Weekly Eblast -- 10/16/2026 | |
Students are encouraged to participate in College Week activities and spirit days during the week of October 19-23, 2026! Students, be sure to keep an eye on announcements and your Google Classroom to find out how to be entered to win prizes just for participating! As a reminder, all clothing must be in dress code.
Monday, October 19: Military Academies
Represent one of the United States military academies by wearing camouflage or branch-specific clothing (i.e. U.S. Army shirt or hat).
Tuesday, October 20: In-State Rivalry
ASU vs. UofA vs. NAU! Will you choose to represent Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or University of Arizona? Let's see which university wins!
Wednesday, October 21: Private Universities
Wear college gear such as shirts, hats, or socks representing any private university. Some examples include Grand Canyon University, Embry Riddle, Brigham Young University, Stanford, and University of Southern California.
Thursday, October 22: Community Colleges & Trade Schools
Community colleges and trade schools provide an affordable path to future careers! Wear gear to represent a community college or trade school. Examples include Maricopa Community Colleges, EVIT, and Universal Technical Institute.
Friday, October 23: Favorite College
Show your college spirit by wearing gear from your favorite college or university!
| COLLEGE FAIR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH | |
Students and families are invited to join us for our annual College Fair on Tuesday, October 20th! Meet with representatives from colleges and explore possible options for your future education. This is your opportunity to ask questions and learn more about specific programs, housing, scholarships, honors college options, and more. We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, October 20th
5:30 to 7:15 PM
Multi-Purpose Room
| | JUNIORS & SENIORS:
JOSTEN COMES TO CAMPUS SOON! | | A Jostens representative will be on campus October 30th for a presentation on Jostens Graduation products (Cap/Gowns, Announcements, etc.) In person orders will be available during lunch on November 6. Additionally visit the Horizon Honors Jostens store here. Seniors-Don't forget to order your caps and gowns! | | |
EAGLE EXCELLENCE!
Congratulations to this year’s Horizon Honors High School College Board School Recognition Award recipients!
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Pictured left to right: Greer Masing, Alexandria Duty, Mitchell Rosing, Sam Goldman, Spencer Sims, Jacob Snow, Lucas Holweger, and Elisha Johnson. Aiden Duncan is not pictured.
Introduced in 2025, the School Recognition Award celebrates students who demonstrate academic excellence within their school community. To qualify, students must rank among the top 10% of their high school’s test takers on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 and/or earn a score of 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP Exams by 10th grade.
Congratulations to these Eagles on this academic achievement!
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HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS
To begin the Athletics registration process and review requirements, students must register with Aktivate at aktivate.com. If you have already registered for a Fall sport, you will need to log back into Aktivate and select the Winter Sport you would like to participate in. Forms due October 28th, Tryouts begin November 2nd.
Winter Sports:
- Girls Soccer
- Boys Soccer
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
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.
| BAND CONCERT COMING SOON! | |
Join us for our first band concert of the year and our Dairy Queen fundraiser on Warner and 48th Street after the concert.
Concert Band & Symphonic Band
October 28 @ 6 PM
Multi-Purpose Room
Students need to arrive and be on-stage 20 minutes before.
| | CHIPOTLE NIGHT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21! | | |
Take a night off from cooking and support Horizon Honors at the same time!
Wednesday, October 21
4-8 PM
4111 East Chandler Blvd in Ahwatukee
Chipotle will donate 25% of event sales back to Horizon Honors. Order in Person and show the Fundraiser Flyer, or Order Online for PICKUP using code 2CR8HV3.
| | AP Students, it is time to sign up for your AP Exams! The cost per exam is $100 and payment can be made in PowerSchool. The deadline to pay for AP exams is November 6. | |
GRADES PREK-11 LAST CHANCE SCHOOL PHOTOS
School Pics will host a special picture day at their Ahwatukee studio on Saturday, November 7th from 8 AM to Noon to accommodate staff or students that were newly enrolled since we took pictures or were not able to take a school portrait on those days. Their address is 9830 S. 51st Street, Suite A-130 in Phoenix. Please register and book your appointment using the “Schedule Appointment” link on their website. If you have any questions, please email tara@schoolpicsaz.com. Note: these photos will NOT be included in the Yearbook.
| WILDERNESS CLUB CATALINA ISLAND TRIP | |
Wilderness Club
Catalina Island Marine Institute Trip
Depart: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2027 at 10 PM
Return: Friday, February 26th at approximately 10 PM
About the trip: CIMI is a STEM-based outdoor science school that provides hands-on marine science and island ecology programs for students.
Core Activities & Programs at CIMI -
- Marine Science Labs: Students work with live specimens and specialized equipment in labs focused on fish, sharks, algae, oceanography, invertebrates, and plankton, plus hands-on squids dissections.
- Water & Field Exploration: Activities include guided snorkeling, beach games, touch tanks and tidepooling to experience local marine life up close.
- Island Adventures: Programs feature terrestrial hikes and leadership challenges like climbing walls and low ropes courses.
- Evening Programs: Nighttime sessions include night snorkeling, astronomy night hikes, campfires, deep-sea discovery talks, and marine mammal studies.
The Following Must Be Submitted to Reserve a Spot:
- Payment of AT LEAST Club Dues/Trip Deposit to PowerSchool
- Signed Permission Slip, Student Conduct Form & Health Form submitted to Ms. Bors, students may pick up a permission slip from Ms. Bors.
