With the end of July rapidly approaching, our emails to Newpoint parents are becoming more detailed with start-of-school information. Please take time to read these emails carefully so you understand what you or your student must do before school starts. If you have questions about the information, please call or email us at any time.

Call for Volunteers
On Monday, August 3, and for several days thereafter, we will need assistance setting up the student computers in the labs. If you or your student would be willing to help us plug in cords and unpack boxes, we would be most grateful. No significant computer knowledge is needed. Please come to the school whenever you have some time to help. Thanks!

Immunizations
Newpoint Schools must confirm that each student has received the proper immunizations before attending school. We can confirm immunizations for those students who attended 7th grade or beyond in a Hillsborough District school. However, if your child did not attend middle school in a Hillsborough County public school, we may request that you provide proof of immunizations. Click here for information about the required immunizations.

First Day of School
On August 25, 2009, please ensure that your student is on time (7:20 a.m.) for the first day of school and wearing the proper uniform. If you have not ordered shirts, please do so as soon as possible from our online Spirit Store. All students will be released at 2:45 p.m. during the first week of school. After-school activities will not begin until the second week of school.

Yearly Calendar Changes
The Hillsborough County School District continues to alter their school calendar. We are trying to match our calendar to theirs, so we are continuing to change ours. Click here for the most recent calendar. As we learn of future district calendar changes, we will inform you as promptly as possible.

Freshmen Student / Parent Orientation
Because of our limited space and seating, we will hold two freshmen orientations on August 18, at 6:00 p.m., students with last names beginning with “A” through “M” should attend orientation. At 7:00 p.m., students with last names beginning with “N” through “Z” should attend. We would be grateful if only one parent attend with each student due to the lack of space. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Sophomore Student / Parent Orientation
The sophomore orientation will be held at 6:00 p.m., on August 20. Because of limited space, we would be grateful if only one parent attend with each student. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Transportation and Carpool Assistance
Some of our students will need assistance getting to and from school. Click here to review the addresses of those students in need of transportation. Please review the addresses to see if you may be able to help with carpooling. Click on the bus icons to reveal the individual student's home address. If you find an address that is near where you live, feel free to make contact via the email address / phone number listed for that location.

Also, we are considering offering van transportation from the Brandon Mall to the school at 7:00 a.m., and returning to the mall at 3:15 p.m. Several HART bus routes arrive at the mall around 7:00 a.m. and depart from there in the afternoon. If these bus routes come close to where you live, this may help you with transportation to and from school. Please go to the HART website for information regarding bus routes and schedules. Then, please call the school at 413-4800 to express your interest. Space is limited.

Internships
The Internship Program at Newpoint Tampa is an important part of building your child's future. Having welcoming contacts in the community is key to creating partnerships that will last a lifetime for your child and Newpoint. As a parent, you can play a very important role in helping us establish these partnerships. Please take a moment to think of any relationships you have with local businesses that may be interested in supporting our Internship Program. Then, please contact our Internship Director, Ms. Michelle Wood, at 813.763.0822.

Scheduling
In order to create the best possible classroom environment for students, it is imperative that we have good information about their prior school experience. If your student has been home-schooled, please make sure to deliver to us any official transcripts, report cards, or standardized test scores. If the student has come from a private school, it would be helpful if you could request that a copy of the student's records be sent to us, or even pick them up and bring them to us, as schools are not always cooperative with how fast records are transferred. A delay in receiving the records could cause an incorrect schedule to be given to your student until better information is received. If your student attended a Hillsborough County school, the records will be available to us through the computer system in a week or two.

With the end of July rapidly approaching, our emails to Newpoint parents are becoming more detailed with start-of-school information. Please take time to read these emails carefully so you understand what you or your student must do before school starts. If you have questions about the information, please call or email us at any time.

Call for Volunteers
On Monday, August 3, and for several days thereafter, we will need assistance setting up the student computers in the labs. If you or your student would be willing to help us plug in cords and unpack boxes, we would be most grateful. No significant computer knowledge is needed. Please come to the school whenever you have some time to help. Thanks!

Immunizations
Newpoint Schools must confirm that each student has received the proper immunizations before attending school. We can confirm immunizations for those students who attended 7th grade or beyond in a Hillsborough District school. However, if your child did not attend middle school in a Hillsborough County public school, we may request that you provide proof of immunizations. Click here for information about the required immunizations.

