MSA Weekly News

November 22, 2013 Volume 7, Number 14

“If a student can’t learn the way we teach … we should teach the way a student can learn.

-Tweetie L. Moore, Founder

In This Issue Thankfulness

School Closed

Congratulations!

What’s Happening in Forensics

Assistive Technology News

Holiday Shopping was Never so Easy!

Public Open House

Bragging Rights

Looking for Parents to Share

Wrestling Hosts Season Opener

Used Uniform Shop has Needs

PU Level L/R Retreat

CommArts Ireland Festival

Coffee Shop Poetry Reading

Post-Season Competition

Hard Facts about Software

Book Fair is Awesome!

What’s Happing in World History?

15 Cans for 5 Tons – Did You Know?

Teaching Interview Skills

Thankfulness Each year the administration office is invited to the Upper/CommArts Schools Thanksgiving luncheon, this year was no exception. We were treated to a tasty, traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings AND dessert ;-) We were entertained by Dera Anueyiagu beautifully singing a solo while Emma Harris simultaneously signed the words. Then Cynthia shared with the group what she is thankful for this year and Kay read a wonderful poem written by Michael Griffeth, a teacher in PreUpper. After that Cynthia asked if anyone would like to share something they were thankful for. In a room full of students only two hands went up. They came forward and shared, before those two had finished there was a line of students who were willing to do the same thing. There were tears, there were smiles, and lots of heartfelt words. One by one, 20 or so students had shared how they were thankful for their families, their community, specific teachers, their friends and their school. It was a wonderful way to begin the thanksgiving season.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

School Closed

Happy Thanksgiving

Early Dismissal - TODAY Friday, November 22, 2013

12:45p Bus Departs (normally depart at 3:30p)

Mill Springs Academy will be CLOSED

November 25-29, 2013

Congratulations!

Congratulations go out to the following students from the Class of 2014 on their college acceptances:

Emma Holden – Columbus State

Swimming Mustangs

Mmmmm … Doughnuts

Annual Fund Continues to Climb!

Mobile Access to ParentsWeb!

Your Tree Can Support MSA’s PVA

The Bulletin Board

Cares and Concerns

This Day in History

Character Quote

Web Links of Interest MSA Sports Calendar

The most current information when it comes to MSA Sports Schedules

MSA Home Page Find everything you need to find about MSA is here

The Bee Stang Blog Check out what’s happening at the hive

MSA PVA Web Site Learn what is going on with your PVA

MSA Weekly News Archives Catch up on past news

MSA Current Calendar School Calendar on the MSA website

Legend L = Lower School

M = Middle School

PU = PreUpper School

CA = Communication Arts School

Kylie Reynolds – LaGrange College and University of Mississippi

Woo Hoo and Congratulations!

What’s Happening in Forensics

Guest Journalists: Alex Hurtsellers and Zach Skinner On Wednesday, November 13th, our Forensic Science class with Vaidehi Rallapalli had the opportunity to have a guest speaker, Gary Fannin (pictured), stepfather of Zach Skinner. He was kind enough to come on Tuesday also to present to the other Forensic class. Gary is a certified historian, and one of the few historians that work for the J.F.K. National Library. He has worked on films and programs, such as Oliver Stone’s famous historical film, JFK. Gary came to give us a lecture on how forensics and ballistics can prove that John F. Kennedy was not assassinated the way our textbooks tell us. Gary reconstructed the scene, examined photographs and video clips, and showed us several testimonies. For an hour and a half, Gary shared with us information that could fill a textbook. Gary kept our class entertained and definitely showed us that there is fishiness!

Assistive Technology News

Get the latest news from your Technology Department – this edition features Assistive

Technology.

Find it HERE!

Holiday Shopping was Never so Easy!

U = Upper School

Social Media

Friend, Follow, Pin with Mill Springs!

Donate Today

Contact Us http://www.millsprings.org

charwood@millsprings.org

Mill Springs Academy

13660 New Providence Road Alpharetta, GA 30004

770-360-1336

Don’t let your student fret over holiday gift giving! Come to Mill Springs’ Annual

Holiday Store, open beginning at 12:30p on December 2nd through 4th in the

CommArts Great Room! Students will find a great selection of new and old

favorite gift items, plus every purchase comes wrapped and ready to give thanks to

our volunteer parent-elves! Kids love to shop for their own gifts, so let them

experience the spirit of the holidays and visit the Holiday Store!

