Midterms & FCAT Tutoring

Time is running short before midterms! Next week we will have two exams per day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and close out our last exam on Thursday morning! I will post a copy of the exam schedule here either this evening or tomorrow for everyone to see.

Also, this Saturday we will begin our final push to the FCAT with tutoring from 9 AM until 12 noon. I encourage all ninth and tenth graders to take advantage of this opportunity. Let's be the first to score a perfect 100% level or better for all 9th and 10th graders!

Finally, before I sign off, a huge congratulations to Mr. Maas and the boys' basketball team for their victory over MacArthur last night! Our firsr in over four years. Way to go Makos!

-- Post From My iPhone

iPhone Posting Capability!

Happy New Year! Being as time is such a precious commodity, this morning I found a easier way of being able to update my Captain's Blog and communicate from all of our school events. Now I will be able to take pictures and post them directly with text. Go Makos! More to come...


-- Post From My iPhone

MAST Weekly Calendar

Here's what happening this week at MAST Academy!

Not so Spooky Halloween

We ended our voyage last week with a lot of fun.  Many of our students came dressed in Halloween costumes showing a lot of school spirit.  My favorite costume was definitely Stephan as you can see is this picture.  He really did a great job and was a great me.  On top of that, he and a team of defenders did a great job in Mr. Maas' Government class' mock trial where he and the defense team split the jury and a mistrial was declared by Judge Maas.  Let's see if the prosecution decides to give it another go round!

More great news that I have not had the chance to share beyond the last PTSA meeting was the fact that 72 MAST students, another new school record, were recognized as Advanced Placement Scholars.  These students represented 30 percent of the students who took AP exams last year.  This is an amazing feat that says a lot about our community - students, teachers, and parents alike!  This is one of the reasons why we all work so hard!  Congratulations to all for a job well done!

Over the past few weeks we have also done a bit of grade level and school wide testing.  A big thanks to parents, students, and teachers for all that they did to make PSAT and PLAN testing so successful.  In another first, 100% of MAST 9th, 10th, and 11th graders took the PSAT and 100% of MAST 10th graders took the PLAN.  It is inspiring as a principal to see students and families thinking ahead and getting prepared for college as early as possible.  Much credit is due Ms. Ulman and Ms. Yancoskie for staying on top of everyone and making sure that we reached complete participation.

On a final note for this entry, I am thinking about inviting parents to participate in a book club.  I have two titles in mind:  Edwin Abbott's Flatland or Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind.  I very much enjoyed reading both and I would welcome any feedback as to what anyone might think to be the more appropriate title.  My thoughts are to begin reading and create a blog to hold the conversation before the semester break.  Please, feel free to respond with any ideas.  I believe it will be an amazing valuable experience for our community, and particularly our students, to begin additional discussions and to lead by example of adults reading as learning together. 

Strong winds and calm waters!

A Busy Time for All at MAST!

       

It certainly has been extremely busy for everyone at MAST - students and crew members alike - during the month of October.  Just a quick overview of the month includes a huge Ecomedia press conference including visits by Mr. Carvalho and Mayor Manny Diaz, the first of the Fairchild Challenge events, many college admissions visits for seniors, Intel training, visiting professors from around the world, U.S. Coast Guard vessel tours at our dock, parent group meetings, PSAT for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders, a pending PLAN test, and election of MAST's Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year (Mr. Cruz & Ms. Plana - CONGRATULATIONS!), and a very successful magnet open house.

Our sails have been full of strong winds during the past weeks.  Ms. Yancoskie and Ms. Garcia have both completed and passed reviews for renewal of their National Board Certifications.  Mr. Cruz and Ms. Plana, as mentioned above, were chosen as MAST's representatives for the region and district competition for Teacher and Rookie Teacher of the Year, Mr. Tohulka is in the final preparations to become the first "Teacher Under the Sea" with the Aquarius Project, and we held an amazingly successful magnet open house for potential applicants.

Our magnet open house was extremely full as parents and students from around the district came to learn about MAST, tour the campus, and ask questions.  Many thanks to all who made the event so successful but particularly to Dr. Haun for planning the event, the USCG JROTC cadets who truly shined and exemplified what it means to be a MAST student, Dr. Khalil, Ms. Ulman, Ms. Yancoskie, Ms. Fischer, Ms. Posse, Ms. McCrary, Mr. Siegmeister, Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Marquez-Diaz, Ms. Sinkler, Mr. Cherilien, CWO Hawkins, Ms. Layne, and the multitude of PTSA and JROTC Booster Club parents who volunteered their time to support our programs.  We showed all who came to visit who we are and what we are about at MAST Academy!  Mako Pride shone brightly!

Earlier in the month we hosted the Ecomedia "Green My School" competition press conference that included school, civic, and business leaders from across the country.  Once again, MAST students and teachers put their best foot forward and delivered.  I will post a slide show of the event in the weeks to come for all to see.

Other highlights of the past few weeks include guest lecturers in partnership with UM RSMAS from around the world.  Professors Stefan and Vossler met and discussed global climate concerns with MAST students as well as sharing their research from across the world.  Soon, MAST will be able to broadcast these lectures and special presentations to schools around the county live in hopes of sharing the experience and powerful learning with students beyond our school.

Please stay tuned and add your comments about this blog.  More to come ...

MAST Receives 2008 Florida School Recognition Award

CONGRATULATIONS!!! We did it once again. MAST is one of the best in Florida. As Governor Christ's letter says, "Earning this recognition is a distinct honor and demonstrates your proven ability to create a positive learning environment that encourages all studnet s to reach their full potential." Great job teachers, staff, students, parents, and all MAST community members!

MAST Back to School Night - September 23, 2008

Back to School Night is fast approaching!! Just a quick reminder that MAST's Back to School Night is Tuesday, September 23, 2008. The night's schedule is as follows:

• Athletic Booster Club Dinner - Cafeteria 5:30pm - 6:45pm


• Resource Fair - Media Center 6:00pm - 7:00pm


• Auditorium Presentation 7:00pm - 7:30pm


• Classroom Visitations 7:40pm - 9:20pm

Schedules and information will be provided for parents upon arrival.

If you have any questions, please call us at 305-365-6278 for more detailed information.

We hope to see you all!