education – AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY

Commendation for ATA College Prep Student Athlete

For the second year in a row, ATA College Prep student Sasha Malysheva is being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. She received a commendation for being one of the 50,000 highest-scoring students in the country on the PSAT.

ATA Alumnus Joins Teaching and Coaching Staff

Liam Leddy, who attended Austin Tennis Academy and ATA College Prep more than 10 years ago, is back, however, this time Leddy takes on the role of an instructor at College Prep. “Liam and my son Josh shared their childhood as close friends in school and in sports,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School. “I have always appreciated Liam’s curiosity, creativity, quick wit, quirkiness, and love of learning, and his pragmatic approach to most topics lends itself to very interesting and entertaining discourse. It is exciting and humbling for him to join his alma mater as a young professional, teacher, and coach and I look forward to our students’ learning with him.”

Along with teaching responsibilities in the fall, Leddy will take on some coaching as well. “There’s nothing better than having someone complete the circle,” said Coach Jack Newman. “Liam started off as a student, went on to be an awesome student at the University of Chicago, has spent some time in the real world, and now is back with us as a teacher and a coach. Nothing better. He knows the culture. He knows what to expect.”

Leddy grew up in the Austin area, and admits he’s excited to be back as a teacher. ”I hope to bring pragmatism, harsh reality, and a lot of dry humor to student-athletes,” said Leddy. “Also knowledge, obviously, or, rather, the tools they need to seek out, vet, and retain knowledge on their own.”

When asked what has stuck with him since his time as a student-athlete at ATA Leddy responded, “I learned a great deal at ATA, but the lessons that have stuck with me the longest are: 1) Not every moment is the right moment to question authority 2) Discomfort is a prerequisite for growth 3) Energy and attention must be focused on what can be controlled, not what cannot be.”

Leddy becomes the sixth student to return to ATA as a coach and/or teacher. Among those alumni: Shane Berber, Tommy Collins, Brandon Davis, AJ Garcia, and Ashley Weinhold. He holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from University of Chicago, a Master’s in Education from Dominican University (the one in Illinois, not the one in California) and a Master’s in Data Science from the Harvard Extension School.

ATA College Prep Graduation

Five seniors will receive diplomas this year during Austin Tennis Academy College Prep’s graduation ceremonies.

Sydney Marin, Abigail Gorden, Cole Cedar, Hayden Hobbick, and Nick Smeltzer make up the Class of 2021 at ATACP.

Commencement will be held May 26 at Austin Tennis Academy. Kicking off the evening will be an Art Exhibit and Reception at 6:00 PM, with the graduation ceremony beginning at 6:45 PM. There will be a Dessert Reception immediately following the ceremony.

For those not able to attend in person, click here for the webinar link for livestream at-home viewing. The passcode is fC1mw9. While the livestream opens at 6:30, the actual graduation ceremony will begin at 6:45 PM CDT.

Train Your Brain Sessions Begin In June

Looking for ways to keep your child engaged over the summer? ATA College Prep can help with our Train Your Brain Summer Sessions being offered at CP which include several enrichment and refresher courses. Whether your child is looking to get ahead, strengthen foundational skills, or keep their mind engaged during the summer days, ATACP will feed their love of learning.

As with all ATACP courses, they are taught by inspirational and dedicated expert instructors. Classes are limited in size (2-6 students). Each class is $350 for a 4-week, 8-hour session. Offerings vary each session. In addition to these small group sessions, individual tutoring is available in all academic subjects (subject to teacher availability and scheduling). * Note that session dates may vary slightly depending on student registration.

T o see the full schedule of classes for both Enrichment Sessions, simply click here. To register for any of the courses, email Carol Hagar, Head of School, @ carol.hagar@austintennisacademy.com and be sure to include your child’s name, session(s), days, and time in your email.

ATA College Prep Student Commended

Every year, more than 4.5 million high school juniors take the PSAT which enters them into the National Merit Scholarship program, a national academic competition for high school students to provide financial aid to attend college. ATA College Prep student Sasha Malysheva is one of less than 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of those test takes to receive a commendation. Malysheva’s score ranks her among one of the 50,000 highest-scoring students in the nation on the 2020 PSAT qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholar awards.

