Raven Report: January 17, 2024

Winter weather is the perfect time to curl up with a good book! Fourth graders have been getting lost in the pages of some great literature with their reading buddies. All of the books are the beginning of a series — so if a student particularly loves it, they can keep on going! Dust off that TBR stack, and find a friend to share the adventure with!

January 2024

18: $2 Uniform Buy Out

25: State of The Summit presentation, 6-7 pm

31: Volunteer Training, 8:45-9:15 am

February 2024

2: Summit Spirit Wear Shirt Orders Due

3: ACT Prep Workshop, 10 am-1:30 pm

7: Global Day of Play

12-16: Teacher Appreciation Week, More Details Coming Soon!

14: Late Start, 9:30 am

14: $2 Uniform Buy Out

15: Lower School Dance & Upper School Mixer

16: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day

17: KY3 Women's Show at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 8 am-4 pm

19: NO SCHOOL - Presidents’ Day, Offices Closed

20: Board of Trustees meeting, 5-6 pm

23: Summit Annual Gala at The Barley House at Moon Town Crossing

28: Volunteer Training, 8:45-9:15 am

29: EARLY RELEASE at 1 pm

Lower School Dance &

Upper School Mixer on 2/15

All Lower School families and Upper School students are invited to attend the Lower School Dance and Upper School Mixer on Thursday, February 15, 2024. The dances will be held off campus, and tickets are required. 

Please check your email for registration links to purchase tickets.

The dance will include a DJ, light refreshments, and more. Get your tickets today for this memorable night!

Tickets on Sale Now for the Boots 'n Bling Gala

Howdy, Partners! Get ready to dust off your cowboy boots and break out your best statement sparkle… because we've got a bold and brassy new gala theme this year – the Boots 'n Bling Annual Gala for The Summit Preparatory School! Save the date for an unforgettable night of western glamour, all in support of our school.

Date: Friday, February 23, 2024

Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m. (VIP Hour begins at 6:00 p.m.)

Location: The Barley House at Moon Town Crossing

This year, our gala is set to take place at the Barley House at Moon Town Crossing, a breathtaking venue that effortlessly blends rustic charm with elegance. The Barley House's inviting wooden architecture and expansive open-air spaces perfectly capture the Boots 'n Bling theme for this year's event.

Adding to the western ambience is a stellar menu prepared by local culinary gem Gettin' Basted. Renowned for their mastery in the art of barbecue, they have crafted a special award-winning menu that will leave your taste buds tingling with delight!

There's still time to secure a sponsorship package for the evening, which includes access to our special VIP Hour with exclusive menu items, a live band, and some extra special guests that will really bring the Wild West to life! 🦬

Sign Up for ACT Prep Workshops (Spring 2024)

The Summit Preparatory School will be offering subject-focused ACT Prep workshops for high school students this spring to best prepare them for the test date. The Summit recognizes the benefits of test preparation in supporting students to achieve desired test scores in pursuit of their educational goals beyond high school. ACT Prep Focus Sessions are small-group, deep-dive workshops for strategies, tips, tricks, content, and hands-on guided practice. Students will work on one ACT section at a time and learn mental, emotional, and physical best practices for staying calm, relaxed, and focused in any testing environment.

To support students in taking advantage of this test preparation opportunity, The Summit will be reimbursing 25% of the ACT course fee for any current Summit high school students who choose to participate. Family accounts will be credited $25 for each session completed. 

To sign up for the ACT Prep workshops, please use the link below.

Questions? Please contact Mrs. Becky Breckner, Guidance Counselor.

The Summit Prep is proud of our amazing faculty! Every Tuesday we'll be honoring our faculty on social media. This week, we honor Ms. Sydney Starkey, Early Learners Faculty!

"Ms. Starkey is really fun! She lets us do free choice centers."

- Henry R., Early Learners Blue

"Ms. S has such a big heart! She combines early childhood expertise with an intentional, relational approach to connect with students and create a warm, caring, and supportive classroom environment. Ms. Starkey transforms each day into a delightful journey of discovery, laying the foundation for a lifetime love of learning!"

- Mrs. Bradley, Lower School Director

Kindergarten Studies Force and Motion

Recently, the kindergarteners have been exploring the concepts of force and motion. At the start of this unit, they participated in a group dance. This allowed the students to understand that we can move our bodies and other objects around us. We also discussed that things can move on their own without any assistance. Together, they created a list of different ways that things can move such as walk, run, drop, lift, push, pull, drag, kick, bump, roll, slide, and bounce. The student then put their newfound vocabulary to paper by drawing an object and writing down how it moved.

Then they began working on understanding the concepts of push and pull in both concrete and abstract terms. Push is when something is moved away from the force, while pull is when something is moved towards the force. They brainstormed some examples for each of these actions, such as pulling a chair out, pushing a door open, and pulling a pencil out of the jar. During their discussion, they also noted that larger objects require more force to be moved. At the end of this lesson, they once again put their knowledge into practice and did some push-ups and sit-ups with the help of their classmates. This exercise demonstrated the importance of pushing and pulling and how much force can be exerted while doing these actions.

Encourage your child to explore different forces and motions in your home! Picking up laundry, dropping trash in the bin... the possibilities are endless!

Fifth Grade Tackles Primary Sources

In social studies, fifth grade students were given a few different types of sources to learn more about Christopher Columbus. They analyzed an excerpt from “the log of the voyage of Columbus” (1492) and an excerpt about Columbus from a textbook written in 2006. Together, they discussed the advantages, disadvantages, and reliability of both types of sources. They also discussed the types of questions to ask of sources to better understand what kind of information can be gleaned from them:

• What kind of source is it?
• Who wrote it?
• Why was it written?
• What can I learn from this source about events, people, or places in the past?

They will continue dissecting some more primary sources in class to answer the essential question: did Columbus die believing he had reached Asia? Primary sources will include a letter from Columbus, excerpts from his writings about his third voyage, and a map made by Columbus’ brother.

Get Ready to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

As Teacher Appreciation Week approaches (February 12-16), the dedicated volunteers in the Summit Parent Organization (SPO) are gearing up to make it a memorable celebration for our hardworking educators. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude for the tireless efforts of our teachers!

To ensure a fantastic week for our educators, we're calling on parents to join hands and support the cause. This year, we're planning several special treats for our teachers—including a chili and baked potato bar, everyone's favorite Sonic drinks, gift card giveaways, and more!

We invite parents to get involved by signing up to help out with this jam-packed week celebrating our teachers through various volunteer opportunities like bringing in toppings for the baked potato bar, picking up Sonic drinks, or donating a gift card. Whether it's sour cream, cheese, chives, or any other delicious additions, your contribution will make a significant impact in making our teachers feel valued.

To sign up or learn more about how you can contribute, please use the Sign Up Genius link below or contact Amanda Wheeler-Johnson, Summit Appreciation Committee Chair.

Register for Virtual ISACS Webinar Tonight (1/17)

Use the link below to register for the new ISACS virtual parent webinar. Live webinar begins tonight at 6:30 Central.

A Tour Through Your Child's Brain: Development, Technology, and Learning

Jared Cooney Horvath, Neuroscientist, Author & Educator

From birth to adulthood, our children undergo many changes which can impact their behavior, cognition, and emotions. During this webinar, we will journey through the developing brain and track how it changes across the lifespan (with a special look at the teenage years). Participants will gain a better understanding of why our children act as they do and consider concrete ways to support them cognitively and behaviorally at home. We will explore the impact of technology on development and learning and we’ll learn three principles of learning to support our children as they study and learn at home. This webinar is for school-aged children, grades 1-12.