There are many reasons a teen may choose a military school instead of a traditional private school. A common misconception is that all military school’s are “like boot camp” and that is far from the truth. Ask yourself: Does your teen thrive in a structured environment? Is it important that they are involved and belong to something bigger than themselves? Are they interested in serving their country? 

Five reasons to choose a private military school for your teen.

1. Strong Core Values.

Students at military schools are held accountable to live out the school’s core values. At Admiral Farragut Academy those core values are: integrity (being of strong moral character), self-discipline (making good choices), perseverance (accomplishing one’s goals), and wellness and fitness (to achieve their full potential).

2. Structure and Purpose.

A private military school provides the structure necessary for students to learn discipline, respect, and time management skills. Students are also challenged and expected to create goals, reach those goals, and ultimately discover their purpose.

3. Pride and Respect.

Teens are expected to wear their military uniform with pride and respect. On a daily basis, they must be clean cut with their uniform pressed and shoes shined. It teaches them to take pride in how they appear and as the saying goes, “when you look sharp, you feel sharp.”

4. Leaders and Role Models.

Military school students, known as cadets, are required to actively lead their peers and be role models to the younger students. Some PreK-12 private schools are military only in 8th-12th grade, and, starting in PreK, the younger students look up to the older students and are excited to reach the time when they too can wear the uniform and lead.

5. Nominations, Appointments, and Scholarships.

Admiral Farragut Academy is an honor naval school, which means the Naval Science Department is allowed to give out 6 nominations to the U.S. Naval Academy, 5 to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and 3 to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This is an outstanding advantage for those students interested in pursuing a military career or wanting to receive full-tuition ROTC scholarships in college.

A military school is a place where teens find success because the approach to leadership transforms, inspires, and empowers young people to create a positive change in their school and communities.

Is your teen up for the challenge? Do you want your child growing up in an environment that asks them to live on purpose, with purpose? If the answer is yes, a private school with a high school military structure would be the perfect fit.

On December 17, 2016, Noah Silverberg and April Hensley said “I Do” in the Garden Theater at Admiral Farragut Academy. This event was the culmination of a relationship that had started for April and Noah on the first day of school in 2002, when Noah was starting 6th grade and April was starting 7th.

“Noah and I first met outside the lockers next to Coach Nick’s room,” April said. “We were introduced by our mutual friends Hayden Buttner ‘08 and Julian Geffon ‘08. Our friendship grew in computer class where we sat next to each other trying to figure out how to correctly make a Powerpoint presentation and the different functions of Excel.”

They became close friends and went to the 8th grade winter formal dance together. In high school, they became inseparable and fell in love. They ran track together, learned to sail for their QBH together, and even took their electives together. They were perspectives travel week partners, where they joined 15 of their classmates on a trip to Costa Rica. Upon graduating from Farragut in 2008, April attended the Florida State University nursing program and Noah followed soon after his own graduation in 2009.

“Living in Tallahassee was a great experience for us,” April said. “Although Florida State University is a large public university, we found the southern hospitality and closeness we shared with our college friends and classmates similar to the experience we found at Farragut.”

April and Noah decided to wait until completing their nursing degrees to get engaged. As promised, Noah proposed one day after graduation.

“During the wedding planning process, we toured multiple wedding venues but nothing quite felt right,” April said. “Over a glass of wine one night, we started talking about our love story and Farragut kept popping up.”

“Farragut was where we first met. Farragut was where we grew up together. Farragut had to be where we took the next big step in our lives.”

The ceremony in Farragut’s Garden Theater was everything they wanted. “It was a beautiful ceremony that we shared with our family and closest friends,” April said. “Farragut has played such a large role in our love story and it was the perfect ending to a beautiful beginning.”

April and Noah currently reside in St. Petersburg, Florida. April is a Registered Nurse at Tampa General Hospital and has plans to go back to school to become an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. Noah is a Registered Nurse at Morton Plant Hospital.

