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 The
Harrisburg Metropolitan Area's only IB World School
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December
11, 2009
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Seasons Greetings
One week left until Winter Break! The wintry weather
this past week has all of us excited to celebrate the season.
As you make your holiday plans, be sure that they include Harrisburg
Academy's Holiday Concert Harrisburg Academy
Holiday Concert on Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m at the Forum (downtown
Harrisburg). It is sure to be a lovely evening.
The Explorer eNewsletter is your best resource for keeping
up with news and notes affecting the Academy community. Thank you
for helping us to make the Explorer more useful by sending in your
feedback. We appreciate your input! We also encourage you to submit
exciting news about your student and/or your family for us to
share. Please be in touch with us.
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Please visit the Announcements and
Events page of our website to learn about events coming up at
school. You can also view a complete listing,
including longer-range events and dates, on the Calendar portion of
our website. Here is a list (with links to details, if
applicable) of selected upcoming events:
- Tuesday, Dec. 15: Harrisburg Academy
Book Review, 7:30 p.m., Conlan Home
- Tuesday, Dec. 15: Parents
Association Cookie Exchange
- Thursday, Dec. 17: Harrisburg Academy
Holiday Concert, 6:30 p.m., the Forum
- Friday, Dec. 18: MS Hersheypark
Candylane Family Fun Night, 4:30 p.m.
- Monday, Jan. 4, 2010: School Resumes
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Greetings
from Jim Newman, Head of School
As you have
likely noticed, my monthly letters often speak of the value of a Harrisburg Academy education. When
considering a topic for this month, I was reminded that our seniors are
starting to receive the good news of their early decision and early action
applications to colleges and universities. In fact, we've recently
learned of acceptances at the University of Pittsburgh, Georgia Institute
of Technology, and Columbia
University. ...Read more...
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Parents
Association Cookie Exchange
Mark your
calendars for Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Parents Association
Cookie Exchange. We need your help to make this year's
event a success. We need 40 more bakers to volunteer to bake 2
to 4 dozen cookies and to deliver them to the school between 2
p.m. on Monday, Dec. 14 and 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
It's easy and fun - make it a new family tradition!
We also need
volunteers to help us organize, wrap and distribute the cookie plates to
the teachers and the staff at the Academy. It only takes about 2
hours and is lots of fun! The more the merrier!!!! Please visit the website for
the latest Parents Association updates. Questions? Please
contact Diane Mulcahy.
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New
Laptop Policy for 8th Graders
After
returning from winter break, our 8th grade students will have the
opportunity to bring a personal laptop computer to school for academic
purposes. Jen Klemunes, Head of Middle School, has worked
with the MS faculty to develop a contract
that allows personal computing and wireless Internet connectivity with
personal computers. This contract directs students to appropriate
usage of their personal computers for work on class projects like the
English research paper or communication with e-pals in the Current Global
Issues class. ...Read more
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Winter
Weather Reminder
It's that time of
year again! As a reminder, the website is the best place to obtain
current, detailed winter procedures - both in the Quick Links section
and in the handbook.
Please take the time to refresh yourself with the correct policies and
procedures. Questions? Please contact Debbie
Potter.
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Please
Help Update our School Information Database
In an effort to continually improve the electronic data in our files, we
are asking families to submit their most
current employer information. Please click on the link,
complete the form, and click the "submit" button. Your
information will go directly to Carol
Riordan, our registrar, who will update the information in our school
information system. If you are not currently employed outside of
the home, please click here to send an email which will also go
directly to Carol Riordan.
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Financial
Aid Applications for 2010-11
The financial aid
application for the 2010-11 school year is now available. Information
about the Academy's financial aid program is available online.
Please download the informational flyer for
additional details. While the deadline for submitting financial aid
applications is March 1, 2010, we strongly encourage currently enrolled
families to complete the financial aid application during January
2010. Families are encouraged to apply online,
however paper copies are available if necessary. Please note an important change
from SSS this year: supporting documents must be
sent to the SSS office directly and not to Harrisburg Academy.
Please email Jessica Warren, the Academy's director of
admission and financial aid, to confirm that your family will be
completing the financial aid application process for the 2010-11 school
year.