Public Open House

On Tuesday, Dr. Bill Wilkes, grandfather of PreUpper 8th grader Matthew Dalluge, came by to present a talk to science students from the Upper School and the PreUpper 8th graders. A retired physicist and college professor, Dr. Wilkes talked to our students about his work isolating various radioactive and non-radioactive isotopes throughout his career. Both kinds of isotopes have great uses in medicine and in industry as tracers. The 8th grade Physical Science class had recently studied isotopes and Dr. Wilkes explained how they are present in daily life. After his discussion, 8th grader Sophie Bonds remarked that “now she understood more clearly what isotopes are.” Dr. Wilkes answered the numerous questions the students asked about a variety of science topics. For the 8th graders, he used physics as he hammered a nail into a log using a banana that had been frozen with liquid nitrogen (pictured).

Bragging Rights

From: Brittany – Librarian To: Margaret – Middle School Principal Just wanted to brag on some of yours…they were all very good, but Jackson Wickley and Bobby Graves

were AMAZING. Jackson hung up all the posters, did it perfectly (which even I haven’t been able to do), and was sweet as can be. Bobby and his brother Keaton Graves stayed until 5pm and were EXTREMELY helpful and sweet. We got most of the fair set up and I was the only adult!!!

Looking for Parents to Share about their Careers

During the Winter Learning Program, Carolina Ayerbe and Brandi Smallwood will be leading a seminar called “The Total Guide to the Rest of your Life” (Career Exploration). The seminar will run from January 6th to the 10th. They are looking for different career paths that students may be interested to explore; from law to medicine; to education and social services; to being an entrepreneur or mastering a trade, we welcome the diversity! If you would like to volunteer to speak to the students, please contact Carolina or Brandi. They will be organizing trips to available work sites to speak with the volunteer to discuss/experience the profession, or if needed, a room may available at Mill Springs Academy for a representative to come and speak with the students.

Wrestling Hosts Season Opener

The wrestling team hosted their first ever wrestling match of the season Monday, November 18 against two other GISA schools. Attending were Unity Christian out of Rome, GA., and The Weber School out of Sandy Springs, GA. Coach Miranda and Coach Ray did an outstanding job setting up for the event! Coach Miranda prepared hot pasta for the coaches and coach Ray re-did the format so more kids could have more of an opportunity to compete.

Used Uniform Shop has Needs

Thank you to all the MSA families who donate their child's uniforms to the Used Uniform Store. Without your donations we would be unable to operate this store and help so many families in our wonderful community. We are running low on a few things: girls skirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, fleece pullovers and jackets. If your child has outgrown any of their uniforms, please consider donating them to the used uniform store. It is easy to donate, just bag the used clothing and drop it off in the administration building. Thank you for supporting our amazing community!

PreUpper Level L/R Fall Retreat

Last week a group of Level R/L PU students went with teachers Karen Bradley and Michael Adams on a leadership retreat to Pigeon Forge. The group of students took part in many team building activities and had the chance to really create strong bonds with the other Level R’s. Some discussions the students had were, how to be successful in the block schedule, how to handle getting all their assignments in on time and how to achieve Level L. Students had a great time and took many great lessons from the trip that they will be implementing to make them stronger Level R’s and lead to more Level L’s. Jake Martin said, “the trip was an awesome trip. I enjoyed making stronger relationship with people I did not really know. Go carting was the best!!”

CommArts Ireland Festival

David Cicco Original

Please join us December 4th in the Upper Great Room for the Communication Arts Ireland Festival! Every year, Communication Arts celebrates a different culture from around the world with authentic food and professional dancers to perform and teach. Fine Arts always lends a hand in the process to help create an amazing and colorful environment that reflects the highlighted culture. Every student (1st-12th grade) in ART and/or Theater Tech this semester has helped with the festival! Music students will perform as well! We custom printed over 70 shirts for students/parents to wear at the event! If you ordered one, it WILL be in your hands prior to the event. CommArts students will receive there’s the day of the event. Art will be for sale with profits going to FitWit, a local organization that promotes physical well-being in kids! See you on the 4th from 10:30-12:30!

Coffee Shop Poetry Reading

On Friday November 15th, MG’s classroom was transformed into a mid-century coffee shop while 8th graders, who just completed their poetry unit, read some of their exemplary works. “We had everything from limericks, to ballads, to free verse, to poems of personal growth, and more” said MG. The students each took turns reciting their works, based on the emcee work of Noah Terpstra. Tommy Sweeny, Mac McCullough, and Tommy Ray worked club security, while Noah Altman worked the door. It was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon! Pictured is Andrew Guest reciting a poem centered around onomatopoeia.

