We love our grandparents! Bridge Program Grandparents Day is April 26th
We are so excited to have our very first Bridge Program Grandparents Day! All Ambrose Bridge Program grandparents are invited to join their grandkids at school on April 26th. Grandparents can visit classrooms, listen to special presentations, and enjoy some time with their special students. “We realize that grandparents play an important role in the student’s life. They support, encourage, attend performances, and give students a ready ear for hearing about how their day at school went. We want them to know how much we appreciate all they do and honor them with this special day,” says Ambrose Head of School, Kirk VanderLeest. All Bridge Program grandparents are invited, and asked to mark their calendars for April 26th, from 1 pm – 3 pm at the Bridge Program campus (Valley Life Community Church), 6325 N Locust Grove Rd, Meridian, ID 83646.
Bridge Program’s 5th & 6th grade presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Join us for the very first Bridge Program Shakespeare play! It will be held on April 21st at 4:00 pm on the Bridge Program campus at Valley Life Community Church, located at 6325 N. Locust Grove in Meridian, across the street from The Ambrose School. Mrs. Tracy’s 5th & 6th grade class will be presenting an abridged version of Shakespeare’s famous play. Audiences will be amazed that children can perform Shakespeare so well. The play is shortened, but the language remains the same. Our students take this challenge in stride, reeling off lengthy lines of prose with expression and emphasis, obviously understanding, not just reciting, their lines. Students learn and understand the storyline, as teachers use it to help students consider the virtue (or lack of) in the characters. So the performance is not just drama for drama’s sake. It is a teaching tool as well. While studying the play’s characters helps develop their understanding of virtue, working together as a class to produce something beautiful is another benefit that produces life skills and class unity. Saturday will be a great opportunity to see this in action (no cost, but donations are accepted). Come and see! O, had I but followed the arts! – Sir Andrew
Do you know about our Bridge Program option?
Now Enrolling Grades K-9th for the fall of 2018-2019 The Ambrose School Bridge Program provides a classical Christian education where students attend class two days a week and follow Bridge Program lesson plans at home the other three days. This program provides the same education as our 5-day program but at a substantially lower cost. It is also perfect for parents who want to be more closely involved in their student’s education or need the flexibility of a 2-day program. The Bridge Program helps families “The Bridge Program has been a huge blessing to our family! First and foremost my children love school, and that hasn’t always been the case. My younger children struggled with learning and things like reading & writing were very difficult for them. The teachers with the Bridge Program have changed that! They have helped my children develop skills that I was having a hard time teaching. I love being with my children, but I didn’t feel equipped to continue schooling them into the older years. The Bridge Program takes the pressure off of me as the sole teacher, and is a perfect match for our family.” – Kim Crenshaw, Bridge Program parent LEARN MORE Questions? Interested in applying? Please contact Melody Tracy, the Bridge Program Dean or learn more on the Bridge Program website.
The 5th grade presents: Twelfth Night & A Midsummer Night’s Dream
On Saturday, March 10th at 6:00 pm, come to the school to see our amazing 5th grade players! Audiences continue to be amazed year after year that 5th graders can perform Shakespeare so well. The plays are shortened, but the language remains the same. Our students take this challenge in stride, reeling off lengthy lines of prose with expression and emphasis, obviously understanding, not just reciting, their lines. 5th grade teachers Mrs. Cherry and Ms. Hobbs make sure their students understand the storyline, using it to help students consider the virtue (or lack of) in the characters. So the performance is not just drama for drama’s sake. It is a teaching tool as well. While studying the play’s characters helps develop their understanding of virtue, working together as a class to produce something beautiful is another benefit that produces life skills and class unity. Saturday will be a great opportunity to see this in action (no cost, but donations are accepted). Come and see! O, had I but followed the arts! – Sir Andrew
Competition extended to March 19th – Keep reading!
