Aerial shot taken by AFA Drone Club

Bulldozers are on campus, dirt is being moved, and a contractor trailer is in place. It is official, we have begun the construction of our new building! We are now 13 months away from moving into a new facility that will house an auditorium, music room, art room, conference rooms, as well as admissions and administrative offices.

“This building will be transformative for our campus. Every cadet and student will have weekly use of this facility in one way or another,” said Headmaster CAPT Fine.

Gilbane Construction has been contracted to bring the John Poe Architects plans to life. The 20,000 foot building will be situated in the heart of campus. The project also includes a tremendous expansion of parking and will have a domino impact on current facilities as certain programs and offices move into the new building, additional departments can expand into the vacated spaces.

Fundraising for the new building continues as we have raised over $3.5 million to date. We invite you to be a part of this inspirational new chapter for Farragut. Naming opportunities are still available as well as recognition on the Donor Honor Wall which will be prominently displayed in the auditorium’s main foyer.

To make a gift or pledge, please reach out to Tony Sloan at tsloan@farragut.org.

Photo credit: www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com

Admiral Farragut Academy Class of ’75’s Retired Navy Rear Admiral Mark “Buz” Buzby, who is the new Federal Maritime Administrator, was featured in Chesapeake Bay Magazine’s recent article “Anchor-Clanker, Admiral, Chesapeake Boater”, by author Beth Jannery.

“He told the Senate Committee, ‘My roots are in the Merchant Marine. Growing up in Atlantic City, my first breath of air was salt air. I got my first boat at age nine, and I bent on my first set of dress blues at age fourteen at Admiral Farragut Academy. I think you get the picture. I am proud to be an anchor-clanker. This is what I do, this is who I am.'”

Click here to read the full story.

The Admiral Farragut Foundation has closed the 2017 books on a record-breaking year. Donations exceeded $850k coupled with a strong market, the total assets have grown well over $1 million last year. The Foundation is currently at $5.3 million in assets.

During the year the Foundation Board interviewed several asset management companies and came to the decision to move the relationship to Main Management in San Francisco. The Foundation also increased its real estate holdings by acquiring three additional properties bordering the campus. Rent proceeds from these properties will go to the Foundation.  

As the Foundation continues to grow and support the Academy, we need to develop more supporters whose interest lay with the future and well-being of the Academy. One way to impact the Academy is to consider joining the Admiral Farragut Heritage Society. The Heritage Society are alumni and friends of Farragut who have included the Foundation in their estate plans. There are many benefits to informing us of your plans. First, it ensures that we understand your wishes so your gift will be used exactly as you intend. Second, it allows you to define your legacy and invest in the future of the Academy. Third, and most importantly, it provides us with the opportunity to recognize your generosity.

For more information on becoming a member of the Admiral Farragut Heritage Society or to inform us of a planned gift you have made, contact Tony Sloan at tsloan@farragut.org.

Thank you to all who have supported the Foundation this year. Job well done!!!

Written By: Sailing Coach Rebecca Hofmeister

Dawn breaks. The temperature outside is a crisp 54 degrees with overcast skies and impending rain. On December 9th the high school sailors from Admiral Farragut Academy loaded up in the car to head down to Sarasota for the third regatta of the season. The three teams of sailors, consisting of cadets Robert Laovoravit ‘18, Rex Walrond ‘19, Emmett Senentz ‘19, William Ries ‘22, and Osvaldo De Leon ‘22, had been preparing for this moment for weeks, and practiced at the waterfront almost every day.

When the team arrived in Sarasota, they set up their boats and prepared to head out on the water. As the forecasters predicted the wind started to build and the rain relented briefly only to come back with a vengeance. Yet, the students still suited up inasmuch gear as they could find and took to the water for their first two races. After a screaming reach to the sailing area, wind and ocean spray whipping about them the sailors lined up to start the race. All teams started well but as the races progressed the wind increased and so did the difficulty of keeping the boats flat and upright. Even in these difficult conditions, the sailors of Admiral Farragut managed to start and finish the races. That is until the second race of B fleet. The 28 teams lined up but as the countdown dwindled the wind picked up even more. After the start, only a handful of boats managed to stay upright. After that, racing was canceled for the day.

In the end, the regatta was described as “crazy!!” with only 4 races in each fleet, tons of wind and rain, one broken mast (luckily not ours), about a gallon of saltwater swallowed, and multiple capsizes. Even through all of the difficulties of the day the students came back with smiles on their faces, water in their boots, telling their coach “It was totally awesome!”.

This race is one of the examples of the extremes of the sport, more often than not we get a wide range of conditions from slow, light breeze to high winds but both can be equally difficult. It takes a lot of focus and drive to do well in the sailing community and it takes a certain type of person to see success when it happens. Not just the obvious forms of success, but the subtler forms. Looking at the results of the Admiral Farragut sailors from their first regatta to now you can see that success. They have come from the bottom and improved with each regatta they have sailed in. Each day that the AFA sailors go out on the water they improve, bit by bit, practice by practice.

In their next regatta on January 27th, the team sailed 10 separate races and were second place in the fourth and fifth races, after which they were ranked 4th overall. However, by the end of the day, the team was hungry and exhausted but still continued their upward trend placing 9th out of 16 boats.

