MSA Weekly News - September 21, 2018

September 21, 2018 | Vol 12, Iss 6, No 402

NEWSLETTER

We have had a pretty exciting week around here at MSA! Today especially was pretty incredible with International Appreciation Day and Flex Friday which was huge in PreUpper, lots of fabulous activities. Watch for more from both of those events next week.

Remember last week I asked you to describe Mill Springs Academy with ONE word and then explain why you chose that ONE word? Well we got some really nice comments and there were so many that I wanted to share, alas too many for the News though. So sprinkled through the MSA Weekly News this week are some of those. The graphic above depicts all of the words that were turned in. I will get all of the comments on the website and share that with you as well later. Your words inspire and humble us. Thank you for participating in this annual event.

Fine Artist of the Week

This week's Fine Artist of the Week is Senior Robert Papasidero. He is not only an active member of the ALL SET team, but he is also participating in the One Act as an actor. He is often seen behind the scenes but don't let that fool you. He is an amazing actor and quite skilled with the Elizabethan language in the script Wish him well as we will be performing the One Act at a competition sometime in October.

Parent Thank You

Thank you to Meggie Velasco and Jill Coco for organizing and cleaning the Booster/PVA storage room. You ladies totally rock! I truly appreciate all that you do!

Taniah Jones

CommArts Asst. Principal and Booster Club Rep

EVERYTHING

Mill Springs has made everything better in our lives. Our son is happier, learning more easily, maturing and forging genuine relationships. Finding this school has been the answer to everything we ever dared to dream for our son.
--PreUpper Parent

Weekly News Contest WINNERS

The following two students have won themselves a $10 Arcade Game Card for Andretti's:You can pick up your gift cards from your principal if you haven't already received them. Watch for another contest in the near future.--Cheri Harwood

Isabel Stokes - PreUpper School - thank you for the very nice email and the comments.
Ward Sutlive - Middle School

AWESOME

Awesome and why? Because it is the best school EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--Middle Student

Family Culture

During this week, my Spanish students have been preparing information about different cultures to be presented at the International Appreciation Day today. They researched information about their family ancestors, finding great things about their culture, and identifying themselves in some way with them. A great example of dedication and effort to learn from this event is Samantha Horton, an MSA Senior student who said: "International Appreciation Day was a reason for me to finally research more about my family and culture, Polish on my mother's side. Before this project I never really understood or knew what it was like to be Polish, I simply knew we had pierogies for dinner for Christmas. Now I think I'm finally grasping what it is like to be Polish. I've spoken with my family's friend, and a Polish woman who came to this country many years ago, about what it was like being Polish during WW2. Through the both of them, I feel solidarity and I feel joy from finally learning about my family's culture. Learning about my culture, even if I am not 100% Polish, was an experience I don't think I will ever be able to describe fully. I am just thankful I was given the opportunity to share what I've learned."

--Maria Gonzalez, Upper Instructor

UPLIFTING

The spirit of the school is one of uplifting students to help them KNOW they can succeed.
--MSA Faculty

Financial Aid for College

Wednesday, September 26, 6:30pm

CommArts Great Room

Are you confused about financial aid for college? We want to help clear things up. We get lots of positive feedback from parents about this workshop every year. We will have a speaker from Reinhart University share with us. We hope you will mark your calendar and make time to come if this is something you have questions about.

All parents are invited - please RSVP here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Counseling Department.

ACCEPTANCE

Because they accept people for who they are and understand that sometimes conflicts happen, but they always try to resolve it. Also I've seen many kids there that are different races, religions, and have different personalities, so acceptance is my perfect word!

--PreUpper Student

Georgia on My Mind

Ms. Branigan's social studies class has Georgia on their mind. For the past two weeks, they have been learning about our wonderful state. Students learned about the state flower, tree, insect, bird, and of course our sports teams. Each child made a book stating facts they have learned. This week, they got to complete an around the room activity, in which pictures of Georgia symbols were hidden around the room. The students then had to locate the pictures and write down the symbols they found. Everyone has enjoyed learning about the state we live in. Pictured (L-R) are Zac Johnson, Jansen Jones, and Noah Mawad.

