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 object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Upcoming WV2 & WV3 Events ★
- Monday, September 4th: NO SCHOOL – Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 5th: 5th Grade Ambassador Event (See details below)
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
Secondary ★
We are excited about a new school year and we want to express our gratitude to all our families that are supporting our uniform policy. 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 Policy: 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 ★
Please join us on Zoom for our next Parent Empowerment Night on September 12th at 7pm!
September 12th–Internet and Cell Phone Safety
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89267303321
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 ♪
This past week was full of smiles as we had our first ensemble day last Thursday. To explain this in more detail, ensemble day will happen every Thursday, and our class dismissal times will change slightly. We have combined music ensembles where many instruments will be played together, and we also have other enrichment activities that the students will participate in. Their schedule will be the same classes every Thursday, and they are assigned by age, level, and instruments. This is something unique to our Sistema Utah program that our students have grown to love and appreciate. I have included our dismissal times again as a reminder of when our periods end, and we will dismiss.
We have a few events taking place over the next couple of weeks. Please make a note of the following on your family calendar:
- Monday, September 4th – No School and No Sistema: Happy Labor Day! We look forward to seeing everyone when we return to school on Tuesday, September 5th.
LONG FINGERNAILS: Many of our students would like to have long, acrylic nails. Please remember that long nails and playing instruments do not mix. Your child can develop bad technique, which can lead to pain problems in the future. Long fingernails will also damage instruments. Please make sure your child has their fingernails clipped regularly. If your child wants to paint their fingernails, they still can, but please help them know the importance of trimming their nails.
SNACKS AFTER SCHOOL: As a reminder, we DO provide a snack for every Sistema student after school. Outside food is not allowed during after school hours, so please do not send extra food for your child to eat after hours as it will not be permitted. We need to know precisely what every student consumes after school, and we want to keep our students safe and healthy. If your child has extreme food allergies, please contact Mrs. Christensen at tchristensen@apamail.org if you still need to do so.
INSTRUMENTS: As a reminder, please ensure that if your child brings their instrument home to practice, they treat it with kindness and respect. If you have younger children wanting to touch it, please place it on a higher shelf to ensure it stays safe. Please also remember to help your child bring it to Sistema the next day, as it is a requirement for every Sistema student to have their instrument daily.
Character Development ★
September 5th is our first 5th grade ambassador event (during school hours): Friendship! We will be learning about meeting and greeting, asking intelligent questions, and other etiquette subjects. Please make sure your student does not miss this event. It will be fun and educational.
- 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