Academy newsletter 4/26/08

:  Just a few notes to keep you informed of the daily happenings here at the Academy.  On Thursday we will host our “2^nd Annual 7^th grade Catholic Youth Leadership Conference.”  Over 300 7^th grade students from area Catholic schools will join with our 7^th grade for the day to learn about the call to be leaders and ways to demonstrate leadership.  Our primary speaker will be Josh Shipp (www.joshshipp.com), a nationally known motivational speaker who has spoken at numerous national and international conferences.  Our closing keynote will be delivered by Fr. Herb Weber, who will address the spiritual aspect of leadership.  IN between the students will rotate through different activities and enjoy a pizza lunch.  It should be a great day for the 7^th grade.

 

We had a crowd of @ 1200 7^th and 8^th grade students at our last “dance/fun night.”  We don’t have a final figure on the profit yet, but thanks to all those who helped.  We have one more “dance/fun night” coming up—Saturday, May 10 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. for 6^th and 7^th graders.  Once again we will need plenty of help so let us know if you’re able to attend.  Also, if you have any ideas or suggestions regarding the set-up, supervision, dismissal, etc. please pass them on to us-we’re always looking for ways to improve.

 

Another fundraising opportunity is this Friday, May 2 when we will have a school-wide “Academy Dress Down Day.”  Students can purchase dress down passes for $2 with all proceeds going to the class trip fund. 

 

Be sure to check the website later this week.  I’m hoping to post student written articles about a variety of topics ranging from the Chicago and Space Camp trips to all the athletic activities to the mock trial competition and more. 

 

Speaking of competitions, two groups of students competed in the online “Knowledge Master Open” against teams from across the nation.  Everyone took the same group test online and scores were then reported and ranked.  One team finished 6^th out of 37 teams in Ohio and 142^nd out of 753 nationally.  A nice showing for such a small school!

 

The 8^th grade will leave for Washington, D.C. bright and early on Sunday morning, May 4 with Gettysburg their first destination before heading into the capital that evening.  While they are gone the 7^th grade will be building bottle rockets with their high school Big Brothers.  You can help us by saving two-liter pop bottles that can used to build the rockets.  Launching will take place the day after the building is completed. 

 

Congratulations to Mr. Szynkowski’s homeroom for bringing in the most items in our recent mission collection.  As a result of their great effort, the members of the homeroom will enjoy a gym/pool/pizza party from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Wolf Creek branch of the YMCA.  Thanks to Tim and Kelly Coleman for donating a certificate for the rental.

 

Speaking of service, here are two websites that I have shown some of the 7^th graders that benefit others—www.hungersite.com—just visit and click earn a donation of food for those in need; www.freerice.com— build your vocabulary and earn donations of rice.  Some students have been visiting these sites on their own—one student told me he earned 5000 grains of rice in one evening.  Thanks to Mrs. Chambers for discovering the freerice site and passing it on to us.

 

Here’s another website that parents might find helpful in discerning whether a movie is appropriate for their children, www.kids-in-mind.com, I thought of this while discussing with students what movies and television shows were appropriate for the bus ride to Space Camp.  The site is parent-friendly and gives a detailed description of the content of the movie.     

 

As we enter the last month of the school year please encourage your son to continue to work hard and finish the year on a strong academic note.  Final exams for all students will be given on May 21,22, and 23.

 

Academy news 4/11/08

We just finished our day long staff retreat and I have a few notes to pass on while trying to get myself ready to accompany the group leaving early Tuesday morning for Space Camp.

 

Our condolences to the family of 7^th grade student Simon Lavas as Simon’s grandmother passed away this week.  Sandy Coleman was the mother of Tim Coleman, who is also our soccer coach.  Our sympathy and prayers go out to the Coleman family. 

 

This is a busy time of year with spring sports starting up, trips, being finalized, and academic competitions winding down. As a result, we have to cancel the chess gathering we had scheduled for this Sunday.  We invited several area junior high/middle schools, but none are able to attend.  So, we’ll take another shot at it in the fall.  Thanks to Craig and Maria Zirbel for the work they put into this.

 

Best wishes for success to the Science Olympiad team as they compete in the state finals tomorrow in Columbus.  Thanks to Mr. Nichols for his time working with the team.

 

Several Academy students and their families are going to the Saturday afternoon presentation of “Les Miserables” at the Valentine Theater. 

 

Thanks to Diane DeRan and Millicent Carter for coordinating the Andersons/Carruth fundraiser that just concluded.  Several students earned money to help defray the cost of their class trip.

