This is a Grace Academy Junior High information page.
For further information please contact the school.

The date listed, after the title of the entry, represent the most recent update. Some entries have not been updated for some time due to fact that there have been no changes to the event or the topic.




GRACE ACADEMY'S PURPOSE:
EDUCATING FOR LIFE; IMPACTING FOR ETERNITY


Welcome Junior High Families,

The purpose of The Beak Blog is to provide information, updated information is the goal. Many of the blog posts will remain throughout the years. These are generally event posts. We will try to update these posts each year as the specific event approaches. Other posts will remain for a week to two weeks and these posts will share information about current happenings most specifically in regard to junior high classes. We will also use this blog to make announcements.

For communication purposes it is still valuable to utilize many tools. Please continue to read the Eagle Flyer and email blasts that come from the school. Also, feel free to email our teachers at any time.

It is our desire to continue to improve the communication between the school and our families. Please become a follower of The Beak Blog so that you will receive and updates as they are published.

God's Blessings to you and your families,

Timothy Pearce
Secondary Vice Principal

Friday, February 24, 2012

Best of Junior High Fair - (updated 04/17/15)





 

This event is an opportunity for the students to display the work that God has been doing in their lives during their years in junior high. Students will have partners, select a theme and then decorate a booth. In this booth the students will display items from all areas of their lives during junior high as well as an item representing their work in each subject.

Judging will serve two functions: First to ensure that all requirements have been met for grading. Secondly to select winners of specific awards such as Best Theme, Most Interactive, and Others!

  They may not have weapons of any kind from Nerf to paintball to airsoft to knives, etc.
 All items displayed are subject to removal by a teacher or administrator if deemed inappropriate for any reason.
 PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CLEAN-UP AND TAKE HOME ALL ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR BOOTH AT THE END OF THE EVENING.
 THE JUNIOR HIGH FAIR
 DO’S AND DON’TS
 DO:
  1. Prepare a creative name sign that includes your first and last name and your grade. The sign must be at least 11x17, neat, and readable.
 2. Work well with your partner. Your booth will consist of one long table for the two of you, and each of you will also have a section of lattice work or wall space approximately the size of a classroom door.
 3. Think about how you are going to decorate your booth. It should be colorful, creative, catch the judges’ eyes, draw visitors in, be organized and be neat. In the past, students who have shared a booth have chosen a theme for their booth, but this is not a requirement.
 4. Choose something from each of your school subjects to display. Include math, history, science, English, Bible, and one elective class.
 5. Make your booth personal by displaying things that represent your hobbies and interests.
 6. **Bring all necessary materials to school on May 8rd in order to decorate your booth (tape, duct tape, a staple gun and staples, a staple puller, an extension cord, ETC.)
 7. Go overboard on preparing your booth in terms of what you bring to represent the best of your Junior High years. This is your time to SHINE!
  DON’T:
 1. DON’T ASK YOUR PARENTS (OR ANY OTHER ADULT) TO SET UP ANY PART OF YOUR BOOTH; it really is the Junior High Fair , so we’d like to see what YOU can do.
 2. Don’t bring guns, knives, or blades of ANY kind!! Pictures of hunting trips are OK, but actual rifles are not. Pictures of Civil War Reenactments are OK, but swords are not.
 3. Do not represent questionable or potentially offensive sitcoms or cartoons or movies. Although Sponge Bob or the Simpsons or Twilight (for example) may be OK to watch with your family, remember that MANY families will be at this event, and not everyone agrees with the content or the family values portrayed in media such as these. The most righteous choice is to decorate your booth in such a way as to not offend ANYONE.
 4. Do not display questionable pictures, or pictures of people dressed immodestly.
 5. Do not set yourself up to have your booth “edited” by Mr. Pearce, Mr. Lugg, and/or other staff because you chose to ignore the above “don’ts.”
 REMEMBER, QUESTIONABLE BOOTHS OR PARTS OF BOOTHS WILL BE REMOVED AT MY DISCRETION.
 Let’s have a Christ-honoring, fun, and informative night.
 It is the responsibility of each family to remove all garbage, staples, etc. at the end of the evening!
 Parents, you can help by:
 1. Reminding your student of the booth requirements:
 a. Remember, each student MUST have a name sign that includes first and last name and grade.
 b. Remember, each student MUST display something from each subject listed under “Do’s” # 4.
 - The rest is up to each student to decide and display creatively.
  2. Providing refreshments for the refreshment table:
 a. If your student’s last name begins with A-M, please provide one dozen cookies.
 b. If your student’s last name begins with N-Z, please provide one 2 liter bottle of Sprite or 7 up.
 3. Planning to attend the fair on Thursday, May 8th from 7:00-8:30.
  4. Considering helping in one of the following ways:
 a. We need a refreshment hostess from 6:30-7:30 to make and serve punch (supplies will be provided).
 b. We need someone to pick up the pre-purchased balloons from Party City (on Grove) and deliver them to the Gym the afternoon of the event.
d. We need a few select parents to whom students can go to be checked out immediately following the fair. These parents’ main focus would be to ensure that all staples etc. have been removed from the lattice.
  Thank you so much for all that you do!
 

