Pensacola L.I.F.E. Homeschool

University of West Florida

Movement Academy, Bldg72

11000 University Pkwy

Pensacola, FL 32514

My name is Matt Nemmers. Along with two new individuals, I will be running the UWF Movement Academy again this year. On behalf of all of us at the Academy, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all of you as we get ready to start the Academy on September 9, 2008! I hope you have had just as exciting of a summer as we have! Some great things have happened for us over the summer months and I'd like to take a minute to share them with you.

The first is to welcome Dan Drost and Chelsea Watson to the administrative team at the Academy! I highly encourage you to come to the "Open House" on the first day of class so you can meet them and find out about their exceptional backgrounds!

Something you may have noticed in this email is our new crest! Although it is new for us, use of some of the symbols dates back as early as the 12th century!

- The nautilus shell is one of the key symbols of the University of West Florida. UWF chose the nautilus because, “The chambered nautilus represents perfection in nature, personal growth and the University's dedication to the environment.”

- The three lions in the lower-left are known as the Slesvig Lions and originate from the royal crest of Denmark. Denmark has one of the oldest consistent monarchies in the world. Their cultural focus on sports and competition is centered on not competing solely for a gold medal, but also for the sake of participating in the event itself and the lessons that can be learned in doing so.

- The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, in the lower-right is a significant piece of art from the renaissance that shows a mixing of the arts and sciences during that period. In the Academy, we strive to mix the science of the human body with the art of teaching.

- In the top-left, the royal claddagh represents our loyalty to the field of physical education, our passion for what we do as teachers, and the benefit of strong networks of support with fellow leaders in our field.

This year, we will also be adding a Parent Advisory Panel. I will be looking for a handful of parents to sit on this panel and meet periodically to get a feel for how things are going for your students. This isn't intended to be a legislative panel, but a source for feedback for the teachers and adminsitrators at the Academy. The students that work at the Academy are aspiring educators and are here for the learning experience! This is also a direct line for you to go to if you have questions! If you would like to participate, please let one of the three administrators know!

Another addition to this year will be an official Academy t-shirt! There will be an additional $10 per student collected for the purchase of a Movement Academy t-shirt. We would like all of the students to wear this shirt during the Academy. This extra fee will only occur during the first month you register. After that, the monthly registration fees will remain the same as last year! If you would like to buy more than one shirt, you can get additional shirts for $8 each. The shirts are required for students to wear while attending the Academy.

Other changes you will notice are in the various curricula. Last year, for example, we spent time with skill development and improvement at all age groups. The goal this year will be to take the older students and expose them to more unique activities, such as sailing and canoeing, than we have in the past. We are very fortunate to have access to exceptional resources at UWF and it is only natural that we utilize them to make the Academy that much better!

Now, down to the nitty gritty you’ve all been waiting for, the details!!

- We will be having the first day of the Movement Academy on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. On this first day, I would like to cordially invite you to our "Open House." Durring this event, the three school administrators, Dan, Chelsea, and myself, will take the parents and have a brief overview of the year. Also, at the end of class, we will end a little early to allow for parents to meet their students' teachers!

- Our schedule will be like years before with the Academy meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Building 72, the HLS Facility from 1:00 to3:00 pm. Please arrive a little early each day to allow for checking in. Classes will start at 1:00.

- Fees will be $30 per month for one student and $5 for each additional student from the immediate family. Exceptions will be in your first month of registration and in months that are prorated.

o In your first month’s registration, an additional $10 per student will be collected to purchase a Movement Academy t-shirt. This shirt is for them to wear each day at the Academy. This makes your first month’s registration fees $40 per student and $15 per additional student from the immediate family.

o A calendar will be handed out later with information on which months are prorated and what that rate will be.

- Pay all at once! If you would like to save some headaches each month, you can arrange to pay for the semester all at once. This is only an option, not a requirement!

- We will also be offering our discount to families that bring in new families to the program throughout the year! If you bring in a new family and they register for the Academy, we will take $20 off of your registration for that month!

Dan, Chelsea, and I look forward to seeing everyone on September 9th!

Sincerely,

Matt Nemmers

UWF Movement Academy