Week 5

Hello Vipers and Verrado families,

Monday VHS will host the AASC (Arizona Association of Student Councils) Fall Leadership Conference from 9-1pm. We will be reserving the overflow lot by the bus loop for STUGO's attending the event.

Fall Sports are in full swing! Come out and support our Vipers on the court, the field, the course, the sand, the sidelines and in the pool or in the stands!

First spirit week of the year!

Our First home varsity football game is Thursday evening at 7pm! Hope to see a lot of Vipers there. We want to make sure the game is an enjoyable experience for all.

Some notes for attending the game.

• Tickets are only available online through GoFan.
• There will be no backpacks allowed in.
• We will be using our weapon detection system at the game. As you go through please hand metal chairs to a member of our VHS staff so they dont set them off.
• Misconduct by fans at the game can result in ejection. This includes throwing items.

Please help us keep our students and community safe-

We also urge you to be cautious in our community. Please do not chase cars, throw water balloons, or engage in any actions that could lead to dangerous situations due to the game. Please be mindful of backyards or alleyways as well that are shared spaces.

Please prioritize safety and good judgment.

No School- Monday 9/7 (Labor Day)

• Please see reminders below about student dress code expectations.

Senior parents please make an appointment ASAP at GRADS photograhy for your students senior yearbook picture! Senior yearbook pictures can only be taken by GRADS photography.

https://gradsphotography.com/seniors

One Verrado!

Matt Lees
Principal
Verrado High School

🐍 What's Happening at Verrado This Week?

It’s Spirit Week at Verrado! 🎉 We have a busy and exciting week ahead with spirit days, athletics, college opportunities, and campus activities. Check out what’s happening around VHS!

Monday, August 31 — Western/Cowboy Day Spirit Day: Break out the boots and western gear! 🤠🐎

🎓 AZ College Consortium College Fair — 9:00 AM

🏸 Badminton vs. Sunrise Mountain HS — 5:00 PM | 🏠 Home

Tuesday, September 1 — Y2K Day Spirit Day: Throw it back to the 2000s! 📀✨

⛳ Boys Golf @ Boulder Creek HS — 3:00 PM | 🚌 Away

🏈 Freshman Football vs. West Point HS — 6:00 PM | 🏠 Home

Wednesday, September 2 — Adam Sandler Day Spirit Day: Comfy, casual, and oversized—bring your best Adam Sandler-inspired look! 👕🩳

🏸 Badminton vs. Peoria HS — 2:30 PM | 🏠 Home

⛳ Girls Golf @ Desert Edge HS — 3:00 PM | 🚌 Away

🏐 Indoor Volleyball @ Paradise Valley HS — 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 PM | 🚌 Away

🏐 Boys Beach Volleyball vs. Agua Fria HS — 4:00 PM | 🏠 Home

Thursday, September 3 — Neon Day Spirit Day: Let’s light up the halls! Wear your brightest neon!

🏊 Swim vs. Paradise Honors HS — 4:00 PM | 🏠 Home

🏈 Varsity Football vs. West Point HS — 7:00 PM | 🏠 Home

Friday, September 4 — Black & Gold Day 🖤 Spirit Day: Finish Spirit Week by showing your Viper Pride! Wear your black and gold! 🐍💛🖤

Saturday, September 5

🏃 Cross Country @ Invitational Meet — 8:00 AM | 🚌 Away

Attention juniors and seniors interested in a career in healthcare! 💜🎓 Grand Canyon University is hosting a College & Career Readiness Day focused on pre-health programs, including Nursing, Pre-Med, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Pharmacy, Sports Medicine, and Athletic Training.

📅 September 28
🚌 Depart Verrado at 7:45 AM | Return at 1:30 PM

Interested students should pick up a permission slip from the College & Career Center and return it by September 14. Space is limited, so don’t wait! 🩺💊🏥

Families are invited to join us for an important community presentation focused on helping parents, school staff, and students recognize concerns early, respond safely, and connect with support. 💙

Topics will include online safety, grooming, sextortion, AI & deepfakes, exploitation, and human trafficking, with prevention education from the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network.

📅 Thursday, August 27 | 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 Desert Edge High School Cafeteria

📅 Thursday, September 22 | 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 Millennium High School Auditorium

⚠️ Please note: Due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed, young children should not attend. The presentation may include graphic images and inappropriate or disturbing content.

We encourage our families to take advantage of this opportunity to learn, ask questions, and help keep our students safe—both online and in our community. 🤝💻

Looking for a quick and easy scholarship opportunity? The Cirkled In “No Sweat” Scholarship is open to all high school students in grades 9–12! There’s no essay, no minimum GPA, and no income requirement—and it only takes about 2 minutes to apply! 🙌

💵 Award: $2,500
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2026
🎓 Who Can Apply: Students in grades 9–12
✍️ No essay required!

