Fulton Science Academy
EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION, CHARACTER
Monday, January 9, 2017
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Happy New Year! I hope the recent winter break provided you with a well-deserved chance to rest, relax, and enjoy spending time with those you love. As we prepare for a busy second semester, I wanted to share a few highlights...
- Good luck to our middle school Science Olympiad students who will be leaving this Friday morning to head to Friendship Christian School in Tennessee for an invitational competition.
- The previously scheduled Destination Imagination competition that was postponed due to weather has been rescheduled for this Saturday at FSA.
- The Math Genius Competition will take place this Sunday at FSA (please note: this is for registered students only.)
- The Annual STEAM Video Competition deadline has been extended to January 15 (please see entry details below).
- In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we will have no school next Monday, January 16.
Once again, thank you for your support of FSA. My door is always an open door and I invite you to please stop by with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. You are very much a part of our school's ongoing journey. We appreciate you greatly!
Sincerely,
Kenan Sener
Principal
FSA Families Support Annual Fund in Record Numbers
Thank you to those families who supported our school's very important Annual Fund Campaign.
We're pleased to say that, as of this morning, our wonderful FSA families contributed $93,942.33 to the Annual Fund which is a 282% increase over last year. Additionally, the number of FSA families who made a tax-deductible contribution grew substantially as well (from 18% to 52%). This is both appreciated and is a very important component to supporting our school's long-term vision and sustainability.
The purpose of conducting an Annual Fund is to raise money for important strategic initiatives that cannot be covered by tuition alone. While contributions will be accepted throughout the school year, special emphasis was placed on promoting the fund during the month of December to maximize year-end tax benefits for donors. Most prestigious private schools rely heavily on philanthropy efforts such as this one. We greatly appreciate the selfless spirit of giving that was demonstrated by our families. Thank you for giving the gift that keeps on giving...the gift of education!
For all you do, THANK YOU!
FSA Robotics Students Invited as Guests of the CW
FSA students Manasavi G. and Claire B. were invited to the CW downtown earlier today to film a special news segment about females in robotics.
The edited segment will be featured this Saturday, January 15, at noon on Channel 69. Students will be talking about their work to win the regional robotics championship, their plans for super regionals, and how it feels to be one of the few all-female teams robotics team competing in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Students Dazzle During School's Inaugural Band/Orchestra Concert
Please Mark Your Calendars
(New Events are Highlighted in Bold)
- First Day of Second Semester
January 12
- Middle and High School Awards Ceremony - 2:30 pm
January 14
- Basketball Game - Bethlehem Temple @FSA 6 pm
January 15
- Math Genius Competition at FSA
- STEAM Video Contest Deadline
January 16
- Martin Luther King Day - NO SCHOOL
Happy New Year!
As we begin 2017, it's great to be able to see some of our music students in action. Ansley M., a student of Mrs. Emily Hindes, is one such student, who loves playing the violin. Ansley has been studying with Mrs. Hindes for about a year and a half. Here is a short segment of her practice in action!
Private Music Lessons Available At FSA
FSA's Private Music Program is now accepting new students! We offer private music lessons in many instruments and areas of study: Piano, Voice, Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Violin, Clarinet, Flute, Ukulele, Saxophone, Accordion, Percussion, Trumpet, Trombone, Banjo, Mandolin, Theory, Conducting, Composition, and more.
There is a $20 registration fee and the tuition is $480 for the second semester. You may obtain more information by visiting our page on the website at:
http://fultonscienceacademy.org/private-music-lessons-2/
or, please contact Melinda Hubbell at mhubbell@fultonscienceacademy.org or (770) 402-2907.
About Emily Hindes
Emily Hindes holds a Master’s Degree in instrumental performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she studied violin with Dr. Bernard Zinck, a graduate of the Paris Conservatory and Julliard. Emily received her B.M. in string performance at Kennesaw State University, where she trained with former Julliard concertmaster, Helen Kim. Mrs. Hindes has been an active participant in orchestras, small ensembles, solo performances, and many freelance projects around both Atlanta and Milwaukee. Emily has taught privately since 2010 and has coached chamber groups for the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Tae Kwondo/Chess/Basketball Clubs Require Separate Registration for Interested Students
Chess Club Commences Again this Friday
Hoops and Sand Registration Information
The next HNS Academy
Begin: Jan 18 - May 3
Days: Wednesday & Friday
Sessions: 29
$400 Save $50
Fee: $350
Register online at: www.hoopsnsand.com
Club Changes for second semester
Please be advised that there have been some changes to the club schedule for this semester. A few clubs have been canceled and new clubs will be introduced.
