Wild West West this week

Parents,

What an exciting week for our upper school students!    Welcome to the Wild, Wild West Homecoming.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are homecoming dress up days.  Students are encouraged to show their school spirit and dress up each day (within dress code regulations, of course). 

Wednesday is USA Day

Thursday is Senior Citizen Day
Friday is Wild Wild West or Spirit Day

Friday’s school-wide homecoming assembly will begin at 2:15 pm in the Hugg Gymnasium.

Friday’s game against Bauxite will begin at 7:00 pm.  Homecoming court presentation will begin around 6:40 pm.  Halftime show will include the band and spirit squads performing.

The homecoming festivities will continue on Saturday.  The Wild Night in the Wild West will be from 9 pm until midnight in the Murphy Theater and Meyer Student Pavilion Area.  We have worked hard to design a festival type atmosphere.  There will be areas for games, dancing, karaoke, and pictures with Melisa Smock.  The cost is $6 per person or $10 per couple. ALL US students are invited to attend with or without a date. 

Homecoming t-shirts are here. See a Student Council member or go to WL101. Cost is $15.00 and the supply is limited!

See you at the game on Friday night!

Alecia Castleberry

Back to School is Almost Here!

Parents,

I cannot believe how the summer has flown by!  I am so excited about seeing your kids next week.  This is my favorite time of year (except for the heat).  I love the start of a new school year.  Everyone is so excited to be back, catch up with their friends, stay on task with their homework, etc.  It’s such a fun time.  You can sense the energy and excitement in the student body those first few weeks. 

For those of you visiting my blog for the first time, you can create and Google account and become a follower.  If you don’t want to do that, you can just check the blog about once a week.  I try to post weekly. 

First let me tell you how well attended our parent informational meetings have been thus far.  I know that some of you are still on vacation, so I will be sending out grade level emails with the handouts attached.  Please reply to my email me with any questions.

Many of you have asked about school supply lists.  Our kids take so many different classes in upper school that it is hard to come up with a “grade level supply list”.  So instruct your student to bring their textbook, notebook and something to write with on the first day.  Their teachers will give them further information during the first class meeting.

This Sunday from 3-4:30 is our New Family Orientation.  I am thrilled to be welcoming so many new families and new students to our community.  Also the Monday before school, the juniors will be getting together for brunch in the Murphy Theater.  The seniors will be gathering for a lunch in the same location around noon.  Your junior or senior should be receiving notification about those events from their class officers. 

That’s all the information I have for now.  Until my next update………..

Alecia Castleberry

June Update

Hello Arkansas Summer and Heat!

I hope everyone is enjoying the break from school.  The rain yesterday was a nice change.  Today it is back to heat and humidity.

I don’t know about you, but I have caught up on my stack of books to read and pool time.  I wanted to mention a few things before time gets away from me. 

1.      Summer reading information is on Edline.  PLEASE don’t let that slip your student’s mind.  I know many of the kids start on their summer reading in July.  Be sure to have them check Edline for their class assignments.

2.      I have two different community service opportunities. 

a.     Pulaski Academy is Hosting a Senior High and Junior High basketball team camp July 6^th , 7^th and 8^th. Students interested in keeping the game clock or keeping the gate and hosting visiting teams to our campus can earn community service hours. We have work times available at both gyms from 9:30am- 8pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please contact Coach Brad Wood at brad.wood@pulaskiacademy.org to sign up for a time slot.

b.    The CARTI Foundation is looking for one or two students who have pretty handwriting to help hand address some invitations.  The invitations should be ready this Friday.  If anyone has some time, please email me Jennifer McConser at jmcconser@carti.com.  Please tell her that I referred your student to her.  

Talk to you soon!

Alecia Castleberry

Exam Week

Exam week is here!   We made it!  Summer is just around the corner.  Our students just need to focus for FOUR MORE DAYS. 

