news lineStallionA Publication for American Heritage School of Boca/Delray Parents

April 2014

Pathfinder Nominees AnnouncedEach year, the Palm Beach Post sponsors a prestigious scholarship program known as “Pathfinders.” Schools throughout Palm Beach and Martin counties nominate students in 18 academic, vocational and athletic categories for their outstanding achievements. Last year, Heritage was proud to have had six students receive this award in categories ranging from computer science to literature.

Pathfinders are nominated by the faculty for their excellence in a subject area and their commitment to community service. After nomination, students are then interviewed and scholarship awards ranging from $2000 to $4000 are given to four students in each category. On Tuesday, March 11, Pathfinders nominees from Heritage headed to Palm Beach Atlantic University to be interviewed by a panel of judges. American Heritage School is proud to announce this year’s Pathfinder nominees:

Ariana Bagherian (Communications)Jake Becker (History/Political Science)Noah Bolanowski (Business)Dylan Cahill (Science)Anthony Coons (Drama)Hannah Coy (Sports)Ran Gao (Music - Instrumental)Max Himmelrich (Community Involvement)

Congratulations to Robert HalfonHeritage celebrates the accomplishments of Robert Halfon, the second place award recipient of the Florida Junior Academy of Sciences (FJAS) 2014 Symposium. FJAS encourages young scientists to present papers, honor their peers, and participate in multidisciplinary scientific exchanges. Robert is the first AHS student to win this prestigious FJAS Award.

Robert presented the work from his project, titled “From Foul-Smelling to Fuel Expelling,” that won him first place at the Palm Beach County Science and Engineering fair this past December. He will also compete in the Florida Science and Engineering Fair State Competition to be held in Lakeland in April.

Robert’s excellence in science increases his chances to become the first student from the AHS Boca/Delray Campus to make it to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Competition. (Continued next page)

Pathfinder Nominees on their way for interviews with the Palm Beach Post

Cameron Hoss (Art)Cynthia Metzger (Academic Excellence)Julia Sorensen (Literature)Talia Statsky-Frank (Computer Science)Madeline Swift (Music - Vocal)Katherine Thompson (Reach for Excellence)Alyssa Turk (Forensics/Speech)Jesse Zilberman (Mathematics)

We congratulate each and every one of these students for their success and achievements making them AHS Pathfinder nominees.

(Pathfinders continued from page one) Congratulations to...• Congratulations to Girls Soccer Coach Steve Burgess and the 2014 Girls’ Soccer Team who won the Class 2A state championship this season. Coach Burgess and his teams have won six state titles at Heritage

• American Heritage’s 2013 yearbook staff whose work is featured in the recently released 2014 Jostens Look Book as an example of excellence, creativity and innovation. Having the Heritage yearbook featured in this annual gallery of the best of the best in yearbook journalism is a significant achievement. A team of experts selected 426 yearbooks from thousands submitted for consideration. Congratulations to Advisors Hope Gheorge and Diana Meyer and the whole 2013 Yearbook Staff.

• Josephine Mazza as she received second place overall in competition from sixth, seventh and eighth graders from Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in the Go Green Video Contest from Publix. This is a huge accomplishment for the Middle School TV and Production/Broadcast Class and the WBTV Stallion Today Daily Morning Show.

• American Heritage Varsity Tennis team members Angelica Blake and Kacey Moore who had the opportunity to play with the #1 ranked Doubles team in the WORLD, Bob and Mike Bryon at the recent Delray Beach Professional Tournament. Quite a unique and fun experience!

Angelica Blake and Kacey Moore with the #1 ranked Doubles team in the WORLD, Bob and Mike Bryon

Florida House Rep Talks Law with Civics Classes

Students and teachers of Civics classes attentively listened

as guest speaker, Florida House of Representative

Jim Waldman presented to the entire eighth grade.

Representative Waldman shared his political path and

personal ambitions as he earned his final term as the

minority leader in the Florida House.

Representative Waldman captured student interest with

his discussions on lawmaking, service to the people,

and day-to-day activities in our state’s legislative branch.

Many students continued conversations throughout the

day regarding the perspective they had gained from the

Representative.

Heritage Students Dominate Palm Beach County History Fair

Heritage students ROCKED the Palm Beach County History Fair! There were twice as many entries as last year’s fair and Heritage students did even better than last year, taking 24 awards out of a total of 50 presented. Heritage students received 10 first place awards, 11 second place awards and 3 honorable mentions.

