Volume 2 Issue 2

Congratulations on a successful first week of school! I want to personally offer the hugest THANK YOU and express my appreciation and gratitude for everyone's cooperation during driveline. For the first week of school, it was smoother and faster than I've ever seen.

Please continue to keep your car tags visible until your scholar is loaded in your vehicle.

We have our first events and activities starting next week. Please read and check out all the details below.

From the 2025-2026 Scholar/Parent Handbook

Hair

Hair should not distract from the learning environment. It must be a natural color (genetically possible) and should not cover the eyes. Boys’ hair length must be worn above the collar and not touching the ears or the collar. Any sideburns are to be no lower than the ear lobe. Boys are to be clean shaven. Girls’ hair can be any length, but must not be extreme in style. Hair is to be neat and in good taste; a professional look is the goal. Extreme hair cuts are not acceptable.

Extreme hairstyles refer to haircuts, colors, or styles that are unconventional, bold, and often stand out significantly from mainstream or traditional looks. These styles typically involve dramatic changes in hair length, color, or shape, and can push the boundaries of what is considered typical or acceptable. Examples include brightly colored hair, shaved or asymmetrical cuts, spikes, or highly sculpted styles.

There are some popular hair trends happening right now. The one we saw the most on our campus at the beginning of the school year was bleached blond hair, especially on our boys. That is a fun style to sport in the summer; but unfortunately, doesn't adhere to our handbook standards. Please take a moment as soon as you can to rectify these hairstyles.

Picture Day is coming on Wednesday, August 13!

We need every scholar and parent to acknowledge that the following documents have been read.

2025/2026 Scholar/Family Handbook

Classroom AI Policy

Cell Phone Policy

After reading these three documents, either scan the QR code OR fill out the form below.

THANK YOU to the families who have already completed this task.

When you need to report an absence for your scholar (either ahead of time or the day of), we encourage all parents to please use SafeArrival, an absence reporting system that communicates directly with PowerSchool. Follow the directions on the flyer below to sign up.

IMPORTANT- you must use the email and phone number that you provided in PowerSchool for the programs to communicate properly.

If you have any questions or need help, call 623-537-3535

Every month, Kona Ice visits (typically the third Tuesday) during scholar lunches. Scholars can bring cash that day (look at the flyer for prices) and cool down with some delicious, icy treats.

To make purchasing snacks easier, you can purchase a snack bar punch card for $10. Each punch equals one snack on. You can purchase as many punch cards at a time that you want and purchase more throughout the year. Don't worry about having cash on Thursday mornings, buy a punch card today!

Scan the QR to pay via Venmo

Be sure to include your scholar's name, grade, and SNACK BAR in the message

or bring $10 cash to the front office.

Do you have a business and want to advertise your services to other Heritage Academy Families? Consider making a business level donation to our PTO. There are three tiers of donations. See the details below!

Do you have an hour a week, every two weeks, once a month? We would love to invite our dads to join us during lunch time to play with scholars. Fill out the form and contact PTO if you are interested.

President- Valerie Crowner

Vice President- Jennifer Spicer

Treasurer- Maureen Williams

Secretary- Rachel Mutchler

JOIN US for the first PTO Meeting of the Year

Monday, August 18th @ 3:45 p.m.

There are MANY ways to be involved with the PTO and support our school.

Be sure to read their newsletter for information on:

• PTO meeting dates
• Financial support (we have FIVE tiers of financial support). If you have a business, be sure to check out our business levels of support to receive free advertising.
• Dads on Duty- we are looking for dads who are willing to come to campus during lunch and play with scholars.
• Purchase your snack bar PUNCH CARD to make it easier for your scholar to buy snacks on Thursdays.
• Sign up for events like weekly snack bar, Trunk-or-Treat, Winter Festival, and more.

Aug. 12th- Kona Ice on campus @ lunch

Aug. 13th- Fall Picture Day

Aug. 14th- Snack bar @ lunch

Aug. 18th- PTO Meeting @ 3:45 p.m.

Aug. 21st- Snack bar @ lunch

Aug. 28th- Dollar for Duds & snack bar @ lunch

Your business could be advertised here!

Morning driveline begins at 7:30 a.m.

Afternoon driveline for Kindergarten-5th grade starts at 3:15 p.m

Afternoon driveline for JH starts at 3:30 p.m.