The central story of the most recent edition of Reveille is about Mike “Coach Nick” Nicholson, who recently retired after 39 years of educating, coaching, and inspiring our students.

It’s a famous story by now. It was 1978.

A 25-year-old Mike Nicholson, was fresh out of Hampden Sydney University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was living in a house with several other graduates, and he was looking for a job teaching science. He looked through a booklet of local schools that were hiring and found the name Admiral Farragut Academy. “I thought, ‘a military school? I don’t think I can work there!’” Mike, known fondly today as Coach Nick, recalled.

Coach Nick in 1978, his first year of teaching He applied anyway, and was granted an interview with Headmaster Richard “Dick” Wheeler. This being his first interview out of college, he had to buy a brand new suit. “I could’ve sworn I’d removed all the tags,” he explained, still brimming with energy 39 years later. “But when I got home, my roommate noticed a huge ‘SEARS’ tag hanging from my arm!”

It was perhaps because of this youthful oversight, in addition to Mike’s intelligence, honesty, and enthusiasm during the interview, that Mike was quickly hired as the Junior School science teacher. And though the divisions have shifted and changed over the years, Mike’s position as science teacher has remained constant. Most recently, he taught the Lower School 4th-7th grade classes.

“I grew up here,” Mike said. “I’ve watched so many kids grow up here. I’ve taught them and watched them graduate, and then years later I’ve taught their kids.”

Mike has not only taught and inspired kids with science, but he’s done so on the track, soccer field, and basketball courts as well. He’s coached cross country and Middle School track and field for most of his years at Farragut, and he coached Soccer from 1979 through the early 90’s and was assistant coach for basketball for several years. In 1991 and 1994 he helped bring two Florida State Championship titles to Farragut. This long history of coaching kids has earned him the ubiquitous nickname, “Coach Nick”.

Coach Nick’s way of stimulating excitement in his students quickly made him a favorite teacher. So much so, in fact, that in 2001, he was selected to carry the Olympic Torch in Daytona Beach.

“I really wasn’t expecting it!” said Coach Nick. “I was at my parents’ house for the summer, and my mother came in with the phone, telling me it was the Olympic committee. I didn’t believe her. When I finally answered, they told me that a student had written to them, telling them why I deserved to carry the torch. The letter had moved them so much that they not only selected me to carry the torch, but they selected the student who wrote the letter as well.”

That day was not without its hitches. Being very soon after 9/11, security was so tight that instead of running with the torch, they had Coach Nick and the student in buses that drove them to the transfer point. Not only that, but somehow the film in the cameras was rendered unusable. “I don’t have a single picture to prove I did it,” Coach Nick laments. “I did get to keep the torch, though. It’s currently in the Farragut Museum.”

Coach Nick has 39 years worth of stories, and he loves sharing them all. Some of his most famous contributions to the school are his ghost tours. “There have been nights when cadets couldn’t sleep in their own dorms because of those stories,” Coach Nick laughs.

“They’re all true of course,” winked Coach Nick, “but one of the most true is one that happened a few years back. Two cadets came running to my room at 0600, completely terrified. The night before, around two in the morning, their door opened, and, they said, an old man in a brown robe came into their room, looked into each bunk, and left. The boys were so afraid, they couldn’t leave their beds until it was light out. We searched the entire school and we even checked local nursing homes to see if there were any patients missing, but we came up with nothing. It wasn’t a prank; I saw the true fear in their eyes, so I know they were telling the truth.” True or not, they’re great memories for students, faculty and staff alike.

“The first time I went on one of those tours,” says Assistant Head of Lower and Upper School and also director of Summer@Farragut, Jennifer Grabowski, who has worked with Coach Nick since 1996 and has known him since she was 16, “I was so scared that I made him walk me to my car. I feel silly about it now, but they were really scary!”

