The Blast

SPARK Academy Newsletter - September 2, 2022

Mission to the Moon

Did you know our third graders are in training for an imaginary mission to the Moon as part of the SPARK Academy Astronaut Training Program? They even have photos in astronaut jump suits next to the American flag, just like real astronauts! This training makes the Artemis I launch extra special for our students. The even better news is that the learning does not stop with third grade, all students have been learning all about the Space Launch System (SLS) at SPARK over the past few weeks. Mrs. Pierce has been teaching lessons on how to draw the SLS, and she gave our students stickers from NASA. In the SPARK lab, they have learned all about how NASA is using the engineering design process to troubleshoot problems.

You have an amazing opportunity to watch history in the making this weekend! If everything goes well, the Artemis I rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral Saturday at 1:17 p.m. This is the first test launch of the new Space Launch System, or SLS, as NASA prepares to send humans back to the Moon! You can watch it online at bit.ly/ArtemisNASA or on NASA TV. This is a great opportunity to spend time with your child and extend school learning at home. Ask your student what details they know about the mission. They know all about the crew (there isn't one) and how the rocket will break apart in stages during the launch. We are all very excited for the historic mission!

Thanks to Mrs. Kennedy for providing the information in this message. There are lots of other great things taking place in SPARK lab. Check out the pictures below from classes this week.

zoom_out_map

PTO Corner - SPARK T-Shirts Coming Soon!

zoom_out_map

SPARK grade level t-shirts will be on sale September 6-15. Look for order forms in your child's papers next week. The t-shirt design is pictured here.

PTO Reminders:

Don't forget to send in your party money. Each student is asked to bring in $8 to help cover the cost of our Halloween and Christmas parties. Please send cash in a sealed envelope labeled "Party Money" as soon as possible.
Join the PTO Facebook group. PTO members can get updates through the PTO page. Just search for the SPARK PTO group and request to join.

SPARK PTO Officers:

Casey Bearden, president

Nancy Hipolito, vice president

Kelly Nave, secretary

Riley Greene, treasurer

Artemis I Art

Important Dates

September 5: Labor Day Holiday (no school)

September 11: Grandparents Day

September 16: Health Heroes flue vaccines for kids (students must have signed forms to participate)

September 23: Professional Learning Day/No school for students

October 4: 2nd Grade field trip to Cathedral Caverns

October 10-14 : Fall Break

October 19: Reports go home for first 9-week grading period

October 27: Kindergarten field trip to Birmingham Zoo

October 31: Halloween party at 1:45

Attendance Matters!

zoom_out_map

Our students spend the entire day learning, so having them here on time and avoiding checkouts is extremely important. Here are some general reminders to help support good attendance for your child:

Our school day is 7:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.
Parents should bring students who arrive late to the office to check them in.
Check-outs are conducted through the office.
Any missed school will be categorized as an excused absence, excused tardy, unexcused absence, or unexcused tardy.
Excessive absences and tardies will subject the student and parent to truancy policies and procedures

Read the full attendance policy for Athens City Schools here:

Student-Parent Handbook Grades PreK - 5

Student-Parent Handbook Pre-K - 5 (Spanish)