Post-Season Competition

The cross country runners kept their momentum going with post-season competition at the USATF Junior Olympic State Championship on Saturday, November 16. Devin Hazzard and Sam Lynch (pictured) travelled to Fayetteville with nearly 700 other runners to compete for 30 qualifying sports (by age group). Both boys ran very well and did qualify for Regionals. Sam ran his best time ever with a time of 17:15 which is also one of the 15 fastest times posted by a high school freshman on that course. Next week they will return to Fayetteville to compete against runners from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and the Carolinas for ten spots at the National competition which will take place in San Antonio, Texas in December. The boys will have to work very hard to make it in to the top ten but they are focused and ready. Please wish them well!

Learning the Hard Facts about Software

Paul Hazzard is a software engineer who specializes in making packet optical Networking systems, and he brought his wealth of experience to the students of CommArts as part of their career values program. Mr. Hazzard explained that to be a software engineer, you should be a logical thinker who is good at math and science. He detailed how software is used in everything electronic, and he described the different “languages” that engineers use to run systems. “I learned that I can make $60,000 coming out of college as a software engineer,” stated student James York. “That’s fantastic!” he added. Paul Hazzard is the father of 11th grader Devin Hazzard. He is employed by the Siemens Corporation overseeing a group of fifty engineers.

Book Fair is Awesome!

The winner of our last trivia question is Brett Parks. The word cloud represented the book Ender’s Game. Come claim your $5 gift card Brett!! Thank you all so much for participating! We are open all day on Grandparents’ Day, and we are SO close to our 1,000 book goal!! We’ve sold 1167 books , and if reached 1,000 each school earns an out of uniform day! Stay tuned to hear who will win the awesome book gift boxes. If you buy for your teachers tomorrow, you could win! THANK YOU so much (especially you, teachers, for bringing your classes in the chaos!!). Your support means a lot to us, and I hope you all enjoy your new reading material!

What’s Happing in World History?

Carolina Ayerbe’s World History class is studying Ancient Americas civilizations, including Mayas, Aztecs, Incas, and Inuits. Michael Antonucci built a Mayan board game called Bul, very similar to Parcheesi and Ludo. He created the pieces from clay and used corn as dices, even though Mayas used beans as dices. On the picture, Sam Smith, Alexis Herrington, Joseph Murphy, and Michael Antonucci are playing Bul during class. (Joseph won)

15 Cans for 5 Tons – Did You Know?

DEADLINE – December 2

Canned Food Drive ends December 2nd

The Atlanta Community Food Bank distributed 34% more food to partner agencies than in the prior fiscal year.

72% of households served by ACFB do not always know where they will find their next meal.

32% of households have to choose between payment for medicine or medical care and food.

An estimate 1.4 million Georgians receive emergency food from partner agencies of Georgia food banks.

The food we will collect will be distributed among 700 not-for-profit agencies with a variety of programs in 29 counties in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Some help seniors on a fixed budget make ends meet. Others provide groceries for the working poor. Still others provide meals to the homeless. Look for the labeled barrels in each building on campus.

Remember hunger doesn’t take a holiday. Please help.

Teaching Interview Skills to CommArts

What’s the most important thing about landing a job? CommArts students learned that you must make a good impression up-front. Joe Smith, retired software company owner, demonstrated interviewing skills by having students interview him for a job as a software engineer. The first time, he came in well-dressed, prepared, energetic, and knowledgeable about the skills needed for the position. Next (pictured) he entered the room with fake tattoos, a baseball cap, jeans, a t-shirt, and a cigar hanging out of his mouth. Abby Hayman interviewed him this time and was horrified to hear him ask her when the breaks were, could he be a software engineer with no experience, and what would the company do for him. Afterwards Joe stressed how important it is to give back to one’s community, and stressed that earning money isn’t what it’s all about, one’s life has to have more dimension than just work. Joe is the parent of 9th grade student Andi Smith.

Swimming Mustangs

The Swimming Mustangs are off to an awesome start. We have the largest swim team we have ever had and

everyone is excited for the season! Go Mustangs!

Mmmmm … Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme Breakfast Friday, December 6th, 2013

1 doughnut - $0.75 2 doughnuts - $1.50

Dozen - $8.00

The Krispy Kreme Breakfast supports the MSA Booster Club.

