The Phoenix
Aspire Trade High School | September 12, 2025
- September 23rd – WIDA ACCESS Screener Initial testing for English Learner (EL) students
- September 24th – WIDA ACCESS Screener Make-up day
- September 25 - 26: Teacher Workdays
- October 21: Q1 (40 Days) Ends
- October 30 - 31: Teacher Workdays
Aspire Trade High School Board Member Meeting
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 6:00 in the ATHS cafeteria.
For The agenda or to join via zoom click the button below
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We would like to share some important upcoming testing information:
WIDA ACCESS Screener
September 23rd – Initial testing for English Learner (EL) students
September 24th – Make-up day
Purpose: This screener helps determine whether students would benefit from EL services.
Note: The WIDA ACCESS test for EL students who have already qualified for services will take place during the second semester (date to be announced).
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PreACT (10th Grade Only)
November 10th – Testing Day
November 12th – Make-up day
Testing runs from 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM. Students who finish early may call home to be picked up.
Attendance: Please make every effort to ensure your student is present, as this test is required by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
School Attendance on PreACT Day:
Only 10th graders will report to school.
Students in grades 9, 11, and 12 will stay home (This will not be a remote learning day, as it was already designated as a teacher workday on our school calendar).
Please Note:
We realize that Friday, November 10th is a teacher workday. However:
- 10th grade students taking the Pre-ACT will report to school from 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
- If a student finishes testing early, they may call home to be picked up prior to 12:30.
- All other students in grades 9, 11, and 12 will remain at home.
-Please note: This is not a remote instruction day.
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ACT (11th Grade Only)
March 10, 2026 – ACT Testing Day
On this day, 11th graders will be on campus for testing.
Students in grades 9, 10, and 12 will complete remote work from home.
More details will be provided closer to the test date.
We appreciate your support in helping us ensure a smooth testing experience for all students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to d.racquer@aspiretradehs.org.
Attention Phoenix families!
Spirit Week Alert: October 6-10
Parents, mark your calendars! Spirit Week is coming up October 6-10, and your kids are going to need your help getting ready for some seriously fun themed days.
We surveyed students during lunch this week to get their input on this year's themes, and the responses were fantastic! We're busy reviewing all the suggestions and will announce the final theme lineup soon.
Get ready for a week full of creativity, school spirit, and some pretty amazing student outfits!
Get ready, Aspire Trade students!
Our signature Tradecoming Dance is approaching fast, and the excitement is building!
This year's celebration promises to be our most spectacular yet, featuring our own unique twist on the traditional homecoming experience. Students can look forward to an unforgettable evening complete with:
- Tradecoming Court - showcasing our amazing student leaders
- King & Queen Crowning - celebrating our school's finest
- Dancing, Music & Fun - a night you won't want to miss!
We will be surveying students during lunch next week to get their input to help make this dance truly memorable.
More information coming soon! Keep your eyes peeled for updates in upcoming newsletters and school announcements.
Dear Aspire Trade families,
To ensure the safety and security of all our students, we want to remind you of our important front desk procedures. These policies help us maintain a secure learning environment while providing efficient service to our school community.
Early Check-Out Procedures
Please note that our early check-out cut-off time is 2:15 PM. All early dismissal requests must be processed before this time to avoid disruption to end-of-day procedures and student transportation arrangements. We encourage families to schedule appointments and other commitments outside of school hours whenever possible.
Visitor and Check-Out Requirements
For the safety of all students and staff, we require that all visitors and anyone checking out students present a current, valid photo ID. This policy applies to all individuals, including parents, guardians, and authorized pickup persons. Please ensure your ID is not expired and clearly displays your photo and name.
Additionally, only individuals listed on the student's authorized pickup list may check out students. If you need to add someone to your child's pickup authorization list, please contact the front office in advance. Emergency situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis with proper verification.
Student Walker Documentation
Students who walk home or to other destinations must have proper documentation from their parent or guardian on file with the front office. This written permission helps us ensure student safety and confirms that parents are aware of their child's transportation arrangements. If your child's walking arrangements change, please submit updated documentation promptly.
Questions?
If you have any questions about these procedures or need to update any information in your child's file, please don't hesitate to contact our front office staff. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and organized school environment for all members of the Aspire Trade community.
Thank you for your continued support,
Regular attendance is crucial for your student's success in our trade programs. Unlike traditional classes, our hands-on trade programs require students to be present to learn essential skills. Missing lab time means missing critical experience with equipment and techniques that can't be made up later. Students with good attendance are 5 times more likely to graduate and enter the workforce with the skills employers demand.