Practice makes perfect and the sailors on the Admiral Farragut sailing team are proving it to us every regatta. With a little more effort and more time on the water, they will be able to keep moving up and become the racers they know they are.

On Thursday, January 25th, Science Department Chair and Upper School Marine Science and Biology teacher Sari Deitche, along with 4th-7th Grade Science & Marine Science teacher Henry Sadler, took a group of eight students from the Upper and Lower Schools to the Regional Ocean Conference for Students (ROCS) Conference at the Florida Aquarium.

While this was Mr. Sadler’s first year, it was Mrs. Deitche’s 13th time attending as a Farragut teacher, and she has also been a guest scientist in the past when she was working for Tampa Bay Watch.

The theme of this year’s conference was “My Story, Creating Change in Tampa Bay”. Each student was required to write an essay about their conservation story and how they attempted to make a positive environmental difference in their lives. Out of the essays in each teacher’s class, eight students were chosen; 7th graders Jillian Aprile, Calli McKee, Jack Sokolowski, and Madison Hollingsworth, Brielle Benefield ‘20, Ashley Liu ‘18, Bianca DeSilva ‘20, and Chloe Fretwell ‘18.

During the conference, they listened to stories and keynotes, had a discussion on extreme weather events, and participated in activities in which the students learned how to speak to an audience and get their message across so they may be heard. One favorite activity of both the students and Mr. Sadler and Mrs. Deitche was the Improv class, in which they engaged in three twenty minute activities that focus on creativity and finding their voice.

“The students enjoyed the improv activities and learning how to overcome any anxiety of speaking to an audience,” Mrs. Deitche said. “I personally think this was a great exercise for our students as they are preparing for college and job interviews and they need to learn these people-to-people skills.”

“The improv was my favorite, especially since I want to be an actor,” said Calli.

Another favorite was the talk about coral by Keynote speaker Keri O’Neil, The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Nursery Manager.

“It was really interesting to listen to her,” said Chloe. “She travels all over the place. She just got back from Australia and she got some of the coral from the reef, and she’s raising it here. It’s funny because nobody ever says that baby coral is cute, but it is!”

“It was cool to meet so many other people who want to help the environment from other countries,” said Ashley, who is an international student from China. “At our table, we had people from places like England and Africa!”

“It was great to hear the ideas of all the other students there for helping the environment,” Chloe added. “One guy takes used tennis balls and sends them to a facility that uses them to create tennis courts for disabled people. It was really cool.”

After the conference, the students were taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Florida Aquarium. They were able to see the inside of the Otter crossing station, and Mr. Sadler even said that a Spoonbill flew at them!

“That part was my favorite,” said Jack.

“The students had a great time,” said Mr. Sadler. “I even overheard them talking to their friends about the conference after the fact, and a couple of them said they want to go next year. Overall, I think it was a success.”

Students discuss their essays

“I thought I knew about all the plastics in the ocean,” said Chloe. “But when we learned about microplastics, stuff like the little beads in personal care products, as well as the plastics in nylon and polyester clothing, I was shocked. I’ve changed the kind of face wash, body wash, and toothpaste that I use. It might not be an epiphany or a gargantuan change, but it’s still a change. Anything that you can do, no matter the significance of it, can make a difference.”

“We have a lot of pollution in China, where I’m from,” said Ashley, who is an international student. “People sometimes have to cover their noses and mouths when they leave the house, it’s so bad. When I learned that our daily life causes such a big problem to the environment, I knew I had to make changes. The first thing I did was reconsider my mode of transportation. Automobile manufacturing, the manufacture of fuels, and the gases released by the burning of fuels cause pollution. It may not be realistic to give up a car altogether, especially in the city, but I still try my best to avoid using a car. I’ve started choosing public transportation a lot of the time. Also, saving energy will help save our environment. Even trivial things like turning lights off in unused rooms and not having a phone charger plugged in all day are very important for reducing air pollution because the electricity consumed by lights and appliances is generated by the power generation of coal or gas plants.”

“I grew up and still live on a bayou where it is normal to see trash littering the mangroves and water,” said Jack. “People just don’t seem to understand if you throw something off your boat or dock it doesn’t just go away. If you drop it on the ground along the road, it doesn’t just disappear. This all floats downstream in storm drains and rivers. It ends up in places like the bayou I live on. My home. My backyard. Many animals are endangered and at risk of extinction because of human pollution. Plastic bags are a real danger to sea turtles, which are terribly endangered because they look like jellyfish which are a major food source for them. Six pack plastic rings also threaten sea turtles. They can get tangled on their flippers or necks and cause sores and death. Simply placing these things in a recycling bin helps keep our world clean and safe for every creature.”

“When I was 9 years old, I went to a summer camp at Tampa Bay Watch in Tierra Verde, Florida,” said Calli. “At this camp, we focused on the conservation of marine biology, specifically pollution. We participated in multiple beach cleanups and planted seagrass. Participating in those cleanups and seeing all of this trash on the beaches definitely made me think about all the garbage I’ve seen before on beaches and have never really cared about. It has caused a behavior change in my everyday life. Now, instead of ignoring trash on the ground, specifically when I’m at beaches, I will pick it up and put it in either the recycling or garbage bins wherever I am. Something that the Tampa Bay Watch summer camp has taught me is that the garbage that goes into storm drains eventually finds its way into the oceans. So when you see garbage on the street, you should always pick it up while it’s not doing any harm before it can go into the oceans and potentially hurt or even kill an innocent marine animal.”

