From the Principal's Desk
February 1, 2021
Greetings FWAFA Family,
Our open 2021-2022 application and audition season is well under way until February 15. Please take a few moments to complete the form below letting us know your student will be joining us next school year. We will use this information to make decisions around the number of available seats for new students. Please complete one form per student by Friday, February 19.
https://forms.gle/HV5tcVFnVz2VYBA46
Creatively yours,
Dr. Jackson
Important News! Picture Day Information
PICTURE DAY FOR IN PERSON LEARNERS
School pictures will be in the yearbook and available to purchase. Students must be wearing their uniform and comply with dress code standards. No sweatshirts or hoodies please. If your child comes to school late or is leaving early and misses his or her time, please tell him/her to ask a teacher for a pass to take their picture at another time during the day. Pictures will be taken in the Tech Theater Shop.
Seniors have the option of wearing free dress for their portrait as long as it meets dress code guidelines throughout the rest of the day. Senior formal portraits will be in the yearbook. See information below.
If you are in quarantine and cannot come on campus, we will have a retake day in about a month. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Wiggins at ryan.wiggins@fwafa.org.
Tuesday, February 9 – Picture day for in-person 3rd-6th graders during choir.
Wednesday, February 10 – Picture day for in-person 7th-12th graders.
Friday, February 12 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Make-up pictures
PICTURE DAY FOR AT-HOME LEARNERS
At-Home Learners will come to school to get their picture taken for the yearbook. All 3rd-11th grade students need to be wearing their FWAFA uniform. No sweatshirts or hoodies please. If you are in quarantine and cannot come to campus, there will be a retake day in about a month. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Wiggins at ryan.wiggins@fwafa.org.
Wednesday, February 10 – 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Tech Theatre Shop - 3rd-11th grade At-Home Learners
Save the Date - February 12 and 13 - Senior Yearbook Photos
It's almost time to sign-up for your formal black drape/ tuxedo, cap and gown, and silly senior pictures. EVERY senior MUST have their pictures done for the yearbook. The cost is $25. This money is donated back to the school to pay for your senior shout-out for the yearbook. You can pay via check to Ms. Mueller or Ms. Wiggins made out to TCA+A or you can pay cash. You can pay ahead of time or bring it to your scheduled time.
Ms. Wiggins will send a sign up genius link out as soon, but she wants you to save the date. You can go ahead and send in your money as soon as you can. Pictures will be in the Tech Theatre Shop.
The dates are Friday February 12th and Saturday Feb 13th. In-Person Students - please fill out the Friday time slots first. At-Home Students - you can do Friday or Saturday spots. You cannot be in the building if you are quarantined from school. Please contact Ms. Wiggins if that is the case.
5th and 6th Grade Playwrights Sweep Stage West's Neighborhood Play Contest
The following pieces will be performed at Stage West's Festival of the Kid 2021 written by the following 5th and 6th graders.
Alaina Spaltro, “Not the Favorite”
Alice Watson, “To the Dr”
Ayomide Agboola, “In my mind”
Cameron Szok, “Babysitter Trauma”
Janiris Mercado, “The Halloween Prank”
Julian Morales, “Cereal Confusion”
Kylee Nichols, “I Am Me!”
Shourya Chaudhari, “Prank Day”
Silvia Ho, “When the Ice Cream Melts”
Virginia Szok, “I’m Stronger”
While the Honorable Mention pieces will not be performed, Stage West acknowledges their high quality in writing ability and content.
Alice Watson, “Up & Away”
Iju Jeon, “Scene 3”
Madelyn Prickett, “The Dream”
Silvia Ho, “Breakfast Escape”
FWAFA Visual Arts Sweep Scholastic National Art and Writing Competition
The Scholastic National Art and Writing Competition is the oldest and most notable competition for creative teens across the country. The following students earned recognition in the categories of Honorable Mentions, Silver Key, and Gold Key. Our Silver and Gold Key recipients' work will go on to compete for $10,000 in scholarship awards in March.
Honor Mention
Isabella Morales
Anna Tabor
Emma Howell
Crista-Herrera-Puente
Avery Teselle
Silver Key
Shelby Cooper
Emma Howell
Avery Tesellex3
Gold Key
Avery Teselle
Show Your Love and Like - Buy a Valogram!
The season of love, candy, and red and pink things is upon us! The Sophomore class is offering you a couple of ways to enjoy the season:
1. From February 1st-February 9th, ALL students AND their adult-type humans can purchase Valograms ONLINE at www.artsacademics.org/valogram
2. In-person students can participate in our Valentine’s Dress Day on Tuesday, February 16th. Just bring $5 with you when you come to school Tuesday morning. Sophomores will meet you at the door to give you your sticker of participation. Remember that your Valentine’s attire must cover everything your uniform would.
