VPA-AZ Winter Newsletter
December 2025
Dr. Kayleen Marble, Superintendent
This is such a wonderful time of year. I love celebrating holidays and seeing the exciting and energy in our students and staff. As staff and students leave for our winter break, I wish to convey my gratitude to each of you for being a part of our school. We have a wonderful and caring staff. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with all of them and I know your students are in good hands. We have a supportive community with wonderful and giving parents and grandparents, to which we all say thank you for all that you do. Finally, to our incredible students, who challenge themselves every day to learn and be engaged. They are why we are here every day! You make my role as a school administrator a joy through your commitment to your children and our school. If you celebrate holidays, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New year. Enjoy your time with friends and family and we will see you back in a few weeks.
Ms. Savina Dhawan, Secondary Principal
Hello Families,
December is a month of magic and miracles. The coolness in the air reminds us to slow down, recuperate, and rejuvenate. It’s a time to enjoy good food, family, and friends. Embrace the magic of the season by giving yourself the well-deserved rest and break you need. I hope this month allows you to reflect, replenish, and renew your energy so you can begin the new year stronger and brighter.
Just a gentle reminder, our virtual courses remain open. You’re welcome to log in anytime during holidays, evenings, and weekends to catch up on class work and assignments.
Ms. Karli Thompson, Elementary Administrator
Hello Families,
It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached December and are nearly halfway through the school year! Teachers really enjoyed our recent elementary Parent–Teacher Conferences and getting to connect with Learning Coaches. During conferences, teachers shared valuable information about your child’s progress. They reviewed where students began the year and outlined goals for where they should be by the mid-year mark. If your child is currently behind in any area, we encourage you to use part of the winter break to support them in catching up. Our winter break runs from December 22nd through January 2nd, and school will resume on January 5th.
Once we return, students will take their mid-year assessments, in i-Ready, MindPlay, and DIBELS. One of the best ways to help your child feel confident and prepared is to have them continue completing their i-Ready and/or MindPlay lessons consistently throughout December and over the break. We know the holiday season can be busy but maintaining a bit of structure and routine helps students stay on track and reduces stress. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s learning and growth. We truly appreciate all you do at home to make their success possible. As we head into the break, we wish you a joyful, restful holiday season filled with quality time and your loved ones. We look forward to welcoming our students back in January, refreshed and ready for a strong start to the second half of the school year!
Mr. Taylor Sorensen, Operations Manager
Hello Families,
As we wrap up the semester, the Operations Team at Virtual Preparatory Academy of Arizona wishes all of our students, families, and staff a safe and joyful winter break! We are here to support you every step of the way, so if you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Looking ahead, state testing is just around the corner. Keep an eye on your inbox for important updates and guidance from our Testing Coordinator to help you prepare. Thank you for being part of our VPA-AZ community, and we look forward to a successful start to the new year!
Did you know?
Hot chocolate is more than yummy! Drinking a warm beverage in winter can actually help your body regulate its temperature and keep you cozy.
Ice can float! Unlike most solids, ice is less dense than water, which is why it floats. This keeps fish and other aquatic life safe in frozen lakes.
Ms. Cynthia Cramer
"I am a dedicated educator and educational leader with experience across K–12 classrooms and school administration, driven by a belief in child-centered, engaging learning experiences that help every student thrive. As a mom to a 5-year-old, I bring both professional expertise and a parent’s perspective to my work, grounding my approach in empathy, curiosity, and a deep commitment to student growth."
Ms. Jennifer Gentle
“I am originally from Oregon. I have lived in Arizona five years. I hope one day I can travel all over the world. I haven't been many places. I love music. I love language and learning new things. I love to laugh and read. I have 8 children, 2 girls and 6 boys. My youngest is 4, and my oldest is 20. I have taught for ten years.”
Mrs. Jayashree Chopra
“I'm a second language learner and I'm passionate about language acquisition. I speak English, Hindi, Russian, Malayalam, Punjabi and Tamil. I'm trying hard to learn Spanish, but my brain needs to be set back to default so there is space in my Frontal Lobes.”
Christmas Brownie Trees
Christmas Monster Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies
Spring State Testing
State testing is mandatory, in-person for all Arizona students in grades 3–9 & 11. Please mark your calendars for testing dates: March 30 – April 10, 2025.
Guardian Dashboard
Guardian Dashboard Login Guide
We’re excited to help you stay connected. Attached below are directions to log in to your Guardian Dashboard, your go-to place for updates on your student’s progress. If you need your login credentials or have any questions along the way, our school team is happy to help, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Attendance Inquiries
For all attendance questions or to report an absence, please contact our Attendance Line at 307-365-6440 or email us at attendance@vprepaz.org. We’re here to help ensure every school day counts!
Forgot Your Password?
Contact the School Operations Manager, Taylor Sorensen at tsorensen@accelschools.com for assistance.
Reindeer Headband Craft
Paper Plate Christmas Tree
Paper Ball Reindeer Craft
Mr. Osborne Gardner, Student Success Coach
My name is Osborne Gardner and I’m excited to be here at Accel Schools! I am an Air Force veteran of 8 years and have been working in schools since 2013, primarily supporting at-risk youth. I’ve also spent the last 10 years coaching high school varsity basketball, which has been one of my greatest passions.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and staying active. I’m truly looking forward to connecting with you all and supporting our students in every way I can.
Ms. Sierra Jurgens, Student Success Coach
Mrs. Sullivan's Festive Fifth
Costume day was filled with fun in 5th grade lives! Everyone came to celebrate!
Mrs. Sullivan's Fab First
Sunglasses and mustache day was a hit during spirit week! First grade was prepared to shine bright with their shades!
Staff Shenanigans
The K-5 staffed pranked Principal Thompson by drinking from anything but a cup!
Dr. Kayleen Marble
Superintendent
Mr. Taylor Sorensen
Operations Manager
Ms. Savina Dhawan
Secondary Principal
Ms. Karli Thompson
Elementary Administrator
Ms. Katie Peters
ELL Coordinator
Ms. Rebecca Kowal
Special Education Coordinator