“I remember one day I walked into my classroom to find Coach Nick and a duck walking around the room,” said Sari Deitche, Science Department Chair and Biology teacher who has worked with Coach Nick since 2002. “As the duck was leaving me droppings, I asked Coach Nick what he was planning to do with the duck. Coach Nick replied that he had rescued the duck and thought maybe I could use it to help teach Life Science. So he was feeding it cat food in my classroom so that it would be comfortable with me. Fortunately for me, when Coach Nick walked out of the room, the duck followed closely behind. But I knew what Coach Nick meant. Use the resources around you and involve the students. I just choose to use fish, geckos, and skinks that remain in their cages.”

Coach Nick is an inspiration to his colleagues as well as his students. “I have grown tremendously as a teacher thanks in part to Coach Nick’s guidance, support, and friendship,” Mrs. Deitche continued. “As a teacher, he has taught me to be passionate and hands-on. He has also helped me be a better Science Department Chair. Our department now has all the proper safety gear, which includes fire blankets. Coach Nick has probably personally tested all the safety equipment we have during his demonstrations!”

Coach Nick is not just a teacher. He is a passionate teacher who is in love with teaching. He is a mentor to students and faculty. He does not just teach a concept. Instead, he shows you the concept so that you as the learner will be involved and remember.

He may be retiring from Admiral Farragut Academy, but Coach Nick will always be a teacher. We will always learn from him and remember what he has shown us, shared with us, demonstrated for us, and simply taught us.

Coach Nick: Thank you for all that you have given to the students, faculty, and to the school. May you enjoy your retirement and visit us often.

The Man With Big Shoes To Fill

Ironically, Henry, shoe size 14, is stepping into Coach Nick’s size 8.5 shoes at the same age Coach Nick joined Farragut.

The new Lower School science teacher, Henry Sadler, is a recent Eckerd College graduate with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. He has a wide range of experience in teaching both in the classroom and out in the natural world, and strongly believes that science literacy leads to good citizenship. He is a SCUBA instructor, who has taught hundreds of students, and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Henry has a deep love of nature and the ocean and loves to share his passions with all those around him. As a Marine Ecology teacher at the Island School in the Bahamas, he learned just how important it is to instill a passion for science in the minds of the next generation. In his free time, Henry spear fishes and fossil dives. Over the past few years, he has found Megalodon teeth (giant extinct shark), Mammoth teeth, ancient gator and mammal bones, and much more.

Originally Henry is from England but moved to St. Petersburg, Florida when he was young. His family moved again to Vermont but he loved Florida so much that he came right back and hasn’t left since.

Coach Nick is very excited about Henry taking over the Mills Science Center. “When Henry walked in, his eyes lit up,” Coach Nick said. “He immediately started pointing out all the collections I had in the classroom. He even perked up when he heard Josephine, and said, ‘is that a cockatoo I hear?!” and she immediately warmed to him. Which, as many know, Josephine doesn’t always play nice!”

Henry, welcome to the Farragut family!

Letter from an Alumnus and Former Student

Coach Nick with Chris Malfant ’93, bottom, and another student

Chris Malfant ‘93, then Battalion Commander and now Duke University Graduate and Vice President at AIG, wrote us this letter to honor Coach Nick.

Mike Nicholson touched so many lives during his 40 years at Farragut that we could all fill up a book with stories of his unselfish sacrifice on behalf of the students he taught, coached, and mentored. His passionate teaching in the classroom (who can forget that killer diagram of the sun he drew every year), his decades in the dorm as a dorm father, and his coaching ability inspired all who knew him.

With age you gain perspective and can review the pivotal points in life. These are the experiences that go to the core of the person you have become. I wish we could print all the stories that might begin to help convey the depth of impact Mike has had on hundreds and hundreds of cadets over the years. However, I will share one story and hope that it encapsulates the kind of impact Mike had on me and on fellow Farragut cadets.

