E.A. Young Academy is a not-for-profit, private academy created to generate transformative changes to meet  the needs  of the K-12, gifted, talented, and high ability scholar.

The Source for Firehawk News and Information
Vol. 5 Issue 1 - September 3, 2016

A Look Ahead
Mark Your Calendar:

Sep 5             Labor Day Holiday - No school
Sep 9             Family Game Night - 5:30 PM
Sep 13           Lower & Middle School Curriculum Night
Sep 15           Upper School Curriculum Night
Sep 20/21      Picture Day
Sep 22           North Texas Day of Giving
Sep 28           Health Screenings
Oct 7              Faculty/Parent Conferences

To access the General School Calendar, click here. This calendar is downloadable/uploadable to your smart phone, as well.  iCal: http://bit.ly/EAYAOfficialCalendar  
Family Game Night

Come one, come all to the first of this year's monthly family game nights. We'll meet Friday, September 9 at 5:30pm! Have a favorite game? Bring it along with a favorite snack and share it with your fellow Firehawks! This is not just for the kids; parents this is an opportunity for us adults to get together have some fun and socialize over a good game! Have a friend who isn't a member of the Firehawk family? Well, invite them! All are welcome!
K/1 Visual Arts
Allison Ross, BS MEd
For the first part of the year, scholars will explore concepts of line and spent the past week creating horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines with their bodies and on paper. We discussed creating work with intention and purpose and viewed some of Frank Stella's work to see the types of lines he uses. Stella's work is currently displayed at The Modern in Fort Worth until September 18th if you want to visit as a family. It's free on Sundays!
ELA F
Allison Ross, BS MEd
Scholars began a project entitled "Name Campaign," which explores the concepts of identity within novels, short stories, and poetry. Scholars will express their own identity through writing, and develop a multimedia presentation that promotes a positive outlook on one's identity. Next week we will begin reading The Outsiders  and continue the exploration of theme and figurative language.
Math D
Allison Ross, BS MEd
Scholars began a project entitled "A World of Difference" through which they will use math to seek to understand the people and varied lifestyles that make up the world. After exploring concepts of poverty locally and abroad, fair trade, and micro-loans, they will investigate a business that seeks to support individuals in third world countries and produce a data report that illustrates the business' impact in a given area.  This week, scholars listened to the book If the World Were a Village  and investigated proportions of world data as if it were only a village of 100 people.
Seventh Grade Social Studies/Science
Allison Ross, BS MEd
Scholars began a trimester-long project entitled Citzen Poké during which they will explore government and citizen concepts through a Pokémon lens. They will also explore science concepts related to matter, by creating and examining the properties of candy, and human systems through an analysis of Pokémon defense mechanisms. The culminating project will require scholars to apply their knowledge in a debate determining whether or not Professor Willow's behavior demonstrates quality citizenship and if he is practicing within his rights as a scientist.

Scholars loved setting up their rock candy experiments (pictured above) and have already seen some crystals begin to take shape!
Middle School Advisories
Gayle Brown, BS MBA; Brenda Edins, BEd; Allison Ross, BS MEd



We began the year with an all Middle School duct tape fashion show.  The kids were grouped with at least one person from each grade. They were to make three articles of clothing from duct tape and one person in the group had to model it. The winning outfit included a bathing suit, complete with  goggles and floaties! With the Fiery Hills job fair on the forefront of our minds, scholars were hard at work developing and updating their resumes. We have also begun to discuss possible organizations to adopt for our Purple Cord service learning project and look forward to developing a plan to serve the community this year.
ROSS QUEST: Scholars spent the last two weeks exploring their personalities, strengths, interests, and how they can contribute when working with a team.
Sixth Grade QUEST
Gayle Brown, BS MBA
Scholars had fun learning about and comparing their different personalities through an online test which categorizes based upon a general questionnaire. In the process, we learned that such tests cannot be taken too seriously as they frequently provide inaccurate outcomes. Still we forged ahead with our discussions and artwork that portrayed our passions, personalities, and interests.
Eighth Grade Advisory
Gayle Brown, BS MBA
Scholars have begun investigating organizations for their Purple Cord project this year. We have many animal lovers in this group, but other interesting organizations we researched and discussed included senior citizen centers, local food banks, and perhaps a mission trip close to home. In preparation for Fiery Hills jobs, scholars updated their resumes and held mock interviews, learning the ropes as interviewers as well as interviewees. This year, our eighth graders stepped up to the plate and three of our scholars will hold management positions: Congratulations to Caiden Trivedi as Bank Manager, Parker Horn as a Facilities Manager, and Darayus Parakh as a Public Works Manager!
Eighth Grade Social Studies
Gayle Brown, BS MBA

Scholars began the year researching the history behind the beliefs of the Republican and Democratic parties. Each very opinionated group of scholars delved into the issues they felt were most important to our country right now. Much more to come as the election draws near!
New Faculty Members!

