| TKA EMAIL BULLETIN: JANUARY 30, 2015
| Jan. 31 (Sa) | Winterlude for 11th & 12th Grade Students. Details here. | | Feb. 9-12 | Spirit Week! Special Schedule Linked Here; 2:35 p.m. Release on Thursday, February 12 | | Feb. 12 (F) | Re-enrollment Contracts Due for 2015-2016; Current 8th grade student fee due | | Feb. 13 (F) | NO SCHOOL, Winter Break | | Feb. 16 (M) | NO SCHOOL, President's Day/Winter Break | | Feb. 17 (Tu) | Brad Henning Seminar in HS Chapel. Special Schedule here. NOTE: School release time is later than nomal; release at 2:50 p.m. | | Feb 17 (Tu) | Parent Seminar: "Don't Take Love Lying Down" 7:00 p.m., W Building | | Feb. 20 (F) | Course Selection Sheets Due to SAO | | Feb. 23-27 | 6th Grade Science Camp | | March 12-14, 18-20 | The Sound of Music, High School Musical | | March 10 | Parent Seminar: "The Parenting Paradox," 7:00 p.m., W Building | | March 14 | SAT Testing (no testing at TKA) | | March 19 | 8th Grade East Coast Trip Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Theatre | | March 27 | NO SCHOOL, Service Trips and East Coast Trip Begin | | March 30-Apr. 3 | Special Schedule for Grades 6-7, Release 12:15 p.m. on Friday, April 3 | | April 5 | Easter | | April 6-10 | NO SCHOOL, Easter Break |
Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Special Schedules in February: NOTE Different Release Times below:
California Scholarship (and Junior Scholarship) Federations: CSF and CJSF membership applications are now available in the SAO. If you are in the 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade you are eligible to apply. Please remember that you must reapply each semester, so even if you are already a member you will need to apply again. Also, please provide a copy of your fall semester report card along with the $5 applications fee. The office cannot make copies of the report card for you. The deadline for turning in an application is Monday, February 2.
Reminders From Student Attendance & Activities Office: - Lost & Found Tables: Tables will be out in front of the SAO Wednesday, February 4 – Friday, February 6. Please look through the lost and found to retrieve your belongings. All items not claimed will be donated to a charity on Friday, February 6 at 3:00 p.m. For valuable items such as phones, calculators, wallets, keys, ear buds or jewelry, please ask and identify these inside the SAO.
- Help Us Prevent the Spread of Illness! Students must be free of all symptoms (i.e. fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) for 24 hours before being allowed to return to school. Students, pleause use the hand santizers located in every classroom and to wash hands after using the restroom and before eating!
- Dropping Off Items For Your Student: Parents, please remember all items dropped off for your student (e.g. lunches, money, etc.) must be brought to the SAO. Please ask your student to check in the SAO for lunches or items you might drop off to reduce classroom interruptions. If items are not picked up, we will notify your student. For the safety and security of our campus, parents are not to meet their student at the back gate or walk through the campus to deliver items. Thank you!
Course Selection 2015-2016: Teachers will distribute the course selection materials to students during their scheduled English classes the week of February 2 - 6. - Portals will open for students to make course selections online from Friday, February 6 - Friday, February 20.
- Students will make selections online and then fill out the paper course selection sheet that will need to be turned in to the SAO by Friday, February 20. Parents are asked to review and confirm their student's selections by signing the bottom of the course selection sheet.
- Note: Students may go back into the portal as many times as needed up until February 20 to change their online selections, as long as they also change the hard-copy sheet to match what is selected online.
- Students needing guidance with their choices may make an appointment with the Counseling Office for grades 9-11, or with the Registrar’s Office for grades 6-8.
- 2015-2016 Course Catalog
New Courses for All Students - Band Fast Track: For 7th-12th grade students with minimal or no experience who want to learn a band instrument.
New Junior High Courses - Robotics Engineering and Programming: Learn about the world of robotics through engineering, and programming.
