Knightly Update August 8, 2021
ACP High School - Edition Vol 1 Issue 5
Hello. I hope you are enjoying your weekend and finding ways to tolerate the August heat. I continued my classroom visits this week and have enjoyed meeting our students. I am really looking forward to getting to interact with each of them throughout the year. I'll finish up my visits this week, but I appreciate the time our English teachers provided for me to meet with the kids.
As a reminder, our New to ACP Family Orientation will be held on Monday (August 9th) in our school's auditorium. I, along with other staff, will discuss steps families can take to help their child make a successful transition to high school or to ACP in general. The handouts and presentation will be posted on our school's website for families to review if they are unable to attend Monday's presentation. Please contact me if you have any questions.
As we continue through the year, student safety is always at the forefront of daily operations and any decisions made. Please understand that I am required to follow the mitigation and communication directives as mandated by district officials. While I cannot implement any parameters outside of district guidelines, students and staff may do what they feel is necessary to maintain their personal health and welfare of their family (i.e. wear masks, bring sanitizer, etc.). As a school community, we support the decisions of all families and students and will ensure that each child feels welcome, respected and safe regardless of what they choose to do. Finally, remember that if your child is ill or exhibiting any signs of Covid to keep them home and not send them to school. Our staff will work with students appropriately to make-up material and understand lessons that were taught during their absence. Please, if your child is ill, keep them home until they feel better and symptoms have resolved. As always, if you have any concerns, please contact me.
All students have the opportunity to participate in our first "Free Dress Day" of the school year on Monday. Parameters for participating in free dress are included in this week's email. As a reminder, all free dress days support a specific campus organization, club, or program, and money raised from free dress days goes directly to that entity. If your child chooses to participate in Monday's opportunity, please ensure the attire they wear is appropriate and follows general dress guidelines.
I hope everyone has a nice week. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great week, and Go KNIGHTS!!
Rob Bickes
Principal
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School Events - Week of August 9th
Site events listed in bold.
Monday, August 9
- Free Dress Day - $2 participation fee - sponsored by ACPHS Athletics
- 5:30 AM - Cross Country Practice Begins, ACPHS Track
- 4:00 - Freshman Tennis Tryouts Begin, ACPHS Tennis Courts
- 5:00 - Girls Volleyball Tryouts Begin, ACPMS Gym (1150 W. Erie St., Chandler, 85242)
- 6:00 - New Family Transition Meeting, ACPHS Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, August 10
- 5:30 - Football Booster Club Meeting, room B115
Wednesday, August 11
- 9:30 AM - Class of 2022 Cap & Gown and Graduation Announcements Meeting, PAC
- 2:15 - Kona Ice Available for Purchase, Student Parking Lot
- 2:30 - Math Club Practice, room B107
Thursday, August 12
- 9:20 AM - 2021-22 Club Fair, ACPHS Cafeteria & Courtyard
Friday, August 6
- 8:30 AM - Class of 2024 Meeting, ACPHS Cafeteria
Saturday, August 7
- 8:00 AM - Athletic Program Pictures, ACPHS Stadium
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Knights in the Spotlight
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Signing students out from school
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Help Us Design Our School's Courtyard
Please remember, due to the amount of infrastructure under the courtyard area, grass, trees, and bushes are not viable options. However, all ideas will be reviewed and considered. Final design options will be shared with the school community and voted on by the student population.
Thank you for helping to make our school's courtyard special.
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Get your Kona ice
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Gaggle - Helping to Keep Our Students Safe
As part of our efforts to maintain a safe, secure online experience for students, Chandler Unified School District uses a technology tool known as Gaggle in grades K-12. This scanning program reviews student Google files for inappropriate images and/or content identified by keywords. Gaggle will flag content referencing intentions of violence, drug and alcohol use, sex, self-harm, hate speech, pornography, etc. It will also analyze images to block pornography and obscene visuals from reaching students.
Gaggle representatives review google files throughout the day and night and send alerts to administrators at the school and the district office. School administrators will contact parents/guardians when an alert is received. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, administrators will contact local law enforcement to request a well-check on students of alerts regarding threats of self-harm.
All school rules apply to the content on a student’s Google Drive. Students are encouraged to practice responsible digital citizenship.
