While we anxiously await the launch of our new website, we would like to provide you with our school newsletter in a pdf format. All of the old content is being moved over to a new platform. Please be patient as RES works through this process to bring you a more user friendly website.
We are now accepting requests to change your learning environment for the fourth quarter. If you are NOT changing your learning environment, you do NOT need to complete this form. Only complete the form if you are changing from remote to in-person or in-person to remote learning.
Click on Request to Change Learning Environment Q4 to access the form. Please note:
Q4 choices are effective March 22-May 27.
Selections are made once per quarter.
You may request a change from in person to remote only once per quarter.
Responses for Q4 are due by 4:00pm on Wednesday, March 10th.
The senior thesis is the culmination of a student’s classical education and a rite of passage to a life of virtue and self-government. The student’s thesis is focused on a book from the curriculum and serves as a capstone project, one which brings together the things a student has learned during his or her time at the school. At this point, presentations will be given in person with limited guest attendance. Please click here to access the Google Meet to watch the presentation from home. Click here to view the presentation schedule.
We are quickly running out of tissues. All donations can be brought to the front office and are worth an Archer Hour. Please log the hour in Track It Forward.
There is still time to get your photos in our 2020-21 yearbook! Please send photos of all grades and school related activities including your first day of school pictures, athletic events, and snow days to fcalyearbook@gmail.com.
Place your order online at www.balfour.com. Enter Founders Classical Academy and select our school in Leander. Yearbooks are $30 until online sales are over in May then the price will go up to $40. Click here to download the flier.
The Classical Classroom - Blog by Dr. O'Toole
January 15
January 29
February 11
February 26
March 12
Beethoven - 554
Shakespeare - 523
Euclid - 494
Da Vinci - 407
Newton - 405
Herodotus - 387
@FCArchers (Athletics)
@fca_finearts (Fine Arts)
@fcajournalism (Yearbook & Quill in the Quiver)
@archersaimfar (Archers Travel)
No more clipping! Now you can scan your grocery store receipts for Box Tops for Education labels. It's simple! To participate in this program, download the app at https://www.boxtops4education.com/ and register for our school. When you are done shopping, scan your receipt and you will earn Box Tops credits for our school. The picture of the receipt is uploaded and not stored on your phone. It really is that easy!
If you are an Amazon shopper, please consider using our campus website link and earn money for our school. By linking your shopping to our school we will receive a donation of 4-10% of your purchase. Please click here before you begin shopping. Bookmark the link so every Amazon purchase gives back to our school. You may also share the link with family and friends. Thank you for your support of Founders Leander!
All events and activities listed on the school calendar are tentative and subject to change.
All Juniors will take the SAT during the school day on Wednesday, March 3 starting at 8:00am. The test will take approximately 3 hours to complete.
Once a month on Spirit Friday students may come to school in FCA Leander spirit t-shirts and regular uniform pants, shorts, or skirts in navy, khaki or Founders plaid. They may choose to wear any spirit shirt from the current year or previous years. They may also wear a solid t-shirt in red or navy. House shirts are not spirit wear.
March 5, Muffins in the Morning
Start your day with a giant muffin! The Senior Class of 2021 will sell muffins during the morning drop off for $2/muffin (cash only please.) Proceeds will go to the Senior Events Committee.
We will administer the NLE during 7th period on Tuesday, March 9. Preliminary paperwork will be given during class time on Monday, March 8. Dr. Hicks is the lead administrator.
Our high school and middle school orchestras will perform for their families at our Spring Orchestra Concert on Tuesday, March 9. This event will be closed to the public but we will livestream it through our Fine Arts Instagram account for all families to enjoy from the comfort of their home. @fca_finearts
Here is the schedule for the evening:
6th Grade Orchestra at 6:00
7th Grade Orchestra at 6:30
8th Grade Orchestra at 7:00
High School Orchestra at 7:30
Students may wear crazy socks with their regular school uniform for St. Patrick's Day.
This tradition began with our first graduating class in 2017. Seniors leave a message for future generations on a prepared sidewalk in front of the school. The Class of 2021 will celebrate this tradition on Friday, March 12 after lunch.
School will be closed Monday, March 15 through Friday, March 19 for Spring Break. Enjoy your time with family and friends.
The high school theater class will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 25. This will be performed in Sherwood Forest at 7:00pm. Tickets and seating are limited due to COVID-19 protocols.
