From the Principal's Desk

Greetings FWAFA Family,

As we embark on our last week before Thanksgiving Break, I want to take a moment to tell you how grateful I am to be part of this amazing community, and I want to say thank you.

Thank you to our awesome students who show up each day enthusiastic, smiling, and ready to learn. Your spark is contagious to me.

Thank you to our rock star teachers and staff who are the smartest, most hard working, and nurturing group of educators that I have ever worked with. Your passion is my inspiration.

Thank you to our supportive families and community friends who read this newsletter, watch coffee talk, come to our performances, volunteer in our classrooms, and stand in the wings cheering us on. Your kindness means the world to me.

Thank you!

Just a few notes for this week too.

If you are having trouble accessing Ascender Parent Portal, the link has changed. To access the new link, go to Artsacademics.org and then click on FWAFA Portal. You can then bookmark this new link.

Also, parent and medical notes for unexcused absences must be submitted to the main office within 3 days after the absence.

Lastly, Ms. VanDyck, Ms. Smithley and I will be hosting Middle School and High School Preview Night for our current 6th graders and 8th graders tomorrow evening. The 6th grade session will start at 6:00 p.m. and the 8th grade session will start at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. We will talk about the curriculum, class options, and culture of middle school and high school.

Hope that you and yours have a fun, relaxing, recharging holiday break.

Creatively yours,

Dr. Jackson

For the past two grading cycles students have learned the important role of the playwright and attempted to write their own monologues and scenes. Students progressed through the production process from learning lines, developing a character, adding movements, and then completing with a demonstration in class.

We recorded this demonstration for your family to enjoy at home; however, we treated it like we had a live audience. Students should be very proud of this introductory demonstration and acting experience.

Today’s video is a demonstration of skills learned over a unit of study. Students were assessed in their understanding of the role of a playwright, and acting techniques; however, we do not consider this a polished performance. We hope to achieve that experience next semester and plan to invite you to a live theatrical performance.

Sit back, relax and enjoy our Future Playwright Demonstration.

Please click here for the Red Day 5th & 6th-grade Future Playwright Demonstration.

Please click here for the Blue Day 5th & 6th-grade Future Playwright Demonstration

https://www.artsacademics.org/live/

We are currently distributing Chromebooks to all high school students. If you do not have your own laptop, please complete the Technology Loan form that was emailed to you through JupiterEd and turn it into the main office. We will start distributing to other grade levels (7th and up) in the next weeks while supplies last.

Photo proofs came home last week. They were passed out in your child’s English class.

Please make sure that you ask your child about them so you can get them and they don’t get lost.

There are 3 ways for you to order: You can order via Venmo, order online using the unique access id on the proof, or you can include payment info in the paper proof envelope.

Your child must return the paper proof back with their preferred yearbook picture checked off or circled in order to have a say of what picture they want in the yearbook. Also, returning the paper proof is the ONLY way they can get their school ID.

Orders and proofs are due by November 18th. They can turn them into their English teachers, the office, or to me.

The names that are on the proofs will be the name that will be listed in the yearbook. I took the names from the official roster through Ascender. If there are any issues with the name listed, please make the change on the proof or you can email Ryan Wiggins, and she will make note of what needs to be changed.

Thank you and if you have any questions, please reach out to ryan.wiggins@fwafa.org.

Thanks in advance for your orders and help getting the proofs returned.

November 16 Blood Drive Sign-Up Link:

https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

If you would like to contribute to the PTSO Thankful Loaves on November 17, sign up here.

Joy in the Journey Tickets: https://bit.ly/fwafaJITJ

Due to the limited capacity of the event, tickets will not be sold at the door.

Celebrate the Season Tickets: https://bit.ly/FWAFAwcc21

There's Still My Joy Tickets: https://bit.ly/SGTwinter21

If your student is tardy or absent, please send notes to attendance@fwafa.org. Also, a student needs to bring in a doctor or parent note within 3 days after the absence.

Ascender Parent Portal

Need to submit an attendance note?

attendance@fwafa.org

TCA+A Covid-19 Information Center

Tuesday, November 16 - School Spelling Bee, Current 6th Graders Middle School Preview Night at 6:00 p.m., Current 8th Graders High School Preview Night at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 17 - PTSO Thankful Loaves

Monday, November 22 - Friday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Break

Wednesday, December 1 - Prospective Parent Tour at 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 2 - Prospective Family Virtual Open House at 6:30 p.m.; Christmas with TBC at St. Thomas Aquinas in Dallas at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 3 - Joy in the Journey Immersive Experience

Monday, December 6 - Christmas with TBC at Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Dallas

Tuesday, December 7 - Algebra End-of-Course Re-Test

Wednesday, December 8 - Progress Reports distributed during 8th period, Biology End-of-Course Re-Test; Mary K. Craig Class Performance

Thursday, December 9 - Elementary Winter Choir Concert, English I & English II End-of-Course Re-Test

Monday, December 13 - Middle School and High School Even Day Schedule

Tuesday, December 14 - Christmas with TBC at Arborlawn in Fort Worth

Wednesday, December 15 - Final Exams for High School during 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th periods

Thursday, December 16 - Final Exams for High School during 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th periods

November 8

October 25

October 18

October 12

October 4

September 27

September 20

September 13

September 7

August 30

August 23

August 16

August 14

August 9

August 2

July 16