Annual Fund Continues to Climb!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! See the sidebar for the current campaign stats.

We must continue our drive to achieve 100%

participation from all of our families. This is especially important now as our school prepares to launch a capital campaign sometime in 2013. We rely on foundation funding to help us build permanent

GOALS 1. Raise $250,000 2. Receive 100%

participation from our entire school family

RESULTS TO DATE 1. Raised $268,173 2. Participation: Staff/Faculty – 100% Trustees – 100% Veteran Families – 80% New Families – 76%

buildings and they closely examine the level of participation from our parents in the Annual Fund, it shows how supportive you are of your school and the upcoming capital campaign. Every family, regardless of their financial situation, has the ability to “participate” at some level to help us achieve 100% participation.

Remember…“participation” means a gift of ANY SIZE!! If you have not yet participated, please consider making your gift today. For your convenience, you can click HERE to donate now. You can also make a pledge by filling out THIS pledge form and emailing it back to Leila Smith in MSA’s Development Office.

And remember...pledges can be paid out through July 30, 2013.

Announcing Mobile Access to ParentsWeb!

RenWeb is pleased to announce that beginning Wednesday, August 8, parents and students will have two new ways to access ParentsWeb from their mobile devices - ParentsWeb Mobile and the RenWeb Home App! ParentsWeb Mobile provides free browser-based access to ParentsWeb information from any mobile device, including an iPod, iPhone, Android Phone, iPad or Android Tablet. ParentsWeb Mobile allows parents and students to access Homework Assignments, Daily Grades, Lesson Plans, Calendar Events, Announcements, School Directory Listings, Report Cards, Attendance, Behavior Events and Class Schedules. Future enhancements include Family Account Balances, Pay Now, Lunch Menus, Lunch Ordering, Newsletters, Resource Documents and Medical information.

The RenWeb Home App accesses the same information as ParentsWeb Mobile, while providing the additional conveniences of an App for an annual

subscription of $4.99 per household. Download from iTunes today. (Android version available later this year.)

New Uniform Vendor – Lands’ End

In addition to Parker Uniforms (formerly Buckhead Uniforms) and the MSA Used Uniform Shop on campus, MSA is pleased to announce that Lands’ End School Uniforms has joined as a vendor of MSA school uniforms. Lands’ End offers a full range of sizes, quality products, custom online shopping, excellent customer shopping and a school rewards program. Find ordering INFORMATION HERE. We have also designed a new school logo for our uniforms. The new logos are available now on the Lands’ End uniform site and will be available at Parker Uniforms after May 2014. School uniforms with the old logo will still be “legal” and are “grandfathered” in. Please Note: Even though there may be a Lands’ End school uniform section at Sears, there is no guarantee that they will the identical products that match the MSA uniform requirements. Lands’ End does not control what Sears does or does not stock. However, parents will be able to get sizing assistance and place orders from the kiosk.

GISA All-Select Band

Congratulations to Upper students Paul Bain and Daniel O'Keefe (pictured), and PreUpper student Emma Harris, who participated in this year's GISA All-Select Band, held at Woodward Academy. These students spent the weekend learning and rehearsing music which culminated in a fantastic performance for friends and families on Sunday, November 3! We are impressed and appreciative of their hard work and talents, and are so proud to have sent them as representatives of MSA!

Annual Fund Current Stats

Funds Raised to Date $183,631

Participation

Staff/Faculty – 100% Board of Trustees – 100% Veteran Families – 47%

New Families – 47% Mill Springs Annual Fund is the most important gift the members of our school family (parents, grandparents, Board of Trustees, faculty/staff) are asked to make to Mill Springs each year.

If you have not yet participated, please consider

making your gift today. For your convenience, you can click on link below to donate now. You can also make a pledge by filling out THIS PLEDGE FORM and emailing it back to Leila Smith in MSA’s Development Office. Pledges can be made now but paid out over time through July 31, 2014.

Sports on Tap

Schedule (find a complete schedule HERE)

BASKETBALL: Friday, December 6th vs. Atl. Area School for the Deaf Girls & Boys @ AASD / 4:00 & 6:30

Mobile Access to ParentsWeb!