I had just moved to Florida in the summer of 1986. I was a young kid from Michigan, new to the school, and new to the concept of boarding. Announcements were made about tryouts for the cross country team. Cross country? What’s that, I asked – not having any idea what was in store for me. I learned that all you needed to do was run three miles. That sounded long but I figured I would give it a whirl. We all gathered by the science center to run the “lollipop” in the neighborhood on the other side of 9th Avenue close to Park Street.

The terms of the tryout? “Everyone who finishes ahead of me makes the team,” Coach Nick said, and so off we went. The kids were strung out in a long line snaking through the neighborhood – panting, running, jogging, and some walking. At the end of the run, there I was and there Coach Nick was, dogging it a little bit to make sure that everyone who tried out made the team. He never cut anyone at this tryout and was willing to work with anyone who wanted to show up and put in effort.

I made the team, and started running for Farragut. I didn’t know then but my involvement with cross country and track would ultimately culminate in two state titles, a collegiate running career at Duke University, and being elected captain of my senior college team… all because Coach Nick decided to run a little slower that day.

I think the way Mike treats others is a direct result of the fact that he has a heart of gold and spirit of a lion.

What a great gift to be able to affect so many people over the years. Many of us may have started out our lives wanting to change the world. Mike changed the world for the better, one student at a time. His example and dedication set him apart – and I am extremely grateful to be able to call him my teacher, coach, mentor, and friend.

Read the latest edition of our bi-annual school publication. This edition focuses on our amazing faculty, and features Mike “Coach Nick” Nicholson, who has left a lasting and indelible mark on Admiral Farragut Academy.

Admiral Farragut Academy is happy to welcome many new faces to our school this year!

Welcome New Faculty and Staff

Our new faculty and staff are, from left to right: Rebecca Blake, Upper School Marine Science teacher; Henry Sadler, 4th-7th grade Science Teacher; Grady Heiss, Upper School Science and Robotics teacher; Gary Frost, Upper School Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and Engineering teacher; Mark Sanchez, 1st Sergeant; Mary Rice, Athletic Administrative Assistant; Erin Olesnevich, Lower School Spanish and 6th & 7th Grade Life Skills teacher; Mike Morris, Residential Life instructor and Lacrosse Coach; Matt Olesnevich, Head of PreK-12th Grade; Marc Williar, Upper School math and accounting teacher; Jasmine Xiang, Lower School Mandarin Chinese teacher; and Cathy Windish, Upper School Psychology and Language Arts teacher. Not pictured are Jim Becker, Residential Life instructor, and Suzanne Douglass, Director of Nursing.

Welcome New Students

Please welcome 36 new Lower School students and 101 new Upper School cadets! Out of the 101 Upper School cadets, 63 of them are new boarders.

Our global community represents 28 countries!

• Thailand
• Spain
• Russia
• Jamaica
• Ukraine
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Bahamas
• Cayman Island
• Brazil
• Canada
• Mexico
• China
• Colombia
• Czech Republic
• Ecuador
• St. Lucia
• Monaco
• Germany
• Latvia
• Guatemala
• Japan
• S. Korea
• Peru
• Mongolia
• Malaysia
• Saudi Arabia
• UK

We’re so glad to have all of you as a part of the Farragut Family!

Admiral Farragut Academy provides many opportunities for its students to learn and have fun after school! There are many different after school programs for students to choose from, from sports to science to Minecraft, so they can always find something they’ll like.

Challenge Island: K-3rd Grade

Challenge Island is where engineering meets imagination! It’s a one of a kind enrichment program on the cutting edge of S.T.E.A.M (Science,Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) Education and 21st Century Learning. Inspired by a popular reality TV show, each semester of Challenge Island takes place on a unique Island where our adventurous tribes tackle high-level thinking and engineering challenges at whimsical weekly destinations.

Little Jackets Sports Program – K-5th Grade

The Little Jackets Sports Program incorporates sports offered in 6th-12th Grade at Admiral Farragut Academy. Twice a month the coaches of our school will be helping the Lower School students learn the basics of their sports. Each class will consist of 2-3 different sports and the sports will be rotated throughout the program. Some examples of the sports that will be offered are volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, track, and football.