Julie McGhee is thrilled to be joining the Firehawk family as a Fine Arts teacher. Mrs. McGhee graduated from Austin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Arts degree in Education. She has her valid teaching certification in Elementary English (grades 1-8) and Elementary Se lf-Contained (grades 1-8). Mrs. McGhee has worked with gifted and talented scholars, grades seven through nine, for the past nineteen years, through the summer program Senior DECATS, where she has guided gifted and talented scholars in a variety of activities, including art, music, film and more. She spent the last nine years serving First Presbyterian Preschool of Grapevine as the Assistant Director, and the two years prior as a Pre-K teacher. Before having children, Mrs. McGhee also taught third grade in the Keller Independent School District.
Mrs. McGhee is married and has two sons. Her husband, Rob, who teaches at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, has also taught at IGNITE! Both of her boys attend Jesuit College Preparatory School. Outside of school, Mrs. McGhee can be found spending time with her family, wrangling her three silly dogs, and unwinding by drawing, listening to music, taking walks and watching favorite shows and movies with her family. Mrs. McGhee believes everyone has creativity to share and a story to tell. She cannot wait to help each Young Academy scholar discover his/her inner artist!

James Bishop is the personification of the Zen concept of the "circle with no circumference" - he is hard to classify into one group or to label as one thing. Like other multi-potential gifted adults, Mr. Bishop has worn many different hats. He has been (and, in many cases, continues to be) a professional sculptor, a commercial artist, an author, a college instructor, an instructional designer, a project manager, an 
ordained chaplain, and a professional counselor. Mr. Bishop has even been a prison guard, so he is familiar with keeping inmates in their cages - experience that he believes will serve him well at EA Young Academy.  Mr. Bishop has a bachelor's degree in Composition and Language (with a minor in philosophy) and Master of Arts degrees in Professional Development and Professional Counseling. In addition to teaching at EA Young Academy, James is a private practice counselor and the executive director of The Passionate Mind Institute, a non-profit dedicated to research and advocacy in talent development. He is the co-founder and co-editor of the Gifted Education Review newsletter.
Mr. Bishop has geek street cred. He is the author of two books on Bruce Lee and an internationally recognized expert on the philosophy of the late martial arts legend. Mr. Bishop is also an authority on the life and work of the Pulitzer-Prize winning historian and philosopher, Will Durant, and a former member of the board of directors of the Will Durant Foundation. He is the editor of Durant's Philosophy and the Social Problem: The Annotated Edition (2008) and the co-producer and editor of the documentary film, A Visit with Will and Ariel Durant (2003). A celebrity biographer and ghostwriter, although Mr. Bishop is technically not supposed to say whose books he wrote (pesky contracts), if you ply him with donuts, he might just tell you a few.  Mr. Bishop is currently working on his doctoral dissertation at the University of North Texas, where he is pursuing his PhD in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Gifted and Talented Education. If he is lucky, Mr. Bishop will finish it before he dies.
Erin Austin is a familiar face at EA Young Academy, as she has been subbing at our school for the past couple years. She says she loved it so much, she joined the staff! Prior to this, Ms. Austin worked for 10 years at Westlake Academy, as a third grade teacher specializing in inquiry-based teaching. Ms. Austin is a Texas Master Naturalist and has worked throughout her career in outdoor ecology education through various camps and school programs. She is super excited for the year ahead, and we are thrilled to have her here full-time! Check out this photo Ms. Austin snapped in her yard with her spider friend, Charlotte.
FLARES News
If you are a Firehawk parent and haven't yet joined FLARES, please go to this link to pay your dues and get involved!
You can sign up for reminders from FLARES to be sent directly to your phone by following these directions:
1. If you want to receive notifications on your phone, go to this link. Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. (You will be prompted to download the free app.)
2. If you don't have a smartphone, or would just prefer to receive a text, you can sign up by texting @hbh83 to 81010. If this doesn't work, try texting @hbh83 to 817-310-8427.
*Your FLARES membership includes an associate parent membership in Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT), our state's gifted organization, and a Firehawk directory!