First Day of School
On August 25, 2009, please ensure that your student is on time (7:20 a.m.) for the first day of school and wearing the proper uniform. If you have not ordered shirts, please do so as soon as possible from our online Spirit Store. All students will be released at 2:45 p.m. during the first week of school. After-school activities will not begin until the second week of school.

Yearly Calendar Changes
The Hillsborough County School District continues to alter their school calendar. We are trying to match our calendar to theirs, so we are continuing to change ours. Click here for the most recent calendar. As we learn of future district calendar changes, we will inform you as promptly as possible.

Freshmen Student / Parent Orientation
Because of our limited space and seating, we will hold two freshmen orientations on August 18, at 6:00 p.m., students with last names beginning with “A” through “M” should attend orientation. At 7:00 p.m., students with last names beginning with “N” through “Z” should attend. We would be grateful if only one parent attend with each student due to the lack of space. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Sophomore Student / Parent Orientation
The sophomore orientation will be held at 6:00 p.m., on August 20. Because of limited space, we would be grateful if only one parent attend with each student. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Transportation and Carpool Assistance
Some of our students will need assistance getting to and from school. Click here to review the addresses of those students in need of transportation. Please review the addresses to see if you may be able to help with carpooling. Click on the bus icons to reveal the individual student's home address. If you find an address that is near where you live, feel free to make contact via the email address / phone number listed for that location.

Also, we are considering offering van transportation from the Brandon Mall to the school at 7:00 a.m., and returning to the mall at 3:15 p.m. Several HART bus routes arrive at the mall around 7:00 a.m. and depart from there in the afternoon. If these bus routes come close to where you live, this may help you with transportation to and from school. Please go to the HART website for information regarding bus routes and schedules. Then, please call the school at 413-4800 to express your interest. Space is limited.

Internships
The Internship Program at Newpoint Tampa is an important part of building your child's future. Having welcoming contacts in the community is key to creating partnerships that will last a lifetime for your child and Newpoint. As a parent, you can play a very important role in helping us establish these partnerships. Please take a moment to think of any relationships you have with local businesses that may be interested in supporting our Internship Program. Then, please contact our Internship Director, Ms. Michelle Wood, at 813.763.0822.

Scheduling
In order to create the best possible classroom environment for students, it is imperative that we have good information about their prior school experience. If your student has been home-schooled, please make sure to deliver to us any official transcripts, report cards, or standardized test scores. If the student has come from a private school, it would be helpful if you could request that a copy of the student's records be sent to us, or even pick them up and bring them to us, as schools are not always cooperative with how fast records are transferred. A delay in receiving the records could cause an incorrect schedule to be given to your student until better information is received. If your student attended a Hillsborough County school, the records will be available to us through the computer system in a week or two.

I hope you and your Newpoint student are getting excited about the upcoming school year. The staff of Newpoint is hard at work making sure that everything will be ready for the start of school. The building is 99% complete, the technology infrastructure is in place, and the computers will arrive in August. The teachers are already planning their courses and learning the nuances of the APEX curriculum. Many of our teachers are involved in additional staff development training this summer. They are a dedicated team of professionals.

Education is the most important gift we can give our children. At Newpoint Tampa, our education goes beyond the classroom and into the world of adults and careers. The Internship program at Newpoint Tampa is an important part of building your child's future. Having welcoming contacts in the community is key to creating partnerships that will last a lifetime for your child and Newpoint. As a parent, you can play a very important role in helping us establish these partnerships. Please take a moment to think of any relationships you have with local businesses that may be interested in supporting our Internship Program. Then, please contact our Internship Director, Ms. Michelle Wood, at 813.763.0822.

Thank you to the following families who have already helped us connect with local businesses!
The Butler Family
The Culm Family
Mr. Steve Oster
The Coleman Family

Grand Opening Celebration!
Please mark your calendar to join us for our Grand Opening Ceremony on August 15 at 3:00 p.m. and help us celebrate our new school. Tours of the school, a traditional ribbon cutting, refreshments, and a few brief speeches will mark the occasion. We hope every Newpoint Family will attend.

Important Dates:
* August 15, 2009: Grand Opening Celebration: 3:00 P.M. All are invited!
* August 18, 2009: Freshmen Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each freshman and at least one parent/guardian.
* August 20, 2009: Sophomore Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each sophomore and at least one parent/guardian.