To Change Your Child's Club Schedule
The procedure for students changing clubs (Grades 3 and higher) is the same as before. Students can pick up a club change form from the front office, obtain all signatures (current club teacher, new club teacher, parent signature) and return to either the front office or to Ms. Kelly's office (hard copy of form needed, no emails please). Forms are available at the front desk. Students cannot join a new club until they complete this procedure. Teachers will be checking club attendance to ensure that students are in the correct clubs.
Students who do not have clubs may either be picked up at first dismissal (3:30 pm) or they may go to the cafeteria for study hall. Students are expected to work quietly in study hall. Students are not permitted to be in the gym or outside on the field unless they are in a club which utilizes those spaces on that particular day.
Students who are currently in clubs which are canceled for the second semester (below) must join a new club, choose to attend study hall, or be picked up at first dismissal.
Please remember that student pick up is not allowed during club times. Pick up is allowed at first dismissal (3:30 pm) and second dismissal (4:20 pm). If your child must leave earlier than 4:20 pm, please pick them up at first dismissal and before club begins.
Cancelled Clubs:
- Adventures in Reading will now be called Reading Buddies (Kindergarten and 3-5) on Tuesdays
- Robotics Team 1 (3-5) on Mondays
- Coding Club (3-5) on Thursdays
- Hands on Science Club (3-5) on Tuesdays
- Service Learning Club (3-5) on Wednesdays
- Geography Club (3-5) on Tuesdays
- Public Speaking (3-5) on Fridays
- Public Speaking (6-10) on Tuesdays
- Service Learning Club (9-10) on Tuesdays
- Volleyball Club (3-5) on Thursdays
- Technology Fair (6-11) on Wednesdays
- Technology Fair (3-5) on Thursdays
New Clubs:
Environmental/Conservation Club (Grades 4-8) Tuesdays:
More exciting details to come in January about this new club. Students will learn about conservation and the environment through hands-on activities and lessons such as building a butterfly garden, exploring and beautifying our campus, and understanding the impact of pollution on our environment and animals. Please be on the lookout for more details coming soon.
Elementary Fitness (Grades 3-5) Thursdays:
Students will learn about the different muscles and how to activate the muscles. They will learn different exercises to target certain muscles in order to invest in lifelong physical health. This club will begin to establish a love for exercise.
Mindfulness Club (Grades 3-5) Tuesdays:
Mindful awareness exercises help children develop concentration and self-awareness. Teaching mindfulness meditation is a great way for kids to develop focusing skills, resilience, and well-being. In this club, students will be guided through a time period of mindful awareness through creative arts and yoga to embody cognitive and emotional well-being and spread positivity to those around them.
Reading Buddies (Previously called Adventures in Reading) (Kindergarten and Grades 3-5) Tuesdays:
Kindergartners and students in grades 3-5 to buddy read. The students in grade 3-5 will be able to practice reading fluency with kindergarten students. Kindergarten students will be able to practice their reading skills with the help of advanced FSAPS students!
Creative Writing Club (Grades 3-5) Tuesdays:
The goal for this club is for students to become stronger and more confident writers. Students will explore and further develop their writing skills, through different forms of Creative Writing. Our writing time will include Poetry, Story Telling, Songwriting, as well as other forms.
Comic Book/Graphic Novel Club (Grades 3-5) Fridays:
In elementary Comic Book Club we will read and discuss a variety of Comic Books and Graphic Novels. We will look at how comic books have evolved from their beginning to now and how they have found their place in current popular culture. We will also explore story writing and hope to write and illustrate our own comic books.