“Sasha, this recognition, along with the many other accolades that you have already acquired that honor unique aspects of your being, is a tribute to your long-term dedication to your studies, your work ethic, and your perseverance,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School. “Thank you for being such a heartful and powerful example for your mentees and our entire community.”

Semi-finalists and Finalists for the scholarship competition will be announced in September and if Sasha qualifies, she will be asked to complete an application and essays to compete for college scholarship merit awards. Each year, only about 7,500 students are selected to become scholarship winners.

CATA Scholarships Available For Seniors

Capital Area Tennis Association awards several scholarships every year to graduating senior tennis players. CATA is currently offering two types of scholarships: a general CATA Scholarship and the Ricardo Flores Scholarship. The general scholarship is open for any graduating senior tennis player to apply. The Ricardo Flores Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship for graduating senior tennis players of Hispanic descent.

Last year CATA awarded $17,250 to 23 tennis players from over 15 different high schools in the area.

The deadline to apply for the CATA scholarships is March 1st.

Click this link to get more information as well as submit an application for one of the scholarships which represent a great way for high school senior tennis players to receive extra help toward attending college.

Let Us Answer Your Questions

This year, maybe more than ever thanks to COVID19, students and parents have lots of questions as well as concerns about going back to school and physically being in classrooms. Head of School Carol Hagar, and her College Prep staff, want to provide as much information upfront as possible.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions. Simply click on the link to watch a video with Carol Hagar answering that specific question.

What will school be like this year in light of COVID19?

When will classes begin for College Prep?

Will there be safety protocols in place?

What type of system is used to manage classes, communication, and other elements for each student?

What does having a school-year theme mean and what is the theme?

What is CP’s focus on health and nutrition?

How are technology and digital devices used?

You’re Invited to Attend Virtual Graduation Ceremony

Graduation will be held Thursday, June 11, for Austin Tennis Academy College Prep’s Class of 2020. In light of the COVID19 pandemic, ATA CP seniors will participate in a live, virtual ceremony while gathering with their family members at home.

Technology will be used to bring the seniors, family members, and friends together in a live, virtual setting to watch and hear graduate addresses, guest speakers, commemorative videos, diploma presentations, tassel turning, and the passage of leadership to the class of 2021.

All you have to do to get a front row seat to the festivities, right from your very own home, is click on this Zoom Webinar link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86324969689

The evening kicks off at 6 PM CST with an Art Exhibit followed by the official graduation ceremony beginning at 6:45 PM.

Train Your Brain Over The Summer With ATA College Prep

Summer is the perfect time for your child to study new things or firm up areas which need improvement, and that’s exactly why ATA College Prep is launching its Train Your Brain summer sessions loaded with enrichment and refresher courses as well as a full Geometry course for original high school credit.

The Geometry for High School Credit begins June 1 and runs through August 7. Enrichment Session #1 delivers ten courses, ranging from Chinese to AP Physics to Trashbots, and kicks off the week of June 15. Enrichment Session # 2 unveils 10 totally different classes and gets underway the week of July 13. Click here to see the complete list of courses.

All classes are limited in size, and will be available via Zoom or held on campus with protocols in place for physical safety and distancing. To register for any of the classes being offered by ATA College Prep, send an email to Carol.Hagar@austintennisacademy.com. In your email, be sure to include your child’s name, the name of the session(s), as well as days and time.

A Glimpse Inside Summer Offerings For ATA & ATA College Prep

Even though a few details are still being ironed out when it comes to what Austin Tennis Academy will be serving up in lieu of summer camps, things are far enough along to give a little preview of what’s coming this summer for tennis as well as classes being offered by ATA College Prep.

From the beginning of the shutdown caused by Covid19, ATA has proven its ability to react, adapt, and create from scratch innovative ways to help junior players continue to move forward – first from home and then finding a way to safely conduct practices on court. Numerous parents have expressed their appreciation to Coach Jack Newman for his strong leadership, as well as a proactive approach by him and all the coaches for creating new virtual programming which not only kept kids engaged, but also held them accountable during these challenging times.

