The Rock- Foundation Academy - February 08

ATTENTION PARENTS & STUDENTS

Calendar of Events

Online Registration is now available! www.foundationacademy.com

February 2008 February 18th Home School February 19th - 22nd Sr. Project Exhibitions

Senior Project Exhibitions need to be ready by February 19th!

March 4th Spring Concert

www.foundationacademy.com

(904) 241-3515 SACS CASI Accreditation

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February 2008 NIPSA Accreditation

March 14th Spanish Festival March 21st End of 3rd Grading Period

Parents are also invited to the Spanish Festival!

Register Online

March 21st - 24th Easter March 28th - April 6th Spring Break

Registration for the new school year is available on-line at:

www.foundationacademy.com Workshops What is my child’s (or for that matter, My) Temperament?

Ever wonder why your child acts the way he/she does sometimes? Or why you can’t get them to clean their room? Or play with the kids down the street? They may have inherited their habits and decisions from you. Do you even know your own temperament, and why you do the things you do? God gave you your temperament for a reason. This is an invaluable workshop where you can learn about yourself and your child, and how you can become a more effective parent and greater servant of God.

“He who lives forever has placed himself at the head of a band of pilgrims who mutter, ‘How long, O Lord? How long?’” (Ps. 89:46) You have questions that, especially when you get angry or even irritated, you ask in spiritual sarcasm: “How long must I be sick?” “How long must I be married to this person?” “How long must I put up with my parents?” “How long will I endure these educational courses?” Do you really want God to answer your embittered inquiries? He could, you know. He could tell you the “here and now” and the “where and when” in detailed increments of time if He wanted. “You will be sick for two more years.” “You will be married the rest of your life.” “Your parents will bother you for five more years.” “You will graduate high school in six years (Hopefully not/Just kidding).” Why doesn’t He do that? Why doesn’t He tell you exactly what is going to happen, and when and why? Because He doesn’t want you to live in the future. Every command of the Bible has to do with the “here and now.” You are required to live for the moment, to enjoy the present, and be grateful for the life that you have. One of our biggest problems is we worry about the “there and then” more than the “here and now”. Adam said, “I’m okay as a man, but if I eat this fruit, I will be a God.” We need to learn to be content as we seek God’s guidance through so many human struggles.

Dr. Keith Johnson is a noted speaker and author who has traveled the world helping missionaries and has dedicated his life to helping families become stronger through Christian Principles. As Moderator of The Foundation Academy, he has designed these workshops based on Scriptural Truths to bring the family closer together while establishing each life on Christian Principles. Entire families are encouraged to attend, including your children.

How’s your future looking?

If you have any questions, please call 241-3515. 107 Third Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach FL 32250 Fax: (904) 241-9857

American Teens Investigate the Meaning of “Teenager” th

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As all TFA students explored “What is my America?” 9 and 10 graders investigated the concept “Teenagers are an American Invention.” Essential questions derived from that assertion ranged from music to skateboarding, fashion to psychology. Two exhibitions were chosen to present before panelists, but all students helped their classmates prepare by observing their presentations several times, making suggestions for improvement, and perhaps most important, asking questions they imagined the panel might ask. It became clear that some questions allowed the presenters to further showcase their work, while other questions required quick thinking to maximize the opportunity to show deep thinking. Everyone agreed that these “practice” sessions were, in fact, one way of experiencing and benefiting from the real thing. -KLSH

Web: www.foundationacademy.com

Herb Scheidel A generous man who thought highly about education and choice for all. He understood that private schools should be an option regardless of your economic situation. He was a contributor to H.E.R.O.E.S., a scholarship fund for low income families. He created a scholarship endowment at FCCJ and UNF for students from Habitat for Humanity homes, The Foundation Academy and several other organizations.

Tuesdays, March 11th & 18th, 7-9 pm

There is another reason that God doesn’t let us know the future: It isn’t written yet. The past is settled, the present is now being lived, and the future is what we determine to make it. God has left much of the future up to us, and it is in our hands as much as His. What we do with our present determines our future, and God wants us to make the most of our life, but so much of our life-to-be is determined by how we shape it in the present.

Phone: (904) 241-3515

You are now able to complete and submit the application at your leisure. If you don't have access to the internet, come by the office to pick up a 2008 - 2009 application and complete and return as soon as possible.

In Memory of a Great Man

He believed in our students and would often tell me how TFA students are some of his best Scheidel scholars.

Integrating Biology, Ethics, and Economics Mrs. Clifford's science class just finished a unit of study integrating biology, ethics and economics. The unit started with the study of organs, specifically the lungs and the effect that smoking has on them. Next, the class moved on to the study of the function of the kidneys. Then the students analyzed hypothetical supply and demand curves, assuming it was legal to buy and sell organs in this country. The analysis included the effect this proposal would have on people of various income levels. At this point, a TFA alumnus, currently on the kidney transplant waiting list, came to speak of his ordeal. He described the cause of his own renal failure and the step-by-step process of the dialysis treatments he must under go three times a week. Finally he discussed his place on the transplant list and the time frame he is looking at to obtain a kidney. Then the students got to work comparing the current system and three other proposals. The groups had to choose which option they thought should be in place. They outlined their points and created visuals to defend their positions. Then they presented their position to the class (standing in for a U.S. Senate Subcommittee). The groups defended various positions, but all were very aware of the ethics involved in their choices.