 

Math Olympics - (updated 02/24/12)

Watch for Information!

Speech Meet - (updated 01/27/15)

Speech Meet Information

Every student in the junior high will participate in the classroom speech meets and will be graded according to the judging rubrics.

We will have a selection of ACSI approved speeches from which the students can select.
Speech selections will be made by Christmas break. If a student desires to give a speech not from the provided selections, they must have prior approval.

Classroom speech meets will take place the first week of February. The best speeches will then advance to the evening school meet.
The school speech meet is on the evening of February 17th at 6:30.


Speech Categories


·         Dramatic Reading

o   3-5 Minutes

o   Manuscript Used

·         Humorous Reading

o   3-5 Minutes

o   Manuscript Used

·         Costumed Dramatic Monologue

o   3-5 minutes

o   Memorized

o   Costume/ Props must be prepared and provided by the student.

·         Costumed Humorous Monologue

o   3-5 minutes

o   Memorized

o   Costume/ Props must be prepared and provided by the student.

·         Dramatic Poetry

o   3-5 minutes

o   Memorized

·         Humorous Poetry

o   3-5 Minutes

o   Memorized

·         Scripture Reading

o   Untimed

o   List of acceptable references available.

 

Spelling Bee - (updated 01/27/15)

The 7th and 8th grade in-class Spelling Bees are coming!

Friday, October 12
Monday, October 15
Tuesday, October 16

This is a graded event for English class, so "Bee" prepared.

The top four spellers in each class will compete in the 1st-8th grade school Spelling Bee in the sanctuary on November 6th.

The District Speech Meet will be held Friday, January 30th. The students will be off campus all day.

Questions, contact Mrs. Struiksma

"8th Grade Celebration" Information - (updated 03/28/13)

The 8th Grade Celebration is a special evening meant to celebrate the work that Christ has done in the lives of our 8th grade students and their parents. You will receive a formal invitation in the mail as the event nears. It takes place in June and falls on the Saturday evening following the Friday of Senior Graduation.

The meal portion of the evening is for parents and 8th grade students only. As much as we would like to accommodate all family members, it is just not possible. No exceptions! If you have more than two parents, please contact Mr. Pearce and we will be happy to make those accommodations.

As the meal comes to a close, we will have a short program, multi-media presentation and presentation of certificates.

The dress for this evening is as follows:

1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV)
3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Young Men:
• Dress pants, no jeans of any color.
• A button-up-the-front shirt and a neck tie. This is the minimum.
• Suits and Tuxedos are allowed but not necessary.

Young Ladies: The most important thing is overall modesty at the neckline, sleeves, back, and length.
• Necklines should not be low or revealing. Make sure to check from above.
• No spaghetti straps, strapless of halter top dresses are allowed.
• Sleeveless tops are fine provided the style and cut of the dress is modest and the above guidelines are adhered to, but check arm holes so that nothing is revealing – especially when you sit. Modest tank styles are fine.
• Any back openings cannot be lower than the normal line of the bra.
• Length is to the top of the knee-caps including slits.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

"Fall Away" Retreat - Information (updated 12/06/13)

2014 “Fall Away” Retreat
Dear Junior High Parent:

The Academy staff is looking forward to the Junior High retreat: “Fall Away.” Our goal is to focus on the Lord’s plan for the students’ lives and to encourage them to grow in Him. We also see this as a time for the students and staff to grow in their personal relationships by spending time together away from academic boundaries. Our theme for this year’s retreat is"TBA".