In the High School, big congratulations go to first place winners:Angela Lo — 1st place research paperAlexandria Ferrara & Marissa Margolis — 1st place group exhibitKelly Smith — 1st place individual documentaryMarli Batiste & Courtney Tompkins — 1st place group documentaryAmos Jackson III — 1st place individual performance

In the Middle School,congratulations go to:Elena Lopez-Belio — 1st place research paperEmerald Khan & Sareen Junaid — 1st place group exhibitSusie Schuster — 1st place individual websiteDanny Cahill — 1st place individual performanceConor Callahan - 1st place individual documentary

More History..

800 Year-Old Magna Carta Helped Shape U.S. History

Next year marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carter. Seventh, eighth, and eleventh grade students participated in a very special presentation on Tuesday, March 11. Laura Mann Kevehazi presented Heritage/Academy school with a beautiful print of the 800th Magna Carta Anniversary Edition. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and participate in a very lively discussion. “We aim to make the Magna Carta relevant to the young generation, to help them appreciate that this 800 year-old document shaped the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,” said Mrs. Kevehazi. Congratulations to Aidan Flint for receiving his very own print for asking the most meaningful question about the document and its history. For more information regarding the history and significance of the Magna Carta, as well as the campaign, please visit www.magnacartaworldheritage.com

Aidan Flint receives his very own print for asking the most meaningful question about the document and its history.

FYI...Important Dates for Seniors

Tuesday, April 1 Final Community Service Hours due in the Guidance Office

Friday, April 4 Senior Prom

Friday, April 11 Grad Bash

Friday, May 9 Last Day for Senior!

Monday, May 12 Senior Exams

Tuesday, May 13 Senior Exams

Wednesday, May 14 Senior Exams

Thursday, May 15 Graduation Rehearsal

Friday, May 16 Senior Dinner

Saturday, May 17 Graduation

• “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb!” PK3 enjoyed learning all about the changing season! Spring Fling and Olympic Day were loads of fun, too! Everyone looks forward to watching caterpillars eat, grow and change into butterflies right in the classroom, once students return from Spring Break!

• First graders completed an eight-week program titled “Kidsafe.” This program instructed children about scary subjects in a non- threatening way. Through specially designed activities, games, and skill rehearsals, the children learned how to protect themselves from various threatening situations. The Kidsafe program is meant to empower children with lifetime safety skills and safety language.

• The second grade had a terrific month! The students have been working very hard in the computer lab and enjoying a new program called “Gynzy!” This interactive website was fun for all students. Second graders thank the Division of Blind Services and Miss Christina and her Seeing Eye dog Roma for an informative and fun classroom visit. The students learned so much and they showed a deep sense of compassion. Second graders also enjoyed a visit with Miss Alex and Patches, the Ambassador Dog of Southeastern Guide Dogs. The children witnessed how smart these highly trained dogs are and how important they are to their owners.

• It has been a busy fun-filled couple of months in third grade. The Science Fair projects are now completed and came

out great! In science, students completed their unit on magnets and will now be learning about different types of living things. On the ‘Tech Front,” third graders are excited about the new interactive computer program called “Gynzy.” This program allows students to use a hands-on approach to all academic areas. So far, students have enjoyed lessons in science, math and language arts. They can’t wait to get back into the Integration Lab to play some more! In social studies, third graders are learning about the “ history of communities.” Their year-long “Heritage Project” will culminate as families join the third grade for Multicultural Day. Students will share family histories, cultures, and traditional foods. It will be held on May 21, so please save the date.

• Fourth grade had a wonderful adventure to the Billie Swamp Safari. The classes attended an animal show and learned many interesting facts. The buggy ride was so much fun as they traveled through the water and land seeing different animals. The ostrich was the favorite and they wanted to bring him home. Fourth graders also learned a lot about the Seminole tribe and their customs. This trip sparked an interest to learn more about Florida. Be ready to join the fourth grade in May for their Florida Day.

Ms. Sabato’s fifth grade class participate in one in four science labs while working on their unit on energy.

Kindergartners Ethan Grenier and Rania Shehadeh celebrate Presidents Day and learn about “The Father of our Country.”

Nationally Recognized Author Visits On January 28, nationally recognized author, Kendare Blake, visited Heritage for a morning of talks. Mrs. Carrasco won the visit for AHS from Tor Publishers in an online drawing. Ms. Blake is the author of Anna Dressed in Blood and the Antigoddess trilogy. In December, National English Honor Society purchased a copy of Antigoddess for every senior and NEHS member who wanted to attend the talks. Ms. Blake spoke about the life of an author, publishing books and her works in general. PTO provided AHS themed prizes for the Antigoddess trivia and charades games Ms. Blake arranged. All students enjoyed meeting Kendare Blake and learning about the writing process.

