HORIZON HONORS: 30 YEARS STRONG!

2026 marks a special milestone for Horizon Honors Schools as we celebrate 30 years! Since our founding, our community members have helped shape a school culture rooted in curiosity, purpose, and meaningful learning. Throughout the year, we look forward to honoring our past, celebrating our present, and sharing what’s ahead as we mark 30 years strong!

REMINDER: COMPLETE YOUR INTENT TO RETURN FORM

As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, it is essential that we know which students will be returning to Horizon Honors. The Intent to Return Form was sent via email earlier this week and must be completed online.

• This form asks parents to indicate if their child WILL or WILL NOT be returning to Horizon Honors Schools next year.
• We need the completed form even if you are NOT returning to Horizon Honors.
• You must complete a separate online form for each student currently enrolled at Horizon Honors (check your email inbox for an email for each student).
• No paper forms are available. This process must be completed online.

If you do not complete this form for each student in your family by January 14, 2026, we will not hold your enrollment spot for the 2026-2027 school year. Questions about the form? Email registrar@horizonhonors.org.

COFFEE CONNECTION NEXT FRIDAY!

Parents & Guardians: Join us for the next Coffee Connection on Friday, January 16 at 8:15 AM in the Gym Courtyard. Meet other families and Horizon Honors Staff Members! Coffee and pastries will be provided. Check in at the Main Office with your ID. See you there!

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE HOMECOMING TAILGATE!

Come watch the Horizon Honors High School Basketball Games at the Tailgate Party!

JV Girls @ 2:30 PM

JV Boys @ 4 PM

Varsity Girls @ 5:30 PM

Varsity Boys @ 7:30 PM

Homecoming Royalty Crowning @ approximately 6 PM

• Admission is free for Horizon Honors students & staff with ID.
• Adults are $7; Non-Horizon Honors students (with ID) are $3.
• Get tickets with the Go Fan app or pay cash at the door.



Yum Rockets and The Snowy Churro will be selling food from their trucks! Cash and card are accepted. 

HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK THEMES!

Tuesday, January 20th - Hiding in the Gardens Day

Wear camo, florals, or forest colors



Wednesday, January 21st - Friends in the Forest Day

Twin day: wear matching outfits with a friend

Thursday, January 22nd - Fairytale Day

Dress as any fairytale or folktale character

Friday, January 23rd - White Out Day

Wear white to school and to the tailgate

VOTE FOR HORIZON HONORS IN BEST OF AHWATUKEE!

It's time to once again vote for Horizon Honors Schools for the Best of Ahwatukee! We have won many of these categories over the last several years. Help us dominate once again and vote every day through January 30!

Categories that include Horizon Honors Schools:

54. Best Place to Work

85. Best Preschool

86. Best High School Teacher

87. Best Elementary/Middle School Teacher

88. Best Charter School

96. Best School Leader/Principal

You do NOT have to vote in every category. Please set a reminder to vote daily!

MAIN EVENT FUNDRAISER JANUARY 18!

Please join Horizon Honors for a fundraiser at Main Event Tempe!

Sunday, January 18

4-7 PM

8545 S. Emerald Drive in Tempe

20% of all sales will be donated to Horizon Honors! Earn donations on all activities, video games, food, gift cards, & non-alcoholic beverages.

Please be sure to drop all receipts at the end of the night into the receipt drop-off box to ensure your purchase is accounted for. See you there!

VIP & ME TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

VIP & Me - Tropical Nights

Saturday, February 7 from 5-8 PM

Couples $35 - Additional Guests $10/each

Activities Include:

DJ & Glow Dances

Portraits & Photo Booth

Selfie Stations

Cupcake Walk

Crafts in MPR

Goody Bags

Horizon Bucks - Sold In Increments of $5

Get your tickets now!

SPRING SPORTS TRYOUTS

Tryouts begin February 17th for these sports:

• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Co-ed Cheer
• Girls Flag Football

To begin the Athletics registration process and review requirements, students must register with Aktivate at aktivate.com. Forms are due February 4th.

Please note that a sports physical is required BEFORE tryouts along with all the required sports paperwork.

If you need assistance, please call 480-659-3000 and ask for the Athletic Department.

COMPETITIVE PICKLEBALL TRYOUTS FOR NEW MEMBERS

Tryouts for new competitive pickleball members are Friday, January 23rd from 3-4:15 PM at Pecos Park.

If your student was on the team last semester, they will need to pay the fee for this semester by January 29th in Powerschool. 

Practices for Competitive Pickleball will be starting on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning January 20th. Practices are 3:00-4:15 pm at Pecos Park. Games are played at various sites. A big regional tournament will be played in March at Dink and Dine.

REMINDER: MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SPRING TESTING!

Below is the Spring 2026 State Testing Schedule. Please note that different grade levels test on different days. On other days, certain grade levels have a late start to the school day as they are not testing that morning. Plan for your student’s attendance and punctuality during testing weeks. State testing is mandatory. 

WEEK 1 TESTING:

Monday, March 30 (Silver Day)

Grades 7, 8 & 9 - AASA & ACT Aspire Writing 

Grades 10, 11 & 12 - Late Start @ 10:30 AM

Wednesday, April 1 (Silver Day)

Grades 8 & 11 - AZSci

Grade 7 - On-Campus Activity

Grades 9, 10 & 11 - Late Start @ 9:30 AM

Friday, April 3 (Silver Day)

Grade 11 - ACT Test in the Gym

WEEK 2 TESTING:

Monday, April 6 (Blue Day)

Grades 7 & 8 - AASA ELA Reading 

Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12 - Late Start @ 10:30 AM

Wednesday, April 8 (Blue Day)

Grades 7, 8 & 9 - AASA & ACT Aspire Math

Grades 10, 11 & 12 - Late Start @ 10:30 AM

Friday, April 10 (Blue Day)

Grades 8, 9 & 11 - AZSci Sections 2 & 3 (8 & 11) & ACT Aspire Science/English (9)

Grade 7 - On-Campus Activity

Grades 10 & 12 - Late Start @ 10:30 AM

Students may not be on campus before their late start times each day. After testing on each day, arrival time is 9:30/10:30 AM and regular class blocks will begin at 9:40/10:40 a.m. On those days, each block will be shortened and students will have one lunchtime around the same time as they normally eat during Blocks 3/7. 

Finally, please view this information sheet from the State of Arizona’s Department of Education so you may understand more about the state tests and requirements for each grade level.

We will have more specific instructions for you and your student as testing dates approach.

8 FAMILY TECH HABITS TO BUILD IN 2026

Why have any screen time policies/rules for our kids anyway? Devices provide endless entertainment, connection to others, relief from FOMO, a sense of competency that comes from leveling up in a game, and much more.

But this comes at a cost. Allowing the “treat” side of tech (vs. the “tool” side) to overly consume our children’s time is not in their best interest, nor that of our families or schools.

That’s why having policies/rules around tech is valuable and worth the work.

Using the new year as an opportunity for a fresh start, in today's blog I'm sharing 8 ideas for families to discuss and introduce at home, aimed at establishing healthier tech habits in 2026 and strengthening family connection.

16233 South 48th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85048

Office: 480.659.3000

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