2017: A Year in Review

A Year in Review: 2017 

Wow! This time last year, we were saying that 2017 was going to be our best year yet.  Here we are in December, and well... we told you so. Our school has seen such amazing progress and growth as a result of the hard work and dedication from our staff, volunteers and wonderful families who support us. So as we look forward to many great things we have planned for 2018, we thought we'd take some time to reflect on the many awesome things that made this past year our best. This feature will be updated daily through December, so be sure to check back! 

1. Award Winning Artist.

We begin by celebrating one of students, Oscar, who took home the 1st place award in the “Inspired by Audubon” art contest at the Indiana Art Museum. 

2. Record Setting Fundraiser.

We changed up the look and feel of our spring fundraiser with the Ruby Event. It was our highest grossing event and we were able to fund our technology expansion and then some.

3. We Got A New Website.

We completely overhauled our website! We hope you love using it as much as we do!

4.We graduated our largest class from high school.

13 seniors received their diploma from Fortune High School, our largest class yet! 

5. We went viral.

We went all out during Dyslexia Awareness Month and our educational videos alone reached over 220,000 people worldwide on every continent except Antarctica.

6. Two great new administrators.

Holly Simon and Vanessa Coles became division heads for our High School and Lower School.

7. Award Winning Head of School.

Janet George was awarded the Ball State 2017 Indiana Women of Achievement Award. This award recognize Indiana women who enrich the lives of others through outstanding accomplishments in a variety of fields. Thank you Mrs. George for your outstanding leadership and vision at Fortune Academy.

8. We’re offering even more.

This year we’ve partnered with Indy-based Rewired Rehabilitation to offer OT/PT services with our students.

9. Award Winning Filmmaker in the Making.

One of our students, Kate, won best screenplay for a film at the Phantoscope Film Festival in Richmond, Indiana.

10. Award Winning Teacher. 

Dr. Beth Tulbert was the 2017 recipient of the Amy Forshey Memorial Excellence in Education Award granted by the Learning Disabilities Association of Indiana. 

11. A Scout's Honor.

One of our students, Conner, completed his Eagle Scout Project by building beautiful adirondack chairs painted in Fortune green and white.

12. Record Setting Community Events.

2017 was our biggest year in attendance of our free community events.

The Wisdom of Time

The Wisdom of Time

Every single parent raising a child with learning differences travel through the maze of educational evaluations, difficult conversations, and tough times. It is also true that each parent operates at different stages of understanding and acceptance. No path is the same. 

Having traveled the maze years ago, there truly is hope and good that comes from these difficulties. Resilience, perseverance, and a deeper love than you ever knew you had will shine through. The wisdom of time is a gift! Let's be thankful for the gift of time.   

Yours for Fortune, 
Janet George

Our Poinsettia Sale Has Begun!

OUR POINSETTIA SALE HAS BEGUN!

Our Athletics Department is selling poinsettias for the holidays! 

Choose from five different varieties: Red, White, Pink, Marble, and Ice Crystal. Each locally grown poinsettia comes in a 6.5" foil wrapped pot at $15 each. Poinsettias will be available for pick-up on Friday, December 1st only. 

Click here to purchase yours today!

A Sneak Peak At the Week

Comer

English II

We will continue reading The Old Man and the Sea and studying vocabulary from the novella.

English IV

We will finish our final wrap up of The Tell-Tale Heart. Final projects are due on Tuesday, October 24.

Digital Arts

We are finishing a yearbook cover project. Students are encouraged to take pictures at home and email them to Ms. Comer if they would like to use their own photography.

Math Lab

We are going to continue working on the importance of budgets.  

Tulbert

Biology and Anatomy/Physiology

In Biology we have been discussion the digestive system and just started the respiratory system in different kinds of animals.  Next week we will finish respiration and begin the circulatory system. The week after Fall Break we will cover the excretory system and take a test on the chapter. A/P is working on a chapter about the skin and membranes. We should be ready for the chapter test the week after Fall Break.

Psychology

Students in Psychology will be taking their Chapter 11 test about emotions on Tuesday next week.  After Fall Break, we will be starting a chapter on stress!!

 

O’Donnell

Geography

Working on our South American Countries population.

Government

Working on Landmark Supreme court cases.

Career/College Planning

Working on a career interest packet.

Ahearn

Pre Calculus

Angles of Elevation/Depression Story Problems

Algebra II

Factoring Polynomials

Algebra I

Cartesian Coordinates

Geometry

Parallel Lines Cut by Transversal

Dust

Communication and Public Speaking

After some fun practice interviews in class last week we are going to go over the dos and don't of interviewing.  The students have started thinking about who they would like to interview and we will begin putting together their list of questions.

 

Carroll

LA Lab

We are learning Author’s Purpose.

Studio Arts

We are wrapping up color mixing.

