DesertAcademy

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 AT 6:00PM IN THE BIG ROOM.
Desert Academy Head of School, Terry Passalacqua is offering an upcoming ‘Conversations With The Headmaster’ seminar for parents and other interested community members. Mark your calendar for this informative seminar, which will provide a great opportunity to take advantage of Terry’s vast experience in coaching and teaching children and adults. We encourage you to also invite your friends & family who may also be interested in this particular topic. Please join us in the big room, a light snack will be provided.

COPING WITH AND UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND TEENAGERS
Wednesday, 5/4 – 6:00-7:15 – Big Room

One of the biggest challenges that parents and teens face in today’s fast-paced,
high intensity contemporary society, is stress.  In this informative seminar, we will
explore various aspects of stress & teenagers…

• How stress can undermine your child’s potential
• How stress can unwittingly contribute to your child’s motivation
• How to help your child cope with stressful situations
• How stress can often be beneficial

Parents – please join us for this upcoming seminar…

“Optimum Achievement: Helping Your Student Succeed and Grow”
Monday, April 11, 6:00pm
Alice Kahle, Ph.D. will discuss parent strategies to help your student
overcome barriers and take ownership of his or her academic experience.
Techniques for responding to over and under achievement and dealing
with motivation problems will be presented.

Dr. Kahle is a New Mexico licensed clinical psychologist. She operates
a private practice in Santa Fe where she specializes in working with
children, adolescents, and parents.

UPCOMING EVENTS
IB ART EXHIBITION
PARENT/TEACHER SPRING CONFERENCES, EXTENDED TIMES!
EXTENDED ESSAY OVERNIGHT FOR ALL DP JUNIORS
UPCOMING DESERT PARTIES
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ‘HEADMASTER’
ALICE KAHLE – PARENT SEMINAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS
3rd QUARTER GRADES AND NARRATIVES
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS
ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN
LIBRARY PARENT GROUP
SPRING BREAK TRIP RE-CAPS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS!
PROJECT G.U.T.S. INFORMATION
ATHLETIC NEWS & SCHEDULES
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
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UPCOMING EVENTS

IB ART EXHIBITION
Thursday, March 31, 2:00-5:00pm, Fisher Press Gallery
Mark your calendars!  IB Art Seniors will have a closing reception for their exhibition
at Fisher Press Gallery (next door to Desert) on Thursday, March 31 from 2PM to 5PM. Senior students in the two year program are: Bon Malten, Nathan Sheridan,
Nick Gerber, Pique Jacques, Eric Halvorsen, Alex Kokesh, and Danny Archuleta.
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PARENT/TEACHER SPRING CONFERENCES, EXTENDED TIMES! March 31 and April 1
Based on parent feedback regarding conferences, we have extended the conference hours: Teachers will be available for 15 minute meetings on Thursday, March 31 from 2:00pm to 5:30 and Friday, April 1 from 8:30-11:30 and 12:15 to 3:30. Please sign up for parent/teacher conferences ahead of time with Patty in the front office. If you have a special circumstance concerning these meetings, please speak with Patty. Students will be on a special schedule on Thursday, and will be dismissed at 1:40pm.
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EXTENDED ESSAY OVERNIGHT FOR ALL DP JUNIORS
Thursday, March 31, 8:00pm-6:00am
We are looking forward to the extended essay overnight here at Desert on Thursday, March 31 from 8 pm to 6 am.  Students will use this opportunity to formulate a research question, get some research completed, and have some fun together.  If you are a parent of a DP junior, please be sure to sign and return the permission form.  Students received this form on Tuesday, and another is attached to the this email.  We are so proud of our DP juniors, and we look forward to seeing their extended essays take form.
———————————————————————————————–UPCOMING DESERT PARTIES….

1) HEALTH & FITNESS EVENING & SUPPER
Thursday, March 31, 6:00pm, Big Room
Health and Fitness Evening and Supper Thursday, March 31 6:00 in the Big Room
Join Dr. Hennie Fitzpatrick, specialist on aging, Maverick Lobe, DOM, and Carin Van Oldst, personal trainer for a discussion of current health-related issues that affect you and your family. The Parent Association will provide a light meal, healthy of course!  This is a Desert Academy Party and costs $10 per person. Please contact Kay Rice at 992-8284, ext 23 or krice@desertacademy.org for your reservations.  All proceeds go to our financial aid and merit scholarship programs.

