Save the Date! The ProvidencePost Secondary Newsletter Letter from the Principal A popular misconception about classical schools is that they narrowly focus on language skills and the humanities at the expense of the other disciplines. This is particularly ironic because classical education is, at its core, about integration of learning. The notion that subjects of study are to be treated independently is a fairly recent development. In reality, education in the western world is historically rooted in the idea that all of the subjects are inter-related. Therefore, all disciplines are important, and the goal of education is to help students become skilled learners in all areas. Spirit Week 1/4 – 1/8 This is a week for students to dress for spirit days and enjoy friendly competitions. School Closed 1/18 We will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Breakfast 1/16 The Jr. Class will have a breakfast fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse. WINTER 2009 Merry Christmas! The Providence Post is brought to you with the intent to inform you about what is going on in our secondary department. Each edition will try to highlight a section of our secondary curriculum. This edition is focusing on our math department. We will be informing you about curriculum changes, recent successes, and awards the departments have received. This edition includes information from our math department, an intro by Principal Williams, a letter from our board chairman, and an update on or logic level department. Continued on page 2
Transcript
Save the Date!
The
ProvidencePostSecondary Newsletter
Letter from the PrincipalA popular misconception about classical schools is that theynarrowly focus on language skills and the humanities at theexpense of the other disciplines. This is particularly ironicbecause classical education is, at its core, about integration oflearning. The notion that subjects of study are to be treatedindependently is a fairly recent development. In reality,education in the western world is historically rooted in the ideathat all of the subjects are inter-related. Therefore, alldisciplines are important, and the goal of education is to help
students become skilled learners in all areas.
Spirit Week1/4 – 1/8This is a week forstudents to dressfor spirit days andenjoy friendlycompetitions.
School Closed1/18We will be closedfor Martin LutherKing Jr. Day.
Breakfast1/16The Jr. Class willhave a breakfastfundraiser at TexasRoadhouse.
W I N T E R 2 0 0 9
MerryChristmas!
The Providence Post is brought to youwith the intent to inform you aboutwhat is going on in our secondary
department. Each edition will try tohighlight a section of our secondary
curriculum. This edition is focusing onour math department. We will beinforming you about curriculum
changes, recent successes, and awardsthe departments have received.
This edition includes informationfrom our math department, an introby Principal Williams, a letter from
our board chairman, and an update onor logic level department.
Continued on page 2
THE PROVIDENCE POST WINTER 2009
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Letter from the PrincipalContinued from page 1
A Note On Chorus
“I enjoy our chorus class because we work and performwell together even though we all enjoy different stylesof music. It has taught me to pick out harmony linesand how to read music. My appreciation for talentedsingers has grown now that I have been in chorus forseveral years.”
- Chace Graham
This edition of the Providence Post highlights one ofthese non-humanities areas of study: our mathdepartment. I am extremely proud of the skill of ourmath teachers, and their skill and hard work is evidentin how well our students perform in math classes, onstandardized tests, and in competitions. For example,our calculus course is an AP approved course, andgeometry is offered at the honors level. In terms ofstandardized test scores, our teachers have helped mathstudents achieve outstanding success. Over the last fiveyears, grades 7 – 10 have averaged in the 90th percentileor above in mathematics on the Stanford AchievementTest; and last year’s graduating class posted an averageACT math score of 26.9, which is seven points higherthan the state average. We all owe a special thanks tothe math teachers of Providence Academy for theirefforts in helping our students succeed academicallyand spiritually; we also need to remember that classicaland Christian education is about seeking excellence inall areas of study because all fields of study belong toGod.
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Letter from the Logic Level
All of the logic level students are lookingforward to enjoying the Christmas break. Thelast few weeks have been full of excitement andlearning in every grade, and a break is muchdeserved after the rigorous training that hasbeen taking place to enhance their skills inlogical reasoning and understanding.
As you can see in the photos above, the ninthgrade had their Greek and Roman feast. Thestudents ate authentic food from the Greek andRoman regions provided by our wonderful PAparents. They also performed classical skits intheir traditional Roman attire. This is a yearlyevent that ninth graders always enjoy duringtheir classical literature reading and Latin study.