While practices have moved back on court, physical distancing and other safety protocols remain a top priority. And those realities of what you might call the ‘new normal’ are driving how ATA will operate this summer. Just about everything will be different from past summers; from the size of group practices to the number of coaches involved to a new name for our summer camps. It’s all being revamped.

SUMMER TENNIS

Instead of camps, we’re calling them Summer Semis. And that should give you some idea of the kid-to-coach ratio ATA plans to use this summer. A professional coach will be on each court working with only 4-5 children in order to maintain recommended physical distancing. There will be two different levels offered in the mornings: QuickStart Summer Semis for 6-8 year olds and Orange/Green Summer Semis for 8-11 year olds. The afternoon Summer Semis sessions will be for Academy-level players. Along with providing an environment that’s as safe as possible, smaller group sizes translate into more playing time and more one-on-one attention which yield greater progress in skill development. And let’s not forget about fun. Our coaches make learning and playing tennis fun!

SUMMER EDUCATIONAL COURSES

ATA College Prep plans to provide two ‘Train Your Brain’ sessions over the summer months. Whether your child wants to get ahead, strengthen foundational skills, or keep their mind engaged, ATACP will feed their love of learning.

There will be at least 9 classes offered during the first ‘Train Your Brain’ session from June 15-July 9 and probably 10 classes during the second ‘Train Your Brain’ session from July 13-August 6. There will also be a full Geometry course for original high school credit (instructor approval required) which will run from June 1 – August 7. Each of the courses will be taught by expert instructors, limited in size (2-6 students), and available via Zoom or on campus with protocols in place for physical safety and distancing.

ATA has a lot going on this summer. Full details on tennis sessions and academic courses should be released by early next week (week of May 18). On-line registration will open at the same time.

ATA College Prep Students Invited to Sputnik ATX’s Demo Day

ATA College Prep students have been invited to hear and critique pitches being made by five start-ups to Sputnik ATX, a business accelerator based in Austin. This year, in light of COVID19, students will watch the pitches via a Zoom webinar on Thursday, May 14, instead of attending in person.

“This is an excellent opportunity for ATACP students to review new business ideas, observe public speaking and pitch methodologies, and learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School.

Here’s the list of companies making their pitches to Sputnik ATX for investment:
+ Mod Tech Labs: Movie production studios spend countless dollars and man-hours on 3D visual effects. Mod Tech Labs eliminates those costs using AI to make 3D easy to produce.
+ RxThat: RxThat was founded by physicians and experts in pharmacy operations to make prescriptions more transparent and clinical operations more efficient.
+ Trashbots: Trashbots helps K-12 educators teach hands-on STEM affordably. Their kit includes a programmable robot, software to learn coding, and ready-to-go lessons for students and teachers.
+ Kanthaka: Kanthaka brings personal trainers and one-on-one yoga instructors to any location on demand. Through the Kanthaka app, exercisers can summon a highly vetted instructor within as little as 90 minutes
+ FuelGems: Fuel Gems’ proprietary, patented additive increases engine efficiency, fuel savings, and engine life while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Only 1 to 5 grams of nanoparticles are needed to treat 260 gallons of fuel, making this the most powerful additive on the market.

Along with hearing pitches from each of the five companies, students will also get to ask questions during the Q&A period of each presentation as well as provide feedback and share their thoughts directly with representatives from Sputnik ATX.

ATA College Prep Hasn’t Missed A Beat

In a few short weeks, the school year will be officially over for students who attend Austin Tennis Academy College Prep. Seniors will get to participate in their graduation ceremony; teachers will issue ‘regular’ final grades; students and teachers alike will begin their summer vacations. Unfortunately, those will not be the same scenarios experienced by millions of school kids across Texas, or even the rest of the country, due to the sweeping shut down caused by the Novel Coronavirus.

“Impressively, we have not missed a beat,” said Carol Hagar, Head of School. In spite of the shutdown, ATA College Prep students have not missed any classes. That feat can be attributed to the nimbleness of Hagar and her staff, as well as a bit of fortunate timing. On March 23, when the shelter in place order was issued, CP was on Spring Break and before leaving for the nearly three-week break (just in case) students were required to take home all of their books and supplies.

