Spring 2015 Newsletter

Agia Sophia Academy 14485 SW Walker Road Beaverton, OR 97006 503.641.4600 www.asapdx.org

Address Service Requested

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID BEAVERTON, OR PERMIT NO. 319 One of the best experiences working at a school is getting to hear the small side-line conversations that happen between friends-- friends of all ages 3-65. Last week two of our first grade students were collaborating on a writing project. “You can do it,” said the boy. “Yes, just try to stretch out the word and hear the sounds,” said the girl. The aspiring kindergarten author smiled and proceeded to write “Ejipshon Mumees” as her book title, while the first grade coaches looked on with a sense of accomplishment. Friendship at Agia Sophia Academy is a daily experience that nurtures in each child the skills necessary for life. It is easy to boast about our advanced test scores and rigorous academic curriculum, but before any of that is possible, a relationship has to be built so that education can truly land in the heart of each child. Every time I ask our staff, “What do you feel comes first in our school?” The answer is always “relationship.” In an age where the hustle and bustle of the world overwhelms all of us, ASA is a place where time slows down and children are given the respect, care, and attention they need to grow and develop as whole persons. Whether it means a teacher volunteering their own time for after-school support or lengthy meetings for the whole teaching team to brainstorm plans and goals with parents, the Agia Sophia faculty consistently goes above and beyond to reach and support each child and family.

Yes, I want to support ASA’s School Library!

A new family visited our school last week and shared upon leaving, “It is a family here; you can feel it.” Partnership with parents as well as our full teaching staff is paramount to our success in teaching each child and nurturing their social, emotional, and spiritual development. We truly are a family at ASA and we have the opportunity each year to grow our school by both deepening and widening the experiences here. One of the ways we grow in depth is by aspiring to love as Christ did. “Jesus had deep emotions of love toward people and he prayed deeply about every event in their lives; and he also had wide emotions, loving everyone he encountered with equal depth…to be a Christian means to extend one’s heart both downward and outward.” (St. John of Chrysostom) It is a tall order for all of us, but a blessing to be able to nurture children in a school where growing wide and deep is possible spiritually as well as academically.

Here is my tax deductible gift to Agia Sophia Academy. $

As we approach Holy Week and the most joyous feast of Pascha, please remember the ministry of Agia Sophia Academy and partner with us and our families to authentically educate our children, our future.

Name:

Kalo Pascha!

Address: Phone: q

Email:

Sincerely,

Elisha Lubliner, Principal

I would like this gift to remain anonymous.

Inscription on bookplate to read: Agia Sophia Academy 14485 SW Walker Rd, Beaverton, OR 97006 www.ASApdx.org Federal Tax ID: 27-0089608

Agia Sophia Academy Newsletter, Spring 2015

1

Friends of ASA, Welcome to 2015 and a most blessed Pascha to each! I would like to take a moment and thank you for your continued support of ASA as well as provide you with a snapshot of what our ASA Board is focusing on for 2015. The major areas of focus are supporting the larger vision of growing student enrollment, expanding physically into a new site for ASA, creating a “Great Place to Work” initiative for the staff, and meeting our Annual Fund goals. We also are committed to working in partnership with the Development Director on the Deep and Wide theme so that all of our stakeholders are invested in growing a GREAT school. ASA flourishes and helps Orthodox education in America expand. At recent board meetings we have simply come to the agreement that we want to do the BEST we can, putting our Mission Statement front and center in all that we do. Our ASA Board is honored to be a part of this mission and ministry. In order for us to accomplish our goals, we have taken a list of tiered leadership characteristics that is helpful in making a school flourish (research of Thomas J. Sergiovanni). Each board member has been given a leadership role promoting one of those characteristics. We are excited to see how this new structure will blossom. In addition there has been a board initiative for more transparent and improved communication links between the ASA staff and ASA Board. To do this, each board member has spent quality time observing classrooms and conducted individual staff interviews over the last two months, to connect and identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in the organization. The results have offered a list of prospective areas that will be divided among the board members and staff for continued school improvement. We are excited about the earnest focus areas and hope this effort will positively impact the board, staff, students, parents, and friends of ASA. It supports the ”Deep and Wide” theme that we are pursuing for this year in order to get more people involved with ASA’s beautiful mission at a deeper level. God willing, the result will be as visible and bright as Pascha!

Andy Contes, ASA Board President P.S. I personally invite you to attend and support the ASA Gala April 26th! Purchase tickets online at www.ASAgala.org.

