Virtual Preparatory Academy of Arizona’s mission is to reach all students with an individualized, college and career-focused education in a learning environment rooted in rigor, innovation, and peer interaction. We are dedicated to academic excellence that empowers and prepares students for a world of opportunity.

Opens 3/10/2025

Dear Families,

This semester is filled with exciting opportunities for learning and growth. We encourage you to explore the various clubs and other social hours offered at our school. We have finished our middle of the year I-Ready benchmark assessment, the mock assessments, and teachers have been reviewing the data to offer more specific support in their sessions. We are getting ready for state testing in just over a month. This is an important part of our school accountability and necessary for our school success. You will be getting your testing assignments soon for when and where you will need to test. This is a required part of enrollment as we are a public school. We can’t wait to meet your students in person and be able to see the results of their learning this year. We appreciate that you have chosen VPA to partner with for your student’s education and hope you have a great spring Semester.

Our students recently completed their middle of the year mock assessments to better prepare them for our upcoming state testing in April. We are so proud of our VPA-AZ students and the growth they have made this year! As we near the end of the 3rd quarter and move into spring break (March 10-14th) we ask parents to continue helping ensure students are completing their course work and logging all offline attendance. Studies show that students do better with consistency and routine. In fact, they thrive with it! Please keep an eye out for additional information regarding state testing. Teachers will be communicating this information to you soon. Please prioritize your testing dates. State testing is crucial in helping our school continue being a school of choice for you. We are thankful that we get to work with your children and hope to keep the momentum going as we start to head into the last quarter of our year.

On January 17th, 2025, we had the privilege of celebrating the hard work and dedication of our students during the Semester 1 Awards Assembly. A huge congratulations to all of our award recipients! Your achievements are a testament to your commitment to excellence. Keep up the great work!

We invite you to check out one of our most recent Parent Nights, presented by Ms. Gena and Ms. Lindsay. Their insightful session provided valuable information and support for our school community. We encourage all parents to stay engaged and take advantage of these enriching opportunities!

Check out some of Ms. Lydic’s students showing off their school spirit as they celebrate the 100th day of school! It’s amazing to see their enthusiasm and school spirit shining bright!

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

• 2 Absences Per Month X 9 Months of School = Less Likely to Graduate from High School.

• Did you know? People with a High School diploma make more than $1,000,000 in a lifetime over those without a High School diploma.

• A child who is 10 minutes late misses 32 hours a year of lost instruction.

• Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade.

Secondary

In 7th grade, we are laying the foundation for 8th Grade Math and Pre-algebra by working through Unit 6 which covers Expression, Equations, and Inequalities. All of which are huge in future Math classes!

In 8th grade, we are working through our Unit on Associations in Data. We are looking at different ways to display data including Bar Graphs, Frequency Tables and Scatter Plots. We are looking at trends and making predictions using these types of representations.

In Algebra 1, we are working in the Unit called “Using Functions” In this Unit we are deepening our understanding of Functions. We are currently focusing on Quadratic functions and the U-shaped graphs they produce and the type of data we can pull from these types of Functions.

In Geometry, we are about to move into our unit covering Circles which is covering the types of Line and Segment Relationships we can discover when utilizing circles in math. This includes working with Chords, Radii, and Diameters to understand theorems and prove relationships with Circles.

7th: This month we are reading The Time Machine by H. G. Wells as the staple text for a science fiction unit.

8th Grade: Leading up to spring break the 8th graders are reading the autobiographical memoir Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.

9th Grade: The 9th graders are working on writing informational essays about a historical event or person of their choosing, while continuing to read a variety of texts including Ayn Rand’s Anthem.

10th Grade: In 10th grade our primary focus is Greek Literature, specifically looking at the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. Through this lens students are beginning to understand the elements of drama, with writing focused on summary and characterization.

7th - Our 7th graders just finished an exciting unit on Metabolic Reactions! They explored how our bodies use food and oxygen for energy, diving into hands-on investigations and discussions. From modeling metabolic processes to making connections to real-life health and nutrition, students were fully engaged. This unit sparked curiosity and a deeper appreciation for how our bodies work!

8th - Our 8th graders just wrapped up their Earth and Space unit, exploring the forces that shape our planet and universe! Through virtual simulations, data analysis, and discussions, they investigated Earth’s changing surface, gravity, and planetary motion. From modeling tectonic activity to exploring space phenomena, students made real-world connections that brought science to life. This unit sparked curiosity and big questions about our place in the universe!.

9th - Our 9th graders just finished Unit 2: Forces in their Physical Science course! They explored how forces impact motion and shape the world around us. From Newton’s laws to real-world applications like collisions and gravity, students deepened their understanding of fundamental physics concepts. This unit sparked curiosity and helped them see the science behind everyday movements!

