... More Than A School

"Beautiful buildings stand on solid foundations, and CEA stands on Conchita's legacy and the unfailing strength and love of her younger sister, Alicia." 

On Friday, August 18, 2017, Alicia Espinosa, co-founder of Conchita Espinosa Academy and Conservatory of the Arts, peacefully passed from this world. Alicia was Conchita's sister and truly the wind beneath her wings.

A mass in celebration of Alicia Espinosa's life 
will be held on:

Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 
11691 NW 25th St, Doral, FL. 

The CEA Voice Ensemble and Senior Dance Mastery will be participating in the mass, as well as many former alumni. 
We invite our entire CEA community to attend as a family and come together to celebrate the life of the extraordinary woman who worked for over 80 years to make CEA what it is today.

O C T O B E R  2 0 1 7    I S S U E                                                    E - N E W S L E T T E R
In This Issue:
 
Arrival and Dismissal
parking

Our arrival and dismissal traffic procedures are intended to provide a safe way to drop off and pick up our students.  
Please remember the following:
  • Please park in designated parking spots.  If you are parking in front of the school, please parallel park.  This will enable you to have your children exit to the sidewalk and not have to walk in the street.
  • If you are in the drop off lane, please be sure your child has all of his items ready to exit the car.  Please do not have things in the trunk or take time combing your child's hair.  The drop off lane is meant to drive forward and let your child out with his things so he walks straight through the gate.
  • If you are in the drop off lane, please do not change lanes.  Drive all the way through and around the circle.
  • If you have parked and are walking your child, please be sure to hold them by the hand.  They are small and the cars are big.
  • If you need to use the handicapped parking spot because you have a handicap, please do so.  Please do not use it if you have a sticker for someone else and are just in a hurry.  There are those who truly need to use them.
We want to thank you for the improvement we have seen in the morning parking, especially around 8:00 a.m.  
You're doing a great job!
 
HSvisits8th Grade
High School Visits

Each year CEA arranges for our 8th graders to visit various high schools. This month, they will be visiting:

October 5
St. Brendan High School

October 16
Immaculata La Salle High School

October 20
Archbishop Coleman Carroll (ACC)

October 25
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy (girls) 
and 
Christopher Columbus High School (boys)

8th Graders will receive specific field trip information.
 
2017-2018  Season


We are so excited for the coming Athletic year! 

We just had our week of try-outs and are ready to start the season full steam ahead!

Stay tuned on our   Cougar Athletics page for upcoming information, such as schedules and team rosters!

Sports Upcoming Dates

Cross-Country

Friday, 10/6
305 Classic
Larry & Penny Park
10:00 a.m.

Saturday, 10/7
BK Beach Run
Lummus Park
7:30 a.m.
 
Friday, 10/13
Jr. Orange Bowl
Larry & Penny Park
10:00 a.m.
 
Thursday, 10/19 
County Championship
Larry & Penny Park
11:00 a.m.

8th Grade Varsity Volleyball
(All games are at 4:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, 10/4
@SOMI

Thursday, 10/5
@Greater Miami Academy

Wednesday, 10/11
@CEA vs. Mater East

Friday, 10/13
@CEA vs. CEA B

Wednesday, 10/18
@CEA vs. True North

Friday, 10/20
@Pinecrest Cove

Monday, 10/23
@CEA vs. SOMI

Wednesday, 10/25 
@Bridgeprep South

6th/7th Grade Varsity Volleyball
(All games are at 4:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, 10/4
@True North

Thursday, 10/5
@Bridgeprep South

Wednesday, 10/11
@CEA vs. Greater Miami Academy

Friday, 10/13
@CEA vs. CEA A

Wednesday, 10/18
@CEA vs. Pinecrest Cove

Friday, 10/20
@SOMI

Monday, 10/23
@CEA vs. True North

Wednesday, 10/25 
@CEA vs. Mater East

Please come out to the volleyball field to support our teams in our home games.  It makes a big difference to our players, and is a great way to show our school pride!
 
conchitamagSupport
Conchita Magazine

Our Upper School students, under the direction of their teachers, Mrs. Yolande Jackson and Mrs. Cindy Cuesta, take great pride in writing, editing, selling ads, and publishing CM (Conchita Magazine). The magazine is published twice a year. One of their goals continues to be to reach a wider audience in order for our community to see and appreciate the tremendous work our students do.

If you own or work in an office or business (dentist, doctor, accountant, realtor, retail store, restaurant, etc) and you can place copies in a reception room or storefront, it would be a wonderful way to support your child's school.  

