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Office Hours:
M, T, Th, F: 7:30 am - 4 pm
W: 7:30 am - 2:30 pm
480.222.4233
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From Headmaster Gillingham |
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Dear Families,
We have had two new unrelated confirmed cases of COVID on campus for a total of three cases on campus this week. These cases resulted in 40 students being quarantined. As cases continue to increase, I ask you to be particularly mindful about gatherings or travel as we head back to school in January. We will be taking the first three days back as online learning days for all students. We will also be hosting community testing Wednesday, January 6 from 2:30 to 4 pm. I ask that if you travel or attend a large (10 or more people) gathering that you get your child tested before they return to campus.
The CDC states that tests taken five days after travel or possible exposure, should be accurate.
Since we opened for in person instruction on Thursday, September 3, we have had a total of 15 cases on campus that were potential exposures for others on campus. We had two cases from September through October with the majority of cases occurring November through December. This is reflective of the case counts we see in Maricopa county.
I am grateful to be able to provide in person instruction and I am committed to safe guarding that opportunity. This is only possible through the vigilance of our community. I ask that you act with an abundance of caution those seven days before we return to school with the hope of reducing or eliminating exposures on campus.
Thank you for your partnership and support. I wish you and your family a restful break.
Sincerely,
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Julia Gillingham
Headmaster, Arete Preparatory Academy
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Congratulations to Chloe Stoops on completing her Girl Scout Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout can earn.
In Chloe’s reflection of her process she shared the following “First, I had to identify a problem or challenge in my community. Then, I spent 80+ hours researching and implementing a sustainable solution.
For my project, I investigated the discrepancies between the number of men and women in STEM careers. I found that one of the root causes was the lack of women role models for young women who were interested in STEM careers. As a result of this, I interviewed several women and asked them about the joys, challenges, and experiences they've had as women in STEM careers. I asked what advice they would give to girls interested in pursuing a career in STEM. I loved hearing their stories! I took what they shared with me and created a website that highlights each of these women, as well as provides additional links and resources for the girls who visit the site. My website is hosted by the ASU chapter of SWE (Society of Women Engineers) and I hope that it will encourage other girls, like myself, who want to pursue a career in STEM.
I hope it will be an encouragement to girls in our community and across the nation.”
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Retake and Missed Picture Day |
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Students that would like retakes and students that missed the Fall Picture Day can have the pictures taken on Thursday, January 7. They will be called down for pictures in the morning.
To order pictures:
Order code: 53063YB
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Understanding COVID Expenses |
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A Great Hearts education at Arete Prep is only possible with the support of our families and friends.
Your gifts to Community Investment and your contribution of your Public School Tax Credit are crucial to the success of our academy. In fact, they make an immediate difference to our operational budget.
Did you know that we have spent $435 per pupil on COVID related expenses? This includes expenses related to both in-person and remote learning: desk shields, increased cleaning from day porters, enhanced software, and updated webcams/microphones, etc.
We received $3.52 per pupil from FEMA and $83.82 per pupil from the CARES Act to pay for COVID related expenses. We maintain $347.60 per pupil in expenses that we do not foresee being reimbursed. This is in addition to the gap in funding we receive from the state in comparison to our neighboring district schools.
The safety of your students and teachers is our #1 priority. We are incredibly grateful for having the capacity to protect our community to the best of our ability. Your support of Community Investment and Tax Credit through donations are crucial. Will you consider giving to one or both today?
Thank you sincerely and happy holidays!
Jessica Vaughan, Academy Giving Manager
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Arete Prep will have uniform approved sweatshirts for sale through Anton Uniforms in January. What the newsletter for more information! |
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Dress Code, Masks and Hygiene |
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As your students grow taller, their clothes seem to get smaller! Over break, please check your student's skirt or pants length. The family handbook states that "pants must reach to the shoe but may not drag on the ground" and when a skirt is at the waist, "the skirt hem should be touching the top of the knee."
If a student's pants or skirt length is too short, you can expect to be contacted by the school. Be proactive in making sure they are in dress code after break.
For CDC guidelines about How to Store and Wash Masks, visit this link.
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Our 2021 yearbook staff is capturing all the interesting memories we are making this year! Make sure to order your yearbook now for just $50 or order online at jostens.com.