- Intermediate Dance: For students who wish to deepen their existing dance technique in ballet, modern, jazz and tap, and be challenged by complex choreography.
- Mandarin 1A: This is an introductory course of spoken and written Mandarin Chinese for 7th graders who have had minimal or no Chinese language background.
- Strings 6: This class provides 6th grade students who play violin, viola, cello, or bass violin preparation to enter the String Orchestra their 7th grade year. Students in Strings 6 will not take PE.
New High School Courses - Screenwriting: Students create unique, original stories through the medium of film.
- Environmental Science: A full-year laboratory and field science course designed to introduce students to scientific principles and methodologies needed to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, and to analyze environmental problems and solutions.
- Ancient World History 9 Honors: An honors level study of the story of human civilization from the classical age of Greece and Rome up to A.D. 1600, with a focus on historical academic writing including persuasive essays and using primary sources.
- Sports Leadership and Management: Students will explore the multiple aspects (financial, ethical, legal, technological, sociological and psychological) of sports management at different levels of sports through theory and practice.
- Audio Engineering and Production: Students will learn through the theory and practice of recording, producing, distinguishing music genres, digital management ethics, digital audio history, introduction to music theory, and the science of sound.
- Introduction to Cinematography: Students will study and create portfolios using unique images and filming styles through the medium of high definition video.
- Fundamentals of Music Theory: Students will learn the skills needed to read and write Western music notation, as well as to understand, analyze, and listen critically to music.
- Advanced French Independent Study: Replacing French 5, this course is a student-directed independent study for students designed for college or career.
- Spanish 3 Honors: A more in-depth study of the Spanish 3 course.
 Physics Class Launch Balloons! Dr. Parker's Physics students are about to see their hard work pay off. Over the last week, each class has been working in groups of three to four people to build hot air balloons. These balloons, made from paper-mache or mylar and about 1 meter in diameter. This lab teaches students about the properties of fluid dynamics as well as developing general collaboration skills. Part of each student's grade rests upon the success or failure of their balloon, so everyone is both nervous and excited for the launch. The launches took place this week in the Quad. Catherine French, Danielle Tatsuno and Brooke Allen heat the air in the balloon and monitor the temperature prior to launch (left).
Severe Food Allergies on Campus – Let’s All Be Conscious: Parents, as you purchase items for teams, home groups, and class events, please keep in mind that a number of our students suffer from allergic reactions to a variety of foods, especially peanut products. Please do what you can to prevent sending foods to school that contain or have been processed with peanuts. While we are not a nut-free campus, we do want to do our best to be sensitive to those who suffer from allergies. Before bringing any food or beverages to campus for a group event, it is best to ask the class/event organizer to disclose any sensitivities that participants may have, and adjust your food options accordingly. Thank you for your consideration. (p. 9, Student/Parent Handbook)
Spirit Week is Coming - February 9-12! Students should prepare their costumes and bring their class spirit each day for some good ole' fun competition! We've asked your students to get FIG-GY with it. FIG-GY SPIRIT means Fun, Inclusive, God-Honoring!
**Here is the Spirit Week schedule. PARENTS PLEASE NOTE Late Dismissal on Thursday, February 12: The final Spirit Week event on Thursday, February 12, is scheduled for the end of the school day. We are scheduled to finish at 2:35 p.m., but sometimes this event runs long due to the dances and awarding of the final Spirit Week 1st, 2nd, 3rd place finishers. This is a super exciting finale, so we ask for your patience in advance!
- Monday is "Character Day": Dress as your favorite fictional character or super hero (Disney, Nickelodeon, etc.).
- Tuesday is 'Merica Day. The idea was to have a dress day where we celebrate patriotism, the USA, military and service branchs...no toy guns or weapons.
