Builder Theme: I am a builder when I build with enthusiasm.
“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Upcoming WV2 & WV3 Events ★
- Tuesday, September 12th: 6th Grade Ambassador Event – 12:55pm – 3:05pm
- Tuesday, September 12th: Parent Empowerment Night 7pm via Zoom (See below for details)
- Wednesday, September 27th – Sistema Staff and Student Showcase – Multi-Purpose Room 5pm
School Contact Information
- 385-351-3090
- Administrative Director 385-351-3090 x1131
- Press 1 for Elementary Office
- Press 2 for Junior High Office & Secondary attendance
- Press 3 for High School Office
WV2 & WV3 ★
Cell Phones, Tablets & Smart Watches: Devices with cellular capabilities are NOT authorized for student use from the time they enter the building in the morning, until they exit the building for dismissal/pickup. During carpool, while waiting at the curb, students are authorized to text and call ONLY. Cell phones and watches with cellular capabilities must be stored in backpacks at all times and will only be authorized to be taken out once the students exit the building at dismissal. Additionally, smart devices are NOT authorized for student use at any time while inside the building after hours. Students always have access to our school phones if they need to contact their parent or guardian and families can always call the school if they need to relay a message to their student.
“Minimize Tech/Maximize Happiness!” campaign. We are launching a new initiative to help protect our students from the harms of social media and smart devices. Please visit the link below to learn more. .https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Minimize-Tech_Maximize-Happiness.pdf?utm_campaign=Campus%20Updates&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=267316862&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9uHtj64PTJEUyHpOqLrooAHM4U-FhzbIvns1dWfOIRp76cMzR19_mA6w1sd_h6sLmTSTiigZPzpczmtU20M29Xtrfs_A&utm_content=267316862&utm_source=hs_email
Then, please join our Facebook Group – Minimize Tech-Maximize Happiness, where we will share ideas with each other on how to navigate the world without smart devices for our children!
Elementary ★
Uniform Infractions: We have had many students wearing light blue shirts to school. As a reminder, light blue shirts are only allowed in secondary. Khaki pants for girls are only allowed on Fridays. Monday-Thursday girls can wear navy pants, or plaid/navy jumpers. 4th- 6th grade white shirts can not be polos. Your student must wear a white button down broadcloth or cotton collared dress shirt with white or clear buttons. Sleeves can be short or long.
Please review our K-6 uniform guide here: https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Uniform-Guide-2023-24-Elementary-7-19-3-pm.pdf
Elementary Chess Club – At this time we do not have any staff that can host the elementary chess club. If there are any parents who would like to volunteer for this position, please contact Trina Christensen at tchristensen@apamail.org.
Secondary ★
7th Grade Career Expo: We are seeking volunteers to help with our upcoming 7th grade Career Expo that will be held on 26 September 2023 from 8:00-12:00. We are seeking anyone who would like to talk about their career with the 7th graders on that day. If you would like to volunteer or would like additional information please email Mr. Ramirez at aramirez@apamail.org.
Uniforms: We sincerely appreciate the effort to help maintain and build our positive culture. We wanted to reiterate specific aspects of the uniform policy a small percentage of students are struggling with. The longer students are out of compliance with uniform, the more likely it is for other students to copy those trends that are not in alignment with our policy. We also want to remind families and students that if students do not fix their uniform problem, they will not be permitted to enter class.
– “Hair that is an unnatural color or extreme styling is distracting and not allowed.” Students that come with unnaturally colored hair will be asked to fix the hair in a reasonable time frame or they will not be permitted into class.
– “Slacks must fit the following description: Uniform style slacks (no denim or corduroy). Belted, pleated or flat front, long enough to cover top of shoe, short enough to stay off floor when worn with shoes, worn no more than 2” below waist, no cargo pants or outside pockets (patch pockets)…No tight-fitting slacks (must be able to pinch one inch of fabric in front and back). Slacks may NOT be tapered.” Students that are sagging their pants will be asked to fix their pants. If students do not comply with wearing the slacks properly, they may be asked to be picked up from school.
– “Skirts must be to the knee – touching the calf when the knee is bent to 90 degrees.” If students do not comply with wearing the skirt properly, they may be asked to be picked up from school.
Please review the 7th-12th grade uniform guide here: https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Uniform-Guide-2023-24-Secondary-7-19-3pm.pdf
Compliance ★
Professional Qualifications
Our parent surveys consistently express confidence and overwhelming satisfaction with our teachers at American Prep. In accordance with state regulation, all APA teachers are licensed through one of three licensing paths: Professional, Associates and LEA specific. Parents are welcome at any time to request information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers including: 1) whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction or whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; 2) the baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree; and 3) whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
District Parent and Family Engagement Policy
American Prep recognizes that parent and family engagement is key to student achievement. We provide many opportunities for parents and family members to participate in, and stay informed of, their student’s academic achievement.
