ATTENTION!
Orientation
To eliminate the long lines orientation (grades K-10) has been divided into two time periods.
- 7th of August, 2008: Students with last name A-K between 3:00pm-5:00pm
- 8th of August, 2008: Students with last name L-Z between 3:00pm-5:00pm
You can come in anytime during these hours. All students should report first to the MPR room. During the orientation, elementary students will have a chance to visit their classrooms and meet their teachers. Please remember that books will not be given out until all fees have been paid. If you need to turn in any paperwork please try to do so before this time. We do need volunteers to help us pass out books and schedules. If you are available please call Patty or Josh at (602) 244-9855, extension 10.
PRINCIPAL’S INSIGHT:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is a great joy to speak to you today for the very first time as the principal of Sonoran Science Academy in Phoenix. It has been a great pleasure and an honor to serve as Vice Principal last year, and this year I am certain that together with my excellent staff and wonderful parents we will accomplish great things, meet any and all challenges, and bring our school to a new level of success.
As the end of summer comes into sight, we find ourselves close to the first days of the new school year with wonderful news to share! The best of our news is the remodeled face of Sonoran Science Academy in Phoenix. By spending more than three hundred thousand dollars we have managed to increase the number of classes in each grade and have completely changed the shape and layout of the elementary side of the campus. The new design of the building should allow Sonoran Science Academy to look as impressive as our school is. For any parents interested to see our accomplishments, please call the front office to set up a tour.
We are also proud to announce a major exterior landscaping project that we will be undertaking prior to the start of school. We will be making the exterior of the building (from the lunch patio area around to the back corner of the playground area) a nice look for all. This will give all of our parents, teachers, and students a fresh and green view to complement the school. Afterwards, we also intend to plant trees outside the fences. We have already received offers for 16 trees all around the fencing of the school, and we are seeking parent and student assistance with the project. For anyone interested, please contact the front office where Miss Patty or Mr. Josh can assist you.
I’m also proud to introduce the new members of our faculty. In our elementary school we have added: Mr. Blake Frels, Ms. Cynthia Black , and Ms. Courtney Eddings. In the middle school and high school staff, we have added: Ms. Brenda Vierden and Ms. Ashley Benning in the English Department, Mr. John Deal for History, Ms. Selma Akin and Mr. Naci for Mathematics, and Mr. Yasin for Science. We have also added new teacher aides and tutors to complement the faculty, and to increase the quality of education our students receive in case they find themselves struggling with our rigorous curriculum.
Once more I’d like to thank you all, both those who have been a part of our family here at Sonoran Science Academy for years now, and those who are just joining us. Together we can make this school something spectacular.
Sincerely Yours,
Mr.Suat Acar
SSA Phoenix
Principal
Supplies Lists
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
If you already purchased the school supply you do not need to purchase any additional items. These are the supplies that students need for 2008-2009 School Year.
Kindergarten Box Kit
Please DO NOT put your child's name on their supplies. We will do this as a class activity on the 1st day.
1 box of Crayons
1 pack of Washable Markers
1 bottle of Hand Sanitizer
1 box of Tissues
2 School Glues (NO Glue Sticks, Please)
1 Small Box of Plain Yellow Pencils
1 Plastic Pencil Box that closes
1 set of Finger Paints in Bottles (Assorted Colors. These will be used with the entire class.)
2 Packs of Construction Paper (Assorted Colors)
1 box of Colored Chalk
5 Folders with Pockets
5 Thin Folders with Clasps for holding 3-Hole-Punched Paper (NOT 3-Ringed Binders)
1 pack of Blank Labels
1 Box of Gallon Ziploc Bags
First Grade Supply Kits
1 - 8 pack Crayola Watercolor Paints (only)
3 - Large Pink Erasers
20 - #2 Pencils
1 - 5" Sharp, Pointed Fiskars Scissors
1 - 24 ct. Crayons (no bigger)
1 - 4 oz. Bottle Elmer's White Glue-All (not school glue)
5 - Glue Sticks
1 - 8 ct. Thick Washable Markers (Classic colors)
1 - Plastic School Box (no larger than 8” X 10”)
5 –Folders (with pockets and brads)
1 - Large Box Kleenex Tissue
1 – Backpack (no wheels) (big enough for a folder)
1 - Paint Shirt (with elbow-length sleeves)
1 - Pencil Pouch for storing math materials, approx. 10”x8”
1 box gallon ziplock bags
1- pack anti-bacterial wipes
1- packet color pencils
3 - First Grade handwriting tablets (with the top part blank for drawing)
5 - spiral composition notebooks (wide rule)
Materials for 2nd Grade Box
Pencils
Crayons
A ruler
Glue
Scissors
4 folders with pockets
A water bottle
A box of tissue
Highlighter
Construction paper
School box
Spiral Notebook
Wide ruled lined paper
Materials for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade box
Scissors
Glue stick
Markers, color pencils, or crayons (one type of colors)
Pencils and erasers
Ruler
Pencil box
4 pocket folders
Sketch pad
Tissues
Composition notebook
Red pen
Pens
Highlighter
Wide-ruled loose-leaf paper
Graph paper (larger squares)
Compass
Protractor
Grades 6-12 Supply List
These items are standard for all students: teacher will let students know of any other items on Monday, August 11th.