Gaggle Speak Up is another tool CUSD will be using. This tool is an anonymous tip line for students to share concerns about school safety and the well-being of fellow students. Trained professionals evaluate content and send an email regarding non-life-threatening items to school administrators. They will also call school officials in emergency situations and can even contact local law enforcement.
Students may report:
- Bullying
- Students in crisis
- Weapons brought to school
- Planned fights
- Threats of violence
- Other urgent situations
Phone: 480-573-8808
email: speakup@gse.cusd80.com
We look forward to continuing to collaborate with families to support and meet our students’ needs and to protect them while in our care.
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Free Dress Day - August 9th
From time-to-time, various clubs and organizations will sponsor a free dress day during the school year. Students may choose to participate ($2) and wear non-uniform attire to school on days announced as free dress. On “free dress” days students will be expected to keep themselves well groomed and neatly dressed at all times. Any form of dress which is considered contrary to good hygiene or which is distractive or disruptive in appearance and detrimental to the purpose or conduct of the school will not be permitted. Since fashions and name designations for wearing apparel change frequently, the administration, with the advice and counsel of police, faculty, students, and parents, may provide an interpretation of garments that are questionable.
The dress code is in compliance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-342.22
Clothing or hairstyles that are detrimental to one’s health and safety or the health and safety of others are not permitted.
Clothing shall be modest, clean and appropriate for school wear.
Students shall not wear: tank tops, halter tops, garments with spaghetti straps, strapless garments, and fishnet stockings. Garments that are “see-through,” cut low, or expose one’s midriff are not acceptable. Sleeveless garments must extend to the end of the shoulders and fit closely under the arms. Clothing should have adequate coverage to allow a full range of motion movement without skin or undergarments showing. Undergarments must not be visible. Clothing must cover the entire buttocks and extend to a reasonable length to ensure modesty
Students will be required to remove sunglasses while inside the buildings.
Footwear must be worn for good health safety. Students cannot wear flip-flops or slippers on campus.
Monogrammed shirts that advertise illegal substances for minors are not allowed (i.e. cigarettes, liquor of any kind, drugs, and lewd or sexually suggestive messages). Garments identified as gang related by school administration and/or local police departments are not permitted in school.
Outer garments worn over prohibited items do not necessarily make these garments acceptable. Visible undergarment are prohibited.
Bandannas, hairnets, and other head coverings will not be allowed on campus at any time.
Chains, hanging belts, and spiked bracelets/necklaces/earrings are not allowed on campus.
All school personnel have the responsibility and right to enforce all school rules, including regular and “free dress” guidelines. Students inappropriately dressed for school will remedy the situation before returning to class.
The school administration retains the final discretion in determining if a garment, accessory or appearance compiles with the dress code. Repeated violations of the dress standard may result in appropriate disciplinary action, including being suspended from school.
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New Family Transition Night - August 9th
New to Arizona College Preparatory? New to CUSD? Feeling overwhelmed with the transition to high school? Have questions you would really like to ask? This meeting is designed to help you. Join ACP High School's administrative and counseling team on Monday, August 9 at 6:00 in our performing arts center as they discuss steps families can take to help your child make a successful transition to high school or to ACP in general. Learn how you can help your child become a better student and what to expect over the next few years.
A PowerPoint presentation will accompany the meeting and several hand-outs will be provided to assist you and your child in making the transition to ACP. The presentation typically lasts one hour and time will be provided for families to have questions answered. Questions? Please contact administration.
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CEF Cash for Classrooms Campaign
The 2021 #CashForClassrooms campaign supports enrichment grants written by teachers and principals across Chandler Unified School District. The number of grants funded depends on the amount of money contributed during this campaign. With your help, we will make a difference for the 44,000 students across CUSD.
This year, the Foundation's focus is on future readiness. We will prioritize supporting innovative learning opportunities, maintaining state of the art libraries, and equipping teachers with the tools to take lessons to the next level.
We couldn't do this without you! Donate $100 or more and receive a Chandler Education Foundation State Forty Eight shirt. Donate now by clicking here today. Thank you for investing in our future!
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interested in robotics? join the club!