There are two ways to access ParentsWeb from your mobile devices - ParentsWeb Mobile and the RenWeb Home App! ParentsWeb Mobile provides free browser-based access to ParentsWeb information from any mobile device, including an iPod, iPhone, Android Phone, iPad or Android Tablet. ParentsWeb Mobile allows parents and students to access Homework Assignments, Daily Grades, Lesson Plans, Calendar Events, Announcements, School Directory Listings, Report Cards, Attendance, Behavior Events and Class Schedules. Future enhancements include Family Account Balances, Pay Now, Lunch Menus, Lunch Ordering, Newsletters, Resource Documents and Medical information.

The RenWeb Home App accesses the same information as ParentsWeb Mobile, while providing the additional conveniences of an App for an annual subscription of $4.99 per household. Download from iTunes today. (Android version available later this year.)

Your Tree Can Support MSA’s PVA

If you choose and cut your own Christmas tree

annually, consider Hunter’s Christmas Tree

Farm. They will make a donation to your Parent

Volunteer Association for each tree that is

purchased from them. For more information

and directions, please visit their WEBSITE. They

open Friday, November 29th.

The Bulletin Board

Fri, Nov 22 – Early Dismissal

12:15pm L/M Carpool

12:30pm PU/CA/U Carpool

12:45pm Bus Departs (normally leaves at 3:30pm)

Mon, Nov 25 – Fri, Nov 29 – Thanksgiving Holiday – SCHOOL CLOSED

Mon, Dec 2 – Canned Food Drive Ends

Mon, Dec 2 – Wed, Dec 4 – PVA Holiday Market – CommArts Great Room

Wed, Dec 4 – Communication Arts Ireland Festival – Upper Great Room

Fri, Dec 6 – 6:30p – Fine Arts Show Case – Art Gallery opens

Fri, Dec 6 – 7:00p – Fine Arts Show Case – M/PU/CA/U

Sat, Dec 7 – 8:00a – SAT Testing

Tue, Dec 10 – Booster Biscuit Breakfast

Thu, Dec 12 – 1st Period Exam – PU/CA/U ONLY -->10:30a Dismissal

Fri, Dec 13 – Volunteer Service Hours Due – M/PU/CA/U

Fri, Dec 13 – 2nd Period Exam – PU/CA/U ONLY --> Normal Dismissal

Fri, Dec 13 – 7:00p – Winter Concert

Sat, Dec 14 – 8:00a – ACT Testing

Mon, Dec 16 – 3rd Period Exam – PU/CA/U ONLY -->10:30a Dismissal

Tue, Dec 17 – Booster Biscuit Breakfast

Tue, Dec 17 – 4th Period Exam – PU/CA/U ONLY -->10:30a Dismissal

Wed, Dec 18 – 5th Period Exam – PU/CA/U ONLY -->10:30a Dismissal

Wed, Dec 18 8:30a -10:30a – Rising 9th Grade Parent Breakfast – Upper Grt Rm

Thu, Dec 19 – 6th Period Exam – PU/CA/U ONLY -->10:30a Dismissal

Fri, Dec 20 – Early Dismissal

12:15pm L/M Carpool

12:30pm PU/CA/U Carpool

12:45pm Bus Departs (normally leaves at 3:30pm)

Fri, Dec 20 12:45 – 3:30p – Parents Shopping Day Out – PreUpper

Mon, Dec 23 – Fri, Jan 3 – Winter Holiday – SCHOOL CLOSED

Mon, Jan 6 – Classes Resume – L/M

Mon, Jan 6 – Winter Learning Program Begins – PU/CA/U

To: All Mill Springs Parents, Board of Trustees, Newsletter Friends, Newsletter Family, Newsletter Professionals,

Newsletter Foundations and All Staff/Faculty

Please consider the environment before printing. If at any time you wish to not receive further MSA Weekly News editions please just ‘reply’ with that information in the email to charwood@millsprings.org

Mill Springs Academy does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, handicap, national or ethnic origin in its admissions policy or in its employments.

Cares and Concerns of our Community

Please keep the following from our Community in your thoughts and prayers.

Homeless Families

Unemployed Families

Please email me at any time with individuals you would like to include on our list as their needs arise. For privacy, I will only list names and claim ignorance if you ask me for details.

This Day in History

November 22, 1963

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, is assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible.

Character Quote of the Week

“The best index to a person’s character is (a) how he treats people who can’t do him

any good, and (b) how he treats people who can’t fight back.”

- Abigail Van Buren

Cheri Harwood Communications Director Mill Springs Academy 13660 New Providence Road Alpharetta, GA 30004 Tel: 770-360-1336 Fax: 770-360-1341

Email: charwood@millsprings.org Web: www.millsprings.org

Success in School … Success in Life