Summer Anchor Sails into Week 2!

This morning we open our second week of the 2010 MAST Summer Anchor. So far our sailing has encountered fair weather and calm seas. Boat building is underway, math is in full operation, and science is analyzing data collected during last week's day at the beach. We have just finished our final plenary session where we discussed Plato and Stephen J. Gould and worked some more on Excel.

Coming up later in the week, we have our famous boat races, the seniors will come in to talk about involvement at MAST, and we will end our summer voyage with cotillion. It is a full week so come prepared and be ready to head out each day under full sail!

Summer Anchor Heads to Sea

Day one of the 2010 MAST Summer Anchor has come and gone.  Congratulations to the Class of 2014 and the other students who have joined us for the adventure.  This year looks to be stronger than ever with an instructional crew that is second to none.  As I spoke to all about yesterday as we got underway, now it is time for each student to begin to explore what their individual passion or passions might be and to begin to plot a course to fulfill those dreams.  This will take more than just a plan.  Once plotted, action on a course must be undertaken!  Action and correction and modification for what doesn't work as a student has planned - persistence!  A journey of a lifetime, such as you have set sail upon with the opening of the Summer Anchor, will not be without its rough seas and stormy weather.  What will you need to do to persist in the face of adversity to ensure that you achieve your goals, to ensure that your passion comes to fruition? The final element is effort.  Education, knowledge, and the subsequent wisdom are results of concerted effort.  They come from the drive to learn.  To learn, make mistakes, reflect upon your last steps, make connections, and grow in the knowledge of how information and experience will combine inside you and manifest itself in new actions that you show to the world as you learn.  Remember, MAST is about learning and over the course of the next four years the voyage will require passion, persistence, and effort!

Reflections on the 2009-2010 Year at Sea

Another year, MAST's 19th, has just come back to port in final celebration of much learning and particularly for the accomplishments of faculty, staff, parents, and the Class of 2010.  Far from being free of the stresses that have been in the news and all over our world, MAST has weathered all that we have encountered.  As a community, we have made progress in many directions and continued a tradition of excellence in the sea of change that churns about us.  The credit for this voyage and those before lies with the passion and persistence of committed individuals that seek the lighthouse of learning through any and all conditions.  To the faculty, staff, parents, and students of MAST, thank you for your drive.

This year MAST will prepare for another voyage without three figures who have been large contributors to our school.  Mrs. Van Smith, Dr. Alvarez-Detrell, and Mr. Cruz, thank you for your years of service.  we will definitely miss you as we prepare and begin future voyages.  Best of luck and know that MAST will always be here as an open port of call if ever you venture near.  To the MAST Crew members who continue to sail on with us, thank you for making learning your top priority and for an unrelenting focus on student performance.  The success of each voyage is firmly in your steady, capable hands.  Our community appreciates you more than we could ever possibly show.

Class of 2010 - thank you for a fantastic four years that include some amazing highs and tremendous accomplishments.  As I spoke about at graduation, these four years have passed very quickly and your presence will be missed as we set sail once again.  Just as your peers in the past, remember your time and honor all that you have received in your time at MAST.

MAST parents - It has been a year for the record books.  Never have I seen such dedication and support from so many parents whose only goal is the growth and betterment of a school community.  Working with all the groups have been a joy and, in looking forward to next year, please know that we are eternally grateful for all that you do and the investment of time and energy that you provide.  MAST could not be all it is without you.

As we prepare to welcome the Class of 2014 and begin our 20th year, MAST holds more potential than ever.  Now is the time to charge our batteries, lay the ground work, and forge ahead with the plans that will make the 2010-2011 school year the best of all!

Have a happy and restful summer in port!

Summer Anchor - Class of 2014 Sets Sail!

This Monday, June 14, 2010, the MAST Summer Anchor Program sets sail with the Class of 2014!  The program will last until June 25th.  The students' daily schedule runs from 8:00am until 2:05pm.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided all students free of charge.  Breakfast will be served from 7:30am until 7:55am each day.  Class will begin promptly at 8:00am!  Transportation arrangements have been made such that each student will have access to a pass to ride the Metrorail to the Viscaya station.  Parents are responsible for getting their child to the closest metrorail station.  Once at the Viscaya station, MAST will provide a shuttle from Viscaya to MAST Academy.  The morning shuttles will begin at 7:15 and the last shuttle will leave Viscaya at 7:40am.  MAST will have a security monitor at Viscaya to help students in transition.  In the afternoon, students will ride shuttles from MAST to Viscaya then take the Metrorail back to their home stop.  Parents are responsible for making arrangements from their home stop to home.  If you have any questions, please contact MAST directly.

Final Regular Day at Sea

I find it amazingly difficult to fathom that another year has just about finished.  Today we completed our last regular length day for the 2009-2010 voyage.  Monday we finish the last of our final exams and then we graduate the Class of 2010 at 7pm at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts.  Incredible and nearly unbelievable!

As most well know by know, Director Jackson of the EPA has been called away to the Gulf with the oil disaster and we will have the pleasure of having Ms. Melody Barnes as our commencement speaker.  We have made the final arrangements for the change and excitement is high!  The Class of 2010 will definitely leave it's mark on the history of our amazing school.

It is time to head down to the PTSA Family Dinner.  From what I hear we should have a lot of people here celebrating the end of our year!  Hope to see many of you there!