The Academy teaching staff will be chaperoning the students and serving as counselors. The adult team will consist of the following leaders: Mr. Tim Pearce, Miss Elizabeth Callaghan, Mr. Voges, junior and senior members of our high school Student Leadership Council and others. Academy administrative staff will also be attending portions of the retreat. If you are a parent and you are interested in going with us, please talk to Mr. Pearce. The cost will be $80.00.

The following information addresses the details of the retreat:

Date: Depart, Wednesday, September 24, at 3:00 p.m.
Return, Friday, September 26, at 3:00 p.m.

Where: Warm Beach Christian Retreat Center
Students will be assigned to cabins. Leaders will be assigning students to groups. All attempts will be made to assign students to cabins with friends.

Activities: Recreational team building, singing, special speaker for worship\chapel services. During the day, there will be one to two hours of free time.
Optional activities such as the high ropes course and horseback riding are available at the additional cost of $10.00, per event, payable to Grace Academy. Space is limited for these extra activities so please sign up for these in the office. More details to follow.
***YOU MAY BEGIN REGISTERING ONCE SCHOOL BEGINS IN THE FALL***

Required?: The retreat is optional. However it is our desire that every student attend. This is a once a year event that is important to school spirit and team building. If you do not wish your child to attend, he will be allowed to stay home with an excused absence. In the case of sporting events or the like during the retreat, we can work with your schedule. Just let me know.


Cost: Every attempt has been made to keep the cost minimal while providing the best facilities, activities, and meals possible (please let us know if your child is a vegetarian or has other special meal requirements).

$80.00 per student (includes transportation, housing, and meals).
Registration deadline is September .
*Please pay all money to the office. Wait until school begins in the Fall.
JH “Fall Away”
Page- Two

Bring: Bible, pen, paper (notepad/ journal), sleeping bag, pillow, toothpaste & toothbrush, underwear, several pairs of socks, two pairs of shoes\ boots, modest swimsuit (one piece for girls) and towel, bath towels, at least two changes of clothing, sweatshirt/ coat, personal items, snacks to share in cabins, spending money for snacks at the book/gift shop. Because of limited vehicle space requirements, please bring only one bag (duffel or backpack type). No electronic devices.

If your child has medications to be taken during the retreat, please provide written instructions, including authorization for the adult staff to administer the medication, and give it to Miss Esp.

Washington State laws state: Prescription medications as well as over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol and cough drops, require the following:

• appropriate form (available in the office) completed and signed by the parent and the doctor.

• medicine in its original container.


The office doesn't have the time to pursue this on the day of the event. Those in charge of the events need to communicate to the parents in advance that arrangements to dispense medication on an overnight trip (or all day trip) must be taken care of prior to the day of the event. Also, those in charge of the event should also plan in advance to prepare a first aide kit(s).

Junior High Lock-In Information - updated (02/24/15)

Junior High Lock-In

March 06 - 2015
3:00 pm – Midnight

What is the Lock-In? - It is a time of fun. We will have many organized activities. It is also a time to eat a lot of junk food and drink a lot of pop.

Who will be in attendance? - Only current Grace Academy students are allowed to attend.
Who will be watching my child? – Mr. Pearce, Miss Callaghan, Mrs. Tuttle, Mrs. Hackbarth are among the teachers and staff on duty as well as others who pop in from time-to-time. We also will have parents, as well as most of our high school Student Leadership Council members.

Cost $3.00 – please pay Miss Callaghan or you may pay in the office. Payments are being accepted.

What to bring:
7th Grade – chips, candy, cookies, other favorite snacks
8th Grade – pop, bottled water, other favorite beverage