From the Principal's Desk

Greetings FWAFA Family,

Welcome Back! The faculty and staff here at FWAFA are so excited to see all of our Fabulous FWAFAn students on Monday, August 15, for what promises to be a great school year - the best one yet!

I have lots of information in this newsletter about getting started at school. I will also have a Coffee with the Principal on Facebook Live this afternoon (Saturday, August 13) at 2:00 p.m.

See you Monday!

Creatively yours,

Dr. Jackson

Be sure to note that the FWAFA parking lot moves from the north end of the building to the south end of the building. The traffic all flows one way to the south.

Morning Arrival

Please drop off at either the VENDING MACHINE DOOR in the back or the LOBBY DOOR in the front between 7:20 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. We are no longer using the elementary south door as a morning entrance. If it is past 8:00 a.m., only use the front lobby doors. Students will be given a tardy pass at the main office. After 3 morning tardies in one six weeks, students will receive a Silent Lunch Detention. Please be on time. I cannot stress this enough.

Do not drop your student off in the front parking lot and have them walk across traffic. At morning arrival, be ready to hop out of the car with all of your school items quickly to keep the line moving.

From 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., grades 3-5 will report to the cafeteria and grades 6-12 will report to the auditorium. At 7:45 a.m., students are released to get items from their lockers and then report to either their class or assembly.

Afternoon Dismissal

Students in grades 3-5 will dismiss from the SOUTH ELEMENTARY DOOR.

Students in grades 6-8 will dismiss through the VENDING MACHINE DOOR.

Students in grades 9-12 will dismiss through the FRONT LOBBY DOOR.

At afternoon dismissal, be ready to hop in the car and go. It is imperative that we keep traffic moving safely and do not back up traffic and cars on Hulen street. As you exit the school, DO NOT MAKE A LEFT ON HULEN. If you need go south on Hulen, turn left as you exit the parking lot on Briarwood and go through the neighborhood.

Please pick your student up at 3:45 p.m. when school dismisses. If you are going to be late, please notify the main office at 817-924-1482.

Although everyone is allowed to bring a cellphone to school, they will not be used during the school day during instructional time. Each classroom is equipped with a cellphone holder located in an area where all students can see their individual phone. In each class, students will be assigned a designated slot to put their phone.

As students arrive to class, they will put their cellphone in the cellphone holder until the end of class or they may use it with teacher permission.

Grades 3-6 will keep their phones in their backpacks or lockers during the school day including lunch. We encourage conversation and socialization!

Grades 7-12 may use their phone during lunch and passing periods.

If your student has special circumstances, please contact our Special Programs Coordinator, Heather Chandler at heather.chandler@fwafa.org.

This year each of our elementary academic classes have their own Chromebook cart so students are 1 to 1 Chromebook campus in our elementary grades by class.

We are a bring your own laptop/Chromebook school in grades 7-12. However, if you are unable to purchase a Chromebook or laptop for your student, we have a limited number of Chromebooks that we can check out to students who are in need.

Our social studies teachers will facilitate the distribution of Chromebooks to students who need one.

It is in our strategic plan to have enough laptops by 2023-2024 for grades 7-12 to be a 1 to 1 campus. Thank you for your patience as we have worked on this initiative for the past 3 years. A big thank you to our AMAZING PTSO who got the ball rolling on our Chromebook initiative 3 years ago with a $5,000 donation.

We have a passion for UNIFORM FASHION!

An important part of our history, tradition and core school values is for students to adhere to our dress code. It creates a sense of unity and teaches students the discipline needed to reach their full potential as an artist and 21st century learner.

That means students must wear a red or navy FWAFA logoed shirt, blue or white oxford shirt (long or short sleeve), khaki bottoms (skirt, pants, shorts), or plaid skirt or jumper, and closed toed shoes.

The great thing about our dress code is that there are several mix and match options where students can show off their unique style from day to day.

Students who are out of dress code will receive a Silent Lunch Detention. After two dress code infractions, students will be assigned to Saturday School. There's no excuse for not being in dress code.

We are getting reports that Flynn O'Hara is a little backed up with uniform orders. If that is the case for you, you can wear a white or blue oxford shirt (either long sleeve or short sleeve) and khaki uniform bottoms (skirt, pants, or shorts).

You can get these items from any store that sells uniforms like Wal-Mart, Target, Old Navy, and Academy.

Outerwear must be logoed. Let me repeat - OUTERWEAR MUST BE LOGOED! Luckily, it's too hot for outerwear right now. Be sure to order your spirit shirt online on our website. Wearing college sweatshirts is suspended at this time. If you do wear a FWAFA sweatshirt, you must wear a red or blue logoed uniform shirt underneath.

For more details on our school dress code, please see our Handbook on the website under Resources.

The FWAFA Website Resources tab is your one-stop shop for all things FWAFA. You can access the following information on this handy page. Bookmark this page in your Favorites!

• 2022-2023 Academic Calendar
• Set Up an Account for the Cafeteria
• A Link to This Newsletter
• Information about After-School Care
• A Link to the Parent Portal to Check Student Grades
• Student Handbook
• Summer Reading Assignments
• School Supply List
• Uniform Information
• MS/HS Bell Schedule
• Drop-Off/Pick-Up Map and Instructions
• Contact for Special Programs Coordinator - Heather Chandler
• Covid-19 Resources

Due to a mis-count of lockers, unfortunately, we ran out of lockers to assign on Back to School Night. We appreciate your patience as we work to correct this situation. We have re-shuffled lockers and believe that we will have enough for everyone that wants one in grades 7-12. What this means is that some students who were assigned a locker on Back to School night will be re-assigned a different locker. We will be working on this change during the first week of school.

