BB 02-28-25

BRADFORD BULLETIN

VOLUME XVII, ISSUE 31

FEB 28, 2025

 

FROM THE OFFICE

FOR ALL: 
  • NC Opportunity Scholarship Deadlines:
    • March 6th:  New applications
    • April 15th:  Renewals
  • SPECIAL REQUEST:  The Bradford Academy senior guys are working on putting together a gym for the school. They are looking for donations of equipment like barbells, weight plates, dumbbells, squat racks, cable racks, and anything other than cardio machines, or large machines. If you have anything to donate please contact Levi Hedgecock at (336) 988-3978 or at levihedgecock11@gmail.com.  They can arrange to pick up larger items if needed.
LOWER SCHOOL- IMPORTANT NOTES:
  • Running Club:  2nd – 3rd grade students – Starts March 4th!  Sign up HERE.
  • Field trip:  2nd grade to Animal Park:  Fill out this form for your child’s permission slip!
  • 03/14:  Silly socks with dress uniforms? Absolutely!  The final day of the quarter will be our Dr. Seuss Day (K & 1st) / Winnie-the-Pooh Day (2nd) / Pi Day (3rd & 4th) / Reading Day (all), with a mix of quiet and fun activities.  Students are encouraged to wear a pair of fun socks.  No need to purchase any.  Mixing two matched pairs works just as well.  Teachers will reach out with any other pertinent details in the next few weeks.
  • Parents, if you need a babysitter, we have a couple of upper school students who are interested in helping out!  Just reach out to the school office for their contact information.
UPPER  SCHOOL- IMPORTANT NOTES:
  • NEW DATE:  Patriotic Program – 5th grade – Tues, March 4th, 7pm
  • NEW Date:  11th grade – CLT:  April 10th
HOT LUNCH on Thursdays: 
  • The weekly menu locks at midnight on Sunday night – so be sure to place your orders and check out in time. Once your account is set up, it should be easy for the rest of the year! ORDER HERE  
FROM MRS. MITCHELL:  

In keeping with the Phone-free February theme, this week’s Zipcast suggested creating a new family activity (such as cards/board games) to replace an hour of screen time in the evenings.  I would also highly recommend reading aloud from a chapter book that is slightly above the reading level of your children.  Our family loved these shared stories and shaping influences.  A pro-tip when first beginning is to be willing to stop at a climactic part, leaving them begging for more.  There are numerous lists of suggestions online.  Here is one example, which has quite a variety of genres and age groupings.  Time spent snuggled up together or with an approved quiet activity on the floor enabled everyone to enjoy this experience…most of the time, if I’m being honest.

UPCOMING

 

NEXT WEEK:
  • Tues, 3/4:  
    • 2nd – 3rd grade:  Running Club begins  Sign up HERE.
    • 7:00pm – 5th grade Patriotic Program
    • Varsity Girls Soccer AWAY game vs Friendship Christian (5pm), departure at 3pm
  • Thurs 3/6: 
    • DEADLINE:  NC Opportunity Scholarship – new applications
    • Coffee and Conversation with Mr. Johnston
    • Varsity Girls Soccer HOME game vs Neuse Christian (3:30pm), departure at 2:30pm
  • Fr, 3/7: Varsity Girls Soccer HOME game vs Cape Fear Christian (3:30pm), departure at 2:30pm
 IN THE NEAR FUTURE:
  • Week of March 9th:  Senior trip!
  • Wed, 3/12:  2nd grade field trip to Animal Park
  • Fri, 3/14:  Reading day, Pi Day, end of 3rd quarter
  • Week of 3/17:  SPRING BREAK!
FOURTH QUARTER:
  • Wed, 3/26:  8th and 11th grade Medieval Day
  • Fri, 3/28:  Quo Vadis?  4th grade to visit upper school
  • Tues, 4/1 – Wed, 4/2:  8th and 9th Colonial Williamsburg
  • Thurs, 4/3:  
    • Coffee and Conversation with Mr. Johnston
    • 4th grade – field trip to Old Salem
  • Week of April 7th:  Senior Thesis Adjudication
  • Thurs, 4/10:  12th grade: CLT
  • Tues, 4/15:  
    • Final day to RENEW NCOS
    • 10th grade: CLT10
  • Fri, 4/18:  Good Friday – no school
  • Mon, 4/21:  Easter Monday – no school
  • Thurs, 4/24:  3rd – 4th, Bradford Night 2.0, 6:30 pm
  • Thurs, 5/1:  Coffee and Conversation with Mr. Johnston
  • Fri, 5/2:  Teacher Appreciation Day
  • Mon, 5/5:
    • 3rd – 7th grade CLT – standardized testing
  • Tues, 5/6:
    • 3rd – 6th grade CLT – standardized testing
    • 8th grade CLT – standardized testing
  • Thurs, 5/8:  Tentative Bradford Games (for upper school students)
  • Fri, 5/9:  Teacher workday
  • Thurs, 5/22:  TK last day of school
  • Mon, 5/26:  Memorial Day – no school
  • Wed, 5/28:
    • K – 4th grades:  Verse Bee – times TBA
    • 11th – 12th grades:  Gala
  • Thurs, 5/29:
    • 10:00 – Baccalaureate (upper school)
  • Fri, 5/30:  Last day of school!
    • Kindergarten certificate ceremony
    • All students dismissed at 12:00 pm
    • Graduation, 7pm

