Academy Family Newsletter
Academy for Academics and Arts 09.16.2022
Great Week of Learning!
Hello Academy Parents and Guardians,
What a wonderful week! We cannot believe we just ended the seventh week of school!! Hats off to our students, teachers and parents. This year has been very successful already. Friendly reminder that the 1st nine weeks ends in 2 weeks! Please remind students to stay on top of assignments and to turn their work in to their teachers on time!
Car Rider Line
Please be in the line by 3:25p.m. Please pull into the line in which you would like to exit. Pull in the line closest to the school if you are turning right onto Sparkman. Please pull in the second line if you plan on exiting left on Sparkman. THANK YOU!
Attendance
Please continue to have your child at school on time. This is very important. We are focused on attendance. This will help your child excel and stay on track
Academy Time (Middle School)
The first week went well. Please have your child at school by 7:45a.m. to participate in Academy. This is the time students participate in clubs and other fun activities.
Serving Supper
We have started serving supper at 3:00p.m. for students who would like to get. Students can pick up supper and then go to their dismissal area.
Virtual Open House
Monday, September 26, 2022 at 12:00p.m.- AAA Parent Data Meeting and P.T.A. Open House
Please log in to our Zoom and hear about the schools' data and next steps to help all students be successful.
Virtual Open House Zoom Meeting Link
https://hsv-k12-org.zoom.us/j/88414766572?pwd=c3M1eGVSR3huVU9kaXg3TFhIdEZNdz09
Bus Transportation Questions
If you have questions or concerns about bus transportation, please call the front office.
AAA WAY
This week, we are focusing on Media Center Expectations. Please review these with your child.
Arrival Expectations
In the morning, there are two arrival points - carline and bus. Students should NOT be dropped off in the front parking lot unless it is after 8:00 am. The earliest arrival time is 7:30a.m.
Have an awesome weekend!!!
Our Best Always!
Kitrise Torain
AAA Middle, Principal
Dr. Evelyn Coffey
AAA Elementary, Principal
Another great source of information - Join our Facebook Group page Academy for Academics and Arts! Join Twitter @AAAMiddle
September is School Attendance Awareness Month!
Great Week of Learning!
Hello Academy Parents and Guardians,
What a wonderful week! We cannot believe we just ended the third week of school. Hats off to our students, teachers and parents. This year has been very successful already.
Car Rider Line
Please be in the line by 3:25p.m. Please pull into the line in which you would like to exit. Pull in the line closest to the school if you are turning right onto Sparkman. Please pull in the second line if you plan on exiting left on Sparkman. THANK YOU!
Attendance
Please continue to have your child at school on time. This is very important. We are focused on attendance. This will help your child excel and stay on track
Academy Time (Middle School)
The first week went well. Please have your child at school by 7:45a.m. to participate in Academy. This is the time students participate in clubs and other fun activities.
Serving Supper
We have started serving supper at 3:00p.m. for students who would like to get. Students can pick up supper and then go to their dismissal area.
Virtual Open House
Monday, September 26, 2022 at 12:00p.m.- AAA Parent Data Meeting and P.T.A. Open House
Please log in to our Zoom and hear about the schools' data and next steps to help all students be successful.
Virtual Open House Zoom Meeting Link
https://hsv-k12-org.zoom.us/j/88414766572?pwd=c3M1eGVSR3huVU9kaXg3TFhIdEZNdz09
Bus Transportation Questions
If you have questions or concerns about bus transportation, please call the front office.
AAA WAY
This week, we are focusing on Media Center Expectations. Please review these with your child.
Arrival Expectations
In the morning, there are two arrival points - carline and bus. Students should NOT be dropped off in the front parking lot unless it is after 8:00 am. The earliest arrival time is 7:30a.m.
Have an awesome weekend!!!
Our Best Always!
Kitrise Torain
AAA Middle, Principal
Dr. Evelyn Coffey
AAA Elementary, Principal
Another great source of information - Join our Facebook Group page Academy for Academics and Arts! Join Twitter @AAAMiddle
Grandparents/Grand Friends Day was a HUGE Success!
AAA Elementary Title I Parent Surveys- Please click on the link below and respond to our Parent Survey
I truly appreciate your feedback! Thank you!
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/197963/19375
Academy Culture and Climate Parent Surveys
Please complete the survey about our culture and climate.
AAA Elementary School Survey
AAA Middle School Survey
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/197966/60841
Elementary School After School Tutoring
Invitations have all been sent home, please return the completed invitations to your child's teacher.
The certified teaching tutors will focus on helping students recover missed standards based on ACAP and I-Ready results.