Although he was a busy and successful business man, he always had time to encourage his scholars and me. I will miss him. " A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs. 22:1

107 Third Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 1

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Phone: (904) 241-3515

Fax: (904) 241-9857

Web: www.foundationacademy.com

We have a lot to report from Elementary this month… 1. The kids are right in the middle of a Math-a-thon! All K-6 students are doing math problems to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you are interested in sponsoring a mini-mathematician, contact Miss Mandi. 2. Miss Mandi’s 3rd and 4th graders love the Hurricane Herald so much, they’ve decided to create their own newspaper! The Kid Expression will be accepting donations Friday (2/8) at 25 cents per copy. This month includes a spotlight on Harry Houdini, Valentine’s Day poems, The Nursing Home Report, and Ethan reveals a magic trick secret. Request yours today! All money will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 3. This month I will begin training for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society’s Team in Training Marathon. I will be fundraising and training for the next six months in preparation for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. I am very excited about this, but am going to need a lot of support. Please consider partnering with me by donating to LLS. I have set up a website where you can donate online (www.active/donate/tntnofl/MWalters), or you can send your donations with your student to be collected in his/her advisory. The advisory that raises the most money by March 10 will win a special prize from me! Make checks payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Thank you so much! Miss Mandi 4. The Elementary Science Fair will be on Wednesday, February 27 from 9-10:30 am at the Goodwill Building. Listen out for more details.

Why Arts Education Matters By Steven Perrin Excerpts from Education Week selected by Nadia Hionides.

"Because of the importance of 21st-century learning skills, we believe this demands that arts education be part of the core curriculum." (Arts are a main component of the curriculum at TFA) ...A panel of educators, researchers, and policy makers made (this) case. They pointed specifically to the following five challenges, which demonstrate why learning in and through the arts will better equip students to thrive in this new century. 1. America continues to face declining social engagement and a culture of division. Arts education develops in students a capacity for empathy and collaborative work. 2. One of the greatest public health issues in America, it could be argued, is failure of the education system to provide direction and purpose to young people, particularly adolescents. Because training in the arts often engages the whole child, it is also effective in schools with student populations that have a wide variety of learning styles, experiences, and backgrounds. It has been shown, for example, to reduce the incidence of such problems as apathy and aggression among students. 3. The impact of "globalization" of culture and commerce...the arts share a global language and a common culture of training and production, they can provide a ready pathway for global communication. 4. America is in danger of losing its competitive advantage to emerging nations that increasingly use the arts education as a learning tool to help nurture an innovative and flexible workforce. The study of the arts promotes the development of such skills and capacities as risk-taking and creative thinking. 5. The crisis of this American century is not material or intellectual, but spiritual. Unlike traditional academic disciplines, arts education can support an outcome greater than personal success. The study of the arts asks young people to consider the meaning of the phrase “both personal and communal?"

Last month I wrote about my embarrassment with my college’s choral group. And now I have a chance to redeem myself and the reputation of the beaches!

SPEECH & DEBATE STUDENTS STEAL SHOW Once again, the Speech & Debate students will have an opportunity in the limelight. Dave Siebert of WZNZ 1450 AM radio is hosting a discussion with Florida House of Representative candidates and has asked our students to be on the panel. Tune your radio on Saturday, March 1, for an exciting conversation on Florida government. Will we find out what has happened to the pregnant pigs?

The week of February 19 - 22 will see the Seniors exhibit their Senior Projects. These are the culmination of service work for Senior students and include the following: Anti Litter, the Ronald MacDonald House, Save the Music,

Support Graffiti and Food for the Homeless.

If you would like to observe any of these presentations, let Ms. Gill or Ms. Nadia know.

Elementary Spirit When the 3rd and 4th graders decided they wanted to help the community this Christmas, they let their creative juices take over. The class designed and made 85 Christmas cards, which were all sold at the Annual Christmas Concert. On Tuesday, December 11, the class surprised BEAM volunteers with two crates of canned food items and $90 to help fulfill local needs. Good work, kids! Ms. Mandy 2

March 8th, Saturday, 7:30 PM The Hiram College Choral Choir will perform at the: FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Of the Beaches 2125 Oceanfront & Seagate Neptune Beach FL I was relieved to find a venue as our former theater, now the Vineyard Church, is undergoing renovation and would not be available. Neptune Baptist Church has accommodated us graciously in the past but has services on Saturday evenings. I tried several other churches before the First Christian Church easily agreed. I hope you can all attend what will be a lovely performance. I do need to find housing for the 8 girls, 7 boys and the director as they will be staying overnight with an early departure for Sanibel in the morning. Anyone interested in housing 2 or more squeaky clean college students, please let Ms. Gill know. 3