End of Year Reminders

As the end of the 2011-12 school year comes to an end, we have a few dates for you to keep in mind:

• Teacher Appreciation Week - Ends this Friday.  Don't miss your chance to express appreciation to your child's teacher.    


• Mother's Day - Our annual Mother's Day is Friday, May 11th from 8:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Please refer to the email announcements or school website for class specific times.


• 2012-13 Enrollment Agreements Due - If you have not done so already, please return your signed enrollment agreements by Friday, May 11th along with uniform order forms.


• Memorial Day Holiday - There is no school on Monday, May 28th in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.


• End of Year Ceremony - Our end of year ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 31st from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 


• Camp Kulaqua End of Year Field Trip - Our official last day of school is Friday, June 1st.  We will be celebrating by having a day of fun at Camp Kulaqua.  Be on the lookout for sign-up forms.  

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Camp Kulaqua End Of Year Trip Announcement

Bhaktivedanta Academy's annual end of year trip to Camp Kulaqua in High Springs will be on Friday, June 1st. Friday folders will contain sign-up forms, so be on the look out for them.  If you are planning to come to Camp Kulaqua please remember to turn your forms in to the school office with payment no later then Monday, May 21st to receive the special group rate.

Please Note: there will be no school on Friday, June 1st. If you have any questions please contact the school office at 386-462-2886.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Jaya Sri Radhe Dasi Joins Bhaktivedanta Academy to Lead Middle School Program

Dear Friends,

As announced last spring, Bhaktivedanta Academy has plans to expand to 7th and 8th grade in August, 2013. The start of our middle school program will be the first stage of an upper level education program that we hope to ultimately build up to allow students to remain with our school until they are ready to begin attending college. We are looking to incorporate Montessori with the International Baccalaureate Program to ensure all our students receive a well rounded educational experience in an atmosphere infused with Krishna consciousness.

In preparing for our move to middle school it became clear that our new program will only be great if we hire an individual who is not only experienced working with children in the classroom but who is also a proven organizer and inspirational figure.  I am happy to announce that we have found that person and that she has committed to join Bhaktivedanta Academy - Jaya Sri Radhe.

Jaya Sri Radhe is an experienced teacher and school administrator who has been part of the Alachua Learning Center since its inception.  She is synonymous with the summer bus tours and has been a spiritual mentor and inspiration to countless young people.  I see it as the Lord's blessing that everything has come together for Jaya Sri Radhe to join Bhaktivedanta Academy at such a crucial time in its history.  We are poised to start a venture into upper level education and I can think of no one better then her to help lead it to success.  

Jaya Sri Radhe will begin serving as a member of the Bhaktivedanta Academy staff on a part-time basis for the 2012-13 school year and will join us full-time as the middle school lead teacher and director of our upper level program starting in the summer of 2013. 

I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work together with Jaya Sri Radhe to take Bhaktivedanta Academy to new heights. I hope you are also encouraged by this news and will be inspired to join the effort to provide a quality spiritually-based education to Srila Prabhupada's children from pre-kindergarten all the way through high school.

Please stay tuned for more information. I will be talking more about our plans in subsequent emails and gatherings.

Yours in service,

Picture Day - Friday, May 4th

Friday, May 4th is Picture Day at Bhaktivedanta Academy. All children will be photographed by Lifetouch School Portraits. 2 order forms have been sent home: 

Class Picture
Class pictures are $12 and must be paid in advance. You can pay by cash, check or credit card (online).

Individual Picture Pose Selection
Individual student photos are available in a variety of packages, starting at $12. Select the pose you want and indicate in the special instructions if you want your children paired with their sibling(s). Individual student pictures will be available in the office approximately 2 weeks after the photo session to give you a chance to see the pictures and decide which you would like to purchase. You are not obligated to buy anything.

Allow yourself extra time on Friday morning to ensure you get your child to school on time and looking their best. Please bring them in ironed uniform, nicely combed hair and big bright smiles.  

Thank you!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

BASI Testing Week

Students in grades 3 and higher will be taking the Basic Achievement Skills Inventory (BASI) during the week of April 30th. The BASI is a norm-referenced achievement test given yearly to measure math, reading, and language skills. The results will be sent home to the families of the students who participated after the test sheets are processed and scored.

Please help your children be at their best by ensuring that every day of test week they:

• Arrive at school by 8:00 a.m.;
• Get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep;
• Eat a healthy breakfast;
• Are relaxed and free from other worries.

Thank you!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).