- Wednesday is "Decade Day": 6th grade-Future, 7th grade-Medieval, 8th grade-Gold Rush/ Old West, 9th grade-20's and 30's, 10th grade-50's, 11th grade-70's, 12th grade-80's
- Thursday is "Class Color Day": 6th grade-Purple, 7th grade-Green, 8th grade-Light Blue, 9th grade-Pink, 10th grade-Orange, 11th grade-Red, 12th grade-TKA Blue & Gold
Spirit Week Dress Code Guidelines: Inappropriate costumes (gruesome, skimpy, vulgar or disrespectful) are not allowed, will not be counted, and may be subject to dress code demerits. - All modesty rules still apply!
- Shorts, dresses and costumes of any sort should adhere to the current dress code
- No shorter than 6" above the knee – for girls or boys
- No cross-dressing, dressing in opposite gender clothing
- Boys may not be shirtless
- No spandex shorts, pants or unitards may be worn – for girls or boys
- Sleeveless tops may not be worn – for boys or girls
- No pajama pants or sweat pants may be worn.
- Hats may be worn as part of a costume but must be taken off while in class
- All characters must be “family friendly."
- Colored hair is allowed only on Thursday, “Color Day”
Parent Seminar "Don't Take Love Lying Down": By popular demand, Mr. Brad Henning will be back at TKA on Tuesday, February 17, 7:00 p.m., in the TKA Theatre. He will give a presentation to 9th-12th grade high school students during the day. In the parent seminar, Brad will talk about how healthy relationships begin, and how they are sustained. These truths not only apply to dating, friendships, and families, but also to our relationship with God. Using humor and decades of experience, Brad communicates with illustrations and stories that make sense. You will be given tools for guiding your family through these challenging issues. Invite your family, friends, churches to join us for three FREE seminars: TKA Family Ministries "Triple Play"
Know Families You Would Like to See at TKA in 2015-2016? Your support in telling friends and neighbors about TKA is invaluable! 6th grade is a great time to transition to our school and experience the cumulative benefits of seven years at TKA! If you have friends who are thinking of enrolling their children at The King's Academy, please remind them of these application deadlines: Prospective Student Priority Deadline - Friday, January 30; Regular Deadline - Friday, February 27.
Receive a $500 Tuition Referral Credit for Referring a 6th Grade Applicant: You are our best advertising! To thank you for your support, you can receive a $500 credit towards tuition, a class trip, or service trip during the 2015-2016 school year for referring an applicant to our 6th grade. In order to receive the credit, the applicant must have submitted a complete application, which includes turning in all references and completing the testing process. Tuition credits will be awarded for completed applications submitted between October 1, 2014 and March 1, 2015. Please let Mrs. Michele Duncan, Admissions Director, know if you have referred a 6th grade family by notifying the Admissions Office no later than May 1, 2015.
Re-Enrollment 2015-2016: Below you will find the dates and fees that will ensure your student will be enrolled at The King's Academy for the 2015-2016 school year. - January 29, 2015 Re-enrollment instructions with financial contracts available through Parent Portal to current TKA families to be completed online.
- February 12, 2015 Contract of Agreement for Re-enrollment due from existing TKA families with $200 non-refundable re-enrollment fee. The fee becomes $225 after February 12.
- February 12, 2015 Student Fee of $950 is due for next year’s 9th graders (current 8th grade class).
- May 8, 2015 Student Fee is due for all students except the current 8th grade class. It is $850 for middle school (grades 6, 7, 8) and $950 for high school (grades 10, 11, 12).
- May 15, 2015 All outstanding fees, library books, and athletic uniforms must be cleared for your student to receive a yearbook on the last day of classes.
- May 22, 2015 Final due date for Student Fee; after this date, the fee increases $100.
- July 1, 2015 *First tuition payment is due and is non-refundable. Tuition payments are due on the first of each month. *The 2015-2016 tuition will be announced in late January.
Been Thinking about Peru and Machu Picchu? Come to an informative meeting Thursday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m. in A-6. Mrs. Kadle will be showing a PowerPoint presentation about the 2016 trip. Mr. Parsons, who leads the London trip with EF, will also be present to answer questions about EF Tours.