Shared by Denise Colangelo, President of the Parents’ Group

On Saturday, Feb. 3, fifty-eight combined fathers, grandfathers and girls descended upon the West Lounge wearing their finest dancing shoes for a night of dinner, dancing and sweet treats!

The room was transformed and filled with candy heart decorations to go with this year’s theme “Sweetheart Dance”. Girls were greeted with their own sweetheart cup and light up ring before taking photos with the special men in their lives.

Sage put on a spectacular display of delicious cuisine for all to enjoy. Guests feasted on steak, grilled chicken with cream sauce, wild mushroom ravioli, rice pilaf antipasto, and caprese salad with a choice of spa water, pink lemonade or sweet tea. The food was so good that many guests came back for second and third helpings!

The dessert table was filled with a variety of mini strawberry and chocolate cakes, brownie bites, cookies and jello parfaits. A candy bar was also set up and the girls were able to select their favorite treats and take them home in small treat bags for later.

Then the dance party got underway! Guests danced to the latest pop songs, personal requests and traditional father-daughter songs. They got down and boogied with the Electric Slide, Chicken Dance, Congo Line and YMCA.

Special thanks to the Parents’ Group, Dance Committee members; Victoria Raymer, Jennifer Preston, July Bonila, Cathy Larrinaga, Saskia Etter, Samantha Lewis and Shannon Stalzer for helping organize, plan, donate and decorate, and Sophie Raymer for her assistance in creating our centerpieces. The Parents’ Group would also like to thank Anita Fine for chaperoning the dance, Kat and the entire SAGE staff, the maintenance crew, Dennis Collins, Chris Bourque for filling in as their impromptu DJ, and Sophia Bourque for acting as their photographer.

“The girls said that it was the best night of their lives!” – Erika Watts, mother to 5th grader Justice and 2nd grader Erika.

“Thank you to the Parents’ Group for all your hard work. This has been the best dance that I’ve attended with my girls.” – Matt Etter, father to 4th grader Heidi, 1st grader Anne, and 2 and a half year old Clara.

Please join the Aviation Department in congratulating Diana Romanovskaya ‘19 (D-12) on earning her solo endorsement. Diana flew solo for the first time on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, in a Cessna 172, tail number N61925, on runway 7 at Albert Whitted Airport.

“Diana has worked very hard to develop her piloting and radio communication skills,” said Farragut’s Aviation Program Director, Rob Ewing. “She is always working to improve and is on her way to earning her private pilot certificate.”

Diana, a junior, is from Moscow, Russia and in her second year at Farragut. She originally attended Summer@Farragut, the boarding summer camp, but chose Farragut for boarding school and the aviation program.

“I want to become a commercial pilot in the United States,” she said. “In Russia, women are not allowed to be commercial pilots. Women are only allowed to be a pilot for the military so that would be something really special.”

She is no stranger to commercial flying either. “I moved to England in 2011 at 11 years old for boarding school, and I had to fly back and forth every month to see my family,” she explained. “The concept of traveling is so fun and the best way to get there is through flight. I can embrace that in my life if I’m a commercial pilot.”

Diana didn’t start out the day knowing she was going to fly solo. “I thought I would fly later in the week, maybe on Thursday, but as Mr. Ewing and I were flying he told me to land which initially confused me,” she said. “He had me go to full stop, and said, ‘I am getting off now’.” She said she wasn’t nervous. “He just surprised me. I knew I was ready. It felt so good. I knew what I was doing and I have practiced for so long that I felt prepared. I felt confident.”

“The tradition is to cut out a square of the back of the shirt or undershirt you were flying in and write down the tail number, instructor name, and their signature, and then you frame it. I’m definitely going to do that.”

Diana is dual enrolled with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Academy and is enrolled in Aviation Academy at Admiral Farragut Academy. She hopes to attend Ohio State or Embry-Riddle upon graduation. “I’m really excited because those are my two top priorities and I also have some senior friends this year that were accepted there as well.”

She has also fully embraced boarding life at Farragut. “For kids that haven’t been boarding before, boarding school makes you more independent. You learn that you need to take care of life yourself. You build your schedule and accomplish it all on your own,” she said. “But it’s also really fun because you’re with your friends. My friends are my family. My family back home even consider my best friend here a part of our family.

Click here to learn more about the Aviation Program at Admiral Farragut Academy.

“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I don’t think you can say it any better than that,” said Senior Naval Science Instructor, CDR Rick Schock. “We have a unique opportunity to combine academic excellence and character education here in part because of the NJROTC program, and we end up producing fine young men and women prepared for success in our global community.”