On any Tuesday, you can see our beloved Lisa Ferris reading an age -appropriate book to one of our classes in the corner of our well-established library. It’s fun to see her stamp the library cards when students are checking out their books each week. The children are in a flurry of excitement with their recent pick; they can hardly wait to share their excitement with their parents about their newest books! Lisa Ferris is a little bit like Nanny McPhee, dropping into a place that needs help and serving faithfully. You see, ASA’s library was pretty poor before she came. Donors would graciously give books, but our catalog system was not systematic and our selection scanty. Lisa Ferris has supplied our library shelves through much of her own funding, cataloged the books, offered library times for all four classrooms, and bonded with all the kids! She’s a little tricky at times--she will often create a new section of books and wait for the children to discover it. Lisa says that keeping the children alert and and fascinated with paper books is a great thing! Lisa Ferris came upon Agia Sophia Academy through the volunteermatch.org website. She admits that after perusing ASA’s website, she was impressed. She loved seeing all the pictures and activities of the children displaying a vibrant school culture. She also appreciated the multicultural aspects of the school, particularly reading about the backgrounds and experiences of the teachers. Once she came for a visit and looked at the library, she thought, “Boy, do they need a librarian!” Having worked at the Beaverton Library for 8 years, Lisa was well equipped to build ASA’s library. She holds a MBA plus a Master’s degree in teaching and served as a Naval officer for eight years as a navigator. Lisa tells that coming back to civilian life was a tough transition but working with an organization that encourages veterans to give back to their community through volunteerism, has been a direction that has been very fulfilling for her personally. Lisa relates that she’s not interested in serving any place that is big and fancy, but loves to contrubute her time and talents where there are needs. Along with her gifts to the library she is also helping out with reading groups in the Lower Elementary Classroom. We thank you Lisa Ferris for all you’ve given to Agia Sophia Academy. The children adore you and you’ve been a God-send.

The opportunity to receive a sound education is one of the most important gifts parents can give their children. It seems that many public schools today are, tragically, unable to appropriately educate all students. After researching different schools in the area, we were thrilled when our daughter, Amy, told us that she had found a school and, in fact, our granddaughter, Olivia, had been welcomed into Agia Sophia Academy for the 2014-2015 school year. Amy assured us that ASA had an excellent academic reputation and curriculum within a God-centered environment. As Protestants we were largely unfamiliar with Orthodox Christian schooling but quickly came to realize that ASA was a school that would challenge Olivia’s bright mind and diverse interests academically while reinforcing key spiritual/moral teachings and values found in scripture. Until 2014 Olivia was homeschooled and yet ASA was able to quickly and smoothly integrate her into their standard curriculum. Over the past months it has been a delight to watch Olivia embrace her school, teachers, administrators, and the instructional curriculum with enthusiasm and dedication while growing in knowledge and maturity. When we have had opportunity to meet with teachers and staff, it has been apparent that the students are blessed with leaders and instructors focused on providing a nurturing atmosphere which emphasizes those spiritual and scholastic areas that best prepare young minds for productive and rewarding adolescent and adult lives. Olivia will no doubt look back fondly on her experience at ASA for the rest of her life and grow to appreciate the dedication and sacrifice her teachers, administrators, and spiritual leaders willingly gave to her and her classmates during her time there. We too will look back fondly on ASA and the positive impact it had on our granddaughter. We pray that ASA will continue to prosper for many years to come so that their students can be shining lights spiritually and academically in a world that seems to care less and less about excellence and the truth that is found in God’s word.

Greetings to the ASA family! I officially joined the ASA Board this January 2015 and am very excited to be a part of the school’s mission and its “Deep and Wide” theme. I bring to the Board a journalism degree as well as my experience as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For the past 10 years, I have worked at a California county behavioral health clinic before retiring and moving to Portland. During those 10 years, I provided therapy almost exclusively to children for the first 4 years, then worked with a full spectrum of ages, learning a great deal about family dynamics in the process. Recently, our Board has assigned various leadership roles to its members, and I have been designated the “human leader”. This means that I will be providing support to the staff, listening to their ideas for further improvement, and acting as a resource for them. In fulfilling this role, I look forward to visiting the classrooms and learning more about the teachers and their work with the children. And last, but certainly not least, it is especially gratifying to me to be able to serve on the ASA Board as an Orthodox Christian. As I have learned about ASA, its emphasis on Orthodoxy Christianity, the curriculum, and the dedicated teachers, I have found myself wishing my daughter could have had the opportunity to attend a school like this. I see the benefits that this type of education can bring to the children, and I am grateful to do my part in moving ASA towards greater excellence!

Gundel & Dennis Hedden Dear Parents & Friends of Agia Sophia Academy, It is our sincere pleasure to invite you to Lights, Camera, Auction! A Night in Hollywood with ASA on April 26th. We are so excited to celebrate another year of Orthodox education! Preparing, planning, and organizing ASA’s major fundraiser has been a true blessing. Throughout the effort, the kindness and generosity from our community has been overwhelming. You have offered your time, talents and hearts. The proceeds from this 3rd annual auction will help to fund several strategic initiatives that will support the growth of Agia Sophia Academy into a premier PreK-8th grade school. Through our generous sponsors, the majority of the funds raised at the Gala will go towards the building fund and specific projects to increase our current classrooms and student body. Please go to www.asagala.org to purchase your tickets now. Come be part of this exciting time at ASA! Gratefully, Christina Contes & Naomi Knight, Co-Chairs for ASA Gala

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to PTPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundraisers and helped us raise $4330 to date, which includes Scrip, Yankee Candle sales, Christmas Raffle and Bake Sale. This year PTP supported our music program, as well as funds for science kits and the Tuition Assistance program. Mrs. Powell is so excited about the new instrument order that has arrived. Please plan on coming to our Fine Arts Night and 5th Grade Graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 10th at 6:30pm.