INDIVIDUALISM

Because the staff do their very best to teach my son the best way for him to learn given issues that he is faced with.

--CommArts Parent

Grandparents Need News, too!

Our grandparents love to know what their grandchildren are doing in school, especially if they don't live close. Make sure they get that information by having the MSA Weekly News sent to their email box each week. What an awesome thing it is to have grandparents! If you send me their names and their email addresses, I will be glad to add them to our distribution list if they aren't already receiving the Weekly News (Aunt Sally and Uncle Joe as well).

--Cheri Harwood

POSSIBILITY

Mill Springs has given our child the possibility to play sports, try a musical instrument and the possibility to try and accomplish anything he decides to try because of a faculty and staff that encourages everyone!

--Middle Parent

Columbus Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

We will have an EARLY DISMISSAL on Friday, October 5th

12:15pm L/M carpool
12:30pm PU/CA/U carpool
12:45pm Bus departs

Then the school will be CLOSED as we observe Columbus Day on Monday, October 8th.

Have a safe holiday.

SUPPORT

Support for our kids as they navigate all of these much needed life lessons that will prepare them for the "real world." They are learning what they need to learn not only academically, but socially and as a citizen, in a no judgement environment where there is a safety net of support.

--Upper Parent

Publix Free Money Program has Changed!

Throw away your Publix Partner Card! Then sign up on the Publix website for a percentage of eligible purchases to go to MSA. At checkout, you will enter your phone number. It's that easy! We have earned $22,388 to date from this program!

BELIEVING

When our son was at his lowest, Mill Springs believed in our son and his great potential. Because of this, he immediately felt more confident and at home at Mill Springs. They saw the best in him and have supported him in areas of growth.

--Lower Parent

Ready, Set, Write

Michael Griffeth's class in PreUpper is working on creative writing for blogs. For this assignment, they chose to write movie reviews on the film, Ready Player One, which is based on the best-selling book by Ernest Cline of the same name. To see several examples of these reviews (more are in the process of editing/uploading), please head on over to the blog, and then click on the post "ready, set, write!"

HOPE

When I look at the Upper School students getting on the bus in the mornings... when I read an update from an alum... when I am on campus and I see all the opportunities... when I listen to my son and I hear how motivated he is to succeed... HOPE

--PreUpper Parent

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!

p.s. this is not just for students, but parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles too!

LOVE

On the last day of school as we were driving home my son, with tears in his eyes turned to me and said, "Mom this school is so full of love. I don't know what would have happened to me if we hadn't found it." We are grateful every day for Mill Springs Academy.

--Upper Parent

37th Annual Founder's Day

Please mark your calendars and plan on attending our annual Founder's Day event on:

Saturday, October 13, 2018

11:30am - 1:00pm

For those families new to Mill Springs, our Founder's Day event is kind of like a fall, family picnic and is our way of honoring the school's founder, Tweetie L. Moore. The event is FREE OF CHARGE and includes:

Lunch provided by Chick-Fil-A
Rock Climbing Wall with Spider Jumps
Outdoor Laser Tag
Two Giant Hamster Balls
Bounce House

NOTE: The event will take place near our athletic fields on the MSA campus. When entering the campus that day, please follow all traffic signs down into the fields for event parking.

WOW

Need I say any more?

--CommArts Parent

Your School Pictures are Ready

The following photo galleries are now completed and ready just click the links below (the password for all of them is "MSA202" it is case sensitive):

If you have any questions you can contact Marios OConnell our Photographer from MOCPhoto.

PHEWWWWWW

Now that our son is at Mill Springs, I know that everyone is invested in his success and have the tools they need to support him. I'm so relieved he doesn't hate school anymore.

--Upper Parent

RELIEF

It is such a great "relief" to not hear the negative/ disappointing events of the day when he returns home ... He gets in the car happy and chatty about his day at school. That is the most important thing to me!

--Middle Parent

DEDICATED

Mill Springs' teachers work tirelessly each day to help our daughter learn and grow. Mill Springs Academy offers inclusion, support, and love while also providing an individualized education. We are grateful for MSA's commitment to nurture our child and blessed to have found this community.

--Lower Parent

Community Cares & Concerns

The Allen Family

The Buckley Family

Hurricane Victims

The Smith 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