FROM THE TEACHER’S DESK

 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL

 

Transitional Kindergarten (Mrs. Grubb and Mrs. Weber)

TK students enjoyed a great week of learning with new concepts in math and 2 new letters of the week. We also reviewed our previous letters of the week since last week was cut short due to the snow.  We are almost to the end of the alphabet with just 1 letter remaining! Students are excited to finish up the green writing book they have been working on for several months now. Once the book is complete, students will bring their own book home to show you their hard work. Our letters this week were X and Y. We also included V and W in our show and tell. It was wonderful to see the items brought in and fun for the students to discern the beginning letter and sound for the items brought in. In math this week, we began rolling 2 dice and counting dots on both dots. We focused on identifying greater and fewer numbers and also worked on counting on to see how many dots are on both dot cubes. Students also enjoyed weighing objects from the classroom and ordering items from least heavy to most heavy. Students also were challenged to begin identifying and ordering numbers up to 20. A highlight was getting to play bingo with numbers 0-20! As you can see, math lessons and math worksheets are getting longer and more challenging in preparation for kindergarten. A few of our centers included: a capital and lowercase matching game, several math games, a reading comprehension center where students had to listen well, identifying ending sounds, and a game using action verbs. Last week we read in the Bible how Jesus tells us not to worry about the things we need and to trust Him to provide. This week we read the story of Zaccheus and how his heart and life was changed. 

Lower School P.E. (Mrs. Bennington)

K – 4th
  •  Students did a great job this week reviewing all three verses of, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. Students also worked on the piece, “The Blessing”. Third and fourth grade students did a great job on their first recorder playing test on, “Lullaby”.  

Lower School Music (Mrs. Bennington)

K-4th 
  • Students had a fun time this week in P.E. reviewing different games learned this year. 

 

Kindergarten (Mrs. Rivera and Miss Burdeshaw)

This Week
  • Our kindergarten scholars have had a great full week of learning! In math, we learned how to use a ruler to draw a line segment, how to sort common objects, and how to add two-digit numbers without regrouping using dimes and pennies. In phonics, we introduced the reader, “The Big Din,” and reviewed our phonograms and number words. In history, we discussed the Feudal System and Joan of Arc, who was a defender of the French nation and a military leader. In art, we continued working on our Justinian the Great mosaics. In science, we finished up our section on the planets, moon, and stars. The students had the opportunity to see pictures of different planets on a handheld projector. We also discussed five prominent constellations, The Big Dipper, Ursa Major, Leo, Orion, and Cassiopeia. In case you didn’t know, today, Friday the 28th, is an exciting day! Several of the planets will be visible and in alignment in the sky, so don’t forget to look up at the sky after the sun goes down. We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Memory Work:   
  •  Isaiah 40:28 and review 

 

1st Grade (Mrs. Cantaffa & Mrs. Smith)