Clinics CornerCongratulations to Gail Schneider winner of the AHS blood drive raffle. This avid fan won a donated New York Yankees baseball signed by Alex Rodriguez. With her blood donations, she helped to save lives and earn funds for senior class scholarships. Please come out and donate at the next campus blood drive on May 6. The raffle prizes are bloody amazing!

Miss Christina and her Seeing Eye dog Roma along with second graders. Students learned many things about difficulties faced by the blind.

Countdown to Summer Camp...Camp registration for Summer 2014 is off to a great start. Several camp groups are approaching capacity, so don’t delay in enrolling your child. The choices for children coming to camp this summer are explained below. Our Traditional Day Camp is entering its 31st season in 2014. This program is open to children ages 3 - 13 and offers a varied curriculum which includes instruction and play in all major land sports, swimming, and numerous traditional camp activities. Children enjoy classes in arts and crafts, computers, nature, story telling, iPad labs, yoga, cooking, and science to name a few. Contact the Camp Office at 561-637-2440 or sally.schleifer@ahschool.com.

Our Musical Theatre Camp welcomes children ages 6 - 14. This wonderful six-week program culminates in a spectacular production in the final week.

After a sensational tenth summer, our Young Artists Camp returns, giving children ages 6 - 14 the opportunity to let their imaginations and creativity soar as they become familiar with a variety of visual arts media.

Our Robotics Camp (ages 8-14) was sold out last summer and is the place to send your camper if they love building robots and having them complete tasks.

In the Science Adventure Camp (ages 8-14) your camper will have the opportunity to really explore science in hands-on messy experiments, unique weekly field trips, and outdoor earthy projects.

American Heritage/American Academy2014-2015 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Monday August 25 Classes Begin Monday September 1 Labor Day—No School Thursday September 25 Rosh Hashanah—No School Friday September 19 Progress Report #1 Friday October 10 Progress Report #2 Friday October 17 End of First Quarter Saturday October 18 PSAT (Grades 9-11)

Monday October 20 Quarter 2 Begins Friday October 31 Parent-Teacher Conference Day #1 No classes for students Friday November 7 Progress Report #3 Wednesday November 26 Thanksgiving Holiday—Noon Dismissal Thurs, Fri. November 27, 28 Thanksgiving Holiday—No School Friday December 5 Progress Report #4 T, W, Th, F December 16-19 Upper School Exams 8:15am-11:30am Dismissal at 11:30am Friday December 19 End of Second Quarter Saturday—Sunday Dec. 20—Jan. 4 Winter Break

Monday January 5 Classes Resume—Quarter 3 Begins Friday January 16 Parent-Teacher Conference Day #2 No classes for students Monday January 19 Martin Luther King Day—No School Friday January 23 Progress Report #5 Friday February 13 Teacher Workday No classes for students Monday February 16 Presidents’ Day—No School Friday February 27 Progress Report #6 Friday March 13 End of Third Quarter Saturday—Sunday March 14-22 Spring Break

Monday March 23 Quarter 4 Begins Thursday April 2 Parent-Teacher Conference Day #3 No classes for students Friday—Monday April 3-6 Mini Spring Break Friday April 17 Progress Report #6 Friday May 8 Last Day for Seniors Monday—Friday May 12-16 A.P. Exams Friday May 15 Senior Dinner Saturday May 16 Senior Graduation Monday May 25 Memorial Day—No School Friday May 29 Last Day for PreK-3 through Kindergarten F, M, T, W May 29, June 1, 2, 3 Upper School Exams 8:15am-11:30am Dismissal at 11:30am Wednesday June 3 Last Day for Grades 1-11 Dismissal at 11:30 am

August 25—October 17 1st Quarter 38 daysOctober 20—December 19 2nd Quarter 42 daysJanuary 5—March 13 3rd Quarter 46 daysMarch 23—June 3 4th Quarter 49 days 175 days

Student Government Seeking New Leaders

Education Rocks is still going on; students are successfully fundraising so that children can attend school in Bali. Now is the time for students to join Student Government for the next school year. Please see Mrs. Gheorge in room 604 for a member application.

Next year, the 2015 Homecoming theme is Survivor! Get ready for you and your tribe to fight for the top position. More information about Homecoming will be announced at a later date.

Clean your refrigerator coils: vacuum out the dust and wipe with a damp cloth. You’ll be surprised at how much nasty stuff accumulates there!