Academy Schoolstore
Dear Parents,
AAA is partnering with SchoolStore.com to raise funds for our school. SchoolStore is 100% online so there is no selling or handling of money or products. Your participation is easy with no more than 12 minutes of your time required, and there is a nice prize available to make this a fun experience. We will be sending home more information on September 6. Please check your child's backpack for a white envelope which will provide you with more information. Thank you for supporting our school.
Kindly,
AAA Faculty
Middle School After-School Tutoring
Monday- Science, ELA, and Math
Tuesday- ELA and Math
Thursday- ELA and Math
The certified teaching tutors will focus on helping students recover missed standards based on ACAP and I-Ready results.
Middle School Students of the Week!!!
6th Grade-
Aiyah Ellison
Amiyah Carter
7th Grade-
Angelia Barns Spotted Calf
Giannah Centeno
8th Grade-
Ava Brown
Torin Kyemba
Friday Slushies Are Back!!
Slushies are $1 and money can be sent to your child's teacher.
From the Desk of P.T.A.
AAA Rain Dismissal
If lightning is in the area, we will not have employees directing the second line of traffic. We will be one lane only for safety. Also, this will avoid any students stepping in front of vehicles. Students will wait under the awning. We will call students names as normal. The students cannot see you in the first line. Thank you for your cooperation.
From the Desk of the Counselors
Middle School Parents/Guardians:
Last week, your child received a purple mental health services “Opt-In” form. This is a new state-wide mandate we must honor if you want/need your child to speak with me at any time of the day. This form needs to be signed by a parent/guardian for me to do the most important part of my job, that I have always done, and that is to be there for your child. As of now, without your consent, I will not be allowed to help him/her.
p.s. Just to clarify, this “Opt-In” form is not for additional mental health services. (The wording makes it appear that way). It is just giving me permission to see your child as needed.
Thank you,
Mrs. Debbie Smith
AAA Middle School Counselor
Mrs. Gabielle Degenaar
AAA Elementary School Counselor
Carline!
- Please pull into the line in which you would like to exit. Pull in the line closest to the school if you are turning right onto Sparkman. Please pull in the second line if you plan on exiting left on Sparkman. THANK YOU!
- Please do not yell at our faculty and staff. They are working hard to get your child to you in the safest way possible.
- Display your child's name in the windshield, even as you pull up to the loading area. It is difficult to see names that are on the dash board.
- Carline tags can be displayed on the sun visor with clips or rubber bands. Please keep the car tags in your sun visor until you are completely out of carline.
- Being distracted by a cell phone, slows the line down more than one might realize. Please stay off the phone in carline.
- The front line turns right on to Sparkman and the back line turns left on to Sparkman.
- Pull up as far as you can.
- Pull up as close as you can to the car in front of you.
- Bus transportation is available to zoned schools. Most of the buses drop off at their first stop by 3:30 PM.
- Afterschool tutoring pick up - Parents MUST park and walk to the door to check their child out.
Thank you for your patience! We can't wait to see how much this process improves next week. :)
Please DO NOT Park in the Front Circle in the Afternoons!
- The front circle is for BUSES ONLY in the afternoons!
- Please do not park your car on the circle.
- We have buses that drop off and pick up students every day between 2:30 and 4:30.
- The curbs around the circle are not for car pick up and drop off, they are for buses only!
Dance Africa
No Cell Phone Policy
Please talk with your child to make sure they understand this procedure.
Thank for your support! Our students have been following the No Cell Phone Policy.
Updated COVID Procedures
https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/covid-19-infocenter/current-covid-mitigation-procedures
From the Desk of the 6th Grade Ensemble
Greetings from the 6th grade team. Please make sure that you are regularly checking PowerSchool. PowerSchool is where to find the students’ most up to date grades.
ELA:
Stricklin- Now that we have learned routines and some necessary skills, we will be diving deeper into standards. All of our 6th grade standards spiral, so if standards are not mastered the first time around, students will have plenty of opportunities to become proficient. Over the next couple of weeks, students will be working with several fictional texts of varying lengths. As we finish up our analyses of The Mighty Miss Malone which is set during the Great Depression in Gary, Indiana. Students are learning to make the necessary connections to improve reading comprehension while incorporating the previously learned skills and strategies. After an initial reading and discussion of the story, students will be able to identify and describe character traits, key events, as well as articulate the conflict that is integral to the story’s plot. Looking ahead, our next short story is called Red Scarf Girl. In her memoir, Red Scarf Girl, Ji-Li Jiang recounts how hard it is to grow up dedicated to the Communist Party. After reading Red Scarf Girl, students will write a short response that demonstrates their understanding of and connection to the text. Make sure you check Schoology for more information on the summer reading book talks. They are due Monday, September 19.
