Here is a link to the NMC Horizon Report referenced in the SPO Meeting on Thursday May 19th.
NMC Horizon Report 2011 K-12 Edition (PDF 492K)
Congratulations to 7th graders Mikaela S., Rose H., and Krista S. for finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association’s Law Day essay writing contest. This year’s theme was The Legacy of John Adams, From Boston to Guantanamo.
If you get a chance, stop by The Moxie this weekend to catch the screening of Lily’s Petals, a film created by Summit high schoolers. This film was created at part of the SATO48 film competition. In this competition, each team is given an “inspiration package” and 48 hours to make a 5 minute movie. This year’s inspiration package was a ziploc baggy containing two dead octopuses.
The films will be shown, along with 9 other films from the competition at 5pm Friday April 22nd, 11am Saturday April 23rd, and 5pm Saturday April 23rd. Tickets can be purchased at The Moxie box office or online.
We will be conducting ERB testing for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from Tuesday April 12th-Friday April 15th. The testing will take place in the mornings each day. Students should bring something to read to keep themselves quietly occupied if they finish early.
Day 1 of the Mock Trial State Finals.
Congratulations to the upper school LAD Fair winners for 2011.
Middle School
1st Place, Book Without Illustrations: Katie C.
1st Place, Short Free Verse: Ethan C.
1st Place, Other Poetry: Rose H.
2nd Place, Sonnet: Mikaela S.
2nd Place, Individual Collage: Mikaela S.
3rd Place, Other Poetry: Ayush D.
3rd Place, Sonnet: Rose H.
Honorable Mention, Sonnet: Ayush D.
Honorable Mention, Short Rhymed Poetry: Rose H.
Honorable Mention, Creative Nonfiction: Katie C.
High School
1st Place, Documented Essay: Theo S.
1st Place, Literary Analysis of Theme: Lydia S.
1st Place, Long Free Verse: Pooja P.
2nd Place, Literary Analysis of Theme: Joe M.
2nd Place, Documented Essay: Joe M.
2nd Place, Creative Nonfiction: Lydia S.
3rd Place, Long Free Verse: Joe M.
3rd Place, Documented Essay: Lydia S.
Honorable Mention, Literary Analysis of Technique: Theo S.
Di teaches the High School about the importance of the election of 1876.
Dear Parents,
Upper school is bustling with learning and energy. It is a continual amazement to me to watch the excitement housed in this end of The Summit. I am pleased to see smiling faces throughout the day as the students are inspired by their studies. I am energized as I watch the teachers working in their passionate areas and can think of no better place on the planet for students to prepare for their journey into young adult life. I have had many individualized conversations with students throughout the past few weeks. Without fail, the students have told me that they are enjoying school and feel challenged in their studies.
Currently students are preparing for the science fair, finalizing LAD fair selections, preparing for the state mock trial (kudos to our “ legal eagles” for winning the regional competition hosted by the Springfield Bar Association), preparing for the spring concert under the direction of Mr. Keech, teaching ballet and Lego robotics classes, creating the year book, presenting cultural studies to the lower school, attending college classes at MSU, investigating colleges both locally and regionally, exploring the world of public affairs, and the list goes on. The admissions office has been busy giving tours and taking applications from both middle and high school students. I get to visit with these prospective families and it is my pleasure to convey to each family what a wonderful educational opportunity their student can find at The Summit. Without fail, each family has stated that this is the school they have been looking for. The future is exciting for The Summit!
This coming Tuesday, March 1, 2011 you are invited to attend upper school with your student. See first-hand the excitement of the upper school program. It would be helpful if you will notify us that you will be attending so that we know how to plan. You may visit for the whole day or slip in for a few hours. We want you to have the opportunity to see what we enjoy on a daily basis.
Thursday, March 3, 2011 upper school will have a field experience at both Drury University and Missouri State University. We will attend the 11:00 convocation at Drury with guest speaker Temple Grandin.
At the conclusion of the convocation, Drury will host our students to a free lunch and then tours of their campus. In the afternoon students will go to Missouri State for social studies enrichment. The high school has been invited to learn about public affairs and will be attending a public affairs luncheon during the month of April. They will learn about a free public affair leadership camp offered this summer. It is exciting to be hosted by both of these universities and the invitations indicate the good name The Summit has in the educational community.
On Friday March 4, 2011 the school will be hosting parent teacher conferences. You will find your teachers in the upper school area on the third floor of the school building. Please plan on coming by and visiting with the teachers during regular school hours, 8:45-3:45. The upper school team welcomes the opportunity to visit one on one with both you and your student about current educational experiences and progress.
Kathy Reynolds
Things are running smoothly in upper school this semester. I am thrilled to hear students speak of things they are learning and see joy on their faces. Comments from both students and teachers are confirming that things are on track for a successful second semester.
Monday, at the all school parent meeting, we had the opportunity to hear the survey results and received a preview of next school year. On February 15 at 6:30 p.m. we will have an upper school parent meeting for you and anyone else who would like to learn more about the direction that upper school will be taking next year. Middle school will be discussed as well as the plan to further solidify the high school program. The high school committee has done a lot of work in this area and has tweaked our existing program with even more exciting plans. You will want to attend this informational meeting. We want to hear any ideas that you have to further support the upper school.
The upper school had a dance scheduled for February 10. After speaking with the students we have decided to go another direction for that evening. Currently, Springfield Little Theater is presenting the play Big River and schools are able to attend the evening of February 10 for $8.00 a ticket. Big River is a musical drama about the story of Huckleberry Finn. Several students have asked if we could go to dinner and then attend the play. I would like to make either of these optional. A student may just go to the play, just go to dinner, or go to both. I will need to know the number of those going to the play so that I can reserve tickets. I can charge the ticket price to the student account; however, students will need to bring cash for dinner. Please send me a quick email at kreynolds@thesummitprep.org and let me know if your student will be going to the play. If I have the count by this Friday, January 28, I should have no problem reserving tickets. We have not yet decided on a location for dinner since we do not know the numbers. As soon as that decision is made I will inform you. My best guess is that it will be somewhere downtown. You will be responsible for taking your student to the venue and picking him/her up when it is over.
This week I have had the joy of sitting in on upper school classes. I know that our teachers are excellent; however, watching them in the classroom this week was a show of inspiration. We have some of the best teachers in the nation at our school. They deserve our praise and encouragement. We also have quality students that learn well under these teachers. The thinking skills and problem solving I observed also deserves our praise. Summit students will clearly be leaders in the adult world for which they are preparing. I thank you for entrusting the education of your student(s) to our school. Your support is appreciated.
Remember, if you have concerns about curriculum or assignments you can visit The Summit upper school website (http://summitupperschool.org) or log on to teacherease (www.teacherease.com) for the online grade book. Our teachers check their email daily and will answer any questions you may have about your child or their classes in a timely fashion. I will be waiting to hear from you about the level of participation to expect from your child on February 10.
Enjoy this time in your child’s life,
Kathy Reynolds