This Week
  • This week, our students have been joyfully engaging in the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty across all subjects. In Math, we have been strengthening our ability to think logically and recognize order in God’s creation. Students practiced subitizing, learned the sums of 15, 16, 17, and 18, and deepened their understanding of number lines by drawing them and locating points. We also worked on drawing line segments to the nearest inch, creating polygons on a geoboard, identifying angles, and recognizing the associative property of addition. Additionally, we practiced adding three or more single-digit numbers and naming fractional parts of a set—seeing the beauty of numbers as part of God’s orderly design. In Reading, we have been immersed in Queen of the Sea, engaging with rich literature that cultivates imagination and virtue. Alongside reading, students practiced cursive handwriting, developing discipline and attentiveness to beauty. We even held a handwriting competition to encourage excellence in penmanship, reflecting the classical tradition of honoring craftsmanship in all we do. In Grammar, we focused on alphabetizing words, reinforcing the importance of structure and order in language—another reflection of the Logos, God’s divine reason and order. In History, we completed The Pilgrims of Plimoth and began reading Sarah Endeavors to Keep Up Her Courage, learning about perseverance, faith, and trust in God’s providence through the lives of those who came before us. Art has been a joyful expression of creativity as students learned one-point perspective and practiced drawing landscapes, reflecting on how we can glorify God through the beauty of His creation. In Science, we completed our science projects and took an assessment on animal classifications, marveling at the intricacy and diversity of God’s creatures. It has been a rich week of learning as we train our hearts and minds to seek wisdom and virtue in all we do. 
Memory Work:  
  • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

 

2nd Grade (Mrs. Hedgecock & Mrs. Eng)

This Week
  •  Our week has centered around Moses and how as an adult he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter but rather to suffer with the people of God.  He chose the rewards of God rather than the passing pleasures of sin in this world.  What a great seed has been planted in each of the students that they will choose to live the same way as they grow and mature.  These memorized verses will bear much fruit.  In other subjects we continue to add to the students’ foundational skills.  In grammar we have studied subject pronouns and possessive pronouns, and the students are able to use them in sentences.  In math we have now memorized all the subtraction facts and continue to work on multiples of 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 through the use of jingles.  Learning to line up decimal points isn’t always as “easy” as it seems.   We don’t talk about spelling as much, but we continue to add words to our knowledge using our think-to-spell technique.  We want the students to think, not just memorize the words.  It has been a joy to see the students’ enthusiasm to share what adventures they have read about in Mr. Popper’s Penguins.  Let’s keep them reading!  
  • Upcoming Field Trip:  Wednesday, March 12  Animal Park  

 

3rd Grade (Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Meredith)

This Week
  • We learned about the life of Caesar Augustus, who is best known for establishing peace in Rome (Pax Romana) and for founding the Roman Empire. Throughout his rule, he established civil service, the postal system, and reformed the census to make the tax system fairer. Luke 2:1 mentions a census that took place during  Augustus’s rule. This set the stage for the coming Messiah.  Jesus’s earthly father, Joseph, a descendant of King David, went up from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register in his ancestral hometown. Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem and lineage through both Mary and Joseph fulfilled two Messianic prophecies found in Micah 5:2. God used Augustus, one of the most powerful men to ever live, to accomplish His purposes! In math, students began their study of measurements by measuring to the nearest inch,  half inch, and quarter inch,  as well as estimating and measuring liquid volume and mass. This will come in handy when we begin chemistry next quarter! Students did a wonderful job researching and presenting their planet projects this week, and we are excited to continue our study of God’s handiwork throughout the universe over the final weeks of the third quarter!

4th Grade (Mrs. McDorman and Mrs. Rankin) 

This Week
  •  This week in 4th grade, we explored the lives and contributions of John Wyclif and John Huss, two key figures in church history who challenged prevailing religious practices and advocated for reform. In mathematics, we deepened our understanding of fractions by practicing addition and subtraction with like and unlike denominators. Our writing lessons focused on constructing a well-organized three-point persuasive essay, emphasizing clarity, logical reasoning, and strong supporting evidence. In Latin, we continued our study of demonstrative pronouns in all three genders, refining our understanding of their forms and usage. In science, we examined the work of Dmitri Mendeleev and his development of the periodic table, then transitioned into the study of chemical compounds, specifically exploring the structure and properties of crystals. It was a dynamic and enriching week of learning across multiple disciplines!

