ACE ACADEMY Seminole Place
April Newsletter
Dear ACE Academy Families,
I hope this message finds you well. As we enter the final month of the school year, I want to share important updates, celebrate recent successes, and say a heartfelt thank you for your partnership. We are grateful for your continued support in making this year meaningful for our students and staff.
Important Announcements
- Last month of school: Please note that we are in the final month of the school year. Encourage students to finish strong and check teachers’ communications for any last assignments or deadlines.
- 9th grade — Escape Room field trip: Our recent 9th grade field trip to the Escape Room last week was a great success! The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. Thank you to our CTE teachers for planning the event.
- 9th grade — Upcoming Model Rocket Launch Project: The 9th grade will soon participate in the Model Rocket Launch Project. Date, departure/return times, and permission slip details are shared below.
- Senior Celebration — May 14th: We are looking forward to celebrating our Seniors on May 14th. Please see the attached invitation for event time, location, and information.
- A special thank you: Our staff sends a heartfelt thank you to families for the many treats and meals provided throughout the year. These gestures meant so much and helped us feel supported and valued.
With appreciation,
Jay Thomas, Principal
ACE Academy parents, Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is coming up soon, May 4th! We've planned a breakfast, catered lunch, and sweets. Let's show this amazing staff some love, please sign up to contribute money or send in food items.
Thanks!
Stephanie Snider (parent of a senior)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A5A72CA0FD0-63715005-aceacademy
Calendar of Events
ACPS Calendar linked HERE
ACE Academy Events
04/24- Adobe Premier Pro Exam-Video III students
05/01- Workplace Readiness Test (10th graders)
05/14-Senior Capstone
05/15- Model Rocket Project Field Trip (9th graders)
05/18- Workplace Readiness Retest (10th graders)
Link Studio Pathway to Certification
LINK Studio: A Clear Pathway to Certification and Career Readiness
At ACE Academy, our LINK Studio pathways are designed to give students more than just classroom experience—they provide a structured, four-year journey toward industry-recognized certifications and real-world skills.
Beginning in the 26-27 school year, 9th grade, students across all pathways—Cybersecurity, Game Design, and Video & Media will take the IC3 certification, which focuses on essential computer and internet skills.
In 10th grade, all students continue developing professional skills through the Workplace Readiness certification, preparing them for success in any career setting.
As students move into 11th and 12th grade, their learning becomes more specialized:
🔐 Cybersecurity students work toward CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+, highly respected certifications in the tech industry.
🎮 Game Design students earn Unity certifications, including Certified User: Programmer and Certified Associate: Game Developer, building real skills in coding and design.
🎬 Video & Media students gain hands-on experience with industry tools, earning certifications in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects.
This pathway model ensures that students graduate not only with knowledge, but with credentials that open doors—whether they choose to enter the workforce, military, pursue college, or continue technical training.
Workplace Readiness Testing-10th Graders
Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills Assessment
Our 10th grade students will be taking the Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills Assessment on May 1st, with a retest opportunity on May 18th.
This assessment is an important step in our students’ career preparation journey. It measures essential skills that employers value, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, professionalism, and work ethic. Successfully earning this credential demonstrates that students are prepared to enter the workforce with the skills needed to succeed in a variety of career settings.
We encourage students to:
Get a good night’s sleep before testing
Arrive on time and ready to focus
Do their best and take the assessment seriously
This certification is a meaningful addition to a student’s resume and reflects the strong foundation they are building through their work at LINK Studio.
Model Rocket Project Launch Day-9th Grade Field Trip
Event: Model Rocket Project Launch Day for 9th Grade ACE Academy at Seminole Place students
Date: Friday, May 15th Time: 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM - Groups will leave from ACE Academy at 9:30 and return about 2:00.
Location: Pleasant Grove, Fluvanna County, VA
Project Description: Students will participate in a hands-on field experience where they will launch rockets they designed and created using 3D printing technology. This activity allows students to apply concepts from physics and design, while analyzing flight performance. The project emphasizes problem solving and teamwork skills in an outdoor setting
Can You Help Us???
We are in need of a few microwaves for our students to warm food during lunchtime. If you have an extra at home you can donate, we would greatly appreciate it!
Great Opportunity from one of our Community Partners, Light House Studio!
Summer Opportunity for
3rd-12th Graders at
Light House Studio here in Charlottesville
Our Featured ACE Students!
🎮GAME DESIGN🎮
What is your name, what is your pathway, and how many years have you been coming to ACE Academy?
NOAH STALFORT, GAME DESIGN, I HAVE BEEN GOING TO ACE ACADEMY FOR THREE YEARS.
Why did you decide to join ACE Academy?
I DECIDED TO ATTEND ACE ACADEMY BECAUSE I HAD AN EXSISTING INTEREST IN MY PATHWAY AND HAD HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE PROGRAMS OFFERED AT ACE ACADEMY.
What are your favorite things about being at the ACE Academy campus versus your base school campus?