Parent Involvement:
Shortly after the start of the school year, we will host our first Parent Volunteer Night. (Date TBA) The purpose of Parent Volunteer Nights is to brainstorm ideas about how parents can support and enhance the educational experience of our students and, later, to plan and work on the selected ideas. The volunteer support of Newpoint Parents can make a tremendous difference in the educational experience our students will have. We look forward to your suggestions and working with you to bring these ideas to fruition for our students.

I hope you and your Newpoint student are getting excited about the upcoming school year. The staff of Newpoint is hard at work making sure that everything will be ready for the start of school. The building is 99% complete, the technology infrastructure is in place, and the computers will arrive in August. The teachers are already planning their courses and learning the nuances of the APEX curriculum. Many of our teachers are involved in additional staff development training this summer. They are a dedicated team of professionals.

Education is the most important gift we can give our children. At Newpoint Tampa, our education goes beyond the classroom and into the world of adults and careers. The Internship program at Newpoint Tampa is an important part of building your child's future. Having welcoming contacts in the community is key to creating partnerships that will last a lifetime for your child and Newpoint. As a parent, you can play a very important role in helping us establish these partnerships. Please take a moment to think of any relationships you have with local businesses that may be interested in supporting our Internship Program. Then, please contact our Internship Director, Ms. Michelle Wood, at 813.763.0822.

Thank you to the following families who have already helped us connect with local businesses!
The Butler Family
The Culm Family
Mr. Steve Oster
The Coleman Family

Grand Opening Celebration!
Please mark your calendar to join us for our Grand Opening Ceremony on August 15 at 3:00 p.m. and help us celebrate our new school. Tours of the school, a traditional ribbon cutting, refreshments, and a few brief speeches will mark the occasion. We hope every Newpoint Family will attend.

Important Dates:
* August 15, 2009: Grand Opening Celebration: 3:00 P.M. All are invited!
* August 18, 2009: Freshmen Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each freshman and at least one parent/guardian.
* August 20, 2009: Sophomore Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each sophomore and at least one parent/guardian.

Parent Involvement:
Shortly after the start of the school year, we will host our first Parent Volunteer Night. (Date TBA) The purpose of Parent Volunteer Nights is to brainstorm ideas about how parents can support and enhance the educational experience of our students and, later, to plan and work on the selected ideas. The volunteer support of Newpoint Parents can make a tremendous difference in the educational experience our students will have. We look forward to your suggestions and working with you to bring these ideas to fruition for our students.

During these past few weeks, I have had the great pleasure to meet many of our Newpoint students and families. I am so impressed with the maturity and eagerness of the students, and I am so pleased with the enthusiasm of the parents. A school is based on a vision, but that vision can only be achieved when students, parents, and faculty work together as a unified team. I am more certain now than ever that the Newpoint vision will come to life in our great school.

With the floors now waxed and the student desks in place, our school is really taking shape. I am most grateful for the tireless work of our parent and student volunteers who helped us pull our school together these past two weeks. I want especially to acknowledge the tremendous time and effort that the McCurry Family gave to our school.

All that is left is the installation of the computers that will be here in August. We certainly will need even more volunteers when the computers arrive. I will let everyone know when the computers are here. Thank you, volunteers!

Questions of the Week:
Q: What will a typical classroom period be like?
A: Each period is 60 minutes in length. During that time, students will experience a wide variety of instruction, guided practice, group work, individually paced work, and the occasional assessment. Newpoint teachers are being trained to approach each period with a breadth of instructional methods designed to help each student be as successful as possible. The range of methods used by Newpoint teachers exceeds that of most traditional academic settings.

Q: What are the criteria for students to be chosen for the internship program and is it required that a student participate?
A: The Student Handbook that each family will receive explains in detail the internship program. In brief, a student must be in good academic and behavioral standing to participate, and, yes, participation in internships is a Newpoint graduation requirement.

Q: How often are the project-based-learning projects assigned?
A: Each grade is assigned a fall and a spring project. Typically, projects last about nine weeks.

Important Dates:
* July 21, 2009: Carpool Meeting: 6:00 P.M. For anyone interested in carpooling.
* August 15, 2009: Grand Opening Celebration: 3:00 P.M. All are invited!
* August 18, 2009: Freshmen Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each freshman and at least one parent/guardian.
* August 20, 2009: Sophomore Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each sophomore and at least one parent/guardian.

