Dr. Breece's Blog

Pinocchio, Performing Arts Production

2011-12-29T07:03:00.000-08:00

Telesis Performing Arts Class presents Pinocchio on January 13-14-15. Tickets available now! Call 855-8661 to order yours in advance.

Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening

2011-11-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

You are cordially

Invited to

The Official Ribbon Cutting

Grand Opening

For the new facilities

Telesis Preparatory Academy

2598 Starlite Lane

Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

December 15^th, 2011

Ribbon Cutting: 12 noon

Grand Opening: 6:00 PM

Honored Guests for the Evening:

Rebecca Gau

Director of the Governor’s Office of Education Innovation

Dr. Marvin Lamer

Associate Superintendent of Highly Effective Schools

Ground Breaking

2011-06-22T19:14:00.001-07:00

You are cordially invited

To attend the

Official Ground Breaking

For Telesis Preparatory Academy’s

Main Campus Addition

Tuesday, June 28^th, 2011

1:00 PM

2598 Starlite Lane

Immediately followed by a

“Lemonade Toast”

Patience is the word!

2011-06-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Patience is the character trait for the summer as we patiently await word on our appraisal so we may commence with construction of our new facility.

Concert Fundraiser - an Educational Opportunity

2011-03-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

GraceArtsLive has invited Telesis Intermediate Students to partner with the cast of Broadway's Best performers Eric Kunze and Gina De Luca, former students of Telesis Performing Arts teacher Grace Ann Etcheberria-Jacobs. On March 25, 26, and 27 and again on April 1, 2, and 3, students will join Eric on stage to sing along with him for the audience to enjoy. Forty plus students are in rehearsal now to be prepared for their special weekend, half of which will perform in March and the other half in April. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children 17 and under, allowing Telesis students and staff to earn a portion of the proceeds for the Telesis Expansion Project. Purchase a voucher from a Telesis Team Member or student to exchange for the performance date of your choice. Don't wait too long as all six shows promise to be sold out and tickets must be distributed by March 23. Call for vouchers by leaving a message at 855-8661 Ext. 10.

D.A.R.E. Graduation

2011-03-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

Telesis Second-Year Intermediate students (traditional 5th graders) were beaming as they ascended the stage at the Aquatic Center upon their graduation on Friday from the city-wide D.A.R.E. program. LHC Police Officers proudly shook their hands and provided them with cake and a pool party afterwards.

Aaron Lyon and Katrina Boleratzky

D.A.R.E. Essay Contest Winners from Telesis

Congratulations to 2003 Telesis Graduate Anthony Rizos!

2010-09-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

Anthony Rizos graduated from Telesis Preparatory Academy in 2003 and went on to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He has now graduated from MIT with not one but two degrees, his Bachelors and his Masters. We at Telesis Preparatory Academy are very proud of him and wish him much future success.

National Honor Society Induction 2010

2010-05-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the new Telesis National Honor Society inductees and National Junior Honor Society inductees! They are: Tyler Fallis, Dylan Pearson, Yamini Koyye, Brianna Hollandsworth, Victoria Wymer, Paytne Hinger, and Margarita Vasquez inducted into the Telesis National Honor Society and Joseph Dewey, Jordan Gigler, and Ethan Moore inducted into the Telesis National Junior Honor Society. We at Telesis join your family and friends in the pride we share of your accomplishment.

Perfect Attendance for First Semester

2010-02-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Thirty-nine students were presented with a 100 Days Certificate for achieving perfect attendance during first semester on the 100th day of the school year. They also received a certificate of another kind: a free meal at the Golden Corral. Each of these students has a chance at a trip for four to Sea World if they maintain their perfect attendance record through second semester. The Sea World drawing will take place at the Awards Ceremonies during the last week of the school year. A drawing will be held for lower level classes and one deserving student with perfect attendance for the entire year will win four tickets to Sea World. Another set of four tickets to Sea World will be given to the student with perfect attendance who is drawn from the fish bowl of all Junior Academy and Academy students with perfect attendance for the entire school year.