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Host
Families Needed for the 2nd Semester
We are seeking host families for students for the 2nd half of the
academic year, with placements beginning during the month of
January. Please consider opening your home to one of our deserving
international students. If you would like more information, or know
of a friend or neighbor who might be interested, please contact Miranda Connelly.
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Triple
Anniversary Referral Program
In appreciation for
constant contributions of time, talent, and treasure, Harrisburg
Academy is pleased to announce a small way for us to say "thank
you" - in this case for the effort that our community makes to
grow our school in this special Triple Anniversary year and beyond.
At the All-School Picnic to kick off the 2010-11 school year, we
will give away $1,000 to a person in the Academy community who
has made a referral of a prospective family to Harrisburg Academy which
resulted in an enrollment in 1st through 12th grades for the 2010-11
academic year. Learn more about this
on the website. Questions? Please contact Jessica
Warren.
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8th
Annual Harrisburg
Academy Middle
School Family Fun Night Holiday
Celebration at HersheyPark Christmas Candylane
Friday,
December 18, 2009
Between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Middle School families are invited to
meet at Hershey's Chocolate
World Food Court located inside Chocolate
World next to HersheyPark. Please read the flyer
for more information. Questions? Please contact Carol
Riordan.
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Harrisburg Academy Book Review
Tuesday Dec. 15,
7:30 p.m.
Please join us at
the home of Cei Conlan (2920
Dickinson Ave, Camp Hill - please use side
door on 30th St)
where we will review Pride
and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Please R.S.V.P. to Cei via
email or phone (717-695-6473).
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Student
Absence Policy Reminder
Please remember,
students returning to school after being absent are required to provide a
parent note (either by phone or email) within three days of the day(s)
out for the absence to be considered "Excused." This is
especially important for Upper
School students to
recognize because if they do not turn in a note within three days of
returning, handbook policy (page
8) states that they lose 50% credit for any missed work.
Questions? Contact John Martin.
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College
Counseling Update
PSATs/ACT-Plan:
Score reports for all juniors and the sophomores who
took the test have been mailed home. Students will be meeting with Mrs.
Roller in groups to discuss the scores and their interpretation, and to
give them their actual test booklets. It is worthwhile for students
and families to review the test and results, particularly noting errors
and the advice given in the score report for
improvement. ACT-Plan scores wil be received after the winter
break.
An early reminder
to juniors that the Winter College Fair is February 10th, and all must
attend as part of the college prep course. Sophomores are strongly urged
to come, and each student should be accompanied by a parent or other
adult involved in the college search process.
Questions? Please contact Susan
Roller.
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US
Student Internship Opportunities
Parents of Upper School students, please be aware
of some exciting summer internship opportunities!
PA
School for Global Entrepreneurship / 35-day in residence program
Lehigh University / Bethlehem, PA
Deadline
to apply: Feb. 15, 2010
Who's
Eligible?: Current sophomores and juniors, ages 16-18
Category:
Business. Will focus on entrepreneurship, global networking,
team building, project management, and leadership
Health Career Scholars
Academy /
4-week on campus program
University
of Pittsburgh / Pittsburgh, PA
Deadline
to apply: Feb. 5, 2010
Who's
Eligible?: Current high school juniors
Category:
Medical. Introduces students into the world of health care.
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Directions
to Athletics Events
Attention, Spartans
sports fans! Directions for all Away games are available on our school
website. Be sure to check them if you are planning to
attend a game. While many of our opponents do have facilities at
their schools, some rent fields and courts off site. Thank you for
supporting your fellow student athletes! Questions? Please
contact Jeane Serino.
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Harrisburg Academy Holiday Concert
Don't miss the
annual Holiday Concert on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the
Forum in downtown Harrisburg.
For more information about the event, including dress code for students
in 1st through 12th grade, please visit the
website. Questions? Please contact Randy
Gutwein.
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A
Note from the School Nurse: H1N1 Vaccine Clinics
The last H1N1
vaccine clinic at East
Pennsboro High
School will be Monday, Dec. 14 from
4:30-6:30 p.m. It might be wise to take some quiet toys and
books in case there is a wait. They are still looking for medical
and non-medical volunteers starting at 4 p.m. Please email Kathy Kramer or
call her at (717) 732-3601 ext. 331 if you can help.