2) CARD MAKING PARTY
Sunday, April 3 at 2:00 at Susan Hart’s home 232 Artist Rd.
Don’t miss the fun, crafty afternoon we have planned !  Susan Hart is leading a workshop to show people how to make really clever and personal greeting cards.  So, come and visit with Desert Academy parents and others while you are learning something new.  Susan will provide all the materials.  Snack will be served.  This is one of the Desert Academy parties that we have initiated this year; you’ll hear about more as time goes on.  Cost for the card making workshop is $30 (all proceeds go to Desert) and you may pay at the door. Bring your friends! Email Susan at swh711@gmail.com or call 982-6494 if you have any questions.
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CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ‘HEADMASTER’
“Coping With & Understanding Stress & Teenagers”
Tuesday, April 5, 6:00-7:15pm – Big Room

One of the biggest challenges that parents and teens face in today’s fast-paced,
high intensity contemporary society, is stress.  In this informative seminar, we will
explore various aspects of stress & teenagers.

• How stress can undermine your child’s potential
• How stress can unwittingly contribute to your child’s motivation
• How to help your child cope with stressful situations
• How stress can often be beneficial

———————————————————————————————–

ALICE KAHLE – PARENT SEMINAR
“Optimum Achievement: Helping Your Student Succeed and Grow”
Monday, April 11, 6:00pm
Alice Kahle, Ph.D. will discuss parent strategies to help your student
overcome barriers and take ownership of his or her academic experience.
Techniques for responding to over and under achievement and dealing
with motivation problems will be presented.

Dr. Kahle is a New Mexico licensed clinical psychologist. She operates
a private practice in Santa Fe where she specializes in working with
children, adolescents, and parents.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
3rd QUARTER GRADES AND NARRATIVES
Students’ 3rd quarter grades and narrative comments will be posted to Edline by Friday, March 25th.

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS 2011-2012

This year’s foreign exchange students from Brazil, Germany and Italy enormously enriched Desert’s community! Our students soon return to their families and countries at the end of this academic year; we will miss their sparkling presence and they will certainly leave a void amongst friends, classmates and teachers here at school.  We congratulate their courage and perseverance in choosing to pursue their studies abroad and we wish them well on their journey home. Please keep in touch and visit!

Desert’s very special appreciation goes to our students’ host families who are the backbone of our exchange program. We couldn’t do it without you! We now look ahead to 2011-2012 as we seek host families for our future exchange students. Please contact me if you would like to become host family.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Gabriella Masoni

Student Exchange Area Representative

gmasoni@desertacademy.org

(505) 795-9719

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ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN
Expand Your Gift. Encourage Our Growth. Extend Our Vision.  The theme of our Annual Fund Campaign says it all – we are looking to a bright future!  Participation in our campaign is so important to the success of the school and while many of you have contributed, many have not.  Before we get busy with the end of school activities, won’t you remember how much your contributions mean?  On grant applications, foundations and corporations often ask the percentage of parent/family donations to the Annual Fund as that can be an indication of the health of the school and the community’s commitment to the future of the school.  Gifts large and small are welcome and tax deductible.  Please call Kay Rice, Director of Development, at 992-8284 ext 23 or Jud Osborn, Finance Director, at ext 15 to donate by credit card OR go to our website and click the “Donate Now” button OR bring a check to school

Check out the “Shop for our Cause” button on our website!  Shaklee products are now available to Desert Academy families and friends so take a look.  Click on the “Shop for our Cause” button and you’ll see all the great products and understand how this benefits Desert Academy.
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LIBRARY PARENT GROUP
We are currently in the process of forming a parent library group. The first meeting will be Wednesday, April 6 at 2:00 pm. Please plan to join us if you are interested in helping us with our library. As most of you know, Borders by Sanbusco is having its going-out-of-business sale.  The teachers have listed some books that they would like to see in the new Desert Library.  We’ve attached a document that lists  books already purchased from the sale, and a list of books that remain to be purchased.  Parents, if you already have a copy that you are willing to donate to the library, or if you are willing to purchase a copy from the Borders sale, it would be greatly appreciated by both teachers and students next school year!
———————————————————————————————–SPRING BREAK TAIWAN & DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RE-CAP OF TRIPS
The spring break trips to Taiwan & The Domincan Republic were a huge success for our students! They had amazing experiences, which are documented further on our website. Please see ‘Spring Break Re-Caps” under the “News & Events link” on the homepage of our website, or click this link: http://desertacademy.org/2011/03/spring-break-trips/ (be sure to check out the you tube videos from the Taiwan trip!)
———————————————————————————————–CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS
Congratulations to our Northeastern Regional Science Fair participants and winners!  Taylor Bacon placed 2nd in the Energy and Transportation Junior Category and Isaac Fischer placed 1st in the Microbiology Junior Category.  We are so very proud of our students for achieving such high honors in the field of science!
———————————————————————————————–PROJECT G.U.T.S INFORMATION
Roundtable presentations will be held at Santa Fe Community College on Saturday, April 2,2011 starting at 2:00pm, see attached flyer. Students will be presenting their semester projects on climate change or some form of computer programming. Good luck students!
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ATHLETIC NEWS & SCHEDULES

Wildcat Tennis Season Underway!