Estelle- We continue our unit on “Testing Our Limits” with more in depth study of plot, conflict and character traits. We will be reading excerpts from Hatchet and Red Scarf Girl. Assignments are listed in Schoology, but accessible via StudySync and in-class print textbooks.
Math:
Moore- Students will begin a new Module-Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages. The Content area is proportional reasoning based on standard 6.3. A thorough understanding of equivalent ratios and knowing how to express fractions as decimals is vital for understanding and success in this module, so it is important and necessary to complete any unfinished assignments in class at home. I see too many times students are not going home Monday to rewrite and organize their class notes (Every Monday is note taking of new concepts, principles and vocabulary) and not completing assignments on time before testing. If students are not completing assignments, their chances of passing assessments are very low. Assignments are practice days and assessments are Game Day. Please help by knowing that every Monday they should rewrite, not stare, their notes and continue on their unfinished work. All work announcements will be on Schoology and Remind 101. Monday assignments are due Wednesday and Quizzes and Test of Fridays. Late work will be accepted due to illness, appointments and family emergencies. All assignments with due dates can also be accessed in their ALEK’S online math site.
Social Studies: 6th graders finished their study of the Industrial Age this week by taking a test on Chapters 4: An Age of Big Business and 5: An Urban Society. We will be starting our next topic, the Progressive Era, on Friday, September 16. Our goal is to finish Chapter 6 with another test on Wednesday, September 28. In the Progressive Era chapter we will learn about several progressive presidents, including Teddy Roosevelt, and how they fought for changes to help American people. We will also learn about the changing role of women in American politics during the Suffrage Movement and the growing Temperance Movement. We will spend the last couple of days of the 9 weeks working on a project for the Progressive Era. Students will either work on a timeline for a progressive president or make a “FakeBook” social media page for a reformer that we studied.
Science - We are wrapping up our Unit on Plate Tectonics & Seismic Activity. Next week will be reviewing. The last week before Fall Break, September 26 to 30, we will have a culminating, in-class seismic activity project.
From the Desk of the 7th Grade Ensemble
ELA: This week in ELA we continued to build our literary analysis skills in being able to explain the author’s choice of plot structure elements, theme, etc. while continuing to practice the RACE strategy, citing textual evidence. Next week starting on Monday, 9/19, the students will start a week-long project due Friday, 9/23, as their final test grade for the quarter. Students were given paper copies today listing their current missing work in my class as we are two weeks away from the end of the quarter. All missing work can still be turned in for credit and all incomplete work can be fixed and resubmitted. Look on Powerschool for student grades. My office hours are on Tuesdays during Academy time for students to come get help on ELA work. I will be sending Reminds about project updates next week as well.
Math: As a seventh grade, we just completed our first module of the new year. Students are excited to learn about Numbers and Operations. We tested our knowledge of Integer and Rational number operations. We will continue to practice those skills however, it is time to move on. Moving forward our primary focus will be Statistics and Probability. As we learn to investigate Data analysis we will continue to practice multi digit multiplication and fraction division to improve calculations and mental math. Students will work toward developing language, both oral and written to better express their growing understanding of Statistics and Probability. Please discuss how .
Science:
We finished up our Ecology Unit on Wednesday this week and are moving on to animal adaptions, natural selection, and fossil record. We will be completing labs, notes and activities throughout the remainder of the quarter. Please check PowerSchool for missing assignments. Also, please check that the assignments on Schoology have been submitted correctly. Students were given paper copies of any missing work on Tuesday September 13th. I will still accept missing assignments, but points will be deducted for turning in late. My office hours are Monday for any additional Science help. Lastly, please make sure that students are bringing their Interactive notebook to class everyday.
From the Desk of the 8th Grade Ensemble
ELA: We will continue the novel Inside Out & Back Again. As they continue to read, they will delve deeper into the text to analyze the characters and gather support for their inferences about various situations that the characters experience. This will require them to (continue) take notes and analyze. Graphic organizers will be used. The essential questions are what is home, and how do critical incidents reveal character. Unfortunately, I only have a classroom set of the text, but feel free to purchase one for your student to have at home if you would like to read with them.
Math:
8th Grade Accelerated Math: We continue our exploration using real world connections and inquiry on properties of exponents, operations with exponents, scientific notation, and solving equations (various types-including distributive property and variables on each side etc..). Daily assignments and resources can be found in Schoology under the students’ course then in various folders provided.
