Horizon Honors Schools

Today is Custodian Appreciation Day! The Horizon Honors Maintenance Team is THE BEST. They help every single community member, every single school day. We hope they are enjoying some much-deserved time off during Fall Break. ❤

Have a safe and fun Fall Break, Eagles! We will see you on Thursday, October 12 for the start of Quarter 2! 🍂

Record Breaker! 🏆

Congratulations to Horizon Honors High School Junior Addyson Gauer, who broke the Girls' Volleyball record for career digs! 🏐

Addyson began high school volleyball career as a Freshman on the Varsity Team, playing several different positions. She has served as starting Libero for the last 2 years and is Team Captain this season.

The previous record of 1,003 digs was held by Horizon Honors Class of 2018's Guiliana Castronova.

Way to go, Addyson! 🦅

As Attendance Awareness Month wraps up, we hope our Horizon Honors families remember the importance of being at school each day!

Families with students in Grades 5-6: Last chance to enter!

https://az529.gov/EssayContest/

Earlier this month, the Horizon Honors Lego Robotics teams hosted Global Master Model Builder Alec Posta of Merlin Entertainment who builds, designs, and maintains models for Legoland Discovery Center. Mr. Posta explained the creativity involved and what inspires him to build and create!

Winners of today’s Horizon Honors Middle School Spirit Trophy at the pep rally!

Myles DeGraff
Marcel DeGraff
Audrina Lopez
Zariana Osiris

Marcel also won the Sharks and Minnows game against the teachers.

Thank you to Boy Scout Troop 278 who recently retired some of the Horizon Honors' campus flags.

The flags were retired in a beautiful and reverent ceremony at Desert Breeze Park with about 50 people in attendance. Troop members were careful to pay respect to nearly 20 flags that were retired that evening.

HORIZON HONORS MOVIE ON THE FIELD REMINDERS:

‣ Gates open @ 5 pm.

‣ Dinner distribution will take place in the Concession Stand area from 5 to 6:45 pm. Proceeds raised from dinner sold will be used for Staff Snack Stations during ILP Days. Thank you for your contributions!

‣ Carnival games, candy, snacks, drinks & glow Items will be sold for $1/ea - CASH ONLY!

‣ Water & Ice Shaved Ice - $5/ea - Cash or Debit/Credit Cards will be accepted

‣ The movie will begin when it is dark, sometime after 7 pm.

‣ Children must be supervised.

‣ State law prohibits any alcohol or drugs on school campuses.

See you there!

The first band concert for this year’s Horizon Honors Beginning Band was held last night! Bravo! 🎼🎵🎶

Horizon Honors Elementary School students LOVE Art Masterpiece! These volunteer-run art projects are held once a quarter. Earlier this month Grades 1-2 students learned about Van Gogh's "The Starry Night." 🎨

Horizon Honors High School students and Girls Scouts Catherine Lowe, Greer Masing, Sarah Spresney, and Wren Masing recently earned their Girl Scout Silver Service Awards! The students identified the project (sleeping mats for the homeless), collected plastic grocery bags, cut up the bags and made "plarn", learned to crochet, and used the plarn to crochet the sleeping mats. The mats will be delivered to D squared Homes for the Homeless. Each scout put at least 50 hours into the project!

Congratulations!

Last chance to order your dinners for Horizon Honors' Movie on the Field! Orders are due Sunday, September 17! 🎥

https://az-horizonhonors.intouchreceipting.com/signin

From Teacher Day:

Legendary Teacher Day is September 28!

Tell us about a Legendary Teacher in your life. We’d love to hear from you and so would your teacher. As a thank you for your time, we’ll post your tribute as a Legendary Teacher Feature on our social media presence. And, from time to time we will randomly select submissions and reach out to your teacher. We’ll send them a gift card in your name as a small token of appreciation for the impact they had on you.

https://www.legendaryteacher.com/Tribute

Tribute | Legendary Teacher Day Tribute Welcome to the Legendary Teacher Tribute presented by School Webmasters. We will celebrate Legendary Teacher Day on September 28, 2023. Dr. Clement professes that Legendary Teachers…. Strive to help students discover and understand concepts. Engage students in creative learning activities....