LOGIC SCHOOL

 

Mrs. Bennington

5th-10th Band
  •  5th Grade Band – Students did a great job on their Third Quarter Benchmark Assessment. Students were able to demonstrate their understanding of the rhythms, notes, and dynamics learned to date. Students were also assessed on tone quality and control. 
  • 6th-8th Grade Band – Students did a great job working on their Concert Bb scale and their Concert Bb chromatic scale. Students will have a test on their Concert Bb chromatic scale on Tuesday, March 4th.  Students also enjoyed working on the piece, “Fury”. 
  • 9th-10th Grade Band – Students did a great job working on their Concert Bb scale and their Concert Bb chromatic scale. Students will have a test on their Concert Bb chromatic scale on Tuesday, March 4th. Students also enjoyed working on the piece, “Fury” and “Bach 95”. 

Mrs. Johnston

5th – 8th Chorus, Bradford Chorale
  • 5th Chorus – We had singing and rhythm tests this week on the Silesian Folk Song. We also worked on independence of parts while learning On Jordan’s Stormy Banks.
  • 6th-8th Chorus – We had singing and rhythm tests this week on the Silesian Folk Song. We also began learning I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (from Psalm 121). 
  • Bradford Chorale – We focused on using dynamic expression, following musical lines, using sufficient breath support to allow for unbroken phrases, and listening for and singing under the melody lines.

5th Grade (Mrs. LaTour and Miss Johnston) 

This Week
  • We were very excited to be back in school for a full week! The students continued to work hard to prepare for the Patriotic Program. They are very excited to show you what they have been learning! In math we learned about adding decimals. Our test was on Friday.  In history, they learned all about George Washington and the Continental Army. We’ve learned a lot about George Washington as we also finished up reading the Duel in the Wilderness, which is an account about his journey in the French and Indian War. We discussed godly leadership as we wrapped up Duel in the Wilderness and began our next book, Johnny Tremain. The students also continued summarizing a text about Benjamin Franklin, as well as trying their hand at some poetry. 
Memory Work:
  • Phil. 2:12-13 

6th Grade (Miss Stevenson)

6th Reading and Literature
  • We are continuing to work our way through The Hiding Place. There is some heavy content in this book, so I would encourage parents to take time to check  in and see if their students have any questions. We sure are having some good discussions in class!
6th Grammar and Writing
  • We began working on the third essay in the Lost Tools of Writing book this week. This essay is a persuasive essay comparing two subjects. In this case, the issue is whether Corrie and Betsie were qualified to lead the Haarlem Underground.
6th Bible
  • We are continuing to work our way through the book of Acts.
6th History
  •  This week we took a brief look at immigration to America during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
6th Science
  • This week in Science we spent quite a bit of time reviewing the organelles in plant and animal cells. We also had the opportunity to welcome special guest Mrs. Frueh! She held an Ask Anything session, and your students had some excellent questions about cell biology.
6th Logic
  • This week we started discussing manipulative propaganda fallacies. 
6th Latin
  • We were preparing for the National Latin Exam this week. The exam will be given on Thursday, March 6. It will not affect  the students’ Latin grades. It is just an opportunity for us to see how they are doing in Latin compared to other schools in the country. 

Mrs. Crotts

6th Math
  • Math students are whizzing through Chapter 9.  This is very familiar work–integers and absolute value!

Mrs. Palmer 

6th Art
  • This week students finished up their watercolor landscape paintings.  We reviewed all three of our artists of the quarter. 

Dr. Wright

7th Composition 
  • We are sharpening our persuasive essay skills, using key moral questions from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar to form clear essays.  Vocabulary expansion continues.  
7th Omnibus – Literature, History, Bible
  • We continue to examine the story arc of 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings, taken as a single narrative.  Students also continue to read and summarize Aeneid.  
7th Logic

We continue in the red herring fallacies.  

