MSA Weekly News - August 25, 2017

August 25, 2017 | Vol 11, Iss 2, No 362

NEWSLETTER

Staring at the Sky

This has been a week of monumental events for sure! As we whiled away the time staring at the sky on Monday, we saw a wonderful phenomenon called an eclipse. The adults were just as interested (if not more) as the students. What a spectacular thing to witness.

School on it's own was pretty eventful this week as well. The Fall PM program began, we held one-act play auditions, Chick-fil-A Monday's started too. Our PVA even sponsored a gathering last night! I hope you were able to participate in some of those activities.

Fine Arts Student of the Week

This week's featured artist is Upper School Freshman Will Gibson. Will is pictured here with his wonderfully created ceramic bust of Joseph Stalin in ceramics class. Will you are this week's Artist of the Week!

Congratulations.

Thank you to Jill Fredo

Thank you for assisting with the Coral Lab over the summer. Your assistance and willingness to help maintain our lab over the summer is MUCH APPRECIATED! Thank you for all you do!

MG (Michael Griffeth), PreUpper Instructor

What YOU did on YOUR Summer Vacation

Last week I shared what our staff and faculty did during their vacation. This week it is your turn! Pictured above are the submissions I received from my request. All those outdoor activities, looks like you all had lots of fun over the summer. Thank you for sharing it with us. Going left to right, starting at the top above:

Row 1

Zoe Caines (M-5) after coming down Splash Water Falls at Six Flags.
Garrett Burroway (CA-7) hiking at Yosemite National Park.
CJ Espinosa (U-12) also hiking in Yosemite.

Row 2

Ella Parsons (M-6) practiced being a mermaid by swimming all summer.
Ethan Stroup (U-10) visited St. Simons Island for fishing and beach time.
Zoe (L-4) and Aidan (M-5) Weaver went to Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach.

Row 3

Max Woods (U-11) vacationed in Charleston, SC with his family.
Braden Schiltz (PU-8) pictured in the middle did the stand-up paddle board at Big Canoe Lake.
Shannon Callahan (M-6) went to Niagara Falls, NY with her family.

Row 4

Daniel Garguilo (U-10) took a trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy, this is in Positano.
Zach Smith (U-9) went to the Grand Canyon, here he is at the North Rim.
Sammy Lesser (L-3) made some new friends at Art Barn.

The Changing Sun

Aidan Burris, in Lower School, observed the phases of the eclipse with his mom (center) and sister (right) here at MSA. They thought it was really "cool" to see the crescent shape change sides. We are glad his family and the many other family member guests we had across the campus, were able to join us.

Congratulations to our Yearbook Staff

The 2017 MSA Yearbook staff has received the National Yearbook Program of Excellence award. The award was created to recognize schools who excel in the creation and distribution of their yearbooks. The award criteria includes that the book has to be "meaningful" for all students. Also since so much time is put into the creation of the yearbook, they like that as many students as possible get to enjoy the masterpiece that's created. Finally, meeting the production deadlines is important to the success of the creation, printing, and delivery of the yearbook. This starts now for next year's book. Congratulations to coordinators Elke Silva and Courtney Smith, and the rest of the Mustang Yearbook team!

Book Scavengers

It is my pleasure to be teaching each and every one of the Middle School students for reading this year. Before the year started, the students were asked to read a fairly new novel, Book Scavenger, for their summer reading. The story, which combines the author's love of puzzle-solving, game-playing, daydreaming, and books, is as fun for adults as it is for the Middle School students for whom it was written. It takes the reader on a roller coaster ride through the streets of San Francisco to hidden books whose specific location is revealed through on-line clues. Our MSA students enjoyed the mystery, friendships, humor, puzzles, and literary references in the book, and are counting the hours until Ms. Brittany and I receive the ordered follow-up book in the mail. We have used Book Scavenger as our focus for creative lapbooks with plot diagrams, character evaluations, our personal ratings of the book, and theme songs. READ MORE

School Portraits Begin Monday

SMILE! It's just about time for school pictures to be taken. Here are the dates for each school:

Lower School - Monday, August 28
Middle School - Tuesday, August 29
PreUpper School - Wednesday, August 30
CommArts School - Thursday, August 31
Upper School - Tuesday, September 5

Student Art Displayed at the High Museum

Upper School Freshman, Griffin Middleton's artwork, "Rush Hour" was selected by the Teen Team at the High Museum for their exhibit The Factory that was on display through August 13th. The Factory is a take-off of Andy Warhol's Factory back in the day. They had over 150 submissions from Georgia high school students and selected approximately 25 artists. Griffin was thrilled and so honored, as he was one of the younger artists as the majority selected were juniors and seniors. Congratulations Griffin.

Weekend Shirt Still Available

This new t-shirt was created by our Parent Ambassador group for the sole purpose of getting the word out around town about Mill Springs Academy. That is why we call it our Weekend Shirt! The point is for everyone (parents, especially) to wear it on the weekend while you are running errands or out having fun. Someone may ask questions about the shirt or the logo, thus providing a terrific opportunity to share information about our wonderful school with the community, and that means the shirt is doing its job! Let's show our school pride all around town.
These shirts were given to all of our new students at orientation. But there are more and they are available to you for $14 each! All you have to do is go to the website, order yours today, then WEAR it and TALK about it! p.s. This is NOT approved as a uniform item.