Dual Enrollment with Hillsborough Community College:
There will be classes available at Newpoint Tampa for students to take through dual enrollment with Hillsborough Community College.  To be eligible a student must be in high school, have a 3.0 GPA, and must have taken the SAT, ACT or the College Placement Test and achieved the required score in order to be admitted as a dual enrollment student.  Dual enrollment is terrific opportunity for parents and students because the student may begin receiving college credit while in high school and at no cost.

If you believe that your student is ready to begin working on college-level credits, he/she may take the CPT (College Placement Test) at the Brandon Campus of HCC in the Brandon Test Center.  The test is offered on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  The student will need a form of ID which shows a photo and signature.  There is no charge for taking the CPT the first time.

If you would like to learn more about the test, there are links to the study guides available at www.hccfl.edu/br/student-service/test-center/cpt.aspx.  You will also need to fill out a Dual Enrollment application for admission which is also available on-line.  We certainly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity in their academic areas of strength.

During these past few weeks, I have had the great pleasure to meet many of our Newpoint students and families. I am so impressed with the maturity and eagerness of the students, and I am so pleased with the enthusiasm of the parents. A school is based on a vision, but that vision can only be achieved when students, parents, and faculty work together as a unified team. I am more certain now than ever that the Newpoint vision will come to life in our great school.

With the floors now waxed and the student desks in place, our school is really taking shape. I am most grateful for the tireless work of our parent and student volunteers who helped us pull our school together these past two weeks. I want especially to acknowledge the tremendous time and effort that the McCurry Family gave to our school.

All that is left is the installation of the computers that will be here in August. We certainly will need even more volunteers when the computers arrive. I will let everyone know when the computers are here. Thank you, volunteers!

Questions of the Week:
Q: What will a typical classroom period be like?
A: Each period is 60 minutes in length. During that time, students will experience a wide variety of instruction, guided practice, group work, individually paced work, and the occasional assessment. Newpoint teachers are being trained to approach each period with a breadth of instructional methods designed to help each student be as successful as possible. The range of methods used by Newpoint teachers exceeds that of most traditional academic settings.

Q: What are the criteria for students to be chosen for the internship program and is it required that a student participate?
A: The Student Handbook that each family will receive explains in detail the internship program. In brief, a student must be in good academic and behavioral standing to participate, and, yes, participation in internships is a Newpoint graduation requirement.

Q: How often are the project-based-learning projects assigned?
A: Each grade is assigned a fall and a spring project. Typically, projects last about nine weeks.

Important Dates:
* July 21, 2009: Carpool Meeting: 6:00 P.M. For anyone interested in carpooling.
* August 15, 2009: Grand Opening Celebration: 3:00 P.M. All are invited!
* August 18, 2009: Freshmen Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each freshman and at least one parent/guardian.
* August 20, 2009: Sophomore Orientation: 6:00 P.M., required of each sophomore and at least one parent/guardian.

Dual Enrollment with Hillsborough Community College:
There will be classes available at Newpoint Tampa for students to take through dual enrollment with Hillsborough Community College.  To be eligible a student must be in high school, have a 3.0 GPA, and must have taken the SAT, ACT or the College Placement Test and achieved the required score in order to be admitted as a dual enrollment student.  Dual enrollment is terrific opportunity for parents and students because the student may begin receiving college credit while in high school and at no cost.

If you believe that your student is ready to begin working on college-level credits, he/she may take the CPT (College Placement Test) at the Brandon Campus of HCC in the Brandon Test Center.  The test is offered on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  The student will need a form of ID which shows a photo and signature.  There is no charge for taking the CPT the first time.

If you would like to learn more about the test, there are links to the study guides available at www.hccfl.edu/br/student-service/test-center/cpt.aspx.  You will also need to fill out a Dual Enrollment application for admission which is also available on-line.  We certainly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity in their academic areas of strength.

Shirts and Supplies Questions:
During this summer, we have moved to an online ordering system for shirts and supplies in an attempt to make purchases easier for everyone. Here are some FAQs that may be helpful to you.

Q:   Do I have to order shirts online or will the school have them?
A:   You have to order shirts online. The school has samples for sizing but has no shirts to sell.