Mrs. Frueh

7th Science
  • We wrapped up our study of the structure of our solar system with a test and cumulative essay. Students were tasked with writing an essay about the geocentric and heliocentric models of the solar system. Their essays included a discussion of the relationship between faith and science through the lens of the life and work of Galileo Galilei. 
7th Pre-Algebra
  • This week the students have been laying a strong foundation for next year’s algebra course. We practiced graphing linear equations, translating linguistic statements into algebraic expressions, and using algebraic properties to manipulate equations.

Mrs. Palmer 

7th Art
  • Students finished up their small study pen and ink eyes.  We also began working on pen and ink final animal drawings using stippling, hatching and cross hatching. 

Miss Johnston

7th Latin
  • This week we continued preparing for the NLE. On Monday the students gave their presentations about different parts of Roman culture. On Wednesday, we continued reviewing parts of grammar.

Dr. Wright

8th Omnibus 
  • History:   We are preparing for Medieval Day, studying the high middle ages.  Students have created their own heraldric coat of arms, including an explanation of features they chose to incorporate. 
  • Literature:  We continue to read The Two Towers, examining its themes. 
  • Composition:  Students continue to absorb a large number of vocabulary terms from The Two Towers. 

Miss Johnston

8th Latin
  • This week we continued reviewing for the NLE. The students gave their presentations on different aspects of Roman culture and we continued working on grammar review.

Mrs. Frueh

8th Science
  • We have continued our study of motion by practicing calculations for speed, velocity, acceleration, and displacement. Work also continues on the self-propelled vehicles that we will use to put our practical knowledge of motion to the test.
8th Algebra I
  • This week has been all about exponent rules. The students have learned to apply the power rule, product rule, and quotient rule in order to simplify complex algebraic expressions that include both numbers and letters.

Mrs. Palmer 

8th Art
  • Students have been hard at work finishing up their Lord of the Rings oil pastel drawings.  These have turned out wonderfully and are proudly displayed at upper campus. 

Mr. Crotts

8th Logic
  • We are brushing up on to be verbs, square of opposition, standard categorical statements, and arguments.

RHETORIC SCHOOL

 

From the COLLEGE COUNSELING Office:

9th-12th: 

  • Juniors should begin keeping a list of colleges of interest.  Each month they should focus on 3-5 colleges  of which to read about and gather information.  Also, they should begin to research 3-5 scholarship opportunities and plan to pursue those when they open for application.
  • All grades are being encouraged to begin a “brag sheet” of accomplishments and interests and update it over their high school career.  (Colleges and future employers are not just looking for trophies, but also consistency, servanthood and hard work!)
  • CLT: Students can log in to the cltexam.com site to take practice tests.
  • Seniors will take the CLT on April 10th from 8 AM.  Juniors will make up the CLT on April 10th at 10:15 AM.  They need to sign in to complete their profile and assure their username and  password is working.  10th Graders take the CLT10 on April 15.

Mrs. Palmer 

9th Spanish 
  • This week we worked on the present progressive tense, weather vocabulary and direct object nouns and pronouns.  We continue to work with past vocabulary and verb tenses. 

Mrs. Frueh

9th Geometry
  • We started our last unit of the quarter: a mini unit on transformations. We learned how to graph translations and reflections. Next week, we will discuss rotations of polygons on the coordinate plane. This skill has many practical applications in the fields of graphic design, video-game programming, and architecture.

Mr. Crotts

9th Logic
  • We studied truth trees for decomposing arguments and looking for consistency.

Dr. and Mrs. James

9th Biology
  • This week we talked about viruses and, and several students gave their presentations on symbiotic relationships.  
  • Next week, we will discuss cells, including their structure and energy.  The test on this section will be on the day originally scheduled for the final exam. 

Mrs. Crotts

9th Literature
  • 9th Graders concluded the Gatsby Newspaper (research of the time period and culture).  They wrote an in-class essay about 3 of the 10 main points of symbolism discussed in the book.  We will have the opportunity to hear from a college librarian about online databases and scholarly online research.

Dr. Byrd 

9th Bible 
  • This week we have been able to catch up since the snow and the CLT. We have begun studying the books of Ezra, Esther, and Nehemiah. We have been challenged by the godliness and devotion to God’s word by Ezra. We have also had a test and students have completed their book report. 