All parent volunteer hours should be recorded on the Track it Forward   website (previously known as Our Volts). This information is needed for grant applications that are processed during the year. Please log your hours by following the instructions below:

  • Register at: http://www.trackitforward.com/find-a-site
  • Search for: EA Young Academy Parent Volunteer Program
  • Click on the blue EA Young Academy Parent Volunteer Program link below the yellow box. This will take you to a new page.
  • Look for the box on the top right which is labeled "Log Your Hours."
  • Click on the link "Need an account? Sign up!" You are now ready to start logging your hours!

  • Yes, there is an app for that! You may also track hours via the mobile app on iPhone or Android devices. To download it, just go to the App Store or Google Play and search for "Track it Forward," or "Volunteer Time Tracking."
    New Nut Policy
    We are all nuts. This is a confession. Just kidding! EA Young Academy is a nut free campus. Our goal is to ensure that scholars with food allergies have a safe and welcoming learning environment. People with food allergies face life-threatening reactions when these allergens are ingested, in some cases inhaled or even topically through the skin. With safety in mind, EA Young Academy strives to provide a nut free environment. Please keep this policy in mind when selecting food for scholar lunches, snacks and food for school events. This policy includes all nut products so we ask that labels be read prior to bringing food items on campus. **Any item that contains nuts is prohibited from being on campus.** Upon identification, items containing nuts will be immediately disposed of and removed from campus.
    Community Fundraising Info
    AMAZON SMILE:   Be sure to connect EA Young Academy to your Amazon account by going to Smile.Amazon.com.
    TARGET RED CARD : EA Young Academy participates in Target's Take Charge of Education Program. Go to www.target.com/tcoe and enter our school ID. Our school ID is 153636 . They are unable to use punctuation in the name, so we are listed as EA Young Academy.
    TOM THUMB: EA Young Academy participates in Tom Thumb's Good Neighbor Program. Our school ID is 13241.
    KROGER: EA Young Academy participates in the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Visit this link and apply the school's ID number to your Kroger Plus Card. The school ID is 47813.
    Please also continue to collect Box Tops. You can submit them in the office.
    Shutterfly Fundraising Site
    Anne Pfluger has set up a fundraising site for the school through Shutterfly. It works similarly to the Amazon Smile program. When you purchase at Shutterfly through the storefront link, the school receives 13% of the sale (which is much higher than the Amazon percentage)! Customers can still use Shutterfly's coupons! Check it out here!
    Join Our Mailing List
    Fiery Hills Career Expo


    Our Firehawks displayed their impressive resumes and interview skills during the Fiery Hills Career Expo this morning. Scholars of all ages applied for positions within all departments and will hear from their managers in the coming days.
    Firehawk Spirit Wear!

    Spirit Wear is in! Hats and drawstring bags are available for purchase through the FLARES link! Items will be delivered to your scholar during school. You can purchase a bag + a hat for $30, or bags for $15, hats for $20. We can't wait to see Firehawks and their families sporting the new gear! The drawstring bag is perfect for HP clothes (hint, hint)! Support FLARES and show your Firehawk pride!
    Kindergarten/First Grade
    Mimi Turbeville, BA

    ADVISORY: Our first day of school was so full of fun new things! We read First Day Jitters, a story about a TEACHER who was nervous about school starting! We shared some of our own jittery feelings, and then we tried some MAGIC Jitter Juice to keep them away!
    Then it was time for our school tour! 
    Ryan led the way as we explored our school building. Mrs. Lyda's office was the highlight of our tour; we enjoyed visiting with her about her job!

    After our tour, we gathered at our tables to see what kind of school year we are going to have ... "Magic Playdoh, oh so white, We make this wish with all our might. If a color should appear, We will have a great school year!" Thankfully, EVERYONE's playdoh changed colors!!! Then we had some fun making the letters of our names!

    ELA: Our first graders have been writing in journals since last week, but today our kindergartners joined them in writing thoughts down on paper! Each scholar wrote a sentence and drew a picture to illustrate their words! Look at these hard workers! And the best part of writing a really good journal entry is sharing what you wrote! Ryan modeled for us how to track the words with his finger as he reads. Everyone did a fabulous job writing! As scholars learn to listen for letter sounds as they write, they are developing phonics skills to foster reading! And as they read more and more words, they will write more and more confidently!
    JUMPSTART:  During our JumpStart time on Thursday, our fifth grade friends helped us prepare our resumes for the Fiery Hills job fair! As we answered their questions about who we are, what we like to do, things we are good at, etc., these computer experts typed our information into real resumes!