PTSO and APEX Fun Run and Color Battle Fund Raiser
We are super excited to kick off our 2021 Color Battle Fundraiser event, our only major fundraiser for the spring semester. Last year's Color Battle was a huge success, and the students that participated had a blast at the Color Battle.
Here's a link to the Color Battle Kick-Off Video for grades 7-12:
https://vimeo.com/506638806/5fa33cb8e5
Here's a link to the Fun Run Kick-Off Video for grades 3-6:
https://vimeo.com/505962618/d89a826ae8
For the next two weeks we will be soliciting donations from friends & family (moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, cousins, etc) to sponsor us in the Color Battle event.
Each student that raises at least $30 for our school will get to participate Thursday February 11. You'll get to hang out with your friends, enjoy awesome music and games, and at the end we'll celebrate with an awesome war of color! We've never had so much fun raising money for our school. And this year,10% of our funds raised will go directly to that grade's Project Celebration Fund for senior year.
To get started, logon to WWW.ANYTHON.COM with your unique Access Code: EXAMPLE EMAIL
Use the "SHARE WIZARD" to enter cell phone numbers or email addresses of friends and family. Be sure to separate with commas or on separate lines. You also will see on the attached flyer the rewards you can earn as you help our school. The Share Wizard will automatically reach out on your behalf, asking friends and family if they would like to support you in the fundraiser.
If you have any questions you can reach our Color Battle Team Leader Braeden at braedenb@apexfunrun.com.
There will also be daily challenges where students can earn special rewards like Chik Fil A and Starbucks brought to them at school!
Thank you for your support of our awesome school!
Dress Code Reminders
Just a few reminders
- Outwear must have a FWAFA logo
- Students may wear solid-colored tights or leggings (navy blue, black, gray, white) under skirts - no sweat pants please
- Keep skirts no shorter than 2 inches above the knee
Starting February 1, we will begin calling parents each morning for students who are out of dress code to bring the appropriate clothing. After that, SLDs will be issued.
We care about our uniform policy because we care about equality, standards of presentation, belonging, practicality, and our FWAFA identity.
Thank you in advance for your support of the dress code.
Ahmad Simmons and Jay Armstrong Johnson on Welcome to the 70s!
Technology and Internet Use Reminders
With the increased use of technology across the campus this year, please help us reinforce the following student expectations:
Students will:
- Use school technologies for instructional, classroom activities.
- Follow the same guidelines for respectful, responsible behavior online that I am expected to follow offline.
- Treat school resources carefully, and alert staff if there is any problem with their operation. Encourage positive, constructive discussion if allowed to use communicative or collaborative technologies.
- Alert a teacher or other staff member if I see threatening, inappropriate, or harmful content (images, messages, and posts).
- Use school technologies at appropriate times, in approved places, for educational pursuits. Cite sources when using online sites and resources for research.
- Recognize that use of school technologies is a privilege and treat it as such.
- Be cautious to protect the safety of myself and others.
- Help to protect the security of school resources.
We Love Our Charter School!
Advocating for the Charter School we love has never been more important! As pandemic places strain on the global economy and newly-elected officials in Austin look for ways to get more bang from the education buck, we as Charter School community members must make our voices heard.
Did you know that, on average, Charter Schools receive $700 LESS per student in funding from the state as compared to students enrolled at an ISD?
More importantly, did you know that there are State Legislators who are spreading misinformation about Charter School funding, stating that we are taking money out of the pockets of our ISD neighbors?
The State Legislative Session returns on February 9th, and we need to make sure our lawmakers know how much We Love Our Charter School!
Quick Links
Mark Your Calendar!
February 1 to February 12 - Sophomore Class Candy Val-O-Gram sales begin
February 1 - February 12 - PTSO Apex Fun Run and Color Battle Leadership Coaches on Campus
Wednesday, February 3 - Progress Reports Distributed during 8th Period and posted to Parent Portal for At-Home Learners. Please email attendance@fwafa.org to request a paper copy of your student's progress report to be mailed.
Friday, February 5 - Deadline for At-Home Learners to request In-School Learning for the 5th grading period beginning on February 22.
Tuesday, February 9 – Picture day for in-person 3rd-6th graders during choir.
Wednesday, February 10 – Picture day for in-person 7th-12th graders; 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - 3rd-11th grade At-Home Learners
Thursday, February 11 - Sculpture Art Show streaming online at artsacademics.org/live; APEX Fun Run and Color Battle
Friday, February 12 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Make-up pictures for in person learners
Monday, February 15 - Professional Development Day for Teachers; School Holiday for Students; Open Enrollment for the 21-22 school year ends
Friday, February 19 - End of the 4th Grading Period; Kids Take Over the School; Early Dismissal at 12:15 p.m.