Desert’s newly districted tennis team is beginning its Spring season!  Wildcat boys will be playing in a tournament versus St. Mike’s and SF Prep on Thursday, March 31. The matches will be at Alto Park beginning at 4PM. A Lady Wildcat match versus St. Mike’s is in the process of being organized.

Dates for other matches include:
April 5th @ Desert (Alto Park) @ 3:00 PM
April 8th @ Waldorf (Herb Martinez; Camino Carlos Rey) @ 3:00 PM
April 15th @ Evangelo Christian @ 3:00 PM
April 27th @ Waldorf (Herb Martinez; Camino Carlos Rey) @  3:00 PM

Watch for more Wildcat Tennis news!  And come out and support your Wildcat tennis team!!!

Brazil Soccer Camp
The best soccer camp in Santa Fe is back! If you are looking to improve your skill and conditioning before the start of the fall soccer season, then this is the camp for you. Camp director Gerhard Benthin is an internationally renowned player and coach, who helped lead the U17 boys Brazil National Team to first place in the 2007 South America Cup. Camp dates are July 25th to July 29th. Girls and boys will have separate sessions this year. Girls soccer training sessions with Gerhard are from 3:00-5:30 and conditioning sessions are with Coach Niki Wheeler from 10:00-11:00. Boys soccer training sessions are from 8:30-11:00 and conditioning sessions are with Coach Rob Lochner from 4:00-5:30. Fees for the camp are $100 per player if payment is received by June 15th (fee increase to $125.00 after June 15th). Sessions are limited to 22 players and the camp is open to all soccer players from all schools. Register early to secure your spot. Also, goalies if you are interested in a small group keeper clinic with Gerhard please let Rob know. For more information call Rob Lochner at 670-3315.

Track
Please see the 3 attached documents regarding track practice, schedules, etc.
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CALENDAR OF MAJOR UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
**  Further details of all school events are also available on our website calendar at: www.desertacademy.org. To access information on our sports activities, please see the athletic calendar under ‘Athletics’ on the home page.

MARCH
31 – IB Art Exhibition – Fisher Press Gallery, 2:00-5:00pm
- Parent Teacher Conferences, 2:00-5:30pm
- Extended Essay Overnight (DP Juniors), 8:00pm-6:00am

APRIL
1 – NO SCHOOL - Parent/Teacher Conferences
3 – Card Making Party, 2:00pm – Susan Hart’s home
5 – Conversations With The ‘Headmaster’, 6:00pm
9 – National ACT Test – 7:30am-1:00pm

HEALTH & FITNESS EVENING & SUPPER
Thursday, March 31, 6:00pm, Big Room
Health and Fitness Evening and Supper Thursday, March 31 6:00 in the Big Room
Join Dr. Hennie Fitzpatrick, specialist on aging, Maverick Lobe, DOM, and Carin Van Oldst, personal trainer for a discussion of current health-related issues that affect you and your family.  The Parent Association will provide a light meal, healthy of course!  This is a Desert Academy Party and costs $10 per person.  Please contact Kay Rice at 992-8284, ext 23 or krice@desertacademy.org for your reservations.  All proceeds go to our financial aid and merit scholarship programs.
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RESCHEDULED CARD MAKING PARTY
Sunday, April 3 at 2:00 at Susan Hart’s home 232 Artist Rd.
Don’t miss the fun, crafty afternoon we have planned !  Susan Hart is leading a workshop to show people how to make really clever and personal greeting cards.  So, come and visit with Desert Academy parents and others while you are learning something new.  Susan will provide all the materials.  Snack will be served.  This is one of the Desert Academy parties that we have initiated this year; you’ll hear about more as time goes on.  Cost for the card making workshop is $30 (all proceeds go to Desert) and you may pay at the door. Bring your friends! Email Susan at swh711@gmail.com or call 982-6494 if you have any questions.

Desert Academy Head of School, Terry Passalacqua is offering an upcoming ‘Conversations With The Headmaster’ seminar for parents and other interested community members. Mark your calendar for this informative seminar, which will provide a great opportunity to take advantage of Terry’s vast experience in coaching and teaching children and adults. We encourage you to also invite your friends & family who may also be interested in this particular topic. Please join us in the big room, a light snack will be provided.