National Honor Society Fundraising

2009-11-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

The Telesis National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society have launched fundraising efforts to raise money specifically for new computers on our campus. They recently held a car wash and earned more than $700 allowing Telesis to order two more computer towers. Next, they plan to sell packaged coffee with a coffee catalog called Smart Bean which offers specialty coffees of all kinds, including chai tea and even a superb brownie mix. The proceeds will be shared with the Telesis Booster Club with half of the proceeds going for the Athletic Dept. and half for more computers. We need everyone to help make this fundraiser the biggest and best ever. Watch for the catalogs and lend your support in one of two ways: help sell the coffee to your family and friends as it will make excellent gifts to all the coffee-drinkers on any Christmas list and/or purchase the coffee for yourself and enjoy.

Telesis Receives K-12 Accreditation from NCA

2009-07-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Telesis Preparatory Academy, a public tuition-free K-12 school, recently received dual-accreditation. Telesis has been fully accredited, but now boasts dual-accreditation from North Central Accreditation (NCA) agency, under its new parent company AdvancED, the largest accreditation agency in the world. For more than a year, Telesis Team Leaders, Tom Dornton, Amy Hanon, and Doug Lawslo gathered documented proof of the school’s advancements and credentialed improvements. Members of the NCA agency visited the school for their culminating review on May 5th. Official notice of the full K-12 accreditation came on July 1st. Achieving this accreditation status makes Telesis Preparatory Academy the only school in Lake Havasu City to have accreditation for grades K-8, as well as, the more commonly earned accreditation of grades 9-12 from North Central. For more information about Telesis Preparatory Academy see the school’s website at www.telesis-academy.org.

NHS & NJHS Induction Process

2009-03-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Telesis National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are busy planning their spring induction ceremony. Membership in both organizations is by invitation only by our Faculty Council. They will be looking at all students who first meet the required 3.0 or better GPA (grade point average). Then letters of interest are sent to those students who qualify in their GPA. The students are asked to identify their school activities and community involvement. Once this information is received by the Faculty Council, a final decision will be made on each student’s entry qualifications. If a student qualifies under these two conditions, they are formally invited into the organization and join at a special induction ceremony. Incentives for members include a lapel pin, a special recognition on their diplomas, and wearing honor cords at graduation.

The Telesis National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society 2009 Induction Ceremony will be held at 7:00 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall on April 27th. Please plan to come to support these students in their quest for academic excellence.

100th Day Recognition for PERFECT ATTENDANCE

2009-01-27T21:24:00.000-08:00

Telesis will celebrate the 100th Day of attendance on February 2nd. All students with perfect attendance for the first 100 days will be honored in a special ceremony in which they will be presented with a certificate of recognition and a special surprise that I cannot reveal until after the ceremony. Parents of those students with perfect attendance during the first 100 days of school are cordially invited to the ceremony to take place on Monday, February 2, 9:30 AM. Our hope is that we can again recognize these same students at the end of the school year at our awards assemblies for PERFECT ATTENDANCE all year long!

Character is What You Do When No One is Watching

2008-11-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

This is the most refreshing sports story I have ever read. Whatever your sport of choice and passion, this story should be read by you. It happened to occur in the sport of golf, but is applicable to every sport and, even more importantly, to every aspect of life. It has been said that character is what you do when no one is watching. Please go to this website and read the article about the recent decision of golfer J.P.Hayes, then click on the LISTEN link on the website in the box with J.P.'s photograph to hear a radio broadcast where radio personalities compare J.P.'s decision to other sports and practices of integrity and honesty.

Click on this link for article: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3712372

Grand Canyon Reader

2008-10-19T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Grand Canyon Reader Award Program is off to a great start! This is the third year that Telesis has participated in this great program. The purpose of this program is for children to read recent, high quality books and to vote for their favorite. Students participate all over the state of Arizona from October through February. Each year, Telesis purchases copies of these books for our school library and holds a voting party in the spring for those who have participated in the program.

Voting Requirements

1. The titles in the appropriate categories are read and voted upon by the state's children during the period from announcement through the voting deadline, October through February. Students may read (and vote for) books in more than one category.

2. To become qualified voters, young readers must be exposed to at least five (5) of the nominated books in the Picture book and Non-fiction category by:

reading the books themselves.
having the books read to them.
a combination of the two.

Intermediate and Tweens must read 3 of the 10.