Cancel your newspaper subscription and read the news online instead. (Bet you’re already doing this one!)

Schedule your errands back-to-back to consolidate your trip and save gas or ride your bike or walk when possible.

Buy used or e-books instead of new.

ECO TIPS

DANCE TEAM HAS A 3-PEAT AT NATIONALS!Congratulations to the Competition Dance Team for receiving the GRAND CHAMPION AWARD at national competition. This is the THIRD consecutive year the dance team has won this award. American Heritage had the highest scoring routine of the entire competition! First place awards were won in these categories: Jazz, Jazz Small Ensemble, and Modern Dance. Second place awards in Pom and Lyrical Small Ensemble. Individual first place awards included solos by Kennedy Bagwell and Karly Robinson.

Congratulations to our competition dance team members!

Congratulations to Julie Jensen and the Heritage High School Choir who received straight superiors at the choral Music Performance Assessment. The High School Choir now joins the Show Choir and soloists in receiving superior scores from the Florida Vocal Association.

FOURTH GRADE MUSIC AND DRAMA WHEELFourth grade music wheel accompanied fourth grade drama wheel performance of “The Long Winter.”

This quarter’s fourth grade music wheel spent their time learning to play ORFF instruments including xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, bass bars, boomwhackers and drums so that they could accompany their friends in drama for their production of “The Long Winter.” They helped create the musical background as they performed songs and sound effects for the actors. Bravo! It was a great success!

April 25, 26 & 30, May 1, 2 & 3Performance time, 7 p.m.

Heritage Debaters Building a Tradition This month, some of Heritage’s top debaters have been giving presentations for and working with middle schoolers, introducing them to speech and debate.

Will Turk and Alyssa Turk held debate rounds against Jagger Stapp and Coach David Childree, for middle schoolers in the English classes of Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Detamore, giving students a first hand look at public forum debate as they debated the pros and cons of single gender schools and classrooms in America. Middle school students judged the debate rounds, and offered feedback to the debaters. The high school debaters also got middle schoolers involved while debating the death penalty in Mrs. Hughes’ middle school classes. The middle schoolers gave speeches and questioned speakers as they got their first taste of the congressional style of debate. Middle schoolers who would like to get more involved in debate, can sign up for middle school or high school elective classes in Speech and Debate, and can come to debate practices Wednesdays after school in room 801A from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

The debate team’s newest members have also been having a suc-cessful competitive season, building on Heritage’s tradition of ex-cellence in debate. Zach Shahin and Abraham Xiaonan, who joined the debate team just two months ago, made it to finals at Debate National Qualifiers in extemporaneous speaking, a style of debate that focuses on current events in the news headlines. Extempers give speeches on political, economic, and social topics that affect people in the US and across the globe.

Joseph Zhang, new to American Heritage this year, recently won his first First Place ever, competing in congressional debate. In congressional debate, students create a mock congress chamber and debate whether or not bills should become real laws. And at the Congressional Debate national qualifiers, freshmen Jordan Seider and Connor Mileusnic both made it to finals, taking spots as alternates. Jordan and Connor were both ranked first by several judges on their judge panels during the competition. Congratu-lations to all the Heritage debaters on a successful year! For more information about debate at Heri-tage, contact Coach David Childree

Monday

7Pasta-Meatball

Monday

14Pasta-Meatball

Monday

21No School

28Pasta Meatball

Monday

Friday

4Parent Teacher Conference

DayNo Classes

11Potato Crusted Fish Filet

Corn Dinner Roll

18No School

25Homemade Chili

Steamed RiceCorn Bread

Thursday

3Island Style Mahi Fish

SticksWaffle Baked Potatoes

10Build-A-Burger Bar

17Hot Diggity Dog Day

Cup of Soup

24Build-A-Burger Bar

Wednesday

2Stir-Fry Chicken

RiceVeggiesEgg RollNoodles

9Macaroni & Cheese

Chicken BitesBaby Carrots

16Baked ChickenPotato Pancakes

Green Beans

23Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Cup of Soup

30Macaroni & Cheese

Chicken BitesBaby Carrots

Tuesday

1Chicken Patty

on a Whole Wheat Bun

8Taco Tuesday

15TurkeyGravy

Mashed Potatoes

22Chicken Tenders

Au Gratin PotatoesMixed Veggies

29Philly Cheese Steak

Sandwich April MenuAmerican Heritage School6200 Linton Blvd.Delray Beach, FL 33484

Home of the StallionsVisit our website at www.ahschool.com