The Pinnacle Periodical

Kids Heart Challenge Concludes

Thank you to our parents and community for your participation in the Kids Heart Challenge. As a school, we raised a total of $2800.76!

Martial Arts Parent Feedback Needed

Taekwondo through ATA Keene's Martial Arts concluded this week on Tuesday. After having Sr. Master Keene, Master Jaucian, and Mrs. Keene on our campus for four weeks, we would appreciate your feedback on your scholar's experience. This feedback will help us determine if and how we can continue to provide martial arts at Pinnacle.

Click HERE to complete the brief survey.

Has Your Enrollment Decision Changed for 25-26?

We know that enrollment decisions may fluctuate depending on different factors (you've moved, needing to keep siblings at the same school, school options available closer to your house, etc). If you indicated that your scholar(s) is returning next year in SchoolMint back in November, but know that your scholar will be attending a different school for 25-26, please contact Ms. Lenhart or call the front office at 623-537-3535 and let us know.

As many parents already know, all public district and charter schools in Arizona are required to administer the "Arizona Achievement Standards Assessment" and "Arizona Science" assessment.

BUT...did you know:

• districts and charters are required to test a minimum of 95% of their enrolled students?
• AASA and AzSCI participation rates, achievement, and growth directly impact our school letter grade and state funding?
• AASA and AzSCI scores do NOT impact students' class grades, and they are not added to report cards?
• State assessments are a GREAT way for us to look at scholar growth from year to year, they allow us to make important adjustments in our instruction and curriculum approach, and they provide us a way to measure our effectiveness?

A successful state testing season requires a whole village approach. Over the next several weeks, be on the lookout for communication and opportunities for parents to partner with us and help make spring 2025 testing successful and smooth.

Please make a note of our AASA/AzSCI testing schedule and avoid scheduling doctor's appointments, vacations, etc. on testing days. If scholars are absent on scheduled testing days, they will be pulled another day during the testing window to make up the missed test, which means they will miss additional class time.

Big Truck Night is not only one of our biggest family and community events of the year, it is also a great opportunity for our families to share their businesses, bring local vendors on campus, and partner with our community.

Do you have a large or small business?

Do you have an awesome big truck, exotic vehicle, or unusual wheels?

If you would like to bring your vehicle, set up a booth or table to sell goods, advertise your business, or make a donation to the event and our school, please contact Andrea Lenhart.

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Debra Kahalewai to the Pinnacle family. We had hired Mrs. Kahalewai as our reading specialist for the 25-26 school year and she has graciously agreed to start now and fill our 5th grade teacher opening. Here is a little about Mrs. Kahalewai:

My name is Debra Kahalewai and I am so excited to be supporting the 5th grade scholars at Heritage Academy Pinnacle!.. I have been an educator in Hawaii and Arizona for a total of 36 years. I completed my undergraduate degree from BYU-Hawaii and my master’s from Ottawa University. In addition, I have recently completed a couple of graduate certificates from Harvard University. My four children are adults and I have one grandchild in 5th grade. My three dogs and two cats provide my family with a great deal of comfort and love. My favorite activities are reading books, traveling, watching movies, going to museums, and spending time with my family. I look forward to making some awesome memories the remainder of the school year!

We are excited to partner with my MyHotLunchBox again this year. Click HERE to log in or create an account.

Tuesday- Streets of New York

Thursday- Cane's

Is your child starting kindergarten with us in August? Consider enrolling them in Liberty Kids Pre-K program now to start in January.

Are you looking at preschool (ages 2-4) or Pre-K (will be 5 years old by August 31st) for 25-26? Enrollment begins 1/15/25.

24-25 Board Members

President- Valerie Crowner

Vice President- Margaret Espinal

Treasurer- Maureen Williams

Secretary- Diane Najor

PTO meets once a month (on Mondays after school) in the Pinnacle Cafe. We would love for as many parents as possible to join us. If you can't make it in person, you can always join via the Google Meet link attached to the public calendar events (Mrs. Jenks also includes them in the newsletters).

2025 Meeting Dates:

March 10th @3:45 p.m.

