In The Classroom – 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 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.

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?

ATA’s May Newsletter Is In Your Inbox

ATA’s latest newsletter went out late this afternoon. The digital document is loaded with, among other things, information about summer tennis, summer courses being provided by ATA College Prep, a preview of graduation ceremonies for ATACP seniors, and the Alumni Spotlight featuring Jeffrey Offerdahl.

This is the fifth edition since launching the ATA Newsletter back in January and is sent to members of the ATA community. However, if didn’t receive your copy be sure to look in your junk mail folder and mark the newsletter as coming from a safe sender. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, send you request to media@austintennisacademy.com and we’ll get you added.

Click here to view ATA’s May Newsletter.

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.

Teacher Appreciation!

“The best teachers show us where to look but don’t tell us what to see.” This message hangs in the staff area of College Prep as a reminder that our greatest mission is to guide individual potential.

Tuesday, May 5, marks the official 2020 Teacher Appreciation Day and most will celebrate this week honoring and remembering the teachers who have impacted and played pivotal roles in our lives. This year’s pandemic has given us a new appreciation for teachers, highlighting the amount of time and patience they put into each child they serve. Tirelessly working and planning and then altering their plans to accommodate online learning and the strange end to this academic year, the support and care they give to their students continues. And although we miss the daily personal interaction within the classroom, the College Prep team has gone above and beyond to make this transition seamless, continuing to inspire our students to utilize the skills they have developed and are developing to reach their potential.

Some local businesses will offer freebies during Teacher Appreciation Week, but the most rewarding gift a teacher can receive is a personal acknowledgment, a thank you for the effort they have put into YOUR development. Take a moment to let a teacher in your life know that you appreciate who they are and who they are helping you to become. If you are looking for creative ways to thank your teacher, you could offer a handwritten note or a thank you video, acknowledge them on social media, send them a gift card for books, office supplies, Teachers Pay Teachers website, or a nice dinner out (or for pick-up), or make a donation in their name to AASF or another meaningful organization.

Learning is a life-long adventure and it is the guidance of our teachers that directs us on our paths of curiosity. Whether it is a seemingly insurmountable challenge, a kind word of encouragement, a new perspective, or a little extra support when you need it, let the teachers in your life know that you appreciate the time and creativity they put into you and your learning experiences.

Happy Learning!

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.”

Life Is Our School: How Are We Taking The Curriculum?

LIFE is our school. And the lessons we learn from it are unique to each of us because both our outer circumstances and our inner reflections affect how we take in the curriculum. The extent of what we learn is directly related to what we spend our time doing and thinking about. These are the foods of impressions that we take in through our senses and become a part of who we are. So how are we taking life’s curriculum these days? Are we resisting or accepting it? Are we exploring new interests and adventures or retreating into the comfort and security of habits? Either way, it takes courage to move through life’s challenges.

LIFE is our school and learning transforms us. But how much are the external things in the world transforming us and how much are we transforming the world we experience? You may ask how can we transform the world around us? Well, we do it every day by the things we think about. Everything we watch, listen to, read, and spend time thinking about dramatically affects our perspectives of the lessons we receive from the world around us.

This week’s quote is from Helen Keller. “Knowledge is love and light and vision.”

Helen Keller was without light and vision since the age of 18 months, yet she was able to become enlightened and experience the light of the world through education. How difficult it must have been to learn given her physical limitations. How frustrating and even fearful it must have been for her to move through her daily life without being able to see or hear what was happening in the world around her. Not just the physical attributes but the meanings behind every occurrence. She was faced with what most people would label as enormous adversity. As a child, in response to her frustration, she would throw tantrums, and many family and community members encouraged her parents to put her in an institution because they felt she would be a constant burden and would never be able to learn. Fortunately for Helen, instead her parents searched for and found an incredibly patient teacher that devoted her life to providing mechanisms and signs for Helen to develop understanding and to learn how to learn. Knowledge began to shed light and vision upon her mind and she developed a deep love for the challenges.

In her autobiography, she writes about how her teacher would spell words with her fingers into Helen’s hand and that she really did not know that those movements were words or that even words existed; she just copied the motions… but then:

Keller’s breakthrough in communication came the next month when she realized that the motions her teacher was making on the palm of her hand, while running cool water over her other hand, symbolized the idea of “water”.

