Scholarship Announcement

Each year, The Friends of Wellington Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, Inc. and the Medical Staff of Wellington Regional present 10 student scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing careers in the healthcare field.

After reviewing dozens of applications from local high school seniors, the Scholarship Committee comprised of Nancy Tuccinardi, Morris Ball, Adrienne Bender, Dolly Friedman, Roberta Privalle and Chris and Bea Fries interviewed the students.  Following a thorough review of their academic profiles, personal recommendations and financial need-related information, ten deserving seniors were selected to receive a $2,000 scholarship award.

As it turns out, Bria L. Robinson of The King’s Academy was chosen as one of these scholarship recipients. Great job!

Wellington Amphitheater

If you’re looking for free, family-friendly entertainment, Wellington has the perfect solution. On Saturday, April 2nd, local schools will bring a mix of action and music to Wellington’s Amphitheater for A Touch of Broadway: A Musical Revue. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., drama students will perform two acts each from the following musicals:

• Elbridge Gale Elementary School – High School Musical
• Wellington Christian School – Little Women, the Broadway Musical
• The King’s Academy – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
• Palm Beach Central High School – The Wedding Singer

A Touch of Broadway: A Musical Revue is ideal for children and adults alike who enjoy the arts or theatrical performances. Each school will perform for approximately 30 minutes. Residents are strongly encouraged to bring their own seating and refreshments will be available for purchase.

For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch Channel 18 for the latest happenings.

Today, The King’s Academy announces the release of the “TKA 2 Go” app for Android (available for free on the Android Market). This app has been created to provide TKA families and friends with on-demand updates on the latest TKA information.

The TKA 2 Go Android app is a sequel release to the TKA 2 Go iPhone app released in September 2010. Again, TKA takes another step toward their goal of consistently being on the cutting-edge of technology.  Randy Martin, CFO at The King’s Academy, explained, “We believe that the best schools are built on great communication, so we are excited that TKA 2 GO allows TKA parents, students, alumni, and friends to interact with their School anywhere and at any time.”

TKA 2 GO is a free download and offers numerous user-friendly features including:

* TKA News provides up-to-date articles about what’s happening at The King’s Academy.
* My TKA – this feature is powered by Renweb and provides parents and students with secure, personalized lesson plans, homework assignments, and grades as well as school calendars, announcements, and account information.
* Talk2TKA – a new feature to the Android app, it facilitates two-way communication as TKA families and friends can provide useful feedback about their School experiences.
* Find TKA – a feature providing maps and real-time driving directions to all six of TKA’s school and preschool campuses.
* TKA TV houses downloadable video clips about The King’s Academy and TKA Preschool.
* Prayer Requests – the new TKA Android app also allows users to send in prayer requests to the school.

Links to The King’s Academy’s websites (www.TKA.net, www.TKAClewiston.net, and www.TKALions.net, www.TKAOnline.net), School and alumni Facebook pages, and multiple Twitter feeds are also available using the TKA Links feature of TKA 2 GO.

The King’s Academy is a nationally recognized private Christian school serving approximately 1,200 students from preschool through twelfth grade and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The King’s Academy serves students and their families across Palm Beach and Hendry Counties at its main campus at Belvedere Road and Sansbury’s Way in West Palm Beach, its Clewiston campus on Caribbean Avenue, and its satellite preschool campuses in Greenacres, Palm Beach Gardens, and Royal Palm Beach. More information about The King’s Academy is available online at http://www.TKA.net.

Recently, 39 students from The King’s Academy returned from a five-day missions trip to Costa
Rica. The trip was led by TKA teacher, Mr. Tim Wilcox, who is also a director with Pura Vida
Missions in San Ramon, Costa Rica. The students applied to participate in the trip by writing a
personal essay explaining their reasons for going to Costa Rica.

While in San Ramon, the students were divided into teams to share Biblical stories, testimonies,
songs, crafts, and activities with over 200 children in need. These activities were a component
of Pura Vida’s strategic plan to impact local communities with free education opportunities and
with the gospel of Christ. Students were encouraged to put their personal faith into action by
serving families and used their Spanish language skills to communicate effectively.

After serving, the students spent their final day experiencing the Costa Rican rain forest. A
canopy tour zip line, a visit to a volcano and hot springs, and a tasting of typical native foods
provided the trip’s final highlights. King’s students often return from the School’s service trips
with different perspectives and attitudes as well as a continued desire to share their faith and
serve others. This trip was no exception. A number of students indicated their desire to return to
Costa Rica next year.

Mrs. Fatima Silva, TKA Spanish teacher, Mr. Jeff Gentry, academic counselor, Mrs. Michelle
Kolar, director of student life, and Dr. Charlene Urso, mathematics teacher, also accompanied
the students on the trip.

Everyone knows that a private school is different from a public school, but chances are that most people don’t really know exactly where the differences lie. The most obvious is the academic structure itself – what is being taught in a private school is very different than what you might learn in a public school.

Public schools offer a generic education where every student in any public school across the country use the same textbooks, learn the same things and take similar exams. It’s basically a one size fits all.

Private schools allow greater flexibility and almost no two private schools offer the exact same curriculum. They may have more frequent field trips, different types of examinations, or even offer subjects that no other schools offer. This is probably why private school students tend to do better academically when compared to their counterparts in public schools.

Another major difference between private and public schools is religious affiliation. While public schools do not have any religious affiliation, many private schools do. For example, The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida is a non-denominational private Christian school. These schools not only devote themselves to academic excellence, but also nurture their students’ religious beliefs and instill greater moral values and ethical standards.

However, one thing that people often have an issue with when it comes to private schools is the cost of tuition. Since private schools are not funded by the local government, they have to raise their own money through investors, grants, donations and of course, high tuition fees. According to a poll taken in 2009, the average tuition fee for a private school in the US is about $17,441 per year – definitely no small change.

Given the higher flexibility and attention given for students in a private school, it’s easy to see why the cost is higher. As with anything else, you get what you pay for and in this case, you get quality education for your children.

By: Mike Rothman of the Sun Sentinel

The King’s Academy Preschool started in 2008 to serve 2- and 3-year-olds before they reach the kindergarten level at the main campus near Royal Palm Beach.

The academy announced the August opening of a new campus in Boynton Beach at Center Pointe Church, 1275 Gateway Blvd. The new preschool will open with room for 40 students, with expansion possibilities for more than 100.

Randy Martin, CFO of The King’s Academy, said this would be the fifth satellite location that will feed into the main campus, once the students are old enough.

“It’s just not day care,” he said. “There is an academic program with learning components, which include foreign language and physical education.”

Martin said there are about 125 students enrolled in the satellite campuses around the county.

The preschool’s instructional program is based on the belief that children learn through play, play is their work.

Curriculum offered includes art, science, home, building, pretend play, writing, simple math, fine motor skills and manipulative development, interactive play and movement, behavior and manners teaching, letters, shapes, colors, numbers and opposites.

Mary Dulkowski, director of The King’s Academy’s preschools, said the school is excited about the move into Boynton Beach and that staff is the biggest element that makes her school so special.

“I came in here as a mom and this just becomes a family,” she said. “Most of the teachers here are moms of children on campus. It is a nurturing atmosphere.”

She said some unique classes offered include sign language, Spanish and music classes with instruments.

The King’s Academy main campus serves about 1,200 students from preschool through 12th grade and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.

Other satellite preschool campuses are in Greenacres, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach.

Visit http://www.TKAP.net for information.