Update From John Webster,     

Head of School    

First of all, we want to thank our parents for their strong support of the Annual Fund. Parent participation stands at an amazing 93%. Our parents are the best. 

These have been busy months. Here are a few highlights: 

Reenrollment:

Parents' Report Cards 

Each January, San Antonio Academy asks parents to evaluate our school’s performance. Based on a 41% response rate, parents gave The Academy a 94% on overall satisfaction. Please review the results by clicking on the link. 

Parent Report Card 2009 

Football Program

In January, the Board of Trustees voted, unanimously, to begin a tackle football program for 6^th -8^th grade Academy boys, beginning in August 2009. Below please find my summary of the issue, along with my recommendation that the Board initiate a football program. In addition, read the November report of a Board-level committee that reviewed the issue. 

Special Report: Football at SAA 

Board Level Review: Feasibility Study

Economy 

Every day the media reminds us that America’s economy is sagging, so it’s natural for parents to ask about The Academy’s fiscal position. San Antonio Academy’s financial position is very solid: 

• The Academy is debt-free. 
• SAA will finish the school year with a balanced budget. 
• The school’s restricted contingency reserve fund totals $1.1 million, or 15% of operating. 
• Annual giving is slightly ahead of last year, and parent participation stands at a strong 93%. 
• The recent successful endowment campaign has given SAA additional funds that are necessary to carry out the school’s mission at the highest level. 
• The Board has created a Strategic Financial plan that provides clear direction for the next five years. 
• Given the current economic climate, SAA will budget conservatively for the next several years. 

The Academy is committed to building the best boys elementary school in America. We shall continue to invest in our boys, our teachers and our program. 

The Boards at San Antonio Academy

This year’s performance of Julius Caesar at San Antonio Academy was the latest in a decades-long tradition of Shakespearean productions, and in their most recent incarnation under the directorship of Brendan Moore since 1991. Notable for the focused cohesion among the young actors, as well as some virtuoso individual performances, the shows last week provided some of the best ever staged at the school. Many of the players demonstrated a maturity beyond their years in their roles in the play, but attendees in particular singled out Anthony Kayruz for his portrayal of Marc Antony. Kayruz, with a resonance of voice and a perceptive understanding of character, received many compliments for his performance.  

The theatre program at The Academy is unique in that it functions as an integral part of the language arts curriculum. The six-week Shakespeare unit allows for a close study of the playwright’s life, as well as allowing for a thorough exploration of one of his works. Unlike typical after-school or elective drama clubs, the unit has an intensive double class period focus for five weeks, and all students in the grade participate as part of their English and Literature grades. Often, this results in reluctant thespians discovering talents and aptitudes they might not have otherwise considered, some of them becoming enthralled with theater and even Shakespeare. Moore says that a chief goal of the study and performance is to permit students to see that the Bard is not the fusty and difficult writer he may be perceived to be, but rather a vibrant and accessible source of great joy and pleasure.  

All the plays, as in Shakespeare’s day, are presented by an all-male cast, and some of the most talented performances are given by actors playing female roles. This has been greatly enhanced in recent years by the exemplary work of makeup artist Begoña Ubieta, an Academy parent who has worked on movies including Hook (Robin Williams), Still Breathing (Brendan Fraser) and The Newton Boys (Matthew McConaughey). 

The question Moore is assailed with each year after the plays are completed—especially from enthusiastic seventh graders—is what will next year’s Shakespeare play be? Though that is not something that is usually finalized until the fall of each year, he said that there is a strong possibility of there being “something rotten in the state of Denmark” in 2010.

The Power of One

Virginia Beeler, Head of School - Academics 

Over the last three weeks, San Antonio Academy has participated in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients program. We are especially excited to be involved this year because our own Donny Duggan was chosen by the Society as this year’s Honored Hero.  

By participating in Pennies for Patients, we are helping raise money in honor of Donny so that researchers might find cures for blood cancer – leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and help the Society provide patient services to Donny and other children with blood cancer. The theme of the campaign is “Kids Making Change!” 

During our donation drive, paper pennies were sold for $1.00 each. When purchased, the student's name was  placed on the penny and posted in the hallways to show a sign of our support and earnings. In addition, grade levels who keep track of the amount of money collected competed with other grade levels for a chance to earn School & Youth pennants to hang in recognition of great teamwork and philanthropy. Those classrooms raising $100 will receive a 2008-09 bronze pennant; $200 classrooms will receive a silver pennant; and classrooms raising $300 and above will receive a gold pennant.   

