In honor of National Law Enforcement Week, Lt. John Bacon from the Surprise Police Department recently spoke to a group of 4th and 5th grade students from Arizona Charter Academy about the many roles the police department has in the local community. After his talk and question and answer session was over, the students presented Lt. Bacon with thank you cards, cookies, and an array of food for the whole department.

The sophomore camping trip was an opportunity for students to learn the history and science that formed Arizona. The first excursion began at Cocino National Forest where students learned about the science involved in lava cave formation. After learning, the exploring began. The sophomores had to navigate through the 700,000 year old cave in complete darkness. It was an awesome chance to see a part of Arizona that many people are unaware of.

Navigating through dark underground lava caves was the introduction. After setting up camp and getting in a good night’s sleep the students had to take on the most physically demanding hike they would ever attempt. It took four hours to make it up the summit of Humphreys Peak, the highest point in the entire state of Arizona at an elevation of 12,637 feet. The students had to deal with rocks, snow, and uncertainty but three were able to make it to the top. It was great experience for everyone involved. Congrats to our students for all of their hard work. 

West Valley cities easing building-permit process
Arizona Republic
German Armenta uses a circular saw to cut steel studs during construction of a new classroom at the Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise.

The Odyssey of the Mind Team took 1^st place today at their tournament.  The will travel to Tucson in April for the state competition. We are so proud of the team:


Quinn Duncan -Sophomore
Isaac Cerrillo- Sophomore
Joseph Zickefoose- Sophomore
Christian Gustafson- Sophomore
Samantha Baker- Sophomore
Jordan Bracy- Sophomore
Sarah King- Junior

 Basketball Achievement through Literacy and Life Skills, or “B.A.L.L.’ Program will Take Place over Spring Break

 

 

(SURPRISE, Arizona)—Spring break is coming up fast, and parents around the west valley are looking for activities to help keep their children occupied during the days off from school.

Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise recently received a grant from the City of Surprise that will allow the school to host free basketball camps from March 11-15 on the school’s campus, located at 16011 N Dysart Rd.

The “Get on the B.A.L.L.” camp, or Basketball Achievement through Literacy and Life Skills, includes drills, scrimmages and tournaments. Forty students from fourth grade through eighth grade are eligible to register for the program.

“One of the great aspects of this camp that is a real bonus for the students is the educational aspect we provide through a literacy block,” said Reco Jackson, a teacher at Arizona Charter Academy and coordinator of the program.

 

“Over the course of the week, students will learn fundamentals of sports by reading informational texts individually and sharing their thoughts with the coaches.”

The camp currently is targeting students in the Surprise Original Townsite but is open to all Surprise residents from grades 4 through 12. Flyers for registration are now available at Arizona Charter Academy’s website,  front offices,  and local libraries.

Jackson said she is excited that  Arizona Charter Academy is able  to hold the camps and to expand the program to include volleyball, which she said will provide students with a fun and enjoyable experience while putting parents’ minds at ease.

“We are happy to be part of the B.A.L.L. program and help kids learn more about some of their favorite sports in a program that is both athletically and academically-based.”

The Class of 25 Students Recently Donated Just Over $170 to a Young Girl in Kenya

 

 

SURPRISE, Arizona—Thanks to the generosity of a group of second grade students from Arizona Charter Academy (ACA), a young girl in Kenya will now have the uniform and other supplies she needs for school.

The class recently raised and donated $170.38 to Givology, a volunteer-run organization that helps connect donors to grassroots education projects around the world.

The fundraising idea came about when Bridget Solawetz, a second grade teacher at ACA, was discussing the importance of giving and sharing during the holiday season with her students.  

“We decided to do a ‘giving activity,’ and after I researched Givology we set a goal to raise $100 for a girl who lives in an orphanage in Kenya, and who is the same age as most of my students,” Solawetz said, adding that they named their project “Change for Change”.

During December, Solawetz’s students brought in whatever change they could find. Some donated the money they would have used to purchase smoothies during special Jamba Juice days on campus, and others turned in the coins they found in their parent’s car or under the couch cushions. Others emptied out their piggy banks.

“Each student was responsible for donating or raising $4. We talked a lot about the ways that they could find or raise the money and that every penny counts,” Solawetz said.

“Every day, they would bring in coins, and every Friday in December we would add it up and practice counting money and doing math. Each student also wrote the girl in Kenya a letter, which we then turned into one big letter from the whole class.”

Solawetz said she was really impressed with the enthusiasm and generosity her students showed during the fundraiser, and that they were thrilled to exceed their goal by more than $70.

“It really made a difference that we were helping a student who is close to their age,” she said.

“They were just really excited to do this, and I am so proud of them.”

