Thank You to Middle School Families

Feature Teacher
Meet Astrid Cortes, she is our Spanish I teacher in the Upper School and is new to MSA this year. She has been teaching students from elementary all the way to high school for over 18 years. Her experience tells her "how valuable teacher encouragement and motivation is to the students." She loves to help her students see that learning is it's own reward, and hopes that they find it enjoyable and interesting. She likes to provide challenging, yet supportive assignments and wishes that her students develop an appreciation for the Spanish culture and language. Her favorite thing about Mill Springs is how friendly everyone is. Surprisingly Astrid comes from a family of 8 children, she has two brothers and five sisters. 

Thank you for what you do each day Astrid!

Connecting with the Coral Lab

This past Wednesday, students from MSA's Coral Lab class had the opportunity to showcase their lab skills during a video conference with Notre Dame Academy in Duluth, GA.  The Notre Dame students are working on their IB portfolio projects, which are themed this year around the effects of pollution and climate change on our planet's oceans.  The Coral Lab class provided examples of how to test PH levels in seawater, determine salinity and specific gravity of seawater, and how to test for Calcium in seawater.  Following this demonstration, the Coral Lab students, along with MG, connected these activities with the Notre Dame students' projects and answered a series of research questions.  It was a meaningful opportunity for Notre Dame Academy to utilize the Coral Lab as a research tool and a chance for MSA students to present their knowledge of such topics through direct applications.  Pictured is Gabby Gansle, Emily Cowart, Taylor Mallady, Mia Nemesh, Iris Dunn, MG, Andie Kibler, and Ivy Doss of Notre Dame Academy.  Well done Jolly Polyps!  "The Ocean's Awesome."  MG    

TODAY Get Your Prom Tickets!

Saturday, April 22, 2017
7:30 - 11:30 PM

Luxury Lounge and Lighting

9315 Industrial Trace

Alpharetta, GA 30004

Buy your TICKETS HERE!

#msaprom2k17

TICKETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR!

Winners Claim Your Prizes

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 - Lower School
• Ryan Zant - Middle School
• Matthew White - PreUpper School
• Josh Drew - CommArts School
• Emma Harris - Upper School

Email your $10 gift card choice (Barnes & Nobel, 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 the 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.

MSA Annual Fund 2016-2017

Great News...our NEW families recently achieved 100% participation in our 2016-2017 Annual Fund. Congratulations to you and a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of the families that have participated in this very important campaign. Your support is most appreciated!

But we are not done yet!  We are at 90% total participation from our combined new and current families. If you haven't made your gift to this year's campaign, please help us reach 100% participation by clicking the following link and make your donation today!

Remember, a gift of ANY SIZE counts toward participation. 

DONATE HERE NOW ...  Thank you!!

AAC Baseball Championships

#2 Mill Springs Academy VS. #3 The Howard School

Monday, April 24, 2017 @ 2:00

Consolation Game Wednesday, April 26, 2017 @ 2:00

OR

Championship Game @ 4:00 PM VS. #1 Cottage

Testing our Knowledge with Games

This week in Karen's PreUpper Georgia History class, students wrapped up their Antebellum and Civil War unit. The students also played a review game, Sherman's Attack, to prepare for their upcoming test. This is a great way to get the students to start studying in advance of the test. Students really enjoy competing against each other during our review games, and it is a great way to get them motivated to study before the night prior to a test. According to James Hurtsellers (pictured taking a winning shot), "This was a game that put a smile on my face, made me leave with knowledge, and allowed me to feel more prepared for the test!" Good luck on your history exam.

I'd Love to Shoot YOU an Email

AAC Boys & Girls Tennis Tournament

Mill Springs Academy vs. The Cottage School

Play begins @ 9:00 AM - Noon @ MSA (Boys Only)

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Boys & Girls Championship Round starts @ 9:00 AM – Noon

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 @ MSA

GISA State Track & Field

The Mustangs traveled to Tara Stadium in Jonesboro Tuesday for the GISA Region State Qualifying meet. It was a hot day but our team came to compete! Please congratulate Sam Lynch, Jake Martin, Jacobi Garrett, and Victoria Toscano who will be going to State for individual events, as well as our boys 4x400 Relay team (Richard Brooks, Christian Kelm, Jacobi Garrett, Sam Lynch, Jake Martin). There were some great performances by the entire team plus some Personal Records (PR) as well as MSA School Records broken!