American Preparatory Academy trains staff annually during pre-service and teacher academy on how to communicate, build meaningful connections, and otherwise involve parents/families and the school. These topics are reinforced during professional development opportunities throughout the year as needed.
Additional details regarding Parent and Family Engagement are available in the annual Parent-Student Handbooks (PSHB) which are distributed annually, posted on the school websites, and available in Spanish at our West Valley campuses.
For the full District Parent and Family Engagement Policy, please refer to this link on the Policy page of the americanprep.org website.
School Parent and Family Engagement Policies
School Parent Involvement Policies vary slightly by campus and are located within the Parent-Student Handbooks https://www.americanprep.org/parent-student-handbooks/. These Handbooks are distributed annually to parents and are now accessible on the APA website under the Parent Library drop-down tab. West Valley Parent-Student Handbooks will be available in Spanish.
Mandated Assessments and Opt-Outs
American Preparatory recognizes that Standardized Testing is an essential tool for measuring student learning and teacher success. The data obtained from these assessments may be utilized by teachers and administrators to review student academic progress, plan instruction, and share with students and parents. Summative assessments allow for data to be used in public reporting about school quality. Parent’s may opt-out of most state standardized tests by submitting a Parental Exclusion form to the Academic Director. You can learn more about the state assessments administered at American Prep and find the testing schedules for your student’s campus by following this link: https://www.americanprep.org/state-assessments/
Counselor’s office ★
Virtual Parent Empowerment–Cell Phone and Internet Safety – Join us on Tuesday, September 12th at
7pm for a night of social media and internet information. We will examine our own internet use and habits and learn how to help the teens in our lives navigate the world wide web with purpose. This is appropriate to watch with your students. Your campus will provide an incentive.
Join us via Zoom on Tuesday at 7pm. https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89267303321
Meeting ID: 892 6730 3321
Enrollment ★
For questions regarding Kindergarten – 6th grade enrollment, contact Ms. Guastella at hguastella@apamail.org
For questions regarding 7th grade – 12th grade enrollment, contact Mrs. Patterson at mpatterson@apamail.org
Sistema Notes ♪
We have had such a great week! Now that Alma is up and running for this school year, we pulled missing work reports and sent them with our Sistema students. As mentioned in our parent orientation, we have term incentives that students can earn a ticket to attend if they have no missing daytime homework. Our first incentive of this school year will be on Friday, October 13th from 4-5:30 p.m. that day. If your child was sent home with a missing work report, please help them to get their missing work completed and turned in to school. We want to see many of our Sistema students at our first no missing homework incentive of the school year.
Thank you to everyone for helping our Sistema carpool to go smoother on Thursday. We need to all do our part to keep our students safe after school. We appreciate your patience and support with this.
If your child is also participating in after school activities such as soccer or volleyball and miss their classes in Sistema, they need to practice every day they miss so they don’t fall behind in their Sistema classes. Each student has been invited to join the Google Classroom for their instrument and singing classes. Thank you for ensuring that your child is practicing at home.
We have a few events taking place over the next couple of weeks. Please make a note of the following on your family calendar:
Thursday, September 14th – Sistema Ensemble Day: As a reminder, our dismissal times are slightly different on Thursdays. Please refer to your dismissal times flier for reference.
Wednesday, September 27th – Staff and Student Showcase at 5 p.m. in the MP Room: If your child’s class will be performing, they will be sent home with a flier stapled to the top of their learning plan on Friday, September 22nd.
Thank you so much for your support. What an incredible Sistema Utah community we are developing!
Character Development ★
The 8th graders were able to lend a helping hand to their community during their W.O.R.K. Party on September 6th. Students, staff, and volunteers were able to clean and beautify the Redwood Recreation Park, Utah Cultural Center, 17th South River Park, Three Creeks Confluence, Redwood Nature Park, This Is The Place Heritage Park, and even their own West Valley Campus! Students experienced a Wonderful Opportunity to Render Kindness. It was a fabulous W.O.R.K. Party!
- For Volunteering opportunities please email us at wv2ambassadors@apamail.org
Careers ★
Food Service Employee WV2 – Part time food service employee needed. Pay Range: $14.51-$16 per hour. Schedule is Monday – Friday 8:30am-1:30pm. Bilingual preferred. Email questions to lunch@apamail.org
7th/8th Grade Girls Club Volleyball Coach – We are in search of a volleyball coach for our junior high girls teams. Please contact Coach Wes for more information and to apply. lwesley@apamail.org