"Find Your Voice"
December 13, 2019
Welcome back to High School Highlights; a weekly wrap-up of events, designed especially for high school parents and students at Summit Academy, to help keep you in the know. This will be the last edition in 2019. From all of us in the high school we would like to wish you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful start to 2020!
Upcoming Events:

  • 12/16: Drama Club Rehearsal 1:00
  • 12/17: Drama Club Rehearsal 1:00 and 3:15
  • 12/18: Holiday Program 1:00 (High School attends)
  • 12/19: Holiday Program 1:00
  • 12/20:PJ day in the High School and Holiday $5 gift exchange (see more info below); Noon dismissal
Free Dress Monday for High School
Some of our finest work comes through service to others...
This week the high school wrapped up their second annual Mitten Tree Service Project, with the goal of helping those less fortunate in the community to stay warm. This year, Ms. Miller's Practical Living class was responsible for gathering items from the collection boxes around the school each day and organizing them into the boxes around the Christmas tree. The mittens were then hung to show our progress. On Friday, they headed to St. Vincent de Paul with all of their items to be distributed. They were great representatives of Summit Academy! Making the trip were Ryan, Parker, Katie, Katie, Hannah, Nolan, Ms. Miller and Mrs. Quill.

Thank you, Summit Academy, for your generosity in helping with this annual drive!
Putting the "A" in STEAM
A is for Art and students in Forensic Science are full STEAM ahead! Last week they learned about skeletal structures and anatomy.. They studied the anatomical sketches of Leonardo da Vinci and then made sketches of their own. Ms. Middleton came and talked to the class about techniques for drawing, including how to use a pencil to scale pictures to size. Pictured is Nolan working on his sketch in the forefront, with Thomas working on his in the background.
Teacher Updates
Mrs. Beach
  • General Information:
  1. December 20: It has become a tradition in the high school that on the last day before our Holiday Break, we have a Pajama Day and do a $5 gift exchange for anyone who wants to participate. Gifts should be wrapped and appropriate for either gender. Please bring them to Mrs. Beach's room on the morning of 12/20. Participation is optional, but you have to bring a gift to get a gift. Thank you!

  • Math: We will finish off 2019 with a 4-day unit on money skills.
  • Literacy: Vocab. Unit 5 Assessment Tuesday; Current Events writing and presentations Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Biology: We have moved into Human Body Systems, starting with circulatory and digestive. We are comparing and contrasting the human body systems to those we have seen in the lab more simple specimens.
Ms. Finn
  • Math: Students have retaken the STAR test. Most of the class saw growth, so that was very exciting! We will continue progressing toward our goals.
  • Literacy: We are nearly done with "A Boy and His Dog". Key Projects are on hold until after break. Students will continue to work on No Red Ink.
  • QUEST: We are tackling some tough subjects like anger and how to know if a relationship is healthy. The kids all have great questions.
  • Earth Science: We are learning about volcanoes and took a VR tour of the city of Pompeii.
  • Forensic Science: Students are learning about skeletal structures and are using STEAM in their work. (See article above)
Mr. Harris
  • Career Ed & School to Work
  • Some very good feedback from employers regarding senior intern positions, and I hope to share more good news in the new year when the 2nd block of intern positions start. Some students could be working their way toward paid employment on graduation!
  • Path Forward completed their last session this year and finished with a fun Jeopardy class where correct answers won candy! We look forward to seeing them again in 2020!
  • This week in Career classes we have been looking deeply into how artificial intelligence will play a major role in future employment, and how we can be ready for the challenge. The students had some excellent insight into how they could compete in the new job market that is rapidly approaching.
  • Geography & Cultures: We have now moved into exploring, researching and learning about Russia. Ashley prepared a presentation for the class to inform them about how she was born in the world's largest country before moving to the USA!
Ms. Miller
  • Spanish : Next week we will focus on holiday related vocabulary and phrases before moving on to the second half of Unidad 2 after the break.
  • World Civ : Next week the students will be working on an independent study and slide presentation focusing on a point of interest from the 5 ancient civilizations we have studied so far.
  • Practical Living: Next week we will be making and wrapping gifts as well as talking about holiday etiquette.
As always, please let us know if there is anything we can do for you!

Your High School Team ~
Susan Beach [ contact ]
Keeley Finn [ contact ]
Jenny Miller [ contact ]
Ben Harris [ contact ]