Reporting Attendance
Please do not call the school for attendance matters. Instead, kindly email Ms. Lyall at s.lyall@aspiretradehs.org so we have proper documentation.
Help your student build the habits that lead to career success—it starts with showing up every day.
We’re excited to announce that Wellness Wednesday will return this year, beginning Wednesday, September 24, 2025!
This initiative, designed to promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being among our students, will take place during 5th block each week.
What’s new this year? Wellness Wednesday will include two inside groups to provide more focused support and activities tailored to students’ interests and needs.
These groups will offer a safe and welcoming space for students to connect, relax, and engage in wellness practices together.
Get ready to celebrate our amazing students! Starting this month, we're launching our Student of the Month program to recognize the outstanding Phoenix scholars who exemplify what it means to soar! One student from each grade (9-12) will be selected based on their academic performance, attendance, positive behavior, and demonstration of Phoenix Pride.
These exceptional students will be featured in our newsletter, on our website, and around campus. Who will be our first Students of the Month? Stay tuned to find out which Phoenix is ready to spread their wings and shine!
Aspire Trade High School trade shirts are still available for students and families who haven't picked theirs up yet! Please visit the front office during regular school hours to get your shirt. We're also excited to announce that sweatshirts and jackets will be available for purchase very soon. Keep an eye out for more details on ordering and pricing for these additional apparel options. Show your Aspire Trade pride with official school gear!
As we continue to maintain our professional learning environment, we want to remind everyone of our dress code requirements. These guidelines help prepare our students for their future careers in the trades while ensuring safety and professionalism in our school setting.
Required Uniform Components
All students are required to follow our dress code policy daily. Here are the specific requirements:
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Trade Shirts - MANDATORY
All students MUST wear their official Aspire Trade shirt as the visible outer layer. Your trade shirt must be worn over and should always be visible any other clothing items, including:
-Sweatshirts
-Long sleeve shirts
-Undershirts
-Tank tops
Students are permitted to wear a zip up or button up jacket with NO hood attached over their trade shirts.
The trade shirt represents our school's professional standards and must always be the wared and visible .
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Approved Bottom Wear
Students may choose from the following approved bottom options:
-Jeans (must have NO HOLES OR TEARS)
-Casual dress pants
-Cargo pants
Prohibited Bottom Wear
The following items are NOT permitted at any time:
-Shorts / Dresses/ skorts or skirts
-Sweat pants
-Athletic pants
-Leggings
-Pajama pants
-Yoga Pants
These items do not meet our professional standards and may pose safety concerns in our trade program areas.
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Required Footwear
For safety reasons, especially in our trade programs, all students must wear:
-Closed-toe shoes
-Closed-heel shoes
Open-toe sandals, flip-flops, slides, or any shoes with exposed toes or heels are not permitted. This policy protects students from potential injuries in shop areas and maintains safety standards throughout the school.
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Compliance Expectations
Students who do not comply with the dress code will be asked to contact their families to bring appropriate clothing. Repeated violations may result in disciplinary action.
We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining Aspire Trade's professional standards. These dress code requirements help prepare our students for success in their chosen trade careers while keeping everyone safe.
To purchase more school gear please reach out to the front office.
Thank you,
Aspire Trade High School Administration
You can join anytime! Just email your contact information to
Our main goal is to support both staff and students in any way we can. That might mean
volunteering your time to help with an event or providing a donation.
At the end of last school year, we asked teachers to create a “wish list” of classroom
supplies they would like to have. To kick off our first PTA initiative, we will begin
collecting those items. A complete list will be emailed to you, and donations can be
turned in to the front office. The deadline is October 28.
Thank you for helping us make this school year a great one!
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.
For questions or to request bus transportation, contact: Mr. Márlon Canel: m.canel@aspiretradehs.org
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.
Congratulations in advance to our Class of 2026 – we can't wait to celebrate your success!
Parents and students,
Please remember that all lunch orders are due by Thursday at 11:45 PM each week.
Orders placed on Friday will not be included for the lunch for the up coming week.
All orders must be completed by Thursday.
Our lunch orders for the following week are placed with our lunch providers on Friday morning, so it's important to get your orders in on time to ensure your student receives their meals. Lunch may be conveniently ordered online at foodese.com. If you miss the Thursday 11:45 PM deadline, your student will need to bring lunch from home or purchase from our vending machine.
Thank you for helping us maintain our lunch service schedule!
