Tiger News
Swansea High Freshman Academy
January 2016
“Ensuring Student Performance at the Highest Level”
Important Dates
January 2016 - February 2016
Jan 4: Students return to school
Jan. 14: STEAM Night
Jan 18: Dr. M.L. King Holiday-- No School
Jan 22: Report Cards
Feb 12: FLOOD MAKE UP DAY--- There WILL be school for students today
Feb 15: Presidents Day-- No School
Flood Make up Days
Mark your calendars-- The following days have been scheduled as make up days, February 12 & March 25. These days were scheduled as days the students had off, but under state law we must make up 1-3 school days that were missed due to snow, extreme weather or other disruptions.
Again, students will now have school these days: February 12 & March 25
Use the below link for more information on Make Up Days
STEAM night is upon us!
STEAM night will be held at the SHFA gym on Thursday, January 14th from 6-8 pm. There will be several physics competitions, student artwork, research projects on display, other demonstrations and activities. The evening will also include a silent basket auction, as well as, concessions available for purchase. All proceeds will go to support our students as they participate as a team in the South Carolina Science Olympiad competition in February.
The physics competitions include air trajectory devices, elastic launch gliders, Wright Stuff (rubber band powered propeller planes), and more...
Science Olympiad will take place on February 27 at Newberry College. If a student wins at Science Olympiad they receive a $2000 scholarship to Newberry College and an opportunity to go to Nationals.
Don't be left out- Buy a yearbook!!!
Guidance News
SHFA will be hosting a career fair on Friday, February 19th from 9-11.
Dana Lackey
Celebrations!
The following students will be participating in Region Choir, an honors choir at Limestone University Jan 21-22:
Ka'Sia Knox
Chandler Forrest
Samantha Gantt
Bailee Sherlin
Mackenzie Hendrix
Holly Hill
Angela Vacchio
Nicole Grifaldo
Jada Stroud
In addition, Mackenzie Hendrix auditioned and was selected for a 9th and 10th grade honors choir held at Wingate University the following weekend (Jan 29-30).
Students have averaged over 16 hours of reading on Curriculet, and an additional 340 minutes per student for SSR time, and Stop, Drop and Read...
Announcements
Be the Change- We are excited to continue Be the Change with the Class of 2019. We kicked off the new year of Be the Change on October 29th. This year's focus is Community: how our students can improve our community. Our students are working on different projects including beautification, health awareness, Special Olympics, and many more exciting topics. Students will be working of these these topics throughout the year.
STEAM Night is January 14!!! We will be showcasing our students' physics and art projects during STEAM Night. It should be fun for the whole family.
Teacher News Corner
Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Nicholas:
--Our students have been working on their Physics projects. They had to research and design their projects, and then they begin to build their design before Winter break. We are hosting a STEAM night where our students will display their projects and compete for a position on the Science Olympiad team. STEAM night will take place on Jan 14. Science Olympiad will take place on February 27 at Newberry College. If a student wins at Science Olympiad they receive a $2000 scholarship to Newberry College and an opportunity to go to Nationals.
Ms. Railey:
--We are starting a project for the STEAM event in January. Students are working to develop art making mechanisms that relate to physics. We could also use cardboard for projects!
What's New at SHFA
Students have been participating in several new exciting activities at SHFA:
Stop, Drop, and Read: We are trying to encourage our students, teachers, and everyone to READ. At random times during the week, an announcement is made for everyone to stop what they are doing and read for 20 minutes. Our Staff is reading as well to model their love of reading. It gives everyone a chance to read for pleasure.
Carpe Diem: Carpe Diem is from 8:00 to 8:20. During this time our students are able to eat breakfast, check email, reach out to teachers and staff, check grades, or anything else that could benefit them… They could also use it for PLT (personal learn time) for any class, read for their own enjoyment, work on Curriculet, etc… This time is valuable and we encourage our students not to waste it.
Mentorship: Similarly to Carpe Diem, students can work with their mentor teacher to improve their grades and work on a plan to succeed. This is extremely valuable time for teachers to assist their group of students to become advocates for their own success. Mentor teachers can sit down with each student and look at and discuss their grades directly in powerschool and help them work through a plan for improvement that should include emailing teachers and/or parents right then and there.
Keys to Success
- Communication
- Kindness
- Selfless Service
Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Laura Liger for being named
2015-2016 Teacher of the Year!
Swansea High Freshman Academy
Website: http://shfa.lexington4.net/
Location: 1195 I W Hutto Road, Swansea, SC 29160, United States
Phone: 803-490-7006