Bon Secour Village

In April 2007, Bon Secour Village named The Academy of Arts & Sciences as the recipient of proceeds from the admission to the “Coastal Living’s 2007 Idea Cottage”. This generous gift will support the technology initiative for the school.

Click here to download the Coastal Living Press Release.

Click here to download the Coastal Living Cover Image.

Partners & Friends

In addition to active parental involvement in the school, we believe that developing partnerships within the community is essential. Because we want to be a valued educational option in our community, we strive to nurture relationships with business, industry, community service organizations, South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, local governments, and other educational systems. Working in partnership and sharing resources makes our community strong in growing the economy and workforce. Some of the partnerships which have been established include:

Classroom Newsletters

Click on the links below to download Adobe PDF format newsletters for each grade. To view the file you will need to have installed Adobe Reader which is available as a free download here.

Pre-School

Pre-Kindergarten

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

Events

Ice Cream Social

This is our Opening Day social meet and greet for students and parents. It is held at the end of our first day of school. The families enjoy ice cream.

Library Book Fair

We offer a book purchase to help our library’s growth. Books are arranged and parents, grandparents, and guests are invited to purchase these books for the school library. They are recognized by a dedication plate placed in the book.

Grandparents’ Day

This is a special day for the students to share the school with their grandparents or special guest. Parents provide a picnic lunch for their child & guests. The tables are decorated as elaborate as desired or as simple as a picnic on a blanket. The parents are not allowed to attend this special day.

Fall Festival

The Fall Festival is an afternoon consisting of a costume parade, food, music, and games. Younger siblings are encouraged to attend. No scary costumes, please!

Yard Sale

We have two Yard Sales each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Volunteers are needed to pick up donated goods from our storage unit, unpack boxes, and set up tables and racks. Many hands are needed to assist the influx of shoppers. Everyone is invited to donate any items that are no longer useful to them. This event is open to the public.

Polar Express Breakfast

What a way to begin our holiday festivities! Parents and children come to school in their pajamas (Really!). We all enjoy a delicious breakfast together with our families. Following the breakfast, the younger students “settle in” and listen as Mr. Harry Keenan reads the story, The Polar Express. The students in the older grades participate in the breakfast.

Holiday Program

Our music program is highlighted with a holiday production held at the Foley Civic Center in the evening. It is an night filled with songs, a play, and presentation of the Christmas Trees from our Fourth Grade to our First Grade. The preparation involves decorating the stage and room, providing cookies and beverages, and breakdown after program is over.

Empty Bowls

The students in Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade create beautiful ceramic bowls for purchase. The bowls are unique and make great gifts! The bowls are then filled with soup and sold for $10.00 a piece. The money we raise helps support our local food banks. The EMPTY BOWLS program is a constant reminder that food insecurity remains a persistent fact of life for too many people. The fundraising concept has a second mission, as well, to advocate for the arts education and involve students in community service. These bowls show your support in our fight against hunger here in our community!

Mardi Gras

Our mini version of New Orleans! Each class (except Pre-School and Pre-K, they stand on the parade route) parades in individual floats (made from wagons, carts, etc.) or they walk along. Each child and parent is responsible for providing their own float and throws. Following the parade, everyone will enjoy king cake and punch. Also, Mardi Gras music is played. Let the good times roll!

Island Affair

The Island Affair Auction & Gala is our largest fundraiser of the year. We honor a featured artist and the students create their own masterpieces portraying their interpretation of the artist. The event is held at the Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores. Live music, food, and a silent & live auction are just a few of the exciting events from the evening.

Field Day

This is a day that students, teachers, & parents come together and show their team spirit and sportsmanship. Games, relays, and lots of cheering comprise this day of physical fitness!

Teacher Appreciation

This is a week long event. Each student will present their teacher with a small token of appreciation. The Parents’ Association provides a luncheon with goody bags for all faculty & staff.

Pink Party

This is our equivalent to graduation. This end of the year music program is in the evening at the Foley Civic Center. Cookies & punch are served following the event. This is a wonderful celebration of our children’s accomplishments.

Box Tops

Teachers, parents, and students compete to collect as many Box Tops as possible. Each month, the count for each class is tallied and the winning class is rewarded. Cut, clip, tear, and involve friends, family, and co-workers to grant your child’s class the prize!

Parents’ Association

The Parents’ Association is an organization led by volunteer parents. The mission is to strengthen relationships between the Academy staff, families, and students on campus. In order to create a positive experience for all stakeholders, the Parents’ Association is a formal link for our parents. All parents of students at the Academy are members of the Parents’ Association.

The Parents’ Association is the “front door” for the Academy families. We provide regular information to parents about the many opportunities available for volunteering. Throughout the year, a number of events are held for the benefit of our students and programs. Parental involvement in our activities is crucial to the school’s overall success.

The Parents’ Association is also involved in raising funds for the Parent Fund. This Fund is used to support classroom experiences, cultural events, gifts, and added opportunities that are needed that may not be in the school’s budget.