Arduino Club (Grades 3-8) Mondays:
Do you like programming? When software meets hardware, you will like it more. Because there is just something about writing code that affects a physical device (more so than a screen) that is exciting. That is why after spending five minutes with the Arduino, getting a red LED light to blink will make you feel like Superman. What is Arduino? Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics projects. Arduino consists of both a physical programmable circuit board (often referred to as a microcontroller) and a piece of software, or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that runs on your computer, used to write and upload computer code to the physical board. In this club students will learn how to use a breadboard, led, LCD, DC motor, servo motor, some sensors (temperature, color, an infrared sensor,...), Bluetooth module, etc. with Arduino platform.
Mindstorms Club (3-5) Thursdays:
Students will learn electronics with Snap Circuits which makes learning electronics easy and fun. Also, students will learn programming with Lego mindstorms EV3, which makes building, programming and commanding your own LEGO robots smarter, faster, and more fun.
Computer Programming (Grades 3-5) Wednesdays:
This club is based on one of popular Java script programming that allows kids to create animations, games. Students who do not have programming experience in this club will understand basics of programming, algorithms, how to create simple games and animations as they have fun as well. Khan academy curriculum will be followed and required students to create their own accounts using an e-mail address.
Scratch Programming (Grades 3-5) on Thursdays:
Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations. Students in this club will gain an understanding of programming; practice their coding, imagination skills while enjoying designing.
Broadcasting (Grades 6-11) on Wednesdays and Fridays:
Goal: To create a news team that will file a weekly “in review” of the week. Exposing its participants to basic news gathering, elements involved in putting together a news program and introduction to key roles for a functioning broadcast team. Team members will also get the basics of script writing for television.
Requirements:
- Dedication
- Interest in broadcast journalism
- Ability to work with deadlines
- Flexible to roles and can think on your feet
- Team make-up:
- Producer – plans the broadcast
- Anchor (s) maybe 2 – present on camera
- Videographer/editor – shoot and edit video
- Audio person – manages all audio for the show
- Editor / videographer – shoot and edit video
- Reporters (at least 3) – write and file stories
***This club has a required application and audition. Applications can be picked up in Miss Kelly’s office or the front desk
Yearbook/Journalism (Grades 6-11) Wednesdays and Fridays
Are you interested in journalism? Do you love writing, interviewing people, and taking photos? Would you like to be a part of the team who designs and creates our yearbook this year? Join this club and be a part of the Yearbook Staff! Students must attend the weekly club meetings, have access to a computer at home and be able to spend at least 1-2 hours online every week making edits and uploading photos outside of club time. Students must attend and photograph as many school events as possible, so having access to a camera is helpful – cell phone cameras are acceptable if they have a good resolution.
Current and new yearbook members can sign up for Wednesday, Friday, or both. If you are new and interested in joining the yearbook , please pick up an application form from Mrs. Kelly or the front desk.. Return to Mrs. Modrzynski, M-4 by the January 10th. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the club by the 11th.
*This club has a required application, a limited number of applicants will be accepted.
Ted Talks (Grades 6-11) Tuesdays:
In TED-Ed Clubs, students work together to discuss and celebrate creative ideas. Members explore the ideas they're passionate about. By diving into activities that expand curiosity, club members will identify and discuss what matters most to them. Club members will be challenged to identify and shape the story only they can tell. Through guided brainstorms and active peer feedback exercises, members will craft their very own TED-style talk. "How can your idea change the world?" By the end of their club cycle, members will have recorded their very own TED talk.
Academic Quiz Bowl (Grades 8-11) Mondays:
Quiz Bowl is an academic competition between two or more teams that go head-to-head to answer questions from all areas including science, math, sports, current events, popular culture, literature, history, and fine arts. Competing teams are made up of four to five players, though numerous people may join the club. Individual team members are usually fluent in one or more areas.
This first year of the club will be devoted to preparing the team to enter competitions during the next school year. Tournaments are held at the local, regional, state, and national levels. For a better idea of how competitions run, view High Q on Atlanta’s Channel 2 on Sunday mornings. This series showcases the best local high school quiz bowl teams competing against each other.
History Academic Team (Grades 8-11) Wednesdays:
What do you know about GREAT AMERICAN SPEECHES or, U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES? Maybe you know more about ANCIENT LANDMARKS, CORPORATE SCANDALS or NEW WORLD EXPLORERS. Do you ever watch the TV game show JEOPARDY? Have you ever participated in an ACADEMIC QUIZ BOWL TOURNAMENT? If any of these topics sound interesting or if you are just by nature a highly competitive person, HISTORY ACADEMIC TEAM may be for you!