3. Public library programs do not preclude young readers participating with their class group at school or in school library programs.

4. Qualified voters are allowed one vote each in that category. Students may vote in more than one category if 5 books in the Picture or Non-fiction category are read, 3 in the Intermediate and Tween category.

More information can be obtained by asking Mrs. Amy Hanon, Telesis Literacy Coach, ahanon@telesis-academy.org or a visit to the Grand Canyon Reader website at: www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org

Open House 2008

2008-09-13T11:59:00.001-07:00

Telesis will open their doors and roll out the welcome carpet to parents and community members at the annual Open House on September 16th. One special hour, 6:30-7:30, will provide those in attendance to visit classrooms and meet teachers. Additional information will also be available such as the tax credit program which is separate from other schools in the community. Mohave Community College will be on hand to answer questions about educational opportunities as graduation comes closer. Last, but not least, the new Telesis Preparatory pins will be available for purchase for only $3 so everyone can showoff their school spirit. Parents of Telesis students will be asked to sign up for a conference appointment for the following week, September 23 through 25, on a first come first served basis. Coming to Open House will provide parents with the opportunity to sign up for the parent-teacher conference day and time of your choice.

Mark your calendars now so you can join us at Telesis for the 2008 Open House and all that goes with it. Feel free to bring not only family and friends, but interested members of the community as well. We are proud of our school and it shows! Open House is a special time to share this pride!

Welcome to a New School Year

2008-08-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

As the banner in front of our school so clearly announces, at Telesis Character Comes First! The new school year for 2008-2009 will be no different: Character-building will be an important part of every school day. Mrs. Mills, Intermediate teacher, shared the following with me and I thought it appropriate to pass it on here.

Watch your thought,
they become words.
Watch your words,
they become actions.
Watch your actions,
they become habits.
Watch your habits,
they become your character.
Watch your character,
it becomes your destiny.

What's the Best Investment?

2008-06-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Your child's education at Telesis Preparatory Academy which is FREE!

Graduation 2008

2008-06-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Telesis Class of 2008!

Graduation is always a time of reflection and this year is no different as eleven Telesis Graduates receive their diplomas on June 5, 2008. Attending Telesis anywhere from 2 to 10 years, these students rose to the occasion and met the challenges never losing sight of the ultimate goal: Graduation and a High School Diploma and let us not forget the education they take with them that no one can take from them.

Congratulations to:

Kelsey Battson

Micah Crabtree

Jason Dunavant

Michael Estes

Sheree Hanson

Yuri Hartley

Nickolas Landoni

Justin McShane

Justin Mendenhall

Matt Parsons

Ben Perea

National Charter School Week, 2008

2008-05-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

National Charter Schools Week, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Education is the cornerstone of a hopeful tomorrow. During National Charter Schools Week, we highlight the contributions of charter schools to ensuring that our Nation's future leaders have the skills and knowledge necessary for a lifetime of achievement.

Charter schools are educational alternatives that empower families with additional choices for their children. By providing flexibility to educators while insisting on results, charter schools are helping foster a culture of educational innovation, accountability, and excellence. Charter schools also encourage parental involvement and help contribute to the national effort to close the achievement gap.

The No Child Left Behind Act has played a central role in America's efforts to improve our public schools and expand the opportunities available to our children. In 2007, American students reached record achievement levels on reading and math tests, and the achievement gap is beginning to close. Charter schools have been an important part of this success. National Charter Schools Week is an opportunity to recognize the strength, vitality, and excellence of outstanding schools.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 4 through May 10, 2008, as National Charter Schools Week. I applaud our Nation's charter schools and all those who make them a success, and I call on parents of charter school students to share their success stories and help Americans understand more about the important work of charter schools.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080502-10.html

Telesis Alumni

2008-03-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

From time to time I think it is important to recognize Telesis Graduates, our alumni, in what they have accomplished and what they have become. If you are reading this and you are a Telesis Alum, please email me or comment to this post to tell me where you are and what you are doing, so I can spotlight you in this way.