Fun with Mapping

We are off to a great start in World Cultures. This week we are brushing up on our mapping skills and being able to locate cities and countries using our laptops and textbooks. As we finish the next couple weeks of fine tuning geography skills we will "travel" to Africa. While in Africa, we will learn about the culture, land, and history. Exciting times to be had in Kris' PreUpper World Cultures classes!

SCHOOL CLOSED

Please make a note that there will not be classes on

Friday, September 1

as it is a Teacher Work Day. Also as we observe Labor Day, Mill Springs Academy will be closed on

Monday, September 4.

First Week Favorites

In Lower School's first Community Meeting last Friday, we asked the students, "What was your favorite thing about the first week of school?" Some responses were:

Lexi - Making new friends!
Ellie - Journal time with Ms. Carolyn
Evan - Everything!
Jack - Maps in Social Studies
Ari - Playing with everyone
John Keeley - The geckos in Ms. Jodi's room
Jansen - Library time with Ms. Brittany
Eli - Getting a laptop!
Christopher - Recess time
Zoe - Working on Typing Pal in computer class
Neil - Learning things together

We are off to a great start this school year in Lower School!

College Coffee Talk

No matter what grade your student is in, you may have questions about college. Come join Counselors Susan Day and Brandi Smallwood for this informal gathering as we discuss frequently asked questions such as:

How does college counseling work here at MSA?
Where do MSA students typically go to college?
What can I do to help my student?

Wednesday, September 6

8:30 - 9:30am

Upper School Great Room

Hola!

The students are practicing how to use greetings and introductions, to be able to hold basic conversations in Spanish. They begin by introducing themselves. They start with a phrase like "Hola" or "Buenos Dias" then they say "I am..." (me llamo + Nombre) or (Mi nombre es) My name is, as in this example: "Hola me llamo John."

Then to ask someone his name, we use "?Como te llams?" Or "?Cual es tu nombre?" What is your name.
These are the expressions they have been practicing in Spanish class. Pictured are John Hartrampf and Nathan Mostyn practicing their Spanish expressions.--Astrid Cortes, Upper School Instructor

First L/R Lunch in Middle

Pictured are all the Level L's and R's in the Middle School as they joined together at lunch earlier this week. Yes the booth was tiny, but they are already a community and they all insisted on sitting together at Willy's while enjoying their lunch! You guys are awesome!

Total Eclipse

CommArts went to view the amazing total eclipse in the town of Dillard, GA this past Monday. We took a cohort of our students on a very long bus ride up into the north Georgia mountains for the Rabun Gap eclipse viewing event. Many people from all over gathered at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School to witness the once-in-a lifetime total eclipse. All week long CommArts has been studying the eclipse and why it happens. The life-changing sight was absolutely worth the long and tiring drive!

--Sam Adams, Communication Arts School Instructor

Welcome to Lower School

Our headmaster, Robert Moore, came to Lower School lunch to greet all of the students. First grader, Jansen Jones, was so happy to see him that she insisted on holding his hand. She let Mr. Robert know how happy she is to be a MSA. Welcome to Jansen and all of our Lower School students! Robert is pictured talking with the students at lunch.

Musical Announced!

Last week, we held our big Performing Arts meeting for students in grades 7-12 to announce this year's musical - Catch Me If You Can, the Junior Theater Festival show - Peter Pan Jr., and the One Act Play - Art. We also used this meeting to discuss auditions and all other details of music and drama opportunities at MSA this year. If you missed it, no problem! Just email Kate McElliott to find out details and to ask any questions! Note: Our Lower School will also be doing Peter Pan, Jr. this year! It's going to be a fun year!

2017 Dyslexia Dash

International Dyslexia Association – Georgia Branch
WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 8:30 am

WHERE: Perimeter Mall, Atlanta

Join other MSA runners and walkers as we celebrate October as Dyslexia Awareness Month in Georgia. The funds raised go towards teacher training scholarships and other outreach initiatives.

USTAF Certified Course and Peachtree Qualifier
Each 5K runner/walker receives a ribbon, t-shirt, nylon draw-string race bag, and lots of swag!
Awards for top three in each age/gender category
Kid-Zone with fun games and activities!
Raffle Prizes!
NEW! Kids Dash!

RACE REGISTRATION: https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/RaceGroup-376574?raceId=9779

Make sure you are a part of the MILL SPRINGS ACADEMY group/team!

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!

Come support your Parent Volunteer Association in a fundraiser at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park in Roswell. Sky Zone is located at 1425 Market Blvd, Roswell, 30076. The Spirit Night will be held today Friday, August 25.

Jumpers must have a completed waiver signed by a parent or guardian at Sky Zone and wear Sky Zone socks ($2/pair). There will not be supervision at Sky Zone, please be prepared to stay with your children (bring 'em all). Sixty minute jump is only $9pp (reg.$14) and Meal Deal Option is $10 for 1 large pizza and 4 drinks. Sky Zone will make a donation to MSA- $3 per ticket sold and $2 per meal deal sold. Come on out for Spirit Night!

Be Social with Us

Wanna know what's happening here on campus throughout the school year? Join us on the Social Scene. We have a few PINTEREST boards with helpful and/or interesting information for parents, students, and teachers. You can also follow us on TWITTER or like us on FACEBOOK. Post pictures with INSTAGRAM or watch videos on YOUTUBE. You might find something that doesn't make it to the MSA Weekly News, so be sure to follow us on the Social Scene!

Community Cares & Concerns

The Buckley Family

If there is ever a care or concern you would like to share with the community, please just email me at any time, I will be glad to include either names or situations. For privacy, I will only list names and claim ignorance if anyone asks me for details. Cheri