Science Olympiad Results
It was a great learning experience for all students involved in this past weekend's Science Olympiad invitational!  There were 60 amazing teams competing at  Wright  State University in Dayton, Ohio including the top teams in nation. Congrats to the SAA Varsity Team for placing 15th overall! Kaboom!

ExploraVision Science Expo
SAA science students in grades 3-6 will be sharing their ExploraVision projects in the gym next Monday, February 13th. Student teams will be presenting their work to fellow students during their science classes and lunch periods. Our Elementary Science Olympiad students will be showing and testing their "Junkyard Cars" at this same event. Families are welcome to visit the ExploraVision Expo and Science Showcase after school on February 13th until 5:00pm.  

Upcoming Author Visit
On Wednesday, February 15th, author Jessica Garrett is visiting SAA and will be speaking to grades 3-6.  Oh, Ick!: 114 Science Experiments Guaranteed to Gross You Out! is the book she'll be introducing. The title alone should be enough to spark everyone's interest! We have one copy in the library for you to peruse if you'd like to preview the book. If you've ever had any questions about gross things, this is the book for you! It features projects that cover topics like worms, ooze, and ear hair!

National Geographic Bee
SAA's annual Geo Bee was a great success as the entire school community came together to watch this exciting event! Students cheered on participants as they answered some difficult questions, and the audience was impressed with how much the participants knew! We congratulate all Geo Bee participants as well as our school winner, Luke! He will take a test to qualify for the state competition. Good luck, Luke! 

Kumbaya Chess Tournament
Congrats to SAA for an outstanding performance at the 98th Kumbaya Chess Tournament. We're very excited to report that Abhay, Ethan, and Celina worked together to win first place in U700. Individually, Celina took 4th place. Way to go, SAA!

International Night is almost here! This event takes place on Friday, May 6th from 6:00-9:00pm in the SAA Gym. International Night is an opportunity for SAA families to showcase their heritage with the rest of our school community.

• The event will showcase our diversity with booths to represent different cultures, international performances, and an international dress showcase.  
• Guests will have the opportunity to visit each country booth to taste the native cuisine and learn about each unique culture. Guests can also get involved in the interactive performances and watch SAA students and parents on stage in the dress showcase.
• Guests are encouraged to wear festive cultural attire as well.​

SAA will join relief efforts to help Ecuadorian earthquake victims. Third Grader Mia and her family, with the direction of the Ecuadorian consulate, are collecting donations to support relief efforts from this disaster. Please help by donating non-perishable food items, toiletries for adults and children, flashlights, and batteries. Items can be dropped off in the bins located at the front and back SAA entrances anytime during International Night. 

SAA had a strong showing at last Saturday's 89th Kumbaya Chess Tournament.  

• In the U700 section, three students combined forces to win the third place team trophy. 
• In the U1200 section - a very rigorous and challenging section - another two students coupled their efforts to win the third place team trophy (and just missed second place due to tie-breaking points). 
• In the non-rated section, congrats to two other students for special mentions.  

Be sure to check out the new trophies in the office!  Way to go SAA!

This February, we had 36 students participate in the AMC 10 - a national math contest designed for high school sophomores in Geometry. It was wonderful to see so many students participate and have interest in a high school level test. Also in February, we had 27 students participate in the AMC 12 - another high school math contest designed for students in Pre-Calculus. Students in Algebra II or Pre-Calculus only were invited to participate at SAA this year. A special note of congratulations to one particular student for qualifying for the AIME - a national math exam only students who score above a specific score the AMC 10 or 12 are invited to take. The students who do best on the AIME then are invited to participate in the USAMO - and head off to an international math olympiad meet. Great job!

Twenty-two 7th and 8th grade students from SAA attended this year's Illinois Junior Classical League (IJCL) state convention at the Westin Hotel in Itasca, Illinois. SAA joined Latin students from 18 other Illinois schools in academic competitions, Certamen, arts, and other events related to the classics. SAA students placed 25 times in academic competitions including the categories: Latin Grammar, Roman History, Mythology, and Roman Private Life. One student placed first in Dramatic Interpretation of a Latin passage, and she also delivered a beautiful speech in front of the entire assembly of over 500 students. SAA students earned first place on Thursday night for a school spirit competition. This year's theme of the convention was, "Ubi concordia, ibi victoria," where there is unity there is victory. Agite Aquilae! (Go Eagles!)

The 1st and 2nd grade students are embarking on an exciting Social Emotional Learning (SEL) unit.  Learning the skills and concepts of good character education often requires direct instruction. Their SEL unit, CHARACTER QUEST is an excellent opportunity for the 1st and 2nd grade students to focus on appropriate values and behaviors in an imaginative and challenging simulation.  The students will take a fun-filled simulated bus journey through an imaginary country called Goodland. As the students travel the Character Causeway, they make stops at Trustworthy Town, Respectville, Responsibility City, Carington, and Citizenship Junction. They learn the essentials of good character and are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge in varied and thought-provoking activities.

After the wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at SAA, the 5th grade students talked about "greatness" and what it takes to be truly great.  During advisory, they talked about the characteristics that make someone a great person, recognizing that each and every one of us has the potential for greatness by living a life of kindness, compassion and integrity.  They discussed the following quotes in relation to "greatness":

1. Your time is limited so don't waste it living someone else's life. -Steve Jobs
2. Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. -Albert Einstein
3. You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.  -Christopher Columbus
4. Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
5. When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. -Henry Ford

Winter Concerts
The gym was alive with beautiful music on Tuesday and Thursday evening.  Guided by our talented music teachers and aided by our faculty and staff, our students delighted audiences with song and instrumentation.  Thank you for being part of this special SAA tradition.  

Jr. High Math Competition at Regina Dominican High School
Last Saturday, December 5th, two 8th grade students participated in the Seventh and Eighth Grade Mathematics Contest at Regina Dominican High School, located in Willmette.  They both received a first place ribbon for scoring the highest in the Team Competition portion of the event. Way to go, girls!

Support Eagles Basketball on the Road this Season!
In a thrilling game this week, the Girls Basketball team was edged out by Willows Academy, 22 - 17. What an effort ladies! Over the next month, the Boys teams will be competing on the road, and they'd love a strong fan section. The next game is this Tuesday, December 15th at St. Andrews Lutheran Church and School located at 260 N Northwest Hwy, Park Ridge, IL 60068. The 5th/6th boys tip off at 5:00pm and the 7th/8th boys follow at 6:00pm. Let's pack the St. Andrews gym with an SAA crowd!