MSA Weekly News - April 20, 2018

Unlike the IRS we have had a wonderful week - lots of activity: Flex Friday, World Food Day, Math & Science Day at Six Flags, a trip to the Civil Rights Museum, and an author visit! It's been so exciting and very educational! So many really terrific things to share with everyone from both last week and this, make sure you read everything, just like Maxwell House Coffee, it's good to the last drop! Besides you never know what you will miss.

You will notice that our athletics are starting to come to a close with region and state championships beginning to take place. That means the school year is also coming to an end. But don't give up yet, there are still some great things to happen. Keep studying and keep your focus. It will be summer soon and maybe the weather will be as well.

Have a great weekend!

Fine Artists of the Week

The Tri-M Music Honor Society students and friends performed last week at Mansions Senior Living Home in Alpharetta. Students had voted on their own to go perform there during their lunch break and prepared music that certainly brought a lot of smiles all around. Jack Hurtsellers, Collins Losson, Bryce Zimmerman, Garrett Cutchin, Emma Harris, Drew Maichle, Matthew Cowart, and Nick Tate, we are so proud of you for sharing your gifts! Congratulations - you all are this week's Fine Artists of the Week.

We'd Love to Shoot You An Email

Class of 2018 now that you are going to be Alumni, we would like to continue to send you the MSA Weekly News, share Alumni events, and keep you generally informed about the happenings on Campus. Please send us your permanent email address (not your millsprings.org email) and we will continue to include you. We can keep sending you the newsletter so you can stay in touch with your friends and favorite teachers here at MSA - all through MUSTANG. Send me your email TODAY and check it out, you are already a part of the Alumni Portal.

Excellent Ranking

We are pleased to announce that Milk. Newsmagazine attained an "Excellent" ranking at this year's Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) competition earlier this week - our first year competing. The GSPA is sponsored by the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. It has been a beacon and a standard for high school journalists and publications for the last 89 years.

Out of the 8 newsmagazines that placed for General Excellence for a Newsmagazine, only one was a private school: Mill Springs Academy. The other 7 were extremely large and well-reputed (especially for journalism) public schools including Clarke Central in Athens, Heritage High in Conyers, Henry W. Grady in Atlanta, and Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville.

The Milk. Staff is beyond thrilled! We were really just hoping to get critiques to help make our publication better! If you see the following individuals on campus, please wish them a hearty congratulations.

Left to Right: Noah Terpstra - Lifestyle Editor, Casey Purser - Editor-in-Chief, Emily Kane - Contributing Writer CommArts, Jack Abram - Editor in Chief, Connor Samsky - Sports Editor, Matthew Dalluge - Contributing Writer. Not Pictured: Garrett Cutchin - Contributing Writer.

Engineering Class is on a Roll

Courtney's engineering class is on a roll. We have studied roller coasters and the science behind them. We researched the science first, did an internet scavenger hunt on roller coasters across the world. We learned about dangerous occurrences, the fastest coaster in the world and the steepest. Now the students are working on building their very own marble roller coaster. They create the track, columns, beams, loop-to-loops and all the fun. The challenge set before the is to include many different functions of a coaster track but have the marble that takes the longest time from point A to point B by including funnels, loops, speed bumps, split tracks and more. Feel free to come on Monday and Wednesdays to see the fun!

--Courtney Smith, PreUpper Instructor

Come Follow Our Trail to SUMMER FUN!

Mark Trail Camp (MTC) serves students 6-14+ who are looking for an activity-based, small group, camp program run by professionals who have made it their career to work with children and young adults. MTC offers a variety of camp programs to suit your child's interests. You have the option of morning, afternoon, or full-day activities, all of which emphasize appropriate social skills and the tenets expected of everyone at Mill Springs Academy - to be Courteous, Considerate, and Cooperative (The 3C's) community members. Our camps are open to the public so bring your friends - camp is more fun with your friends. If you aren't familiar with our program, give us a call (678-893-7791) to learn more!

Check out the activities and/or register.

