The Phoenix

Hours: 7:30 AM - 4 PM

Address: 7125 Hambright Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078

Phone: (980) 399-7554

Website: https://aspiretradehs.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspiretradehighschool?igsh=ejlwbHJ5dmFtaWVh&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspireTradeHighSchool/

Hello ATHS Families,

It is hard to believe that we are just 56 Instructional days away from the end of the school year; FIFTY - SIX!!!!! This year has been filled with some amazing opportunities, challenges, and moments of growth and connection between our families, staff, students and community. Just this past week we celebrated the 100 students who made the A-A/B honor roll, 30 students who tested proficient on the EOCs and the seniors who have acquired internships, apprenticeships, and part-time and full-time employment, setting them on a path for success that only they will be able to determine for themselves after life at ATHS. We also held the "Atrium Awards" celebrating the many achievements our students have accomplished thus far this Quarter. This is a student favorite and we love having the opportunity to see them glow when their name is called as well as celebrating their classmates even when they aren't selected. This is a display and testament to the connections we are building and the soft skills we work on daily as we continue to develop our students into young professionals.

In this final stretch of time, we ask that parents continue to partner with our administration and teachers to reinforce what is taught in the building. Please pay close attention to attendance (tardies and absences), dress code, behavior and completion of assignments by the deadlines. Hold your students accountable as this will be required of them in "the real world." All of the above are disciplines needed in the workplace and for life in general. As we look ahead to the last 56 days, we will be targeting: test prep, increasing attendance and helping students pass all classes; not just trade. Time will move quickly, it will be a whirlwind, but we will do it together and finish strong. I am excited about the future for our students and invested in creating opportunities to remove barriers so that students can succeed! See you at the finish line!

Mrs. Busby, Interim Principal

ATHS Board and Administration

• March 16: ACT (Juniors only) & Workkeys (Seniors only)
• March 20th : 9th & 10th Grade Dance
• March 20th: Senior PD Day
• March 27th: Vertical Raise Spring Fundraising Campaign
• March 27th: Human Trafficking Awareness Day
• March 30th-April 2nd: Spirit Week
• April 24th: 11th & 12th Grade Prom
• May 8th: Senior Awards
• May 15th: Career Fair

Need Infinite Campus? Email Mrs. Saige Lyall at s.lyall@aspiretradehs.org

If you have any questions regarding Infinite Campus Parent Portal, please email her directly.

Want to check your student's grades or attendance? Click the button below to log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal:

As we approach upcoming state assessments, please review the important information below.

ACT & WorkKeys – March 16

On March 16, testing will take place for:

• All 11th graders, who will take the ACT

• All seniors, who will take WorkKeys

March 16 is a Teacher Workday; however, juniors and seniors scheduled to test are required to attend.

All testing students must report to school no later than 8:00 a.m. Students arriving late may not be admitted into the testing session. It is important that students come well-rested, on time, and prepared to do their best.

NC Check-Ins (Dates TBD)

We will also soon begin administering NC Check-Ins. These are short benchmark assessments designed to measure student progress toward mastery of North Carolina academic standards. The data from Check-Ins helps teachers identify areas of strength and areas where additional support may be needed before End-of-Course (EOC) testing.

Additional details and testing dates will be shared soon.

Thank you for your partnership and continued support as we work to ensure a smooth and successful testing season for all students.

To support student success on upcoming End-of-Course (EOC) assessments, we are offering after-school tutoring for Math 1, English 2, and Biology beginning March 9.

Tutoring will be held Monday through Thursday from 2:50 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Students who would benefit from additional academic support are encouraged to participate. This is a great opportunity for targeted instruction, skill-building, and increased confidence before testing.

Important Reminders:

• Bus transportation is not provided.

• Students must be picked up no later than 4:05 p.m.

• Registration deadline is Thursday at 11:59 p.m. of this week.

Families may sign up using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScL_PYbdg2WKWd4xELcP0oUmB_NhdIPtByCjYemKbDH2dkaog/viewform?usp=header

We look forward to partnering with you to support your student’s academic success!

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we are asking all families to complete our Intent to Return Form for 2026–2027.

It is very important that we receive this information from every family, as it helps us plan for course offerings, and student scheduling.

Please complete the form no later than April 1st.

Intent to Return Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSda2JrXTLR7Y_UEguVrNNKC8-FYrpbQRmYC6QOUyUlWIUOdOA/viewform?usp=header

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and for helping us prepare for a successful 2026–2027 school year!

Tickets available now - Deadline, Friday March 6th

Tickets available Friday March 6th. Deadline April 17th

Mark your calendars! We have several important events coming up:

🎉 Spirit Week

March 30 – April 2
Get ready to show your school spirit! More details, including daily themes and activities, will be shared soon. We look forward to seeing everyone participate.

💙 Human Trafficking Awareness Day

March 27, 2026
On this day, we will recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Day by helping educate students about prevention, warning signs, and available resources. Additional information about planned activities will be shared as the date approaches.

💼 Career Fair – Save the Date

May 15

We are excited to host our upcoming Career Fair on May 15! This event will provide students with valuable exposure to career pathways, local businesses, and industry professionals.