I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THE HEIGHTEN FREEDOMS THAT ACE ACADEMY PROVIDES BOTH IN CURRICULIM AND IN SCHOOL LAYOUT.
What has been your most favorite thing you have created while attending ACE Academy? What project are you currently working on?
THE PROJECT I AM MOST PROUD OF CREATING AT ACE ACADEMY IS ONE OF THE GAMES I WORKED ON DURING MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, EARWIG WITH CHAINSAW. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON A SEQUEL, EARWIG DESCENT.
How does attending ACE Academy help you prepare for the future?
ACE ACADEMY HAS HELPED ME PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE BY TEACHING ME HOW TO WORK AT MY OWN PACE, WHILE STILL MEETING DEADLINES AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
What are your favorite things to do in your spare time?
DURING MY FREETIME I LIKE TO PLAY GAMES WITH MY FRIENDS. I OFTEN CHALLENGE MYSELF TO PROGRAM SMALL PROJECTS TO HELP CONTINUING TO LEARN AND DEVELOP MY SKILLS.
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💻CYBERSECURITY💻
What is your name, what is your pathway, and how many years have you been coming to ACE Academy?
EVAN MONTOYA, CYBERSECURITY, 2 YEARS
Why did you decide to join ACE Academy?
BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN THE CYBER PATHWAY.
What are your favorite things about being at the ACE Academy campus versus your base school campus?
THE OVERALL VIBE IS RELAXED, AND A LOT LESS DRAINGING.
What has been your most favorite thing you have created while attending ACE Academy?
PROBABLY AN AD I GOT TO MAKE WITH MY FRIENDS ABOUT CYBERSECUTIRY.
What project are you currently working on?
TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ABOUT ACE ACADEMY AND THE CYBERSECURITY PATHWAY.
How does attending ACE Academy help you prepare for the future?
I'M GETTING CERTAIN CERTIFICATES THAT WOULD USUALLY COST AN ARM AND A LEG FOR FREE.
What are your favorite things to do in your spare time?
I LIIKE LEARNING ABOUT OLDER LITERATURE.
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📹VIDEO & MEDIA TECHNOLOGY📹
What is your name, what is your pathway, and how many years have you been coming to ACE Academy?
MADELYN DESAUTEL, 1ST YEAR STUDENT AND ENTERING THE VIDEO AND MEDIA PATHWAY.
Why did you decide to join ACE Academy?
BECAUSE I LOVE ANIMATION AND MUSIC PRODUCATION. IT ALLOWS ME TO PURSUE THE TWO AREAD THAT I LOVE. MY BROTHER ALSO ATTENDED ACE ACADEMY. brother also attended ACE Academy.
What are your favorite things about being at the ACE Academy campus versus your base school campus?
IT IS QUIETER, THE TEACHERS ARE CHILL, AND I CAN LISTEN TO MUSIC. I FEEL A SENSE OF MORE FREEDOM AND TRUST FROM MY TEACHERS.
What has been your most favorite thing you have created while attending ACE Academy?
I REALLY LIKED DOING A PHYSICS PROJECT THAT ALLOWED ME TO TURN MUSIC INTO ART.
What project are you currently working on?
I AM WORKING ON EDITING A COMMERCIAL FOR ACE ACADEMY, 2.0.
How does attending ACE Academy help you prepare for the future?
IT HAS REALLY HELPED ME TO MEET NEW FRIENDS, AND TO TAKE COURSES IN SOMETHING I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT DOING.
What are your favorite things to do in your spare time?
READ! PLAY THE PIANO! WRITE MUSIC! CROCHET!
Group: CENTER 1 FAMILIES
April ELA Update (Travis)
12th Grade:
In English 12, students are reading and critically analyzing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Through a variety of small and whole group discussions, annotations of the text, and independent writing assignments students are analyzing the structure, craft, and literary techniques used in the novel.
11th Grade:
In English 11, students are reading the novel We Are Not Free, by Traci Chee, about Japanese-American teenagers in internment camps during WWII. Students are exploring the historical events the novel is based on and analyzing the literary elements and techniques employed by the author through a variety of discussions, writing activities, and SOL-style review questions.
10th Grade:
In English 10, students are reading Trevor Noah’s memoir, Born a Crime. Students are analyzing the literary elements and techniques, especially Trevor’s use of satire when recounting serious events, through small group discussions and independent writing activities. Students are also working on their own memoirs or short stories, writing in the same humorous style as Trevor Noah.
World Geography
This month, Dr. Mound's World Geography completed their study of Europe. Building on the foundational knowledge of the physical and human geography of Europe laid in previous lessons, students delved into the cultural geography of Europe, with a special focus on religion — including how schisms within Christianity have shaped modern Europe by using "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland as a case study. Since completing its study of Europe, the class has moved on to North Africa and Southwest Asia (aka "The Middle East"). World Geography students also played a review vocabulary game, winning prizes including candy, novelty socks, and Airpods.