We are so excited about our 1st annual Reading Rally competition that will take place February 16th – March 15th. UPDATE: COMPETITION EXTENDED TO MONDAY, MARCH 19TH! All K – 6 students ask friends and family to make a pledge for minutes read over a 4-week time period. All funds raised will go toward our financial aid fund for families needing tuition assistance. Reading Rally is an inspiring way for families to come together to discover and enjoy great works of literature. For younger readers, this time of reading immersion often results in great strides in reading proficiency; for older readers, the adventure of a great book never fades. It is also a fundraiser with the sole purpose of bridging the financial gap that might otherwise keep like-minded families from attending The Ambrose School. All money raised goes to the Financial Aid Fund. You and your children will have the opportunity to contact friends and family via email through a pledge gathering website – it is super easy! Pledges can be per minute or a flat rate pledge. The pledging period begins Friday, February 2nd and goes through the end of the competition. You will receive a link to the online site on February 2nd. All students receiving $100 or more in pledges by Thursday, February 15th will receive an official digital bookmark timer to keep track of their minutes. Bookmarks will be delivered to the classrooms on Friday, February 16th. Important Dates: Friday, February 2nd – Online pledge period begins – information sent home! Friday, February 16th – Digital bookmarks delivered to students with $100 or more in pledges Friday, February 16th – Competition begins! Let’s READ! Thursday, March 19th – Competition ends! Friday, March 23rd – Grammar school celebration after school! If you would like to help with prize distribution each Tuesday during the competition, please email Julia Bengoechea-Little. If you have questions, please contact Michele Vernon. Get ready to read! Pledging Pledging Instructions Pledgestar Website Reading Goals & Prize Packages Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade Reading Rally FAQs What is Reading Rally? A 4-week reading competition to inspire students to read! Who will be participating? All K-6 students. What are we raising money for? All funds raised will go to our Financial Aid Fund. Who do we invite to make a pledge? Friends, family members, neighbors, babysitters…have fun, no pressure! How do we gather pledges? We will be using a web based fundraising system. You will receive the link Friday, February 2nd! What if I don’t have a pledger’s email? We prefer all pledges are made through the online website for easy credit card payments. If someone wants to make a pledge for your child, without using the website, please have them make the check to The Ambrose School and put your child’s name in the memo. How do we track minutes read? Students will keep a weekly paper log of minutes and turn them in each Thursday. Are there prizes or incentives? Yes! Students will have the opportunity to read at the bronze, silver or gold level depending on their grade level. Grade level prizes will be delivered each Tuesday. What type of reading counts? Grade-level appropriate literature and Bible reading. Parents may read-aloud to students as well! Do audio books count? No, audio books do not count. What if my child reads too much, is there a limit? We want to encourage the love of reading but not at the expense of homework or sleep. Please use your parental discretion. Get Ready – Get Set – READ! Pledging for Reading Rally begins Friday, February 2nd from The Ambrose School on Vimeo.
Order your yearbook by February 27th
Order your yearbook online today! For all K – 11th 5-Day & Bridge Program families: This year, the 2017-18 yearbooks will arrive during the last week of school. Orders need to be placed by February 27th. K – 11th families ONLY: Order a Yearbook ATTENTION SENIORS! DO NOT ORDER A YEARBOOK! You will receive a yearbook as part of your graduation package.
Father & Daughter Dance is February 11th
All K-12 fathers and daughters are invited to come enjoy a night filled with dancing, dessert, games and conversations! Sunday, February 11th at 6:30 pm LOCATION: The Ambrose School gymnasium TICKETS: $20 per person OR $50 for dad and 2 or more daughters Purchase tickets in the office or online (select “OTHER” and write “Father-Daughter Dance” in the description. All proceeds benefits the junior class as they raise money for their senior trip to Europe. Grand March at 7:15 & 8:15 pm
Join us for BaseCamp FORUM January 18: “The End of Absolutes: The New Moral Order”
New research from Barna reveals 91% of Americans (76% of practicing Christians) believe that “the best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself.” And most Americans now pledge allegiance to the “morality of self-fulfillment,” which has all but replaced Christianity as the culture’s moral norm. What impact is this new moral order having on elementary children to college aged students? How does our school’s unique method of education help form a confident faith and Biblical morality in children today? How can grandparents and parents best guide children to honor Christ and love others? Join us Thursday January 18th at 6:30 pm as we look at the Barna research from the new book, Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You’re Irrelevant and Extreme (which all Ambrose teachers and staff are now reading). And, we will be hearing from special guests: Jim Mhoon, a family counselor formerly with Focus on the Family. Dr. Scott Yenor, a tenured political science professor at Boise State University, who is on the front lines of the conflict and the changes in college environments. David Goodwin, former Ambrose Head of School and now president of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools. This Forum is sponsored by The Ambrose School Grandparents Association. All Ambrose parents and grandparents are invited to attend. Come early for some delicious desserts and fellowship. We want your input and will be taking questions and comments throughout the evening. This is a “BaseCamp Live” Forum event so we will be recording this session for the podcast, including a Q&A session from our attendees. If you’re unable to attend in person, be sure to join us live on the BaseCamp LIVE Facebook page. You can also submit questions there.