Parents who volunteer 16 hours per student per year receive a $100 reimbursement for each student. Details here.
Seeking Grad Night Donations: If you own a business or know of businesses that could be solicited for donations, please let us know, as we would be happy to visit these businesses on behalf of the TKA Seniors to ask for a donation. Or, you may pass along the letter linked here which contains all the information a business would need to make a donation. Thank you for supporting our seniors!
Seeking New Set of Art Class Volunteers or Sixth Grade Parent Helpers for January through March. No experience is necessary; need help one or two hours a week to assist in their Art class Thursdays 11:30 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. or any other morning or afternoon of your choosing. Contact Mrs. Cindi Sweet.
10th Grade Students: On Saturday, January 31, from 12:00-3:00 p.m. we are building our costumes and props for our spirit week dance. Please come and help build! We need you, cardboard, duct tape, and anything you may think you will need to build your animal costume. We are meeting at Mr. Joslyn's room at 12 noon and working until 3:00 p.m.!
11th Grade London Trip 2016: Enroll by the end of February and receive a $100 enrollment discount. During your student's senior year, the London Trip will be held January 2-10, 2016, so students can go on the London trip and not miss any school days. To read the trip itinerary and see pricing, follow this link to EF Tours website to read the trip itinerary. To register click on the "Enroll now" button on top right and pay the $95 non-refundable registration fee. There is a convenient monthly payment plan. Spaces are limited! Questions? Please contact Mr. George Parsons, or you may contact EF Tours Customer Service directly at (800) 665-5364.
11th & 12th Grade Winterlude: Join us for "An Oasis in the Desert" on Saturday, January 31, 6:30 - 11:00 p.m. at The Marriott Santa Clara (2700 Mission College Blvd) Enjoy a sumptuous buffet with desserts, dancing, fun and fellowship. Details here.
12th Grade Application to Speak or Perform at Graduation: The application linked here is due to Mrs. Bell by Monday, March 16.
This Week in High School Chapel: This week we separated our guys and girls during high school chapel to spend some time discussing and interacting on gender specific issues and topics. The guys heard from Mr. Joslyn and Mr. Curtis as they discussed and responded to pre-selected questions that were written by they guys (the previous week). The ladies met with Mrs. Joslyn and Mrs. Dunn where they were encouraged by their testimonies and given insights for purity and relationships.
This Week in Junior High Chapel: The students had a very fun, yet meaningful time. First, each grade had a representative take part in a competition to see who could get the most Oreo cookies from the forehead to the mouth...but without using hands! After two minutes, the tally for each team was still even at zero, so a random drawing as done and the Sevvies for deemed the winner! Thanks to that victory all 7th graders received Oreos in homegroup on Friday.
After the game the students were led in a powerful set of worship from current TKA student Chris Cuyle's band. Once finished, our message for the week began. This week's "speaker" was Mr. Kevin Neuner, who communicated with message all through trying on a computer screen that was projected for the students to see. As all three grades read along to what he was typing, the room was so quiet you could hear every minor sound made by anyone. To have the room this quiet was a rarity, but also a testament to how engaged the students were to Neuner's message.
Neuner's goal was to have the students understand the power of their words that they use online and in face to face interactions. He told the students the importance of using kind and positive words in text messages or social media posts. He also spoke of the importance of understanding that what we decided to post/say online is not there for just a short period of time, but rather FOREVER. Ultimately, the students were challenged to do what might seem like a "hard thing" and join in the effort to use their words and language to help create beautiful and uplifting relationships that help to honor the Lord!
Converse - What does it mean that God created “with words?”
- What does it mean that God gave Adam the commission to “name” the animals? How powerful is “naming?” (and what does it mean to call someone a “name”?)
- What are some words that you wish you could “unhear?”
- Why do words stay online and in our hearts forever? (Help them understand the technical realities)
- Name three people in your life right now that you can go and “speak words of life” to them. What are those words, and how are you going to speak beautiful, powerful words of life?