 Many of you may be aware that you can give up to $200 (single) or $400 (married) to a public school and receive a dollar for dollar tax “credit” on your Arizona tax return.  When you file your state taxes the state of Arizona will reimburse you up to $400 for your donation to our school.  As a bonus you can deduct your donation under your federal tax return under charitable contributions!  If you are able, please help school provide much needed resources to our students by doing the following:

 

 

Donate up to $400 (married) or $200 (single) by December 31^st with either option:

1.       A credit card online at our website under ACA store - http://azcharteracademy.com/tax_credit_donation?b=1

2.       Mail a check dated by 12/31/12 to Arizona Charter Academy, PO Box 1929, Surprise, AZ 85378

 

You will receive a donation acknowledgement from ACA for tax purposes.  Your donation will go towards assisting with items/programs such as library books, after school tutoring, community service projects, technology, sports programs, and many other initiatives to assist our students in achieving their academic success along with building character and helping them find their purpose. 

 

Please let me know if you have any questions and remember no donation is too small, even $25 and $50 make a difference!  We are proud to be a community school and appreciate your much needed support to help us reach our academic goals for our students!

 

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!  

 

Melissa

 Arizona Charter Academy Students Get Real World Experiences as Part of Government and Civics Class

 

Recently, Six Seniors Spent Election Day Working at Polling Booths throughout the West Valley

 

 

SURPRISE, Arizona—As a junior high and high school history teacher, Minette Klenner understands the importance of making the subject as exciting and interesting and possible for her students.

As often as she can, Klenner strives to incorporate some real world experiences into her lessons that will help show her students first-hand what she is teaching them in class.

Recently, a group of six seniors in her Government and Civics class got the chance to learn about citizenship and democracy when they spent Election Day working in local polling locations.

The six seniors had the exciting opportunity to work on Election Day due the Step it Up Program, which Klenner said gives students over 16 years of age the chance participate in their civic duty, provide community assistance, assist voters in action, and be part of the democratic process.

“Since the seniors are all heading out into the real world next year I wanted to give them a hands-on experience that would demonstrate democracy in action as well as stress the importance of their responsibilities of being a citizen,” Klenner said.

Shawna Bowman-Cook was one of the six seniors who spent Election Day working at the polls. She worked from 5:15 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Sun View Baptist Church in El Mirage, checking to see if the people who showed up to vote were at the correct precinct and recording their names in a voting log.

Although the day was very long, Shawna said she found the experience to be very interesting.

“I enjoyed being able to see the first-time voters and how excited they were to be able to have a say I their government,” she said.

Klenner said she is proud of the six seniors and how hard they worked on Election Day.

“They all had an amazing experience, met tons of people, and above all, those that are over 18 all voted!”

 See the whole story here. http://arizona.newszap.com/westvalley/118075-114/arizona-charter-academy-addresses-drug-use-during-red-ribbon-week

 Arizona Charter Academy Addresses Drug Use During ‘Red Ribbon Week’

 

During the Recent Week, Teachers and Staff Discussed Drug Use, and Had a Daily Theme that Visually Supported the Anti-Drug Campaign

 

 

SURPRISE, Arizona—Recently, the teachers and staff at Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise spent a week talking with the elementary students about a very difficult subject: drug use.

As part of Red Ribbon Week, students from kindergarten through sixth grade learned about drugs, how and why they are not safe for their bodies, and how to be safe around prescription drugs that might be in the home.

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention campaign. It serves as a way for communities and individuals to take a stand for the community’s children through a commitment to drug prevention and education, as well as a personal pledge to live drug-free lives.

Amie Lee, a sixth grade teacher at Arizona Charter Academy, helped organize the various events and discussions that were part of Red Ribbon Week. For the younger students in kindergarten through second grade, she said the emphasis was on prescription drugs, and how important it is to never ingest anything that a parent or other trustworthy adult has not given them.

“For example, the teachers discussed not putting a parent’s medicine or anyone else’s medicine in their mouths, and also never tasting cleaning items that they find inside or outside. They learned how doing this is never healthy for their bodies.”

For the third through sixth graders, the discussions centered around information about drugs and drug use, and how to say “no” if someone else suggests that they try them.

Each day had a theme that related to Red Ribbon Week and its goals; for example, on Monday the students and staff were encouraged to wear sunglasses as a way to prove that their “future is too bright for drugs.” On Wednesday, kids wore their shirts backwards to represent “turning their backs on drugs.” And on Thursday, the students wore tennis shoes to symbolize “running drugs out of the school.”

Lee said Red Ribbon Week was a great way to address the important topic with kids.

“All of the students really seemed to focus on the discussions and having the daily themes added a bit of levity to such a serious topic,” she said, adding that she is also extremely grateful to Ed McDonnell of the Sun City Elks, who supplied materials for the event.

“We were glad to be part of Red Ribbon Week and certainly plan to participate in the program again.  It definitely seemed to have a positive and meaningful impact on our students.”