As soon as it became clear students would not be able to physically return to school, the CP staff wasted no time coming up with a game plan for continuing classes remotely. Thanks to the staff’s resourcefulness and use of current technology, making the move from teaching in the classroom to teaching at home was a seamless one. “Because we had been utilizing live streaming of classes for traveling students, most were familiar with the technology,” said Hagar. “We did a few tutorials for Zoom, GoogleDocs, and FlipGrid; and these tools have kept our community connected emotionally and intellectually, even though we are apart physically.”

“The beauty of Zoom is that students and instructors can still see each other and participate in the personal, meaningful conversations and Socratic dialog that is such a powerful part of our community culture and curriculum.” Along with keeping the community connected, there was another area Hagar and CP teachers believed critical for their students. ‘We chose to keep the same class schedule and to stay in the normal rhythm that we had all become accustomed to which has also helped with the ease of transition,” said Hagar. “As a school, we continue to meet in the mornings for Leadership and current events, and each student has a writing coach they can regularly connect with as they work through their research.”

CP made the transition to virtual classes a month ago, and so far, things have been running smoothly. Academic content will be completed as planned and on schedule; feedback from parents and students has been positive and appreciative; and, by all accounts, CP will finish the school year strong.

Those accomplishments trigger a sense of pride for the CP team, however, the revelations that surface during challenging times may provide the greatest insight into the ‘real’ work they do. “The personal connection and care inherent in this community of leaders have developed attributes in our students that are carrying them through this challenging period and that is a glimpse into how they will handle bigger challenges later in life.’ said Hagar. “Honesty, resiliency, positivity, work ethic, and eagerness to excel are all within them and because of that, we will keep moving forward regardless of temporary obstacles.”

Official Statement on Suspension of Events

Due to the heightened concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus, effective immediately the USTA will suspend all USTA sanctioned products and events, including Adult and Junior Tournaments, League Tennis, Junior Team Tennis, USTA Schools programs, Tennis on Campus, Wheelchair Events and USTA Pro Circuit Events. The health and safety of all players, staff, fans and volunteers are the foremost concern. This suspension is in effect through April 20. The USTA’s goal will be to reschedule events where possible following this suspension period. Additionally, recognizing the evolving and fast-changing nature of this situation, the USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about events and activities taking place after April 20.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., and the USTA National Campus, in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Fla., will remain open to the general public for play and instructional opportunities. However, all group activities will be limited in the number of participants. Any patron who wishes to cancel participation in a scheduled activity should contact the specific location for refund information. Additionally, the fitness facilities, showers and food service at both facilities will be closed. These policies will be in effect pending additional guidance or directives from each local governmental agency and the CDC.

Click here for tips and recommendations for facilities and players, regarding COVID-19 from the USTA.

Coach Newman Addresses the novel Corona Virus, Covid-19

Dear parents, players and patrons,

Like you, I have been tracking and thinking about the novel Corona Virus COVID-19. We have been discussing our plan of action for the past few weeks, consulting local health professionals and our advisory team as well as seeking the input of parents.

I wanted to share with you our plan of action concerning the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.

First of all, young people seem to be fairly safe from COVID-19. Those who get the virus recover from it without much difficulty. However, from the CDC, those with higher risk are: older adults, and people who have chronic medical conditions like Heart disease, Diabetes, or Lung disease.

We want to be responsible members of our community and help slow the spread and reduce the impact of this virus if we can. As of today we will be implementing the following measures:

Any staff or student who is sick should stay home or will be asked to go home if showing symptoms of virus.

Mandatory hand washing. We are asking coaches and players to wash their hands before and after practice. We will also be providing hand sanitizer wipes and gel.

We will continue cleaning and disinfecting surfaces 2x per day.

We will replace handshaking with elbow bumps or racquet touches.

We will continue to monitor state and local health departments for information regarding any COV-19 outbreaks in our local community.

