APRIL 2016 NEWSLETTER

ART THAT UPLIFTS THE COMMUNITY

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March was National Youth Art Month! Thus SGA students decided to use their artistic talents to give back to the community. Students at both campuses created handmade cards filled with motivational scriptures, affirmations, and quotes.

Afterwards, students hand-delivered their cards to two senior centers, Spring Garden Senior Center and Mercy Neighborhoods Community Center. Additionally, cards were also delivered to patients at Temple Hospital.

Of course, this was all made possible through the help of our office staff, after school teachers as well as coordinators within local community centers.

TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS

Psalm 96:3 says, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

In March, our students learned the importance of spreading the gospel. Several missionaries visited our school to tell our students about their work around the world. During these visits our students learned that anyone can be a missionary by simply telling people about Jesus.

Then— within a two week time-period—our students raised close to $400 dollars to donate towards our national children’s missions giving project, BGMC. The funds will buy printed materials for children as well as church plants around the world.

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APRIL 11 th – APRIL 15th WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD

An annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers and families.

THE WONDERS OF TEACHING

IMG_1008Being an educator can be a rewarding yet difficult profession. One’s days are filled with smiles and laughs, but sometimes difficulties and frustrations arise. Mr. Tom Strube, SGA’s lead kindergarten teacher, recently took a moment to reflect on how he came to love teaching and the wonders that his years in the classroom have brought into his life.

Initially, Mr. Tom’s desire to work with children was inspired by his high school math teacher, who oddly went by a similar name (Tom Struble).

Mr. Tom speaks on his teaching experience, “I think one of the most rewarding things about teaching is seeing the transformation in students’ lives. I mean ultimately I know that it is God that’s steering them through the course of their lives, but to be a part of that is incredible.”

Every day, Mr. Tom works to mold his kindergarteners into thinking, caring, helpful individuals. Mr. Tom’s joy is visible through his work. He is one of the first staff members to arrive and his energy spreads throughout our school. In his class everyone is a scientist, an artist, an explorer, an inventor, a musician, and most of all a friend.

Even on the challenging days, he still maintains a positive attitude. “One of the most challenging things about teaching is laying down your pride to become more understanding of the children. Also, speaking the truth to the students in love can be hard. I find myself on certain days still having to vocalize that though I am upset or hurt by their behavior, I still love them unconditionally.”

Ultimately, he knows that filling his classroom with the love and forgiveness of Jesus is the best way to build a safe and productive learning environment.

LOOKING AHEAD
4/11 – 4/15 Week of the Young Child
4/11 – 4/15 Scholastic Book Fair
4/15 1st to 8th grade Poetry Recital
Pre-k/K Parent Breakfast
17th and Tioga:  4/12, 8:30-9:30
18th and Spring Garden: 4/14, 8:30-9:30
FAMILY FUN NIGHT 
April 15th, 6 – 9 pm!
Join US!

MARCH 2016 NEWSLETTER

Inspired by History

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In February, our children learned about significant black figures in American history who helped pave the way for freedom, success, and equality for all people in America.

Our 1st and 2nd grade class took a special interest in learning about Booker T Washington, the Tuskegee Airmen, and George Washington Carver.

One student, Katie, was fascinated with the Tuskegee Airmen and the planes the pilots flew during WWII. “She asked so many questions about the specialized planes and aviators. I was surprised at how excited she was. Maybe she’ll be a pilot one day,” said our 1st/2nd grade teacher, Ms. Zorana.

The kids also loved learning about all the things George Washington Carver invented. They couldn’t believe how many ways he manipulated the peanut. Their enthusiasm made us believe that the next great inventor may possibly be among us.

Cultural Exploration

IMG_0085IMG_0092In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of ancient cultures, this month our students went on two educational field trips

At the start of the month, our 7th and 8th graders visited the Penn Museum to view exhibits of ancient artifacts and learn more about the importance of archaeology in the process of documenting history.

All students also learned about ancient and modern day Israel which led to a great field trip to the Jewish American History Museum for the 3rd-8th grades. The students especially enjoyed the field trip because they were able to connect the Bible to many of the cultural exhibits they observed. We have many more exciting trips planned for March!

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
Booker T. Washington

Daily Commitments

Each morning the Kindergarteners at SGA start off their day by making a daily commitment. Mr. Tom, with the help of his students, created four important commitments that the entire class tries to honor; the commitments are, to keep control of your body, talk in an inside voice, use words first, and be a friend to everyone.

The students try to keep all four, but every day each student makes a commitment to focus a little extra on one. “I was so proud of my kindergarteners because even when I tried to speed through the day and skip over daily commitments, they were adamant about making them,” Mr. Tom explained.

The commitments have been making a visible difference in the lives of our students. They are learning self-control, integrity, and kindness. They have been drawing closer to Jesus.

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We Are a Family

Spring Garden Academy places a lot of emphasis on building a family structure within our classrooms and throughout the entirety of our school. So when the children heard that one of our long-time staff members, Ms. Becky, would be moving to Oklahoma in order to be closer to family, February became a month of farewell celebrations.

For many of the preschool and after school children at Highway, Ms. Becky has been known as the first face to greet each child in the morning and parents in the afternoon.

The children made her cards, parents and staff gave her gifts, and we took so many pictures as a way to keep Ms. Becky with us even in her absence. She will always be a member of the SGA family.

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LOOKING AHEAD

• March – June, Girls on the Run
• March 7th-11th, Missions Week
• March 18th, JAM Night at RLC
• March 23rd-24th, Fine Arts Districts