sharks use their fins and tails because it helps them not sink to the bottom. In some of the frog vertebrates, the tadpoles have fish like tails showing the process of evolution because their common ancestor was a fish. READ MORE

Public Open House

Wednesday, April 12

9:00 - 11:00am

Student Activity Center

If you know someone that might benefit from attending MSA, please invite them to an Open House or better yet bring them! In case you haven't attended an Open House, it provides prospective parents with an overview of the school, a wonderful Fine Arts presentation, at least one parent and one student perspective, a tour of the school and an opportunity to speak with the principal. It's a great opportunity for them to get a feel for what we are all about. Word of mouth is by far the biggest way families find their way to Mill Springs and we know that you sometimes have the chance to be "Mill Springs on the Street", we thank you for sharing MSA!

Dogs vs. Cats

Guest Journalist - Ward Sutlive, Lower School

 Dogs are more interesting than you think. First, dogs can drink muddy water or raw meat and still survive. This is because they have chemicals in their stomach to kill the germs. Second, they urinate on trees to mark their territory. Next, a wet nose helps a dog smell better. Their sense of smell is 100% better than humans. Additionally, they are used in the work force a lot more than cats. Last, dogs are faster than cats in long distances.

Now let's switch to cats. Cats hiss or spit to warn people to stay away. Equally important, cats never purr when they are alone. Additionally, cats are better hunters than dogs because they have quick sharp teeth and claws. Also, cats have good night vision. In fact, cats live an average of 14 years. That is longer than dogs! Finally, they are also more independent than dogs.

Here are some comparing facts about cats and dogs. Similarly, cats and dogs both have keen hearing. Additionally, they don't see a variety of colors like humans. In the same way, they can both be used as therapy animals. Likewise, they're also allergic to chocolate. Compared to humans, they can jump high. Finally, they can both smell very well. In conclusion, this is how cats and dogs are alike.

Golf Beats Holy Spirit by 51 Strokes!

We had great weather yesterday before the storms rolled in, but we were able to finish the match.

We defeated Holy Spirit 211- 262.

Yates Smith (pictured) shot a great round of 1 over par to lead everyone. Michael Martin was second with a 51. Parker Weyant, Maddie Hahn and Nic Allen all played well and helped beat Holy Spirit.

--Michael Smith, Coach and Upper Instructor

JFK Assassination

 Guest Journalists - Jack Abram and Carly Mulligan, Upper School Juniors

 Gary Fanin, the parent of one of the MSA student, came into Vaidehi's 6th period forensics class to talk and present a PowerPoint about the JFK assassination. Fanin, the author of a book called The Innocence of Oswald, talked to us about how Lee Oswald could not have killed Kennedy. He showed us documents, pictures, and recreations of the assassination that allegedly proves Oswald could not have done it.

I thought it was interesting that there were documents stating that the president was going to get assassinated months before Kennedy was actually killed. Gary explained how Oswald could not have killed Tippet because the times did not match up to when Oswald got arrested and when Tippet was shot. He showed us pictures of the windshield of the motorcade with a bullet hole through it. READ MORE

Speaking Around Town

Summer Camps and School

You can sign up NOW for any of our Summer Programs.

We have several different Summer Sports Camps that will be available this summer and are lead by our own coaches. Find that registration HERE.

As usual Mark Trail Camp is bound to be a lot of fun so you can find more information HERE.

If you need or know someone that needs Summer School (rising 9-12 grades) we are offering core classes and certain electives under our Forward Thinking program. Look for those offerings HERE.

Any questions? Here is who to contact:

Summer Sports Camps - James Sampson
Mark Trail Camp - Will Turner
Summer School - Cynthia Traylor