Although we do not foresee this occurring at this time, the possibility of temporarily canceling school or tennis programing might become necessary to help curtail the spread of the virus. We also respect the decision parents need to make for the health and well-being of their children and extended families.

We will be looking to local health officials to determine if, when, and for how long to take any further steps.

Some common sense advice from Coach Dio:

1. Drink plenty of water. Half of your body weight in ounces
2. Go to bed on time. 1030 pm-2:30 am = immune system repairs. 2:30am-6:30 am = your physical body repairs.
3. Exercise, but don’t over exercise
4. Eat healthy foods. Choices!
5. Think positive
6. Practice breathing- calm down
7. WASH HANDS!!! For 20 seconds with SOAP

It’s not time to fear; it’s time to prepare our immune system! And that should be done everyday.

We will keep you advised as we know more about our local situation.

I have attached a PDF of LTISD Superintendent Brad Lancaster’s email to his community that I think makes good common sense.

Let me know if you have any questions or concern.

Sincerely,
Jack Newman
CEO
Austin Tennis Academy

Register Now For Free Webinar

Have you walked away from a conversation with your young athlete and thought, “That didn’t go very well.”? Or perhaps you and your spouse would like to have more constructive and less defensive, talks with your kids about lots of things. This webinar will give you specific strategies for improving family communication.

Learn which topics to discuss and which ones to avoid
Discover how to balance a conversation between two toxic traps
Master the art of connecting with your kids through meaningful dialogue

The How to Improve Sport-Family Conversations webinar will be held on Thursday, March 19 at 8:00 PM CST. It is slated to last 45 minutes as well time for as questions and answers. This month’s Life-Skills Webinar will be hosted by David Benzel, founder of Growing Champions for Life.

Click here to register and save your spot for the event.

CATA College Tennis Scholarship Deadline Approaching

Every year the Capital Area Tennis Association, a non-profit tennis organization, gives out upwards of $14,000 to senior tennis players looking to attend college.

The scholarship deadline of February 28th is creeping up fast, and we don’t want our hard-working seniors to miss out on this opportunity!

CATA’s Scholarship Committee evaluates each application on the basis of tennis involvement in conjunction with the student’s scholastic achievements and involvement in community services. The committee then submits its recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval. Funds are presented at the CATA Annual Junior Awards Banquet or sent to the recipient’s home. Scholarship funds are acquired from various CATA offered programs.

According to CATA, online application is preferred. Click here for the application link.

Get In The Know About The Changes Coming In Junior Tennis

There are many changes occurring in the competitive tennis system, here is your chance to be brought up to speed by some of the experts in the field.

Please join ATA’s Coach Brian Notis, one of the most experienced tournament directors in the country and a member of USTA committees dealing with these issues, Coach Jack Newman, and Julio Godreau, head of competitive tennis for the Texas Section of the USTA, next Thursday evening, 6-7pm in the main College Prep room on the ATA campus.

Here’s a look at what will be covered:

2020 Schedule – increased offerings, especially for Champ players
Players who qualify no longer need to wait till the next month to play their first tournament at the next level as long as they haven’t missed the entry deadline. They must be eligible for that level at the time of the entry fee (you can’t enter hoping you’ll qualify).
Quick note on increased entry fees
Quick note about player retention and the complexity of the TX competitive system
New Age Up Rules – 60{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} instead of 35{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} – more players staying in supers, more players staying in champs
New System – 2021
Common ranking, common point chart
Net Gen Pathway
Variety of Event Offerings
Transition from 2020 to 2021 in terms of Ranking (Shadow Ranking)
Explanation of L1 through L7
Benefits of a simpler system
Coach Newman’s Recommendations – what does all this mean for you?
Questions

Learn How To Respond Effectively

Some of the most important relationships in our lives can also produce
some of the most uncomfortable conversations and emotions. Why is that true? If you feel like a particular person brings out the worst in you, there’s probably a good reason.

Would you like to know how to handle these situations in a more productive manner? That’s the focus of this month’s Life-Skills Webinar on Thursday, December 19, hosted by David Benzel, Founder of Growing Champions for Life.