The Senior Events Committee will host Pizza THURSDAY to raise funds for the Class of 2021. Pizza will be sold during UPPER SCHOOL LUNCH ONLY for $2/slice and drinks are $1. Exact change is greatly appreciated.
Teachers will be available by appointment only for virtual conferences on Friday, March 26 from 9:00am-4:00pm with a lunch break from 12-1. The spring conferences are mandatory. Invitations to sign up for a conference will be sent by each teacher. The school will be closed this day.
National Honor Society students and their families are invited to the annual induction ceremony. More information will be sent to new members.
Due to COVID-19, all sports events and games have limited guests. Please see the onsite manager for entrance.
Please direct questions to the Athletic Director, Nathan McClallen.
Before a student can participate in Founders Classical Academy’s after-school athletics program, the student must undergo a physical exam with a licensed physician, and his or her family must complete several sports participation forms. Physicals must be passed once every calendar year, whereas sports participation forms must be completed each school year.
If you are the parent of a student in 6th-12th grade who intends to compete in athletics, please schedule your student's physical during the summer. The required athletics forms are available to athletes through TeamSnap. The physical form is also available through Jupiter or click here to download a copy.
If you have an immediate need or questions, please email Mrs. McCarthy. Please visit the College Counseling page for general information.
Seniors, You must apply to and be accepted at least one 4 year school to graduate. Also, keep an eye on your target schools' due date for Financial Aid applications. Though the state due date for FAFSA submission is not until January, many schools' deadline for financial aid applications is much earlier. Go ahead and complete your CPR training if you have not already done so. Instructions have been sent multiple times in Jupiter.
You have received an invitation to Going Merry, which is a platform for scholarship searches which includes a User Interface that simplifies FAFSA form completion.
Juniors' goal for December was to begin building their college list in Naviance. January is the month for Juniors to evaluate the test scores they have in hand (practice ACT, ACT, PSAT, and/or SAT) and decide which high stakes test scores they will use for college applications. See Test Practice and Test Prep section, below. Also, Juniors have been invited to Going Merry, a scholarship search/FAFSA platform.
Juniors & Sophomores - After you have taken both the ACT and the SAT, decide which test fits you best then focus your test prep efforts on that test. Practice tests for CLT, ACT and SAT can also be found online.
Test preparation can take the form of a multi-week course, online tutorials , or customized one-on-one tutoring. A multi-week course from More than a Teacher covers over all test taking strategies, content review and tips for both the Evidence-based Reading and Writing section and the Math section. Free online tutorials (Khan Academy and Kaplan) can be linked to your testing account and lessons can be customized to your needs based on your test results. Huntington Academy will assess your test scores and create a private tutoring plan for you.
This semester our Faculty and Staff members are sharing their college and career experiences with students during Lunch and Study Hall. All College Rep and Faculty/Staff Q&A events are listed on the College Counseling calendar on this page.
College Board did not provide schools with paper copies of PSAT scores this year. To access your PSAT score report, go to collegeboard.org and log in to your student account. You will need to create an account if you have not already done so. This account will also be used to register for SAT administrations and score reports.
All students, 9-12 are encouraged to pop-in to the college counseling office with questions or to make use of the reference materials on hand. I'm happy to discuss Strategies for earning college credit in high school, or whatever you may have questions about. Helping students research information about colleges and majors is the best part of Mrs. McCarthy's job! Students & parents can also request meetings via email.
February 4 - Application Specifics and the Senior Year Formerly known as Junior Parent Night, junior parents & students are requested to attend a presentation on senior year traditions and the role of rising seniors and their families in continuing these traditions. Also, Kendall Guess will present on the specifics of College Applications. This presentation will include timelines, what type of application to use, and what happens after you hit “submit”. This presentation is for Juniors and their parents.
Each school's test optional policy is different. You have to visit each school's website to access its the test optional policy. The general rule of thumb is to do the research to determine whether your score (current or the one to come) is above the 50 percentile for scores that have typically been admitted to that school and major. If it is, submit it. If not, don't.
We will hold a School Day SAT administration for Juniors only on campus on March 3, 2021. You do not need to register on the College Board website for this administration. This administration will be during the school day, and is free.
Please refer to the College Transitions Calendar for all upcoming test dates. Remember that registration deadlines for exams are 3-4 weeks before the test dates. To register for tests: Go to collegeboard.org, act.org or cltexam.com.
More Than a Teacher will offer a SAT test prep course beginning on January 25 and concluding just before the March 3 School Day SAT. The class will be in person and on campus. Go HERE to register.