Anthony Rizos is a Telesis graduate of the Class of 2003 who is now in the second semester of his junior year at MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). While at Telesis, Anthony had a passion for trains and computers and has now parlayed them together to fit well with a study of urban planning, realizing that his true passion and career interests lie in the field of transportation! Anthony was just admitted to the master's program in his department at MIT, so if all goes well, he will have both the Bachelor of Science in Planning, and the Master in City Planning, by 2010.

Anthony has done considerable research on passenger experience - i.e., the experience one has while actively in transit, the activities one participates in while commuting, and how travel time can be made more enjoyable and less of a chore. Anyone who has traveled lately knows we can all benefit from this!

While at Telesis, Anthony landed a correspondence position with Amtrak as a software developer. He continues his work for Amtrak with increasing responsibility, and there is a good chance he will work full-time in a management position for a railroad after graduation.

Anthony spent four months at BNSF (the Santa Fe) Railway last year, working as an intern at their headquarters in Texas, and learning about train operations in the freight business. He also took two years of French at MIT and is planning to work on a research project with the metropolitan transit authority in Paris this summer!

To learn more about Anthony, check out this article which appeared in the MIT magazine, The Spectrum:
http://spectrum.mit.edu/issue/2006-summer/train-travel/

We at Telesis are proud of you, Anthony, and of the good character you have demonstrated in your many achievements. At Telesis, character always comes first.

Telesis Alumni

2008-03-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Read to Feed Program Happening At Telesis

2008-01-31T05:11:00.000-08:00

What do cows, chickens, and goats have to do with reading? Students at Telesis Preparatory Academy can tell you. Over the next six week period beginning Monday, February 4th and ending Wednesday, March 12th, the K through 12th graders will be participating in Heifer International’s Read to Feed program. The more books the students read, the more money they will raise to provide hungry families with farm animals.
During the program, students and teachers will discuss issues surrounding world hunger and earn pledges from family, friends, and community members for the number of books they read during this time period. At the conclusion of the program, students will collect the money from their sponsors and donate it to Heifer. The donations will provide food – and income-producing farm animals, and training for their care, for hungry families around the world who lack the necessary resources to improve their lives.
Read to Feed is both a reading motivation tool and a unique educational opportunity. In addition to the reading component, students learn about different cultures and the importance of food security throughout the world. It also provides a way for children to become actively involved and personally make a difference.
Since 1944, Heifer International has helped over 4.5 million families become self-reliant through gifts of livestock. Every family that receives an animal passes on the gift of its offspring to another family in need.
The Read to Feed program is anticipated to involve 100,000 children in the U.S. and Canada over the next year. We at Telesis are excited about the educational and motivational aspect of the program to promote both reading and make families around the world self-reliant.
For more information regarding the program, visit http://www.readtofeed.org/.
For more information about Heifer International and its mission, visit http://www.heifer.org/.

Telesis Alumni

2007-12-30T09:43:00.000-08:00

Character Education at Telesis

2007-12-18T22:14:00.000-08:00

Telesis Preparatory Academy initiated our Character Education program in 2003 when a grant-in-kind was obtained from the international program called Character First!. Since then, the program has grown and grown with the addition of a student-driven Character Council with representatives from every classroom and with classroom teachers and specialists teaching and emphasizing the 49 Character First! Qualities focusing on the “Character Quality of the Month” each month. We have shared this message by providing Character First! and Character Council information on our website listing us as a Character First! School with notes home to parents explaining our character education goals. Out of our Character Council has grown several successful programs: Character Cops, Family Movie Nights, and Telesis Silent Witness. We are now seeking to collaborate with organizations in the community to assist our ongoing character education efforts striving to take our Character First! School to an even higher level: A Character First! Community.

The Telesis Triangle

2007-12-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

Maybe you have wondered the significance of the metal structure in the planter box when you first walk onto the Telesis Preparatory Academy campus. We call it the Telesis Triangle and it represents the partnership we have with students and parents at Telesis. The word Telesis is a word derived from Greek that means "planned progress." If we are going to plan the progress of each individual student, we need to join together as a three-member team: the teacher, the student, and the parents. The meaning of the sphere in the middle of the triangle is two-fold. It represents the curriculum that is shaped to the needs of each individual student and the world that awaits each student upon successful completion of one's education. The Telesis Triangle is there to remind us of this very important partnership to make possible the vision we hold for each of our students.