Please remember that lockers are optional for grades 7-12. If you do not plan to use your locker on a daily basis, please do not sign up for a locker.

We are in the middle of a vendor change for cafeteria meal purchase. While we had hoped to have it finalized by the start of school, it is not ready.

What does that mean for you and your child?

First, your child will certainly receive a meal.

For the first few weeks of school, if your child goes through the meal line, we will record that meal manually. When the transition to the new system is complete, we will put those meals into the new system to be paid for at a later date.

Any extra items beyond the meal will need to be paid for with cash.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this transition.

If you have any questions, please call our Foodservice Department at 817-924-1482 or email cheryl.demeyere@fwafa.org and we will be glad to assist you.

Students in grades 7-12 will pick up a new schedule in the auditorium on Monday morning. Be sure to report to the auditorium when you arrive to school.

If you are new to FWAFA, part of the enrollment process is for us to create a @mytcaa.org Google account for you. The login is your first name (period) last name @ mytcaa.org.

When you login for the first time, your password is Finearts2022. Then it will prompt you to change your password.

For returning students, your login and password are the same as when you left in May. If you cannot remember your password, you can reset it yourself.

FWAFA's annual Student Choreography Concert auditions are coming up! Dancers and Choreographers that would like to take part in this concert will need to audition their works. Auditions will be held Wednesday, August 24th at 4:00PM in the FWAFA auditorium, and all students are welcome to participate.

Please review the rehearsal/performance schedule:

Tech Rehearsal – Wednesday, September 21 - 4:00 – 8:00 PM
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, September 22 - 4:00 – 8:00 PM

Performance – Friday, September 23 - Stay after school, performance at 7:00PM

Please see audition details at this link.

Student Directors and Faculty Sponsors will rehearse these student-choreographed works for a live in-person performance on Friday, September 23 in the Auditorium! Be on the lookout for more details.

FWAFA Spirit and Outerwear is on sale now!

Please use the link below to view the list of products and links/QR codes to purchase them online.

All Spirit and Outerwear Orders/Payments must be submitted no later than Friday, September 2.

Order Here.

Outerwear and Fleeces will be delivered in late September to early October.

PTSO has an Ambassador Program designed to connect new FWAFA families to a veteran FWAFA parent for hints, tips, and support. If you are interested in connecting with your grade level family ambassador rep, please contact Natoya Alee via text at 469-726-9475.

We are excited to announce that our in-person TCA+A Gala will return on August 27. We have missed celebrating with you all and look forward to gathering again at the Greatest Show in Fort Worth. This event is our largest fundraiser of the year benefiting all of TCA+A’s great organizations like FWAFA.

Tickets are on sale now! In addition to purchasing tickets, there are a variety of ways our families can get involved. We need sponsors, auction items, and volunteer support. If you would like to help, look for more information on our website or email lauren.whitson@artsacademics.org.

Ciara Reese - Elementary Counselor - ciara.reese@fwafa.org

Heather Chandler - Special Programs Coordinator - heather.chandler@fwafa.org

Kiera Wallace - Assistant Principal - kiera.wallace@fwafa.org

Leslie Cook - Instructional Specialist - leslie.cook@fwafa.org

Jennifer Jackson - Principal - jennifer.jackson@fwafa.org

Kay Armstrong - School Nurse - kay.armstrong@fwafa.org

Join me on Friday mornings at 8:15 a.m. for Coffee with the Principal on FaceBook Live. You can hear GREAT news and updates about what is happening at FWAFA every week.

If your student is tardy or absent, please send notes to attendance@fwafa.org. Also, a student needs to bring in a doctor or parent note within 3 days after the absence for an unexcused absence.

Ascender Parent Portal

Need to submit an attendance note?

attendance@fwafa.org

TCA+A Covid-19 Information Center

Monday, August 15 - First Day of School - doors open at 7:20 a.m., Grades 7-12 pick up a fresh schedule in the auditorium.

Monday, August 22 - Assembly starts - more information about this during the first week of school.

Tuesday, August 23 - DATE CHANGE - MS/HS Meet the Teacher Night - 6 p.m. to 7:41 p.m.

Wednesday, August 24 - Student Choreography Concert & Senior Solo Exhibition Auditions - 4 p.m.

Thursday, August 25 - Elementary (Grades 3-6) Meet the Teacher - 6 p.m. to 7:24 p.m.

Saturday, August 27 - TCA+A Gala - 6 p.m.

Tuesday, August 30 - Picture Day in uniforms (more details coming soon)

Wednesday, August 31 - Picture Day in uniforms (more details coming soon)

Thursday, September 1 - National Honor Society Blood Drive

Monday, September 5 - Labor Day - School Holiday

Tuesday, September 6 - Howdy Week Begins (See more details coming soon!)

Wednesday, September 7 - Campus Tour for Prospective Family, Progress Reports Distributed

Thursday, September 8 - High School Musical Auditions - 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday, September 9 - Howdy Doo Dah - 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Middle School Howdy Dance - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Cafeteria) - High School Howdy Dance - 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Auditorium)