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Click here for PSAT details and how your student can prepare for the exam.
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Mesa Community College and Chandler-Gilbert Community College
To schedule, an appointment click on one of the links below.
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PSO is looking forward to welcoming previous and new Arete Prep families and working with families to support the school admin and teachers this year. A few things to note:
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The CDC revised its coronavirus guidelines on December 2, 2020, offering alternatives to its 14 day recommended quarantine period for individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19. The two new alternatives for the 14 day quarantine period can either (1) end after 10 days without a COVID-19 test if the individual is asymptomatic or (2) end after 7 days with a negative COVID-19 test and is asymptomatic. Please look for a communication from us soon about the implementation of these new guidelines, if, and after they are adopted by the Maricopa County of Health and Great Hearts Academies.
Traveling for the holiday season? Please review the International Travel Guidelines for COVID-19 below:
· Stay home for 14 days after you return from international AIR travel.
· Take your temperature two times a day and monitor for fever (100.4>). Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
· Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work, school, or school activities/sports.
· Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares.
· Receive a negative COVID-19 test result 5 days or more after returning.
For your family’s safety and the safety of our school community, please note that certain countries/states are still experiencing an increase in Covid-19 cases. Click here for more information
The Maricopa County Department of Health defines a “close contact” as someone who has been within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for an accumulated time of 15 min or more over a period of 24 hours. If you have not received a notification from us, you were not determined to be in close contact with the student. To maintain privacy, we cannot divulge any additional information. Please reach out to Headmaster Chaney via email with any questions.
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Attention Remote Learning Families |
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Arete Prep would love to include your perspective of what you've experienced learning from home! Please send us good quality photos and stories for the yearbook of your remote learning experience to: apayearbook20@gmail.com
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As you begin to make your holiday plans, please remember that any international travel will result in quarantine (as many as 14 days) before your child/ren are permitted to return to school. The GreatHearts International Travel Policy can be found in our COVID Incident Response Guidelines and below for your convenience. Please notify administration if your family intends to travel internationally.
International Travel Isolation Guidelines
1. Stay home for 14 days after you return home from international travel.
2. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for a fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
3. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school
4. Do not take public transportation taxis, or ride-shares.
5. Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters)
Please note that Puerto Penasco is considered international
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Lunch Drop Off Updates, New Policies |
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MIDDLE SCHOOL: There will be a cart OUTSIDE the front office doors from 10:20 am - 11:20 am for lunches, the cart will be moved to the courtyard at 11:20 for students to pick up lunches.
HIGH SCHOOL: There will be a cart OUTSIDE the front office doors from 11:15 am - 12:15 pm for lunches, the cart will be moved to the courtyard at 12:20 for students to pick up lunches.
PLEASE NOTE: there will be no supervision of the lunch cart and we will not be responsible for lost lunches. Door Dash/Uber Eats will need to be delivered onto the cart as we will not accept them in the front office. They can be delivered between 10:20 am - 11:20 am.
If you are attending in-person and borrowed an Arete Prep Laptop/Device, please hold onto the laptop until further notice.
Google Classroom Help
Remote Learning Info:
https://areteprepacademy.greatheartsamerica.org/remote-learning/
There will be NO student item drop off during the day.
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We ask that students not wear masks with exhalation valves, vents or mesh. These type of masks do not prevent the person wearing the mask from transmitting COVID-19 to others. The purpose of masks is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others to aid with source control. |
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New Volunteer Clearance Process |
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Great Hearts has changed the volunteer fingerprint process effective with the 2020-21 school year. The application is entirely online and available now. All volunteers must be approved through this new online procedure, including those with previously issued/non-expired Great Hearts badges, there will be no exceptions. Please note, when selecting the school, it will not differentiate between Arete Prep and Archway Arete, it will simply state Great Hearts Arete. The system will approve you for both schools.
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Arete Prep & Communication |
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A weekly email newsletter for parents is sent each Friday and includes important upcoming events and information from the school including College Counseling and the Parent Service Organization.
Please be aware that our preferred method of communication is via email, so it is vital that we have up-to-date email addresses on file so that we can keep you informed. Please email Beth Melvin with any updates to email addresses.
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Arete Preparatory Academy | 480.222.4233 |
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