As you know, at HCA our favorite way for students to learn is through experiences. Experiences fully engage the student by involving each of the senses and bring the content to life! You may have noticed that your students grow in confidence through them as well! One of the ways you can support your children through the learning process is by providing opportunities for them to process the experiences through discussion. As parents you have seen that discussion can help students of all ages understand their experiences more fully and clarify elements that may be unclear. This is just one of the reasons why the partnership between home and school is so valuable, and why I would like to share with you several upcoming events for you to reference with your students. • First, when we return from our mid-winter break on February 24th, we will have Spiritual Emphasis Week #2! We are blessed to have Matt Huffman return with a large team of high school students and HCA alum who are ready to pour into our students once again. The theme for the week will be emotions and, as always, the purpose is to help students bridge the gap between God’s Word and their daily lives. The week is not only fun, but so valuable!
- Next, the week of March 10-14 will be School Spirit Week! Each day students can participate by dressing up according to the daily theme. Spirit week is not only fun, but unifying for our student body. Monday: Career Day Tuesday: Twin Tuesday, Wednesday: Anything but a Backpack Day Thursday: Disney Day Friday: Fitness Friday
- In addition to Spirit Week, on Thursday, March 13th, we will have a school dance from 1:00-2:30pm. This dance is the school reward for reaching our goal for the Feed the Need fundraiser. The eighth grade class has been taking the lead on plans for the dance and they have decided on a royal Disney theme! Students can come dressed as their favorite Disney character. There will be light refreshments, a photo backdrop, and lots of dancing fun with friends!
- Thursday evening, March 20th, at 6:30pm there will be a mandatory parent/student meeting for all who will be on the Middle School Canada trip. This trip will be one of the highlights of the attendees’ HCA education. It will bring to life what they have been learning all year about ancient civilizations, architecture and archaeology. In order to provide a seamless experience, we want to be sure everyone is well prepared. This informational meeting will answer many detail questions and provide important information about the week. Please mark your calendars and let Mr. Curtis know if you will not be able attend.
- Finally, Friday, March 28th will be the K-8 re-enactment of a Medieval Feast and Faire! The day will be a celebration that brings together information the students have been learning all term in the form of an experience. Students will come to school dressed for the time period. (Homeroom teachers will provide more information on attire). In addition to the grand feast, Middle School students will share their guild projects with younger students, and Grades 3-5 are creating a Princess/Knight Quest for K-2! We will need lots of volunteers for this day, so let us know if you can join us using the Sign Up Genius.
Although experiences require more planning and effort to carry out, we have found that they are not just more fun, but they provide a depth of learning that cannot be matched. Thank you for investing in your child’s education at HCA, where they can learn and grow in ways that are both memorable and joyful!
~Mrs. Cleveland