Some Highlights from the meet:

• Victoria Toscano - 4th place Discus (State Qualifier)
• Jordyn DeNardo - 6th place 800 meter run (PR); 5th place 400 meter dash - Broke the School Record and PR AGAIN!
• Jake Martin - 2nd 100m dash (state qualifier and PR); 3rd place 200m dash (state qualifier); 5th place 400 meter dash (PR)
• Jacobi Garrett - 2nd place Long Jump (SMASHED the school Record and PR!)
• Richard Brooks - 5th place 200m dash (PR)
• READ MORE
  

Tee-off for Technology Golf Tournament

This year's Tee-off for Technology golf tournament, which was held on Monday, April 14 at the Polo Golf & Country Club, was a great success! Congratulations to our winners (pictured) - Daryl Shoemake, Steve Miller, John Parks, and Brad Payne.

A huge thanks to all of our sponsors for helping to make this one of our best tournaments yet.

Silver Sponsors

• Holt & Holt
  
• Daikin
  

Gift Sponsor

• Key2 Consulting
  

Hole-in-One Sponsor

• Choate
  

Food Sponsor

• Collins Cooper Carusi
  

Beverage Cart Sponsor

• Southern Area Rocketry
  

Hole Sponsors

• Money Concepts
  
• Formsmith
  
• Parker School Uniforms
  
• Rocklyn Homes
  
• T-Olive Properties
  
• The Harper Family
  
• Coleman Search Group
  

Tickets! Get Your Tickets!

We have seen sneak previews at several different events throughout the last few weeks. Now is the time to get your tickets and come see the ENTIRE production! It is going to be awesome!

April 28 & 29 (Friday & Saturday)

7:00pm

Stallings Theater - SAC

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

(search for Mill Springs and it will be the only option)

2017 Teacher & Staff Appreciation

Can you believe the end of the school year is almost here? Each year at this time, MSA parents have generously thanked our teachers and staff members with a cash gift for a job well done. The PVA is geared up and ready to help coordinate this effort for our parents! This gift is a wonderful way to show our heartfelt appreciation to the special people who touch our children's lives each and every school day. "No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

Did you know that the PVA also honors our staff by hosting two Staff Appreciation Luncheons each year, once during the holiday season and once during the spring? We want to thank each of YOU for making this possible through your PVA membership contributions and your tireless volunteer hours.

Donations for our spring staff appreciation gift may be made ONLINE HERE or via cash or check at the PVA mailbox in the front office. Please make your donation by Friday, May 5th. Check your mail for more information, or contact the PVA at millspringspva@millsprings.org. Thank you in advance for participating in this Mill Springs Academy tradition.

PreUpper Visitor

Andie Kibler took this photo of a male rose breasted grosbeak who has been visiting my feeder this week.  He's 'not from around here,' tending to live in the more northern parts of our country.  Such a pretty bird.  When the sunlight hits his breast just right that pink patch becomes electric fuchsia – stunning.  If you need a pretty illustration for a PreUpper Newsletter or something, consider using this.

--Martha Muir, PreUpper Instructor

Lower/Middle Open House

Please join us for an Open House to tour

our new Lower/Middle School building.

Our new donor wall and individual recognition pieces will be on display.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

11:00am - 2:00pm

Light lunch fare will be served.

Please RSVP HERE

Summer Sports Camps are Fun!

Sign up now for Summer Sports Camp at Mill Springs Academy. We are offering coed basketball and soccer, along with girls' volleyball. For more details or to register CLICK HERE or talk to Coaches Phil Hanson for basketball or soccer, and Karen Kaiser for volleyball. This is an excellent opportunity for all new students to get to know some of our coaches and get in the groove before school starts in August. GO MUSTANGS!