--Nina King, Camp Director

Celebrating Poetry Month

In honor of National Poetry Month, Branigan's class is learning how to write different types of poems. This week, they learned how to write a poem using their senses. They wrote about rain. During our brainstorming (no pun intended) activity, the students listened to rain and thunder sounds as they closed their eyes and imagined it was raining. Then, we discussed how each of them thought rain felt, sounded, and looked. It was interesting to see how each student observed rain in a different way. Some thought that rain looked clear, as others see it as blue. One even noticed the shape of rain and said that it looks like droplets. After brainstorming, the students put their ideas on paper in poem format. They also painted a picture to go along with their poem. I can't wait to display these in my room! Pictured is Jansen Jones with her poem: Rain looks like droplets. Rain feels cold. Rain sounds stormy. I like rain.

--Branigan Hughes, Lower School Instructor

Interactive History

This week in U.S. History students learned about the leaders of the Axis Powers and the Allied Powers during World War II. Their notes were "interactive," based on kinesthetic teaching where students cut out pop up figures of these leaders (picture 2). Notes are taken during our lectures on these leaders, then the pop ups are glued to the section of the notes that apply to the pop-ups!

We will conclude our unit on World War II with a Class Debate on the dropping of the Atomic Bomb!

Pictured L-R: Collins Losson, Camille Michael, Catie Claire Coyle

Catch Me If You Can - The MSA Spring Musical

Mark your calendars to come see this year's Spring Musical, Catch Me If You Can. Performances are Friday April 27th and Saturday April 28th at 7pm in the Stallings Theater. The students have been working hard to create a fantastic show this year and you are in for a treat. Please note that this show is PG-13. You can reserve tickets ahead of time on our website or at the door.

Spring Musical Artist Market

Friday April 26th – Be sure to come early to the show to shop for some artistic treasures created by some of our art students. These students will have booths set up in the gym before the show from 5:30-6:30pm and will also be selling during the show's intermission. Come check it out!

Keep an eye on Facebook for some sneak peek videos from the musical over the course of the next couple weeks.

Baseball

Hats off to coaches Brad, Greg, and Phil as we positioned ourselves for the baseball championships by beating Howard last Thursday. --James Sampson, Athletic Director

Tennis

We received word on Friday that Nic Kiely has qualified for GISA State Tennis, he played in Macon on Monday. --James Sampson, Athletic Director

Track and Field

They traveled to Jonesboro this week to compete in the GISA Regional to garner spots at the State Championship next week. Those in the top 6 for their events received awards, and athletes in the top 4 qualify to compete at State. Despite the over 80 degree temps, everyone had amazing performances, lots of personal records were smashed, and there are several State qualifiers who will go to Albany for the State meet. Our qualifiers include Tyler Goodwyn (1600m), Jodi Cleveland (3200m), Jacobi Garrett (Long Jump and Triple Jump), the Boys 4x100m Relay Team A - Jonathan Jeter, Jacobi Garrett, Christian Kelm, and Tyler Goodwyn. Jacobi Garrett also broke two school records by jumping 20 feet in the Long Jump and 38'10" in the Triple Jump. --Angela White, Coach

Congratulations to EVERYONE! Go Mustangs.

You are Needed in the PVA

The PVA is currently looking to fill positions for the upcoming school year. We hope you will consider to help us continue some great programs for the students and staff. The plan is to have a rep/chairperson for each program before school lets out for summer. If that isn't possible, we will have to cut the program from our schedule next year. Below are the openings that exist:

Board - Secretary
School Representative - Upper
School Representative - Lower
Committee Chair - Beautification Day
Committee Chair - Chick fil A Snack Coord - Upper/CA
Committee Chair - Chick fil A Snack Coord - PreUpper
Committee Chair - Chick fil A Snack Coord - Middle
Committee Chair - Free Money Program
Committee Chair - Holiday Market

Please email Rose Hale if you have interest or would like more information. She will be glad to go over the time and commitment for each opening.

Thanks for taking time to think about helping. Maybe you have been thinking about getting more involved - this is your chance! We could not do this without the support of our awesome parents. We appreciate you!!

