FPDS: Crusader Connection

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November 2016

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FPDS Celebrates National Dyslexia Awareness Month

By Mindy Boyd

October, wow! From Holiday Potpourri festivities, Crusader football championships, field trips, and this year, celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Day, it is safe to say October was jammed packed with celebrations at The Day School.

On Friday, October 28, FPDS recognized our bright, brilliant, and gifted dyslexic students. Teachers shared with their classroom students what dyslexia is, how God has gifted these individuals, and even talked about famous dyslexics such as Walt Disney, Tim Tebow, and Thomas Edison. [Read Full Article and See More Photos]

FPDS Faculty Spotlight

FPDS Director of Technology Trey Tracy recently led a discussion on the dangers of social media, smartphone apps, and the internet with the parents of the sixth through eighth grade boys at Christ United Methodist Church. Because the session was so successfully received, Trey was invited to come back to speak with the sixth through eighth grade girls and their parents. He and FPDS Counselor Jennifer Dryden will lead this session together on Wednesday, November 9, from 6 to 7 p.m. at CUMC in Jackson.

Jennifer and Trey will continue FPDS's Tech Talk series at a "lunch and learn" for parents of FPDS students in fourth through sixth grades on Tuesday, November 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents should bring a sack lunch and any questions they have regarding social media and protecting their children online.

Jennifer Dryden, Counselor

Trey Tracy, Director of Technology

FPDS Alumni Spotlight

Ashton William Heath
FPDS Class of 2014

Ashton has been swimming competitively since he was five-years-old and holds many City and State Swim Records. At age 15, he still continues to love the sport of swimming and shares it with others by coaching younger swimmers and giving private lessons. During the school year, Ashton William wakes up at 4:30 every morning to swim prior to attending classes at Jackson Prep. At the most Ashton Heath

recent MAIS swim meet, Ashton William scored the most points of any Junior High or Senior High Jackson Prep swimmer with a total of 18 points for the second year in a row. Additionally, Ashton William broke his own State Record in the 100-yard Freestyle Event with a time of 51.29 seconds and took first place in the 100-yard Individual Medley Event with a time of 58.31 seconds. Ashton William also anchored the first place finish on both the 200-yard Freestyle Relay and the 200-yard Medley Relay.

Frances Madden
FPDS Class of 2014

Frances was selected and has attended Boston Ballet School's five-week summer intensive for the past three summers where she danced five to seven hours a day with girls from all over the world. This December, she will be dancing in her eighth Nutcracker with Ballet Mississippi. In 2014 she performed the lead role of Marie and this year will dance the roles of Sugarplum Fairy and Arabian. Frances is a ninth grader at Madison Ridgeland Academy and has danced with Ballet Mississippi since she was four-years-old.

FPDS Student Highlight

Congratulations to FPDS fourth grader Lauren Hand, who received the James Moore First Place Award for Dairy Showmanship in the 8-9 year old category at the 2016 Mississippi State Fair.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and guests for making this year’s
Holiday Potpourri event a huge success. To view photos of the day’s activities,
visit https://www.fpds.org/news/media-gallery
and click on the Holiday Potpourri 2016 link.

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