About 10 years ago the formal uniform had been discontinued due to high cost to families. The Navy funds one NSU uniform per cadet, but in the past Farragut parents were required to buy Salt and Peppers (white shirts with black trousers) and Dress Blues, Whites (an all white uniform), travel gear, as well as any extra uniforms cadets may have needed. Now, the Naval Science department has moved the uniforms into a more multipurpose model, with each uniform requiring the same black pants and shoes, interchanging with the khaki and white shirts. The Dress Blues only need the jacket over them.

No decision has highlighted these fine young people as the recent one to allow officers to, again, wear the Navy Service Dress Blues. It was a decision that couldn’t have come soon enough for this year’s Regimental Commander George Hamilton, Jr. ‘18.

Regimental Commander George Hamilton, Jr. ’18 during the Homecoming Parade in November

“I used to look through the window of the museum and see Charlie Duke’s dress blues and wish we could wear them,” George said. “For seven years I wanted them to come back. It was really when the Commandant CDR Wallingford ,CDR Schock and 1stSgt Worthy started talking about the idea.”

Although he’s not a graduate of Farragut, CDR Schock has a long family history here. “My uncle was Battalion Commander of North ‘46,” he said. “One thing I’ll never forget is that in his house in New Jersey in a place of prominence he had a picture of himself in front of the battalion in dress blues. When the opportunity came to join Farragut, one of the things that struck me was the lack of Dress Blues. It is the Navy’s formal traditional uniform, and as Farragut is the Navy’s only honor school I felt it was only appropriate that we bring them back.”

CDR Schock started with the students. “I asked the students how they felt about blues, and they very much wanted them back. They appreciated the tradition. 1stSgt Worthy and I felt the same way and we proposed it to the Commandant, and he totally agreed.” CDR Schock reached out to the NJROTC Area 07 Manager who made an additional $15,000 available to the Academy to purchase the uniforms.

Currently, the Regimental Staff wears the uniform once a week, as well as during parades and on special occasions. Consideration is being given to issuing the uniforms to not only Cadet Officers but to Cadet Chief Petty Officers next school year.

“I think that if you want to create a form of respect in the regiment, there’s no better way than to show a visual difference between the officers and the enlisted,” George said.

“When I first wore them, I got a lot of attention for them,” George added. “It’s a lot easier for newer students to find officers if they need to talk to them between classes or something. It presents a level of authority.”

“You can see us walking differently when we wear them,” said Public Affairs Officer Valentina Fornaro Galliano ‘19. “Seeing the old pictures of students standing at the quarterdeck wearing them, you can see that those students respect them. It’s a privilege to wear them.”

Public Affairs Officer Valentina Fornaro Galliano ‘19, left, and Administration Officer Hunter Gordon ’18, right, during morning formation

The Dress Blues have application beyond being a military uniform as well. “In our society, many teenagers don’t own a jacket or tie,” CDR Schock added. “We allow them to wear the blues on special occasions, such as to a congressional, college or job interview. They make a very strong impression. Part of dressing up, especially with teenagers, is that behavior comes along with it. You dress and look like a professional, you’re more likely to act like a professional.”

“They really do make us look more professional,” said Valentina. “For the girls especially, power dress is the best way of describing it. When we wear the uniform, we gain a bit more respect from the rest of the students.”

Alpha Battalion Commanding Officer Linda Delgado Libien ’19 during Alumni Homecoming

“I think the people who were the most impressed were the alumni,” said George. “When we first wore them for homecoming, they were asking when we’ll bring back dress whites and dress this and dress that, you know, they wanted more, because people like it when we’re dressed up.”

“The tradition of the school is very important to me,” said Valentina. “Traditions are one of the things that we’re really focusing on both bringing back and creating this year.”

“I’m very pleased the way the leaders have embraced this,” CDR Schock concluded, “and that something as small as a uniform can have such a powerful impact on the students’ behavior and thinking. I’m very glad we have it and I look forward to its continued wear.”

On February 16th, our color guard, drill team, football and softball team were invited to Nina Harris Center for Exceptional Children to share in a special activities day with their students for the 7th year in a row.

Everybody had a wonderful day. The Admiral Farragut Academy drill team and color guard gave a presentation, then students from both schools participated in football activities. The day ended in a dance party.

The athletics department would like to thank Phyllis Sava, PE coordinator at Nina Harris, and the staff for including Farragut in the festivities. They would also like to thank Drill Instructors Commander Rick Schock and First Sergeant Sanchez, Head Football Coach Rick Kravitz, and all of the students and student-athletes that volunteered their time to help make it a fantastic event.

On Friday, February 16th, the entire school participated in what is becoming one of our students’ favorite days of the year: Salt Marsh Planting! Lower and Upper School students, faculty, and staff came out to help plant springs in the school’s on-campus salt marsh nursery. It may be messy but they love using their hands to help our earth and support our local habitats.

Tampa Bay Watch has been running the Bay Grasses in Classes program since 1993. The program aims to provide students with hands-on experience in habitat restoration, while promoting science education and the value of maintaining a healthy environment. Over the past 18 years, the program on Farragut’s campus has grown in size and influence, with Farragut playing a major role with Tampa Bay Watch, which has its headquarters in nearby Tierra Verde.

Science Department Head and Biology and Marine Science teacher Sari Deitche, who was recently awarded the FAWQC’s E2 Fund grant, has been involved in Farragut’s program from its infancy.