 

A great fundraising opportunity presents itself next Saturday night, April 19 when we hold another “7^th/8^th Grade Fun Night.”  Mr. Bonham has once again goen all out and ordered a variety of attractions such as the “Xtreme Trampoline” and “Inflatable Joust” along with free ice cream, popcorn, and pop.  We are expecting another big crowd so we need all the parents we can get.  Since I will be gone on the trip next week Millicent Carter has offered to coordinate all the parent helpers.  If you can help next Saturday please let Millicent know by phone 419-241-7640 or e-mail milsmailbox@yahoo.com

 

 While the 7^th grade is away the 8^th grade will enjoy a “Day of Reflection” at the De Sales Retreat center in Brooklyn, Michigan.  We still need a few more parents to come up at 2:30 p.m. to help transport the boys back to SJJ.  Please let me know by Monday if you can help.   Here is a link with driving directions from SJJ:    

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/5901+airport+hwy.+toledo+oh+43615/1124+ventura+drive+brooklyn+mi+49230/#a/maps/l::5901+Airport+Hwy:Toledo:OH:43615-7344:US:41.614268:-83.681613:address:Lucas+County/l::1124+Ventura+Dr:Brooklyn:MI:49230-9078:US:42.08072:-84.21627:address:Jackson+County/m::7:41.847492:-83.948941:0:0:/io:1:::::f:EN:m:/e

 

Seven students will be participating in the “Ohio Junior High Mock Trial” competition this Friday in Columbus.  Thanks to Mr. Jason Huther, high school Latin teacher, for working with the boys on this event.  The boys are looking forward to participating in two trials-one each as the defense and the prosecution. 

 

Eighth grade students will have their final get together with their high school “Big Brothers” when they have lunch with them on Tuesday.  The seniors end the academic portion of their high school careers next week when they take final exams before beginning their senior project on April 28. 

Academy News 4/4/08

:  First off—there is school on Monday, but there is no school on Friday, April 11.  There may have been confusion over a calendar change made to accommodate a presenter for the school staff retreat that will be held on Friday.  So, once again, there is school on Monday, but no school on Friday.  The staff will all be here for a day long retreat, but the students can enjoy a day off.

 

Thanks for the great response to our mission collection.  Mr. Szynkowski’s class won the homeroom competition and will enjoy an afternoon pool/basketball/pizza party at the Wolf Creek YMCA, but the real winners are the organizations that will benefit from your generous donations.

 

All of the students were given a packet of information yesterday that contained some important forms for everyone.  7^th grade students going to Space Camp were given a medical form to have signed and an application/information form to complete.  Also, an itinerary was enclosed.  All students were given a permission slip to participate in our archery program that will start next week as part of the physical education curriculum.  While the 7^th grade is at Space Camp or in Chicago the 8^th grade will have a “Day of Reflection” on Thursday, April 17 at the De Sales Retreat Center in Brooklyn, Michigan.  We will need parents to pick up students and bring them back to SJJ at the end of the retreat.  We are going up by bus but, on our own for the return trip.  Please fill out the enclosed permission slip and indicate if you can help us with driving home. If you are missing any forms we have extras here at school.  Please ask your son to pick up what you are missing.   

 

Final payment for all class trips is not due until the end of May as we still have a few fundraising activities coming up to help defray the cost of the trip.  It would be appreciated, however, if you could make a partial payment to help us as we have to pay the bus company and tour companies ahead of time.

 

The Andersons Flower and Carruth Sculpture Sale is winding up.  Please turn in all forms and money by Tuesday.  So far we have over $2000 in sales.

 

Last call for tickets to the Saturday, April 12 2:00 p.m. performance of “Les Miserables” at the Valentine Theater.  I have to purchase the tickets on Tuesday so I need a final count.  We will send the tickets home with your son on Thursday.  Tickets are only $5—a 50% discount from the Academy to encourage the students to attend this tremendous production.

 

Mark your calendar for Friday, May 16.  While the high school is enjoying field day—a day of activities with no classes—the Academy will make a pilgrimage to the Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.  We will need plenty of drivers for the day as busing is unavailable.  We will leave at 8:30 a.m. and return to school by 3:00 p.m.  It is about a 90 minute drive, but well worth it.  Check out www.olcshrine.com  for more information.  You and your family are welcome to join us for the day.

 

Nine 8^th graders had a chance to learn about scuba diving yesterday at Aqua Hut on Reynolds Road.  All of the boys enjoyed the experience and we will take the rest of the 8^th grade class and as many 7^th grade students as we can in the remaining days we have scheduled to go.  Any 7^th grade students who don’t have the opportunity to go this year will be first on the list for the fall.  We are working with Aqua Hut to put together a marine biology program for next school year and the visits this spring are a good introduction to the program.    

 

Next Sunday afternoon, April 13 is “Chess Day” here at school.  We have invited several area junior high and middle schools to join us for a chess tournament.  As a warm up for the day we will show the movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer” after school on Thursday.  As always, pizza and pop will be provided and the movie should conclude @ 5:30 p.m.

 

Best wishes to our MathCounts team competing in the state finals Saturday in Columbus and the Science Olympiad team competing in the state finals next Saturday also in Columbus.