Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

by Monique Rothe
If you happen to be near Tampa on November 9, 2035, visit Tampa Adventist Academy (TAA). On that day, students, staff, and friends of the school will dig up a time capsule—the brainchild of Principal David Matthews. The capsule site is marked by a plaque which reads:
Buried, this day, November 9, in the year of our Lord, 2010; to be opened November 2035. These items have been chosen by our students to represent TAA in 2010. Our desire is that Jesus will return to earth before this capsule is reopened.
Of course, you don’t have to wait to visit until 2035, as the campus is buzzing with many amazing things:
Musical/Dramatic Performances
A Christmas program, Christmas in Reverse, and a spring program, Acorns to Oaks, impressed guests with students’ talents. Drama director Denise Bremner is also the Pre-K teacher.
Art Fair
Artistic talent from all the students was highlighted with paintings, sketches, dioramas, and sculptures at an art fair organized by Merili Wyatte, kindergarten teacher.
Scientist Anna
First- and second-grade students enjoyed Scientist Anna on their in-school field trips where they got creative with Silly Putty®, and touched animal hearts and intestines! Helen Mateo is the first- and second-grade teacher.
Lessons In Finance
While third- and fourth-grade students were studying money, they had jobs, earned pay, paid bills, and shopped at the classroom store each Friday. As a unit finale, students created their own businesses and sold goods or services to the Pre-K through sixth graders. April Nowotny is the third- and fourth-grade teacher.
Creativity in the Classroom
Students in the fifth and sixth grades designed and named dinosaurs for a Pathways theme under the direction of their teacher, Ruth Cress.
Bible Stories Come Alive
Seventh- and eighth-grade students participated in a Mini-Seder to gain understanding about how Jesus may have celebrated Passover when He was here on earth. Monique Rothe is the seventh- and eighth-grade Bible teacher.
Hoops Classic Tournament
Boys’ and girls’ basketball teams participated in the Hoops Classic Tournament in Texas under the direction of Coach Edwin Cabrera. TAA teams were voted “most spiritual” out of all schools attending the tournament.
This report mentions only a fraction of what goes on at TAA in a school year. To find out more, a visit to the school is necessary. If you wait long enough; however, you may be among those digging up a time capsule!