Questions? Please contact Ann Stillwater.
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...Heather Woodbridge
(Department Chair, Fine and Performing Arts) and her husband, Greg, for
the newest addition to their family, Liam Kenney Woodbridge. Liam
was born on Wednesday (Dec. 9) at 7:08 a.m. He was 8 lbs., 14 oz.
and 20.5 inches long.
...Joseph D. '15,
this year's Harrisburg Academy Middle School National Geography Bee
Champion. Joseph will take a written qualifying test to determine
his eligibility for the Pennsylvania State Bee in spring of 2010.
The grade level finalists were: Grade 5 - Nisha M. '17 and
Jonathon P.
'17; Grade 6 - Acklynn B.
'16 and Joshua B.
'16; Grade 7 - Dayna L. '15 and Joseph D. '15;
and Grade 8 -
Lee M. '14 and Tristan W. '14. Great
job, everyone and good luck, Joseph!
...Dr. Nirmal Joshi,
father of Rajat '11, for being awarded the Outstanding
Community Service Award by the Asian Indian Americans of
Central Pennsylvania.
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Music
Department Accolades
...Mary R. '12 (violin),
Angela P.
'10 (viola), and Rose L. '12 (cello) who
were chosen for District Orchestra. The District Orchestra Festival
is Jan. 15-16, 2010 at Cumberland
Valley High
School.
...Julien N. '14 (snare drum) who
was chosen for District Band - as an 8th grader! The District Band
festival is is Feb. 12-13, 2010 at Big Springs
High School.
...Mary R. '12 (violin
1), Katie C.
'12 (violin 2), Angela P. '10 (viola), Rose L. '12 (cello),
and
Zachary S. '12 (cello) who were chosen for County Orchestra. The County
Orchestra Festival is Jan. 7-9, 2010 at Red Land
High School.
...Jude N.
'13 (clarinet 2), Andy S. '11 (clarinet 3),
Thomas R.
'11 (clarinet 3), Nate S. '13 (alternate), Becky M. '14 (alternate),
Philippe C.
'11 (alto sax 2), Teddy J. '13 (trumpet 3),
James W.
'11 (French horn 3), Daniel S. '10 (tuba), and Julien N.
'14 (percussion) who were chosen for County Band.
The County Band Festival is Jan. 21-23, 2010 at Mechanicsburg Middle
School.
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...Robert
and Stacey Zuckerman, parents of Alexander
'15, for hosting the 2009 Faculty and Staff Holiday Party. It
was a lovely evening, and everyone appreciates your graciousness in
opening your home to us.
...Kendra M.
'12 and Katie C.
'12 who were great ambassadors for Harrisburg
Academy during their community service gift wrapping last weekend at
Borders Books. Their representation of the Academy resulted in a
prospective parent contacting the office of admission. Thanks
Kendra and Katie! Keep it up!
...The
Harrisburg Academy Community
for supporting the Parents Association-sponsored CAPRI SUN Drink Pouch
Upcycling Project. So far Harrisburg
Academy has collected and
donated 193 CAPRI SUN drink pouches for
the upcycling project. Please keep the pouches coming!
Deposit your empty CAPRI SUN
pouches in the box located in the school's front lobby vestibule.
...The
Harrisburg Academy Commununity
for supporting the Parents Association-sponsored GIANT Food Stores A+
School Rewards Program this school year. Currently we have 518
(444 last year) bonus cards designated to Harrisburg Academy.
As of Dec. 1, 2009, the year-to-date Giant Rewards money allocated for
the school is $2,436.98. This monetary award is more than we
received last year for the same time period. Great job!
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Burlew Pae.
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Early
Childhood / Lower
School Teacher
Websites & Newsletters
Parents of Early
Childhood and Lower
School children,
now you can access all of your child's teacher mini-sites and
newsletters from one easy-to-find place! Please visit this page
to access the convenient full list.
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Did You
Miss Last Week's Explorer?
Please click here to read
past editions of the Explorer
to catch up on Academy news that you may have missed. Please
contact Kristina Burlew Pae in the
Communications Office with any questions.
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