If you can commit to taking a box of magazine twice a year, please fill out the bottom portion of THIS LETTER and return it to the CEA Main Office, ATTN: Yolande Jackson.

Another way to support the magazine is by placing an ad. For more information on how to place an ad in Conchita Magazine, Click Here.

Thank you for your support! 
It makes a difference.
 
faffairSAVE THE DATE for Family Affair!

We know the holidays are here when we see it's time for Family Affair!! 
This year's theme is TOGETHER .

Family Affair is a day-long event for everyone at CEA to get together to enjoy good food, great music and a field full of students, parents, family and friends which are the heart of all our 
Family Affairs. 

Family Affair will be on 
Saturday, November 18th
 
Invite your family and friends to come join us to celebrate CEA and kick off a great holiday season. 

If you are in touch with any former students or families of former students , let them know too!

Family Affair is the perfect time for alumni and families of alumni to catch up!

We love to have everyone come celebrate CEA. 
 
See you on the 18th!
 
emergencyEmergency Closings

We hope we don't have to do this, but if we do need to close school for an emergency, if the Miami-Dade County Schools close due to hurricane or other inclement weather, CEA will also close.  We will notify the local radio and television stations. We will reopen when the Miami-Dade County Schools open or you will be notified by a Parents Partnership Association member via our telephone tree. We will also keep you updated via our social media channels.
 
 

3 Ways to Raise a Kid Who Won't Quit


 

On Friday, September 22, CEA hosted the official grand opening of the Alicia Espinosa Library. 
See Pictures

Alicia Espinosa was born on December 22, 1917.  She grew up in Havana, Cuba loving to play the piano, reading, and being a loving friend and sister to Conchita.  She encouraged and supported Conchita when she decided to open a musical kindergarten in 1933 and for the next 80 years she fostered Conchita's dreams of building a school and conservatory and made sure they worked.  Alicia was the one who did the practical side of running a successful place for learning and growing.  She was the one who handled the finances, the paperwork, and the numerous logistics that go into guiding a school.  She was the first one to arrive each day, turning on the lights, greeting the children, and preparing everything for students and teachers to have a place where they could soar.  Alicia was also a gifted piano teacher herself.  She had a special talent for the coaxing of little fingers to the right keys and correct positions and helping them find joy in the music they created.  She was never one to seek the limelight.  She didn't look for recognition and praise.  She had no love of power, but she knew deeply the power of love and shared that with everyone she knew.  She worked quietly, dedicating her life to Conchita, Maribel and Luis, Carol and Ana, and the school.  She made a difference with her loyalty, her consistency, and her gifts of music and good sense.
At the heart of all libraries are good stories.  At the heart of all good stories are beautiful memories and important lessons.  At the heart of our memories are Alicia and the product of her hard work.  This library is dedicated to Alicia Espinosa, at the heart of CEA. 
crosscountryCongratulations Cross Country Champions!

Congratulations to Coach Carlos Salvat and to our Upper School Cross Country teams! On Friday, September 29th they ran at their first race of the season, Run for the Stars. Our boys´team won 1st Place and our girls´team won 2nd place! They qualified for states on their first race!

We are so proud of our athletes!!! 
mariaCommunity Creations Mastery
Hurricane Maria Relief Effort

It has been said that in times of need we come to know the hearts of many; therefore, let's once again unite for the greater good of those less fortunate.
 
Hurricane Maria has devastated the island of Puerto Rico, and our fellow American citizens need our help. The actions we take today to help them will not only impact the lives of those directly on this hurricane's path but will also teach our children the importance of compassion and service. 

Please bring the following supplies to your homeroom by Wednesday, October 4 th
The teachers and students in our Community Creations Mastery will be collecting these items.
 
Pre K 3
 
Diapers / Baby Formula
Pre K 4
 
Baby Food / Baby Wipes
Pre Primary
Basic Toiletries
(Baby Shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products)
1st Grade
 
Pillows
2nd Grade
 
Sheets
3rd Grade
 
Towels and Wash Cloths
4th Grade
 
Canned Foods and Manual Can Openers
5th Grade
 
Flashlights / Lanterns / Batteries
6th Grade
 
First Aid Supplies
(aspirin, band-aids, rubbing alcohol, etc.)
7th Grade
 
Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Trash Bags
8th Grade
 
Dog and Cat Food

Thank you in advance for your 
efforts and collaboration.

Together we will achieve our purpose!