She recalls that AHA moment: “I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten — a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that w-a-t-e-r meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, set it free!”

This awakening set her free. She was able to grow through her outer challenges because she had an inner awakening. She appreciated the art of learning and understood what it meant for her ability to live freely. She became the first person with deaf-blindness to graduate from college (Radcliffe); she was great friends with Mark Twain who was inspired by her wit and sense of humor, and later became a co-founder of the ACLU and transformed the way society judged individual human potential.

“Knowledge is love and light and vision.” We can love or appreciate something only after we have some understanding of its meaning in relation to ourselves. We can be enlightened only through deep knowledge and understanding of our experiences in relation to others. And our ability to see clearly the world around us doesn’t necessarily come from our eyesight but from our soul’s ability to share and communicate common thoughts.

LIFE is our interactive school. Helen Keller is a powerful reminder that learning does transform us and that our joy is directly dependent upon our reflective reactions to LIFE’s curriculum.
Happy Learning!

New Service For ATA’s CP and Academy Players

The Austin Tennis Academy is pleased to announce the addition of health care services to all college prep and academy players starting August 1, 2019. We have teamed with Texas State University’s Department of Health and Human Performance to contract one graduate assistant athletic training student. This new addition will allow us to provide multi-disciplinary care to our student-athletes in injury management and collaborate with the current professionals at the academy on sport performance.

Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association, Health Resources Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services as an allied health care profession. For more information on athletic training please visit this link.

Woocheol Choung will join our team in August 2019. He has two bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Science in Health & Human Fitness Management from Woosong University in Daejoen, Korea and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Weber State University in Ogden, UT. While working part time as a graduate assistant with the Austin Tennis Academy, he will be pursing his Master of Science in Athletic Training from Texas State University. He will work under the direction of a licensed physician in Austin, Texas. Details on the physician Woocheol will be collaborating with will be sent in a future email.

The addition of these new medical services calls for all College Prep students to complete a pre-participation evaluation form. Each student-athlete will need to have an annual physical dated after April 30^th, 2019. The physical form (click here for the 2019 physical form) must be completed prior to the first day of school in August. All academy players participating in after school tennis can provide the physical form specific to your independent school district. Academy players should also turn in a physical form to ATA prior to the start of the Fall semester.

2019 End-of-Year Party

Thank you once again to the Malyshev’s for allowing the ATA community to come together at their home for our 16th Annual End-of-Year Party.

If you missed the event or want to take another look, here are some pictures of the speakers and award winners from throughout the evening, as well as the video that closed out the night.

Coach Of The Year – Ryan Rowe

Parent Of The Year – Sheri Gordon. Abigail is pictured above accepting the award for her mother.

Most Improved Award – Jack I.

Most Improved Award – Tony K

Most Improved Award – Kenna E.

Most Improved Award – Coco W.

Mentor Award – Jett W.

Mentor Award – Abigail G.

Mentor Award – Callie C.

Mentor Award – Keana M. (not pictured)

Student-Athlete Award – Shriniket

Student-Athlete Award – Sarah S.

Student-Athlete Award – Sasha M.

Student-Athlete Award – Bailey F.

Spirit of ATA Award – Juan A.

Spirit of ATA Award – Clark S.

Spirit of ATA Award – James C.

Spirit of ATA Award – Coco W.

Spirit of ATA Award – Brooklyn P.

Ambassador Award – Caroline W.

Ambassador Award – Jett W.

Work Ethic Award – Larry L.

Work Ethic Award – Elliot W

Work Ethic Award – Caroline W.

Work Ethic Award – Callie C.

Work Ethic Award – Bailey F.

Competitor Award – Julianna C.

Competitor Award – Tony K.

Force Multiplier Leadership Award – Callie C.

Force Multiplier Leadership Award – Bailey F.

Force Multiplier Leadership Award – Caroline W.

MVP Award – Bailey F.

MVP Award – Callie C.

MVP Award – Caroline W.

