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ACP Back to School Newsletter

July 2025

ACP Back to School Newsletter July 2025
ACP Back to SchoolNewsletterJuly 2025

Our Mission Our Mission

Partnerships combining the resources of the community, family, and the Academy provide an authentic learning environment in which students become active learners through an alternative and recovery High school program.


Students empowered with HOPE develop a feeling of success as they work through real-world projects as valued members of the learning community.

Quick Announcements Quick Announcements

Welcome Back Lions!

We're excited to welcome all of our students and families to a brand-new school year at Academy with Community Partners! Be sure to check out our Welcome Back Letter (attached below).


We’re also proud to introduce our new principal, Ms. Gina Little, who brings a wealth of experience, a student-centered approach, and a passion for fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment. We’re excited for the energy and leadership she will bring to our campus this year!

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ACP Welcome Back Letter SY25-26.pdf
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Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

You're Invited – Back to School Night!

Please join us for Back to School Night on Monday, July 28th from 5:00–7:00 PM at the school! This is a great opportunity to meet our staff, tour the campus, and get important information to help your student start the year strong.

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ACP Back to School Night Information Flyer SY25-26.pdf
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Message to Families Message to Families

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Message from the Superintendent, Dr. Kayleen Marble

Dear ACP families,


Welcome back to the 2025-2026 school year at Academy with Community Partners. I hope that you had an opportunity to relax, recharge, and enjoy the summer break. This is a great time to be a part of ACP. If you are new, welcome! If you are returning, we are glad to have you continue with us.


Our mission statement states that we "combine the resources of the community, family, and the Academy" and "provide an authentic learning environment in which students become active learners through an alternative and recovery high school program." This year, all our classes will focus on providing project-based learning experiences so that "Students, empowered with hope, develop a feeling of success as they work through real-world projects as valued members of the learning community".


Across our school, we want to ensure that we provide a safe learning environment, as well as a rigorous and equitable educational experience for all students. We are committed to building strong relationships and partnerships so that education and collaboration can continue.


I look forward to the excitement of the new year, and I thank you for your dedication to ACP, our community, and the students and families that we serve. I wish everyone a great and productive school year.


Sincerely,

Dr. Kayleen Marble

Superintendent

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Message from the Principal, Ms. Gina Little

Dear ACP Students and Families,


It is with great excitement and gratitude that I welcome you to a new school year at ACP! My name is Gina-Marie Little—please feel free to call me Gina—and I am honored to be joining this incredible community as your new principal.


A little about me: I am a proud mom of two amazing young adults. My daughter Josephine is 19 and heading into her junior year of college, while my son Jared is 21 and beginning an exciting semester studying abroad. With my children now off on their own adventures, I’ve officially entered “empty-nester” life, which I share with two very energetic pups—Phoenix, a 2-year-old Boston Terrier, and Cash, a 4-year-old Boxer. They keep me on my toes and make sure there's never a dull moment at home!


Professionally, I bring with me over two decades of experience in education. I began my career as a special education teacher, serving in that role for 12 years before transitioning into administration. I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Principal, Superintendent, and Special Education Director, and each role has deepened my passion for creating inclusive, supportive environments where every student can thrive.


I am truly excited to be part of the ACP family and look forward to building strong partnerships with our students, families, and staff. Together, we will create a year filled with growth, opportunity, and success for every student.


Thank you for the warm welcome I’ve already received—I can’t wait to meet each of you and begin this exciting journey together!


Warmly,
Gina-Marie Little (Gina)
Principal, ACP

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Message from the Dean of Students, Mr. Chester Freas

Dear Students,


We are excited to welcome you back for another exciting school year! We hope your summer was filled with fun, relaxation, and memorable experiences. As we embark on this new journey together, get ready to embrace new challenges, discover fresh opportunities, and create lasting friendships. I am excited to see familiar faces, as well as meeting new students and families. Together we will make this the best year filled with success, friendships and memories that will stay with you. I also look forward to the growth, and teamwork our sports program will have this year, and it starts with flag football August 4th.


"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."


Welcome back!

Coach C.J.

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Message from the Operations Manager, Mr. Taylor Sorensen

Hello families!


Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I am excited to welcome our students and families back, both on campus and online, for what promises to be an exciting and rewarding year. The energy around our school is already building, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things our students will accomplish.


As your Operations Manager, I want to personally assure you that our team is here to support you every step of the way. From enrollment and attendance to general questions and everything in between, we’re just a phone call or email away.


Go Lions!

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Did you know?

The average high schooler will write over 1 million words by the time they graduate, that’s more than some novels! Every essay, project, and journal entry is a step toward becoming a strong communicator.

Senior Fee - $100.00

Senior fees for all current 12th graders for the 2025–2026 school year are now due! Payments can be made easily online using the link provided. Please make sure to submit your payment by August 15, 2025 to stay on track for all senior year activities and graduation planning.

CLICK HERE TO PAY ONLINE

Summer Break at ACP Summer Break at ACP

Over the summer, we’ve been hard at work enhancing our campus to better support our students and staff! Led by our dedicated Dean of Students, Mr. Chester Freas, several exciting improvements have taken shape. Check out a few of the highlights below.

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Front Office

With a fresh new look our updated front office space is designed to be more welcoming for students, families, and visitors. Stop by and say hello, we’re here to help!

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Our Van Wrap is Underway!

We’re excited to share that our school van is getting a fresh new look! The design is in the works and will soon be showcasing our school spirit.


Go Lions!

Improvements on Campus

Over the summer, our campus received several exciting upgrades! We added a new backyard deck, installed an exterior door in the student lounge, updated student seating benches, refreshed the front landscaping, and provided new desks for our teachers.

Student Support Student Support

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Graduation Coach, Mrs. Shannon Holec

Hello families!


My name is Shannon Holec and I am the Grad Plan coach. As a graduation Coach I work with students to help them meet the state graduation requirements. I meet with the students and create their graduation plans. My contact information is below. Please reach out with any questions.


Shannon Holec

480-716-6257

sholec@acparizona.org

Need Help with Canvas or Have Questions?

Our Student Success Coordinator, Kristina Norris, is here to support you! If you need assistance with your Canvas account or have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Phone: 480-676-5753

Email: knorris@accelschools.com

Student Spotlight Student Spotlight

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Kindness Champion Alert!

Congratulations to Leiland for being named the Torey Lovullo Kindness Champion! Leiland shows true kindness both on and off the field, always lending a helping hand, encouraging others, and going above and beyond for his teammates. We're proud to celebrate his leadership and positive spirit!

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Exciting News for Jayden!

Jayden, our former student and student body president is officially signing with Academy Phoenix for basketball! He will be living on campus, focusing first on his education and then dedicating himself to the game. With a full off-season ahead, Jayden is already gearing up with workouts to get ready for an outstanding season. We wish him all the best!

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ROAR

Mighty Lions Choose to ROAR

R - Respectful

O - Open-Minded

A - Achievers

R - Responsible


Key Components of ROAR

  • Clear Expectations: We establish and communicate clear behavioral expectations for students across different settings within the school. This helps students understand what behaviors are expected and how they can achieve them.

  • Positive Reinforcement: We recognize and reward positive behavior through various incentives and praise. This reinforces desired behaviors and encourages students to continue making good choices.


Benefits of ROAR:

  • Improved Behavior: By focusing on positive reinforcement and clear expectations, ROAR helps reduce behavioral issues and promotes a more respectful and cooperative school environment.
  • Enhanced Learning: A positive and supportive environment allows students to focus on learning and achieve their academic goals.
  • Stronger School Community: ROAR fosters a sense of community and belonging among students, staff, and families, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive school culture.

School Operations School Operations

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Attendance

Consistent attendance is a key factor in student success, whether learning in person or online. Every class period provides essential instruction, meaningful interaction, and opportunities for academic growth. When students attend regularly, they stay connected, engaged, and on track to meet their educational goals.


We understand that life happens, but we encourage families to prioritize attendance and communicate proactively with our team when challenges arise. Together, we can ensure every student has the best chance to thrive.