Join us for this session so you can teach your children how to handle their buttons. You will learn:

How to separate the symptoms from the real issue
What fears are compelling unhealthy words and behaviors
How to keep it from happening in the future
Specific agreements you must make with yourself

David will connect the key life skills of the lesson with winning on the court, and in life. The live webinar will begin at 8:00 pm CST on December 19; it will be 45 minutes in length plus Q&A. Plus, Power Point materials are loaded with practical information worth saving for future reference.

Click here to register to reserve your spot!

ATA Adds Tennis Locker App To Improve Methods

Dear Parents,

As you know, the Austin Tennis Academy is constantly seeking better, more advanced training methods to make our tennis program the leader among juniors tennis programs. Given this commitment, it only made sense for us to select Tennis Locker as our official player development app.

What is Tennis Locker—and what does this mean for you and your child?

Tennis Locker is an app that combines cutting-edge technology with insightful analytics to help us develop smarter, faster, and better athletes than ever before. It also keeps parents more connected, engaged, and informed—ultimately allowing us to offer a better experience to you and your child.

Some of our favorite features include:

● Easy Attendance Tracking — Coaches will record attendance with a quick tap of the finger, and you’ll have easy access to see when your player attended practice.

● Systematic Daily Evals — During or after practice, coaches will rate athletes on 4 different metrics, and you can check in at anytime to see how your player is performing and improving over time.

● Accurate Fitness Testing — All fitness tests will be recorded using the Tennis Locker app, so you and your player can view specific test results and trends throughout the season.

● Documented Practice Matches — Coaches will use Tennis Locker to assign practice match opponents, ensuring your player plays a wide variety of skill levels. Plus, win/loss records will automatically be recorded for you and your player to view at any time.

● Motivational Leaderboards — As a fun way to keep players striving for more, your player will be able to view program leaderboards based on performance metrics, practice match history, and more.

● Insightful Analytics — Tennis Locker uses charts and graphs to show you, your player, and our coaches how your athlete is improving over time, what to focus on in the next practice, and more.

● Clear Goals & Progression — Coaches can assign individualized goals to athletes, complete with push notifications to remind your player to work hard even outside of practice.

● Full Events Calendar — All ATA events will be conveniently stored within the app, so you can check on upcoming events and deadlines anytime, anywhere.

● Easier Communication — Thanks to Tennis Locker’s handy push notifications, you’ll never miss another important message about canceled practices, sales in our pro shop, upcoming events, tournament deadlines and more!

● FREE to Parents & Players — We’re excited to invest in Tennis Locker to offer you and your player a better training experience. We’re even more excited to announce that Tennis Locker is absolutely free for parents and players!

Many of you already are using tennis locker. For those who do not currently use the App, please keep an eye out for a follow up email in the next few days that will include a link to download the Free Tennis Locker app for iPhone and Android, as well as important login details.

Parents of players under 13 will also receive additional information in regards to providing your consent, which must be given in order for us to use Tennis Locker as part of your child’s training.

If you have any questions or concerns, as always, we are here for you. Thank you for choosing the Austin Tennis Academy. We are excited to continue using the TennisLocker App to engage our players on a totally different level on and off the court.

With best regards,
Jack Newman

Austin Tennis Academy

ATACP Raises Butterflies For EmilyAnn Theater

This month, ATACP students had the privilege of raising caterpillars to butterflies on the behalf of the Emily Ann theater. The EmilyAnn Theater and Garden was founded in 1998 to celebrate the life of Emily Ann Rolling by providing a permanent home for Shakespeare Under the Stars, a program in which Emily excelled as an actress and costume designer. The mission of the EmilyAnn Theater and Garden is to reinvest in the dignity of the human spirit through the performing arts, the beauty of nature and community fellowship.

After receiving the caterpillars an idea sparked in our critical thinking class and before we knew it the students were hard at work creating a habitat for our new fluttering friends. We successfully raised ten painted ladies to release in our butterfly garden today. With the largest monarch migration underway, we are hoping our butterfly garden will attract some new tenants.

For more information about the Emily Ann Theater and Garden visit:

http://www.emilyann.org/about.html

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