We love PreK at Horizon Honors! 📱

Our phones are now calculators, so it makes sense that our calculators are now phones! 🤣📞

Horizon Honors Schools has immediate openings for the following:

➡️ Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
➡️ Grades 3-4 Teacher Assistant
➡️ Middle School Math Teacher

Full-time employees receive a competitive benefits package, paid time off, and AZ state retirement participation.

We are also offering a $1,000 starting bonus (after 90 days!)💰

Join a dynamic school team and help students achieve their best. Apply today! 🦅

https://www.horizonhonors.org/careers

September is Attendance Awareness Month!

One of Horizon Honors School's values is responsibility. It is everyone's responsibility to make sure our students attend school each day.

Attendance Fast Facts:
✔️ When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances of graduating.

✔️Chronically absent students are less likely to read at grade level by the 3rd Grade, increasing their risk of dropping out.

The Horizon Honors High School Club is once again collecting baby items for the Kiwanis Ahwatukee annual baby shower! Deadline for collections is Sept. 25.

While special needs are backpack diaper bags, toddler bibs, and toddler clothing in sizes 18-months to 4T, the club would also welcome new and gently used cribs, strollers, clothing for infants and toddlers, shoes, baby blankets, diapers, toys and gift cards.

https://www.ahwatukee.com/community_focus/article_0b6244cc-45f6-11ee-b0bf-a3de4ac78cbf.html

Kiwanis seeks help for annual baby shower It’s not easy raising babies.

Last month, members of the Horizon Honors EagleBots Lego Robotics Team took part at an event at ASU where they learned from referees and judges about team-based robotics and mission challenges.

The team will compete in December with other local schools, in designing, building, coding, and operating their robots. FIRST® LEGO® League introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children through hands-on learning. Team members gain real-world problem solving experience through a guided, global robotics program.

We are proud to announce that once again Horizon Honors High School is a U.S. News "Best High School!"

➡ #1,120 in National Rankings
➡ #20 in Arizona High Schools
➡ #13 in Phoenix, AZ Metro Area High Schools
➡ #208 in National Charter High Schools

The U.S. News Best High Schools rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 18,000 schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.

This year’s rankings showcase the schools whose students demonstrate outstanding outcomes, including achieving high graduation rates, a U.S. News release said.

Congratulations to the entire Horizon Honors community for this award. All of our staff, students, and families contributed directly to this achievement. The drive of our students, the hard work of our teachers and staff, and the commitment from our families are the reason for this celebration!

Read more at:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/arizona/districts/horizon-community-learning-center-inc/horizon-honors-secondary-school-754

Congratulations, Eagles!

Horizon Honors Schools is hiring! Share the info with your friends and family!

Apply at:
https://www.horizonhonors.org/careers

Horizon Honors' Alum Jack Vanderpol of the band Viper Club is featured in this recent story from Ahwatukee Foothills News! See Viper Club on Saturday, August 26 as part of the 59 X Fest at the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix!

https://www.ahwatukee.com/get_out/article_19c00438-407d-11ee-a2c7-27b280544e3c.html

Ahwatukee band will be rocking 59 X Fest For over two years, Ahwatukee-founded rock trio Viper Club and Popsicle Stick Airport, comprising Queen Creek and Gilbert indie rockers, have been managed by Phoenix-based artist management company 59 X

Horizon Honors Elementary School Big Morning Meetings began THIS WEEK!

Big Morning Meeting is a student-led community gathering that incorporates patriotism, and individual and school-wide celebrations centered around our school values.

Grades K & 1-2 - Wednesdays & Fridays at 8:15 AM
Grades 3-4 - Tuesdays at 8:15 AM
Grades 5-6 - Mondays at 8 AM

Parents and Guardians are welcome to join us! See you there!

Starting Wednesday, August 23rd, Horizon Honors community members are no longer permitted to park, drop off, or pick up in the St. Benedict Parking Lot just north of our campus.

🚗WHAT THIS MEANS:🚗

‣ All students who drive to school must park in the Mountain Park Church Lot ONLY. Students are never permitted to park in the Horizon Honors parking lot.