Mad Science – K-5th Grade

We are on a mission: By making science fun we aim to inspire an interest in science and a love of learning in children that will last a lifetime. In this “enlightened” program students will not believe their eyes as they examine different optical illusions and watch as light and color interact to trick their sense of sight.  Children will also put their taste buds to the test, learn how we get the “pop” in soda pop and have a “hair raising” experience working with static electricity.  They will explore the science of nutrition and being healthy, and experience the amazing power of magnetism.  The basics of sound will be uncovered with a cool Mad Science twist that includes the use of a sound machine to distort sound and our voices and experience the incredible power of heat and how it can transform matter.

LEGO Robotics – 4th-7th Grade

The Robotics Club will participate in the highly competitive FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL). FLL introduces students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams discover exciting career possibilities and, through the process, learn to make positive contributions to society.

Tennis – K-3rd Grade/4th-7th Grade

Come and join us for After School Tennis. All levels are welcome from Kindergarten to 7th grade. Tennis is coached by Coach Dean from the Treasure Island Yacht and Tennis Club. There will be differentiated instruction based on individual ability level. Instruction, drills, and games will all be incorporated into each lesson.

Makerspace – 4th-7th Grade

The Makerspace Club is a place where students use their research skills and imagination to build and create any project of their choosing. Each project will vary depending on a student’s interests and is chosen by the student, not the teacher. Students will need to work hard and be self-motivated to create a project that excites them. Tools and materials will be available for student use and the teacher will help solve any building/creating problems that arise. The 3D printer will be available for use by any student in Makerspace. Students will be able to take home and keep their final projects.

Minecraft – 4th-7th Grade

The Minecraft Club is designed for students who enjoy all things Minecraft.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a Minecraft expert, we have something for everyone. The club will be using MinecraftEdu software which has additions to the original game to ensure that it is appropriate and educational for all members. Come explore the world of Minecraft with other passionate players!

Put on that cowboy hat and rustle up a great book at the 2017 Scholastic Book Fair!

The book fair will be opening on Monday, October 9th and run through Friday, October 13th. We will have volunteers to run the fair before and after school and during lunch and recess, so your student will have plenty of chances to find their new favorite book! Our family event will be held on Thursday, October 12th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

www.scholastic.com/bf/afa

Dads, grandpas and uncles! Join your Lower School student during “Pancakes with Pops”, a breakfast catered especially for you to share some precious time with your student.

September 15, 2017

7:45 – 8:15 am

Locations

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Houston, TX before Harvey (left) and after Harvey (right)

During this time of devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Admiral Farragut Academy is reaching out to help Farragut alum, families, and members of our broader community who have been affected by this natural disaster. We, as a community, will be looking for ways to support those members of our Farragut Family in Texas. Please keep your eye on our weekly communication detailing our efforts in the upcoming weeks and months.

This story was submitted by junior cadet Hunter Gordon.

Last Friday night on September 15, 2017, the Admiral Farragut Academy Color Guard marched the American Flag for the Rays game against the Red Sox. Five cadets marched onto the field with junior Hunter Gordon as their Commander. About 15,000 fans watched as the national anthem was played. Afterward, everyone watched the action-packed game between their home team and the Red Sox.

It was an eventful and exciting way to start off the weekend!” said Hunter Gordon. “Thank you to Senior Naval Science Instructors, Commander Rick Schock and First Sergeant Mark Sanchez, for taking us to this event.”

Cadet Hunter Gordon

Hunter has been a member of the Admiral Farragut Academy Color Guard for three years now and is proud of all the team has accomplished. She hopes to command future Color Guards for the Rays and represent her school in the most honorable way.

Cadet Evan Shlifstein

Before the 2016-17 school year ended, Evan Schlifstein ‘19 added an informational billboard to Admiral Farragut Academy’s waterfront. The billboard features local fish, plants, birds, and crustacean species that are often found in or near Boca Ciega Bay.