Saturday, October 14th

CEA will have it's first official Spirit Night at Florida International University!  We will celebrate by attending an F.I.U. football game dedicated to C.E.A., which will also be a fundraiser for a brand-new track for our runners! 

Our lower and upper school flag football players will be able to run through the tunnel alongside the F.I.U. football players, and our Senior Dance Mastery will perform in the pre-game show alongside the F.I.U. Dazzlers. This is a super exciting opportunity for our athletes and dancers to share the field with college athletes and for the entire C.E.A. community to display school spirit and support our athletes!
 
Tickets are only $20
and include free parking, a backpack, and a cap!

Please turn in the order form to the CEA Main Office. 

Tickets are first come, first served, as there are a limited number of tickets at this price!
peacedayInternational Day of Peace
Mrs. Bosque's 3rd grade class signed a Peace Day Pledge
 

Today, more than ever, it is important to meditate on the importance of peace and how we can contribute to creating a peaceful environment in our communities. All Conchita students, from our youngest to our oldest, took time to reflect on the meaning of peace and how they can be peacemakers.


Mrs. Daniels' K4 class created a Kindness Tree. Their goal was to collect 50 acts of kindness. Not only did they achieve this, but they surpassed their goal with 51 acts of kindness as a class!

Below are some of our favorite peace day reflections by CEA students.

Juan Pablo Urquijo, 1st Grade, Mrs. Palacio


Paloma Diaz, 4th Grade, Mrs. Jeria


Gabriel Moreno, 4th Grade, Mrs. Jeria

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It 
means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." - Unknown

I chose this quote because it is the one that identifies the most with my idea of who you are 
and who others are. I don't believe that peace is no war and no troubles. In the midst of peace 
there will be war and in the midst of war there will be peace. In the midst of chaos there will be
calm and in the midst of calm there will be chaos. 
Bad people will always exist. People who start wars. People who hate. Cold-blooded 
murderers. Criminals. Thieves. All of them. They will always exist. Unless, somehow, the people of 
the world understand that peace comes from within. I believe that everybody seeks peace but 
some confuse that desire with the need for chaos. What a wonderful world it would be if everyone 
was at peace. Wouldn't it? Maybe, it wouldn't be wonderful but different. It would be a sort of
Utopia. Is that good? Is that really what we want? Is it what we need? I was always told nothing is 
perfect. So, it's not a reality and it won't be anytime soon. Maybe that's better. Either way, know 
that, as Dumbledore once said, "there can be light even in the darkest of moments if only one 
remembers to turn on the light." Turn on the lights but see the darkness that remains. Seek peace 
but enjoy the chaos. Learn to live with both and still find calm and happiness inside yourself.

- Oriana Aslan, 8th Grade, Mrs. Jackson
 
Conchita Espinosa -Trip to A Noise Within Theatre
Conchita Espinosa -Trip to A Noise Within Theatre, 2016
california

We are proud to announce that this April, our Theatre Department will travel to Pasadena, California once more to study at A Noise Within (ANW)!

ANW is a classical theatre repertory company founded in 1992 by CEA alumna, Julia Rodriguez-Elliott (CEA c/o 1974) and her husband Geoff Elliott. Since its inauguration, ANW has evolved from being a small neighborhood theatre company to becoming one of the most distinguished theatre companies in the Southern California area-- consistently raising the bar on how great classical theatre can be.
 
The primary purpose of this trip is to visit ANW and study theatre. Students will watch two professional plays ( Henry V and A Raisin in the Sun), understand how a professional theatre works from all perspectives by touring and speaking to directors, crew members, designers, writers, and actors, and delve into texts through intensive workshops centered around the plays they will watch. This is an incredible opportunity not to be missed!  Learn More About A Noise Within

Registration Deadline: October 6th
Halloween is just around the corner, and we're sure many of you are already looking for costumes for our Kinder through 5th graders!

Halloween is a time for fun and fantasy.  However, the costumes you choose for your child may send conflicting messages.  We support a non-violent society.  Therefore, please do not send your child to school with play weapons on Halloween (GI Joe guns, pirate swords, etc.) or wearing fake blood. There are a lot of fun exciting characters to be that do not reflect realistic acts of destruction.
 
Halloween celebrations will take place on 
Tuesday, October 31st. 

K - 5th grades will participate in our annual 
Halloween Parade. 

6th - 8th grades will have their 
Halloween Dance from 12:00pm - 3:00pm.

More detailed information will be sent home later this month.