
Mustang Messenger
March 2024

The curriculum we follow teaches us many lessons, but the most useful and true one is that life is an adventure that seldom goes as we expect it to. Growing up requires us to have the courage to adapt to the next level of knowledge and wisdom, discover who we are, what we believe, and become our best selves. Part of this journey is recognizing our influence on others, even unintentionally.
Steve Jobs once said that we should be a yardstick of quality. Some individuals may not be used to an environment where excellence is expected. Growing into our potential means getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Growth always involves change and learning new habits and skills that we never needed before but are required to reach the higher level we now desire. Maturity enables us to avoid the trap of trying to be perfect and instead focus on growing in self-intelligence and honing our natural abilities to become all we were created to be. Elevating our attitude and performance has a multiplying effect.
It's important to remember that our actions, whether intentional or unintentional, can have a significant impact on those around us. We all leave a mark on others, and it's important to be mindful of how we interact with those in our lives.
Ray Polk,
Director
🐮 AG Corner 🐷
Hello Academy At the Farm! It is your FFA reporter, Soha Bajaj, with another FFA update. We just had a lot of our Academy at the Farm FFA and 4H members go to the Florida State Fair and Pasco County Fair to show their projects. Everyone worked very hard this year either at the barn or at home with their projects and did awesome at the fair. Everyone who showed this year should be very proud of what they accomplished. Our school had students who showed dairy cows, goats, pigs, rabbits, turkeys, chickens, and steers. We also had students who entered plants and photography! I hope everyone enjoyed this year’s Pasco County and Florida State Fair. Congratulations to everyone!
Congratulations Academy at the Farm FFA and Academy at the Farm Agriculture Programs for earning 1st place in the FFA/4H Agri-Exhibits at the Pasco County Fair.
Our FFA pep rally was an absolute blast! Big congratulations to Heather Kline for winning the kiss the pig contest! 🐽
Academy at the Farm Farmer’s Market🍊
It is already the second month of the Farmer’s Market and we are only just beginning! From fruits to veggies, honey, and sourdough bread, we have what you need to make delicious treats or add healthy sides to your meals. Last month we featured strawberries as our produce of the month and in March we are going to feature some delicious veggies. We carry a wide variety of produce and try to offer new items each week. Thank you for your patience as we have been training our student volunteers and working to manage our inventory so we don’t have a lot of waste. Make sure to check out all the amazing produce we have at our Academy at the Farm Farmer’s Market. Tell your friends and family about our market as well! We are trying to get the word out that we are open to the public and look forward to offering our goods to a wider audience.
We could not do what we do without our student volunteers! They handle customer service as well as do all of the stocking, counting and displaying of our products!
We appreciate your feedback! Please contact us at farmersmarket@academyatthefarm.com if you ever have questions, requests for products or want to tell us how we are doing. We appreciate your support!
Featured Produce of the Month
🥦Green Veggies🥕
In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, this month's featured produce will be an assortment of green veggies. We will be showcasing a different green vegetable each week and featuring it as the produce of the week. We will have samples and recipes for you to try. There are many things you can do with greens from making a tasty salad or a delicious after school treat. Make sure to check out our veggie of the week and see what delicious dishes you can make with them.
Delicious, Delectable, Green Treats
Here are some recipes for all ages to enjoy featuring some of our favorite green vegetables that can be found at the Farmer’s Market:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16310/corned-beef-and-cabbage-i/
https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/8049527/cucumber-sandwich-with-cotija-lime/
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/255944/smoky-poblano-corn-pudding/
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/greek-sausage-pita-pizzas/
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/230642/healthy-green-juicehttpsplea://www.
If you have been to the Farmer’s Market and enjoyed your experience, tell your friends!
Like and share our pages on social media!
Counselor Corner
Advocating for your child's well-being, let's explore the superhero powers of sleep, especially for our school-age adventurers! Get ready for a journey into the land of dreams, where rest reigns supreme and the benefits are plentiful.
Brain Boost: A good night's sleep enhances memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, giving your child's brain a VIP pass to learning.
Immune System Boost: Ample sleep equips children to fend off illnesses and infections, meaning fewer sick days.
Mood Enhancement: Quality sleep reduces mood swings and behavioral issues, bringing harmony to the household.
Growth Support: Sleep aids proper growth and development by releasing growth hormones during slumber.
Academic Achievement: Adequate sleep leads to better academic performance, higher test scores, and improved focus in the classroom.
Your Mission: Become sleep superheroes! Establish a consistent bedtime, create a soothing sleep environment, and prioritize healthy sleep habits for the family.
Recommended Hours of Sleep:
- Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours
- Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours
- Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours
- Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours
- School-Age Children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours
- Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours
Remember, adjust based on your child's needs.
Tips for a Dreamy Bedtime Routine:
- Set consistent bedtime and wake-up times.
- Create a calming environment with cozy pajamas and bedtime stories.
- Limit screen time before bed.
- Encourage relaxation techniques.
- Lead by example by prioritizing your own bedtime routine.
Here's to peaceful nights and limitless days! Sweet dreams!
Mustang of the Month 🏇
Mustang of the Month highlights outstanding achievements, positive behavior, academic excellence, and contributions to our school community. Each month, we shine a spotlight on a remarkable student, celebrating their efforts and accomplishments.
👍 Caught doing good
Caring, Responsibility
Caring, Citizenship
Caring
Kaitlin helped another student find their lunchbox.
Caring, Responsibility
Sofia was very kind when she found a jacket and returned it to its owner.
Responsibility, Respect
Cassie helped her teacher to tidy up the classroom of items the other students left behind.
