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 ★

• 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 ★

Carpool: We have received feedback from our community regarding morning carpool issues along 3600 West in front of the Granger-Hunter water district. We are seeing an increase of parents dropping their students off along 3600 West. This is causing congestion to regular traffic flow into our parking lot due to stopped cars and an increased number of pedestrian traffic. More importantly, we do not have personnel available to serve as a crossing guard across the driveway. This puts your students at risk. We ask that you do not drop off along 3600 West and use our carpool system as it has been implemented. Thank you for your cooperation.

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

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 ★

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 loved hearing all the amazing music coming from the halls of Sistema Utah! Our students have been working diligently to refine their technique. Way to go students!

Thank you for helping your child to stay current with their missing work. They were sent home with an updated missing work report on Monday and the midterm missing work deadline was Friday, September 22nd. Those without missing daytime homework will be eligible to attend our FIRST no-missing homework incentive on Friday, October 13th. We will have a popcorn bar with this incentive and need some donations. You may click here to sign up. All donations are due to the Sistema office room 139 by Thursday, October 12th.

We have a Sistema Staff and Student Showcase this Wednesday, September 27th at 5 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. If your child is performing in this showcase, they came home with an invitation stapled to the top of their learning plan on Friday. We hope to see you there!

We have a few events taking place over the next couple of weeks. Please make a note of the following on your family calendar:

• Wednesday, September 27th – Staff and Student Showcase at 5 p.m. in the MP Room: If your child’s class will be performing, they came home with a flier stapled to the top of their learning plan on Friday.

• Thursday, September 28th- Sistema Ensemble Day: As a reminder, our dismissal times are slightly different on Thursdays. Please refer to your dismissal times flier for reference.
• Friday, October 6th – No Sistema:  Elementary will have an early dismissal (12/12:20) for elementary grading day.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ★ 

We are so excited to be holding our College Week from September 25-29. We are having a kick off activity on Monday during school hours. Please talk to your students about education after high school. This can be college, trade school, any kind of program that will help them further their education for their success.

• For Volunteering opportunities please email us at wv2ambassadors@apamail.org