Raven Report: April 10, 2024

Exploring higher education options with our high school students! From a small, private college environment at Westminster College to the vast research university experience at the University of Missouri, these college campus tours offered invaluable insights as our students prepare for the next chapter in their educational journeys. Plus, stumbling upon a section of the Berlin Wall at Westminster was a timely tie-in to the group's Cold War studies with Mrs. Smith!

April 2024

15: Board of Trustees meeting, 5-6 pm

17: SPO Meeting, 9 am

19-22: NO SCHOOL - Home Stretch Holiday, Offices Closed

24: Volunteer Training, 8:45-9:15am

30: Grandfriends Day & EARLY RELEASE at 11:30 am

30: Summit Spring Concert

May 2024

1: Late Start, 9:30 am

7: High School Graduation/8th Grade Recognition, 6pm

8: SPO Meeting, 9 am

15: Field Day/Last Day of School & EARLY RELEASE at 11:30 am

20: Board of Trustees Meeting, 5-6 pm

27: Memorial Day, Offices Closed

Eclipse Photo Contest Winner Revealed

Congratulations to Nicole J. (9th) and Agata G. (9th), the winners of our social media Solar Eclipse Photo Contest on Monday, April 8th!

This celestial event reminds us of the power of community and camaraderie as we collectively witnessed the wonders of nature and the universe. Learn more about Nicole and Agata's other award-winning scientific explorations in our Student Celebrations below.

Thank you to all participants for sharing your eclipse experience!

You're Invited to the Spring Concert on April 30th

You’re invited to The Summit’s Spring Concert on Tuesday, April 30th 6:30 pm at the Gillioz Theatre! Everyone is welcome to attend this free event with performances from all 1st through 8th graders and from The Summit All-Stars, the high school rock band. 

1st - 12th Families - Look for more information regarding dress code and arrival times for all musicians in an email the week before the concert.

Early Learners and Kindergarten Families - More information about your students’ on campus performance will be forthcoming from Mrs. Taylor. 

We look forward to celebrating our students' musical achievements with you! Be sure to invite your grandfriends to the concert - Grandfriends Day at The Summit is also on Tuesday, April 30th from 9:15 - 11:30 am (early release).

Summer is Almost Here! Register for Camp Raven

Spend your summer at The Summit with Camp Raven! These weekly camps provide a fun, safe, and enriching way to continue learning over the summer break. Each camp, led by talented and enthusiastic instructors, focuses on a central theme from explorations in STEM and art to music and movement. Campers will have fun while learning and making new friends! 

New in Summer 2024! Before and after care available 8:00 am - 4:00 pm for additional fees.



Learn more about some of our exciting camp offerings below!

The Summit Prep is proud of our amazing faculty! Every Tuesday we'll be honoring our faculty on social media. This week, we honor Mrs. Halina West, Early Learners Assistant Faculty!

"Mrs. West is a wonderful educator. Her approach centers on fostering strong relationships with students and the effectiveness is evident, as she is well-loved among students! She is a dedicated, hard-working, and a valuable member of our team!"

- Mrs. Marissa Bradley, Lower School Director

"Mrs. West read a ton of books to us, took us to recess, and overall, she's just a really nice teacher. I like her accent too!"

- Asher M., Kindergarten

Senior Spotlight: Q&A with DJ Yu

What grade did you start attending The Summit?

I started in 10th grade. (DJ's older brother, Leo, is also a Summit alum, Class of 2023.)

What has been your favorite memory at The Summit?

I think the most memorable thing for me is when we went to play the Escape Room together in high school.

Which teacher had the most impact on you, and what will you remember about them?

Personally, I think Ms. Cook is the teacher who has the most profound influence on me, because she was my first cooking course teacher, and she took Leo and me to participate in two MSU math competitions, which is a very deep memory. I still remember it was raining and Leo and Sean and I were running back from lunch and barely made it to the test room.

What class did you find the most enjoyable and why?

Art! I love painting and drawing.

What song will always remind you of this time in your life?

"Golden Hour" by JVKE because everyone in high school is at the golden age. We come together during our prime years to study and engage in activities together. What stands out to me is the summer playground, with the constant chirping of cicadas, the bright sunshine, and children playing around...

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your younger self entering high school for the first time?

Be more confident! And some note-taking tips on American history.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself during your time in high school?

I feel my growth, more mature than before, and I find myself becoming more confident.

What are your plans for the future?

I will enter Missouri State University to continue my studies and hope to complete my master's degree at other schools in the future.

Dear DJ,

If I have a word for you, that word will be "jealous."

I am sorry if you get shocked, but I still want to be honest with you.

"I am jealous of you."

You are smart and brilliant, and you always have everything under your control. You can always point out the focus of the problem and deal with it, and you will never "be late on time." You have the capability to learn every single thing you are interested in; you are good at piano, math, cooking, and gaming too. Sometimes it even makes me wonder, "Is there really something you can't master?"

And I guess the answer is "no."