“Admiral Farragut Academy has been a part of the program for longer than I have been teaching here,” Mrs. Dietche said. “As a matter of fact, when I worked at Tampa BayWatch, Admiral Farragut Academy was one of the schools I helped bring into the BGIC Program. That is how I learned about Farragut.”

This year, we transplanted half of our school’s salt marsh grasses (about 2,000 grasses) at a local restoration site in Pinellas County on December 6th.  The remaining salt marsh plugs (about 10 plants) were separated into “sprigs,” which are 2 to 3 plants, and replanted into our school nursery.  The entire school, from PreK to 12th grade, helped to replant the sprigs to fill the nursery for another growing season.  The sprigs will grow and reproduce to produce new plugs.

Currently, we have 54 trays with about 40 to 50 planting cells growing in the nursery.  Students will help monitor the growth, add salt, test pH, salinity and help maintain proper plant health throughout the year. The salt marsh grasses are grown on our campus until ready for a restoration project where the plants are then transplanted by our students into local sites in Tampa Bay.  A portion of the plants are recycled on campus and grown for another growing season until ready to be transplanted the next season.

Salt marsh planting is a fun yearly activity that enriches the entire school. Science teachers in Lower and Upper school teach about wetlands and salt marsh habitats, about the importance of water quality and the importance and positive effects of the salt marsh grasses.

Admiral Farragut Academy completed a successful accreditation visit by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and AdvancED, formerly known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

“Our school completes an accreditation review every five years,” said Farragut Headmaster Robert J. Fine, Jr. “Accreditation is important for all independent schools because it is a process of self-evaluation and continuous improvement that reflects compliance with required standards/indicators. It involves a self-study and includes a peer review by educators from outside of our school.”

The 2018 accreditation team consisted of educators from Florida and Georgia who visited Farragut for three days, Feb 11-13, 2018, to inspect, observe, and interview our community.

FCIS and FKC

FCIS/FKC is the premier accrediting body for independent schools in Florida. It is one of only 10 state associations in the U.S. whose accreditation process has been recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the international authority on independent school accreditation representing schools in over 100 countries. The NAIS website says, “Beyond program, standards, and financial condition, accreditation can be a helpful indicator of quality.” Click here to learn more.

SAIS

SAIS focuses on the Independent Schools in the Southeastern States. The SAIS accreditation allows us to tell our story, to set our goals, and to be independent, while still fulfilling the stringent and focused compliance requirements of their process. SAIS accreditation focuses our efforts to fulfill the school’s mission.

AdvancED

AdvancED is the largest community of educational professionals in the world. They are a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site reviews of a variety of educational institutions and systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential. AdvancED is the organization that accredits the majority of public school systems, colleges and universities in the nation. Their goal isn’t to just certify that educational institutions are good enough, rather their commitment is to help these institutions continuously improve.

“Although the accreditation committee’s final report will take a couple months to get back to us, they did provide us with their findings in an exit meeting” stated Fine. “We are proud to announce that the accrediting bodies did not find any standard violations, and the report will reflect our school in excellent standing. An impressive result for any school.”

In addition, we would like to say thank you to the members of our faculty and staff involved in preparing for the accreditation. Their diligence, hard work, and preparation was outstanding. A special thank you to the PreK-12th-grade assistant principal, Jennifer Grabowski, for managing and preparing the bulk of the accreditation paperwork and planning.

On Wednesday, February 11th, Mrs. Genzel’s 1st-grade class made George Washington’s favorite breakfast to celebrate President’s Day and all of the presidential facts they have learned.

The class has been learning many different presidential facts, via online sources such as Brain Pop Jr. and children’s biographical sites as well as by reading biographies about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, some read by the students and others read aloud by 1st-grade teacher Mrs. Genzel. They learned that George Washington’s favorite breakfast was Indian Hoecakes, which are very much like a pancake, except they were made out of cornmeal instead of flour. The students used the recipe and followed the instructions to make their own Indian Hoecakes using real-life math skills while measuring the ingredients and doubling the recipe. The only difference was that the class had to make theirs on an electric griddle versus the iron skillet that would have been used over an open fire.

The 1st graders decided that George Washington’s favorite breakfast was definitely “fit for a king”. However, they changed that to “fit for a president” when they learned that the colonists wanted Washington to be their first “king” after he helped them win the Revolutionary War. They also learned that Washington was the one that decided we should not have a king, but we should elect a president to help govern the land for the people.

The students each took the recipe home and some of them have already made these Indian Hoecakes for their family. One student even had his mom stop at Publix on the way home to buy the ingredients so they could make them for dinner!

After the event, the students created Venn Diagrams to compare and contrast Abraham Lincoln with George Washington. Next, the 1st graders will write about their Presidents’ Day celebration from a journalist’s point of view documenting the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” of the event.

“Their study of presidents has been integrated with their social studies unit called Our Government, which will culminate with the students doing group projects on ‘Symbols of America’,” said Mrs. Genzel. The students will research an American Symbol and create a poster about it that they will present to the class. The students also finished sharing their very own timelines that they made which coincided with learning about history and biographical timelines.