The Parents’ Association specifically seeks to:

The following parents are the Parents’ Association Officers for the 2008-2009 year:

 

 

Physical Education

pe.jpgThe objectives of the physical education program are to provide all children with experiences that promote fitness, health, and teamwork. In the lower grades, students are introduced to physical fitness; focused on gross motor skills, listening skills, and following directions; and learning through play and non-competitive games. In the middle grades, emphasis is placed on physical fitness, skill development for competitive team and individual sports, and more competitive games while continuously emphasizing positive sportsmanship. Upper grade level programs are based on physical fitness, sportsmanship, and individualized competitions. The students will participate in Jump Rope for Heart to benefit the American Heart Association as well as Field Day.

Spanish

spanishThe study of the Spanish language is an experience, whereby, all children learn to speak and read the language as well as develop an understanding of the culture. The main focus is upon acquiring proper pronunciation, reading, writing, and basic grammar skills. The Spanish program is enriched with the study of customs, culture, geography, and history of Spain, Mexico, and Central America. As a class, they learn, laugh, sing, dance and recite poems.

Early Childhood Education
Focus on Spanish vocabulary and pronunciation about colors, numbers, food, anatomy, and holidays.

1st Grade
Focus on reading Spanish language.

2nd Grade
Emphasis is on vowel sounds, articles, placement of written accents and spelling.

3rd Grade
Increase the difficulty levels of vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing, and cultural appreciation.

4th – 6th Grade
Focus on verb conjugation in the present tense with a transition from oral to written communication; specific verb use and verb forms, reading and writing.

All grades participate in the Spanish Festival which is a celebration of the Spanish language and the diversity of Spanish-speaking cultures.

Technology Application

techThe goal of the Technology Education program is to provide students every opportunity to achieve computer literacy and effectiveness in using the computer as a learning tool. Students develop a strong knowledge base, build a platform of strategies, and apply such strategies to various contexts. Specifically, the conceptual framework of providing rich and innovative experiences in technology applications is described by the following 6 strands:

  1. basic operations and concepts
  2. social, ethical, and human issues
  3. applications and processes
  4. communications
  5. research tools
  6. problem-solving and decision making

Early Childhood

At the Early Childhood level, students are provided technology instruction as an integrated activity within their contained classroom. Children are introduced to basic computer components, concepts, terminology and software programs.

Kindergarten – 2rd Grade

Developmentally appropriate activities are planned to provide students with opportunities to utilize technology skills as they accomplish curriculum objectives. Through exploration and group activities, children use interactive resources to reinforce reading, comprehension, and writing skills. The primary objectives for learning and using technology are: basic operations; communications tools (on-line curriculum resources in core academic subjects and enrichment program areas); productivity tools (word processing, drawing tools, learning software, Alabama Virtual Library, multimedia applications, etc.); and, problem-solving and decision-making tools (logistical thinking, researching solutions and circumstances associated with the solutions).

3rd - 4th Grades

Based on the objectives and learning experiences noted above, the students begin to expand their use of technology and exercise more independent thought and action. Students are able to work collaboratively to accomplish project-based assignments using technology. Skills are developed by using technology across all subject areas. Emphasis is placed upon legal, ethical, acceptable, and non-acceptable uses of information and judgments about the value of information found on the internet.

5th - 6th Grades

Students will be able to demonstrate, communicate, identify, apply, and utilize all basic operations, concepts, and components associated with technology use (file management, operating systems, hardware, software, and keyboard proficiency). In addition, skills and knowledge that will be developed include:

Music

musicThe objective of the Music Program is to provide all students with opportunities to experience and develop various skills in music and performance while instilling an appreciation this form of art.

There are three major events during the year in which all students prepare. They are:

Each program includes one unique song per class as well as a concluding song performed by the entire student body. Additionally, each class performs once during the school year for their classmates at a monthly general assembly. Students contribute in creating choreography for their songs as they learn.

In addition to the formal productions, each class has a general course of study. “Musikgarten” sets the tone for Pre-School through 1st Grade. The Pre-School children delight in “Cycle of Seasons”, which includes many different activities in a 30-minute session. They sing, dance, listen, identify animals by sound, perform songs, and play different rhythm instruments.

Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade find “Music Makers: At Home in the World” intriguing. They continue with the established activities in different landscape themes with an increase in challenge. They also begin to read rhythms and learn musical symbols.

From the 2nd-6th Grade, students learn to read music by playing recorders. “Recorder Karate” is a highly motivational method which rewards students with colored belts as each song is completed. These belts are displayed around the bell of each student’s recorder. More difficult songs have been added for bronze, silver, and gold belts. The 5th and 6th grade students also practice sight-reading, as well as study famous composers and their works.

Art

Island ArtIsland AffairVisual art is essential in developing academic excellence. The Art Program  promotes curiosity, critical thinking, and a life-long love of the visual arts. Students are given exciting opportunities to experiment with different art mediums including . . .

Students develop creative and critical thinking skills as they acquire working knowledge of the elements and principles of art. The elements and principles of art are the visual building blocks used to create a piece of art in order to express one’s ideas.

A strong emphasis is placed upon art history. All student art activities are based on the life and art of great masters including Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Georgia O’Keefe, and Degas. Students explore the time period in which an artist lived, where he/she lived, who and or what factors influenced their art – all in order to understand all the dimensions of a master.

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Academy of Arts and Sciences
6900 Highway 59 Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251.955.5211