Students can visit cirkledin.com/scholarships to create a free profile and apply. Don’t miss this easy opportunity to earn money toward your educational future! 💙📚

Seniors, don’t miss this incredible opportunity! The Flinn Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship for Arizona students attending ASU, NAU, or the University of Arizona. The scholarship is valued at more than $140,000 and includes tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals, study-abroad opportunities, internship and research support, and mentorship. 🎓✈️📚

📅 Application Deadline: October 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Interested students and families are encouraged to review the qualifications and learn more at flinnscholars.org.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program application is now open, offering $20,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership and community service. Highlighting $20,000 awards, an incredible alumni network, leadership coaching, and an invite to the Atlanta Scholars Weekend, this opportunity can help launch your student’s future. Encourage your senior to apply online at cokeurl.com/applynow or scan the QR code before the September 30 at 5:00 PM ET deadline!

Seniors will need to schedule an appointment with GRADS photography to take their senior picture for the yearbook. Link here.

Stay connected with the Verrado High School Counseling Department! Check out the Quarter 1 edition of Counselor Connections for important counseling updates, information about your student’s assigned counselor, and helpful resources to start the 2026–27 school year strong!

https://app.smore.com/n/qjxbf

Stay ahead by keeping the 2026–2027 Agua Fria Union High School District Academic Calendar handy! Be sure to mark important dates such as the first day of school, holidays, fall and spring breaks, quarter end dates, early release days, graduation, and the last day of school. Planning ahead helps students and families stay organized throughout the school year.

Registration is now open for our Summer 2027 Italy & Greece tour! Join us for an unforgettable educational travel experience. Attend our upcoming parent information meeting to learn about the itinerary, cost, fundraising opportunities, and how to enroll.

👉 Learn more & RSVP: https://bit.ly/4oPgbQD

Families and students are invited to explore exciting opportunities at the Agua Fria High School District College & Career Fair! 🌟 Meet with representatives from 50+ colleges, universities, and trade schools to learn about academic programs, career pathways, admissions, scholarships, and more. Join us on Tuesday, September 22, from 5:30–7:00 PM at Desert Edge High School. This is a fantastic opportunity to start planning for the future—we hope to see you there! 🎉📚

Student and staff safety are paramount for the Agua Fria district. Please see expectations and watch the video below to familiarize yourself with our weapons detection system.

• When students arrive on campus they MUST show a physical ID to enter campus. Failure to have a physical ID will result in a new ID being printed and a charge for the new ID will be applied.
• NEW FOR 2026-2027 We will begin using scanners at all entrances to scan students ID in the morning as they enter. This supports our commitment to student safety. We piloted this procedure last year on the East side entrance. We ask for some patience as we begin to implement this campus wide.

Students and staff will go over school safety protocols and procedures as well but please familiarize yourself with our expectations and procedures. Thank you!

As technology plays an important role in learning, we ask all students and families to review our Student Responsible Use Policy. This guide outlines expectations for using school devices, accounts, and the internet safely, responsibly, and respectfully to support student success. Thank you for partnering with us to promote positive digital citizenship!

If you do not want Verrado High School/AFHSD to disclose directory information, you are required to print and fill out the attached form. The school must receive this form within 15 days.

Don't miss out on all the exciting things happening at Verrado High School! Follow us on Instagram for school news, student celebrations, athletic highlights, event reminders, and a behind-the-scenes look at life on campus.

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @1verrado

We can't wait to share another amazing school year with you! #OneVerrado 🐍

AFHSD is making school-to-home communication easier than ever! 🎉 We're transitioning from Remind to ParentSquare, your new one-stop hub for school updates, messages, alerts, and announcements.

✅ Receive important notifications
✅ Message teachers and staff
✅ Get updates by text, email, app, or web
✅ Access messages in your preferred language

Be sure to download the ParentSquare app and stay connected all year long!

Help avoid unexpected repair and replacement costs by enrolling in the Verrado High School Device Protection Plan for the 2026–2027 school year.

For just $30, the plan helps cover accidental damage, malfunctioning parts, and reduced replacement costs for lost or stolen devices—including chargers.

🗓️ Purchase by Friday, October 2
💳 Available at the VHS Bookstore or online:
🌐 www.aguafria.org/dpp

Thank you for helping keep your student's device

Being on time is an important part of student success! We appreciate your partnership in helping students arrive to class on time each day.

Please note the following attendance guidelines:

• ⏱️ Every 5 tardies in the same class will count as 1 absence for that class.
• 📚 Students who arrive 15 minutes or more late to class will be marked absent.
• ⚠️ Excessive absences may result in a loss of course credit in accordance with district policy.
• 📋 Students will receive consequences for every 5 tardies. Continued tardiness may result in progressive disciplinary actions, ranging from detention to suspension.