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Become an ACPHS Sponsor
We are looking for major sponsors to assist with the purchasing of an electronic marquee, stadium scoreboard, and digital display in our gym. If you are aware of an organization that would be interested in sponsoring these major items, please share any contact information with administration. We look forward to showcasing our school sponsors throughout the years as we thank businesses and individuals for their support of ACP and our students. Thank you!
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PLEASE NOTE BADMINTON UPDATE
It's time to consider trying out for one of our fall athletic teams. Information about tryouts is below. Due to our gym not being complete, please note the location and times of practices. If you have any questions, please contact our school's athletic department, (480) 424-8712.
Girls Volleyball
Tryouts for girls volleyball will be held the week of Aug 9th from 5:15 to 8:00 pm at the ACP Middle School campus located at 1150 W. Erie St. Chandler, AZ 85224.
Monday 8/9
- 5:00-6:30 - All incoming Freshman, Freshman and Sophomore transfer students and players who played on Freshman/Sophomore team last year
- 6:30-8:00 - Junior and Senior transfer students, players who played JV and Varsity last year.
Tuesday 8/10
- Same as Monday
Wednesday 8/11
5:00-6:00 Perspective Freshman/Sophomore players
6:00-7:00 Perspective JV players
7:00-8:00 Perspective Varsity players
Thursday 8/12
- Same as Wednesday
Friday 8/13
- 5:00-6:00 Perspective Freshman/Sophomore players
- 5:30-6:30 Perspective JV players
- 6:00-7:00 Perspective Varsity players
Swim & Dive
- Tryouts for both swim & dive begin August 9th, 3:45-5:45pm at Kerry Croswhite Aquatic Center - Chandler High School's Pool. A one-way shuttle is available each day from ACP to CHS at 3:10.
Cross Country
- Starting Aug 9th, Cross Country will be holding tryouts at 5:30 AM at our school's fieldhouse/stadium. All abilities welcome, and no prior running or sport experience is required. Come join an inviting team and improve your fitness and health! Races are 5k!
Girls Badminton
- UPDATE! Badminton Tryouts will be held the week of Aug 16th from 4:15 to 6:15 pm at the ACPHS Auxiliary Gym each day.
- Boys and Girls Freshman Tennis tryouts will be held the week of Aug 8th from 4-5:30pm on the ACPHS Tennis Courts
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Meet the Teacher - August 18 - 6:00 PM
The purpose of the evening is for each of your child's teachers to give you a brief overview of the curriculum, review what your child will be studying, and the materials teachers and students will be using in order to achieve our academic goals.
There will not be a lot of time for individual questions, but parents or students may leave their phone numbers and email addresses, and our instructors will follow-up as appropriate. We hope to see you there!
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Back to School Student Pool Party
Make plans to join your classmates at the Hamilton Aquatic Center on Friday, August 20th from 7:00-9:00PM to celebrate the new school year. There is no entrance fee for this event, but student ID's will be required to enter. Come enjoy yourselves and mingle with other ACPHS students. Please note this is a student only event and Covid-19 restrictions limit capacity to 800 students.
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Student Activity Cards
The Activity Card can be purchased through the Bookstore for $50 and is good for the 2021-22 school year. Included with the purchase of this card is a Free Class T-Shirt (class t-shirt can be purchased separately for $15) and other fantastic benefits.
Student Activity Card Benefits…
50% off tickets for Homecoming, Winter Formal, and Morp
$10 off Prom Ticket
Free or reduced rates to other Student Government events
Student Athletic Benefits…
Admission to home games
We are proud of the culture and traditions we get to continue at our brand new high school campus. The Activity Card provides huge discounts and helps increase involvement in our school community. This is a great purchase for each student.
If you purchased an Activity Card prior to August 6th, your t-shirt has been ordered and we will contact you when it's ready for pick-up. Our next t-shirt order will be made for anyone who purchases an activity card between August 6th through August 20th.
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ACPHS General Booster News
Special Event: We will have gently used ACP polo shirts and other ACP apparel available at the New Parent Transition Night from 5:30-6:00 PM prior to the meeting, as well as after the meeting. A $5 per item donation is requested per item. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.
Back to School Student Pool Party: We are requesting the following donations for the Student Pool Party. Please donate according to the grade your student(s) is in.
- 9th Grade: 12 packs of soda, lemonade or fruit punch (cans only please)(Please drop off drinks in the school’s front office not later than Thursday, August 19th.)
