Jaya Sri Radhe Dasi Joins Bhaktivedanta Academy to Lead Middle School Program

Dear Friends,

As announced last spring, Bhaktivedanta Academy has plans to expand to 7th and 8th grade in August, 2013. The start of our middle school program will be the first stage of an upper level education program that we hope to ultimately build up to allow students to remain with our school until they are ready to begin attending college. We are looking to incorporate Montessori with the International Baccalaureate Program to ensure all our students receive a well rounded educational experience in an atmosphere infused with Krishna consciousness.

In preparing for our move to middle school it became clear that our new program will only be great if we hire an individual who is not only experienced working with children in the classroom but who is also a proven organizer and inspirational figure.  I am happy to announce that we have found that person and that she has committed to join Bhaktivedanta Academy - Jaya Sri Radhe.

Jaya Sri Radhe is an experienced teacher and school administrator who has been part of the Alachua Learning Center since its inception.  She is synonymous with the summer bus tours and has been a spiritual mentor and inspiration to countless young people.  I see it as the Lord's blessing that everything has come together for Jaya Sri Radhe to join Bhaktivedanta Academy at such a crucial time in its history.  We are poised to start a venture into upper level education and I can think of no one better then her to help lead it to success.  

Jaya Sri Radhe will begin serving as a member of the Bhaktivedanta Academy staff on a part-time basis for the 2012-13 school year and will join us full-time as the middle school lead teacher and director of our upper level program starting in the summer of 2013. 

I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work together with Jaya Sri Radhe to take Bhaktivedanta Academy to new heights. I hope you are also encouraged by this news and will be inspired to join the effort to provide a quality spiritually-based education to Srila Prabhupada's children from pre-kindergarten all the way through high school.

Please stay tuned for more information. I will be talking more about our plans in subsequent emails and gatherings.

Yours in service,

Picture Day - Friday, May 4th

Friday, May 4th is Picture Day at Bhaktivedanta Academy. All children will be photographed by Lifetouch School Portraits. 2 order forms have been sent home: 

Class Picture
Class pictures are $12 and must be paid in advance. You can pay by cash, check or credit card (online).

Individual Picture Pose Selection
Individual student photos are available in a variety of packages, starting at $12. Select the pose you want and indicate in the special instructions if you want your children paired with their sibling(s). Individual student pictures will be available in the office approximately 2 weeks after the photo session to give you a chance to see the pictures and decide which you would like to purchase. You are not obligated to buy anything.

Allow yourself extra time on Friday morning to ensure you get your child to school on time and looking their best. Please bring them in ironed uniform, nicely combed hair and big bright smiles.  

Thank you!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

BASI Testing Week

Students in grades 3 and higher will be taking the Basic Achievement Skills Inventory (BASI) during the week of April 30th. The BASI is a norm-referenced achievement test given yearly to measure math, reading, and language skills. The results will be sent home to the families of the students who participated after the test sheets are processed and scored.

Please help your children be at their best by ensuring that every day of test week they:

• Arrive at school by 8:00 a.m.;
• Get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep;
• Eat a healthy breakfast;
• Are relaxed and free from other worries.

Thank you!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Step Up for Students Update

Over the last several weeks Step Up for Students has been sending out information to families who receive Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships about changes in the program enacted during the most recent legislative session.  A few families have mentioned that they did not receive the news, so below is a recap of what changes are coming for the 2012-13 school year:

 

Prior Enrollment in Public School Requirement Change

Previously, all students entering the scholarship in grades 2-12 had to attend a Florida public school the prior year. That requirement now is limited to grades 6-12.  In practical terms, this means that any new scholarship student who is entering grades K-5 for the fall will meet the eligibility requirements for the program as long as the household income meets the standard for free or reduced-price lunch. It will no longer matter where these students attended school the previous year. As you may recall, this provision previously applied only to students entering grades K-1.

 

Scholarship Increase

The state appropriations bill that is soon to be signed by Gov. Rick Scott will result in the maximum scholarship amount increasing from $4,011 to $4,335 this fall. That's the one-year largest increase since the program was created. An increase in the tax-credit cap that governs contributions should also allow Step Up to serve at least another 6,000 students next year.

Books for Henryville Follow-up

Thank you to everyone who donated books for the kids affected by the tornado in Henryville, Indiana.  Due to your kindness we were able to send over 70 books to be used in the temporary classrooms.  Below is a note of appreciation we received yesterday:

On behalf of the students at Henryville, IN Elementary School, I want to thank you for the books you sent to their school.  As you probably know, Henryville Elementary, Middle, and High Schools were demolished by a tornado on March 2, 2012.  Thankfully, school had dismissed for the day and there were very few students and teachers in the building; none were injured.  However, all of the books, school supplies, furniture, etc. were destroyed.  Since then, the students have returned to school in temporary buildings and are all happy to be back.  Your wonderful donation of books demonstrates your giving spirit; the kids and teachers were so happy to receive them.  It was so kind of you to think of others in a time of need. 

- Bev Leslie

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).