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Notes From Notestine

Graduation #113

This past week, I had the privilege of  attending the commencement exercises for the Woodward Academy Class of 2013. I have attended probably 25 of Woodward's graduation ceremonies, and each one is very special. For the 247 seniors who are now WA alums, they achieved their goal, won the victory - they graduated. They finished what they began 12 or 13 years ago, and now they are ready to begin the next chapter of their education.  

Henry Ford was once asked, "How can I become a success?" Ford replied, "If you start something, finish it!" Ford learned this lesson early in his career. When he began work on his first automobile, he worked many long but exciting hours in a little brick building behind his home. Such enthusiasm overtook him, that he found it hard to take time out to eat or sleep. Before he had completed his first car, however, he became acutely aware that he could build an even better car. He was so sure of the need for improvements that the thrill and enthusiasm for his first car began to lessen.  Why spend all that time finishing a car that he already knew was inferior? Still, something inside him forced him to continue, to focus his total energy on the first car and finish what he had started, before he allowed himself to fantasize about a second car.

As it turned out, Ford said he learned even more about how to improve the second car by finishing every detail of his original car. If he had given in to the temptation to quit building the first car, he may never have made any car at all. Many people strive to be perfectionists, but the completionists usally accomplish more in life.

There is a good reason we refer to graduation ceremonies as "commencement exercises." Graduation is not the end, it's the begining. Next week, 314 eighth graders will graduate from the Middle School and move on to the Upper School to complete the next phase of their education. I wish them continued success as they enjoy the ride.

Parents Corner

After School Reminders - Exam Week

Mon., May 20:        Exam Review Day
                               No late (6:10) bus
                               Last day of late Study Hall 4:00-6:00 pm

Tues., May 21:      Exams - English and Reading/Foreign Language
                              Early bus/MARTA shuttle departs at 11:45
                              Supervised Study Hall: 12:15-3:30
                              Buses/MARTA shuttle departs 3:45
                              All MS students must be off campus by 4:00 pm

Wed., May 22:      Exams - Math and Social Studies/History
                              Early bus/MARTA shuttle departs at 11:45
                              Supervised Study Hall: 12:15-3:30
                              Buses/MARTA shuttle departs 3:45
                              All MS students must be off campus by 4:00 pm

Thurs., May 23:    Last day of classes for MS students
                              Science exam: 8:40-9:50
                              End of the Year Video: 10:15-11:30
                              Early bus/MARTA shuttle departs at 11:45
                              All MS students should be off campus by noon

Friday, May 24:  No school for MS students

Bus Schedule for Last Week, May 20-24

Please note, there is no late bus (6:10) the last week of school. On Monday, May 20, the WA bus leaves at 3:45 and the last MARTA shuttle at 5:00 pm. There will be no 6:10 pm service. On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 21, 22, the early bus departs at 11:45 am and the last bus/MARTA shuttle is 3:45 pm. There will be no 6:10 pm service. On Thursday, May 23, tthe 11:45 am bus/MARTA shuttle departs,and MS students shoudl be off campus by noon. Reminder: Friday, May 24, there is no school for MS students.

• Next week, there will be only one bus for all other students on Main Campus at 11:45., with no 3:45 pm or 6:10 pm service.
• Dismissal time for Primary, Lower, and Upper Schools is 11:30 am; WN at noon.

Yearbooks

Yearbooks will be distributed to Middle School students on Friday, May 17.  Please remind your Middle School student they must not write anything inappropriate in another student's yearbook.

Eagle Roll 2012-13

Eagle Awards are presented to students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 for Gold or 3.20 for Silver on a 4.00 scale with no grades less than a D. The G.P.A. is an average of the values extended to the hundredths place in the table below. There is no Honors credit for Fine Arts classes.
G.P.A. calculations are not rounded. Course types and point values are as follows:

Semester Grade	Honors Prep	Enriched Prep/Transition Prep/Year-long Fine Arts and Visual Arts	College Prep	Short courses, dance, PE, PFit
A	4.5	4.1	4	4
B	3.5	3.1	3	3
C	2.5	2.1	2	2
D	1	1	1	1
F	0	0	0	0

In order for a student to receive the yearly Eagle Award, the student must have the necessary cumulative G.P.A. at the end of the second semester. Second semester grades will be averaged after exams. The final Eagle Roll list will be posted online on Friday, May 24, by midnight.  If you have questions concerning Eagle Roll status, please call the Middle School office on Tuesday, May 28 after 8:00 am.

Parent Volunteers Needed for Honors Banquets

The 2013 Honor Banquets are quickly approaching. The Parent Community Parent Social Committee is in need of three to four parent volunteers to help with decorating Woodruff Dining Hall the afternoon of the banquet and then attend the event from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. See web page for more details. Contact: Rochelle Andrews at LRA1996@yahoo.com.

• LS Banquet, 5th Grade, Tuesday, May 21
• LS Banquet, 6th Grade, Wednesday, May 22
• MS Banquet, 7th grade, Thursday, May 30
• MS Banquet, 8th grade, Wednesday, May 29

Spring e-Cycling Drive - May 18

The Woodward IT office is sponsoring its second electronic recycling drive for the 2012-13 school year.

Main Campus
When:  Saturday, May 18, 2013
Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: IT Department, Cambridge Ave. in College Park (look for the drop-off signs)

For information about items that are accepted and for a copy of the tax deduction form, please go to www.woodward.edu/go/ecycle. Congratulations to Woodward North for their first successful e-cycle drive. On May 11, Woodward North helped reclaim almost 1,800 pounds of tech items. To learn more about sustainability initiatives at Woodward Academy, go to http://www.woodward.edu/about/sustainability/index.aspx.

Middle School Office Summer Hours

The office hours for the Middle School during the summer are as follows:

May 28 - June 27:  8:00 am-3:00 pm, Monday through Friday
June 28 - July 7:  Office closed
July 8 - August 1: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Friday, August 2:  Office closed

Vintage Auto Exhibition

Save the date for the Woodward Academy Vintage Auto Exhibition on Saturday, October 5, 2013 from 11am-4pm on Main Campus. If you have a vintage car and are interested in joining the exhibition, please contact Bob Hawks, 404.765.4031. More information will be available in the fall.

Student Spotlight

MS Spring Orchestra Concert

 Both the MS Concert and Advanced Orchestra students will present their Spring concert on Sunday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m. in Richardson Theater.  Admission is free. 

Pitch in for Baseball

Do you have any baseball equipment - bats, cleats, balls, or mitts - no longer being used? Seventh grader Sam Berman is collecting used baseball equipment to donate to Pitch In For Baseball (www.pitchinforbaseball.org). The equipment will be given to kids in the United States and across the globe to enable them to play baseball. If you wish to donate, there is a box in the MS lobby. Sam will be collecting equipment between April 15 and May 24. 

Club Updates

 

Eagle Club

Anderson - $85.00	Koscik - $24.00	Westlund - $35.62
Bandrowski - $15.00	Khoury - $46.24	Tatum - $31.03
Barber - $45.00	Mousadis - $40.00	McGarrah - $10.00
Crawford - $20.00	O'Sullivan - $20.00
Dietz Nerds - $27.30	Prince - $5.25
Freeman - $35.00	Scott - $35.00
Hildebrand - $105.00	Stratton - $20.00
Hutchison - $30.00	Tarraso - $4.38
Hyder - $159.00	Trotter - $29.23
Jefferson - $160.00	Twiss - $40.00
Juhan - $30.00	Wade - $60.00