What an amazing soccer game on Friday.  I believe that was the wettest sporting event I have ever attended, but I loved it.  I am so proud of our girls.  Way to go Lady Bruins!

A few of you have sent me pictures of spring sports.  I am working on a slide show to put on my next blog post.  I will try to have that completed for next week.

We will have breakfast for sale the next few days.  The best way to take an exam is with a good night of sleep and a great breakfast.  See the prices and items below.  These items will be available from 9:30-10:30 am during exam days. 

Breakfast Specials @ Basketball Gym Concessions

Exam Week (May 23 – 26)

Breakfast Burrito $1.50

Scrambled Egg, Bacon and Cheddar Cheese in a Flour Tortilla

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit $1.75

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit $1.75

Spicy Chicken Biscuit $2.00

Spicy Breaded Chicken Patty on Southern Style Biscuit

Bruin Biscuit $3.25

Sausage, Bacon, Spicy Chicken Patty & Cheese on Southern Biscuit

Add egg patty $0.75

Ham & Cheese Croissant $2.00

Deluxe Ham with American Cheese on a 3 oz Croissant

Biscuit & Jelly (or Honey) $1.00

Yogurt $1.00

Yogurt Parfait $1.50

With Fruit & Granola

Fresh Fruit $1.00

Choose from Apples, Bananas, or Oranges

Breakfast Bars $1.00

Nutri Grain, Fig Newton, Granola Bars, etc)

Milk or Juice $0.50

Bottled Water $1.00

Other drinks available (soft drinks, Lifewater, bottled Mocha, etc.)

Tune in again!

Alecia

Review Week and Bruin Girls Soccer!

Go Bruin Girls Soccer!  State Championship Game is on Friday at 2:00 pm at the Fayetteville Soccer Stadium. 

I have some pictures of the recent games at the end of my posting for soccer and baseball compliments of Peri Gay Walker, Kevin Wood and Leslie Wiggins.    I also want to post some boys soccer and softball pictures as well.  So if you can email me those, I would really appreciate your help.

Valuable information for the game is below.

·         Upper School will dismiss at 2:40 on Thursday for a “human tunnel”.  Basically we will line the path to the bus and cheer on the girls as they load the bus.  Come join us if you can.

·         Any US student who wants to attend the soccer game on Friday needs to bring a parent permission note to the office by 8:15 am on Friday.  We will allow students to check out at 10:30 am to begin traveling to the game.  They will be excused to attend the game.  Unfortunately, we cannot provide a fan bus to the game.  So please work out the travel details with your student attending the game. 

This is review week.  All students should be actively reviewing for their exams next week.  Monday is a C day.  Exams begin on Tuesday and run through Friday.  We will follow our normal exam schedule.

Tuesday:  8:00 am to 10:00 am A1 and 10:30 am to 12:30 pm B5

Wednesday:  8:00 am to 10:00 am A2 and 10:30 am to 12:30 pm B6

Thursday:  8:00 am to 10:00 am A3 and 10:30 am to 12:30 pm B7

Friday:  8:00 am to 10:00 am A4 and 10:30 am to 12:30 pm B8

Locker cleanout is this week.  All students need to bring all their contents of their locker home Friday afternoon.  Trash receptacles will be around the hallways to help with the cleanout process.

We have an amazing graduating class for this year.  Many kids have been recognized in assemblies and in the PA Connections.  I wanted to share with you a link that a parent sent to me from AETN.  If you scroll to the second block, you can watch a clip on Lexi McClain.

http://www.aetn.org/education/academicallstars

I also wanted to share the link for the list of Presidential Scholars for Eric as well.  It is a HUGE honor.

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/awards.html

So proud of all the class of 2011!

Just a few more days!  Check out the pictures below.

Last Week for Seniors

What a great week honoring all the academic awards.  I want to recognize three class awards that were mistakenly omitted from Honors Night.   We honored so many students that night, I want to be sure these students realize how important their contributions to their classroom as well. 