Sheehy

L/A Lab I, II

Both classes took a test on reviewed material as well as the meanings of the new roots we introduced a few weeks before.  We will reintroduce the connectives before moving forward with thesaurus use for synonyms of words from their root decks.  It would be helpful for them to practice drill work with their affix and root decks either during IS or at home (no more than 5-7 minutes at a time is necessary).

English 1

We have completed reading The Old Man & the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.  The students are beginning writing their individual Literary Analysis based on our exploration of Characters, Symbolism, and Theme throughout our reading of the book.  Writing and editing methods will be explored.  It is my intention to have this completed before we view the play at the Ft. Harrison theater in mid November, but a thorough finished product is more important than the timeliness of its completion.

Simon

Health

Sexual anatomy and physiology, pregnancy fact quiz, sexual response and partnered sex

Christman

English 1

Share “The Raven” drawings, View “The Raven” film.

English 3

Finish watching “The Shining”, finish plot outline.

English 4

Start compare and contrast essay for the “Beowulf” film and epic poem.

Visual Arts

Finish painting masks, start design for the Christmas card contest

Photojournalism

Finish yearbook cover design, start design for the Christmas card contest.

Book Character Day

It's that time of year again. Students all around the fort transform into their favorite book character. Students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite book character on October 31st! They can also bring in the book that their character is from! Check out our video from last year to get some ideas. 

Music and the Brain

Music and the Brain 

It has been proven that playing music in particular strengthens the motor, auditory and visual areas of the brain, as well as the connections between the right and left hemispheres. Also, “studies have shown that assiduous instrument training from an early age can help the brain to process sounds better, making it easier to stay focused when absorbing other subjects.” (Scientific American, “Hearing the Music, Honing the Mind”) 

In class we watched a Ted Ed video regarding the scientific discoveries of how music impacts the brain. Take a moment to watch this incredible TED video below.

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Coffee And Conversation November Book Announced!

Join Mrs. George on Friday, November 17th @ 9:00 am.  We will discuss the book Laughing Allegra by Anne Ford. This beautifully written story will be sure to resonate with readers! Be sure to mark your calendars and join us!

BACK OF THE BOOK

When Anne Ford, great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, learned that her four-year-old daughter Allegra’s “differences” were the result of severe learning disabilities, she faced a challenge that neither money nor position could ease. Desperate for answers, Anne sought out doctors, teachers, counselors, and others who could help her build a support network for herself and her daughter, while fighting the many common misconceptions and myths about learning disabilities.

Now, in this fiercely honest and compelling memoir, Anne tells her story, writing movingly of her feelings as the mother of a learning disabled child. “I grew to accept that life is filled with uncertainty and that answers to the most simple, yet profound, questions such as ‘What is wrong with my daughter?’ can be elusive. I learned to be self-reliant in ways I never had before. I learned that every spark of optimism and hope was something to be nurtured and treasured because sometimes they were the only comfort available. And I learned that worry had entered my life.”

In time, Anne Ford saw her daughter grow into a vibrant, loving, and independent adult with a passion for ice skating and a commitment to help other disabled children. Allegra Ford, now 32, lives independently and supported this book’s publication so “it could help other kids.” Anne’s experience led her to become a tireless activist on behalf of children and families faced with LD, including her service as Chairman of the Board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities from 1989 to 2001, and the writing of this book with John-Richard Thompson, an award-winning playwright and novelist.

H.C. Andersen Blvd. Tales

H.C. Andersen Blvd. Tales 

Our fall production is underway, so we thought we'd give you a glimpse into the story of H.C. Andersen Blvd. Tales - an original script from Julie Pappas. 

Miss Z takes her students to Denmark to visit the famous Hans Christian Andersen statue on HC Anderson Blvd. George, who could care less about this educational opportunity, has a bad attitude, so Hans takes him on a virtual tour into the stories. Where will these adventures take us? 

More about H.C. Andersen Blvd. Tales performance 

Performances: December 13 at 7:00 PM and December 15 at 9:00 AM

Location: Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Avenue

Performers: Take ONE Performing Arts Company after school group and All students in Grades 2-8 will be a part of these performances. Please have your student wear ALL BLACK, shirt and pants or skirt for the performances.

Fun Activities That Develop Rhyme and Alliteration Awareness

FUN ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP RHYME AND ALLITERATION AWARENESS

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Today we're back with the next part in our series of posts that have fun activities that support learning for all of our kids, but are particularly helpful for our students with dyslexia. If you find this article helpful, please share on social media and let's help raise awareness for dyslexia together! 

Rhyme and Alliteration Awareness

Rhyme and alliteration both involve words that share a common feature or sound. Hearing rhyme requires attention to the ending sound in words, while alliteration requires attention to the beginning. Activities that develop rhyming and alliteration help children develop an ear for sounds. They enable them to begin thinking about the sound properties of words as separate from the word’s meaning. For example, a pig is not only a farm animal, it is also a word that rhymes with wigand dig. With both rhyme and alliteration activities, children learn to first recognize, and then produce, words that end or begin the same way.

