Spring/Summer 2008

Be honest. Be kind. Be the best you can be.®                            Forward Look eNews

 

Spring Update From John Webster,     

Head of School   

 

   

Here is a glimpse of San Antonio Academy’s program successes as this banner school year comes to a close: 

 

·       Almost 40,000 talented 7th graders accepted the Duke University Talent Search invitation to take the SAT, the college entrance test. The 26 Academy boys who took the test, as a group, scored 90 points higher than the Duke TIPS national average.

 

·      Twenty of the twenty-five Academy boys who took the SAT, the college entrance test, scored higher than 800, and fourteen students were State-Recognized.  

 

·         Academy boys are excelling at SAA and beyond:

   -  Sixth grader Pavan Patamalla, a Tex Hill 

      Scholar, scored at the 99th percentile on the 

      recent Duke Explorer Test, recording perfect

      100% scores in both the Math and Science

      sections. Pavan will receive a medal at the State

      Ceremony on June 2 at Trinity University. 

 

   - Sixth grader Parker Brown, a Tex Hill Scholar, has

     been recognized as an Honored Scholar, which

     qualifies him to attend the Junior National Young

     Leaders Conference in Boston from June 22-June

     27. 

 

 - Marlow Taylor ’06 has been inducted into

    Keystone School’s National Honor Society.

 

  - Joseph Shields '05 was elected as Class President

    of Saint Mary's Hall for the 2008-09 school year. Joseph

    also scored a perfect 800 on the math portion of the SAT. 

 

·         Reenrollment still stands at 97% and faculty retention at 95%. 

 

·         The Spring Thing netted more the $100,000, boosting Annual Giving past its budgeted goal of $600,000!

 

 

  

 

Spring Thing 2008:
 Recap & Slideshow 
 
 
Thanks for joining us to Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler! A juggling jester in the parking lot handed out beads and greeted 230 parents, grandparents, alumni and Academy family and friends who let the good times roll at the 12th Annual Spring Thing, Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler, at the Radius Building in downtown San Antonio. 

Over 130 businesses and individuals contributed auction items for the event and 12 different caterers and restaurants served up their signature “bon temps” cuisine.

The Stan Wayne Band, who relocated to San Antonio from New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, rocked the night away while guests enjoyed live and silent auctions and a casual evening of fun and conversation. Event VIPs enjoyed an extra chance in the tuition drawing and custom-made beads and koozies imprinted with the SAA seal. Mike Osterhage emceed the event and Armando and Paulina Martinez walked away with a great souvenir: a year of free tuition! 

Event Chairmen Lisa and George Bodden and Co-Chairmen Paige and Russell Sugg guided their committee to create a fabulous event to build stronger relationships among the Academy family. Thanks to the participation of many Academy supporters, the event raised over $100,000 which will benefit the San Antonio Academy Annual Fund.    

 Click to play Spring Thing 2008

  

Get ready for next year's 13th annual Spring Thing chaired by Paula and Randall Mays, with their co-chairs Valerie and Greg Wright. Spring Thing is a ticketed event open to Academy parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Interested in helping plan next year's Spring Thing? Contact the Mays’ or contact Mary Shrader, Special Events Coordinator at 733-7331, x 219 or mshrader@sa-academy.org
 
 

  

Lessons to be Learned, Part II
By Janice Lanford, School Counselor
 
 
In the Fall Forward Look eNews, Ms. Moore talked about how we, as loving parents, grandparents, family, friends and teachers want to be sure we are doing our part to teach our boys resilience, perseverance and tolerance as well as build their confidence.
 
As she pointed out, we are well intentioned adults. With these good intentions in mind, we approach the summer break with zeal, attempting to plan new and exciting experiences for our children. And in our zeal, we can over schedule, overload and over travel until summer becomes anything but a break.
 
Consider this, “Simplicity of living, if deliberately chosen, implies a compassionate approach to life. It means that we are choosing to live our daily lives with some degree of conscious appreciation of the condition of the rest of the world.”
Duane Elgin
 
There are so many things we can do with our boys that don’t require pre planning, prior scheduling or even going very far from your own back yard.
 
 
READ
Encourage reading for enjoyment by including reading in your daily routine. Choose books together. Talk about what you like to read and why. Ask them about their reading likes and dislikes. Read to your children. Have them read to you. It will help them enjoy reading more as well as provide a special time of closeness.
 
EXERCISE
In general, today’s kids exercise far less than they should. The key is to keep it fun. Integrate exercise into play: go swimming, go biking, play basketball in the drive, go for a nature walk through the neighborhood. The idea is to show them how to have fun outside. There is much literature published on how today’s children are “nature deprived”. Do something about it.  Get outdoors.
 
LEARN
Help your children discover their talents. Ask them about things they are interested in but don’t know anything about. It may be a sport. It could be an artistic skill such as painting, wood working or playing a musical instrument.
It could be photography or electronics or collecting something. Find a book and read about it. Many things can be learned just by following directions. If not, find a teacher. Take lessons with them. Help them realize their potential, bond with your child, make some lasting memories.
 
FIELD TRIPS
Encourage your child to come up with summertime field trip ideas. The possibilities are limitless. Have them find the location on a map and plot your course. Have them give you the directions as you drive to your destination. The local police station or fire station will give your child a new appreciation for what these hardworking people do for us. It might be something they are particularly interested in such as a radio or television station, a train station. Most businesses allow tours if you provide them with advance notice. The Austin Steam Train has several wonderful, short train rides that any child would enjoy. We are blessed in San Antonio with a wonderful zoo, a Children’s Museum, the Witte, the McNay and the Botanical Gardens.  San Antonio is so centrally located there are lakes, parks, and beaches that are close. Corpus Christi has the State Aquarium and the Lexington Battleship that you can visit. And don’t forget the beauty of your own back yard.  Spend the night in a tent under the stars right out side your door. Have a campfire, make smores and tell stories.
 
Summertime comes and goes. So does childhood. It is important to realize the chances you have to spend quality time with your children will eventually pass you by. Live in the present. Make your child’s summer fun by creating memories that will last forever. At the end of the summer, what your child will remember is that they had a wonderful time with you. We try so hard to entertain, when at the end of the summer, or end of the day for that matter, what our children really want from us is some of our time. A precious commodity in today’s hurried world. What could be more precious than memories you make with your child?  It is the single best thing about being a parent.
 
Janice Lanford has been an educator for 20 years.  She is a Licensed School Counselor in the state of Texas.  View the San Antonio Academy Counseling Program’s web page.
   

 

Snapshot: Mother's Day Concert

 

 

 

 

WILDCAT SPRING SPORTS 

Lacrosse - Wildcat lacrosse wrapped up the season with a 6-5 record. Special thanks to new lacrosse head coach, Adam Harvey, and to the 27 participants (including 18 letterman). Overall team MVP's include Maverick Noble (defense), Alex Bathie (offense), and  Nicholas Prete (mid-field).

Tennis - Coach Zander's Wildcat tennis team finished third out of the eleven schools who participated during the ISAL Tennis Tournament held in April. Individual winners include Joseph and Joe Candelario (2nd place "A" doubles), Jimmy and Christopher Williams (3rd place "A" doubles), and Griffin Rubin (3rd place "B" singles). The Wildcats wrapped up the season with a 6-2 record.

Track - The ISAL Track Meet was held in April at Central Catholic with nine Academy boys participating. Zack Rodriguez placed third in both the 800 (2:17) and the mile (5:17).

  

 

 

 

Development Highlights 

Endowment Campaign: 

A reception was held on Tuesday evening, February 26, to thank everyone who helped make the endowment campaign a success. Through the hard work of many people, San Antonio Academy’s endowment has gone from $5 million to $14 million in two years.   

 

Special thanks to Liecie and Nick Hollis for graciously hosting the Endowment Campaign thank you reception, where attendees received a heartfelt, home-made DVD video clip of the boys expressing their gratitude.

Inaugural 1886 Society Reception: 

On Tuesday, April 29 the first 1886 Society Reception was held in the new San Antonio Academy Museum located in the Bondurant Library. Guests were entertained by the likes of Thomas Jefferson (Walt Buzzini), Thomas Edison (Ben Burkholder), Abraham Lincoln (Joe Irvin), Babe Ruth (William York) and John F. Kennedy (Michael Galo) as “History Came to Life” courtesy of the third graders.   

Annual Fund chairmen, Denice and Marc Notzon, were on hand to unveil the new 1886 Society case, which now showcases the WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 Lever Action Rifle. The Winchester holds great significance as it was used during 1886 – the same year San Antonio Academy was founded, and the same year that Geronimo was imprisoned at Ft. Sam Houston. The rifle was donated to the museum by The Notzon Family in honor of our school’s founding and also to honor this giving society.  

What is the 1886 Society? Named in honor of the founding year of San Antonio Academy, the 1886 Society was established in 2004 to help bridge the “gap” between tuition and actual cost of educating each student. To become a member, a donor must give a minimum of $1,886 each year. Contact the development office at 733.7331. 

New Planned Giving Web site:

A new gift planning web page has been added to The Academy’s web site to help communicate the ease and importance of leaving a legacy to the school. The new page is found on the menu link, “Supporting SAA,” at www.sa-academy.org. For more information on planned gifts, please contact Ruth Reitmeyer, Director of Development at 733-7331 ext. 234 or rreitmeyer@sa-academy.org.

  

 

 

Art Show 2008

View Art Work Slide Show

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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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IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Spring Update From Head of School
  • Lessons to be Learned, Part II
  • Tex Hill Merit Scholarship Winners Announced
  • Glimpses into the classroom
  • Development Highlights
  • Wildcat Sports Wrap Up
  • Spring Thing Recap
  • Alumni News
  • Calendar

 

Tex Hill Merit Scholarship Winners 
Announced 

San Antonio Academy proudly announces the two winners of the General Tex Hill ’28 Merit Scholarship: Ben Rindler and Caleb Snow. 

On October 1, 2007, San Antonio Academy announced the General Tex Hill ’28 Merit Scholarship Program, which provides tuition, fees, textbooks and uniforms to two fifth grade boys attending San Antonio Academy during their 6th, 7th and 8th grade years. The three-year Tex Hill Merit Scholarship is valued at more than $46,000 per student. 

The purpose of the program is to seek outstanding young men who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, citizenship and participation in activities and who have the potential to become leaders in the school community. 

Applications were accepted from students new to The Academy and also from boys currently enrolled at SAA. A total of fourteen students, seven from within The Academy and seven from outside of SAA, applied. The final decisions were made by the Tex Hill Scholarship Committee which consisted of members of the school community who do not work at SAA or have a child enrolled at The Academy.

 

Glimpses into the classroom      

Subscribe to the SAA Podcast! 

SAA has recently added a private podcast website, http://saa.podbean.com, to showcase student-produced class projects and events. Under the direction of Linda Gielen, Technology Facilitator, students and teachers submit audio or video podcasts that are posted on the site for parents to enjoy.  

The site currently features podcasts on Fairy Tales, Reader’s Theatres, Day at the Museum and a 4th Grade Debate. A recently added program called “School News” is a regular podcast where class reporters from different grade levels report on activities happening in the classroom. Also each week, students present a “Question of the Week” that any student who tunes in can answer via email. If answered correctly, they get the opportunity to be on the next podcast to ask the following episode’s question. 

So parents if you haven’t already, please subscribe to the podcast to start viewing all the great projects from this year. And for next year, you can also have them sent to you via a podcast aggregator such as iTunes. 

      

 

 

Kinder Explore South American Culture:

 

Director of Enrichment, Cathy Cummins, transformed Ellison Hall into a South American tropical paradise complete with a live iguana, Freddy, who entertained the Kinder boys. Moving from station to station, students mined for gold in the Andes Mountains, enjoyed ice cream sundaes topped with their favorite tropical island fruit, and stopped by a carnival to decorate a keepsake straw hat. One of the many festival highlights included native entertainers singing while playing the harp.  

 

 

 

 

Historical Perspective:   

Loyalists and Patriots squared off against each other in a panel discussion when the fourth graders studied the Declaration of Independence. The boys prepared for this lively (and often heated) debate by studying the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and the views of six prominent historical figures in the thirteen colonies. Students assumed the roles of historical figures, public relations agents, or investigative reporters. Each PR agent informed the audience of his historical figure’s personal background and notable accomplishments. Then each historical figure strongly presented his or her arguments on whether the thirteen British colonies in America should remain part of Britain or should declare independence from the mother country. Investigative reporters challenged those arguments with hard hitting questions. This active learning experience demonstrated that there are many sides to an issue, and that a citizen must know and challenge all the arguments before making an informed decision. 

 

 

  

Memories Eight Years in the Making:

 

Eighth graders shared laughs as they read aloud their “First Grade Memory.” A tradition started over 20 years ago, first graders are given the fun task of recording various moments of the year: their hardest activity, their favorite social studies and science projects, and their favorite friends and teachers. When the boys reach eighth grade, the time capsules are opened to relive the primary moments.

 

 

 

   

Order of Proximity:

 

During the research phase of their unit on the seven major phylas of invertebrates, James Pellman’s sixth grade classes used dissection to compare and contrast the complexities of grasshoppers, crawfish and squids. With scalpels in-hand, the “mini surgeons” worked in teams of two to exam the delicate specimens and then recorded their findings.

 

 

 

     

Alumni News

  

 

 Alumni Luncheon: 

On April 2, the San Antonio Academy Alumni Council held a luncheon for the Class of 2008 to welcome them to the ranks of SAA alumni. To mark the occasion, each member from the Class of ’08 received a school alumni lapel pin. Over 60 people attended the luncheon, including representation from as far back as 1939 to as recent as the class of 2007.   

 

Class of 2004 Social:  

On April 27, alumni from the class of 2004 met at El Jarro de Arturo to reconnect before leaving for college in the fall. The 18 alumni in attendance had a great time catching up and sharing their future plans. Alumnus Sean Conaway even flew from Colorado to be with his classmates for this special occasion -- a true testament to the bond of these Academy brothers.

 

 

Academy Teacher
in the News:

San Antonio Academy music director, Owen Duggan, and his music can be heard in a new toy being released this August by Intellitoys, Inc. The electronic cuddle toy, Smart-e-Bear, will contain uploaded stories, games and music and will be available in stores this August. Dr. Duggan's children's CD has won three national awards: Parents' Choice, National Parenting Publications and Children's Music Web, and will be re-released by a major label this summer. 

 

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

  

May 29 - Primary Promotion 10:00-10:45 a.m./ 10:15 8th Grade dismissal / 11:30 Upper School dismissal.

May 30 - Commencent 9:00-10:30 a.m. / 8th Grade Breakfast 8:00 a.m.

June 9 - Summer At The Academy begins

August 1 - Summer At The Academy ends

  

 

 

Snapshots:

SAA Celebrates Fiesta!