This event, along with a few others, is a staple in the ATA calendar that not only builds community but provides yet another opportunity for our students to grow by practicing something that often makes them uncomfortable: public speaking. Three of our alums and nine of our seniors gave speeches during the event.

The night ended with a music video highlighting the 2018-2019 year at ATA. Take a look:

Congratulations ATA College Prep Class of 2019!

ATA College Prep is a unique learning environment that produces extraordinary results and this year’s ceremony and graduating class were no exceptions. Bailey Forgus will attend the University of Chicago; Callie Creath will attend the University of Tennessee, and James Burdick will attend Babson College.

Years of dedication, discipline and a great deal of heart have opened these doors for these young graduates. A new tradition began this year with the ceremony taking place under a tent on court 3. Having graduation on campus where the graduates have grown up allows friends and family members to better understand the ATA College Prep experience.

The ceremony consisted of commemorative videos chronicling each graduate’s development and highlighting memorable moments, followed by a special mentor selected to speak on their behalf, and then each graduate addressed the community, honoring those that contributed to making this moment possible.

ATA College Prep Humanities Lead, Tommy Collins gave the keynote address and sent our graduates off with a powerful parting message:

“By coming to CP, and signing on to the universities where you are headed, you are committing to a life of discernment, of critical thinking, and of engagement. Valuing and living by those attributes are often incongruous with the world around you. “

After receiving their diplomas and moving their tassels to the left, in traditional form, the graduates pass down the responsibility of leadership and mentorship to the rising seniors, symbolically represented by the passing of the ATA ball.

Prior to the graduation ceremony, guests enjoyed the ATACP Annual Art Exhibit, featuring creative artwork created by students throughout the year.

“It’s always so gratifying to see the students’ work all framed and hung on the wall—you might say that a piece of art isn’t truly finished until it’s on display, being shared with others.” – Shaela Rutherford, CP art instuctor.

For more photos capturing this special event, visit the ATA College Prep Facebook and Instagram pages.

Thank you to the entire community for celebrating and being part of this memorable evening honoring Bailey, Callie and James!

Payton Holden, CP Alum and Princeton Junior, Earns NCAA Doubles Bid

Former ATACP standout and current Princeton Tiger Payton Holden earned a spot in the 2019 NCAA Doubles National Tournament with partner Ryan Seggerman.

The duo is the 33rd ranked team in the nation by the ITA, and were as high as 17th during the season. They joined the 32 team field after starting as an alternate.

Holden and Seggerman will face the 4th ranked pair of Oli Nolan and Henry Patten from UNC Asheville in the opening round. Play is set to begin Tuesday in Orlando, Florida at the USTA National Campus.

For fun, here is a throwback of Payton in 2009 at ATA…..good luck, tomorrow, Payton!!

ATA Upgrades College Prep Classrooms

Over Spring Break, you might have noticed a bit of construction in the Fitness Center. Over those weeks, we made some changes to improve the ATA College Prep classrooms to meet the needs of the growing program.

First, we moved the wall, adding about 8 feet to each of the original spaces. With new carpet, paint, A/C units, replaced whiteboards, and relocated electronics, the space has undergone a major enhancement.

“The classrooms feel brand new,” said Tommy Collins, CP’s Humanities Lead. “The added space makes the rooms brighter and provides enough room for everyone to spread out comfortably.”

The two upgraded classrooms pair with the dedicated school building across campus that houses 3 other classrooms, a common area, and teacher offices. Check out the new spaces the next time you are in the ATA Fitness Center!

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

Chinese Immersion Students Visit ATA College Prep

A group of five middle school students from Taizhou, China recently visited ATA College Prep. Arriving in the United States for a cultural and language exchange program, they first toured San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Stanford University, and the Google and Facebook offices. They then toured Hollywood, La Jolla Beach, and Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum and the Grand Canyon before making their way to Austin, Texas.

Excited students arrived in Austin and joined with their American host families. (A big thank you to the Malyshev family for hosting one of the students during their stay). Students shadowed in local elementary and middle schools, including a day at ATA College Prep. They interacted with CP students while learning in classes, playing American board games, and hitting tennis balls. CP students embraced this experience as an opportunity to learn about a new culture and share pieces of their own. And CP Chinese language students had an opportunity to put their language skills to the test.

