The Phoenix

Hours: 7:30 AM - 4 PM

Address: 7125 Hambright Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078

Phone: (980) 399-7554

Website: https://aspiretradehs.org/

Email: info@aspiretradehs.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspiretradehighschool?igsh=ejlwbHJ5dmFtaWVh&utm_source=qr

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

• September 25 - 26: Teacher Workdays
• October 21: Q1 (40 Days) Ends
• October 30 - 31: Teacher Workdays
• November 10: Teacher Workdays
• November 11: Veterans Day
• November 26 - 28: Thanksgiving Break

Parents,

We are grateful for your trust as we form a partnership to focus on trade education for your students. Our first 9 days have been completed and we are so pleased with the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Please remember that we have some new students and educators in our building. We hope that you will be patient with us as we get everyone settled in together.

Unfortunately, one of our instructors has suffered a family medical event and has moved back to another state to help provide needed care. Ms. Ivanova has had to resign her position. We have hired another highly qualified instructor to lead our Digital Media Arts Trade Program and anticipate that she will begin very soon. We will send more information out later this week.

If you have difficulty reaching me, please email my Executive Assistant, Ms. Busby at l.busby@aspiretradehs.org.

Thank you again for all you do to support Aspire Trade High School.

Principal Nichols

We are writing to inform you of Aspire Trade High School’s policy regarding access to our campus by immigration enforcement officials.

Unlike traditional public schools operating on public property, Aspire Trade High School is located on privately owned property. As such, federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are required to present a judicial warrant—signed by a judge and specific in its scope—in order to lawfully access our property, staff, or students. We want to assure you that no access will be granted to our facilities or to any student information until our legal counsel has reviewed and verified the validity of all documentation.

This policy is aligned with our obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects the privacy of student education records, and with the guidance provided by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) concerning the protection and safety of students on school campuses.

Below is an excerpt from our official Parent/Student Handbook that outlines how staff are instructed to respond in such situations:

• Response Protocol for Immigration Enforcement Inquiries:
• School personnel must immediately contact the Executive Director if approached by immigration law enforcement agents.
• Staff must attempt to contact the student’s parent or guardian without delay.
• The Executive Director must take the following steps:
• Request official identification from the agents and retain a photocopy.
• Request and photocopy a judicial warrant; administrative warrants (e.g., ICE Form I-200 or I-205) do not provide lawful grounds for access.
• If no valid warrant is provided, request the basis for the visit, document the interaction, and immediately contact legal counsel.
• Document the names of any students involved and the stated reasons for the inquiry.
• Refrain from disclosing any student information, including class schedules, without legal counsel present.
• Provide agents with a copy of the school's policy and governing resolution.
• Request the agents' contact information and advise them that these steps must be completed prior to any access being granted.

We take seriously our responsibility to protect the rights and safety of all our students. Our staff is trained to follow this protocol to ensure compliance with applicable laws while upholding the dignity and privacy of every student in our care.

Thank you to all of our families who have worked with us to make the start of this school year's bus transportation run smoothly!

We currently have families on the waitlist for bus transportation. If this is a service your family will need, please reach out to Mr. Canel as soon as possible.

Bus Fee Reminder: If you have not yet paid your bus fee, please do so at your earliest convenience. The fee structure is:

• $400 per year
• $200 per semester
• $100 per month

For questions or to request bus transportation, contact: Mr. Márlon Canel: m.canel@aspiretradehs.org

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

Stay connected and informed! We strongly encourage all families to join our Remind group before the new school year begins. Here's how:

• Download the Remind app on your phone and join using code: athsfa
• Via this link: https://www.remind.com/join/athsfa
• OR text @athsfa to 81010
• This is the best way to receive timely updates throughout the year.

Aspire Trade High School is now implementing a new dress code policy. At orientation, every student should have receive their trade-specific t-shirt in their trade's designated color. Each student received one FREE trade t-shirt, with additional shirts available for purchase for $10.00.

Students will have three approved dress options:

1. Trade T-Shirts - Provided by trade partner
2. Aspire High School T-Shirts or sweat shirt - Must be purchased (none provided)
3. Trade-Specific Wear - Examples include scrubs for medical students, black and white attire for culinary students

Students will be stopped and asked to change or call home for the following items

• Mesh shirts
• Attire with a slogan or symbol that disrupts the educational process
• Hats, beanies, toboggans, bandanas, (unless for religious reasons and must accompany a signed letter from your religious leader).
• Clothing that exposes bare midriffs or backs, or plunging necklines
• Clothing that displays any suggestive or objectionable material
• Clothing advocating drug, alcohol, or tobacco use
• Clothing with inappropriate or suggestive language and/or pictures
• Clothing that defames, degrades, or is offensive to a gender, race, color, religious group, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, a physical or mental impairment, or culture
• Tank tops with straps that are less than 1” wide or that don’t cover all undergarments
• Clothing that exposes bare midriffs or bare backs
• Pants worn that are excessively sagging
• Pajama pants
• House slippers
• Open heel shoe
• Open toe shoe
• Sheer or see-through clothing
• Shorts/dresses/skirts
• Clothing that allows undergarments to be visible
• Halter tops and strapless tops
• Pants with writing across the backside

More detailed dress code information or purchase more shirts please reach out to the front office.

Why?:

This strategic approach allows our staff to easily identify which trade program each student belongs to. This visual system streamlines classroom management, improves safety protocols, and fosters stronger trade program identity among our students.

Calling all Aspire Trade High School parents! We need YOUR help to create a magical prom experience that our juniors and seniors will remember for years to come.

Join Our Prom Committee

We're seeking 4-6 dedicated junior and senior parents to assist with planning and executing every detail of this special milestone event. With our close-knit senior class, your involvement will make a real difference in creating something truly memorable!

Committee Details

What: Prom planning and coordination
First Meeting: September 19 at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Prom Date: April 24, 2026 (Unconfirmed)
Venue: Lake Forest Church, Huntersville, NC

Ready to Volunteer?

Contact our coordinators with your student's name to secure your spot:

Madelyn Daggerhart
📧 m.daggerhart@aspiretradehs.org

Kyra Vines
📧 k.vines@aspiretradehs.org

For Zoom meeting details and additional information, reach out to Madelyn or Kyra.

We're excited to announce that Aspire Trade High School's Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 6th, 2026 at 4:00 PM at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, NC. This momentous occasion will celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduating seniors as they transition from skilled students to accomplished professionals ready to make their mark in the workforce.

Our graduation ceremony will be a highlight of the school year, honoring the dedication, hard work, and perseverance our students have shown throughout their journey at Aspire Trade High School. Families, friends, and faculty will gather to recognize these remarkable young adults who have not only earned their high school diplomas but have also gained valuable trade skills and certifications that will serve them well in their chosen career paths.

More details about graduation requirements, cap and gown orders, senior activities, and ceremony logistics will be shared with families as we get closer to the big day. We encourage all senior families to mark their calendars now and begin planning for this special celebration. For any immediate questions about graduation, please don't hesitate to reach out to the main office.

Congratulations in advance to our Class of 2026 – we can't wait to celebrate your success!

Need Infinite Campus? Email Mrs. Davi Racquer at d.racquer@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:

Jennifer Nichols - Executive Director : j.nichols@aspiretradehs.org

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

Davi Racquer - Director of Curriculum & Compliance : d.racquer@aspiretradehs.org

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

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

Rob Racquer - Director of CTE and Facilities : r.racquer@aspiretradehs.org

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

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

Madeline Mobley - Front Desk : m.mobley@aspiretradehs.org

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