Service Trip Financial Aid: Forms are now available for students and adults who are in need of financial assistance for their service trips. Please note that there is limited funding available and students will need to submit proof of fundraising with their request. For more information or to request a form, please email Julie.Jahde@tka.org. The deadline to submit financial aid forms is February 4.
Donate eWaste and Help the Philippines! It's time to clean out your closets and cubicles - get rid of your obsolete or unwanted e- waste. Saturday, February 21, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. in front of the Theatre. They will collect ALL electronics and small appliances. What they CANNOT take : smoke detectors, fluorescent lights or alkaline batteries. Funds raised will benefit the Filipino people affected by the recent typhoon. Thank you!!
Seniors - Scholarship Information in Naviance Family Connection: As we become aware of scholarship opportunities, the information will be added to Naviance so that students and parents can use Family Connection as one source for scholarship information. From your Family Connection home page, click on the “Colleges” tab and look under “scholarships and money.” If you have trouble accessing Naviance, we are more than happy to help if you let us know. - El Camino Hospital Health Profession Scholarships: Several scholarships will be offered to students who will be enrolled full time in a health professional program in an accredited California college. The deadline is January 31 at 4:00 p.m. Please visit www.elcaminohospital.org/scholarship for more details.
PG&E Bright Minds Scholarships: Bright Minds Scholarships range from $2,000 to $20,000 to 100 deserving students in Northern and Central California. This scholarship is open to high school seniors, current college students, veterans and adults returning to school. All majors are encouraged to apply. Apply by February 9, 2015
10th and 11th Graders - Free SAT Practice Test: Do you know how you would do on the SAT? Are you curious to find out? Maybe you’ve taken the SAT already and are curious about what your scores mean. Then take advantage of an upcoming Free Practice Test and a free Scores Back Session to learn about what your scores mean, all right here at The King’s Academy. Join us on Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 a.m.-1:15 p.m. for the practice test. Then, come back on Thursday, March 18, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. to get your scores and to talk about what they mean for you and for college admissions. Pre-registration is encouraged. Please call 1-800-273-8439 to register or visit www.PrincetonReview.com to sign up. If you have any questions, please call Steven Hanson (510) 698-9201.
10th Grade College Night and PSAT Results Night Presentation: "PSAT: The Best Study Guide Nobody Uses" presented by the Princeton Review
11th Grade College Night: Powerpoint presentation linked here. 
Congratulations King's Strings on Outstanding Performances at ACSI Solo and Ensemble Competition: Our strings competed last Saturday at the ACSI Solo and Ensemble competition held at Valley Christian and did a great job! Here are the results: - Superior/Command performance rating: Cory Tan, piano solo; Meghan Leong, cello solo; Andrew Chong, cello solo; Meghan Leong, Andrew Chong, Aurora Zhang, cello duet
- Superior rating: Aurora Zhang, piano solo; Erika Son, piano solo; Quartet 2 Cory Tan, Joel Shirey, Katherine Wong-Lam, Andrew Chong; Quartet 1 Sara-Grace Rosselli, Sharon Park, Katherine Wong-Lam, Meghan Leong
- Excellent rating: Cello Trio Brian Lee, Zoe Chen, Joe Woo; Violin Trio 2 Curtis Lin, Amie Suh, Chetan Choksi; Violin Trio 1 Erika Son, Rachel Erling, Angie Sang
Congratulations TKA Varsity Robotics Team! TKA competed in a Regional Qualifying event on Saturday, January 24. Sixteen (16) teams competed in a round-robin elimination. All Teams had 5 matches. TKA went 4-1 capturing the 3rd seed. The Knights won their playoff and advanced to the championship round playing the 1st seed. It was thrilling! -Head Coach Alex Wilson and Assistant Coach Christiana Pitts. TKA Varsity Robotics captured: - Winner of the "Innovate Award" for most creative, out-of-box design
- 2nd Place Robot Performance
- 3rd Place for the prestigious "Inspire Award" for overall achievement.