COPING WITH AND UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND TEENAGERS
Tuesday, 4/5/11 – 6:00-7:15 – Big Room

One of the biggest challenges that parents and teens face in today’s fast-paced,
high intensity contemporary society, is stress.  In this informative seminar, we will
explore various aspects of stress & teenagers…

• How stress can undermine your child’s potential
• How stress can unwittingly contribute to your child’s motivation
• How to help your child cope with stressful situations
• How stress can often be beneficial

OUR SPRING PRODUCTION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT FALL:

Rehearsals are in full swing for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” this year’s final theater production.  The show features a cast of 20 and is directed by Randy Bennett.  The musical director is Lori Sunshine.  The choreographer is Hank Henley, an old friend of Mr. Bennett’s who is flying in from Dallas to create the dances.  Juliana Peterson is the technical director for the show.  Alea Campbell is the stage manager and is working as Mr. Bennett’s assistant.  The show runs April 7, 8 and 9 at Warehouse 21 at 7pm.
Several of the cast members will be seeing the show on Broadway the following weekend with Daniel Radcliff in the starring role played by our Stuart Sproul.  This is part of the New York City field trip the weekend after our performances.

Congratulations to our Northeastern Regional Science Fair participants and winners!  Taylor Bacon placed 2nd in the Energy and Transportation Junior Category and Isaac Fischer placed 1st in the Microbiology Junior Category.  We are so very proud of our students for achieving such high honors in the field of science!

MARCH
Fri 4    – 3rd Quarter Ends
Mon 7- Fri 18- Spring Break
Mon 21 – Classes Resume

An overview of the recent spring break trip to TAIWAN:

Prior to the trip, our students who were participating (Megan Belzner, Skylar Deckoff-Jones, Kinsey, Spude, Sophie Keller, Pique Jacques, and Daniel Archuleta) communicated with their host buddies by Facebook.After a layover in Seoul, Korea, we landed in Taiwan, where we were met at the airport by a van from Da Wan High School. The Taiwan Government generously provided a grant to Da Wan H. S. to pay for our transportation, for teachers to teach our students while they attended Da Wan H. S., and for a tour guide.

During the first week of our trip, our students attended Da Wan H. S. every day. School begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. Da Wan H. S. has been evaluated as “Senior High School of Excellence” for the past four years. The total number of students is 2,888. The school motto is “Honesty, Simplicity, Persistence, Perspective”.

From March 7^th to March 11^th, our students attended classes in Mandarin songs and drama, health education, Chinese calligraphy, Taiwanese culture, physics, physical education, math, English, traditional Chinese painting, cooking, and Chinese knot. Our students got together in the school library from four to five where they waited for their Chinese host buddies.

Chinese students wanted to have their picture taken with the Americans. They treated our students like VIPs. Our students performed a play and a dance for Da Wan students. The play and the dance can be viewed at the following links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i95y5bL7RnM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDPqPbOVYeM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFryTBgwspg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUkbVi3xyb8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pU2xBOo808

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb53PM1GmOk

After one week at Da Wan H. S., we hit the road by a middle size tour bus with our students’ host buddies, two teachers from Da Wan H. S., and a travel guide.

In Changhua, we visited the big Buddha of Baguashan, and we stayed in the home of a friend of Fu-Mei Tsai. That family provided us with a traditional Chinese feast. Our students and their host buddies were inseparable. Although the banquet tables were set up for eight, all twelve of the students crowded together at one table, so they put two tables together for all the students.

At Lukang, we visited the Long-Shan Buddhist Temple, which was originally built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In Taipei, we visited the Palace Museum, the National International Flora Exposition, and Danshui District, a seaside district.

The day before our return flight, the tour bus took us to our hotel in Taoyuan. Our students’ Chinese buddies would not let go of us. Our students all want to return to Taiwan someday.

We thank our school administration, the DA Community, and our students’ parents. This international trip satisfied our educational and cultural goals, and provided our students with host buddies who will probably become lifelong friends.

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An overview of the recent spring break trip to the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Fifteen Desert Academy students, in grades 9 – 12, visited the city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic from March 5 – 17. The group worked with a grassroots community service organization in Santo Domingo called Friends Around the World, as well as with a Dominican Leos club, to beautify a preschool building for low-income families. Students not only painted the two-story building inside and out but also conceptualized and executed various murals on the outdoor patio walls. Additionally, students filled, labeled and categorized bottles of liquid medicines and multi-vitamins for at-risk children. They distributed the medicines to eligible families in two of the city’s bateyes, impoverished immigrant neighborhoods. The Desert Leos Spring Dance-a-Thon fundraiser event made the purchase of the materials and medicines for this service trip possible.