- 10th Grade: 24 packs or greater of water (individual bottles only) (Please drop off drinks in the school’s front office not later than Thursday, August 19th.)
- 11th Grade: Snacks to share for at least 12 people (chips, pretzels, etc.) (Please drop off drinks in the school’s front office not later than Thursday, August 19th.)
- 12th Grade: Desserts (Individual items only. No cakes, pies, etc.) (Please bring the night of the event.)
Volunteer Opportunities: We still have some volunteer opportunities for parents. Please click on the links below to see how you can help.
If you would like to be on our volunteer list for events, please email us at acphsgeneralboosters@gmail.com. Please include your cell phone number.
Booster Donations: It is not too late to donate to the booster club. Thank you to all who have made their donation already! The donation is $50 per student or $80 per family (two or more students). To make your donation, please CLICK HERE. Please note that this donation cannot be paid through Infinite Campus.
Need to Contact Us? We look forward to your continued support of ACP High School! Please contact us at acphsgeneralboosters@gmail.com with any questions.
Follow us on Facebook at ACP High School General Boosters.
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The PSAT/NMSQT will be Tuesday, October 26th, 2021! All ACP freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, should sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT by paying $20 through Infinite Campus. Your payment reserves you a spot for the test. If you did not pay at the Virtual Day of the Knights, please login to your Infinite Campus account to pay- instructions below. Payments need to be made no later than September 3rd. If you are unsure if you have paid, please go to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account and check your payment history.
Test Information:
- Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2021
- Time: 7:30-11:30
- Location: ACP High School
Why take the PSAT/NMSQT?
Get personalized feedback about strengths and weaknesses necessary for college success.
Juniors only: You may qualify to enter the competitions for prestigious scholarships and participate in recognition programs such as the National Merit Scholarship Program and National Hispanic Recognition Program.
You can take advantage of My College Quickstart, a personalized online college and career planning tool that contains an online score report, a customized SAT study plan, a personality test and personalized lists of colleges, majors and careers.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Multiple exposures to the PSAT will prepare students to take the SAT.
Pay your child's PSAT fee via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal
- Log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal: https://campus.cusd80.com/campus/portal/chandler.jsp
- Next, (located at the bottom, left) select “More”
- On the right side of the new page select “InTouch Fee Payments”
- Now, you should be able to select the student that has the PSAT/NMSQT test fee.
- From here, select “Items at Student’s Schools”.
- Here, you should see the PSAT fee to pay.
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Community Ed and Food & Nutrition Hiring
In addition to these openings, ACPHS is actively seeking custodial staff to join our award-winning team. If you are interested, or know of someone who might be interested, please contact our office, (480) 424-8700. Thank you!
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Tri-University Days
The fall 2022 application for admission is open for Arizona state universities. Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. are hosting weekly information sessions through Zoom. Sessions are available in both English and Spanish.
Students can expect to:
Click here for additional information and to register for a session.
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Class of 2022 Senior Pictures
Congratulations, Class of 2022!
The first step of your senior journey is to have your portrait taken for the yearbook. The yearbook’s deadline for senior pictures is September 4th, 2021. In order to meet this deadline, we have partnered with Lou Coopey Photography in Mesa, AZ to take your yearbook photos.
There are two options: one is free, the other is $40.00. Please read through this message completely for details and choose the option that works best for you. If you have questions, please e-mail Mrs. Patterson, patterson.kristin@cusd80.com.
OPTION 1 ($40.00 deposit, $50.00 credit to account)
Schedule an appointment with Lou Coopey to have your portrait taken at their Mesa studio located at 202 N Lindsay Rd, Mesa, AZ 85213 before the September 4th deadline.
Key Information about Option 1:
$40 deposit will be collected at the time of scheduling.
- This deposit, along with a $10 credit ($50.00 total) will be applied to each account to purchase portraits and services offered by Lou Coopey.
- Return your proof book within 30 days and receive a refund of your $40.00 deposit.
- After 30 days, the $10 complimentary credit will expire.
- The $40 remains on account and can be used for any senior portrait purchase.
To ensure the safety of all seniors the following protocols are in place for the photo session:
- All procedures will be as contact-free as possible.
