September 2023

Hello Plato Academy Families,

As we progress through the academic year, we want to emphasize the vital role that home support plays in fostering a positive learning environment and ultimately influencing your child's academic success.

Research consistently demonstrates a strong correlation between parental involvement and student achievement. Your active engagement in your child's education significantly impacts their academic performance, motivation, and overall well-being. As a parent, you are a child's first and most influential teacher, and your encouragement and support at home can have a profound effect on their educational journey.

We would like to share some research based ways in which your involvement at home can make a huge difference:

Establishing a Structured Routine

By setting a consistent daily routine and encouraging study habits, you provide a structured environment that promotes discipline and time management skills, crucial for academic and future success.

Creating a Supportive Learning Environment

A conducive learning space at home, free from distractions, can enhance your child's concentration and focus during study sessions. Providing necessary educational resources and being available to assist with academic queries fosters a positive learning atmosphere.

Encouraging Regular Communication

Open communication between home and school is vital. Regular updates on your child's progress, attending parent-teacher meetings, and engaging with teachers help in understanding your child's strengths and areas for improvement, allowing for targeted support.

Setting Realistic Goals and Expectations

Collaboratively setting achievable academic goals with your child encourages them to strive for excellence. Recognizing their efforts and celebrating achievements, no matter how small, boosts their confidence and motivates them to excel further.

Fostering a Love for Learning

Encourage reading, exploring new interests, and engaging in educational activities beyond the classroom. Instilling a passion for learning at home encourages a lifelong love for knowledge.

We encourage you to maintain active involvement in your child's academic journey by engaging in regular conversations about their school experiences, assisting with homework and projects, and attending school events. Together, we can ensure that your child receives the support and guidance needed to thrive academically and personally. We are excited to continue this journey alongside you and your child!

Throughout Plato Academy Schools, we have implemented a system of grouping students and staff into four teams, with members actively contributing to and competing on behalf of their respective teams. The core idea behind this initiative is to foster a sense of camaraderie and unity while rewarding and recognizing positive traits and behaviors among our students. Points are awarded to students for a wide range of qualities and actions that reflect our school's values. These include demonstrating good character, achieving academic excellence, showing school spirit, delivering outstanding performances, displaying exceptional effort, emphasizing teamwork, practicing humility, expressing compassion, and taking responsibility for their actions. This approach not only encourages personal growth but also promotes a culture of mutual support and encouragement within our school community.

Get ready for an unforgettable journey from June 3 to June 17, 2024, as Plato Academy takes you on an adventure to Greece. Parents and students in Grades 6, 7, & 8 from all campuses are invited to embark on this incredible experience, exploring the rich history and beauty of Greece.

Walk in the Footsteps of Legends

Imagine standing on the Acropolis rock, gazing upon the Parthenon, and retracing the path of Alexander the Great at the ancient Olympic Games. Explore renowned archaeological sites and museums, bringing your studies to life like never before.

Dive into the Birthplace of Western Civilization

Delve into the heart of Western civilization as you visit captivating museums and savor delectable Greek cuisine. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, creating lasting memories.

Travel in Comfort and Style

Rest peacefully in handpicked, luxurious hotels designed for your comfort and relaxation. Enjoy the expertise of professional tour guides who speak English, making your journey informative and enjoyable.

Accompanied by Plato Academy

You'll be in good hands with Mrs. Fotini Angelakopoulou from Plato Academy, ensuring a safe and enriching experience.

(Click on the image to open the pdf file on box.com)

Character education is a program aimed at cultivating positive character qualities in students. The primary objective is to establish a school culture that is immersed in attributes like respect, responsibility, honesty, and self-motivation. This emphasis on character traits is intended to enhance student achievement and create a secure learning environment.

In the Commitment to Character program, a fixed curriculum is not used. Instead, a range of strategies is offered to be seamlessly integrated into the regular curriculum. This approach is marked by a deliberate and conscious emphasis on character education. The program employs various methods including a shared vocabulary (common language such as using the same character traits), seizing spontaneous teaching moments (teachable moments), engaging in community service activities (service learning), and setting examples through behavior (modeling). These strategies are applied across all subjects, ensuring that character education is woven into every facet of the curriculum.

It belongs to a series of quotes attributed to Chilon of Sparta, one of the seven sages of the ancient world. These quotes consist of just two words but are packed with meaning.

It's a pretty cool reminder that time flies, and we should make the most of it. Whether working on ourselves, chasing our goals, or just enjoying life, this quote tells us to be mindful of time slipping away and encourages us to live purposefully.

The Largo Public Library Bookmobile made a visit at Plato Academy Seminole on Tuesday, September 5th, igniting a fire of excitement for books! Students were captivated by a diverse collection of age-appropriate books as they delved into thrilling adventures and heartwarming stories.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Largo Public Library for their unwavering commitment to fostering a love for reading in our community. This visit transcended books; it was a journey into uncharted realms of imagination, sparking a lifelong appreciation for knowledge.