On March 6th, they have a special secret guest coming to visit them from the past…Thomas Jefferson! He will be dressed in historical attire and will be meeting with Kindergarten and 1st grade together first, then with 2nd and 3rd.

Please congratulate Kathryn Greene ‘18 and Sam Nolin ‘18 for winning two regional awards for their poetry in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. These awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition initiative for creative teens across the country in grades 7-12 with 29 different categories to submit work into.

“In the last four years we have had 38 students win regional awards and 2 win national awards,” said Upper School English teacher Heather Ewing, who has been teaching English for 10 years at Admiral Farragut Academy and 18 years total.

“Kathryn and Sam are both wonderful writers that are able to use inspiration from their lives in a unique way that connects with their audience,” continued Mrs. Ewing. “I was not surprised that their pieces of writing resonated with the judges because, although they wrote about totally different topics, their pieces tapped into the human experience in an extremely vivid way.”

The Awards have fostered creativity and talent since 1923 for millions of students and feature a notable list of alumni recipients including Richard Avedon, Truman Capote, Stephen King, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford, and Andy Warhol, and more recently, Richard Linklater and Zac Posen.

All works are evaluated through blind adjudication first on a regional level by more than 100 local affiliates of the Alliance and then nationally by an impressive panel of creative-industry experts. This past year’s group of distinguished jurors included graphic novelist Art Spiegelman; authors Elissa Schappell, Daniel José Older, and Naomi Jackson; artist Mickalene Thomas; and film producer Michael Raisler. At each level of judging, all works are selected to move on to the next stage based on the same criteria that have represented the program since its founding in 1923: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal vision or voice.

Kathryn, a senior and 7-day boarding student from Maryland, wrote two poems, one called “Hope” and the other called “Always By Your Side”. Although Kathryn has been writing since she was eight years old this was the first time she had ever entered her writing into a competition.

“Mrs. Ewing is a great teacher and has motivated and encouraged me to open up and write more,” said Kathryn, who is also a member of Mrs. Ewing’s Poetry Club.

Kathryn’s first poem called “Hope” was written in reflection to her father leaving and how that impacted the way she carries herself, her mindset, and her love life today.

Her second poem called “Always By Your Side” is about her little brother who has down syndrome. During her poem, she expresses her experience growing up with him and witnessing how he has always been treated differently. “To me, this poem is about spreading the word about how those who have down syndrome should be treated,” said Kathryn. “They deserve respect just like everyone else.”

Sam, a senior, day student, and Bravo Battalion Commander who is in his fourth year at Farragut, also wrote two poems, one called “Chiraq” and the other called “The Policeman’s Son”. Click here to read them.

“I was inspired to write ‘Chiraq’ because half of my family lives in Chicago which is also the murder capital of the U.S.,” explained Sam. “Every time I visit I happen to see something go down, usually with gangs,” continued Sam. “It’s ironic because Illinois has the strictest gun laws in the U.S. Then when I did the math and learned that more people have been killed in Chicago than Iraq. So I combined the word for this poem.”

Sam’s second poem called “The Policeman’s Son” is written from experience. “My dad was a police officer for 31 years. He’s worked with SWAT, narcotics, and the gang unit. In 2011 two of my dad’s colleagues were killed right in front of my father in St. Pete. It worried me to think that could’ve been my dad,” said Sam. Although Sam is from a long line of police officers, his father, brother, grandfather, and great uncle all served, he is already enlisted in the Marine Corps. “For years I have volunteered with the police in a program similar to JROTC, and I am excited to serve now in the military.”

While Bio Honors students were learning about cells, students were asked to design a one-page advertisement or a 60-second commercial explaining why we just cannot live without a specific organelle. Students were asked to use the latest and greatest in computer technology or recording technology and were allowed to choose their favorite cell organelle. Using pictures, facts, neat designs, and catchy slogans, students shared with their classmates why their cell organelle was the most important organelle.

Bat Javkhlan ’19, left, and Tien Nguyen ’18 present their project

“It is easy for students to just memorize and learn the parts of the cells. And it’s safe to assume that my students already know how to use Powerpoint and Google slide show. However, for this project, I wanted to challenge my students to think outside the box,” explained Upper School Biology teacher Mrs. Sari Deitche. “They already use all different types of apps on their phones and tablets, so I wanted to show them how they can incorporate iMovie or PowToons or Canva in an educational way. These programs can be fun but also very useful tools in their educational growth. My students also had to learn how to advertise and ‘sell’ their cell organelle to a greater audience, making sure to grab and keep the audience’s attention.”

9th grader Kate Bonilla did her project using PowToon. “The technology was pretty interesting to use and nothing I’ve ever used before,” she said. “I liked doing it online rather than a poster board because it was more interactive. I was able to go more in depth than I would have with a traditional project.” Check out Kate’s project.

9th grader Sara Oi created a mitochondria poster using Canva. “In Canva, I was able to make it really visually organized and I also learned a new program,” she said. “You had to research even more to make sure you understood and presented in a simple and easy way to explain it to others.” Check out Sara’s project.

Other Student Projects:

• Caroline “Abby” Fiorillo used PiktoChart
• Tien Nguyen and Bat Javkhlan used Canva
• Turiya Moka used PowToon
• View more projects.

