The Phoenix Post

• Principal's Corner🍎
• Chromebook Update! 💻
• NWEA Testing Starts Next Week 📝
• Gifted & WUTM Testing ✏️
• Public University Night 🎓
• Parent/Guardian Observer Accounts 🔗
• In-Person Support 🔴
• Get Involved! 🙋

What a fantastic first week of school!

It was wonderful to see our middle school students so "virtually" present, active, and fully engaged with our teachers during synchronous instruction. Over at the Innovation Center, energy was high as high school and middle school students dropped in for teacher support and tackled their coursework with enthusiasm. We are off to an amazing start, so let's keep this awesome momentum going as we head into week two!

The Week Ahead & Important Dates

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming events and deadlines:

• In-Person NWEA Testing: Mandatory in-person testing begins next week for all full-time students. Please review your specific testing schedule below for details!

• Weekly MyHours Logging: Remember that state attendance logs must be submitted through MyHours every Saturday evening.

  • Middle School (7th–8th): 5 hours per course, per week.

  • High School (9th–12th): 7 hours per course, per week.

• Club Registration Open: Aspire is offering a wide variety of clubs this year featuring both virtual and in-person opportunities to connect, collaborate, and make a real difference on campus!

Tech & Routine Tip: Set Up a Dedicated Space & Weekly Rituals

Transitioning into online learning requires intentional structure. Help your scholar build strong habits early by establishing a dedicated, distraction-free study space equipped with high-speed internet and necessary tools.

Family Strategy: Set a recurring calendar reminder on Saturday afternoons to log weekly hours together on MyHours and review upcoming assignment due dates in PowerSchool or the Canvas Parent Observer account. Establishing this routine early ensures your student stays on track, compliant with state attendance standards, and confident in their coursework!

At Aspire, our core values spell out F.I.R.E.—Focused, Invested, Respectful, and Empowered. Seeing our students embody these values in the virtual classroom and in-person at the Innovation Center during week one fills me with immense pride. Success in online learning is built on daily commitment, proactive communication, and continuous support. Know that our dedicated faculty and staff are always here to support your journey.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of our thriving online learning community. We will "see" you all next week!

Warmly,

Chelsey Laningham, M. Ed.

Aspire Principal

To help your visit to Aspire go as smoothly as possible, please remember to bring your DVUSD Chromebook, charger, and any other materials you may need whenever you come to campus for Learning Labs, in-person testing, or any other school activity.

While we do have a small number of loaner Chromebooks available, they are very limited and cannot be guaranteed. Bringing your own fully charged Chromebook and charger helps ensure you can get started right away and make the most of your time on campus.

Thank you for helping us keep our Learning Labs and testing sessions running smoothly. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to seeing you on campus! 😊

Next week, we'll begin NWEA Math Testing, an important assessment that helps us measure student growth and better support learning throughout the school year. Students only need to attend ONE testing session from the schedule below.

Full-Time Aspire Students:
All full-time students are expected to complete their NWEA assessment in person at Aspire during one of the scheduled testing sessions listed below.

Part-Time Aspire Students:
Part-time students will complete their NWEA assessment virtually through Google Meet during one of the scheduled testing sessions. A Google Meet link and additional testing instructions will be shared with students in Canvas prior to testing.

Thank you for helping us make this testing experience a success! We look forward to seeing our full-time students on campus and our part-time students online next week.

Thinking about college after high school? Join us for Public University Night on Wednesday, August 27, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Boulder Creek High School!

Representatives from Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and the University of Arizona (U of A) will be on campus to share information about admissions, academic programs, financial aid, campus life, and more. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to explore Arizona's public universities, ask questions, and begin planning for the future.

We hope to see you there!

Big news, Aspire Phoenixes! 🎉

Shelldon has officially gone live!

Happy observing! 🐢🔬 (<--click here!)

*Shelldon's live stream is available during the school week - we will send announcements to students when he is online!!*

Did you know you can stay connected to your student's learning through a Parent Observer Account in Canvas?

DVUSD families can create a Canvas Observer Account to view their student's courses and stay informed about important course information. As an observer, parents and guardians can view course content, assignment details, due dates, and announcements to help support their student's success.

Observer accounts allow families to stay connected while keeping student course access secure. Parents and guardians will not be able to submit assignments, participate in discussions, or complete coursework through the observer account.

Parent Observer Accounts are created through PowerSchool, so it is important that a current parent/guardian email address is listed in PowerSchool. Please see the attached instructions for steps on how to set up your Canvas Observer Account.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your student's learning! 😊

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first week of In-Person Support at the Innovation Center! It was a great start, and we loved seeing students on campus connecting with teachers, getting support, and working alongside their peers. We look forward to welcoming even more Aspire students in the weeks ahead!

Aspire students are invited to take advantage of our in-person support opportunities every Tuesday–Thursday at the Innovation Center.

Middle School Students:

High School Students:

Reminder for New Aspire Students:

We can't wait to see you on campus! If you have any questions, please contact us at 623-445-4992.

📍 Innovation Center

One of the best ways for students to feel connected and engaged is by getting involved in our Aspire community. Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of in-person and virtual clubs designed to help them explore interests, connect with classmates, and build meaningful relationships.

Whether students are looking to try something new, connect with others who share their interests, or become more involved in school activities, there is a place for everyone at Aspire!

Visit our school website to explore available clubs and learn more about how students can get involved.

Address: 20402 N 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85027

Phone: 623-445-4992

Email: aspire@dvusd.org

Please note that generative AI tools may have been used to contribute to the preparation of this newsletter. Thank you.