Agia Sophia Academy is looking for an Early Childhood Elementary Teacher who is a practicing Orthodox Christian, who views this position and Agia Sophia Academy as a ministry and an opportunity to serve God. Our class sizes are small, the curriculum hands-on and integrated, and our staff dedicated and collaborative. The opportunity to teach to the whole child in an academically rich and nurturing Orthodox Christian environment is a unique and joy-filled experience! This is a full-time position with benefits. JOB REQUIREMENTS: This position will require an enthusiastic certified teacher with a love for integrating curriculum, strong communication skills, and interest in being part of a small, growing school. Position begins August 21st, 2015. Visit our website at www.asapdx.org or email info@asapdx.org to find out more information about this position and to download an application. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1ST, 2015

Montessori Preschool & Montessori-Inspired K-5 Elementary

AGIA SOPHIA ACADEMY Educating the Whole Child since 2004

Clergy Visits Fr. Theodore Dorrance Fr. Nicholas Letten Fr. John Mancantelli Fr. Paul Parish Dn. John Jensen

Call and Schedule a Visit Today! 503-641-4600 molly@asapdx.org www.ASApdx.org

Pan-Orthodox Academy Fully Accredited by AdvancED 8:1 Student/Teacher Ratio Full-Day School Competitive Tuition Rates Courses in Greek & Latin Consistently Excellent Test Scores

After School Clubs

The ONLY Orthodox School

Ancient Rome Young Rembrandts

in the Portland Metro Area

Lego Club NW Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre Chess

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS PreK - 5th Grade

Find us on Facebook: ASAPDX Visit our website: www.ASApdx.org

Greek Dancing

09/27/2014 - 03/31/2015 We thank God for your many acts of kindness to our school. Through your prayers, your volunteering, your love, and your donation support, we thank you each one.

$10,000 + Chris and Kristi Maletis, III

$200 - $499 (con’t.)

Up to $99 (con’t.)

Isidoros and Maria Garifalakis St. John the Forerunner Monastery $2,000 - $5,000 Bessie Lekas Anonymous Jim and Connie Contes James and Kathleen Ketrenos Sophia Theoharis Edward and Cynthia Maletis Michael Alyas Andrew and Christina Contes Brent and Katherine Braden $100 - $199 Andreas and Norma J. Pavlatos $500 - $1999 Chris and Krista Panoff E. John and Cleo Rumpakis Dr. Christina Stratis Old Spaghetti Factory Fr. John and M. Clara Mancantelli Greek Festival from Holy Trinity Fred Meyer/Kroger Greek Orthodox Cathedral French Toast School Wear Elia and Kathryn Popovich Riverview Abbey Creative Counsel George and Eleni Anadiotis Arthur and Janet Deming Ilyana and Kalin Stoeva John Sarigiannides John Apostolos Yuriy and Mariya Kamsha $200 - $499 Nickolas and Linda Karafotias Kunrath & Willard Insurance Thomas and Catherine Lekas Services William and Meropi Courogen Zachary and Vasiliki Stoumbos Rob and Eva Walters Up to $99 Scott Taylor John and Catherine Lingas Constantin and Natalia Ionescu Pres. Maria Hillhouse Eileen Chios Ann Vanikiotis Cathleen and Michael Amen

Chris and Warissara Lekkas Dn. Innocent and Sandy Duchow-Pressley Eleni Sofos George and Angeliki Anasis George and Elizabeth Lendaris Gerasimos and Theodora Tsirimiagos Jane and Theo Carandanis Mary Speros Pres. Effy Stephanopoulos Sue George Thomas and Nancy Doulis Elisha Lubliner Angie Anast Elizabeth Franklin Janice Anten Katherine Karafotias Maria Boyer Merle Stathis Nicholas and Elaine Kontaxis Angelos Sylleloglou James and Mary Nonus Andrew Lowrey Petar and Drage Bastrica Sophia Kremidas Sophia Kriara

Agia Sophia Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Private School. Your gift is tax-deductible to the full extent provided by the law. Our federal tax identification number is 27-0089608.

Grants we have received this school year: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Endowment Fund

$7,000

Autzen Foundation $3,000 Cottonwood Foundation $2,000 Virginia H. Farah Foundation $2,000 Frank and Margaret Bitar Foundation

$500

Company Matching Programs: Outstanding companies like Intel & Nike make a huge difference in our giving program by doubling your gifts. Intel Matching Gifts to Education Program

$4,150

NIKE Matching Grant $2,000

We’ve made every effort to ensure an accurate listing of gifts and donations. However, if your name has been omitted, misspelled or incorrectly listed, please accept our sincerest apology and contact the Development Director, Molly Shaw at molly@asapdx.org or 503-641-4600.