A profound "Thank you" to the exceptional Largo Public Library Bookmobile team for orchestrating this unforgettable experience! Your dedication to promoting literacy is truly commendable, and we eagerly await the next chapter in our literary adventure!

Greater Largo Library Foundation: https://www.gllf.org/

Bookmobile schedule: https://www.largopubliclibrary.org/boo.../schedule/index.php

Can you believe we are already more than halfway through our fall sports? Time flies! Basketball tryouts for all campuses were held last week. Please be on the lookout for the practice and game schedules if your child made the team.

Please remember, if your child is not pre-registered for tryouts for any sport, they will not be permitted to try out. Pre-registering allows the administration to check behavior and conduct as well as academic eligibility for each student prior to giving the list to the coach. It also gives us a chance to see if the numbers will support a team that season. You can find the 'Pre-Registration' form in the newsletter below titled '23 - '24 Plato Sports Information.

We are still in need of coaches for multiple sports on multiple campuses. Please visit the "Coaches Needed" newsletter below to see what needs we still have.

If you have any questions about the upcoming sports seasons, please feel free to email me at: athletics@platoacademy.net

Justin Davis

Plato Academy Schools

Athletics Director

We're happy to share that Plato Academy Tampa Charter School achieved the rank of #2 in Best Charter Elementary Schools in Tampa Area!

Photos from Grandparents' Day celebration at Plato Academy Tampa.

Grandparents Day is a heartwarming and cherished tradition that fosters a strong sense of family and community within the school. On this special occasion, grandparents are given a warm invitation to step onto the school campus and share a delightful breakfast with their beloved grandchildren. It is a day dedicated to celebrating the invaluable role that grandparents play in a child's life and acknowledging the wisdom, love, and support they bring to the family.

For the students, having their grandparents on campus is a source of immense pride and happiness. They eagerly introduce their grandparents to their friends, teachers, and the various aspects of their school life. It's an opportunity for grandparents to witness firsthand the growth and development of their grandchildren, both academically and socially. The intergenerational bond that is strengthened during Grandparents Day is a testament to the enduring love and connections within families, and it leaves a lasting impression on all who participate. In the end, Grandparents Day is more than just a breakfast; it's a celebration of family, love, and the precious moments that create lifelong memories.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As part of our ongoing commitment to provide the best resources and curriculum for your child's educational environment, we are requiring an annual Technology Fee.

In today's digital age, technology plays an integral role in education, enabling your child to explore, create, and learn in innovative ways. To ensure that this learning experience remains uninterrupted, we are implementing a nominal fee of $25 per student to cover potential damages to the school-issued laptops. This fee will be used exclusively for repairing or replacing damaged hardware, guaranteeing that your child's education continues seamlessly.

This fee ensures seamless replacement of damaged laptops to our students when devices need repair from wear and tear (keys falling off or mousepad not working) or accidental damage (closing screen on pencils, dropping) to the device. Until now, parents were asked to cover the costs of these damages as they occurred.

Parents who do not submit their Technology Fee will be responsible for covering the potentially much higher costs of hardware repair replacement in the event of damage. We strongly recommend opting for this coverage to avoid any undue financial strain in case of accidental damage to the laptop.

To enroll in the program, please fill out the following payment form and submit the $25 (non refundable) for the current school year. Your proactive participation will contribute to a worry-free and productive learning experience for your child.

We appreciate your continued support in creating a nurturing educational environment for our students. Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to your campus administration.

Thank you for entrusting Plato Academy Schools with your child's education.

Price: $25.00

The Greek signs are all set and will be going up on campus buildings soon. A big thank you to the Plato families for their generosity in making this possible!

Click the links below, find your school & leave a review on any of the platforms below then send your rating to your principal to receive a volunteer hour!

This is an anonymous form (unless you choose to leave your information) for anyone: staff, parents, guardians, or students to share any suggestions, concerns, ideas, or comments on how you think any aspect of our schools could be improved with the Plato Academy Home Office. This will always be available to you and will be reviewed regularly.

If you have a safety-related concern, you may also use the School Safety Survey.

Thank you for your support and dedication to helping Plato Academy get even better!

"...Hermes is the namesake of Hermes the Trismegistus, as the ancient Greeks called the Egyptian god Thoth, who was the inspirer of the arts and sciences, but also a writer.

Until about five years ago, he too lived among an anonymous crowd. But by a quirk of fate, or a fateful choice, or a fateful end because of by fate or fateful coincidence, he suddenly found himself in the disputed mythical world and he took up the duties of a steward in Aeolia and specifically in the palace of Zephyros who is the west wind and mediator between Hades and humans........"

Order the book and read the rest of the story.