Student Planner
Binder with paper and folders (or individual notebooks and folders)
Pencils
Pens
Please note: No backpacks.
PE Uniforms
Students in 6-9th grade will take Physical Education 2 times a week as part of their required classes. Each student will need to dress out in the school PE uniform. If you have purchased a uniform in the past, the same one may be used this year also. PE uniforms will be sold during orientation for $18.00
What You Need To Know
After School Activities
The list of after school activities will be available during orientation. Sign-ups for activities will start that day and continue through the first week of the school.
Attendance
Arizona State Law requires students to be in school. Parents must report their child’s absence. While SSA will continue to call parents whose child is not in school to inform them of the absence, any unreported absences will automatically be notated as an unexcused absence. All absences are part of a student’s permanent record. Excessive absenteeism not only causes academic problems for students, but students with excessive absenteeism , excused or unexcused, may be required by SSA and/or state law to repeat their grade. Absences are considered excessive when the number of absent days exceeds ten percent of the 180 required attendance days prescribed by law. Students who do not attend school on a particular day will not be allowed to participate in activities held on that day, such as sports, dances, club activities, field trips etc.
Please be sure to call in your child’s absences at 602-244-9855 ext. 10. Thanks!
Backpacks
FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: NO BACKPACKS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE LEFT IN THE FRONT OFFICE. ALL BACKPACKS MUST FIT INTO LOCKERS.
Back To School Nights
Mark your calendar! SSA will have a Back to School Night for parents of middle and high school students on Aug 22nd ,2008 Thursday and for parents of elementary students on Aug 21st ,2008 Wednesday . We will meet in the MPR for a general meeting, and then off to your child’s classroom to meet the teachers and go over the syllabus and curriculum. This is not the time to discuss individual students. If you have specific questions regarding your child, please schedule an appointment with the teacher.
Before and After School Curriculum Enrichment Program
The Before and After School Enrichment Program will be administered by SSA. The Before School Program will begin at 6:30 AM and continue until school starts, while the After School Program will start when school or activity is out and continue until 6:00 pm. There will be Before and After Enrichment Program the first day of the school.
For registration, please stop by at the "Before and After School Enrichment Program" area during Parent Orientation.
Please note: any student not picked up by 3:15 PM or with an after school activity will be sent to the after school enrichment program and will not be able to leave until a parent or guardian picks them up.
Start and End Times
Our school will start at 8:05 am and end at 3:06 pm. Students can be dropped off as early as 7:55 am and must be picked up by 3:15 pm.
Bell Schedule
Middle and High School:
8:05—8:58 First Period
9:02—9:55 Second Period
9:59—10:52 Third Period
10:52—11:22 Lunch
11:22—12:15 Study Table
12:19—1:12 Fourth Period
1:16—2:09 Fifth Period
2:13—3:06 Sixth Period
Elementary School:
8:05—9:35 First Period
9:35—10:05 Recess
10:05—11:35 Second Period
11:35—12:19 Lunch + Recess
12:19—1:12 Third Period
1:16—2:09 Fourth Period
2:13—3:06 Fifth Period
Book Deposit
A $120.00 book deposit is collected from all students and allows them to check out one set of textbooks for use at their grade level. The deposit is held and used to pay for lost books/school owned property at the end of the year. If there is no damage to your child’s textbooks, the full amount may either be returned to you, or you may leave it with the school and you will not have to pay any book deposit in the following years your child remains enrolled. What do you do if you lose a textbook during the course of the school year? For any extra books you want to check out after the initial set a $50.00 deposit per book will be charged.
Our parents continuing from last year should pay the difference between $120 and what they paid last year per each student.
Car Pool
Interested in joining a parent car pool? We have a sheet in the front office to sign up on or take names from.