11^th Grade           Katie Lants –                     Medal –               Pre-AP Spanish IV

11^th Grade           Sarah Alshami –               Certificate –        Pre-AP Spanish IV

11^th Grade           Drew Schmitz –                Certificate –        Pre-AP Spanish IV

12^th Grade           Anna Kathleen Plyler –    Medal –             Microbiology

12^th Grade           Anna Kathleen Plyler       Medal –              Government

11^th Grade           Sky Shaver                         Certificate –       Microbiology

12^th Grade           Bayley Gregory                 Certificate –       Government

Congratulate all the US Honors winners when you see them.  Their hard work and success is commendable.  I am so proud of all our students!

This week is a lively week at PA.

·         Mr. Topich, Mr. Musgrove and Mrs. Woody are escorting 24 students to see the Dalai Lama in Fayetteville today and tomorrow.

·         Spring Choral Concert on Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm in the CPAC.

·         Wednesday night baseball and soccer games will also be the senior night for spring sports. 

·         Spring Band Concert on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm in the CPAC.

·         Friday is Senior Signing Day at 12:30 pm.  Friday is a B7 day.  All seniors are expected to be in class getting their reviews, finishing up final work, turning in papers, etc.  Seniors will be dismissed from class at 12:15 to congregate in the upper senior lot.  Then they will do the traditional run through the halls and end up in the upper gym for signing day.  Signing day is a VERY SPECIAL EVENT!  The entire school is invited to attend.  After signing day, seniors will leave campus and go to a lunch provided by Mr. Johnson and myself at the Meyer Student Center.  Lunch is from 1 pm to 2 pm.  Seniors will be dismissed at 2:00 pm to leave.  They MUST leave campus as soon as lunch is over. 

Senior exams begin on Monday.  I know the juniors will be anxious to park in the coveted “senior lot”.  However, they must hold off the take over until all senior exams are completed.

Our soccer and baseball teams begin their state tournament games this weekend.  Soccer plays Friday and baseball plays Saturday.  Check the athletics website for game times and directions.  Go Bruins!

Also let me tell you that our MS/US parents and student drivers were awarded in the Arkansas Smart Drive Challenge for the Best Overall Seat Belt Use!  Way to be safe drivers!

Stay tuned to my next posting…..

Alecia Castleberry

Honors Night and more

Well, May is almost here!  Wow!  The year has flown by.  I wanted to let you know about a few upcoming events.

·         First, support our PAPA by shopping at EcoFab in Chenal Promenade this weekend.  10% of our purchases go towards our parents association.

·         Next, Spring Musical begins tonight.  The Choral and Drama faculty and students have been working so hard.  I cannot wait to see the final production!  Shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

·         AP Exams begin on Monday!  If your son or daughter is taking an exam, they need plenty of rest and a hearty breakfast to tackle those exams.

·         Monday night is Honors Night.  I realize we have some conflicts with spring sports. Honors Night is always the first Monday of May.  Spring sports schedules are not set until the fall.  Unfortunately, some game times are set by the Arkansas Activities Association and weather is not always our friend.  I do apologize for the conflicts, but they cannot always be prevented.  ALL students who are being recognized will have their name called and I will make sure to let the audience know students are missing for school related events.

 Honors Night is a perfect photographic opportunity.  Please make sure your son or daughter is dressed for success for the honor recognition.  Boys are asked to wear a tie, shirt and slacks.  Girls are asked to wear a dress or nice slacks. 

·         COMMUNITY SERVICE FORMS ARE DUE MONDAY!  IT IS CRUCIAL TO TURN THESE IN ON MONDAY.  THE COMMUNITY SERVICE CREDIT GRADE  DOES APPEAR ON THE COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT.

·         Senior parents – Mrs. Watts has sent you the information she provided to the seniors for Honors Night, Signing Day, Graduation Rehearsal, Baccalaureate and Graduation. 

Enjoy the sunshine today!  It’s been a while since we have seen the sun.

Alecia Castleberry