RECOGNITIONS

Linguapalooza Language Contest 

Form Arabic Language Department

 

We all have different dreams and different goals to reach.  So, we continually look for opportunities where our students can build upon their unique abilities, values, passions, and responsibilities.  We keep looking for situations that enable them to take risks, and step in safely into the" unexpected" so that they overcome their fears and discover they can do more than they think they can.  Eight of our wonderful middle school students (non-native speakers) did just that by participating in the annual Linguapalooza Language contest this past Saturday at Webb bridge Middle School.

 

During the event, Amana students were able to meet other students from different area middle schools while showcasing Arabic beyond our classrooms.  They expressed themselves orally, answering detailed questions and describing pictures in Modern Standard Arabic.

 

"It was easy! I forgot what winter in Arabic is, I loved talking about the weather"!  "I knew my verbs", are some of the comments mentioned by our students when they finished their rounds.  And the best of all was, "I enjoyed this experience"!

 

Amana students know that in order to succeed in life, they have to accept challenges.  They know by now that success is often preceded by failure, an equation that motivates them to do better and push forward.  Yes, they were anxious, still the Expeditionary Learning embodied principle of "Collaboration and Competition" kept them smiling and proud and the end result was top honors (first place awardees pictured above).  They did their very best and we are all proud of them.  On behalf of the entire Arabic Department, keep up the great work middle school students!!!

Amana's Dynamic Robotics Team Shines

Amana's Robotics Club enjoyed a banner year!  At the start of this competition season, our three, new Robotics teams kicked off the school year by competing in a laser tag activity and visiting a nearby senior citizen facility.  During their visit to the senior facility, each team member bonded with a senior mentor and learned a lot about the challenges that seniors face as they try to remain active in their community.  Students used what they learned from this powerful experience to design creative solutions to these challenges.

Most recently, Amana students participated in the GA First Lego League Tournament at Walton High School in December 2012 with the help of our Robotics Crew members, Mrs. Barnett, Ms. McNeil, and Mr. Kitchen.  As part of the competition, students designed, built, and programmed robots that could complete a desired mission.  The students presented their design to the product judges and other competing teams as part of a "robot mission round".  This activity culminated a fun, productive and action packed year for our Robotics Team members.  Congratulations, Amana Robotics team, on such amazing accomplishments.  We can't wait for the designs you come up with next year!

Junior Lego Robotics Team Invited to Fulton County Competition

Congratulations are also in order for the Amana Junior Lego Robotics team!   The team recently competed in the Fulton County Technology Fair Robotics Competition this past Saturday.   Our team, comprised of eight KG - 3rd grade students, performed very well against older students from across the county in the 3rd - 4th grade category.   These young engineers have been meeting Wednesdays since early October to research, design and build a robotic foot wash to help the physically challenged to safely wash their feet.

The team members by grade are:  Sebastian Bazan, Jake Dean, Ja'Far Alexander, Omar Imam, Yusuf Budeir, Joe Dean, Andrew Kaminski and Sam Glotzbach.

 Andrew Kaminski and Sam Glotzbach (pictured left) represented the team at the competition and showed great focus and poise during judging. 

Our Faculty and Staff Thanks You Parents!  

The relationship Amana parents have with our hard working teachers and staff members was beautifully displayed during the winter Teacher Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by our Amana Partners in Education (PIE).  There were a variety of delectable homemade goodies and an abundance of love and heartfelt effort was evident in the tiniest details.  From fresh flowers to aromatic candles, no effort was spared to make this the highlight of the first semester.

Amana faculty and staff members very much appreciated the fabulous luncheon provided by our parents!  

  

Mr. Ehab Jaleel Recognized by Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa     

During the December 13, 2012 Fulton County Schools monthly Principals' Meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa presented our Executive Director, Mr. Ehab Jaleel, with the coveted "Game Ball" recognition for service and leadership.  

You can read Ms. Stowell's nomination and more about the event by clicking HERE.    