Beginning second semester, eighth graders and high school students are invited to join this competitive academic team. The team will meet on Wednesdays in Mrs. Rodgers classroom. Each week, students will participate in quiz bowl competitions to sharpen their knowledge and skills. Our goal is to be ready to attend competitions across Georgia and the south-east next fall. Who knows, we might even qualify for national championships in Washington, D.C.! If you have any questions or for more information, please contact Mrs. Rodgers.
Character Education for January
What does honesty mean?
1. To be truthful
2. To not lie, cheat or steal
Why is honesty important?
1. Honest people are trustworthy, dependable, and respected by others.
2. It is the right thing to do. It feels good.
3. Telling the truth lets everyone know what happened and keeps the wrong person from being blamed for something they didn’t do.
What are the consequences of dishonesty?
1. Losing the trust and respect of others.
2. The need to tell more lies in order to cover up.
3. You may face punishment and embarrassment.
What are the qualities of honest FSA students?
1. Tells the truth, regardless of the consequence.
2. Admits when he or she is wrong.
3. Does not cheat or steal.
4. Does not exaggerate to make things seem different than they are.
5. Keeps promises and encourages others to be truthful.
Sage Dining Services Being Considered for 2017/2018 School Year
In response to multiple parent requests for in-school dining, FSA is currently looking into a new lunch program that would benefit all FSA students starting in August 2017.
Sage Dining is a company that prepares top-quality food on site. If we work with this company, Sage will create a menu based on our students' needs, including dietary requirements. The food is fresh and nutritious... Sage uses as much local produce as possible.
To learn more about Sage, please take a moment to visit their website and view the video, which includes a link below.
We are excited about the possibility of offering this kind of lunch program to our students next year! To learn more, or if you have questions or comments, please email Vice Principal, Michelle Campbell, at mcampbell@fultonscienceacademy.org. Thank you!
Six Flags Summer Reading Program
Are you looking for a great way to keep your child engaged in reading during the summer months? If so, we hope you will please consider the Six Flags Summer Reading Program.
Details on this program have been included via FSAConnect, as well as in students' take-home folders. This is an optional scholastic support opportunity for our students, but it's one we hope you'll consider seriously.
To participate in this program, please have your son/daughter complete the reading log which requires at least six hours of reading time. This log should be completed by January 27 for consideration. Once approved, students will earn free admission to Six Flags Over Georgia during the 2017 Summer season!
It's Not Too Late to Coordinate an FSA Home Visit!
2ND ANNUAL FULTON SCIENCE ACADEMY S.T.E.A.M. VIDEO CONTEST
We are pleased to announce FSA’s 2nd Annual S.T.E.A.M. Video Contest.
EXCITING TIMES! Once again, we will have a Red Carpet Awards Show on Friday, January 27, 2017 with fun activities and surprises to celebrate our students' skills in different areas of movie making.
THEME
This year we will once again invite video entries with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) theme. This broad concept allows students to create their video on a topic that they like. Participants can do anything from exploring a science or math theory/concept to something more charitable in nature that discusses a community need and how it can be addressed. You name it! There is a wide spectrum of opportunities under the umbrella of S.T.E.A.M.
FORMAT
Feel free to use any video editing software and upload your finished video to YouTube. Suggested duration of the video is 3 to 5 minutes. Please only use materials recorded by you.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
This will be a great project for all students in grades four and higher to work on during their winter holidays. Therefore, the submission deadline is Sunday, January 8, 2017.
LAST YEAR"S WINNERS
Please see last year's winners here to get submission ideas: http://fultonscienceacademy.org/2016/01/congratulations-to-the-winner-of-the-1st-s-t-e-a-m-video-contest-awards/
JUDGING COMMITTEE
We have four wonderful parents that are professional in different categories of the film industry. These parents formed a judging committee together. If any other parent has some expertise and wishes to be part of the judging committee, please send an e-mail to Principal Sener at ksener@fultonscienceacademy.org
CONTEST LEVELS
Students will be competing in two different levels.
