April 2012

Spring break gives everyone a well-deserved chance to rest and revive before that grand final push to the end of school in June. We’ve reached that point in the year where our students see themselves as bona fide old hands of their respective grades. Our Fourth graders are enjoying a wonderfully vibrant and rich Florida History program, and are busy preparing for a Florida History Play, The Last Train to Paradise, that will be presented at Assembly on Thursday, April 12th.  Fifth graders, settling back down to earth after a vibrant and engaging Greek Gods and Goddesses unit, have adjusted well to nearly every expectation. Sixth graders will learn about the Holocaust and Kindertransport rescue effort from Mark Burin during an afternoon program on March 30. PBDA is fortunate to host this presentation and thanks Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education for the opportunity. On the upper end, the cast of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is realizing that happiness is morning and evening, daytime and nighttime too while rehearsing for the spring musical (performances on May 11 and 12 at 7:00 P.M.), and all seventh through ninth graders are eagerly anticipating their annual class trips in April.

With the accomplishments and anticipation, it’s easy for students to forget that a final and crucial trimester remains. Finishing strong depends on balancing a variety of academic and co-curricular responsibilities, working toward specific academic goals, and using all of that great energy in productive ways. Advisors and teachers are poised to help our students stay grounded in the weeks ahead, but ultimately it is up to your child to bring the year to a successful conclusion.

As we look forward to the third trimester, I cannot overemphasize the importance of regular and prompt attendance. Mostly, I am concerned about the number of students who arrive to school five to ten minutes late, which not only makes the beginning of the day difficult for those students who are late, but also often distracts the other students in a class. I also would strongly discourage parents from taking their children out of school when they are not sick for trips that do not coincide with PBDA’s vacation schedule.

Standardized testing in grades 4-6 over April 16-20, the Fifth Grade poetry competition, lacrosse matches, Field Day on April 28, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, the Fine Arts Festival, the Upper Campus Awards Assembly on May 31, and year-end exams for sixth through ninth graders from June 4-6 are just a few of the many events that combine to make this a challenging and engaging final trimester. Our year culminates with Commencement on Thursday, June 7th, which is required attendance for all sixth through ninth graders. Before then, however, there is much to be done. To bring it off, we encourage you to help your child find that key ingredient, balance, to help her or him cope with the demands of work and play. As always, thank you very much for entrusting Palm Beach Day Academy with the education of your child. Please feel free to call or stop by if I can help you in any way.

Take good care,

Jim Gramentine

Head of Upper School