2012-13 Re-Enrollment Invitation

Our re-enrollment period for the 2012-2013 school year has begun!

We have made some changes to our tuition and fees for the upcoming school year.  Click here to view the updated tuition and fee schedule, which also includes the projected Tax Credit Scholarship amount.  Our rates continue to remain at or below other schools in our area and hope that you consider them reasonable given the quality spiritually-based educational program we offer.

As in prior years, we will continue to offer financial aid via the following programs: 

• In-School Tuition Grants
• Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program
• Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)
• School Readiness 

Further information on all of these financial aid programs can be found at www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org/financial-aid.

Tuition Aid and Data Services (TADS) will handle all enrollment form processing and financial aid assessment just like last year.  You will receive an email from TADS with re-enrollment instructions. The email will contain a link specific to your family, so please use it in order for your re-enrollment to be properly processed.

As the family of a child currently enrolled, you have priority status. General admissions for new students will begin on March 12th. Please complete your re-enrollment and in-school financial aid applications (if needed) by this date to secure your child's space in their class for the 2012-2013 school year.

We certainly hope that you are pleased with the experience your child is having as a student at Bhaktivedanta Academy and that you will choose to re-enroll. We are looking forward to another great school year together with you.

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

2010-11 BASI Assessment Results

At our most recent parent meeting, it was asked if the school conducts standardized testing and if the results are published. Yes and no, was my response. Yes, all 3rd grade and higher students take a norm-referenced achievement test that helps measure math, reading, and language skills on a yearly basis - typically in mid-April. The results of these assessments are given to a student's parents with their last progress report of the school year, but they are not publicly shared.

We have never publicly reported these scores because we have always viewed the standardized test as a tool in guiding instruction, not as a measure of a student's entire educational experience at Bhaktivedanta Academy. A once per year multiple choice exam can only tell so much about how a particular student is doing. A full picture of a students progress is developed over time with continual formal and informal assessment and most importantly, the careful observation of their teacher.

With the above disclaimer in mind, below are the school-wide results of our 2010-11 BASI norm-referenced test given to students in grades 3-6. Values are an average for all students who participated without requiring accommodation (8 students in total).

Subtest	%ile	+/- Grade Level
Vocabulary	94.1	+4.7
Reading Comprehension	82.0	+4.3
Spelling	84.1	+4.2
Language Mechanics	85.8	+4.0
Math Computation	85.1	+3.9
Math Application	86.0	+5.5

%ile = Percentile rank compared to a national sample of students at the same grade. For example, on average, our students scored equal or higher then 94.1% of their grade level peers in a national comparison group in the area of vocabulary.

+/- GE = Number of grade levels above or below the student's grade at the time they participated in the exam. For example, on average, our students demonstrated proficiency 3.8 grade levels higher than what is expected at their grade in the area of vocabulary.

Like I mentioned, this is just a snapshot of data covering a portion of our entire educational program. There are no standardized tests to measure a child's devotion to God, love of learning, depth of knowledge, and strength of character, which along with academics are all part of a student's experience at Bhaktivedanta Academy. 


I hope you find this data helpful. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara das
Director

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

Parents Make the Difference Newsletter - February

Parents Make the Difference Newsletter

The February edition of the Parents Make the Difference newsletters are now online.  Click the links below to view and download:

Early Childhood Edition	Elementary Edition	Elementary Edition Spanish

Parents Make the Difference! (Early Childhood & Elementary School versions) are four-page, research-based newsletters that provide practical, proven information for parents, on a variety of school success topics.

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

Rummage Sale Results

Ksina, Ana, and Divya preparing to sell bindis

The initial tally from today's rummage sale is $174.07.  There is still a little bit of money left to collect, so we anticipate raising a total of about $180 toward the purchase of a our Spanish language curriculum program.  It was wonderful to see the students get involved in raising money like this.  Thank you to the Madhurya Bhavan students for making a great flyer to promote the event and to everyone who collected, sold, and bought items.

Gracias!

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

Nityananda's Song Video Online

Students from Bhaktivedanta Academy perform a song in honor of Lord Nityananda.