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P ATRIOT P RESS Patriot Oaks Academy Newsletter December 11, 2015
The
In This Issue
High School Academy Show Case and Academy Nights
A Kid Just Like Me Gift Drive
Band Fundraiser
Chargers on the Run
Spelling Bee Winner
St. Johns All County Middle School Honor Band
Girls on the Run
Counselor Corner
Media Center News
Charger Express Silver Packages Program
Dear Families,
Another festive holiday season is upon us. This will be our last newsletter before the new year.
I want to thank you ALL for such an amazing 2015. The past year has brought joy to my family
and I am thankful to lead a school with amazing students, parents, faculty and staff.
Traditions started last year were in full force this week and will continue into the next week
ahead. As in the past, I continue to be impressed with the balance our teachers are able to
find in keeping holiday cheer present but with the focus on learning a continued top priority!
Last night I enjoyed watching our growing band perform for a packed audience. Today our
kindergartners built their gingerbread houses in rhythm with holiday music. The holidays are a
perfect time to remember what a special school we have here at Patriot Oaks Academy.
We know our students are working toward a strong finish to the first semester. Here are this
edition’s Visible Learning Tips for Parents.
Thank you for you continued support!
Your lead learner,
Mrs. Harrison
Building a Tradition of Excellence, Together!
Principal’s Post
REMINDER:
Early Release: Fri., Dec
18 at 1:45 pm
Winter Break:
Mon, 12/21—Fri, 1/1
Mon and Tues, Jan 4-5:
No school for students
Classes Resume:
Wed., Jan 6
Early Release at 1:45 pm
To find out more about your child’s day and to help make learning visible,
here are some questions about goals and scales.
For each subject, students should be able to describe what the
current learning goal is and what criteria for success “looks”
like (scale). If your child is struggling to answer these
questions, please have a conversation with your child’s teach-
er.
What is your learning goal?
What did you do today to work towards that goal?
Where are you on the scale?
Information on High School Academies 2015-2016
Timeline
January 7-19 Middle School Blitz held at Each Middle School
January 21 High School Showcase at World Golf Village Convention Center -
3:30 - 7:00 p.m. only!!!
January 21 Online Application OPENS for newly applying 8th and 9th grade students
Jan. 25- Feb. 4 Proposed Academy Nights (see schedule below)
February 5 St. Johns County Center for the Arts AUDITIONS at SAHS -
You must bring your printed application form.
February 8 Registration Deadline - Online - Registration will be closed at midnight.
July 1 Last day to appeal
High School Showcase - All parents and students are invited to attend the Annual High
School Showcase on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the World Golf Village Convention Cen-
ter from 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. Learn about the high school academies and meet representatives
from each high school.
Academy Nights - Each high school will host an informational 2016 Academy Night. All par-
ents interested in attending one of the academies should make plans to attend these
events. Each Academy Night will begin at 6:00 p.m.
February 1 - St. Augustine (6:00 p.m.) ALL St. Johns County Center for the Arts
requests must apply by February 4, 2016. (Auditions at SAHS will occur on February 5,
2016)
February 1 - St. Johns Technical (5:30 p.m.)
January 28 - Allen D. Nease
January 27 - Pedro Menendez
February 2 - Creekside
January 26 - Bartram Trail
January 25 - Ponte Vedra
For more information on St. Johns County High School Academy Programs go to: http://
academies.stjohns.k12.fl.us/
Discount Cards Now Available
The band is raising money for new instruments. We are a growing music program and need to expand our current instrumentation. Help us purchase a new French horn and euphonium for our students. If we reach our goal of 300 cards we will be able to provide these for our current and future students. Thank you for your support! Email [email protected] or find a band student today
Chargers on the Run completed their McKenzie Run 5k at Everbank Field!
Congratulations to all of our 4th and 5
th graders for their commitment and
perseverance throughout the season!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PATRIOT OAKS
SPELLING BEE CHAMPION
JULIANNA CHICARELLI
1st Runner Up: Caroline Wheeler-Hollis
2nd Runner Up: Rishabh Singh
The winner will be representing our school in the District Spelling Bee on
January 13the at the St. Johns County School District Auditorium
Congratulations to the following Patriot Oaks Academy students on being selected for the 2016 St. Johns All County Middle School Honor Band!
Alexandra Feng – Flute Sydney Scalzo – Flute Kylie Coolican - Trombone Brendan Schuster -Trombone Aidan Schweiss- Percussion
Outstanding students from middle schools throughout St. Johns County have been chosen to rehearse and present a concert conducted Mr. Asa Jernigan. The Honor Band will also share the concert with the First Coast Wind Ensemble. The Patriot Oaks students will have three days of rehearsals, up to five hours a day, in preparation for their concert. The Finale Concert starts at 3pm on Sunday, January 24th, and will be Pacetti Bay Middle School Auditorium. This performance is free and open to the pub-lic. Please come out and support Patriot Oaks Academy Bands, under the direction of Mrs. Maggie Vance, and our young musicians!
GIRLS ON THE RUN!
Patriot Oaks Girls on the Run participated in their end of season 5K on Saturday, December 5th. The girls worked hard all season to prepare for this event and they did a great job com-pleting the run! Way to go, girls!!
MEDIA CENTER NEWS Middle School Battle of the Books Club Students interested in participating in the Middle School Battle of the Books Club can meet at lunch every Wednesday. We will be meeting until the district battle on March 15, 2016. Students should have read at least five books if they would like to participate. Each week we will practice direct quotes from each book. Student scores will be calculated each week and the students with the highest points will make the five person team. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Greco at [email protected]. A date for the Elementary Battle of the Books district meet had not been set yet, but is expected to be in May. We will determine Elementary Battle of the Books Club meeting times after the holidays. SSYRA (Sunshine State Young Readers Award) Our 3-8 grade students have been doing an excellent job of reading the Sunshine State Young Reader Award books this year. The St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections has again offered to create ballots and allow our students to vote on the actual voting machines that we use as adults. Voting will be sometime during the first two weeks of April. Students must have read at least three books to qualify to vote. We then submit our voting calculations to the state to determine the two book winners for the state of Florida. So many of our students have earned their SSYRA Incentive Chains that I can’t even fit them all in one photo. We have seven students who have already finished all fifteen books during first semester. Congratulations to Keya Patel, Jake Gutmann, Abhi Talluri, Luke Dixon, Aimee Salazar, Briella Gross, and Syjan Katari and many more who are very close to finishing.
Second Annual Patriot Oaks Academy Legos With Literature Competition Last year for Celebrate Literacy Week we had a Legos With Literature competition. All of the entries were displayed in the library media center and we had over 130 entries. The students have already been asking about the celebration this school year. All entries will be due on Friday, January 22, 2016. The entries will be displayed in the library from January 25-29, 2016. A flyer with the rules and entry card will be available from your classroom teacher. MackinVIA for the holidays Just a reminder that even though students won’t have access to our print library during the holidays, they will have access to our ebooks in MackinVIA. Students use their student number and the password “poa” for the K-4 students and “Chargers” for the 5-8 students. Remember MackinVIA is a free app for your mobile devices. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Greco at [email protected]. Hour of Code Celebration Many of our students have been working on the Hour of Code celebration in the library. Your stu-dents can continue to work on computer coding by visiting www.code.org . There are also videos on the site to explain coding and how the celebration is going worldwide. There are also many other free coding programs available on the internet designed for use by children.