‣ Campus visitors may use the Horizon Honors parking lot designated visitor spaces or the Mountain Park Church Lot.

‣ Horizon Honors staff members will no longer direct traffic or monitor the St. Benedict Lot.

If you attempt to use the St. Benedict Lot, please remember we are no longer contracted to use the area and by doing so it could cause problems with St. John Bosco School traffic and/or your vehicle may get cited or towed.

We appreciate your immediate cooperation. Thank you.

We love that some classes have started to use the new outdoor learning space, funded with last year's donations!

Congratulations to Horizon Honors High School Senior Antonio Arellano for earning the $1,000 Youth Development Scholarship from Dsquared Homes for the Homeless YDP program!

Dsquared’s program rewards students educational scholarships for lettering in “service." They volunteer with community partners that serve those homeless and mental health-challenged communities. Learn more about their Youth Development Program at https://www.dsquared4homeless.org/

Congrats, Antonio! 🎉

From Teacher Day:

Tell us about a Legendary Teacher in your life. We’d love to hear from you and so would your teacher. As a thank you for your time, we’ll post your tribute as a Legendary Teacher Feature on our social media presence. And, from time to time we will randomly select submissions and reach out to your teacher. We’ll send them a gift card in your name as a small token of appreciation for the impact they had on you.

https://www.legendaryteacher.com/Tribute

Tribute | Legendary Teacher Day Tribute Welcome to the Legendary Teacher Tribute presented by School Webmasters. We will celebrate Legendary Teacher Day on September 28, 2023. Dr. Clement professes that Legendary Teachers…. Strive to help students discover and understand concepts. Engage students in creative learning activities....

The Horizon Honors Schools Picture Day schedule is here! Photos will be taken of all students in Grades PreK-11 on Tuesday, August 15 or Wednesday, August 16. Please see graphic for details and come ready to pose!

- All students in attendance on picture day will have their picture taken during their scheduled time.
- No group/class photos are taken.
- Students not in attendance on picture day will be photographed on Wednesday, August 30th.

We are excited to see all our parents/guardians and students at Individual Learning Plan Conferences! The conferences include a review of student progress and goals for the upcoming quarter. Participation is expected and student/parent involvement is critical.

Reminders:
- If you have not already signed up for your conferences, please do so immediately. Appointments are required and walk-ins are not allowed.

Elementary School Conferences:
https://signup.com/group/357005156031

Secondary School Conferences:
https://signup.com/Group/1075139222068/

- All conferences are held in person.
- Students should attend!
- Please check-in for your conference a few minutes before your scheduled time in the school office. All parents/guardians MUST bring and show ID even if previously "scanned" into the security system.
- Please be respectful of everyone's time by checking in early, arriving to the classroom on time, and leaving campus at your scheduled end time.

Also, remember that All ILP days are also early release days.
- Elementary students (Grades K-6) will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
- Secondary students (Grades 7-12) will dismiss at 12 p.m.
- All students must be off campus by 12:15 p.m.
- Club Horizon will be open at 11:30 a.m. on all ILP days for students in Grades K-6 (registration and fee required.) More info at:
https://www.horizonhonorselementary.org/clubhorizon
- Lunches will not be served on ILP days.

We can't wait to see you at ILPs!

We are proud to announce that the 2023-2024 Horizon Honors Schools Improvement Team (SIT) will focus on evaluating and improving data collection from staff, parents/guardians, and students as well as result analysis.

We invite our parents and guardians to be a part of the K-12 Horizon Honors Schools Improvement Team (SIT) for the entire 2023-2024 school year. Please note that the Schools Improvement Team will consist of not only parents/guardians but may also include staff, alumni, and students.

Community members that apply must be able to attend most of the meetings listed below. Meetings will be held in person from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. on the following dates:

Monday, September 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, October 16 at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, November 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, December 4 at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, February 12 at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, March 4 at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, April 9 at 3:30 p.m.

