|
|
Office Hours:
M, T, Th, F: 7:30 am - 4 pm
W: 7:30 am - 2:30 pm
480.222.4233
|
|
ARETE PREP
Important Information
for 2020-2021
|
|
Dear Families,
Thank you for your continued partnership and patience as we work to ramp up the school year. As we begin regular newsletters again keep an eye out for invitations to our upcoming events, links to your student’s google classroom (1
st
week in August) and general school information. In this time of remote learning, email is the way to stay most informed about the happenings of Arete Prep.
It is with a heavy heart that I come to terms with starting the school year online and I know the best thing for students is to have meaningful work that engages their minds and hearts. I am eager for our students and teachers to once again join in this work together knowing that we are working diligently for students and faculty to return to campus safely.
Next week we will send information about meeting your teachers and new family orientation.
I am excited to begin building community virtually!
|
|
Julia Gillingham | Headmaster, Arete Prep
|
|
Great Hearts Safe Return Plan
|
|
Click here
for the most up-to-date info from Great Hearts regarding our safe return.
|
|
The first day of online school is Friday, August 7th. Watch for emails for more information!
In person start date is Tuesday, September 1st.
Should local officials extend school closures, we will certainly comply and notify you of any changes.
|
|
Great Hearts Second Town Hall Scheduled
|
|
Save the date of Monday, July 27 for a second Town Hall where the updated Great Hearts Distance Learning (GHDL) plan will be further explained. A day in the life of GHDL, plans for on-campus safety procedures and what parents and students can expect during a typical day on campus will also be discussed in depth.
The
video will be uploaded
within 48 hours of the event for those who are unable to watch it live.
|
|
Arete Prep & Communication
|
|
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.
|
|
Configio - Online Parent Payment Portal
|
|
Arete Prep has an online parent payment system,
Configio
, that is used to avoid handling checks and cash at the school. Use
this link
to view what’s in the Online Parent Payment system. Payments such as clubs, sports, parking permits, etc. can be made
here
.
|
|
Your child’s classes will utilize classic works of literature during the upcoming school year. At Great Hearts Academies, it has always been the tradition for students to develop a personal library of books that they write in, keep, and even revisit during their time at the academy. These are books they can treasure for years to come. We call these books, “Classics to Keep.”
Families may purchase these books from Barnes & Noble at San Tan Valley or whichever vendor they choose. We require that all books match the ISBN’s listed on our
booklist
. This ensures that students can follow along on the same page when reading and discussing in class.
Watch for book distribution instructions.
|
|
Used uniforms
may be
available for purchase after we are able to have faculty and students on campus.
|
|
New Volunteer Fingerprint Process
|
|
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.
With the times that we are currently experiencing, volunteers will not be allowed on campus until we are in-person approved, but the process can be completed so that volunteering can resume as soon as we are back on campus.
|
|
Dear New Families,
We are excited to welcome you to Arete Preparatory Academy, and even if the beginning of this school year looks drastically different than we are used to, we remain committed to that which makes us who we are, namely the beauty of learning for learning sake and the value of community. One vital part of what makes this school so special is our Mentoring Program.
Our Mentoring Program pairs an exemplary high school student with a new student so as to assist new students in acclimating to our rigorous and unique culture while at the same time providing immediate friendship and community for your child.
What you can expect:
- At the beginning of the last week in July, Mentors will receive their mentees and later that week will be in contact with your child—they will be given your phone number and email for the purpose of communication. They will first attempt a phone call, and if unsuccessful, will send a follow-up email with their phone numbers. This initial phone call is vital to establishing a trusting relationship. Please be on the lookout for this call and if you have not received a phone call from the mentor by the beginning of August, please let me know asap.
- Our Lead Mentors are also putting together a video to welcome the new students and to give them some important advice for beginning school and staying organized and caught up during distance learning. We will make this video accessible by the first week of August.
- Later in August, you can expect more communication and information about coming back to campus, and we expect that our Mentors will be of vital support in this transition.
Our Mentoring Program is meant to support your child as best we can, so he or she should never hesitate to reach out to their mentor with anything.
|
|
Thank you to our Community Investment donors!
Your consistent and generous giving directly impacts our teachers, our staff and our students.
These donations are necessary to compensate for how we are publicly funded. Each and every gift is important and appreciated.
Please reach out to
Jessica Vaughan
if you have questions about how you can support Community Investment for the upcoming school year.
|
|
The following are updated start dates for fall athletics at Arete Prep. These are of course, subject to change based on Arizona, AIA and GHMSL policy and procedure.
H
igh School Athletics: Practice begins 8/17, first competition date is 9/7.
Middle School Athletics: Practice begins 8/24, first competition TBD
Registration for athletics will open on 8/1. Due to Covid-19, a new sports physical is required for ALL fall athletes. NO physicals from the 19-20 school year will be accepted. We are working on hosting physicals on campus, but in the meantime you are welcome to get one completed with your local physician, urgent care, or minute clinic.
@areteprepchargers
|
|
Welcome New and Returning Arete Prep Families!
|
|
The Arete Prep Parent Service Organization, PSO, hopes you are having a safe and healthy summer. We know that many families (especially new families) have questions about the upcoming year, including questions about uniforms, volunteering, and school activities.
|
|
Arete Preparatory Academy | 480.222.4233
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