Children's Author - Diane Z. Shore - Visits MSA

Children's author Diane Z. Shore visited Lower and Middle School this past Tuesday. Mrs. Shore has had numerous poems published in magazines like Highlights, and she has also written many picture books and nonfiction books for children. Her visit was very inspiring…she was rejected by publishers over 300 times before her first book was published! Mrs. Shore taught all the students the power of perseverance and never giving up, and she was very funny! We are so thankful she came to Mill Springs. The Lower School students wrote her some really wonderful Thank You notes that you can read below. Thank you for spreading the joy of reading and learning to our students, Mrs. Shore!

Thank you for coming to Mill Springs. The books were funny. Thank you for the jokes Mrs. Diane Z Shore. -Neil Mukana, 2nd grade

Piedmont College - Disaster Drill

During a trip to Piedmont College, our Forensics and Anatomy students were able to take a tour of the campus, and experience a lunch in the cafeteria. While there we ran into Nicole Thomas (MSA 2016) and they learned that Fine Arts' Patrick Rose was an alumni of Piedmont. But the reason for going to visit Piedmont College, was to watch a disaster drill. The drill included about 100 juniors from their school of nursing who played the role of victims, and about 70 seniors who were then called on to respond. The annual disaster drill scenario involves a tornado and any problems with downed power lines and electrical transformers. The entire county gets involved in the drill process, that includes police and fire departments, medical centers, the sheriff's office, the 911 and Georgia Emergency Management Agency, as well as Homeland Security, a search and rescue group and public health individuals. This year's drill also included a helicopter, drones, and rescue dogs. It was a wonderful and exciting learning experience for both the students and teachers.

Visiting Our Nation's Capital

During the Middle School Spring Fling nine of our 6th graders took a trip to our Nation's Capital as a part of the "Close Up" Program. While on the trip students had the unique experience of having the city of Washington D.C. as their classroom. Students were able to visit important historical sites including the Jefferson memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, FDR Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and many more. Students had time to discuss and share their opinions on congressional debate topics with students from around the world. On our down time we explored parts of the Smithsonian including Air and Space, American History, and Holocaust. In the photo students are outside of the City of Hope exhibit in the American History museum. Students learned that the City of Hope (Resurrection City) was part of Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign to demand access to equal economic opportunities for all people.

--LaToyia Armstead, Middle School Instructor

The Weekend Shirt!

This shirt was created 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 to wear it on the weekend, when you are out and about so people see you. Maybe they will stop and ask you questions about your shirt, the hashtag (#SuccessInSchoolSuccessInLife), or the logo, thus giving you a terrific opportunity to share information about the wonderful school your student attends. When this happens we get the word out in the community and the shirt is doing its job. Let's show our school pride all around town.

These shirts are available to you for $14 each! All you have to do is go to the website, order yours today, and then WEAR IT!

www.millsprings.org/ws (ws = Weekend Shirt)

This short sleeve tee shirt is 100% combed and ring spun cotton comes in gray with a large distressed logo printed in green on the front, Mill Springs Academy on the sleeve, and the hashtag #SuccessInSchoolSuccessInLife across the back in Mill Springs Green.

Oh and for those of you that already have one, you can wear it tomorrow because it's the weekend - no better time to wear your Weekend Shirt!

Do you Need a Phone Number?

All you have to do is go to the school directory on the website - www.millsprings.org/directory - and look someone up. You can look them up by first name, last name, even school if that is all you know, enter it into the KEYWORD search field. If you are unsure of a spelling, the first few letters of either first or last name will give you some results as well.

See beautiful Nellie to the left? This is what the listings look like. If you click on her email address, it will allow you to email her. The phone number is her direct dial number, which will ring directly in her class room. The extension is used if you call the school's main number, then you can enter her extension and be transferred to her class room. You can even click on VIEW PROFILE and it will give you more detail about Nellie, like what classes she teaches.

The directory on the website is a wealth of information and it is all available at your fingertips. Check it out!