A.M. drop off

Scholars can be dropped off in the back drive ONLY between 7:30-8:00 a.m. Parents should not drop off in the front drive, parking lot, or through the front office.

Parents should remain in their vehicles during drop off. We have staff available to open car doors and assist scholars. IMPORTANT- do not let scholars out of cars until 7:30 a.m. when staff is present.

At 8:00 a.m. the back drive gate will be locked. At that point, parents must escort scholars through the front office and sign them in as tardy.

P.M. pick up

NOTE- we are using staggered pick up times. Read carefully.

Kindergarten (plus 1st-5th grade siblings)- 3:15 p.m. in the front driveline (see the RED arrows on the map below). Parents should pull ALL THE WAY forward to the fence (do not stop at the gate). **If kindergarten scholars have JH siblings, they will be escorted to the cafe at 3:30 for JH pick up. JH siblings will not be released at 3:15 for pick up.

1st-5th grade- 3:15 p.m. in the back driveline (see the BLACK arrows on the map below). The first vehicles to enter the driveline should pull ALL the way around to the exit (it helps us keep traffic off of the street). Parents should remain in the vehicle at all times. **If 1st-5th grade scholars have JH siblings, they will wait to be picked up until 3:30 when JH is dismissed.

JH (6th-8th grade)- 3:30 p.m. in the back driveline (see the BLACK arrows on the map below). Parents should remain in the vehicle at all times. Kinder-5th grade siblings will be waiting with JH scholars.

IMPORTANT!!

You will be given car tags of a specific color based on the driveline you are expected to use. Car tags should be CLEARLY displayed in the driver window or dash board.

Kinder (including their 1st-5th grade siblings)- yellow car tag

1st-5th (NO kinder or JH siblings)- green car tag

JH (including k-5 siblings)- orange car tag

Avoid arriving before your scheduled pick up time. If you are picking up JH scholars, do not enter the driveline before 3:30, you will be sent around to re-enter the driveline once JH scholars have been dismissed. If you do not have a kindergarten scholar, avoid the front driveline. This is also used by our preschool, Liberty Kids, and should be reserved for kinder and preschool only.

Arriving early (even if you pick up kinder or 1st-5th) is not helpful. If you arrive right at 3:15 or 3:30, you will move through pick-up quickly and avoid traffic jams. Please be aware that we have no control over street traffic. We ask parents to demonstrate the same citizenship and self-governance that we teach our scholars.

Do not cut through the parking lot to bypass waiting in line. It causes frustration for other parents who follow driveline procedures. Preschool parents should plan to exit the parking lot and join the end of the K-8 driveline.

ALL SCHOLARS SHOULD BE PICKED UP FROM SCHOOL BY 3:45 P.M.

Part of the unique Heritage Academy culture is our school uniform. It helps to maintain the clean, moral, and safe environment that we guarantee our scholars and families. Strict adherence to the uniform policy will be required starting the first day of school. PARENTS!! Our scholars probably grew over the summer, please check skirt/shorts length and shirt sizes to be sure they meet our expectations. See the link below for our approved vendors.

Dress standards

• Only Heritage Academy embroidered polo shirts are permitted.
• Shorts/pants- navy blue or khaki only. NO CARGO SHORTS OR PANTS
• Skirts/shorts length for girls- they should touch the top of the knee when sitting or standing (front and back). Some of our scholars are tall, try items on before purchasing. This will be strictly enforced.
• Leggings are NOT pants and must be solid red, white, or navy with no patterns if worn under a uniform skirt.
• Footwear- Shoes should have a strap around the back for safety. No flip flops, slides, or slippers under any circumstances (including spirit days and Dollars for Duds).

• Boys- hair must be off the collar and ears. All boys must be clean shaven.
• K-5 girls may NOT wear make-up. JH girls may wear MINIMAL make-up but it should appear as if they are wearing nothing.
• All hair color and styles (girls or boys) should be a color that a baby could be born with. Hair styles may not be extreme.
• No scholar may have visible tattoos or facial piercings. Girls ONLY may have one piercing in their ear lobes. Boys may not wear earrings or use clear plastic plugs at school.

***All parents and scholars are required to read the entire parent/scholar handbook and sign an acknowledgement (provided at the Back to School Bash).

6754 W Pinnacle Peak Rd

Glendale, AZ 85310

623-537-3535

Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

hapinnacle.com