Maria Zulfiqar Inspires Through Great Writing!   

Belated congratulations are in order for 7th grade student, Maria Zulfiqar, for winning at the Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War Writing Contest.  The contest was sponsored by the Fulton County Library System and took place on November 10, 2012.   We are so proud of you Maria!  Great job! 

LEARNING SNAPSHOTS

12 Powerful Words  

Special Guests Attend Fall Celebration of Learning Showcase   

 

Amana has long been known for its creative and informative showcases.  These "Celebrations of Learning", as Expeditionary Learning calls them, culminate weeks of rigorous instruction, case studies, field and service related work, and are replete with evidence that our students are not only learning, but that they are active participants in the learning process.  First semester's expeditions were no exception.  We were honored at the December showcase to host the Honorable Jere Woods, Mayor of Roswell, and Mr. Tony Roberts, CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association.  Both were highly impressed with the culminating products students presented, especially those that involved service to the community.  Please read below to get more insight into the types of projects our learning expeditions entailed.   

  

  

First semester's expeditions embodied the core learning practices that drive us as a school and as a learning community.  By following our guiding principles of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, Culture, Character, and Leadership, we learned about ourselves, our community, and our world.

  

Fall semester's investigations took our students out of the classroom and into the community where they learned about situations that affect not only our local neighbors, but our global neighbors as well. We explored ways we can make the world a better place through personal service in our communities and globally.  Our Eighth Grade students investigated solutions for homelessness in our city.  Employing the principles of matter, physics and chemistry, our Eight Graders partnered with "Madhousers" to design and build a structure that would serve to house homeless individuals in Metro Atlanta.  Reaching far outside of our community, our Seventh Grade students explored opportunities to assist our neighbors in emerging nations by investigating ways to eradicate diseases such as malaria, as well as exploring socioeconomic challenges facing these nations and proposed solutions.  Next, as global change makers, our Sixth Grade students studied the effects of pollution on our neighboring Southern nations and how they can be catalysts for change.  Through an investigative study at the Southface Corporation, our Sixth Graders integrated science and technology to investigate ways of creating cleaner air and explored solutions to world environmental problems.

  

Fifth Grade students investigated why Hemlock trees are dying along the Appalachia mountains.  Their overnight field study to the Wasega 4-H Center provided the background fieldwork information they needed to devise their solutions to this problem.  They took their investigations outdoors and learned how our Hemlocks are being threatened due to invading insect populations and explored ways to stop the invaders.  Our Fourth Graders went back in time and explored the roots of our economy from early colonial times and learned how the needs of the colonists impacted and shaped the colonies.  They also learned about the modern challenges faced by today's farmers and explored possible solutions to those challenges.

  

As "Voices for Change", our Third Graders learned how we could demonstrate social compassion through a school-wide food drive that benefited the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  Our Second Grade students showed us that "People Matter" by responding to the recent devastation on the East Coast and organized a successful humanitarian bake sale that raised funds to help the Red Cross assist victims of Hurricane Sandy.     

  

Our First Graders studied examples of real-life heroes and "game-changers" that made a difference in the world around them and our Kindergarteners celebrated our differences, acknowledged our similarities, and, in doing so, learned that in working together we can create a stronger community.  Our Kindergarten students impressed us with their understanding of symbols with their expedition.  As a result of these expeditions, our Amana community came away with the understanding that we can all be heroes and we learned what our world can look like when heroism is put into practice. 

 

Congratulations to all our students for a job well done.   We are looking forward to another rich learning experience this semester.   

ANNOUNCEMENTS / REMINDERS

Summer Enrichment for Students    

 

 

Fundamental to Amana's charter is the belief that ALL children are "gifted" and possess unique learning differences.  Our Talented & Gifted (TAG) program teachers have identified enrichment activities your children can take advantage of over the summer (many are open to students without TAG designation).  Spaces fill fast, so be sure to check out these opportunities by downloading the attached schedule of programs.