Coach Johnston

9th History
  • Students have covered a number of America’s 1890s-1900s foreign policy decisions this week, including: the Spanish-American War, the Open Door Policy, Roosevelt Corollary and the Panama Canal. We’ve mixed in brief discussions on local events, including: American factory and production during the Laissez-Faire era, Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed political corruption, presidential assassinations and Theodore Roosevelt’s antitrust, launch of the Progressive Era.

Coach Johnston

9th/10th Advanced PE
  • Students enjoyed a beautiful, sunny Tuesday by working on soccer skill development and gameplay, before the freshmen class had a free period to play basketball and volleyball on Thursday.

Coach Johnston

10th Ancient History
  • Students read about and briefly discussed Herod the Great’s rise to power. Students were assigned to read the next chapters in Josephus’ Jewish War in order to uncover how his family devolved into slander, greed, jealousy and murder. Students will summarize this portion of the reading next Tuesday (3/4).

Dr. James

10th Chemistry
  • This week we talked about properties of solids and liquids, and the students went to DC. 
  • Next week we will talk about solutions.  The test on this material has been moved to the date originally scheduled for the final exam. 

Mrs. Palmer 

10th Spanish
  • We spent time writing sentences in the preterite tense while using our new vocabulary.  Students reviewed direct object nouns and pronouns.  

Mrs. Byrd

10th Algebra II
  • Students took a test on our Rational Exponents unit on Monday.  The rest of the week they enjoyed their Field Trip to Washington D.C.

Mrs. Crotts

10th Literature
  • 10th Graders completed their summary video of mythology.  They went to Washington, D.C., on a fieldtrip and will dive into Ovid’s Metamorphoses next week.  Also, a highlight will be to hear from Mrs. Scott, a college librarian, about how to conduct research through online databases and scholarly sites

Miss Oldham

10th Rhetoric I
  •   The students took a vocab quiz before going on their DC Trip. 

Dr. Smith

10th Historical Theology
  • We continued our study of the Protestant Reformation, and which we will resume upon their return from their D. C. trip.

Mrs. Palmer

11th Spanish III
  • Students reviewed perfect tenses this week.  Students were also introduced to the subjunctive mood and how that works within the target language. 

Mrs. Byrd

11th Precalculus
  • We had only one meeting this week which we spent taking a test on our Fundamentals of Trig Functions Unit.  Our next topic will be to consider some Analytic Trig topics.
11th Physics
  • We are coming to the end of our unit on periodic motion.  Next week we will begin studying sound and light waves.

Miss Oldham

11th Literature
  • We wrapped up Othello before the students went on their DC Trip. We will take a test over the book when they return. 

Dr. Smith

11th NT Greek
  • We  began our study of future middle and passive verbs and the seven distinct forms of verbs in NT Greek before their D. C. trip.

Mr. Webster

11th-12th Systematic Theology
  • This week we covered the doctrine of regeneration. We saw that this is the sole work of God in making dead sinners come to life. The students also got to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. 
11th History
  •  This week we started a new unit on the Black Death. We had to move back our unit test until the students get back from DC. 

Coach Johnston

12th History
  • Students completed their Civil War & Reconstruction test after a much interrupted third quarter. They’ve had to do a lot of writing with a combination of summary and analysis. We’ll briefly survey some of the major events of WW1 and the Roaring 20s prior to their senior trip, spring break and the start of fourth quarter (when we will focus on the Great Depression, WW2, the Cold War and the modern Civil Rights movement, and survey some of the major events of our current world).

Mrs. Fairchild

12th Art History

We have finally made it to the Middle Ages! We spent some time talking about the fallen nature of humans and how we are designed to worship, but we often worship the wrong things. We see this come up in art throughout history. Man’s tendency to worship what we create instead of worshiping the Creator leads to destruction.

 

Miss Oldham

12th Literature
  • We continued with our reading of Night. This has been a tough book for the students, but has lent itself to many good discussions. 
12th Rhetoric II
  •   Seniors are revising their theses for the final push before the deadline. Please pray for them as the temptation to let senioritis slip in is becoming all too real for some of our seniors. Let’s finish the year off strong! 

Mrs. Byrd

12th Calculus
  • We wrapped up our unit on differential equations and began our final until on Applications of Integration.