Q & A with Mrs. Deitche

What interactive projects do you do throughout the year? Some of our projects involve technology, some are traditional hands-on chemical labs, and some are poster-board projects.  We change up our projects and labs throughout the year and during each chapter.

What skill sets do the students learn beyond just biology education? The students need to learn how to demonstrate their knowledge in all different capacities. At times, students are assessed via tests and quizzes, at other times through traditional labs or projects, and there are even times students are assessed through technological methods. I believe it is important for a student to be able to communicate his understanding of the topic in different ways, or at least attempt to do so. The more ways the student can express his/her understanding, the longer the information will stay with them.

When you attended Admiral Farragut Academy, you joined an accomplished group of more than 11,000 alumni. From alums who walked on the moon to bestselling authors to Naval aviators. Farragut alumni are making names for themselves. Others have made successful, meaningful lives outside of the spotlight as CEOs, nonprofit leaders, and software engineers — and you’re a part of our family. When you give to Farragut, it shows that you understand the value of a college preparatory education in today’s world. You understand that we’re preparing leaders for a successful, meaningful life. And you’re investing not only in our students and their futures, but also in the heart of one of America’s great college preparatory, military schools.

We hope that you enjoy these class notes. If you would like to be included, please submit your alumni update online at farragut.org/alumni/submit-an-update.

A.J. Augustine ’09  was recently selected to be the “aide de camp” to Brigadier General George N. Appenzeller (Deputy Commanding General for Army Regional Health Command-Pacific). A.J.’s responsibilities consist of acting as the liaison between other military and civilian organizations to help facilitate events, providing support and accompanying Brigadier General George N. Appenzeller during his national and international travel.

A.J. gives Farragut credit for his personal and career advancements, “After almost a decade since my graduation from Admiral Farragut Academy, I have been fortunate enough to experience a wide variety of unique adventures across both the United States and abroad. Ultimately, I have to give Farragut the credit for being that initial catalyst which prepared and launched me into my current journey!”  

Way to go A.J. keep up the important work!

Pamela Pardi, our Admissions Director, spent time in Europe and Russia this past February actively recruiting students to attend Admiral Farragut Academy. Pamela meets with educational agents, families, and interviews students to ensure it’s the right fit. During her travels, she always makes it a point to make a personal connection with alumni.

Pamela connected with Petr Charouz ‘09 in Prague. Petr has a successful career with Deloitte, one of the top risk and financial advisory firms. Petr is not just a success in his career, he is also getting ready to become a new father. Congrats Petr!

While in Europe, Pamela also connected with James Hales ‘15 in London. James is continuing his education with UCFB with a degree in International Football Business.

Martin Ludwig ‘54 had a wonderful time vacationing in Mystic Seaport, CT. Martin and his wife, Karen, enjoyed many museums in the area.  They were most impressed by the Rear Admiral David Farragut artifacts they found on display. Martin’s pride for his alma mater Admiral Farragut Academy was revived during this fantastic trip.  Below is an image of Martin and Karen at the helm of the ship.

Get a glimpse of the awesome that happens here all year long by attending our fun and educational summer camps!

1. Camps are coed and have something to offer for all ages, PreK-12th grade. They are also open to the public, so invite your friends to join you from other schools!
2. We offer great hours for working families. Camp starts at 8:00 am, aftercare is available until 5:30 pm, and camps are held the entire month of June, July, and the first week of August.
3. There is a wide variety of academic and fun themes within five camps to choose from: Little Captains (Treasure Hunters, Animal Planet Week, Little Captains Got Talent, Water, Water Everywhere), Little Explorers (Stars & Stripes Olympics, Symphony of the Senses, Under the Sea, Fantastic Florida), Basketball, STEM, and Writing.
4. Partnerships with outreach programs make our campers feel like they are on field trips while still being on campus. Visitors include SOCOM, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Birds of Prey, the Humane Society, and more!
5. Camps have access to the school’s waterfront right on Boca Ciega Bay. Some campers even take boat rides and explore islands while on the Farragut deck boat.
6. We keep our campers cooled off with pool parties and water activities.
7. Did we mention… LUNCH IS INCLUDED! Each camper is provided a healthy, well-balanced, and kid-friendly lunch in the school’s dining hall.
8. All camps are instructed by Farragut teachers and coaches.
9. For those little ones starting school for the first time, our Little Captains or Little Explorers camps are perfect for getting them used to being around other children and the classroom environment and routine. Little Explorers welcomes campers as young as age three if they are potty trained.
10. In addition to day camps, students entering 8th-12th grade may attend Summer@Farragut, which is a boarding and day academic camp loaded with fun activities where students have the chance to earn high school credit.

Learn More About Summer Camp at Farragut

In Shannon LoRusso’s Lower School Technology and Computer Programming class, 6th-grade students have been learning how to program using Alice, an innovative block-based programming environment that makes it easy to create animations, build interactive narratives, or program simple games in 3D. For their 3rd quarter assignment, they worked together to create their own fairy tales. The students were required to have some of the same elements that they worked on together in class but then were given freedom to add on and elaborate their stories.