Eighth graders are preparing for their rocketlaunch that will take place immediatelyfollowing Christmas break. They have spent thelast few weeks studying space exploration andNewton’s laws of motion. In addition tostudying this material, they have beenconstructing small engine rockets that they willshoot off during an oral presentation of ahistorical launch.
These activities and projects at ProvidenceAcademy are unique in many ways and arepreparing our students to glorify the Lord withtheir reason and understanding.
Parents Getting InvolvedMany parents are involved with secondary
activities this year
You may sit at home or work wondering, “How can I getinvolved in PA’s secondary program?” There are many ways toget involved. The easiest way is simply to contact your child’steacher and ask how you can help. You can do this throughemail, phone, or face to face. You can also contact Ben Hollandor Dustin Williams for ways that you can help benefit the schooland your child’s education. If you have any skills like art,photography, cooking, science, or a helping spirit, the school canuse the gifts that God has given you.
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The Math DepartmentPA Middle School Students Earn High
Honors at Franklin Math Bowl
On November 14, Providence Academyparticipated in the Franklin Math Bowl, a competitionfor middle school students sponsored by the ETSUDepartment of Mathematics and the Upper EastTennessee Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In theteam competition, Providence placed second in 8th
grade Algebra and third in 7th grade math. Individualhonors went to seventh graders, Hannah Hollowell for
6th place and Reid Smith for 7th place.In the past, small schools like Providence were
allowed to compete separately from large public schoolsfor team and individual awards. However, this year ourstudents contended for prizes against several of thelargest schools in our region: Indian Trail, ChuckeyDoak, Jonesborough, Ridgeview, Sevier, GreeneCounty, Tazewell, and University School. Providence’s7th grade team outscored six regional school teams andwas surpassed only by Pizitz Middle School ofBirmingham, Alabama, and Jefferson Middle School ofOak Ridge. The 8th grade Algebra team followed Pizitzfor second highest honors among a field of five schools.In the 7th grade individual competition, Hannah andReid placed in the top ten percent among 70 of theregion’s best math students.
This year’s Providence team included 6th graders,Caleb Backus, Creighton Kellum, Lane Patterson, andConnor Smith; 7th graders, Ellen Duncan, PrestonHarris, Hannah Hollowell, Sarah Jacob, MerrittMcKinney, Natania Paul, Landon Phemister, ReidSmith, and alternate, Alex Williams; and 8th graders,
THE PROVIDENCE POST WINTER 2009
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Letterfrom theBoard
Dear Providence Families,
It’s hard to believe our school year will soon behalfway over. As each year passes, I’mreminded of how short the time is that God hasgiven us to shape and influence our children inHis name! We have a great and preciousprivilege in this area, and we are also blessed tohave Providence Academy come along side usto assist in this journey.
For many of us, we are also blessed to helpother families at Providence who need financialassistance to assist with tuition. As the year-endapproaches, should the Lord providesufficiently for you to consider supporting ourAnnual Scholarship Fund, I hope you will beprayerful about God’s guidance for supportingthis fund. We have an ambitious goal to raise$200,000 for the ASF this year to provide foranticipated needs in the 2010-2011 school year.We have passed the halfway point in achievingthis goal but still have a long way to go.
I would also take this opportunity to remindyou about the newly created Knight Fund,which is intended to support funding for one ormore of the following projects:
Software to facilitate communications betweenteachers and parents (estimated cost =$15,000)
A canopy over the elementary playground toprotect children from UV rays year round andon the lower playground, from stray baseballsduring practice and games (estimated cost =$10,000)
A fourteen passenger activity bus to improvePA’s capability to transport students to athleticcontests and other school activities (estimatedcost = $40,000)
We recently received our first significant gift tothe Knight Fund. If you have a passion for anyor all of these projects, and would be led tosupport them without detracting from yoursupport of the ASF, we would ask you toconsider the Knight Fund as a year-end givingopportunity as well.
May you have a blessed Christmas season and aHappy New Year!
Robert Smith
MissionStatementProvidence Academy equips students to achieve academic excellenceand spiritual maturity through a biblically based, Christ centered,classical education, so they will think and live in a manner, whichbrings glory to God.
