From your midtown campus principal, Rhonda Jones
We had a very fun and full week at the Rhetoric School. We began the week with a celebration to honor our Rhetoric Women’s Cross-Country Team after Chapel on Monday. This was a special time to celebrate these women as a community. We applauded their accomplishments and hard work that resulted in the HCAA State Championship and the individual titles of 1st place (Anna Claire Orr – Freshman) and 3rd place (Esperanza Osuna – Junior). On Wednesday Brigid and Hilda battled with gusto over the 2020 Kickball Champion Title. Brigid came out victorious and celebrated on Thursday with an extra off-campus lunch and non-uniform day. On Thursday Mr. Spears hosted a very inspiring Lyceum Speaker session during lunch. We had the privilege of listening to two gentlemen discuss politics by way of honoring prudence and truth as they collaborated and debated their Democratic and Republican stances. As I listened I experienced awe over the beauty displayed as these two men shared heartfelt truths (which they often agreed on) and continued to bring the conversation back to God’s truths about the value of His people and the way in which we are meant to live alongside and love one another. I was also full of pride over the obvious power of a Classical Education in the lives of teens as our students asked well developed, intelligent questions of our speakers. Questions that were noted for their level of keen perspective by our speakers. This was a special, unifying moment for our students to participate in.
Upcoming Lyceum Guest Speakers
1) November – Academy Father, James Wickersham will lead a discussion on the Reformation from a Catholic perspective.
2) November – Academy Father, Reverend Ben Janssen will lead a discussion on the Reformation from a Protestant perspective.
A Few Logistics
Rising to Rhetoric – Next week 8th graders from North & South Campuses will shadow at Midtown on the 10th & 12th. This is such an important and joyful time on campus! Rhetoric students are given the opportunity to experience off campus lunch on TUESDAY & THURSDAY! If costs are a factor and students desire to stay on campus during lunch, this option is available (as always). There will be a View Event the evening of the 10th for parents who desire to learn more about the Rhetoric School.
Smart Watches
As of Thursday Nov. 5th we have communicated to students that if their watch connects to their phone/internet we wish for them to leave it at home or check it into the “cell hotel” at the beginning of the school day. The Academy Handbook supports this practice. Due to the volume of students with Smart Watches it has become increasingly difficult to ask teachers to methodically manage internet access during classes while also teaching with presence of mind. Thank you for your partnership and support for this matter!
Final Exams at The Academy
We are reconfiguring the way we manage final exams for all Dialectic & Rhetoric classes. While students will complete the semester with some sort of assessment (project or test), this experience will follow the same pattern of assessment procedures used throughout the semester. We are transitioning away from intensive testing procedures that entail 1-2 hour exams and require a complete restructuring of the last 2 weeks of school. We believe that students retain information best if it is built upon in a cumulative manner without the presence of stress-induced situations that force intensive cramming. Research fully supports that depth of learning and lasting retention occurs most when students gradually develop deepening knowledge with continual opportunities to strengthen conceptual and long-term memory. We believe this new assessment practice will provide healthier opportunities in the school culture to deepen memory retention and deepen understanding of knowledge. This shift also provides more opportunity for class instruction time at the end of each semester. If you have questions about this shift in practice, I welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you further. Please contact me!
Upcoming Calendar Events