    Lunchtime brought an opportunity to see some big sisters and brothers!

    We shared some carrots with our classroom guinea pig, Moose!

    We had Performing Arts class this week; we share that time with our 2/3 friends!

    SOCIAL STUDIES:  These first two weeks of school, our social studies focus has been on our school community. We have explored the school building, made some new school friends, and learned about our school's culture...specifically our EAYA Core Values. As these are very big words for us, we have done a lot to help develop an understanding of the concepts. We read a book or two about each one, discussed and defined each, made thought bubbles for our classroom monkeys about each, and illustrated a picture of how we can show that core value in our daily interactions. Finally, we bound our pictures into our very own "Core Values Book."  These were our simple definitions: INTEGRITY (doing the right thing, even when no one is looking), PERSEVERANCE (never giving up), COOPERATION (teamwork), INITIATIVE (getting started at solving a problem), COMPASSION (caring), CURIOSITY (asking questions), RESPONSIBILITY (doing what you say you are going to do), and RESPECT (treating others like I want to be treated).
    9/10 Applied Research & Statistics
    Mattie Oveross, BS
    I am really looking forward to teaching our freshmen and sophomores about applied research this year! So far, we have undertaken an in-depth look at the difference between correlation and causation. We also began what will become our weekly routine: reading scholarly articles that report on studies that were completed using varying research methods. Each week, we will read and discuss articles related to the election and campaign process. When conducting authentic research, there is a wide range of research methods that can be employed. For now, we will analyze them in the context of studies related to political elections and campaigns.
    Visual Arts
    Julie McGhee, BA MA
    My vision for a theme this year in art is Mirrors and Windows, or the idea being that we are all artists and that art helps us to look inward to see what is going on: feelings, emotions, dreams, wishes, fears all of the good and bad, the light and dark (the mirror). Art also helps us to go further: to move beyond ourselves, to see others, to see the world more clearly (the window).

    We spent the first week doing small projects in class so that I could observe individual scholars and the class as a whole. My favorite activity from week one was our symbolic portraits. Scholars wrote anonymous self-descriptions, then each artist randomly chose one self-description from the pile. Scholars then created a portrait based on the self-description he/she selected. The symbolic portraits were shared with the class, and scholars guessed which piece of art represented which scholar.  This week, we have been working on our actual art portfolios. Each portfolio should be a REFLECTION of the scholar creating it, as it will be the home to many art pieces this school year.


    In the 2-3 class, we are also making ancient Roman numeral coins out of clay as part of an extension of their core curriculum!
    Geometry
    Gayle Brown, BS MBA

    Geometry scholars are starting out the year learning to measure, draw and bisect angles with compasses and protractors. They are also learning to perform transformations. Math is more fun with a new room set-up, too!
    EAYA Running Club - Run in the Dark
    Calling all Firehawks! Join EAYA's Running Club at the Run in the Dark. The Run in the Dark is a fun run/5k that benefits the Community Storehouse, a local non-profit. All funds raised will go to support the Children's Programs at the Community Storehouse.
    The run will take place on Saturday, September 17 at 7 PM at Blue Stem Park (Alliance Town Center). There are 2 categories for the Storehouse Cup - Public schools and Private/Other schools. The private school with the most amount of participants will win the Storehouse Cup so feel free to invite friends and family. Being awarded with the Storehouse Cup is a win-win for EAYA - our Firehawks get some physical activity and we help a local non-profit. Let's win  the Storehouse Cup for EA Young Academy!
    Here's how to enter:
    · Go to this link.
    · Scroll down to the Schools/Storehouse Cup Registration section and click on "Click Here to Register online."
    · On the new page choose Adult or Child (anyone who is taking part in the Run can enter as a Young Academy participant).
    · Sign the form as instructed.
    · After you click continue you will be taken to a page where you fill in the runner's personal information.
    · Under "Please Select School" go to #5 "Select your Other School." (This is where the private school are listed.)
    · Choose E.A. Young Academy.
    · Enter your payment information.
    · Confirm Registration - from this page you can enter additional runners or close out of the form.

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