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Attendance Policy - Reminder

Attendance matters, and we want to ensure all families are informed. Please take a moment to review our attendance policy to better understand expectations for both in-person and online students. This important information helps support student success and is also available in our Student Handbook.
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ACP Attendance Policy Overview SY25-26.pdf
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Reporting an Absence

To report an absence, please do one of the following within 24 hours of the absence.

1. Call the Office at (480)-833-0068 & Press "1" for Attendance

2. Email the attendance office at attendance@acparizona.org with the following information:

➔Student First and Last Name and Grade Level

➔ Date of Absence

➔ Reason for Absence

➔ Parent/Guardian Name Reporting the Absence

➔ Parent/Guardian Contact Phone Number

➔ Attach any Medical Documents (if applicable)

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PowerSchool Parent Portal

On Monday, July 28th, 2025, parents and guardians will receive their Parent Portal login information via email from our Operations Team. Please see the attachments below for a preview of where to access the dashboard, how to log in, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our Operations Team.
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Parent Portal Log In.pdf
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Guardian Dashboard and Portal FAQ.pdf
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Forms in the Parent Portal

A new feature of the Parent Portal will allow our school to securely collect documents directly through the platform. This includes, but is not limited to, contact information updates and school form acknowledgements.

Sports Corner Sports Corner

Flag Football

Keep an eye out for upcoming information about our flag football season, it’s going to be a great one! Get ready for teamwork, competition, and school spirit. Go Lions!

Student Activities Corner Student Activities Corner

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Student Council Elections for SY25-26

Are you ready to make a difference on campus? Student Council interest meetings and elections will take place shortly after we return from summer break! If you’re looking to lead, collaborate, and represent your peers, this is your chance. Stay tuned for more details in our upcoming announcements!


If you have any questions, please contact our student council advisor, Mr. Sorensen.

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Tax Credit Donations

Remember that each year there is an AZ tax credit of $200 for individuals and $400 for families when you donate to a school. This means that if you give a donation of that amount to the school (with receipt) you get that as a tax credit back on your AZ state taxes. Business/Corporate donations can be up to $800. These donations are used to help our sports and other extracurricular activities. Please talk to Mrs. Guzman at the front office if you'd like to make a donation. For more information, you can go to https://azdor.gov/tax-credits/public-school-tax-credit

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Student and Parent Password Resets

Forgot Your Password?


Contact the School Operations Manager, Taylor Sorensen at tsorensen@accelschools.com for assistance.

Student and Parent Resources Student and Parent Resources

Student Handbook
School Calendar
Anonymous Alerts
Technology Support
Previous Newsletter

Leadership Team Leadership Team

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Dr. Kayleen Marble

Superintendent

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Ms. Gina Little

Principal

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Mr. Chester Freas

Dean of Students/Athletics Director

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Mr. Taylor Sorensen

Operations Manager
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Ms. Kristina Norris

Student Success Coordinator

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Mrs. Shannon Holec

Graduation Coach

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Ms. Carla Mannes

Counselor

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Mrs. Aimee Dunford

Lead Teacher

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Ms. Devon Green

Testing Coordinator

Our Team - Academy with Community Partners

Our Team - Academy with Community Partners

The Academy with Community Partners team is here to help your family succeed.

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Family Income Forms

Family income forms play a crucial role in supporting our school and students. As you receive this form from our office, please take a moment to complete it. Family income forms are essential for determining eligibility for various federal and state funding programs. These forms help schools qualify for funding that supports educational resources and services.

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Alternative Form for Income-Based Eligibility SY25-26.pdf
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Special Programs - Academy with Community Partners

Special Programs - Academy with Community Partners

PARENT AND STUDENT RESOURCES - Important Announcements, Technical Support, Records & Transcript Request, Academic Calendar, Family Resource Guide

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Staff Qualifications

Parents and guardians may request information about the qualifications of their teachers at any time by emailing our Operations Manager, Taylor Sorensen at tsorensen@accelschools.com. These are also available at our school office at 433 N Hall in Mesa, AZ.

Questions? Call our front office at 480-833-0068

Enroll - Academy with Community Partners

Enroll - Academy with Community Partners

Academy with Community Partners is a tuition-free public school serving students in grades 9-12 living in the state of Arizona.

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Academy with Community Partners
https://www.acparizona.org/
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