U.S. History
This month, Dr. Mound's U.S. History students completed the project for their previous lesson on popular music and the post-WWII "generation gap." The project gave students the option of creating a "family tree" for a genre, sub-genre, or artist from any era; creating a track using samples from at least four songs from a genre or sub-genre; selecting an album they haven't heard from the pivotal years from '65 to '75 and writing a press release for that album; or creating a short documentary video tracing a sample from the original release through at least four songs that sample it. They've now moved on to studying "Jim Crow" laws, the Civil Rights Movement, "Massive Resistance" to integration, and the "racial realignment" in the parties' coalitions that took place between the end of the Civil War and the middle of the 20th Century.
Government
This month, Dr. Mound's Government completed Mr. Lyon's unit on the Executive Branch. Now, they've begun looking at how governments attempt to use policy to limit conflict and create positive-sum outcomes. As an entry point into this unit, students played a game based on the "Prisoner's Dilemma." Students were broken into two groups. Each had to decide whether to cooperate or defect each round, based on a predetermined set of scoring rules, without being able to communicate with the other group. Since the ultimate goal of the game was to understand how individually rational decisions can make everyone worse off, both teams won prizes including candy, novelty socks, and Airpods.
Physics
Physics has started their Electricity unit! Students used hand crank generators to build small electircal circuits and will be gradually increasing the complexity and the month goes on. Mr. Bertram
April Cyber & IT Fundamentals Update
IT Fundamentals
The IT Fundamentals pathway has now been split based on student interest, allowing for more targeted, career-focused learning experiences.
Cybersecurity Pathway Students:
Students are now applying their skills in a more structured cybersecurity workflow by completing a Capture The Flag (CTF) journal using picoCTF challenges. Each student is documenting their problem-solving process, tools used, and key takeaways as they work through real-world style security puzzles.Cybersecurity I
Cyber 1 students are moving deeper into the world of reconnaissance and network discovery.
Students are learning both passive and active reconnaissance techniques, developing an understanding of how attackers (and defenders) gather information about systems. Hands-on labs are reinforcing key tools and concepts, including:
WHOIS domain lookups
DNS analysis and queries
Network scanning using Nmap
These activities are helping students connect networking fundamentals to real-world cybersecurity investigations and threat analysis.
Cybersecurity II: Network Operations
Cyber 2 students are continuing their focus on professional IT governance and operational security, while also beginning certification exam preparation.
Key focus areas include:
IT plans, procedures, and organizational policies
Incident response review and scenario analysis
Continued development of student-created security documentation
Students are also now actively preparing for their upcoming certification exam, reviewing core concepts and practicing exam-style questions to strengthen readiness.
Cybersecurity III
Cyber 3 students are in the final stretch of their certification journey.
Security+ Exam Preparation:
The class is fully focused on final review for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. Students are identifying knowledge gaps, completing timed practice exams, and reinforcing key domains including threats, architecture, implementation, and operations.
Video Media & Technology
March Video & Media Technology Update
April Video & Media Technology Update
IT Fundamentals
The IT Fundamentals pathway has now been split based on student interest, allowing for more targeted, career-focused learning experiences.
Video & Media Tech. Pathway Students:
Students in the Video & Media pathway created social media videos promoting Link Studios. They completed all three phases of the production process, including pre-production (planning and voiceover writing), production, and post-production (editing). In addition, our partners from Lighthouse Studio visited. 9th grade students will wrap up their time with Mr. Berry by creating a short narrative project.
Video & Media Tech. I
Students in Video & Media Technology I have been working off-campus with our partners at the Music Resource Center (MRC), where they are learning about audio production. They are exploring the science behind audio equipment and gaining hands-on experience recording and editing using a Digital Audio Workstation.
Video & Media Tech. II
This course is currently closed.
Video & Media Tech. III
Students in Video & Media Technology III are using their music recordings that they worked on from the MRC to create music videos. Working in a group, they have planned, prepared, cast, and directed their music video. They are also continuing to build their skills in Adobe Premiere Pro with the music video project in order to prepare for their certification exam on Friday April 24.
Senior Capstone
Students working on their Senior Capstone projects are in the final stages of completion and are preparing to showcase their work to family, friends, and community partners. Students who opted not to continue their capstone project are working on their rough drafts for the research paper assignment.
Game Design 1
Students have been working on their own 2D game for their final project. Genre and style is completely up to them
Game Design 2
Students have wrapped up programming lessons and have started their 3D finals.
Visual Digitization
Students are working on a 30 second animation complete with voiceover for their finals project in this class.
Dear Families,
If you would like the option for us to administer medications to your student, we need a signed copy of the medication release form. Please have you student pick up a form from the nurses office or you may print off the attached form. Parents will need to provide medication with students name and DOB on bottle . ~Zina
Dear Families,
We’d like to share a list of local community resources that offer support in a variety of areas, including mental health services, food and housing assistance, and opportunities to give back through donations or volunteering. We know that everyone’s needs—and ways of supporting others—are unique, and we hope these resources are helpful for you or someone you know.
Help Happens Here- Mental health services
Street Sheet Resources for Charlottesville and Albemarle-
Comprehensive list for all kinds of resources