We want the boys to understand and experience “The Power of One” – the fact that every penny counts and that “Kids Can Make Change.” Thanks for your support as we once again strive to make a difference in the lives of others.

      

Cowboy Breakfast 2009!     A record attendance of over 800 buckaroos got up at the crack of dawn to get their place in line at the 2009 Cowboy Breakfast on Friday, January 30. Eighth grade parents Denice and Mark Notzon teamed up with Anne Marie and Jeff Bailey to organize a breakfast committee in planning every last detail from the décor and menu to the set-up, which included leading a group of enthusiastic eighth grade boys and their parents in rolling 1,700 breakfast tacos – accomplished before 7:00 a.m.!   Highlights from the breakfast included special guest, Bingo, a live longhorn steer – who obliged Head of School, John Webster, to climb aboard and ‘get his cowboy on’ while the student body onlookers cheered with amusement. A new addition to the morning lineup this year was 2005 alumnus, Rob Cavender, who drew an impressive crowd in the courtyard with his performance as he sang and played guitar.   For over twenty years, the Cowboy Breakfast has gathered the extended Academy family for fun, food, and fellowship all to help raise funds for the graduating class gift presented to The Academy at the end of the school year.

Last December Parker Brown's speech, My Life's Lesson, was selected as the winning entry for the W.T. Bondurant, Jr. Oratorical Contest. The seventh grader delivered his speech during the Distinguished Humantarian Award dinner honoring Sam Barshop '43. Sponsored by the English Department, this annual competitioin is presented to a seventh or eighth grade cadet who composes and delivers the best speech judged by the Alumni Council. This year's entries included Mitch Lee, grade 8; Matthew Villanueva, grade 8; Ethan Ausburn, grade 7; and Jeremy Heath, grade 7. 

Congratulations to the General Tex Hill '28 Merit Scholarship winners, fifth graders Marshal Webb and Jack Wright. Selected by the Tex Hill Merit Scholarship committee, the boys will receive tuition, fees, textbooks and uniforms over their 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade years. The Merit Scholarship is valued at more than $50,000 and was awarded based on selection criteria including enrollment status, academic performance, testing, citizenship, and participation in activities.

Congratulations to seventh grader, Pavan Patamalla, as he scored high enough to get invited to both the State Ceremony as well as the Grand Ceremony at  Duke University. His scores: Math: 690 (95 percentile college-bound seniors); Critical Reading: 580 (79 percentile of college-bound seniors); and Writing: 560 (77 percentile of college-bound seniors). 

Congratulations to seventh grader, Peter Howard, for capturing first place in the Geography Bee; and to sixth grader, Roshan Nair, who won the Spelling Bee.

Twenty-four Academy students out of 90 contestants took place in the Pack 59 Pinewood Derby Race last January. The results:

Siblings Race (Pre-K) (15 contestants)
          Ty Osterhage - 1st Place
          Max Allred - 5th Place

Tiger Rank Race (1st Grade) (17 contestants)
          Jack Osterhage - 3rd Place
          Sam Allred - 5th Place

Wolf Rank Race (2nd Grade) (20 contestants)
          Fernando Miranda - 2nd Place
            Jackson Covert - 4th Place

Webelos 1 Rank Race (4th Grade) (24 contestants)
          JB Marshall - 1st Place
          Matthew Brady - 2nd Place
          Harry Ware - 4th Place
          Alexander Johnson - 5th Place

Grand Finale
          JB Marshall - 1st Place
          Matthew Brady - 2nd Place

In addition, were several winners among the Theme/Special awards:

 Theme Sport Car Concept
                    Benjamin Feinstein - 1st Place

 Theme Fiesta
                  Jackson Covert  -  2nd Place

  Theme Futuristic Concept
                  Stefan Newell - 1st Place 

Ready for my closeup: A handful of students from Ruth Berg's music class volunteered their time and 'ringing' talents to chime-in during the opening ceremony for the Official Fiesta Poster Unveiling at the St. Anthony Hotel. The standing room-only audience included local dignitaries and numerous media outlets.

 

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Mission Statement:

San Antonio Academy of Texas offers prekindergarten through eighth grade boys an exceptional academic program that features small classes, a family-like atmosphere, the development of a positive self-image and a foundation for life based upon love of God and country, integrity and respect for each other.   

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