 

CLICK HERE to Download Listing 

$10,000 done, the next $40,000 Should Be "a Piece of Cake"..    

Our goal for the 2012 - 2013 Annual Fund is $50,000, and we have already collected close to $10,000 - THANK YOU!  As you know, Amana does not receive funding for facilities capital expenses from Fulton County Schools, which must be covered out of our normal operating budget.  This creates a 17% funding gap which we try to bridge by running a leaner organization, seeking grants, and staging the Annual Fund. 

This year, donations made to the Annual Fund will be used for: (a) providing teachers with valuable Talented And Gifted (TAG) instructional training that will benefit ALL Amana students; (b) purchasing additional furniture for our elementary classrooms such as cubbies and backpack hooks; and (c) securing additional instructional classroom technology.  

We will again partner with the Verizon Foundation to host our Annual Verizon Fun Walk on March 23rd where they will match donations up to $10,000.  We also hope to announce another matching challenge in the coming month with another company.  Don't forget, your employer may be a matching company.  Amana Academy is a 501c3 non-profit organization and your and your family and friends donations are tax deductible.     

CLICK HERE  to make a donation today!  No donation is too small.  We appreciate whatever you can give!

Seventh Grade TEDx Speaker Advocates for Safer Head Protection for Athletes 

Ms. Annunziata , 1st grade teacher Amana Academy  andOrganizer for TEDxAmanaAcademy 

On November 17, 2012, Amana Academy staged its first-ever live TEDx event with a theme of "Be the Change!"  It was an amazing program with impressive speakers from across all grade levels.  You can check out Amana's speeches and information about the speakers by click on the following link: 

http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/7027.

 
Thank you to the following speakers:

Garret Scislowicz (grade 4); Ry Koopman (grade 7); Daniyal Khan (grade 6); Fatma Elassar Elassar (grade 6); Rashid Arafath (grade 1); Ehab Jaleel (grade "don't ask":)

 

Here is one speaker who wants to save lives with better headgear...

Ry Koopman is a seventh grader at Amana Academy and a very well spoken young man.  During our first TEDxAmanaAcademy workshop, he shared with us that he wanted to do his talk on CTE brain injuries and the fact that there is not a law protecting young athletes in the state of GA.   He connected his talk with the EL Design Principles Responsibility for Learning as well as Service and Compassion.  After a tremendous amount of research and many, many revisions, Ry was ready to give his talk.  Ry's video is now up on our TED.com profile http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/7027 .

There are a lot of former and current NFL players suing the corporation for not doing more to protect the professional athletes.  I am shocked to see such an uproar for professionals and seemingly no concern for the young students who idolize them.  As you will learn from Ry, Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) isn't limited to just football.  If you have a son or daughter that loves to play sports, then you owe it to them to listen to Ry's talk.  His passion for getting a law passed in Georgia will not only move you to action, but it will make you think twice about full-contact sports.  After hearing Ry speak, we are fairly certain that one voice really can make a difference!  How will you use your voice to create a positive change in your community?

BEHIND THE SCENES

CONNECT WITH US 

Are you good with editing articles and playing with publishing tools?  Do you have experience with photo editors, or with ConstantContact?  If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, and you are able to devote a few hours a month [from the comfort of your home], then please consider joining the small, but dedicated, publishing team that produces this e-newsletter.  Send a message to Mr. Jaleel at ejaleel@amanaacademy.org with the subject line "Sign me up for the Amana Journal!" 

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher directly, or any one of our Administrative team members.  If your question was not addressed, then feel free to contact our Governing Board.  Amana's main number is (678) 624-0989 and you may also find email contact information for all of our staff by visiting the Amana Staff Directory.

On behalf of the Governing Board, the Amana faculty and staff, and the school Administration, thank you for entrusting your child's education to us.  With your continued support, we will continue to mold the very best and brightest global leaders!