- The studio will be limiting the number of appointments per day to allow for social distancing.
- Face masks and hand sanitizer are recommended, but no required.
- It is recommended that Seniors bring their own clothing. However, if necessary, the studio will provide loaner jackets, ties, and drapes as needed.
- The loaner cap and gown are sanitized on site in commercial dryers between appointments per CDC sanitation requirements.
- All studio services beyond the sitting (scheduling, ordering pictures, and paying fees) will be conducted online.
- Senior sessions will include 9-14 poses on a variety of backgrounds including Cap & Gown photos for graduation.
- All post-sitting contact will be done online (choosing the yearbook pose, ordering photos, and any additional payment.)
- Students must be dressed to impress (collared shirt, tie, dress, and/or professional blouse) for their senior portrait.
Visit www.loucoopey.com then click on the large red banner across the top to book your appointment.
OPTION 2 ($0.00)
Take your senior yearbook photo on campus on student picture day (Date TBD).
Key Information about Option 2:
- A limited number of poses will be taken on the yearbook background only.
- Students must be dressed to impress (collared shirt, tie, dress, and/or professional blouse) for their senior portrait.
NOTE: For both options, students must dress to impress (collared shirt, tie, suit jacket, dress, and/or professional blouse/professional wear). Clothing must be free of logos/signage/text and should not be transparent, too revealing. Head wear is not permitted (except in the case of religious or medical purposes).
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Chandler Care Center Thanksgiving and Toy Distribution Events
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Please Make a Tax Credit Donation
If you are able to make your tax contributions early in the year, your donation would be greatly appreciated and give us a jump start on some of our essential extracurricular activities. We have set a goal to collect approximately $50.00 per family for a total of $57,500.00 and hope that you will be willing to help us meet our goal. Thank you for supporting your child and our school!
Tax Credit Basics…
A tax credit donation is a full refund, not a deduction. Contributions eligible for a tax credit are donated directly to schools, not to the state or school district. To participate or learn more, follow the link listed below to donate online or you can complete the enclosed form and submit your contribution at your convenience.
http://www.cusd80.com/taxcredit
Arizona Law ARS 43-1089.01 enables taxpayers a tax credit contribution of up to $400.00 per year if filing status is “Married, filing Joint Return;” $200.00 per calendar year if filing status is “Single of Head of Household;” and $200 per calendar year if filing status is “Married filing separate returns.” These contributions fund extracurricular activities in public schools and greatly impact our school community and our students.
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ACPHS Traffic Guidelines
Procedures for driving on campus are below and can be downloaded for your convenience. These procedures are to be followed by all families that drop-off and/or pick-up their child, and for students that choose to drive their personal vehicle to school and park in the student parking lot. Staff will be posted along the route to ensure procedures are followed appropriately.
- Parent/guardian vehicles must use the ingress east of the Visitor Parking Lot entrance on Brooks Farm Rd. and form two lanes
- Student vehicles must enter the campus via the ingress east of the JV softball field on Brooks Farm Rd.
- There is NO entrance to the campus from Gilbert Rd.
- Students may be dropped off/picked up along the sidewalks south of the administrative building and west of the B building and gymnasium.
- Parent vehicles in the left lane that have dropped off or picked up their child along the south side of the administrative building may exit the campus via the visitor parking lot exit.
- Parent/guardians in the right lane will exit the campus via the stadium traffic light turning north or south onto Gilbert Rd.
- Entrance to the campus via the visitor parking lot is closed from 7:00-7:30 AM and from 2:00-2:30 daily.
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Stay In Touch!
Follow us on Facebook:
Arizona College Prep High SchoolArizona College Prep - College & Career Center
ACP High School General Boosters
Don't forget to check with teams and clubs for the latest link to their Facebook sites.
Arizona College Prep High School
Don't forget to check with teams and clubs for the latest link to their Twitter sites.
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Contact Information
School Day Begins: 7:15 (gates close at 7:25)
School Day Ends: 2:20
Office Hours: 7:00-3:00
School Address:
4477 S. Gilbert Rd., Chandler, AZ 85249
Phone Numbers:
Administration: 480-424-8700
Attendance: 480-424-8703
Fax: 480-224-9268
Find us on the web: www.cusd80.com/acphs