Preschool 🏫
When it comes to reinforcing language skills in preschoolers, engaging in extended conversation is key. Giving your little one time to process their thoughts and verbalize them helps immensely in their language development. Remember to restate what they have said before responding to show that you are actively listening and understanding them. Here are some suggestions:
Singing: Encourage singing nursery rhymes and songs together. This not only helps with vocabulary but also with rhythm and intonation.
Reading: Make reading a daily habit. Choose age-appropriate books and take time to discuss the story and characters with your child.
Model and Describe: Use descriptive language in your everyday conversations. Model proper sentence structure and vocabulary, and describe objects and actions to help build their language skills.
Play: Engage in imaginative play with your child. Use pretend play to create scenarios where they can practice using different words and phrases.
By incorporating these activities into your daily routine, you can provide a rich language environment that will support your preschooler's language development.
🍎 Primary
As we embark on the new month of March, it's time for Primary to welcome the arrival of spring and all the wonderful things it brings. We will be learning about plants, animals, birds, weather, transportation, past and present, energy, living things, rules, and laws in government.
In addition, March is a month symbolizing renewal and growth in Primary. It's a time to shake off the winter blues and embrace the longer days and blooming flowers. As we move forward into this month, let's take the opportunity to reflect on the past months, set new goals, and look forward to the brighter days ahead. Let's embrace the new month and the energy of March to bring positivity and joy into our lives and school.
I wish you all a wonderful month filled with luck, happiness, and success!
Upcoming Dates:
*Field Day will be March 7th
*Planning Day for Teachers will be March 8th/No School for Kids
*Report Cards March 15th
*Spring Break will be March 25th-29th.
🏆 Mr. Polk Kids
Congratulations to the Kindergarten Mr. Polk kids; Austin, Rowan, Cale, and Leo. Great Job!
A "Mr. Polk Kid" refers to a kindergartener selected by their teacher for demonstrating the six character traits, excellence in academics, and positive behavior.
Intermediate 🎒
Field Trip Fun!
Intermediate students participate in multiple off-campus field trips each year. Here are some of our favorite destinations:
- Cracker Country - This rural Florida living history museum is at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Students experience life as it was in the late 1800s to early 1900s. They make candles and rope and spend some time in a one-room schoolhouse.
- Pioneer Museum - Similar to Cracker Country, the Pioneer Museum in Dade City allows students to walk through history. We often take students to the museum during special events such as World War II Living History, Pioneer Days, and Florida History before 1845.
- AstroSkate - At Astro Skate in Brandon, students learn all about roller skating using science, technology, and engineering. They solve real-world math problems and do science experiments before strapping on some skates and putting their knowledge to use.
- Crystal Springs Preserve - This 530-acre nature sanctuary in Crystal Springs provides top-notch environmental education to students. They participate in classes such as Awesome Aquifers, Survival, River Adventures, and Getting Buggy.
St. Leo University- Students spend a day at our local university learning what it's like to be a college student. The tour includes all aspects of college life, including a delicious lunch in the cafeteria.
- Flying Squirrel - Flying Squirrel in Lutz is an awesome jump park. At the end of each school year, we rent the whole place for 3rd-grade students to spend a day just having fun.
- Kennedy Space Center - KSC in Cape Canaveral is the highlight of the year for our 4th-grade students. This 15-hour day includes a chartered bus ride, learning about our incredible space program, and a pizza dinner.
- WonderWorks - In Orlando, Wonder Works is an indoor amusement park for the mind. Our 5th-grade students get a fantastic combination of education and entertainment with 100s of hands-on exhibits, including laser tag and a ropes course.
Kindness Committee SOLO Drive
The Middle School and Intermediate Kindness Committees teamed up for a schoolwide kindness project. These students wanted to host a supply drive for SOLO Moms, a non-profit that supports single moms and their children. SOLO Moms was in need of paper supplies for their new building in Trilby. For one week Academy students were bringing in donations of all sizes. SOLO Moms was looking for disposable items like: paper plates, cups and bowls, plastic silverware, paper towels and napkins, plastic cups, sandwich bags, and foil. Yesterday hundreds of paper supplies were loaded up and delivered to SOLO Mom’s new building. We want to thank everyone at the Academy at the Farm for all of their support for our donation drive. Students, thank you for all of the donations, big and small . Teachers and staff, thank you for taking the time to organize homeroom donations. Thank you to everyone on the Middle School and Intermediate Kindness Committees for spreading the word and helping load the vehicles!
For our homeroom competition:
🏆 In Middle School the homeroom that brought in the most was…… Mrs Altman!!.
🏆 In Intermediate the homeroom that brought in the most was……. Mrs Cantwell!
🏆 In Primary the homeroom that brought in the most was …… Mrs Hines!
School Experience Raffle Excursion
4th grader Grayson was the lucky winner of the 7th Street Mini Golf raffle experience. Mr. Groner and Mrs. Briscoe enjoyed challenging Grayson and his two friends (Troy and Wyatt) to a round of mini-golf. Afterwards we enjoyed some delicious ice cream at Uptown Creamery.
Extended Day 😃
The 5th-grade students who attended our extended day program had an enjoyable visit to the Farmer's Market. During their time there, they delighted in sampling various fruits and vegetables and were able to purchase their favorite ones.
Clubs and Programs 🚨
Upcoming events & important information 🗓️
Use the online code: YB27933
The deadline to order is 3/31/24.
If you have questions, please email:
thines@academyatthefarm.com (1-8th Grade)
vsutton@academyatthefarm.com (VPK or Kindergarten)