Evan completed this as part of his Eagle Scout project for Boy Scouts of America Troop 383 based out of Clearwater, Florida. “All I have left is the paperwork and then I will earn the rank of Eagle Scout,” said Evan who hopes to submit it all soon.

Evan Schlifstein with Boy Scout Troop and Farragut Dockmaster after he finished installing the billboard.

“Earning my Eagle Scout rank is something I have always hoped to achieve since I started Boy Scouts at seven years old,” said Evan.

Evan’s father, Bret Schlifstein, and brother, Ian Schlifstein who graduated in the AFA Class of 2015, also earned their Eagle Scout rank.

“It’s really cool to continue the legacy. The project took around six months to research, raise funds, collaborate with my science teachers, create the design, get final approval, order and install the billboard. I chose something to do with science because it’s my favorite subject.”

After Hurricane Irma, Evan was relieved to see that his billboard stayed intact and he is looking forward to going to the waterfront after school to see what his peers think.

Evan has attended Farragut since he was in fourth grade and participates in soccer and track, is the Battalion Executive Officer on the battalion, and is involved in Student Government and Model United Nations. Last year, during his sophomore year, he was number one in his class for academics. Right now, Evan is still deciding what he will major in once he graduates. He is considering attending the University of Miami, which is also where his dad attended and his brother currently attends. He has hopes for a ROTC scholarship.

Evan concluded, “Special thank you to Admiral Farragut Academy Science Department Chair Sari Deitche, the Marketing and Communication Department, Maintenance Department, Farragut Dockmaster Dennis Collins, and Proforma Mega Solutions owner Deborah Lanigan for help making this project a reality by donating their advice, time, and materials.”

Dear Parents, Alumni, Family, and Friends:

You are invited to the Admiral Farragut Academy Parents’ Group annual Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament will be held at the beautiful Pasadena Yacht and Country Club (PYCC), which has been newly renovated with the installation of paspalum grass on the fairways and tees. PYCC is located just four miles from our school.

Parents’ Group Annual Golf Tournament

Friday, November 10, 2017
8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start

Pasadena Yacht and Country Club

6300 Pasadena Point Blvd S.
Gulfport, FL 33707

Learn More About the Golf Tournament (email invitation)

Register Online for Golf Tournament

Over the summer, sophomore Bianca DeSilva attended The University of Florida’s Science Quest Program‘s Biological Sciences session for students entering 10th grade.

“It was great,” Bianca said. “It was only a week long, but we did so much during that week. I learned a lot about different kinds of sciences like geology, zoology, and anthropology.”

The program also consisted of lectures and demonstrations by experts in the field.

Bianca’s favorite part of the experience was when the group visited Santa Fe College’s Harvey Sharron Bat Cave, a cave system where they were able to study hydrology by viewing the aquifer. “We were learning about hydrology and how water works,” Bianca said. “We couldn’t disturb the aquifer, but we got to watch how the water moved through it. There were places where the cave got smaller and we had to crawl through it on our stomachs, and we even got to see the bats!”

Another day, they sat in a lecture by a pair of anthropology grad students from UF. “They described a few cases that they were included on. The police notify them and they go to crime scenes and look at the bones and determine how the person died. Then we got to study bones ourselves. It was really interesting.”

Anthropology was the subject that got Bianca really excited. “I’m still interested in radiology, but right now I’m definitely considering anthropology as a career.” She’s excited about UF too. “The University of Florida is at the top of my list. I’m also looking into some top 20 schools up north, but I think it’d be really cool to go to UF.”

Cave diving and bone identifying weren’t the only new experiences for Bianca.

“I’ve gone to other camps but this is the first time I stayed in university dorms so it was a first for me,” said Bianca, who is a day student at Farragut. “It was a fun experience for me. I really liked boarding there. I’ve seen pictures of the Farragut dorms so it kinda reminded me of the dorms here. I’m friends with my roommate and we still talk all the time.”

