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Reminders
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Teacher Talks
(6:00 - 7:00 p.m.)
-Monday, Sept. 19
Apprentice
Scholars I
(Grade 6)
-Tuesday, Sept. 20
Apprentice Scholars
II and III
Parent Panel
(Grades 7 and 8)
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*Vision Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 22
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
*Teacher 1/2 Workday
Friday, Sept. 23
11:25 a.m. dismissal
*Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, Sept. 26
6:30 p.m.
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Lunch Order Questions?
Contact:
Mark Huffman
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Family Fund Questions?
Contact: Diana Huneycutt
*Clip and send in
*We are a nut-free school for 2011-2012. Questions? Call the office.
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Volunteer Hours | |
Every hour makes a difference! It is vital that we track these hours. Record your time on the sheet at the school or send your hours to mrscholarsacademy@
gmail.com. |
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The Eagle's Nest Update...
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...is a bimonthly e-newsletter that relies on YOUR submissions.
The next newsletter will be distributed on Monday, October 3.
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The Eagle's Nest Update
Newsletter of Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy
A Charter School Serving Highly Gifted Students
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Becoming a
Blue Ribbon School
The Scholars' Academy received some exceptional recognition last week with the 2011-2012 National Blue Ribbon School Award. The mechanics of the award have been in motion since November of 2010 at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). In December, the school received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education that we had been nominated for the award by the NCDPI. That was the first step. If the Scholars' Academy wished to be considered a Blue Ribbon candidate, there was a six part application to complete:
Part I Eligibility Certification
Part II Demographic Data
Part III Summary
Part IV Indicators of Academic Success
Part V Curriculum and Instruction
Part VI For Private Schools Only
Part VII Assessment Results
Section III was a description of the school, including population served, major highlights of our history, program, and a statement concerning why the school was a worthy candidate to be a Blue Ribbon School. The Indicators of Academic Success section required a narrative description of the assessment results of the school: how those assessment results were determined (the state model), used, communicated, and shared. In Part V (Curriculum and Instruction), the narrative included a general description of our four core content areas of instruction as well as descriptions of visual and performing arts, health and fitness, and foreign languages.
More detailed descriptions were required for reading, mathematics, and science. For those three areas, the descriptions included comments about the curricular materials used, the delivery methods used for the content, and differentiation strategies. This section also included descriptions of specific instructional methods, professional development practices, and a statement about the philosophy of the school leadership team as it related to achievement and excellence. Part VII was a detailed report of disaggregated testing results from the State Criterion Referenced Tests (EOG's) for each year 2005-2006 - 2009-2010. Our application was 30 pages in length.
In June, we received notification that we were a candidate for the Blue Ribbon, but the final criterion was that we had to meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) standards for the 2010-2011 school year. We received the final official notice just two days before the announcement made by Secretary Duncan in Washington.
That is the procedural, short-term part of Becoming a Blue Ribbon School. The philosophical, long-term part of being an award-winning school is that the foundation of our program is built around the talents and skills of an exceptional staff; our children come to school ready to learn and participate in the process of education; and our parents support the unique experience that is offered by the school. We should all celebrate, enjoy the significance of this award, and continue our quest for the best possible education for highly gifted children.
For the earth,
Marie Peine, Ph.D., Director
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National Recognition
for Scholars' Academy
 On September 15, the U.S. Department of Education named 305 schools as 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools based on their overall academic excellence or for their success in closing achievement gaps. The Department will honor the 256 public and 49 private schools at a conference and awards ceremony November 14-15 in Washington, D.C. Scholars' Academy was one of only two Charlotte area schools to be named a Blue Ribbon School this year. The National Blue Ribbon School award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve at high levels or where the achievement gap is narrowing. The award is based on one of two criteria: 1) schools whose students are high performing (these are schools ranked among each state's highest performing schools as measured by their performance on state assessments or, in the case of private schools, that score at the highest performance level on nationally-normed tests); or 2) schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that improve student performance to high levels as measured by the school's performance on state assessments or nationally-normed tests. Before selecting National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department asks for nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 413 schools nationwide are nominated, based on the number of K-12 students and the number of schools in each jurisdiction. The schools are invited by the Secretary of Education to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School. Click here for more information on the award from the U.S. Department of Education. Local coverage of this announcement can be found in the Charlotte Observer and a segment on News Channel 14 featuring Dr. Peine and Mr. Yodice. Congratulations, Scholars' Academy! |
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2011-2012 Annual Campaign Kicks Off
 It's time to give to the annual campaign. Let's reach 100% family participation this year! Gift forms have been mailed and can also be found on the Development site. Online giving is an option this year. Please join us at the Annual Family Campaign Night on Wednesday, September 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the school. Dr. Trey Ishee from Southeast Psych will be there to share his thoughts on gifted education. You will also be eligible to win some great door prizes. Childcare provided by Scholars' 8th graders. Contact Nilma Amin or Maura O'Sullivan with questions. |
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Fall Social Needs Volunteers
The Fall Social will be held after school on Friday, October 7 from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m., and help is needed to make it a success! Please email Dawn Lombard at dlombard@carolina.rr.com if you can take just one 30 minute shift to serve popcorn, snow cones, or just watch the kids enjoy themselves on one of the inflatables! It's lots of fun and your kids will appreciate it!
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Bravo, Scholars!
Congratulations to 6th grader Jivin Barve, who recently won 4th place in U1000 at the Fake Copper Blanket XXVI Tournament conducted
by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Scholastic Chess Association. More information is available at http://www.cmsca.org/index.php.
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Book Fair Website
From October 5 - 7, students will be able to purchase a great selection of books at our annual book fair. Click here to see
a preview of the books that will be available, to volunteer, and for the complete book fair schedule.
Questions? Contact San-Dee Keefner at keefnersa@gmail.com.
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Re-Link Harris Teeter VIC cards
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It's time to RE-LINK your VIC card (cards must be re-linked every school year). This is a great way to earn money for our school.
CLICK HERE to re-link to our school ID number 4075. Other ways to re-link: during checkout, ask the cashier to re-link your VIC card; re-link at any HT Customer Service desk; or call HT Customer Service at 800-432-6111.
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Snack Cart Schedule
The Snack Cart is open for business. On Thursdays during lunch, students will have a chance to buy snacks for .50 cents each. During your homeroom's month, your class can donate to the snack cart (homemade and/or store bought snacks. No nuts). Please have students bring donations to Mr. Yodice in Room 220.
September will be finished by the eighth graders.
October - Bernard & Yodice
November - Moschel, Cady & Pieper
December - Roberson, Lloyd/Cleary & Lannon
January - Weeks/Anaya & Bolick
February - Surrett & Rhodes
March - Smith & Miller
April - Muse & Hinkleman
May - Weeks/Anaya & Metcalf
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