Q:   What if I qualify for "free/reduced" pricing at my district school? Can I get a discount on the shirts?
A:   Newpoint's uniform requirement and subsequent cost is minimal, but should a family truly need assistance with the requirement, please come to the office and request a "reduced price" form. We cannot guarantee assistance but will work with a family to make a Newpoint education a reality for your child.

Q:   At one point, the shipping cost appeared to be $15. Is that correct?
A:   No. The shipping cost is $5.99.

Q:   Do I need to order the $75 supplies kit?
A:   Newpoint recommends that each child has a Newpoint supplies kit because it not only is a great value for supplies; it also includes the laptop loan program. If your child's home computer breaks or needs to be repaired, Newpoint will provide a loaner laptop so he/she can keep up with assignments. Loaner laptops are provided to those families who have purchased the supply kit, typically for a few days to a week in duration, as needed.

Class Scheduling:
Whether your child is a freshman or a sophomore, he/she will take English, math, science, social studies, Spanish, and introduction to technology. Variations within each discipline, such as honors level courses or advanced math courses, are based on your child's transcript and former school recommendations. If you would like to discuss your child's placement in these courses, please make an appointment to meet with Ms. Goebel, Assistant Director.

Important Dates:
* August 18, 6:00 p.m., Newpoint Tampa: Freshmen Orientation (all freshmen students and at least one parent/guardian required to attend)
* August 20, 6:00 p.m., Newpoint Tampa: Sophomore Orientation (all sophomore students and at least one parent/guardian required to attend)
* August 25 - FIRST DAY of SCHOOL - (students must arrive by 7:25 a.m.)

Volunteers:
Desperately Need Strong Volunteers between 1:00 and 4:00 on Monday, July 13th. We are receiving a shipment of student desks, chairs, and teacher desks on Monday afternoon. If you do not mind lifting and carrying, we would be very grateful for your help on Monday. If we have enough volunteers, the job will go quickly. We can also use volunteers with basic tools to assemble the desks. No need to reply; please just come help if you can. Thank you!

Shirts and Supplies Questions:
During this summer, we have moved to an online ordering system for shirts and supplies in an attempt to make purchases easier for everyone. Here are some FAQs that may be helpful to you.

Q:   Do I have to order shirts online or will the school have them?
A:   You have to order shirts online. The school has samples for sizing but has no shirts to sell.

Q:   What if I qualify for "free/reduced" pricing at my district school? Can I get a discount on the shirts?
A:   Newpoint's uniform requirement and subsequent cost is minimal, but should a family truly need assistance with the requirement, please come to the office and request a "reduced price" form. We cannot guarantee assistance but will work with a family to make a Newpoint education a reality for your child.

Q:   At one point, the shipping cost appeared to be $15. Is that correct?
A:   No. The shipping cost is $5.99.

Q:   Do I need to order the $75 supplies kit?
A:   Newpoint recommends that each child has a Newpoint supplies kit because it not only is a great value for supplies; it also includes the laptop loan program. If your child's home computer breaks or needs to be repaired, Newpoint will provide a loaner laptop so he/she can keep up with assignments. Loaner laptops are provided to those families who have purchased the supply kit, typically for a few days to a week in duration, as needed.

Class Scheduling:
Whether your child is a freshman or a sophomore, he/she will take English, math, science, social studies, Spanish, and introduction to technology. Variations within each discipline, such as honors level courses or advanced math courses, are based on your child's transcript and former school recommendations. If you would like to discuss your child's placement in these courses, please make an appointment to meet with Ms. Goebel, Assistant Director.

Important Dates:
* August 18, 6:00 p.m., Newpoint Tampa: Freshmen Orientation (all freshmen students and at least one parent/guardian required to attend)
* August 20, 6:00 p.m., Newpoint Tampa: Sophomore Orientation (all sophomore students and at least one parent/guardian required to attend)
* August 25 - FIRST DAY of SCHOOL - (students must arrive by 7:25 a.m.)

Volunteers:
Desperately Need Strong Volunteers between 1:00 and 4:00 on Monday, July 13th. We are receiving a shipment of student desks, chairs, and teacher desks on Monday afternoon. If you do not mind lifting and carrying, we would be very grateful for your help on Monday. If we have enough volunteers, the job will go quickly. We can also use volunteers with basic tools to assemble the desks. No need to reply; please just come help if you can. Thank you!