Brandon Hitchcock (4^th) and Nathan Brekke (2^nd) had an exciting mid-winter break that included watching the final historical launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from the VIP site at Kennedy Space Center. When you find out how they ended up there you will probably never pass up a conversation with the person next to you on an airplane! 

It all started a little over a year ago as Tina Hitchcock (Brandon's mom) was on a flight home and started talking with the person next to her. It turned out he worked for one of the NASA facilities (Marshall Space Flight Center) and offered, ..."If you want to see a shuttle launch let me know". Tina followed up and the Hitchcock's were placed on the VIP List of the Head of Marshall Space Flight Center.  

So, how did the Brekke family end up there with them? The answer: AUCTION! At last year's auction the Brekke's purchased a week for mid-winter break this year at an Orlando condo donated by the Hitchcock family. When Tina realized the launch and mid winter break coincided she offered to see if she could get the Brekke family included at the last minute.  Literally at midnight the day before the launch a final go was given for the Brekke's to participate. So for the Brekke family, one auction getaway purchased, resulted in a once in a lifetime experience....PRICELESS!

Back To The Top

Ms. Lisa's Pop Art & Top Chef Classes

Miss Lisa's summer classes are sure to be filled with creativity!  

Have a budding chef at home?

Join Lisa the week of July 11-15 for Top Chef, open to grades 2 through 6. Top Chef is a weeklong culinary experience designed to please all palettes: students will learn basic kitchen skills, safety and recipe instruction. And of course, students will get to eat their work!

During the afternoon that same week, students can express their creativity visually through Miss Lisa's Pop Art Class. Think: Andy Warhol. Miss Lisa will take 3rd through 6th graders on a journey of a lifetime, creating oversized sculptures while studying one of the most prominent eras in the American artist movements. 

These classes are sure to fill fast! Download the forms below to register for Summer Camp today! 

Summer Program Catalogue 

Registration Forms 

Waiver Form 

Back To The Top 

Robotics starts on March 23rd & 24th  

Robotics is open to all 1st - 5th grade students and is designed to get kids excited about technology and science.

We sent home registration forms this week, but you can also download the form by clicking here. 

Back To The Top 

Prekindergaten Parent helps spruce up GHA

Eric Noguchi, father of Logan, has been a load of help these past months, helping move the rainwater barrel behind the 4th/5th grade class, clearing blackberry bushes and generally being an extra hand around campus.

We truly appreciate all the hard work, Mr. Noguchi! 

Back To The Top 

Chess Club for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will begin this Friday (March 18th) in the 5th grade classroom with instructors from Chess4Life.

Chess Club is from 3:45-4:45 every Friday. Students must register prior to March 18th to be included. Click here to register. 

Back To The Top 

Mrs. Perry's third grade students illustrated and published their own book, with the help of "Uncle Wow" (Jim Kelly). Mr. Kelly wrote a book years ago called "This is Dot" with the help of his then very young daughter Nicole. When asked to be a mystery reader for the third grade class Mr. Kelly decided that the book he would read to the class would be "This is Dot". The third grade class was so amused by this book that they asked if they could continue the story with a second book titled, "This is Mrs. Dot". With the help of Uncle Wow the story continued with the third graders collaborating and illustrating "This is Mrs. Dot". Each third grade student illustrated their own page of this book with unique drawings. Third graders enjoyed a book signing party this week celebrating the publication of their book! 

What's even more exciting is that their book is on sale on Amazon.com!  You can purchase your own copy online, maybe you could even get a third grader to autograph your copy!

Back To The Top 

Mr. Funk's fifth grade students crafted a catapult and wardrobe for their auction project based on the book, "Chronicles of Narnia". Here are the students posing with the catapult and wardrobe that will be up for auction this Saturday! 

Back To The Top 

Leprechaun traps were set all over the GHA campus on Thursday, but we had no luck finding a leprechaun or his pot of gold!  Kindergarten students enjoyed all green food on St. Patrick's Day including green eggs & ham!

Later in the day, Leprechauns rampaged through the kindergarten classroom. Kindergarten students were in for a big surprise when they came back to their room! If you have any questions about leprechauns, rumor has it, the 5th graders are experts! :)

Back To The Top 

We are doing a 50/50 raffle at the auction.  These are loads of fun if you have not done one before. We sell tickets for cash and right before the live auction we draw a winning ticket.  The total pot is divided 50% to the winning bidder and 50% to GHA.  We encourage you to bring along some cash to participate in the 50/50 raffle. 

Just in case you forget your cash and want to participate, there is an ATM across the street from the Inn.  Also, cash always makes the bar run a little more quickly for any of you who decide to continue to drink after your auction wine and beer drink tickets are used.  For clarification, drink tickets can also be used for juice and soda in addition to auction wine and beer.

Get those shoes polished, dresses donned, and get ready for a super fun night!!!

See you there!

Back To The Top 

For $1.00 you can purchase yummy treats provided by the 3rd grade students of Gig Harbor Academy. Proceeds go to support GHA! 

Click the image to download Snack Sale Schedule & Punch Card Purchasing Form.

 Back To The Top  

Thursday, April 7th

Students will be presenting their biographies through dramatic interpretation, a living museum and speeches.

Back To The Top 

Friday, April 15th

Fox Alliance Church 3:30 - 7:00 PM

Please save the date for our open house style art show at Fox Alliance Church where students' artwork will be displayed.

Back To The Top

April 25th - 29th

Back To The Top

Tuesday, May 17th

Special Friends Day is a fun-filled day for grandparents and other friends and family to learn about your child's education and enrichment at Gig Harbor Academy.

Music Show 6:30 PM

More details to follow 

Saturday, May 21st

7:05 PM

Save-the-date for Gig Harbor Academy night with the Tacoma Rainiers. Game starts at 7:05 PM. 

Tacoma Rainiers vs. Memphis Redbirds

By donating to the YMCA Strong Kids campaign you can help GHA! If you donate to the YMCA Strong Kids campaign you can write what group or school you are with. 

If GHA friends and families donate $1,000 to the YMCA Strong Kids campaign, they will hang a banner with our school name on it! This is a win-win for the YMCA and GHA, but hurry, the campaign is ending soon and the Y needs your support to continue their youth programs.

Click on the YMCA logo to be taken directly to their website.

Back To The Top

It's that time of year again to vote for the "Best of South Sound" for the summer edition of South Sound Magazine.

In years past, Gig Harbor Academy, Our School Childcare and our very own teachers like Mrs. Perry have been voted "Best of South Sound".

Click on the image above to go directly to the ballot & look for the following categories:

·         Best Private School

·         Best Daycare

·         Best Teacher   

Make sure you vote for at least 10 categories in order for your vote to count.

April 16 11:00AM - 2:00PM

Celebrate Arbor Day at the Gig Harbor Civic Center on April 16. The day will be filled with fun family crafts & activites, refreshments, raffle drawings, a tree planting and environmental booths.  Free admission & trees for all attendees!

Sign up for Sweet Deals through Mamapedia.com and earn money for GHA! Mamapedia.com is a website for mothers and families and offers "Sweet Deals" a program similar to Groupon(TM).

What's different with Sweet Deals is that when you sign up, you can choose a school to support. With every purchase you make, Mamapedia will donate 5% of your purchase through their Sweet Deals program to Gig Harbor Academy.  

Thank you to Kimberly Muska for letting us know about this great opportunity.

Back To The Top