April 21st @3:45 p.m.

May 19th @3:45 p.m.

You can contact PTO by emailing heritagepinnaclepto@gmail.com

If you want to stay connected with the PTO, get to know other PTO parents, and be involved with their events and activities, you can also join their group on BAND by scanning the QR code or clicking this LINK.

Please consider supporting PTO by making a suggested $20 donation by clicking HERE

3/6- Family Kickball Night @5:00 p.m.

3/10- PTO Meeting @ 3:45 p.m.

3/13- Dollar for Duds

3/17-3/20- Spring Break No School

3/24-3/25- 5th and 8th grade AzSCI state testing

3/25- Kona Ice at lunch

3/31-4/2- 3rd-8th grade AASA writing/math/reading state testing

Pinnacle 24-25 Events Calendar REVISED 1/3/25

Live Pinnacle Calendar

Morning driveline begins at 7:30 a.m.

Afternoon driveline is 3:15-3:30 p.m. (gates open at 3:00 p.m.)

RED ARROWS- this is the new kindergarten driveline for pick-up after school only. All kindergarten scholars (with their 1st-8th grade siblings) will be waiting in the courtyard and they will exit through the wooden gates to load their cars. Pull as far forward as possible.

IMPORTANT! Liberty Kids Preschool uses this curb to pick up at 2:45 p.m. Kinder parents cannot start lining up on the curb until 3:00 p.m.

BLACK ARROWS- this will continue to be the driveline for 1st-8th grade pick-up. The gates will open at 3:00 p.m. Please pull as far forward as possible so we can remove traffic from Pinnacle Peak Rd.

Waiting on Pinnacle Peak Rd- cars that are facing WEST need to pull as far off the road and into the dirt as possible while they wait to enter the parking lot.

Out of consideration for other parents who have been waiting in line, please do not drive through and then wait in the parking lot to cut the drive line. We have received multiple complaints from parents who are waiting in the long line. We appreciate everyone doing their part and showing each other courtesy and patience.

Please follow these guidelines for a safe and efficient pick up:

• Have your car tag clearly displayed.
• Pull up to the furthest cone possible.
• If you need to buckle your child, pull forward and off to the side.
• Eyes up, phone down please!
• Show citizenship, patience, and courtesy to other parents & drivers- YOU are setting an example for all of our scholars.

IMPORTANT NOTICE- Student Pick-up Time Limit

After school, scholars should be picked up by 3:30 p.m.

Scholars who are still on campus after 3:30 (and parents are not actively waiting in driveline) will be walked to Hero Club and parents will be charged a $20 non-registration fee plus $2/minute past 3:45 p.m. After two occurrences, your scholar will be enrolled in Hero Club at the monthly fee.

If you know you will frequently arrive later than 3:15, please register your scholar for Hero Club.

One of the most valued objectives at Heritage Academy is to help scholars learn to make responsible choices and thereby be prepared to govern themselves. Our dress code is based on principles of maintaining modesty, cleanliness, and professionalism in your dress.

Read the ENTIRE Dress Code policy HERE

Highlights to note:

1. All Heritage tops MUST be a polo purchased from one of our vendors.
2. Check those shorts and skirts' lengths! Skirts MUST touch the top of the knee (front and back). Shorts CANNOT be shorter than 4" above the middle of the knee cap.
3. PROHIBITED- sweat pants, track pants, athletic wear, slippers, flip flops.
4. Jewelry- Girls are permitted to wear ONE earring in each lobe only. Boys are not allowed to wear earrings.
5. Shoes- All shoes must have a back strap. Sneakers must be worn on Tuesdays/Thursdays (for P.E.). Crocs (with the back strap) are okay on Mondays and Wednesdays only.

Dollars for Duds

Once a month, scholars may pay $1 per item of clothing (top and bottoms) to wear something other than their uniform. Scholars are still expected to adhere to the Heritage standard of modesty, cleanliness, and professionalism.

6754 W Pinnacle Peak Rd

Glendale, AZ 85310

623-537-3535

Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm

Summer Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm