Welcome, 8th Grade Parents!

You've made it! Whether your son has been here for 10 years or just for one, 8th grade is a special year at San Antonio Academy. Each cadet will grow more in 8th grade as a person than any other year at The Academy.

As an eighth grade parent, there are new responsibilities for you and your son. To help navigate this journey, we've created a spot where you can access various resources:

8th Grade Class Representatives:Cris Bregman / Julie Peeler

Yearbook and Class Ring

- Order a Bluebonnet Yearbook

- Answer the Yearbook Senior Page Questionnaire (8th Grade Only)

- Order a Class Ring

High School Transcripts and Teacher Recommendations

In ten months our 8th graders will graduate from SAA, and in twelve months they will enter high school.

When your son applies to high school, The Academy will forward transcripts and teacher recommendations. Please give all teacher recommendations and transcript request forms directly to Peggy Klein, who organizes the packets and tracks recommendation forms to ensure that they are filed on time. I ask that you give Peggy at least seven days of advance notice so that we can produce this important information on time. Each packet is pretty inclusive, with a copy of your son's transcript, test scores, teacher recommendations, the current 8th grade report card and a cover letter.

In addition, please inform Peggy Klein when your son will be visiting high schools so that he will not be marked absent. We prefer that the boys visit high schools on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. If your son visits a high school, he is expected to turn in all assignments before the end of the day to either the teacher(s) or the Main Office, and he is responsible for any work assigned on that day that is due on subsequent days.

Please note: If your son is taking the ISEE, we would like a copy for our records. Please instruct your son to fill in our name as one of the schools designated to receive a copy (you get six free copies) and please forward a copy to us when you receive the scores. Since the ISEE is very different from the Standardized Achievement Test, feel free to call Gary Marvin to learn how to interpret the scores.

High School Transition

There are many dates and deadlines to help prepare your son for high school, including the decision where to send him and various scholarship opportunities. You are invited to "Choosing the Right High School" held Wednesday, Sept. 15

San Antonio is a test site for the Independent Schools Entrance Examination (ISEE). The ISEE Test is designed for students in grades five through eleven who may be interested in admission to local or regional independent schools. St. Mary's Hall and TMI require that their students take the ISEE test and other local private schools, such as Central Catholic High School, administer their own testing.

The ISEE test will be offered at San Antonio Academy on the dates listed below. Registration for the tests close 2-3 weeks before the test date. SAA is only a test site, and not responsible for registration; students register directly with the testing agency: ISEE . If you have any questions, please contact Gary Marvin (ISEE Test Administrator).

ISEE Test Dates at SAA

October 9, 2021
December 11, 2021
January 29, 2022

Committees and Events

Each event committee has a chair or two who, along with the class reps, will lead the event to completion. Each committee is also open to as many volunteers who would like to be involved. Everyone (parents and boys) work a shift at the Haunted House and at the Cowboy Breakfast to keep these events successful. After this, please consider being generous with your time and talent for other committees, too.

For questions or to join a committee, please contact Cris Bregman.

Fundraising Committee

Back-to-School Party (August 15, 2021)

Yearbook Committee

This committee has multiple responsibilities. The chairs will assist the yearbook coordinator in tasks such as mailing yearbooks to graduates and helping with group photos. These chairs will assist with senior pictures and will create the lifer ad for the yearbook. An 8th grade group photo will be taken in December and will be sent to families digitally. This committee also works with the Parents Club who purchases an ad every year for the graduating class.

Fall Family Fair Booth (October 16, 2021)

As an 8th grade fundraiser, this committee creates the haunted house for the Fall Family Fair. They design and decorate the whole experience, including scheduling each boy’s role and each parent’s work shift. Committees set up Amazon wish lists for parents to help purchase items, if needed. A make-up artist may be hired to help with getting boys in character. The boys usually gather at the chairs’ homes to help create the decor and plan. Boys and parents are needed on the day of to help set up, work the haunted house and break down at the end of the night.

View past FFF pics here

Teacher Appreciation

Holiday Party (Date TBD)

This event is held either the Sunday (December 12) or Wednesday (December 15) before Winter Break (event chairs select which date work best for them and so ALL boys may attend). The event is typically held at a chair's home. Each boy brings a wrapped gift and participates in a white elephant gift exchange. Food and snacks are provided and parents are welcome to stay. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Cowboy Breakfast (January 28, 2022)

Shakespeare Play

This committee is responsible for all backstage activity during the week of play practices and performances. The committee is responsible for helping the boys with their costumes and make-up. Backstage has so much going on and this committee keeps it running smoothly. Committee members request help from parents as needed and make sure helpers assist on days that their son is NOT acting.

Dances / Military Ball (April 23, 2022)

Class Gift

End-of-Year Swim Party (May 19, 2022)

Graduation Luncheon (May 20, 2022)

This committee takes care of all details for the final event after graduation. These details include menu, program, decorations, and gifts. The San Antonio Country Club has been reserved for right after the graduation ceremony held Friday, May 20, 2022. You will be asked at a later time to purchase invitations and your table for the event. This ceremony consists of lunch, a small program highlighting the graduates, and the viewing of the 8th grade video.

Graduation Video

Alumni Relations

8th Grade Photos

Timeline

August

Back-to-School Day (8/13)
Back-to-School Party (8/15)

September

Parent Night Open House (9/1)
Senior Pictures (9/7)
TMI Episcopal Presentation (9/7)
"Choosing the Right High School" (9/15)

October

Leadership Retreat (10/5-10/6)
ISEE Testing (10/9)
Fall Family Fair - Haunted House (10/16)
SAA Dance

November

Alumni vs. 8th Grade Basketball Game (11/10)
Veterans Day Pass in Review (11/12)
Thanksgiving Break (11/22-11/26)

December

8th grade class photo (12/10)
ISEE Testing (12/11)
Holiday Party (12/12)
Teacher Gift Giving (12/13-12/17)
Winter Break (12/20-12/31)

January

Cowboy Breakfast (1/28)
ISEE Testing (1/29)

February

Shakespeare Play (2/9-2/10)
SAA Dance (2/11)

March

Spring Break (3/7-3/11)
Senior Trip (3/24-3/26)
Blue and White Unite (3/24)

April

King Antonio Pass in Review (4/5)
Alamo Guard (4/8)
Military Ball (4/23)

May

Field Day (5/6)
8th Grade Debate (5/11)
Teacher Gift Giving (5/16-18)
White Belt Ceremony (5/19)
End-of-Year Party (5/19)
Class Gift Ceremony (TBD)
Graduation (5/20)