Failure to Pay the Full Balance by The Deadline (without prior arrangement) may prompt being moved to the Waitlist
Total Cost:
$650 per student.
- this is broken down into 3 payments.
1. Deposit = $100, (includes $50 non-refundable club fee.)
2. Payment 2 = $275
3. Payment 3 = $275
How to Pay:
If you have a PowerSchool Account:
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Log In to your PowerSchool Account.
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Select Purchases & Payments from the Sidebar.
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Select the Student you are Shopping for.
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Select Items At Student’s School and then click on STUDENT CLUBS.
There will be 2 options to pay the Deposit of $100:
o TXCR Catalina Payment Tax Credit Non-Refundable
o Catalina Payment Non-Tax Credit
The Remainder Fee will be due at a later date. The $50 Non-Refundable Wilderness Club Dues are included in the Deposit.
Please remember, the fee for Catalina Island Trip qualifies for the Arizona State School Tax Credit and TWO payment options are available - one clearly labeled as Tax Credit Eligible. These fee payments are non-refundable. NO EXCEPTIONS.
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SAVE THE DATE:
ART SHOW & GUITAR SHOWCASE
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Save the date for the Horizon Honors Art Show & Guitar Showcase
Friday, December 4th
6-8 PM
| REMINDER: PICKLEBALL CLUB | Middle School and High School Pickleball Club will be starting on October 27th from 3-4:15 PM at Pecos Park. Parents are responsible for transportation. Please fill out the attached permission slip. Students need their permission slip signed before they are able to participate. If you have any questions, please email susan.sorel@horizonhonors.org | THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT FALL INTO FUN! | |
Horizon Honors Community Building Council (CBC) would like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make this year's event such a success! From our incredible sponsors and vendors to our amazing volunteers, Horizon clubs and teams, staff, and the families who came out to enjoy the evening — Fall Into Fun would not have been possible without all of you!
We are incredibly grateful to the businesses and community partners who supported our event. Your generosity, time, and willingness to be part of our Horizon Honors community helped make the evening special for our families.
A very special thank you to:
- Arizona Financial Credit Union
- Chica Hot Sauce
- AZ Inflatable Events
- Sweet Magnolias
- Jeremiah's Italian Ice
- Ed & Kids Photo Booth
Thank you to all of the clubs and teams who brought activities, games, and energy to the field. Your participation helps make our event unique. To every parent, staff member, and community member who volunteered their time — we couldn't have done it without you! Whether you helped set up, worked an attraction, sold tickets, ran a booth, or stayed late to clean up, your contribution mattered.
Finally, thank you to our families! Thank you for coming out, supporting CBC, buying tickets, participating in the activities, enjoying the food, cheering each other one, and making Fall Into Fun such a fun night for everyone.
The funds raised through CBC events, like Fall Into Fun, allow us to continue putting money directly back into our schools and create opportunities and experiences for our students.
We are so grateful for the incredible community we have at Horizon Honors and are excited to start planning for next year's event.
If you'd like to join the planning committee for next year's event or to join the CBC, please email horizoncbc@gmail.com.
| QUARTER 2 LUNCH MENU NOW OPEN | |
Lunch service begins on Monday, October 19th!
Look for new menu items from:
Zzeeks:Two & Four piece Chicken strips & Fries, Salads, Meatballs & Marinara, Fried Pickles, Mozzarella Sticks, Cauliflower Pizza, New Pastas & Dessert!
Mr. Pickle's: Toasted & warm sandwiches: Roast Beef & Cheddar, Pastrami & Swiss, Turkey & Cheddar, Chicken & Monterey, with side options of lettuce & tomato & sauce. House salad & Santa Fe Salad.
Green Chile Love: SmashBurger, Cheese Quesadilla, & Baked Potato w/chicken. (NOTE: GCL has moved to Thursday)
Wow Wow Lemonade: Maui Chicken Flatbread, Cobb Salad
Red Robin: Gourmet Cheeseburger, Hamburger & Chicken Sandwich (regular & GF option), Chocolate Chip fudge filled cookie.
All orders, changes, and cancellations must be made 2 days in advance by 11 AM.
Orders for Monday, October 19 must be placed by 11 AM on Saturday, October 17th.
Questions? Email lunches@horizonhonors.org.
Vendor Delivery Schedule:
Monday - Zzeeks Pizza, Canes & Wow Wow Lemonade
Tuesday - Chick fil A & Mr Pickle's
Wednesday - Venezia's & NYPD
Thursday - Panera, Wow Wow Lemonade, Honey Baked Ham & Green Chile Love
Friday - Red Robin & Someburros
Vendors rotate and deliver every other week in Secondary School.
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CHATGPT FOR TEENS RATED AN "UNACCEPTABLE RISK"
Newly announced research findings about ChatGPT's efforts to make its product safer for teens are unfortunately not surprising.
In August 2026, OpenAI began rolling out "ChatGPT for Teens" accounts, promising built-in protections such as alerts to parents when a teen's chats raise serious concerns, a Study mode to encourage learning rather than handing out answers, less "friend-like" behavior from the chatbot, and filters to limit exposure to harmful content.
When Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute tested these safety features, they found that ChatGPT still gave many risky responses and, even when linked to parent accounts, failed to send alerts to parents when it was supposed to.
The bottom line: they rated ChatGPT for Teens an "Unacceptable Risk" for all kids under 18, and are calling on OpenAI to keep teens off ChatGPT until it can offer a safe experience. In today's blog, I go over the key findings and talk about why calls for regulation should not be ignored.
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