This young and growing cultural and language exchange program is championed by ATCP instructor and owner of Westlake Chinese Academy, Mrs. Yang Wang, who expressed that it has been an eye-opening experience for all the students, as well as the Chinese teacher who led their group. Not only have they been exposed to U.S. history, geology, religion, daily American life and food, but also they had the opportunity to put into practice the English they have studied for many years. Mrs. Wang explained that most of the students come from only-child families and had never been away from home. “During this trip, I have seen the kids growing quickly – learning how to take care of themselves, organize their things, and share with others,” said Mrs. Wang. In the future, these children hope to attend a U.S. high school or college. By shadowing American students, they have a firm grasp of the differences (and the similarities) between American prep schools and Chinese prep schools, as well as how to prepare for admissions.

Two of the visiting students were a part of ATACP Director Carol Hagar’s English class last summer as part of this program in Taizhou, China. Linda and Amy were so excited to be reunited with Carol for the day!

“Studying abroad is an ideal opportunity to open the mind and the heart to cultural diversity and to broaden deeper understandings of humanity. ATACP is honored to be a part of this exchange program – connecting people across the world through heartful education. We look forward to many more shared adventures.”, says Carol Hagar.

ATA CP’s BAILEY FORGUS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST!

ATA College Prep senior, Bailey Forgus was named a 2019 National Merit Scholar Finalist. To put this award in perspective, approximately 1.6 million students take the PSAT each year. Of the juniors who take the exam, about 16,000 (or 1{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9}) earn scores that qualify them as Semifinalists. This group is narrowed down to 15,000 Finalists.

Although CP students have been commended in previous years, Bailey is ATA College Prep’s first NMS Finalist! This is a testament to Bailey’s commitment to excellence, his tireless effort, and perseverance and qualifies him for a college scholarship.

Bailey has attended College Prep since his 8th-grade year and has been prepared for this moment through learning experiences designed by the inspirational CP staff. So much love, effort, and support have contributed to this accomplishment and all should share in the pride and joy.

“Bailey has earned this award through years of disciplined effort. He made this possible by investing time in time preparation, but also by taking a challenging slate of courses and making the most of his classes throughout his high school career,” commented Bryan Rutherford, CP’s Math & Science Lead.

Bailey will attend the University of Chicago in the fall of 2019. Congratulations Bailey!

ATA College Prep : Did You Know?

Did you know?

ATACP is an independent private school, the youngest and smallest program fully accredited by Advanc-Ed (the largest accrediting body in the world), the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, and TEPSAC (Texas).

Our 2015-2018 graduates’ SAT score ranges are far above the national average and rank number two of all surveyed private and public schools in Austin.

Reading/Writing: 600-780 Math: 600-800.

ATACP curriculum and pedagogy does not teach to standardized tests, but our students perform well.

Recent graduates have been admitted to University of Chicago, Pomona, Princeton, Amherst, Notre Dame, Us Air Force and US Naval Academies.

CP has an online communication system for assignments, grades and messaging between students, teachers, parents, and coaches. Staff members collaborate weekly to discuss and best serve each student. The average class size is 8.

Students participate in a Leadership program to practice self-awareness, goal setting, and intrinsic motivation that includes neuro-targeted learning and metacognitive skills through daily inspirational reading, written reflection, and Socratic dialog.

Students lead a Mentor-Mentee program and peer tutoring in math labs and study halls enhance collaboration skills and increase understanding of previously learned skills.

We host monthly Field Trips and Guest Speakers.

Students read an average of 8 novels per year and analyze, annotate, discuss, and write research papers and reflections on numerous supplementary poems and short stories each year.

Students use day planners and follow a college schedule, which encourages time management and organization as they learn to manage their study hall times and lessen after school homework.

We foster a Growth Mindset. We teach students that learning is a life-long process and grows with time and effort. We focus on effort, attitude, and work ethic.

If you would like to learn more about ATA College Prep, visit our classes, or arrange a shadow day for your child, please contact Carol.Hagar@AustinTennisAcademy.com.

Happy Learning!

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