Second Semester News

The hallways are filled with students excited to finish up the first semester and begin their Christmas vacation. There have been Christmas parties, caroling in the hallways, Christmas concerts, and many reminders that Christmas is less than a week away. May your homes be filled with thankful hearts for the Savior, Jesus, who came to earth. Luke 2:11 shares of this birth, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Let us adore Him!

New Spanish Teacher in Elementary
Due to a family illness, our Spanish teacher resigned. The Language Project has hired a new Spanish teacher to begin in January. Mrs. Raquel Pinto Alvarez is a native of Spain who loves Jesus and is excited to begin working with children at Ankeny Christian Academy.

FAST Testing
Formative Assessment System for Teachers (FAST) that replaced our Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skill (DIBELS) reading tests will be given to K-6 children at some point between January 16 - February 10. Your child's homeroom teacher will be sending specific information home with you in his/her classroom newsletter. Your child's winter testing results will be shared with you via letter and at the spring conferences. Please read with your child(ren) over Christmas vacation.

Elementary Student Talent Show
There will be an elementary student talent show second semester. Over Christmas vacation I encourage you to help your son/daughter determine if he/she would like to audition in January after school. The audition piece needs to be no more than three minutes in length and can be a variety of talents including performing a gymnastic or dance routine, playing a musical instrument, singing a song, or reciting Scripture or poetry. The talent show will be schedule for an evening in March. Look for more information and an audition form to go home with your student in early January.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, I have begun enjoying all that the role and responsibilities of elementary principal bring each day. As we await Thanksgiving I want to thank the Board of Education members for their willingness to allow me to move into the role of principal that I, for years, have been asking to do. It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Steve Robinson, and I appreciate the leadership that he has brought to ACA since arriving July 1. 

Before we break for Thanksgiving I wish to share 12 things for which I'm grateful. 

T-he Lord has gone great things for us; and we are glad! Psalms 126:3

H-appiness is to know the Savior and living a life that's in His favor

A-ngels rejoiced last Friday when an elementary girl came to Christ at ACA

N-ew life is what Christ offers. I am thankful for His saving grace

K-ing of kings & Lord of lords, Jesus is who is taught at Ankeny Christian Academy

S-even Kindergarteners this month wrote how they were grateful 

G-ratitude,they learned, combats the desire to complain

I-have recruited the help of 17 6th graders for extra work who act as Council Kids

V-ery willing they have been as they demonstrate acts of service at school

I-ncredible work was experienced at Project Serve and 30,000+ meals will be sent

N-ever underestimate the work of hands demonstrated by children-they are powerful!

G-ratitude is a positive attitude, not only at Thanksgiving, but all year long!