|
|
|
|
|
|
| Board of Directors |
Piper Park, Founder
Scott Howard, Chairman
Gary Maffei, Treasurer
Robert Campo
William A Furman
Harry A Merlo |
P.O. Box 34
Marylhurst, Oregon 97036
503.697.6213
| |
|
Letter from the Director
Our Big News this month is funding for a new Music Lab through $20,000 in gifts from the Snowman Foundation and the Joyce Furman Charitable Trust.
Our students are really enjoying the various after-school enrichment opportunities that our parents group has arranged. February's offering was art, March focused on guitar lessons and April will be the martial arts. I'm so grateful to our parents for organizing these wonderful activities.
Students participated in two wonderful special events this month, "Songwriting with Kids" and "Read Across America". I'd like to say thank you this month to Steve Seskin who once again helped our students compose their own original songs. A special thank you to middle school teacher, Jennie McCarthy, for organizing the Read Across America activities.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paula Kinney
School Director
|
|
|
Calendar Reminders
display|yallop - an Artist Open Studio: Friday, March 19, 6-9 pm
Pine Street Theatre, 828 SE Ash, Unit A (third floor)
a social gathering
featuring Ian Yallop's recent work and live music by Twisted Whistle. Ian just
completed a six-week artist-in-residence at Park Academy and is offering private art lessons.
Spring Break: March 22-29 - Don't forget to encourage your student to keep reading!
Spring Flower Order Deadline: March 30
Parents Meeting: April 7, more details to follow
After School Enrichment: Wednesdays in April. See below for details.
|
Order Spring Flowers before MARCH 30!
Treat yourself to beautiful spring flowers from New Leaf Greenhouse. Each year, this fundraiser helps us reach our
financial goals. Participate in helping the school and enjoy beautiful plants from New Leaf Greenhouse, in Cornelius, Oregon. You won't find
plants of this quality at the big box stores, nor will you find prices
this good in Portland's high-end nurseries. They offer a great selection of
perennials, flowering annuals, gorgeous planters and hanging baskets,
and unusual tropical plants. Contact Kim Barton for an order form. Don't delay - orders need to be in by March 30. |
|
April After-School Enrichment Opportunity
Minimum of Ten Students Needed - Sign up Today!
Aim High Martial Arts Academy will bring their martial arts instruction to Park Academy for after school enrichment. Call 503.697.6213 or email Fawn Morris in the main office to sign up.
Date: Classes will be on Wednesdays, April 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 3:30-4:30.
Fee: $25 for all four classes
Class Size Minimum: 10 students must sign up or the class will not be offered.
Scholarships: There are no scholarships available for this program.
Martial Arts instructio n forms a strong foundation for positive development. The class structure starts with courtesy and respect for instructor and student. Kids learn to pay attention and concentrate in class because the training is fun and exciting. They learn to set achievable goals and experience the benefits of follow through. The instruction emphasizes positive mental attitude, non- violent conflict resolution and how to say no to unhealthy peer pressure. Kids gain greater comprehension and better retention which helps them to excel academically and become better students with better study habits. They gain self esteem from continuous, positive reinforcement. Martial Arts gives students structure and discipline that helps keep them motivated at home and in school, and it's FUN!
|
Snowman Foundation & Joyce Furman Charitable Foundation Give $20,000 for a New Music Lab at Park Academy!
Announcement to be made at Ten Grands Piano Concert
The Music Program at Park Academy got a big boost this month from two local foundations. The Snowman Foundation donated $10,000,  matched by the Joyce Furman Charitable Foundation donation of $10,000. Dr. Keith Cheng contributed the final $1,000 to make the budget for this new project. Park Academy Founder, Piper Park, and Program Director, Bill Westphal, will formally accept the award from Michael Allen Harrison at Ten Grands on April 3. THANK YOU to our amazing friends!
Because of this generous gift, students at Park Academy will soon be learning MIDI
Technology. The goal of the
Music Program at Park Academy is to prepare music students
to be knowledgeable and proficient in performance and music technology through
the use of "music instrument digital
interface." MIDI is a technology that makes creating, playing, or just
learning about music easier and more rewarding. In order to allow for more creativi ty and innovation, students will
even be able to design their own digital musical instruments.The MIDI Music Technology Lab will also have state-of-the art software that allows students to access their learning at their own
pace. Instructors will have the ability to customize student needs
without compromising the classroom performance experience. The skills learned through the Music Lab and MIDI Technology will serve students well as they progress to higher education and jobs.
As motivated,
excited, independent learners, and flexible, creative thinkers they will have better success in every area of life!
|
|
Read Across America Event a HUGE Success!
Featuring Prizes and Surprise Guest Readers!
Read Across America was a great success at Park Academy! Our day was busy with independent
Guest Reader -
Dr. Paula Kinney
 | reading, guest read-alouds and reading games. We had seven guest readers and heard a total of eleven books! We would like to thank all of our guest readers for making time in their day to read aloud to the students. Many of our students accomplished their personal reading goals such as finishing a book in one day.
"Be Cool, Read at School"
 | In the afternoon we had a very colorful "Be Cool, Read at School" cake donated by parents to honor the day as Dr Suess' Birthday! We look forward to making Read Across America an annual event at Park Academy. Thank you to everyone who participated!
|
Songwriting Results in Two New Hits!
Acclaimed Nashville Songwriter Leads Kids to Become Creative Composers
March 10, 2010 - For the second year in a row, songwriter Steve Seskin led Park Academy students through a one-day songwriting workshop. Lower and Upper school students participated in separate workshops to compose their original works.
Steve wove the threads of ideas into song and set the words to music.
At the end of the day the kids performed two new tunes with Steve. The audience, composed of faculty, parents and our local Lake Oswego Review photographer, listened enthusiastically as the upper school students rocked Baxter Hall while Steve sang.
Park Academy Senior, Jack Cornelius jammed on his skillful riff that was the genesis of the tune for "A New Dawn, A New Day", and Junior Zac Sakomoto's recently shorn dome inspired "My Bald Head". The day was a big success. Thank you Steve!
Listen to our songs from last year on Steve's Website. Check back later and Steve will add this years' compositions.
|
Student Creative Writing Corner
"I Am From..." by Alexia Hovorak, Class of 2010
I am from an orphanage in Bulgaria
I'm from snuggling up to fires in blankets
From people who want to see others happy with themselves
From the beach to the scent of lavender running through the house
Bubble baths each night to a cup of tea
From a daydreamer to a missing piece of my heart
|
Update From the Yearbook Class
What Do We Do In Yearbook?
We take
pictures of different landscapes of the school.
We take pictures of the graveyard, and the nature surrounding Park Academy.
We have also taken pictures of our fellow students. Some of these pictures have
turned out to be very funny, some not so much. The year book staff is working
really hard to make this year book great. We are also taking videos of things. The
yearbook's is also learning how to use a video camera.
Yearbook is
a fun class. We get a lot done but we also know how to have fun. There is a good balance. We use multiple
cameras including digital cameras, and we also use disposable cameras some
times. We then get those photos developed, then scanned, then put on the Mac
for further use for the year book.
Our classmate Jack Cornelius is by far the most experienced working on our Mac
computers for the video files. He has taken many videos of us and our
activities. He recently had taken a video of us playing a couple of games that
we had made up for one of our advisory class.
Note: This year the "yearbook" will be on DVD.
Article submitted by Rebecca King
|
|
|
Park Academy provides a college preparatory education to students with diverse learning challenges. Specializing in Dyslexia since 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