If you know of a company or organization that would be interested in participating, please share the form below:

Career Fair Vendor Sign-Up Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfitjgEybZun43Sa_KyqcTiNzw1AANK41lqx2W9l4ILFT--Dg/viewform?usp=header

We appreciate your help in connecting us with community partners who are eager to inspire and support our students' future success.

We are excited to announce the launch of our Vertical Raise “Direct Give” Spring Fundraising Campaign beginning March 27!

To help make this campaign successful and engaging, we are collecting incentive items that will be used to reward students and staff throughout the fundraiser. We are requesting donations of the following:

• Gift cards (minimum value of $10)

• Themed gift baskets

• Classroom supplies (tissues, disinfecting wipes, notebooks, folders, etc.)

All donated items can be dropped off in the front office.

Your generosity will help us motivate participation and create excitement around our spring fundraising efforts. Thank you for supporting our school community!

February:

February:

January:

• 4 tardies = 1 Day ISS
• 7 tardies = 2 Days ISS
• 10 tardies = Parent Conference + 1 Day OSS
• 12 tardies = 2 Days OSS
• 18+ tardies = Removed from your trade program

The habits you build today become the reputation you carry tomorrow.

Students out of dress code will receive ISS. Please do not allow your student to arrive to school out of dress code. Zip ups, Sweatshirts and additional t-shirts are available for purchase.

As a reminder, cell phones, smart watches and ear buds/ air pods are not allowed in class. Please have students leave these items at home or lock them in their phone lockers to avoid confiscation. Any item confiscated will be held for parent pick up and the student will receive ISS. Please help us protect the integrity of the safety in our school and labs!

Dear Families,

As we prepare for graduation, please carefully review the important information below regarding ticket distribution, rehearsal, and ceremony expectations.

🎓 Graduation Ticket Distribution

Graduation tickets will be distributed to students after they have completed their WorkKeys exam.

• Tickets must be picked up in person by the student.

• Each student will receive a total of 10 tickets.

• Once all tickets have been distributed, students who need additional tickets may request more on a first come, first served basis, pending availability.

• Additional tickets are not guaranteed.

• Lost or stolen tickets cannot be replaced.

Please note:

• Tickets MUST be presented at the time of the event.

• Guests will NOT be permitted to enter without a ticket.

🎓 Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal

June 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Lake Forest Church

Attendance at rehearsal is mandatory for all graduates participating in the ceremony. This rehearsal ensures students understand the processional order, stage procedures, and overall ceremony expectations.

🎓 Graduation Ceremony

June 6

• Student Arrival Time: 3:00 p.m.

• Door opens to public at 3:15, graduation to start at 4

• Location: Lake Forest Church: 8518 Gilead Road

• A light reception will follow the ceremony.

We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our graduates and their families. Please review all information carefully to ensure a smooth and memorable event for everyone.

Parents and students,

Please remember that all lunch orders are due by Thursday at 11:45 PM each week.

Orders placed on Friday will not be included for the lunch for the up coming week.

All orders must be completed by Thursday.

Our lunch orders for the following week are placed with our lunch providers on Friday morning, so it's important to get your orders in on time to ensure your student receives their meals. Lunch may be conveniently ordered online at foodese.com. If you miss the Thursday 11:45 PM deadline, your student will need to bring lunch from home or purchase from our vending machine.

Thank you for helping us maintain our lunch service schedule!

Getting your driver's license is an exciting milestone! While Aspire doesn't offer driver's education on campus, we want to make sure you know about the affordable options available to our students.

Aspire students can take driver's education through their "home" high school - that's the school you would attend based on your address if you were going to a traditional public school. Through Jordan Driving School, the official partner for public school driver's ed, the cost is just $65, which is significantly less expensive than private driving schools.

Flexible Options That Work for You

We know our students have busy schedules, so Jordan Driving School offers several options for the classroom portion of driver's education. In addition to regular school-day classes, they provide Saturday sessions, summer classes, and virtual options. This flexibility means you can complete your driver's education without worrying about schedule conflicts.

The program includes both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel driving lessons, giving you everything you need to become a safe, confident driver.

To get started, visit their website at: https://www.jordandrivingschoolcharlotte.com/index.html

Driver Certificate Of Eligibility

If your student is requesting a Certificate of Eligibility, please allow two weeks for the processing to be completed. You can request a Student Certificate of Eligibility by contacting the front Office.

Please note that Same-day Certificate will not be provided.

Attached is the official board approved school calendar that contains all important dates for the academic year. Please review and save for reference.

LaFrieeda Busby - Executive Administrator : l.busby@aspiretradehs.org

Suzanne Evans - Director of HR & Finance : s.evans@aspiretradehs.org

Tiffany Williams - Director of Curriculum & EC Compliance : t.williams@aspiretradehs.org

Martha Sanders - Director of EC : m.sanders@aspiretradehs.org

Iesha Williams - Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor : i.williams@aspiretradehs.org

Saige Lyall - Enrollment and Academic Advisor : s.lyall@aspiretradehs.org

Márlon Canel - Facilities and Transportation Management : m.canel@aspiretradehs.org