She’s already excited for next summer. “There’s camps at UF and FSU, and in those you get to work with actual researchers in the labs. It sounds so fun, I hope I get in!”

Outside of science, Bianca is a member of her local chapters of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), where she specializes in insurance and risk management, and DECA, where she specializes in personal financial literacy. She also plays tennis for Admiral Farragut Academy.

Read the original article here. All photos are courtesy of the University of Florida’s Center for Precollegiate Education and Training’s Facebook page.

Junior Valentina Fornaro Galliano submitted this story about the Academic Team Brain Brawl Tournament.

On the 23rd of September, our Academic Team competed in the Academic Team Brain Brawl Tournament that was held at Gaither High School.

Farragut brought two teams – AFA 1 and AFA 2. On AFA 1 were Evan Schlifstein ‘19, Chris Northup ‘18, Gianni DeFelice ‘19, Hunter Gordon ‘19, and Bianca DeSilva ‘20. On AFA 2 were Spencer Kirtland ‘19, Fernando Robalino ‘20, Mitchell Lewis ‘21, Andrey Chekalsy ‘19, and Stephen Smiley ‘19.

AFA 1 was able to take 7th place out of a total of 32 teams with AFA 2 taking 29th place. Chris Northup was the highest scorer, scoring 80 of the 100 points from the third round for AFA 1.

The teams competed in 3 rounds before lunch and 3 more after lunch. AFA 1 scored 100 points in the 3rd round, allowing them to get into both the quarter and the semifinals.

The questions included knowledge pertaining to Naval Science, current events, and bonus questions covering literature, music, sports, and TV shows.

We want to thank Commander Schock for giving us the opportunity for our Academic Team to compete in the Brain Brawl and have such a good experience.

Register now for Coach Allen’s Co-ed Basketball Clinics which covers passing, ball handling, shooting, defense, and basketball IQ. This will be an evening clinic for students in 4th-8th grade and held on Oct 8th, Oct 22nd, and Nov 5th.

Kids will learn how to improve:

• Ball Handling
• Shooting
• Stationary Moves
• Moves in transition
• Moves to get an open Jump Shot
• Ability to finish around the Basket
• Basketball IQ

Great Environment for Learning:

• Fundamental Instruction & Demonstration
• Knowledgeable Coaches
• Breakdown Groups
• Repetition & Feedback
• Energy & Encouragement

Location: Huntley Gym
Ages: Current 4th-8th graders
Date: Oct 8 / Oct 22nd / Nov 5th
Time: 6:00- 8:00 pm
Theme: Passing, Ball Handling, Shooting, Defense, Basketball IQ
$30 pp
10 kids minimum to run

For specific questions regarding clinics contact Coach Julian Allen.
Jallen@farragut.org
Cell # 443-813-9276

See pictures from the summer camp.

Last week in Marilyn Reynolds’ Kindergarten class, a mystery was afoot. The students were reading clues to figure out who would be this week’s “Guest Chef”.

“Her favorite color is black,” Mrs. Reynolds read to the students from the whiteboard. “She likes crossfit, and she has a law degree from Lebanon. Who is it?”

“Guest chef is always a surprise,” Mrs. Reynolds said later. “They send me 3-4 clues about themselves that is written for students to help read, and then the students can make a ‘prediction’ about who they think is coming from the clues. We record all their predictions and review them when the guest chef comes.”

Last week’s guest chef was Lara Shamseddine’s mom, Sarah, along with her assistant Cameron Weaver’s mom, Crystal. The recipe of the day was homemade applesauce to go along with the theme of the week: APPLES!

“Mrs. Reynolds knew I owned an apple peeling machine, which had been my grandfather’s, and would make it really easy for the kids to help peel the apples,” said Crystal.

“I try to make education very interactive,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “The students help by peeling, chopping, stirring, measuring ingredients, helping read and follow directions, and of course the most important part — eating it all up!”

Mrs. Reynolds tries to cover every subject with the weekly theme. Even the homework is theme related. “For apples week, the students each brought in an apple which we graphed and measured (math), sunk, floated, and exploded and studied the life cycle (science), and studied the history of Johnny Appleseed (social science),” Mrs. Reynolds explained. “We also wrote about apples and our favorite kind and we researched where apples come from and how they get from the tree to the grocery store (reading and writing).”

All the work the students did studying apples led into the next theme which is garden and vegetables. “We are taking the apple seeds we counted and collected (math) and are planting them with other fruits and veggies in the Kindergarten garden outside of the PreK classroom.”

Since Mrs. Reynolds is also ASL certified, the students also learn sign language along the way.

“The parents sign up through an online sign up sheet,” said Mrs. Reynolds. “They are also able to be a mystery reader, a sign language buddy, and they are able to help out with a STEM activity.”

Earlier this month Ms. Grabowski, Assistant Principal of PreK-12th Grade, read Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes and taught the students how to bake cupcakes. She even sent them on a mystery hunt to find the missing cupcakes around campus. Later this month the students will be learning about arachnids and spiders and will even cook “edible spiders”. Later this year they will also be inviting their grandparents to a special stone soup cooking activity and meal. “It’s so much fun,” said Mrs. Reynolds, “the students really love it!”

Email Marilyn Reynolds at mreynolds@farragut.org if you would like to be a Guest Chef.

Last week at Admiral Farragut Academy, our Upper School students showed their spirit with five themed days of dress up and finished off the week with the Homecoming Dance at The Club at Treasure Island.

Decades Day

For Decades Day, 8th graders dressed as the 1950’s, Freshmen dressed as the 1960s, Sophomores dressed as the 1970s, Juniors dressed as the 1980s, and Seniors dressed as the 1990s.

Flock Day

For Flock Day, groups of friends formed flocks by dressing similarly. There were a lot of clever spins on this idea, such as the Scooby gang, a group of football players, and even a group of students dressed like Language Arts teacher and wrestling coach Andrew LaCroix (identifiable by the cans of LaCroix flavored sparkling water they carried with them). The teachers even get involved, with the Science Department forming a flock of mad scientists.

Sports Day

On Sports Day, students were encouraged to wear the jersey of their favorite sports team. There were jerseys ranging from football teams to baseball teams and even international soccer teams.

Marvel/DC Superhero Day

On Superhero day, students wore outfits inspired by Marvel and DC superheroes. Some went all out, dressing in full costume as Spiderman or Batman, while others went with a t-shirt or jacket. A group of students dressed as superheroes visited the First Grade classroom and read with them as well!

Battalion Day

To finish out the week, the Upper School Students dressed in their Battalion gear for the very first Battalion Wars of the school year! Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie competed against each other in five events designed to test their speed, skill, and endurance.

“The students were really hyped and enthusiastic,” Mr. LaCroix, who organized the Battalion Wars, said. “Education is always first, but lasting memories are important as well, and I firmly believe this is helping to enhance the students experience here at AFA.”

Scores:

Homecoming Dance

The final event of Spirit Week was, of course, the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night at The Club at Treasure Island. Students dressed to impress and danced the night away!

Last week at Admiral Farragut Academy, our Lower School students showed their spirit with five themed days of dress up.

Crazy Hat Day

For Crazy Hat day, our Lower School students wore some crazy hats! These hats included fascinators, Mickey Mouse ears, and even a giant squid!

Crazy Sock Day

For Crazy Sock day, our Lower School students got colorful with their crazy socks!

Sports Day

On Sports Day, students were encouraged to wear the jersey of their favorite sports team.

Blue and Gold Day

On Blue and Gold day, students were encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing the school colors! First Grade even had some Superhero visitors from Upper School come in to read to them!

AFA Class Spirit Shirt Day

On Friday, students got to wear their Class Spirit shirts to the Lower School assembly, where they got to see a demonstration of Mad Science!