We will hold a lottery to select parent/guardian official "voting" team members (should voting be necessary.) If you would like to be an official representative of the Schools Improvement Team, please submit your application by Monday, August 14.

https://forms.gle/2KX8UmokL6z9pp9e9

A lottery drawing will be held at the August 22nd School Board Meeting. You will be notified after the meeting of the lottery results. One parent/guardian representative will be selected for each of the following grade levels:

Kindergarten
Grades 1-2
Grades 3-4
Grades 5-6
Grades 7-8
Grades 9-12 (2 representatives selected)

You may complete this form for each child you have enrolled in Horizon Honors Schools. For example, if you have 2 children in Secondary or Elementary you may complete the form 2 times.

Horizon Honors Schools Improvement Team We are proud to announce that the 2023-2024 Horizon Honors Schools Improvement Team (SIT) will focus on evaluating and improving data collection from staff, parents/guardians, and students as well as result analysis. We invite our parents and guardians to be a part of the K-12 Horizon Honors Schools...

UPDATE at 2:15 PM - The Horizon Honors internet connection and phone lines have been restored. Thank you for your patience and have a great weekend!

____________________________________________

Horizon Honors Community Members: Our phone lines are currently down and our internet connection is unstable.

If you have an urgent need this morning, please send an email to [email protected] and we will get the info to the correct person.

We will update this post when our service is back and running. Thank you for your patience.

Last chance to complete the Family Directory & Carpool Directory Forms!

These forms are optional but must be completed by Monday, August 7.

Family Directory:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf73hNDImS8d8neWg31S-l0cpI66dLY2ZBhQD5S59aJInTxOw/viewform

Carpool Directory:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBC9iJIFQJTtbKKU9qQ3n1iMzVquJFNZMLgZAwwPU_45xmiw/viewform

We hope everyone who participated in 2022 has had a chance to see the new learning space and our "thank you" banner!

We cannot wait to use this area that YOU made possible! ❤

Horizon Honors Attendance Procedure:

Parents & Guardians should e-mail [email protected] before 9 a.m. each day the student is absent.

When emailing, please give the child’s name, date of absence, grade level, and reason for absence.

The absence will be unexcused if no reason is given within 24 hours of the absence.

Do NOT attempt to call in the absence. Thank you for cooperation!

Don't forget to share those Back to School photos!

Please tag us on your social media platform of choice () so we can see and re-share all the first day of school fun!

BTS TIPS!💡

Take a look at some fantastic Back to School Tips from our own Horizon Honors Staff Members!

The first day of school at Horizon Honors is Monday, July 31! We are so excited to get the 2023-2024 school year started! 🦅

🤳SHARE YOUR PHOTOS & VIDEOS!
Please tag us on your social media platform of choice () so we can see and re-share all the first day of school fun! You can also use the hashtag

⏲️SCHOOL HOURS:
Half Day Kindergarten: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Extended Day Kindergarten: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1st Grade – 4th Grade: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m.
5th Grade – 6th Grade: 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Grades 7-12: 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

First Day For Kinder:
As we prepare for the first day of school, we want to provide the ideal calm, welcoming environment for your Kindergarten child. We will begin class on the first day of school at 9 a.m. for Kindergarten students. This will give you time to find a parking spot, walk to your child's classroom, and spend some time in the classroom with your child before heading to KinderTalk at 9:15 a.m. Doors to the Kindergarten classrooms will open at 8:30 a.m., class will begin at 9 a.m. If your child attends Club Horizon in the mornings, he/she will remain in Club Horizon until 8:30 a.m. and will be walked to the appropriate classroom at that time. Come to the Horizon Honors Multi-purpose Room at 9:15 a.m. for KinderTalk and learn the ropes on how to survive the kindergarten year and beyond.

See you soon, Eagles! 🦅

Make sure you familiarize yourself with the Horizon Honors Traffic Flow Maps before you head to campus for the first day of school on Monday, July 31! 🚗

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bORdvi5So0TDD83-lb1oImd-9TYf-R82o9Tvvf9_w0c/edit?usp=sharing

Trainers from the Arizona Department of Education presented to Horizon Honors Elementary School teachers last week on best practices when teaching Math and shifting their Math Mindsets! The training helps to ensure that our students are ready for the math progression that leads to College and Career Readiness.