Activities to try at home to support rhyme and alliteration awareness

Read

Reading books with rhyming words and then talking about the words that sound alike or rhyme or books with alliteration and discussion what sound they hear, is the best way to begin practicing these skills at home.

Odd Man Out

Help your child identify the word that does not rhyme or sound like the others. Present the words orally or using picture cards and have them identify the word that does not belong.

Community Education Night with Dr. Jennifer Horn

"What do kids have to worry about?": Dr Jennifer Horn, a clinical child psychologist in private practice specializing in anxiety disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning disorders, will provide an overview on what anxiety is/why people experience anxiety, and how anxious responding can magnify into anxiety. Dr Horn will focus exclusively on how anxiety presents in children and teens, and she will provide practical strategies that parents can do to help their child reduce than anxiety. 

There event is totally free, so invite your family and friends! 

Register for the event today

A Sneak Peak At the Week

Comer

English II

We will continue reading The Old Man and the Sea and studying vocabulary from the novella.

English IV

We will continue our study of The Importance of Being Earnest and vocabulary from the play.

Digital Arts

We will be starting a new assignment: Thankful Hands which will be displayed in November on the bulletin board by the front door.

Math Lab

We'll be reviewing how to find taxes, tips and discounts.

Tulbert

Biology and Anatomy/Physiology

Dissecting rats and completing lab write up

Psychology

Finishing an experiment, writing up results, and completing research paper

 

O’Donnell

Geography

We will be studying Canadian Culture and Provinces.

Government

We are building our own Constitution.  

Career/College Planning

We will be working on Career Interests.

Ahearn

Pre Calculus

We are solving for an unknown side of a triangle using trig functions and the trig table.

Algebra II

We are going over converting numbers to scientific notation, and how to combine them using multiplication and division.

Algebra I

We are working on solving two step equations and how to check your work.

Geometry

We are finishing up our lesson over the different types of angles and how to classify them.

Dust

Communication and Public Speaking

Putting final touches on our ‘Show me what YOU know’ speeches on Monday. The students have each selected a portion of the second unit and will be presenting it to the class on Tuesday the 3rd. In doing so, they will be helping one another prepare for the Unit 2 test on Thursday the 5th.

 

Carroll

LA Lab

We will continue using text evidence to find the main idea.

Studio Arts

We are finishing up our watercoloring unit with nature inspired watercolor paintings.

Sheehy

L/A Lab I, II

We are continuing our review of suffix addition rules, negative prefixes, and adding some common adjective suffixes.

Test next Thursday, 10/5 on suffix addition rules.

English 1

Label and Diagram sentences with Direct Objects test on Tuesday, 10/3.

Continue reading The Old Man and the Sea.

Practice writing sentences with imagery.  Introduce Indirect Objects.

Simon

Health

Introduction to sexual health class, setting up resource binder, initial assessment.

Christman

English 1

Choose a current article to read and summarize in the 11-sentence paragraph format.

Review simple and compound sentence types as well as fragments and run-ons.

English 3

Choose a current article to read and summarize in the 11-sentence paragraph format.

Review compound and complex sentence types as well as comma placement.

English 4

Choose a current article to read and summarize in the 11-sentence paragraph format.

Review compound and complex sentence types as well as comma placement.

Visual Arts

Students continue working on cubism paintings using tints and shades of their chosen set of complimentary colors.

Photojournalism

Continue working on Photography Types and Techniques and Elements and Principles slideshows.  Take photos and add them on Friday.

Fun Activities That Support Phonemic Awareness At Home

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Today we begin a series of posts that have fun activities that support learning for all of our kids, but are particularly helpful for our students with dyslexia. If you find this article helpful, please share on social media and let's help raise awareness for dyslexia together!

What Is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in words. Children must first understand that words are made up of separate speech sounds that can be blended together to make words before they functionally use the alphabet to spell or read words. It is a foundational skill that makes learning to read easier, and often one of the best indicators of reading success in the coming years.

Phonological awareness is the ability to divide spoken language into units, such as words and syllables. Before diving into individual sounds within words (phonemic awareness), the goal is to  teach children to pay attention to more obvious sounds. A good place to start is environmental noises, then move into sentences, whole words, and then syllables. Only after a child can divide words into syllables do we start teaching the phonemic awareness part of our curriculum.

Activities to try at home to support an increased awareness of sounds and syllables:

Tapping Syllables

Using different items such as hand clappers, drums, or tennis rackets you can have children determine the number of syllables in a given word. For example, you would tap a drum two times for the word "sister" because it has two syllables. For increased difficulty, tap the drum (any number of times) and have your child think of a word that contains that same number of syllables.

Home Syllable Search

Help your child find items in different rooms in your home. Sort them by syllables.  Write words (or draw pictures) for each object.