August/September Lunch Menu

Lower Division News Letter 06/04/10

————————————————————————————————————————-

Reading assignments for Middle Division and Upper Division students by grades are also posted.
These assignments guide the reader to a better understanding of the works, and serve as a basis for discussion in the first days of class. The assignments must be completed by the first day of school.

The Middle Division Assignments can be downloaded here.

The Upper Division Assignments can be downloaded here.

The lists are also posted in our Community section under Information – Forms.

Academy artists in grades JK through 12 featured their works of art at the annual exhibit. The Art Show Reception was held on Sunday, May 16th from 1pm-3pm. Student artists, families and faculty joined together to view our aspiring artists’ works of art, enjoy refreshments and mingle with the other artists’ and their families.

The Giraffe Club’s final project of the year was to pamper the moms who come to the Pantry each week.

“We thought that giving the moms some items to pamper themselves might help to brighten their day.” The fourth grade students decorated gift bags for the generous items the Academy community contributed.

The Giraffe Club officers, along with Mrs. Szarko, distributed the gift bags on May 5th to all the moms who will came to the Pantry.

“We hope to continue our relationship in the coming school year and assist all the great people who work at the Food Pantry.”

Submitted by Debbie Szarko

The theme of study for the fifth and sixth graders this year was “Dreamers and Doers.” So, these students studied and explored the people that have changed the world through their ideas, creations, and tireless dedication to their dreams. The Inventors’ Expo gave the students their own chance to dream a dream and make it become a reality.

The process of invention taught them to accept failures as part of the journey towards success as they made adjustments and improvements to their amazing creations. Dreams challenge us to find the very best part of ourselves, and the students found out that dreaming is not enough. As Thomas Edison once said, Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.


Submitted by Elizabeth Magnusson

Members of the 5th and 6th Grade Student Council led the way in the “Pennies for Pasta” program sponsored by Olive Garden to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The students raised a total of $730.00 for the charity! 5th and 6th Grade Kestrels and Ospreys collected the most funds, so they will enjoy a pasta lunch from Olive Garden soon.

Submitted by Elizabeth Magnusson

The 6th Grade Exam Schedule can be downloaded here.

The 7th Grade Exam Schedule can be downloaded here.

The 8th Grade Exam Schedule can be downloaded here.

The Upper Division Exam Schedule can be downloaded here.

All of these schedules are also posted in our Community-Information-Forms section under Exams.

Please join us in celebrating our student artists at the Sixth Annual Academy at the Lakes Art Show.

The exhibit will be held Monday, 5/17 through Saturday, 5/22 at Frame By Frame Gallery in New Tampa. Gallery hours are 9:30am–6:00pm Monday through Friday and 9:30am–5:00pm Saturday.

Address: 16035 Tampa Palms Boulevard West, Tampa, FL 33647
Phone: (813) 977-4841.

For more information contact Sarah Gates or Shelley Grossbard.

Academy alumnus, Michael Setteducato (Class of ’09), currently a freshman at John’s Hopkins University, has been accepted as a summer intern at the Moffitt Cancer Center. The SPARK internship is a 10-week research study program consisting of 40 hours per week of intensive faculty-led research at Moffitt. Interns design and execute a research project under the guidance of an assigned mentor while gaining hands-on laboratory experience by conducting experiments and collecting and analyzing data in a high-tech environment with access to professional resources. Participants document, report and present their findings. In addition, students have the opportunity to attend weekly seminars exploring the latest developments in cancer research technology, methods and application. Enthusiasm for research as a career, as evidenced by a student’s GPA, extracurricular activities, and written statements, set a candidate apart during the application process. Michael is one out of only 20 students nation-wide selected by a faculty committee to participate in the summer internship program. Michael first began developing and honing his scientific research skills in our Advanced Scientific Research program in high school.

STUDENT NEWS

Students at Academy at the Lakes are seeing their Musical Dreams become Reality.

Shannon O’Donnell and Alexis Setteducato, both Class of 2011, are on their way to seeing their dreams of musical and theatrical success come to fruition. Both girls have been accepted to some of the nation’s most intensive and acclaimed collegiate summer programs for the arts.


Shannon O’ Donnell has been enrolled in many of the arts classes offered at Academy during her middle and high school career. From chorus to drama, dance and musical theory, she has seen her love of performing blossom at Academy. Her true passion for the craft can be seen in her every involvement at Academy; whether performing in the school’s musical, assisting in directing, or even set design. Shannon is currently working in two shows outside of school; “Moby Dick, the Musical”, in which she plays the lead Ishmael and she’s also collaborating on a brand new musical “Coast 2 Coast, Hitsville” with Solerno Theatre. Shannon intends to pursue a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and ultimately her Masters in Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Her greatest ambition is to perform on Broadway as well as tour nationally and internationally.

Shannon surely possesses the focus, drive and talent to get there. Her talents have been recognized by two of the country’s top musical theatre programs. The Broadway Theatre Project saw several hundred applicants during 9 live auditions across the United States and accepted Video auditions as well. There were only 200 available apprentice positions for the 2010 Session. Shannon will be one of them! She will have the unique opportunity to study with some of the most accomplished producers, casting directors, directors, and choreographers in the performing arts world. Playbill magazine refers to Broadway Theatre Project as, “The world’s most prestigious musical theatre arts education program for high school and college students.”

Shannon has also been accepted to Indiana University’s Midsummer Theatre Program, a dynamic theatre and drama institute designed especially for young artists. Classes are taught by IU faculty professionals, outstanding teaching assistants, and guest artists. Dozens of talented and dedicated students from around the country come together for two weeks of challenging and rewarding theatrical training and exposure to one of the richest cultural landscapes in the country. Each year they only accept approximately 20 of the nation’s most promising students.

Alexis Setteducato is another talented student who has made the most of the rich arts program at Academy at the Lakes. As a prominent member of the choral program, she recently starred as Maria in Academy’s spring musical, The Sound of Music. During her tenure at Academy she has been enrolled in drama, dance, music history, and music theory courses. Alexis is currently studying to become a classical singer taking private voice lessons, diction coaching, and piano and guitar lessons. Last summer, Alexis attended The Peabody Conservatory’s Summer Vocal Institute at John’s Hopkins University. Her goal is to attend a university with a strong music program where she plans to pursue a Bachelor in Vocal or Opera Performance. Her long term goals consist of obtaining a Master’s degree in Opera Performance, completing an apprenticeship in either Italy or Germany, and joining an opera company.

This summer, Alexis has been accepted to The Boston Conservatory Music Division’s Vocal/Choral Intensive summer voice program which focuses on training high-school students who are serious about singing in classical styles. The two-week program mirrors the Conservatory’s college curriculum, serving as a great introduction to a conservatory education. This summer voice program at The Boston Conservatory is designed to strengthen performance skills, sight-singing and musical skills, enhance vocal technique by working with professional singers and the Boston Conservatory faculty.

Alexis has also been accepted to Eastman School of Music’s Collegiate Vocal Institute at The University of Rochester. This internationally acclaimed program is for students who are seriously considering a career in music. The highly individualized program emphasizes solo performance and is designed for mature students of advanced performance levels who can work well in a focused collegiate type environment. Only students that possess high level musical skills, good organizational skills, and mature personal skills are asked to study with members of Eastman’s Community Music School faculty and members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Alexis was offered a scholarship to support her attendance this summer.

We are most proud of our outstanding students and of the Academy programs that inspire and nuture their diverse talents.