You are neat; I never told you, but I learned a lot from you about how to do better at house cleaning and how to regulate my room. And you have that heartfelt love for the arts. If it weren't you, I could never know just a few desk lights and carpets could decorate a tedious, plain room into an adorable, small personal world.

People may misunderstand you, thinking that you are introverted. But I know that you are not. You have friends around you, and you always treat them well. You have that innate power to push you forward, no matter what happened or what people said to you. With your strong heart and strong mind, you can always dig into what you are supposed to do. 

It was not because you are introverted, but because you do not need anybody's company to be a greater you, and I believe: 

You are already the best. 

International students like us will suffer from loneliness and homesickness. Even my college friend sometimes cries for their emotions. 

I believe you feel the same. 

But you never flinch, you never cower, and you never give up from the scare of pain. You face it and do everything a lot better than me and most of my friends. You face all of the barricades you meet, destroy them, and move forward into a brighter sky.

You belong to a higher sky, and you deserve a brighter and wider world.

Love,

Your Brother

Left to Right: Max P. (5th), Newton S. (4th), Teddy T. (4th), Faidhan S. (5th), Haassan S. (3rd), Aania P. (3rd), Nishtha M. (3rd)

Math Club Qualifies for District Championship

All of our Math Club participants qualified for the Math League Southwest District Championship! The district competition took place on Saturday, April 6th, and Summit mathematicians took home top awards across many different categories.

Five of our Math Club competitors placed in the top 10 in their grade level and will be advancing to the State Championship!

3rd Grade State Qualifiers

• Hassaan S. - 3rd Place
• Aania P. - 5th Place
• Nishtha M. - 6th Place

4th Grade State Qualifiers

• Teddy T. - 3rd Place
• Newton S. - 5th Place

Faculty sponsors, Mrs. Blair Verney and Mrs. Miranda Bryant, say, "Through dedication and perseverance, the mathletes have proven that hard work truly pays off. Their qualification for the state competition is a testament to their commitment to excellence. They have grown enormously in their knowledge of and fluency with a wide variety of math skills. Together, we learned formulas and shortcuts to do mental calculations faster and more accurately. We also learned some truly challenging and intriguing math concepts like how to translate base ten numbers into other base systems. It was so much fun, and the math club members worked so hard! We could not be more proud of all their individual and team accomplishments!"

Summit Eighth Grader Nominated for Rotary Award

The Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise recently recognized Garrin G. (8th Grade) as part of their Middle School Recognition program.

Middle School Recognition is a program to honor students in local middle schools selected for their excellent character and leadership skills that demonstrate the Rotary Four-Way Test. 

• Is it the truth?
• Is it fair to all concerned?
• Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
• Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Dr. Tara Bonebrake, The Summit's Upper School Director, wrote a letter of recommendation for Garrin. She says, "Garrin is a thoughtful and wholehearted member of our school community. An excellent compass for truth and compassion directs his character. He is a leader simply because he listens with interest and acts with fairness toward his classmates and teachers. Our school community is better for having Garrin as a member."

Center Photo: Agata G. (9th) and Nicole J. (9th) celebrate with Dr. Bonebrake.

Summit Freshmen Honored at Science Fair

The Summit had two high school students in Science Research class participate in this year's Ozarks Science and Engineering Fair.

• Nicole J. (9th) entered her project, "The Effects of Microplastics on Raphanus sativus Growth," earning third place recognition in the Botany category.  

• Agata G. (9th) entered her project, "Importance of Psychology in Sport: Tools That Will Help Athletes Mental Preparation for Performance," earning second place in the Behavioral Science category. In addition, Agata's project was recognized by the American Psychological Association and the Smith-Glynn-Calloway Foundation which included a cash prize. 

Dr. Bonebrake, Upper School Director, was also recognized by The Schneider Foundation for her work with Nicole and Agata.

Look for Nicole and Agata's research articles to be published in the inaugural Summit Research Journal in early May! 

Left to Right: Avery R. (8th), Finley P. (8th), Whit G. (8th), Jasper K. (7th), Jackson K. (7th).

Summit Ravens Soar in Track & Field Season

Our track season is off to an incredible start!

• Adesola F. (10th) competed at Glendale High School's Girls Night Out. This was a Big School meet from schools all over the state. Adesola threw a personal best in shot put, throwing it 30' 02". In the discus, she threw 97' 05". 

The junior high students competed in the Ozark Invitational meet against some very strong competition. Coach Jones says, "This was the first time most of our team have competed against other schools, and we held our own!"

• Jackson K. (7th) threw the discus 94' 04", coming in 1st place for 7th Grade Boys.

• Whit G. (8th) ran the mile in 5 minutes 38 seconds, a personal best, coming in 3rd place for 8th Grade Boys.

Congratulations, Summit Ravens!

SPO Meeting Next Wednesday, April 17th

The next SPO meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17th at 9:00 a.m. in the Community Room. All parents/guardians are welcome to attend these monthly meetings of The Summit Parent Organization. Please sign in at the front desk when you arrive.

Questions? Please contact Roz Madden, SPO Coordinator.