Golf Team Meeting: Mandatory Golf Team Meeting on Monday, February 2, after school at 3:15 p.m. in A-9 with Coach Tomlin. Practice information and other important details to be discussed. Don't miss this meeting, practice starts next week!
High School Spring Sports Start on Monday, February 2! - Baseball will meet on the baseball field at 3:20 p.m.
- Track and Field will meet in the football bleachers at 3:20 p.m.
- Boys Volleyball will meet in the gym at 8:00 p.m. (Due to basketball practice)
- Boys Tennis will meet at 3:10 p.m. outside the M building for transport to Sunnyvale Tennis Center.
- Boys Golf will be meeting in Mr Tomlin's room, A-9 at 3:15 p.m.
- Swimming will meet at 3:15 p.m.outside the M building for transport to Columbia Middle School.
- Softball will meet at the Softball field at 3:30 p.m.
- In order to participate in tryouts you MUST have a clearance slip from the Athletic Office. This will assure all of your paperwork has been completed. You will not be able to participate in any way without this clearance. You also must have all previous sports fees paid. (If you have played another sport this school year)
- Those still in a winter sport may not try out for a spring sport until your winter sport is completed. The coaches are aware of this and you will not be penalized for coming out to your spring sport late.
Junior High Spring Sports Start Up on Monday, March 16: This includes boys baseball, boys volleyball, boys & girls track, boys & girls tennis, boys & girls golf, and girls volleyball.
Interested in Playing Squash for TKA? We are offering the opportunity for both middle school and high school students to participate in the first ever TKA Squash team. Eight other schools in the area, including St. Francis, Archbishop Mitty, and Harker are signed on for this inaugural season. We are only looking for 5 more participants to field a team. The first competition is a weekend tournament on February 13-15. Please see Mr. Maemone in the athletic office for more information.
Athlete College Signing Day: Please join us on Wednesday, February 4, in the TKA Gym at lunch as we honor TKA student athlete, Michelle Maemone. Michelle will be playing Division I soccer at Pepperdine University next fall.
Football Awards 2014-2015: The football teams recently held their annual banquet where the following awards were announced. Congratulations Knights on your achievements and an amazing season! JV - Elias Davidson, MVP
- Kilifi Leaaetoa, Defensive MVP
- Chris Sielski, Special Teams MVP
Varsity - Cole Hansen, MVP
- Mark Miclean, Defensive MVP
- Jaret Falkowski, Defensive MVP
- Dominic Sabel, Offensive MVP
- Colin Mai, PHD (Pride, Hustle, Drive)
- Fidel Nunez, MIP (Most Improved)
League Awards - Dominic Sabel – 1st Team Offensive Player of the Year, PAL Division
- Cole Hansen –1st Team Offensive Lineman, PAL Lake Division
- Miika Smith – 1st Team Offensive Lineman, PAL Lake Division
- Jaret Falkowski – 1st Team Linebacker, PAL Division
- Mark Miclean – 1st Team Safety, PAL Lake Division
- Derek Friske – 1st Team Wide Receiver, PAL Lake Division
- Jordan Duncan – 1st Team Corner Back, PAL Lake Division
- Maurice Washington – 1st Team Running Back, Special Teams Player of the Year, PAL Division
- Jamey Wilson – 2nd Team Running Back, PAL Division
- Fidel Nunez – 2nd Team Linebacker, PAL Division
- Mike Johnson – Coach of the Year
Ray Guy Football Kicking Camp: February 14-15 at The King's Academy. TKA students may attend for free! Contact Athletic Director, Mr. Joe Maemone, directly if you are interested in attending. 
You can access This Week In Sports from the homepage under Athletics, along with TKA Scores, Team Schedules, and Directions to Away Games.
Athletics Office Weather Hotline: Please call this number to learn about cancellations or adjustments for athletic competitions or practices on rainy days: (408) 220-9978. The hotline will be updated by noon on the days of athletic events.
Athletic Alerts: You can receive email or text message alerts for team reminders, scores, game changes. Click here. |
