As we return to school after our Thanksgiving holiday, the Upper School students are in “countdown mode” to exams. There is a sense of urgency and focus as we begin December. In the midst of Christmas concerts, celebrations, and athletic events, the students are intent on finishing this … Details

As we return to school after our Thanksgiving holiday, the Upper School students are in “countdown mode” to exams. There is a sense of urgency and focus as we begin December. In the midst of Christmas concerts, celebrations, and athletic events, the students are intent on finishing this semester strong. These next two weeks are a true test of time management skills and well placed priorities. Our teachers will be reviewing key material, providing help sessions, and encouraging each student to succeed.

This time of year is also one of great expectations for college acceptances by our seniors. The road to college actually begins in the eighth grade for our FRA students. Careful curriculum choices and practice for the standardized tests are both part of the extensive process that carries through a student’s Upper School career. The process reaches a high point their junior and senior year as the application procedure gets in full gear. College visits, research, and guidance help to narrow down the possibilities. The class of 2009, with 59 seniors, has completed more than 370 college applications to over 125 different colleges and universities. This class has already topped the $500,000 mark in scholarship money even though most scholarships are awarded in the spring. I am so proud to be part of an academy that graduates students of such high caliber year after year.

Steve Harris, Dean of Upper School

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Cocoa & Carols, an annual favorite which marks the beginning of the Christmas season for our FRA families will be held in the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre on Thursday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m. Please join us for this wonderful holiday event! The featured artists are listed below: Austi … Details

Cocoa & Carols, an annual favorite which marks the beginning of the Christmas season for our FRA families will be held in the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre on Thursday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m.

Please join us for this wonderful holiday event! The featured artists are listed below:

Austin Andries & Rosemary Fossee

Mary Landon Funk

Jordyn Poston

Bridgit Bowden

New Grass Association

Nathan Kahre

Arushi Gandhi

Sarah Kromer & Rachel Caldwell

Julianne Murphy

Malone & Marian Wayland

Sallie Ann Seabury, Allison Farrar, Anna Canady, Brittany Fowler 

Liz Boyd

Lillie Grant

Mary Katherine Seabury

Jackson Taylor

Sarah Moore

Grayson Rosenberger

Joseph Chandler

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FRUIT AND POINSETTIA PICK-UP THURSDAY AND FRIDAY!  Pick-up your fruit and poinsettias at the portico located on the South Campus facing Overton High School. Dates: Thursday, 12/4 and Friday, 12/5 Times: 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 1:30-5:30 p.m. Poinsettias can be made available for pick-up on W … Details

FRUIT AND POINSETTIA PICK-UP THURSDAY AND FRIDAY!

 Pick-up your fruit and poinsettias at the portico located on the South Campus facing Overton High School.

Dates: Thursday, 12/4 and Friday, 12/5

Times: 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 1:30-5:30 p.m.

Poinsettias can be made available for pick-up on Wednesday by special arrangement only.

Questions? Call Cyndi Miller @ 594-0425.

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FRA is rarely closed because of inclement weather. Generally, we will open one or two hours late on snow days if roads clear. In all cases, we do encourage everyone to use good judgment regarding travel from home to school and never let our decision about the daily schedule override your safety dur … Details

FRA is rarely closed because of inclement weather. Generally, we will open one or two hours late on snow days if roads clear. In all cases, we do encourage everyone to use good judgment regarding travel from home to school and never let our decision about the daily schedule override your safety during wintry days.

Information concerning changes in our schedule due to the weather is given through WTVF-TV (ch. 5), WSMV-TV (ch. 4) WKRN-TV (ch. 2). Also, please check the FRA website for closing information. If at all possible, Extended Day will be in operation on days school is closed due to weather.

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Each year, Franklin Road Academy honors faculty members and one alumnus, chosen by the Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees, at an awards dinner. This year’s event was held on Thursday, November 20th in FRA’s newly renovated Chapel/Conference Center here on campus … Details

Each year, Franklin Road Academy honors faculty members and one alumnus, chosen by the Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees, at an awards dinner. This year’s event was held on Thursday, November 20th in FRA’s newly renovated Chapel/Conference Center here on campus. On this night, we recognized three members from our faculty – Lina Wellborn, Jack Nunnally and Fred Frawley – each having just recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with the school. In addition to these wonderful members of our staff, an alumnus was also honored. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Captain Gregory Johnson. After graduating from FRA in 1993, Greg graduated from UT-Knoxville on a football scholarship. While at UT, he made the list of the school’s 100 Greatest Plays with the “hardest tackle” award in a game against UCLA. He graduated in 1997 with a triple major in Political Science, History and Spanish. Following graduation, he studied international relations in Spanish for six months in Argentina, then another six months in Panama. Returning to the U.S., he worked with FEMA in Washington, D.C.

Today, Greg is a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and is stationed at Camp Pendelton in southern California, where he oversees an anti-terrorism school. He has completed five separate tours overseas and his team was the first to cross over into Iraq after the beginning of the war in 2003.