Checking Student Progress
Did you know that at SSA you can track your child’s progress online?! ID and PIN numbers for your child will be mailed to you in within the first month of school starting. These ID and PIN numbers allow you to track your child’s progress in each class. After you receive your child’s ID and PIN number go to our website at www.sonoranacademy.org and click on Student Information System on the left hand side of the screen. Next enter the ID and PIN numbers and choose schedules. Finally, click on Progress on the right hand side of the page of the class you want to check. Your child’s teachers will be updating this information at least one time every week. Need help navigating the system? Come in and see an administrator for help. Current students: Your grades are available online now.
Discipline Point System (DPS)
The major components of the DPS system are highlighted below. For details please refer to Student Handbook that will be given during Parent Orientation.
The DPS system is centered on the idea that every unwanted behavior has a numerical point value which must be assigned. These are some rules governing the point system:
- A teacher can give points only once for the same incident in one class period. The teacher shall fill out a Discipline Referral Form if the same case continues, and contact the Principal.
- A student receiving 10 points in a week (week is defined as from Tuesday to Tuesday) will be required to attend Saturday Detention. Students and parents will be notified no later than Thursday.
- Students required to attend Saturday Detention are rewarded a negative 5 points for attending Saturday Detention and obeying the rules of conduct during Saturday Detention. Students may receive more DPS points, however for any display of poor behavior during detention.
- Failure to attend a Saturday Detention without any confirmed excuse may result in a 1 day out of school suspension.
- An accruement of 25 points or more within a semester period may result in 1 day in school suspension.
- An accruement of 50 points or more within a semester period may result in 1 day out of school suspension.
- An accruement of 70 points or more within a semester period may result in 3 days out of school suspension
- An accruement of 75 points or more within a semester period may result in expulsion.
Dress Code
As you are buying school clothes, please keep in mind the following dress code policy. The SSA dress code will be strictly enforced. It is expected that students will respectfully honor the code. Students are expected to dress appropriately for the school environment. How a student dresses often reflects what that student values and the pride that student takes in him or herself, along with his or her school. Please read the expectations carefully and come to school each day in appropriate dress. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children dress appropriately as they leave home each day. Inappropriate clothing THAT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED in the academic environment includes:
- Short shorts or skirts (shorts must be longer than the longest fingertip length at all times, skirts must be no more than 4 inches above the top of the knee cap).
- Tight revealing clothing, exposed undergarments.
- Low cut tops, halter-tops, crop tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, shirts with shoulders exposed.
- Any shirt that allows the midriff or back to be exposed when arms are fully raised or when student leans over, sits, or reaches.
- Flip flops
- Every pair of pants, shorts, or skirts must have a waistband that fits around the natural waist
PLEASE NOTE! NO LOW-RIDER PANTS, SHORTS, OR SKIRTS!
- Torn clothing including knees torn out.
- Any clothing that advertises, displays, promotes, or alludes to alcohol/drugs, vulgar/obscene language, offensive language, satanic practices, or gangs.
- Any clothing that displays groups or individuals who promote ideas listed above.
- “Studded” jewelry, large wallet or key chains that hang on clothing.
- Hats and Sunglasses will not be allowed to be worn inside the classroom during the school day.
The first time a student breaks the dress code, a letter will be sent home with the student, requiring a parent signature before the student can return to class. The student will be sent home for any subsequent dress code violations and DPS points will be assigned.
High School Students
Please see Mr. Ozel (Vice Principal in charge of academics) regarding your schedule for next year. Please call his office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment at 602-244-9855 x 11.
Lunch
Once again; Catertainment will be catering our lunch program. SSA Students can receive hot lunch from the caterers by paying for the month in advance at the front desk. The average monthly payment is between $45 and $55, but you may apply for free or reduced lunch under the No Child Left Behind Act. Please inquire at the front desk.. We encourage everyone to fill out this application as this information is also used to apply for grants and to receive additional funding from the state and federal government. Payments can be made by check or cash. Lunch is bought by the month and will start on 18th of August, 2008. If you do not wish to participate in the hot lunch program you can bring your own lunch. SSA does not have microwaves or refrigerators available for student use, so please plan accordingly.
Newsletter Advertising
Own a business or work for a business that needs an alternative way to advertise? This school year we will be adding advertising to our newsletter. This will allow us to offset the cost of producing the newsletter, and improve the quality. Advertising space will be limited. Watch the next newsletter for details and advertising policy.
Tax Credit
You can donate up to $400.00 of Tax Credit for married taxpayers that file a joint return. Are you a single or head of household? You can contribute up to $200.00 to a public school. To qualify for the school tax credit you must make a contribution or pay fees to a public school for support of extra curricular activities or for character education programs. Contributions can be dropped off in front office. Receipts will be mailed in January 2009. For questions call Patty or Josh at (602) 244 9855, extension 10.