P ATRIOT P RESS - Building a Tradition of …

1 P ATRIOT P ress Patriot Oaks Academy Newsletter September 16, 2016 The In This Issue: Broadcom Masters Semifinalist Caf Volunteers Needed Hurricane Makeup Day 10/17 POA Athletics Fundraisers Middle School Planners Still Available Book Fair K-2 Open House Rescheduled INK Fundraisers Volleyball Schedule Artsy Barn En Pointe Dance Class Walk to School Day Bike Safety Counselor Corner Art News STEAM Fair Dear Families, In an effort to help alleviate the traffic in our student drop off and pick up line, we are practicing some new bus changes. Ultimately, we are hoping that these new changes will open up the current bus loop as a secondary pickup and drop off area. Step 1: Move the buses Starting Monday, September 19th, the Central Receiving parking area will become the staging area for our bus loop. Students will be directed through the back of the campus as they arrive and enter the main Building through the Villa doors.

2 We will have staff on hand to help direct students as the students are dropped off. During the day Monday, we will be calling down the bus students to quickly conduct a practice run for where bus students will go in the afternoon. Parking: All parking in central receiving will no longer be used. This means that there will be additional cars in the Islesbrook parking lot. Step 2: Assess the process After we have worked through this process, we will identify needs to move forward safely with rerouting traffic from Islesbrook. Step 3: Communicate progress and next steps We will communicate our next steps as we move forward with our plans. Again, this is the first step in our plan to open up a second Parent Pick up line. We are moving forward with small steps to ensure that it is done in a correct and safe manner. Thank you, Mr. Stoddard Building a Tradition of Excellence, Together! GO CHARGERS!

3 Principal s Post Visible Learning for Parents! Student-led learning occurs when students know where they are in their learning journey and can express what they need to make learning personal. Please ask your child to name a few of their his/her academic and personal interest goals. Then ask your child what resources are needed and how he/she will know when he/she is successful. Support POA Athletics! As the school year is well underway, it is time for our annual POA Athletics Fundraiser. We are searching for anyone in our community interested in helping us fundraise for our athletic program, by advertising for a personal or local business. How it works: Around our Gymnasium we cover sound-proof wall tiles with large advertising boards. What you get: A personal 4 x 4 board to advertise your business on our gymnasium wall for all POA athletic events, and a spot on the back of warm-up jerseys with your business logo. Cost: $250 for the entire year, and only $200 for any year after that you choose to renew Questions: Contact Athletic Director Josh Torr at Congratulations to the following students who have qualified as semi-finalists in the Broadcom Masters.

4 This is a very select group of young men and women, the approximate top 10% of students in the country. The sixth annual Broadcom MASTERS semifinalists are the top 300 middle school students competing for a trip to Washington, and the $25,000 Samueli Prize. St. Johns County is honored to have three semi-finalists in this prestigious competition. TJ Kaminsky, Ponte Vedra High School, from Landrum Middle Virginia Peery, Nease High School, from Fruit Cove Middle Rishabh Singh, Nease High School, from Patriot Oaks Academy CHANGE IN SCHOOL CALENDAR: The School Board agreed by consensus to utilize October 17, designated on the calendar as a teacher planning day, as the makeup day for Friday, Sept 2. Our district has designated six makeup days, and this is the next on the list.

5 Therefore, October 17 will NOT be a student holiday but rather a regular school day. Our POA Athletic Department is partnering with Creekside High School for an athletics fundraiser. We are selling t-shirts that get POA students into CHS home football games for free (with an accompanied parent ticket purchase). The t-shirt design is attached to this email, and can be purchased here: The deadline on shirt orders is September 21. SAVE THE DATE! Our Fall Book Fair will be held from Sept 30 to Oct 7 In the Multipurpose Room. We have about 140 planners left for middle school students. Students can send $8 to the PTO with their name, homeroom and the word PLANNER written on it and it will be delivered to the classroom. Looking for a way to help out at school? We are in need of volunteers to work in the cafeteria during all lunches. To sign up go to: K-2nd Open House Has Been Rescheduled!

6 Thurs, Oct 6th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm The Artsy Barn is opening its doors and is looking for some crafty and creative 1st through 5th grade girls to come on in and join the fun! Please email Catie Grimes at for more info. @patriot oaks VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE Girls at 5:30 pm, Boys at 6:30 pm Mon., Sept. 19: Home vs SMS Weds., Sept. 21: Away vs LMS Mon., Sept. 26: Home vs MMS Weds., Sept. 28: Away vs LPA Mon., Oct. 3: Away vs PBMS Weds., Oct. 5: Home vs GRMS Mon., Oct. 10: Home vs VRA Playoffs TBD Extended Day Classes - Our classes Patriot Oaks Academy have started and we are excited to be offering classes again this year. For information on our extended day dance, please email or call (904) 679-3889. Some classes still have a few spaces available.

7 Join the 20th Walk to School Day Celebration on October 5! For more information go to: Bicycle Safety If your child rides a bicycle to or from school, Florida law requires that he/she wear a helmet (s ) Please talk with your child about following bike safety rules and procedures. Remember, wearing a helmet isn t just a school rule, it s the law! Bicyclist must ride as far to the right as possible Walk your bike across intersection. Look both ways before crossing the street Always wear your helmet For more information visit.