10th - Our 10th graders just wrapped up Unit 2: DNA and Genetic Codein their Biology course! They explored how DNA carries genetic information and determines traits. They examined the structure of DNA, how it replicates, and its role in protein synthesis. This unit sparked curiosity about genetics and helped students connect science to real-world topics like heredity and genetic engineering!

7th Wyoming History: This week we are wrapping up our unit studying Africa. We’ll cover every continent on earth by the end of the year!

8th Arizona History: This semester we are learning more about basic economic concepts. We’ve learned about supply and demand and opportunity costs. This week we’ve learned about needs vs wants and the role of the consumer and producer in an economic system.

7th AZ/8th WY : This week we learned about propaganda during World War I and are finding ways we still see propaganda used today.

9th World History: This week we’re learning about the the Causes of WWI and many of the tough things from trench warfare and how trench warfare led to a longer war with many casualties.

10th US History: This week we are wrapping up on Unit dealing with the Roaring 20’s, the Great Depression and the New Deal

Happy Valentines Day from Ms. Lydic's Class

K-6th grade students celebrated Read Across America

Monday: One fish two fish red fish blue fish! 🐠 - Dress in red or blue!

Tuesday: The Cat in the Hat 🎩 -Wear a hat to class! Wednesday:

Wacky Wednesday -Wear a wacky hairstyle or sunglasses!

Thursday: I am NOT going to get up today! 🛌 -Stay in your PJs!

Friday: Choose your favorite story! 📖📚😍 - Dress as your favorite character!

On February 20th, 2025 we hosted our monthly House Huddle. The House Huddle is geared towards Learning Coaches and families. It is an opportunity to share struggles and successes and is a safe place to ask questions. House Huddle will meet in Teams. Brunch Brunch was hosted later that same day. Brunch Bunch is an additional opportunity for students to get together and hang out for a bit! We usually talk, share stories, and play Kahoots!

Our latest Young Authors Club meeting was a huge success! Students came together to ignite their creativity, share exciting ideas, and dive into the world of storytelling. From crafting unique characters to building imaginative worlds, the club was buzzing with inspiration. It’s clear that the next great stories are already in the making!

This quarter, the VPA Cooking Club whipped up something truly sweet—Oreo fudge and delicious dirt cups! The students had a blast creating these easy and tasty treats, with options for both regular and Valentine's Day-themed dirt cups. Whether shared with a loved one or kept all to yourself, these treats were a hit! Stay tuned for more tasty adventures with the Cooking Club!

The Science Club brought the magic of snowmen indoors with the exciting "Melting Snowmen" experiment! Students had a blast watching a fun chemical reaction with baking soda and vinegar as they learned about the science behind the fizz. The hands-on activity was a frosty hit, proving you don’t need snow to have some cool science fun! Stay tuned for more experiments coming soon!

The Art & Crafts Club kicked off the year with a creative and fun-filled January meeting! Members gathered to explore their artistic talents, using paper and pencil for their designs, with markers available for those who wanted to add extra flair. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to express their creativity and get inspired for the projects ahead. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this talented group!

Elementary students have been working on their reading skills in iReady, MindPlay, and Epic in addition to Live lessons and daily reading! The winning class in each division will have a class party, the overall winning class will get to choose Principal Thompson's hairstyle for the next All School Assembly AND win their teacher some school swag.

A Message from Ms. Nicole Gena, Counselor – AZ HS Parents

Students are currently working on their state-required ECAP (Education and Career Action Plan). Their individual plans are accessible through the "Building Connections My Future AZ" tab in their Canvas accounts. Students should have already set up their login information and are actively working on their four-year plans. Detailed instructions are available in Canvas to guide them through this process.

Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups!

They’re simple to make and perfect for springtime with fresh strawberries.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of sponge cake or angel food cake (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 cup whipped cream or whipped topping
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare the Strawberries: Slice the strawberries and sprinkle them with a little sugar (optional). Let them sit for about 10 minutes to release some juice.
2. Prepare the Cake: Cut the sponge cake or angel food cake into small squares or rounds that fit in mini cups or bowls.
3. Assemble the Cups: In small bowls or cups, layer a piece of cake at the bottom, then add a spoonful of strawberries on top.
4. Top with Whipped Cream: Add a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of the strawberries.
5. Garnish (optional): Add a mint leaf or a few extra strawberry slices on top for decoration.
6. Serve: These mini shortcakes are ready to be enjoyed right away!

This recipe is easy for kids to help with, from layering the ingredients to enjoying the sweet results! You can also customize it by adding other fruits or using different toppings.

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.

Please visit our website for more information regarding special programs and child find. https://arizona.virtualpreparatoryacademy.com/special-programs/