“Every student had the same middle section,” Mrs. LoRusso said. “The dragon had to come in and pick up the princess, and the camera had to go to the knight’s point of view. What they did in the beginning and end of the video was up to them. Some had the knight rescue the princess, but others had the princess rescue the knight, and some even had the princess rescue herself.”

“Making the dragon fly and spin around the castle was the hardest part,” said student Aiden Geis. “Placing everything was pretty easy in comparison.”

A shot of Aiden Geis’ video

An important part of what the students learn is, surprisingly, math.

“It’s not just ‘1+1=2’,” Mrs. LoRusso said. “It’s the functions, the higher math that they’re learning, such as ‘if/then’ statements and things like that will come up in any job they’ve got in the future.”

They’re also learning a lot about teamwork.

“In a class of 22, sometimes you have a question but Mrs. LoRusso is busy helping out another student,” said student Karolina Kutova. “We’ve definitely learned to help each other out when we can. Listening is another big one, so we know what we’re supposed to do.”

Both Aiden and Karolina are excited to take programming classes in Upper School.

“When you learn the program, it’s really easy and fun,” said Aiden.

Lanie Salebra and her son Max

During the evening of Friday, March 2nd, over 100 attendees including lower school boys and their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and/or other special adult glowed bright at the Lower School Mother-Son Glow Party! This free event was hosted by the AFA Parents’ Group and Mark and Lanie Salebra.

As everyone entered the event held in the gymnasium they walked through a glowing entryway tunnel and got a picture together. Afterward, each boy was gifted a special goody bag filled with glow-in-the-dark trinkets, necklaces, bracelets, sunglasses, LED finger lights, and their own cup.

SAGE Dining catered the event with delicious food including bruschetta, cheeseburger sliders, pimento cheese pinwheel sandwiches, chicken tenders, mini corn dogs, southwestern egg rolls, caprese salad, hummus and veggie cups, and fruit skewers for dinner. They also got super creative and made glow-in-the-dark cupcakes, jello, and neon cookies for dessert!

Everyone enjoyed dancing to music such as the chicken dance and cha-cha slide and fun games and contests such as the limbo, hula hooping, and musical chairs. There was a fantastic face painter who did a great job painting dragons, video game characters, and more on the boys’ faces. And to sweeten things up, there was a cotton candy vendor with illuminated sticks to make the candy glow.

“What an incredible night we had at the first Mother & Son Glow Party on Friday!” wrote Parents’ Group President Denise Colangelo on the Facebook Parents’ Group page.

“None of this would have been possible if it were not for the dedicated members of our Parents’ Group. Special thanks to our chair of the event, Lanie Salebra. Her vision and generosity made this a night to remember! And thank you to Mark Salebra for helping us along the way. Thank you to the following committee members and volunteers who put in many hours to ensure the best party for all: Shannon Shipp Stalzer, Cathy Cuesta-Larrinaga, Vickie Busciglio Cuesta and John Cuesta III, Natalia Chavarro and Pete Vaughn, Jennifer Love, Jen Sokolowski, Wendy and Jon Covington, Saskia Etter, Samantha Lewis, Christopher Bourque, Heather Mariscal, James and Gretchen Idle Renlund, and Marjorie Deskovich. Thank you also to our Lower School administration, Anita Fine, Jennifer Grabowski, and Matt Olesnevich; our fabulous Marketing and Communication team, Jessica Van Curen and Lauren Pruett; our dining service SAGE Dining did an amazing job with the delicious food and beverages; and thank you to our Maintenance department for helping us transform the gym!”

Email parentsgroup@farragut2.org to become involved in the AFA Parents’ Group, an incredible group of parents who plan fun events and fundraisers for the AFA community!

Please join the Aviation department in congratulating Jose Lynch ‘18 on earning his solo endorsement. Jose flew solo for the first time on February 28, 2018, in Cessna 172SP N6013J on runway 7 at Albert Whitted Airport.

Jose has known he wants to fly for a long time.

“I was adopted from Guatemala when I was four years old,” he said. “When I got to the Atlanta airport on my way to Maine, that was the first time I’d seen so many planes in one place. I was fascinated. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Jose has been in the Aviation program for two years, starting first in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University dual enrollment course, then this year enrolling in the Aviation Academy.

Jose was nervous for his first solo flight, but of course, he was also very excited. “It was amazing,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to do it for a while. I knew how to talk to the tower and get in the pattern and land. Once I knew I could do it all myself, it was a big accomplishment.”

“He has always impressed me with his work ethic,” said Aviation instructor Rob Ewing. “Jose always strives for perfection and his dedication shows in the way he flies; he is always prepared and always improving.”

Aviation isn’t the only thing Jose has been involved in at Farragut. Since he started at Farragut in 2015, Jose has participated in Cross Country, Track, Wrestling, Math Club, Photography Club, National Honors Society, and Athletics Club. As a 5-day-boarder, Jose says that “it’s nice because if I have questions about schoolwork I live with some of my classmates so we can work on it together, but it’s also nice to have a break from school on the weekends if I need it.”

As for what lies in the future? “I’m still waiting to hear from a few colleges, but right now it’s looking like UCF with a major in Civil Engineering,” he said. “I’m going to get my private pilot’s license, though. I’m definitely going to keep flying.”