8th Grade Regular: We continue our exploration, real world connections and inquiry with simplifying radical expressions, properties of exponents etc... Begin our unit on solving various equations in one variable (one-step, two-step, multi-step etc…)Daily assignments and resources can be found in Schoology under the students’ course then in various folders provided.
Science: What a wonderful week we’ve had learning about the types of chemical reactions! We will be continuing on the journey through Chemistry by learning how to balance chemical equations, furthering our understanding of the types of chemical reactions, and beginning to learn about the types of mixtures. There will also be a check up assessment dealing with the periodic table coming very soon and the beginning talks of the AAAmazing “Chemistry My Way” project. Please make sure that your child is ready for authentic learning each and every day.
Social Studies: Hello. Hope all is well for everyone. I enjoyed getting a chance to meet some of you all at the open house night the other day. As far as class goes, we have recently completed the first big unit exam. Hopefully your learners performed well on it! We are also starting our next project in class so I can not wait to see how the kids do as they begin to create their own civilization. As a reminder the 9 weeks is coming to a close soon. I will be updating grades in the coming days. Have a great week!
From the Desk of the Arts Ensemble
Creative Writing - Creative Writing students have started sharing their work in writer’s workshops. Students are learning to offer feedback to their peers throughout the writing process while also learning to make revisions to their own writing in response to peer and teacher feedback.
Students will continue to focus on flash fiction writing for the first nine weeks.
Media Arts - 7th & 8th grade - Students will learn how to take pictures using various angles/techniques.
AAA Theatre -
Rehearsals for Mr. Grumpy’s Toy Shoppe are underway.
Make sure that you are aware of when rehearsal take place and who is called to each rehearsal. Our calendar is online.
Please see our website, www.WhyAAA.org/MS-Theatre for all information!
Please make sure we are following the pick up procedure! Thank you!
Production T-Shirts will go on sale online on Monday, September 19th.
Thank you to everyone who applied for Thespian Troupe #89345! We will announce the new inductees on Monday, September 19th! Look out for the announcement online, social media, and on the AAA Call Boards.
Upcoming Events
Outdoor Movie Night
This event is the first fundraiser for Thespian Troupe #89345. It costs $5.00 for a concessions bundle, which is required for admission. I hope that you will all join us on Sept. 23 & 24 for this fun family-friendly movie night outside the Academy!
Buy tickets TODAY at www.WhyAAA.org/MS-Theatre!
10 Minute Play Festival
This event presented by AAA Theatre and AAA Creative Writing is the first performance of our 2022-2023 season! These 10 minutes plays are student written, directed, performed, designed, & built! Our students are diligently working, and we hope that you will come to the AAA Auditorium on October 14th @ 7pm!
Come early to enjoy the AAA Visual Art's Fall Arts Show @ 6pm in the AAA Gallery!
Buy tickets for the 10 Minute Plays TODAY at www.WhyAAA.org/MS-Theatre!
Tickets for Mr. Grumpy's Toy Shoppe go on sale November 1st at www.WhyAAA.org/MS-Theatre!
Theatre Performance Classes
Intro to Theatre
We are moving on to scripted scenes. Students have learned about spare scenes and how to make sure that relationships, settings, and conflicts are communicated in a scene.
Theatre I
Students are working on published scripted scenes. They are choosing their own scenes to work on, going through rehearsal process, and performing.
Theatre Production
Students have been rehearsing our 10 Min Plays (written by last year’s Creative Writing students)! Our 10 Min Play Festival is student written, directed, designed, and acted! We’ll perform on October 14th! Tickets on sale now!
Technical Theatre Classes
Stars & Clowns
Stars and Clowns Checklist items are due on September 26, 2022. If you need financial assistance, please email me, jennifer.stricklin@hsv-k12.org.
Clowns:
Upcoming Dates:
9/26 - Checklist items are due
9/27-28 - Make-up Design Class Part 1
9/29 - Made-up Designs Due
9/30 - E-Learning Assignment: Practice Clown white one time and turn in a picture on Schoology
10/3-7 - Fall Break
10/13-14 First Costume Parade
10/20-21 Make-up Design Class Part 2
Stars:
9/26 - Checklist items are due
10/3-7 Fall Break
10/16 Performance - Time slot is TBD. The festival is from 12pm-4pm.
Music
Strings-MS strings are excited to have already been showcased twice this month by having TRI-M Honors musicians provide music for the Grandparent’s Day luncheon on the 16th, and then before that, our 7th period Sapphire Strings performed a small showcase for the PTA Open House night on the 13th. The first 9 weeks have been very exuberant and productive! Thank you for your support and involvement with nurturing AAA Academics and Arts
Band - Band 1 (Beginning Band) is off to an awesome start playing their instruments. Parents please encourage your children to bring their instruments home and practice during the weekends. We are playing exercises out of the Standard of Excellence Book 1. We are playing all exercises on pages 6-9. Parents, once again, please help me to encourage the importance of PRACTICING.
