Fine Artist of the Week

This week's Fine Artist of the Week is Connor Doyle! Connor only got started with MSA Theater this year, but he's catching on fast! His positive attitude and eagerness to get into the action are amazing. And with his big grin, you just know he's having so much fun!  You can catch him (if you can…) in the musical in April. He's a member of the Ensemble with several featured roles in Catch Me If You Can! And that's why Connor Doyle is our Fine Artist of the Week!!!

Thank You to our Moms in Prayer

Thank you to the Moms in Prayer group. We are thankful that you take the time each Tuesday morning to pray for our school, staff/faculty, and all of the families in our community (especially those with specific needs) each Tuesday morning. Thank you for leading this group Michelle Weyant we appreciate you and those that meet with you.

To Kill A Mockingbird

This week in MG's PreUpper Language Arts classes students have been reading the classic American novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.  Having just wrapped up PART ONE of the text, students were then responsible for completing a series of essay questions that relate to the first half of the book.  One of these questions focuses on the concept of family and the dynamics of the American family.  Ethan Bronfman, a student in MG's first period had this to say about family:

" . . . A family is a working organism that can, at times, be dysfunctional but, just like a machine, requires all of its parts or components to do their job.  The Finch family, although not a traditional dynamic, shows us that families can be big, small, and not just bound by blood. . ." 

Another question focuses on Atticus Finch's approach to parenting.  Elizabeth Winn had this to say about Atticus' parenting style:   READ MORE

Studio Art Gallery and Reception - TONIGHT

Please plan to attend the Studio Art Gallery and Reception which will be held tonight.

Friday, March 2nd

6:30-8:00pm

Student Activities Center/Stallings Theater

Amazing student art created during the 2017-2018 school year will be on display and for sale. Live music from MSA musicians will be heard. Giveaways, food/drink, and art activities will be part of the evening as well! See you there!

Questions? Email jford@millsprings.org

--Janet Ford and Brenda Smith, Fine Arts Instructors

Coffee after Carpool

Join your fellow MSA parents for coffee on Monday, March 5! Just drop your kids off at school and come on over to the Starbucks (at the intersection of Crabapple and Houze Roads) right after.

This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, discuss your successes and struggles, and share advice and ideas. We look forward to seeing you there! All are welcome.

Mark these future dates on your calendar: April 9 & May 7

Mustang Mardi Gras Pictures are Ready!

Thank you again for attending our annual PVA fundraiser and auction. It is hard to believe that Mustang Mardi Gras is not only over, but that it has been almost 2 weeks since. Because of your amazing generosity, we raised over $24,000 in proceeds to put toward the next MSA Capital Campaign - so exciting!

We're also excited to be able to share the beautiful pictures that the talented photographer, Rachel Jeffs, took! Twenty percent (20%) of the profits from any print and download sales between now and March 15th will be donated back to us!

Click to be taken to the online gallery (https://racheljeffsphotography.shootproof.com/gallery/mills/)

Use the password: mills

We hope you enjoy the pictures and that you had as much fun as we did at the Mustang Mardi Gras. Thank you for sharing it with us and for supporting our school!

--Rose Hale, MSA PVA President

Measuring Mill Springs

This week in 5th grade math, we have been learning about unit conversion. We started with units of time, such as figuring out how many seconds are in 45 minutes or how many days are in 3 years. We then worked on understanding temperature and comparing Celsius and Fahrenheit. Now, we are using inches, centimeters, and feet to convert units of measurement. All of these activities require the students to use their multiplication and division skills from the previous units and apply them in new contexts. To take this concept into the real world, the students participated in a scavenger hunt to find the measurements of items around campus. They discovered the width of a car wheel, the length of a leaf, and the width of a stop sign. In the picture Zoe Caines, Jake Brown, and  Marie Jackson are measuring the dimensions of a mailbox near the administration building. We had a blast exploring campus and learning a new way to see math come to life in our daily environment!

--Alice Hall, Middle School Instructor

Mid - Winter Break is Coming!

SCHOOL CLOSED

March 9 & 12, 2018

You will have Daylight Saving Time in the middle of that so mark your calendars and don't forget to set your clock forward one hour. 

Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Coach John Hanrahan, he has been nominated as Coach of the Year by GISA for being an outstanding wrestling coach. Not only is he an excellent coach here, but he is also a world champion in his own right. Athletic Director, James Sampson, said, "I appreciate all he does for our kids and I wish Coach John nothing but success!!"

Go Mustangs!

What does Brit Lit have to do with American Lit?

On February 13th the sensational sophomore class visited the Shakespeare Theater to witness the play, Romeo and Juliet. Well, what does British Literature have to do with American Literature? Plenty, if you were to ask author, Arthur Laurents about West Side Story where two rival gangs – the Jets and the Sharks, engage in battles similar to Shakespeare's Capulets and Montagues in Romeo and Juliet. One of the students' Essential Question was: What changes and what stays the same about Romeo and Juliet when it is set in 20th Century New York City?

Below is an excerpt from one student's response:

"Shakespeare does not reveal why the Capulets and the Montagues were fighting, but one assumes there must have been jealousy, hatred and envy between families. This is not the case in West Side Story, as racial prejudice continues into present day with the Black Lives Matter campaign and the gay marriage debate. Time and technology have only intensified issues of class and racial divides."  READ MORE

One More Item to Auction - Mustang Mardi Gras

If you are interested in bidding on this final auction item, email Rose Hale at millspringspva@millsprings.org. No minimum bid required. Bidding will be active until Thursday, March 8th at 8:00am. Group emails to be sent to all active bidders so you can see if you are in the lead. Winner will be announced to all interested parties on March 8.

ITEM UP FOR BID:

One hour sessions for 8 weeks of PEOTSI Sports $275 value

PEOTSI (PE/OT/SI) is an adaptive PE program for children receiving occupational therapy due to mild Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Part instructional league, part PE class, PEOTSI gives these children the chance to compete vigorously among "motor peers" in sports, such as soccer and hockey. They participate in tournaments and receive trophies. Adaptations are made to the playing field and equipment, but the fun and excitement are the same.

Ages 5-8/ 8-11 years.  www.claywhite.us

Is it a Solid or a Liquid?
Students in Communication Arts physical science made homemade slime from glue, water, and a little borax to investigate the properties of liquids and solids. Here, Freddie Butler discusses why he thought his slime was a liquid and the viscosity of his slime.

--Michael Adams, CommArts Instructor

Do YOU Need Summer School?

Do you, or someone you know, need Summer School? Maybe you want to pick up a class over the summer? If you know a rising 9-12 grader that needs summer school, take a look at our Summer School offerings and share them with someone. We are offering most core classes and certain electives. If you have any questions about the program you can contact Cynthia Traylor, Upper School Principal or Taniah Jones, CommArts Asst. Principal. Summer School is open to the public.