Welcome

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year at Florida Air Academy! 
It has been a busy summer.  Here is a list of the many projects we have been working on around campus:

1.  Continuing renovation of the dorm rooms.  New paneling, paint, furniture, and windows have been put in most of the rooms, and the rest of the rooms should be completed this school year.

2.  Development of the area behind the squadrons, called "the Pavilion" area.  Our 80+ year old pool finally gave out and was filled in.  While a bit poignant (my sister and I learned to swim in that pool, and many students over the years have enjoyed it), the pool was only used in the months of May-September.  Our swim team uses near-by Olympic size pools in which to practice. The new "Pavilion" area will be used year-round.  Noted landscape designer Susan Hall has designed a beautiful space encompassing an outdoor stage, fountain, many new trees, and a deck area with thatched areas for shade.  It will be an area that is certain to be enjoyed by the students.  (We are waiting for our concrete permit to finish this area!)

3.  Re-design of the parking lot in front of the Hall of Flags.  Five large oak trees will shade a pavered walkway to the rest of the campus, and thus keep the students out of the busy parking lot area.

4.  The Hall of Flags interior has been transformed, with new leather couches and four flat screen T.V.s.  This summer it was "the place" to be on campus, to relax, do homework, use laptops with the new WiFi, or play Wii with the faculty.

5.  The old T.V. room has been expanded and is now a game room with a pool table, foosball, etc.

6.  The loft area above the Hall of Flags is close now to becoming the home to the Accounting Department, which will be convenient for students and parents.  In addition, my office will now be located there as well.

7.  New electronic locks have been placed on doorways to the main building, which will help secure the building at night or in case of an emergency. 

8.  New lockers for day students have been installed in the area of their classrooms.  This will be much more convenient for them, and also reduce the amount of books they must carry at one time in their backpacks.

9. Our website was completely redesigned this summer.  Please check it out if you haven't already, and let us know your comments and suggestions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Changes to improve our program have also been put in place.  The class day starts later, in response to research on the optimal intellectual functioning of adolescents, and Teacher Help has been moved to the morning and is now available five days a week.  If a student fails to turn in homework, instead of waiting until the weekend to have a Study Hall (now called a detention), they will now have it that week, in the afternoon.  (They will miss their "Focus Group" time, which they really enjoy). Moving consequences closer to the time of the infraction is also the idea behind the new "Work Time," in which students will work off demerits earned for misbehavior that day or the next day, instead of waiting until the weekend.  Weekend Restriction will now be for only more serious offenses.

We encourage you to support the Parents' Association, to become involved with the school and the students. (Our parent volunteers are much appreciated! Thanks to Mrs. Christina Asch for heading the FAAPA this year.)  We are fortunate to have an amazing international student body, with students from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Carribbean.  This cultural diversity enriches life in the dorms as well as in the classroom, and we encourage you to get to know our international students: invite an international student home for a meal, or for the weekend. 

We look forward to an exciting and productive school year.  Hope to see you on Fall Family Weekend Oct. 16-17th!

Sincerely,
James Dwight
President
Florida Air Academy