Band 2 - (Advanced Band) We are still continuing to work on being self-disciplined band members who can rise to the challenge of being excellent musicians. Parents please encourage your children to bring their instruments home and practice during the weekends. We are musically working on: The Theme from Ice Castles, Jus’ Plain Blues, My Favorite Things, Salvation is Created, Over the Rainbow, and Lydian Lullaby. We are playing exercises out of the Standard of Excellence Book 2. We are playing all exercises on pages 2-4. Parents, once again, please help me to encourage the importance of PRACTICING.
Choir- We are continuing to prepare for the annual All-City Choral Festival auditions. Auditions will be held this Monday and Tuesday September 19-20, 2022 at Whitesburg Middle School. I will be taking the students by bus after school to Whitesburg on Tuesday September 20th and all you have to do is pick them up from Whitesburg Middle when they finish their auditions. Some students will be auditioning on Monday September 19th. If students make it, the All-City Choral Festival will be held at First Baptist Church on Governors Drive on October 17-18, 2022. All-City information will be forthcoming. Students auditioning for All-City, have been diligently working hard on learning their music. Please continue to encourage them to work on their music at home.
Visual Art-
Visual Arts students have begun looking at and forming an opinion on portraits by Amy Sherald. They have been working hard on value, technique, tint, shades, and tones. They will begin their self portraits in the style of Mrs. Sherald this week.
Photography students have tested and learned the parts of the camera with great scores, we will continue learning now by taking different types of photos with the camera.
2D/3D students have been working hard to learn how to transfer their drawing skills from 2-point to 3-point perspective. We are excited to see their works of art created from this new perspective.
Media Arts students have been looking at minimalist art, and experimenting with how to abstractly send a message through their digital art.
Dance- The students are continuing to prepare for their fall concert “Dance till Dawn”. Remember that the tickets will be on sale next month for only $5. This week they’ve been working on Student Choreography for their auditions that will be held September 29th at 3:30 p.m. If their choreography is chosen, it will be able to be showcased in “Dance till Dawn”. The Dance Honor Society has also been working very hard and picking up choreography quickly and also suggesting ideas for their piece.
Athletic Events
A.A.A. Meet and Greet Information
A.A.A. Middle School Bell Schedule
Gift Card Donations
Laptop Charger Replacements
Chromebook chargers are available for purchase for $30 each. The chargers may be picked up at the front office. Prior to pick-up, you can pay the charger fee with a Credit Card/Debit payments via MySchoolFees: www.myschoolfees.com. Sign in as GUEST, Select AAA Elem (or Middle), Select Public, Select Chromebook Charger $30, be sure to list child’s name in the COMMENTS. Or you can pay the $30 fee at the time of pick-up with cash or check. All checks should be made payable to Academy for Academics and Arts Elementary (or Middle) School. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 256-428-7600 and speak to Erica Dillard or Ingrid Lawler, Bookkeepers.
Stay Connected: Important School Contacts
Data Generalist: (Registration) Kristina Olinger Kristina.Olinger@hsv-k12.org
Attendance - Ramona Calhoun at Ramona.Calhoun@hsv-k12.org
Cafeteria and Nutrition - Norma Martin at norma.martin@hsv-k12.org
School Counselor - Debbie Smith at debbie.smith@hsv-k12.org
Nurse - Christina Darby at Christina.Darby@hsv-k12.org
Librarian & Technology - Brenda Levert at brenda.levert@hsv-k12.org
Elementary Principal - Evelyn Coffey at Evelyn.Coffey@hsv-k12.org
Middle School Principal - Kitrise Torain at kitrise.torain@hsv-k12.org
Stay Connected: Important Dates
September
September 7- 1st Nine Weeks Progress Reports Go Home
September 13- Open House (5:00p.m. Food Truck Party/ 6:00p.m. PTA Meeting)
September 23 & 24- Thespians Outdoor Movie 7:00p.m.
September 30- End of the 1st Nine Weeks
Academy for Academics and Arts
Email: Kitrise.Torain@hsv-k12.org
Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/schools/academies-academics-and-arts
Location: 4800 Sparkman Drive Northwest, Huntsville, AL, USA
Phone: 256.428.7600
Facebook: facebook.com/AcademyforAcademicsandArtsElementary
Twitter: @AAAMiddle