CHESS MASTERS!

Academy Prep students participated in the 2007 West Regional Chess Championship at Mendenhall Middle School.

This tournament was nationally RATED and attended by hundreds of young people. Academy Prep Center of Tampa was the first place winning chess team in the K-8 division!

The chess team members vying for position and individual trophies were Julius Washington, Brandon Marston, Emmanuel Hicks, Jorge Perez, and Rontavian Mack. As a result of their efforts, these students will represent the region for the All Star Championships in May, 2007!

Individual accomplishments were as follows: Julius picked up the 8th place individual trophy, Brandon collected the 10th place trophy, and Coach Ted McNair won the 2nd place trophy in the Open Adult division. The chess games commenced at 9am and concluded without a break at 5:15pm. Hats off to these and other chess enthusiasts throughout the Academy Prep campus and around the bay.

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Full Cadre of Classes and Staff!

Many wise people advise others to catch those special moments in life. Academy Prep just caught one on June 5, 2006 by reaching our outcome of having all four grade levels filled with students. Over 130 students are attending the June summer intensive to kick off our 2006-2007 academic year and a great staff team of 23.

Students have been extremely busy with academic courses in English, math, science, art, and geography. Our first class of students, now rising 8th graders, is taking a special course to prepare for the high school entry exams. Even though school only lasts until 1:30 each day, students are very busy with leadership training, character education, photography, art, chess tournament, and swimming.

We welcome you to visit our campus this summer or during the fall. Just give Betsy Draper a call at 813-248-5600 to arrange a meeting.

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Thank you TECO Energy, our Crown Jewel Sponsor, and all other sponsors, auction and raffle donors, volunteers, and guests!

The 2006 Gemstone Gala - The Emerald City Ball delighted over 270 guests with a Wizard of Oz theme designed by Grand Events in Tampa. After the cocktail hour where Academy Prep students greeted guests, the ballroom was opened to Belinda Womack and the Mo 'Betta band performing Somewhere Over the Rainbow and a scene from the Wizard of Oz presented by Academy Prep Students.

Lincoln Tamayo, Head of School, shared the stories of the special scarecrows, tinmen, and lions including our staff, families, students, business partners and individual volunteers that work with our students throughout the year, accumulating in over 7,000 hours of volunteer time this past academic year.

Academy Prep young men wowed the audience with their spoken word poetry that produced a rousing standing ovation and the Academy Prep film shared with newcomers the incredible work of the school. Students then joined everyone for a splendid dinner with Oz themes including a unique We Thank You Very Sweetly dessert table.

Gayle Sierens, our Mistress of Ceremony, led a wonderful auction and a surprise student scholarship match opportunity from an anonymous donor that alone raised $20,000 totaling $40,000 with the generous match support. Each participant received a gift from Luxe Urbain, Tampa's newest full salon, which also provided Gala sponsors with a large array of spa gifts.

This special evening concluded with dancing and celebration of Academy Prep Center of Tampa.

Thank you Tampa Bay for your incredible support of Academy Prep Center of Tampa!

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In a new collaboration, Academy Prep Center of Tampa and Clearwater for Youth partnered together on the first annual All About the Kids Golf Tournament held on May 15th at the Old Memorial Golf Club.

Over 90 players enjoyed a great day of golf, gifts, dinner, raffle and auction raising over $150,000 for the two organizations. Dex Imaging, the golf tournament's major sponsor, supports both organization's missions and goals (click here to see the full cadre of wonderful sponsors).

Clearwater for Youth provides funding for athletic camps for over 4,000 children annual. CYF seeks to ensure that all young people in Clearwater have the opportunity to learn about teamwork, health, and fitness.

Our sincere appreciation goes to Dex Imaging, Clearwater for Youth staff and board members, and all of the sponsors for a fantastic golf tournament. If you would like to join us next year, please call Betsy Draper at 813-248-5600 or email her at bdraper@academyprep.org

The Lightning Foundation sponsors a Youth Running Program for Academy Prep Centers Facilitated by Motion Sports

Physical education and health are critical elements of the curriculum at both Academy Prep Centers. This semester during each physical education class in Tampa, an initiative is teaching technical running skills with a focus on life-long fitness. With the support of the Lightning Foundation and the New York Runner's Foundation, the running model is being implemented by the charity arm called Beach Charities of Motion Sports Management, a not-for-profit corporation that produces quality running events. Volunteer coaches, Angie Orr and Mary Ann Renfrow, facilitate the initiative along with our physical education instructor, Crystal Evans.

The curriculum was designed by the New York Road Runner's Foundation. Each child sets their own goals and receives incentives for reaching 5 mile milestones. Starting in the fall at the St. Petersburg campus, over 500 miles have been logged with students participating in three community races. With Just two weeks completed, 38 students have reached the 5 mile mark in Tampa! The training culminates with students participating in two charity runs this spring. The running program will become a regular part of the curriculum for both of our campuses.

Thanks to the Lightning Foundation, the New York Runner Foundation, and Motion Sports Management for helping to make our students champions!

While other schools are cutting their art programs, Academy Prep ensures art is an integrated essential in our academic strategies. We believe that a wide range of artistic training and experiences enhance our childrens' ability to learn English, math, history, health and science. Based on college-level models, students progress in difficulty and sophistication covering drawing, painting, clay designs, dramatic performances, speaking skills, dance, music, and drumming along with a series of visits to museums and hands-on experiences with guest artist and volunteers. Recently, students were thrilled to attend a performance of Wicked at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center sponsored by one of our corporate partners Gulf Management Systems. What a great experience for Academy Prep students!

Leading our work, faculty members Mary Caravello (art and dance), Kristy Craig (drama and speech), and Belinda Womack (music) design opportunities for students to exhibit their talent with our bi-annual plays, musical performances, and spring art gallery. The art studio's operations are sponsored by Sean Manning, a Tampa Bay Artist, who has donated clay, our kiln, wheels, and funds. Thank you, Sean!

Talent abounds at Academy Prep among our students and staff. Recently, students participated in a Saturday photography course led by our Administrative Assistant, Sharon Joller whose artistic talents are in photography and dance. Sponsored by the Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, students were provided an introduction to digital photography as well as basics methods. They explored perspective and depth of field to enhance their compositions. Sharon said, "I felt students were able to concentrate on more advance work with their photography because of their art training in stills, lighting, and negative space which all relate to taking artistic pictures."

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Junior League of Tampa Provides
Funding for Much Needed Computer Programs

The Junior League of Tampa has provided Academy Prep Center of Tampa with over $13,000 to purchase needed computer programs in writing, math, science, and design tools to upgrade our newly started computer curriculum. It is a pleasant surprise for the staff team that is working hard to integrate computer lab training into our daily academic classes. In addition, The Junior League continues for the second year to teach a social skills course during our enhancement series for the 5th graders.

THANK YOU JUNIOR LEAGUE OF TAMPA FOR YOUR GREAT COMMITMENT!