The Distinguished Alumni Dinner was a wonderful event this year, honoring deserving and beloved FRA teachers as well as an alumnus who has made his alma mater  grateful and very proud.  Captain Johnson spent the day after this event in school division assemblies, encouraging students to write members of the military and discussing his service, love of country, and feelings of gratitude toward Franklin Road Academy. 

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Would you like to get great deals on some really special Christmas gifts and support FRA at the same time? Check out the PIZZAZZ auction website! http://www.charityonlineauctions.com/fra.php Here are this week’s fabulous items: • FRA Spirit Basket- Great FRA spirit basket for … Details

Would you like to get great deals on some really special Christmas gifts and support FRA at the same time? Check out the PIZZAZZ auction website!

http://www.charityonlineauctions.com/fra.php

Here are this week’s fabulous items:

• FRA Spirit Basket- Great FRA spirit basket for the whole family…a nice surprise under the Christmas tree. Basket is filled with everything you need to show your FRA colors, all packaged in a tin bucket to keep and reuse.

• Suede Duffle Bag(from Johnston & Murphy) – This would make a great Christmas present for dad. Visit the website to see pictures.

• GAC & HGTV Basket - Just in time for Christmas…a fabulous assortment of your favorites. This is perfect for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list. Basket includes four-3set DVD packages: "30-Minute Meals with Rachel Ray," "DIY Scrapbooking Projects," "HGTV Ideas for the Holidays," and "Good Eats with Alton Brown." Package also includes Picnic at Ascot picnic set, GAC notebook, ball cap & t-shirt. Lastly, basket includes a Fine Living sweatshirt and water bottle.

• FRA Street Sign – Let everybody know your child has the most FRA spirit! Purchase this collectible FRA street sign displayed at the main entrance to the school from January 2009 – July 2009. Your child will be the envy of all their classmates with this one-of-a-kind purchase. You even get to keep the sign once it's taken down!

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With the holidays upon us, many of us have begun to plan for the gifts that we will give to others. In the spirit of the season, we may also want to look at various ways we can be charitable in our giving. There are many opportunities that allow us to make a gift now that will continue to impact peo … Details

With the holidays upon us, many of us have begun to plan for the gifts that we will give to others. In the spirit of the season, we may also want to look at various ways we can be charitable in our giving. There are many opportunities that allow us to make a gift now that will continue to impact people for years to come. Whether it be an outright gift to an endowment fund such as a scholarship or a planned gift that can create substantial tax benefits for you and your family, the development staff at FRA can assist you in making the most of your holiday gift. Please, contact Angie Stiff, Director of Advancement, at stiffa@franklinroadacademy.com if you would like to learn more.

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          The Carraway Center for Teaching and Learning   Stress & Learning   December 5, 2008  10:30-12:00 Parent Education Seminars   A series of educational seminars for parents designed to provide pract … Details

The Carraway Center for Teaching and Learning   Stress & Learning   December 5, 2008  10:30-12:00

Parent Education Seminars A series of educational seminars for parents designed to provide practical strategiesand ideas for working with their children.    Stress and Learning                      December 5th  This seminar will explore the effect stress and emotion have on your child's ability to learn. Strategies will be provided to help reduce stress and therefore improve learning. Questions explored in the seminar:            Does your child show signs of stress? How does your child's stress negatively affect his or her learning? How do diet, sleep and exercise affect stress and learning? How can you help?   Time: 10:30-12:00                Date: December 5, 2008  Place: Bronte Bistro in Davis Kidd in the Mall at Green Hills.                   Participants receive free cup of soup w/meal purchase after the seminar. Cost: $30.00 per person (1 hour presentation with 30 minute Q&A afterwards)                                                                    How To Register  To register for each seminar, please call the Carraway Center at 615.279.9376 or send an email to Rebecca@carrawaycenter.com at least 24 hours prior to the event.  Payments can be made online via pay pal or at the door in the form of a check or cash.   If you would like to receive a monthly reminder of upcoming events, including these seminars, please email your request to Rebecca Walker at rebecca@carrawaycenter.com.  For more information on services provided by The Carraway Center , go to www.carrawaycenter.wordpress.com    The Carraway Center for Teaching & Learning  Kimberly Carraway is a Learning Specialist and Educational Consultant specialized in teaching and learning strategies.  She holds degrees in Cognitive Studies and Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University and in Learning and Teaching from Harvard University.  Ms. Carraway focuses her work on the integration of cognitive neuroscience and educational practice.  She speaks nationally to educators, administrators, and parents, bringing the latest research on how learning occurs and relevant applications of research directly to the classroom.   Kimberly's passion for students and their learning process is what inspires her to design personalized strategies for different kinds of learners.  Ms. Carraway works individually with students, consults with private and public schools across the country, and teaches summer education workshops for students in the areas of Study Strategies, Critical Reading, Writing, and ACT/SAT Strategies.  Ms. Carraway currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she directs the Carraway Center for Teaching and Learning. She is a member of the Learning Brain Society and a charter member of the International Mind, Brain and Education Society.      Parent Education Series     2008- 2009

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