1st Level: 4th Grade through 6th Grade
2nd Level: 7th Grade through 10th Grade
AWARD CATEGORIES & AWARDS FOR EACH LEVEL
4th Grade through 6th Grade Level
Best Film Category
Best Acting Category
Best Writing Category
Choice Award Category – This category will be voted on through Facebook.
7th Grade through 10th Grade
Best Film Category
Best Acting Category
Best Editing Category
Best Special Effects Category
Best Writing Category
Choice Award Category – This category will be voted on through Facebook.
AWARDS FOR EACH CATEGORY
1st Place - $100
2nd Place - $50
3rd Place - $25
RED CARPET AWARD CEREMONY DATE & TIME
Friday, January 27 at 1 p.m.
SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO
Please CLICK HERE to submit your Youtube video link.
Any questions, you might have, please send an e-mail to ksener@fultonscienceacademy.org
Enjoy your time preparing your videos!
FSAConnect mobile App
We are happy to inform you that now you can check fsaconnect by mobile app.
Here is how you can access the app:
ITunes App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/radix-mobile/id1159005166?mt=8
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radix.radixmobile
The links can also be found at the bottom of your connect page by the other social media links.
A pop-up banner will appear on top of the screen when users access the school connect on their mobile devices.
Site link: https://fsaconnect.fultonscienceacademy.org
Username: fsaconnect username
Password: fsaconnect password
Would you like to coordinate a home visit? If so, please read on...
Simply email junal@fultonscienceacademy.org with some suggested dates/times, as well as your students' name(s) and homeroom assignments. Ms. Unal will be in touch to confirm final details.
Home visits are a casual way for your child to spend time with his/her teacher in the comfort of their home. Teachers enjoy having a chance to see children in this comfortable environment, doing whatever makes them most happy and spend time with children and their parents outside of a regular school day.
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR REMIND, OUR SCHOOL NOTIFICATION APPlication
JOIN FSAPS REMIND HERE: https://www.remind.com/join/fsaps
We have created a remind account to keep our community informed and up-to-date with what is happening at our school.
By joining "FSAPS remind," you will receive messages via push notifications, SMS, or e-mail. We recommend SMS option for our families and students.
We will use this tool as an addition to other communication portals we use at our school to keep our families apprised of what's happening at Fulton Science Academy. Thank you.
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
REPORTING ABSENCES
When your student will be absent from school for the entire day, please contact FSAPS each day in any of the following ways:
1. E-mail your child’s teacher
2. Send an email to attendance@fultonscienceacademy.org
OR
1. Send in a note to the front office when your child returns to school OR
2. Call the front office on the day your child is absent at (678) 366-2555 ext. 0
FSA SOCIAL MEDIA
Please connect with us online and grow our social media following!
FSA is proud to be building a strong social media presence and we encourage you to follow us using one or more of the following links:
1- FSA YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://www.youtube.com/user/FultonScienceAcademy
If you subscribe to our YouTube channel, you will receive notifications whenever we upload a new video.
2- FSA FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/FultonScienceAcademyPrivateSchool/
Many of you already follow our Facebook page. If you are not yet connected, please “Like" our Facebook page.
3- FSA INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/fultonscienceacademy/
We post lots of pictures on our Instagram account. You will enjoy seeing new pictures every day.
4- FSA LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/company/fulton-science-academy-private-school
So many of you have LinkedIn accounts. To get news about our school on LinkedIn, simply follow our schools’s LinkedIn page.
5 –FSA TWITTER
https://twitter.com/fsaprivate
Twitter is a great way to get updated about school. Simply follow our school on Twitter to get recent tweets from our school.
6- FSA BLOG
http://fultonscienceacademyprivateschool.blogspot.com
If you click on Follow button on the right hand side, you will receive notifications when we post a new article.
GREEN SCHOOL TIPS BY FSA ROBOTICS TEAM STUDENTS
Fulton Science Academy Private School
Serving Advanced and Gifted Students
Pre-K through High School
Email: ksener@fultonscienceacademy.org
Website: www.fultonscienceacademy.org
Location: 3035 Fanfare Way, GA, United States
Phone: (678) 366-2555
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FultonScienceAcademyPrivateSchool
Twitter: @fsaprivate