Thank you for reviewing these expectations with your student and helping us promote strong attendance habits. Arriving on time each day helps students make the most of every learning opportunity!

Help us keep our students, families, staff, and community safe during arrival and dismissal!

🚫 No student drop-off is permitted on Indian School Road. This is a busy roadway, and stopping to drop off students creates a safety hazard, increases the risk of accidents, and slows traffic entering the school parking lot.

🚫 Students may not park in surrounding neighborhoods or at nearby businesses. Unauthorized parking impacts our neighbors and local businesses and may result in vehicles being towed.

✅ Please use the designated school parking lot for all student drop-offs and pickups.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our campus and surrounding community safe. We appreciate your cooperation and support!

✅ A parking permit is REQUIRED to park on campus! Permits are issued on a first come, first served basis to eligible students. Spots are not assigned.

⚠️ Reminder: Students who park without a valid permit will face disciplinary consequences.

To apply, students must:

• 📨 Use their school email address to complete the form

• 📸 Upload a valid driver’s license, current registration, and auto insurance

• 💵 Pay the $50 permit fee (Payment link provided in the application)

• ✅ Wait for email confirmation of approval from the bookstore

The BusRight Parent App helps families stay connected with their student's bus transportation. Parents must register through the app to receive bus information, including route details, bus stop locations, and near real-time bus tracking so you know when your student's bus is approaching. You'll receive an email invitation from the district with instructions to download the app and create your account.

Helpful Features:

• 🚌 View your student's bus route and stop information
• 📍 Track your student's bus in near real-time
• 📱 Receive transportation updates through the BusRight app
• ✅ Easy setup with an email invitation from the district

The Agua Fria Union High School District Food Services Department is committed to providing students with nutritious, affordable meals each school day. Families can view school breakfast and lunch menus, add money to meal accounts, and apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits online. A new Meal Benefit Application is required each school year, and qualifying families may also be eligible for additional benefits such as reduced testing and activity fees.

Helpful Resources:

• 🍽️ View breakfast and lunch menus
• 💳 Manage your student's meal account through LINQ Connect
• ✅ Apply for Free & Reduced Meal Benefits
• 📋 Find meal pricing and nutrition information

Families, as we continue supporting a safe and respectful learning environment, please take a moment to review the Agua Fria District Dress Code Guidelines. This includes what students must wear, what they may wear, and items that cannot be worn on campus.

Encouraging students to dress appropriately helps keep our focus on learning and ensures everyone feels comfortable and supported at school. Thank you for partnering with us!

Arizona HB 2484 requires school districts to establish policies governing student internet access and the use of wireless communication devices during the school day.

At Verrado High School, we use the district's Stoplight Device Policy to help create a focused learning environment. We encourage all families to review this policy and discuss the expectations with their student before the first day of school.

🚦 What to Expect in Class:

• 🔴 All classes begin on RED. Students should have their cell phones, earbuds, and other personal devices put away at the start of every class.
• 🟡🟢 Teachers will let students know if and when devices may be used for instructional purposes by changing the classroom's stoplight level.
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Thank you for partnering with us to support a positive, distraction-free learning environment where every student can be successful!

Planning to participate in athletics this school year? All student-athletes must be fully cleared through FinalForms before attending any tryout or practice.

To be eligible, students must complete the following:

• ✅ Register in FinalForms: https://aguafria-az.finalforms.com/?forward_path=%2Fstudents
• 🩺 Submit a current sports physical (physical forms can be downloaded directly from FinalForms)
• 🧠 Complete the required Brainbook/Opioid Education & Certification
• ✍️ Ensure all required parent, student, and physician signatures are completed
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Please complete these requirements before tryouts begin to ensure your student is eligible to participate.

Questions? Contact: gbarnes@aguafria.org

Freshman families, mark your calendars! Our students will have the opportunity to explore exciting career pathways, meet professionals from a variety of industries, and learn about future education and career opportunities at the Academies of the Southwest Valley Freshman Career Expo.

📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026
📍 Phoenix Raceway
⏰ 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to begin thinking about their future and discover careers they may be passionate about. We can't wait for our freshmen to experience this exciting event! 🌟

We are so excited for another year of great learning. Our district is committed to a well-rounded approach to education through Mastery Learning. Mastery Learning helps students build strong academic knowledge while also developing important real-world skills such as communication, collaboration, responsibility, leadership, and technology use. Through meaningful projects, discussions, and opportunities to practice new skills, students learn to take ownership of their growth and prepare for success in college, careers, and life beyond high school. 📚🚀 If you are new to Mastery Learning, click here for a summary.

Stay connected with your student's education through ParentVUE! Parents and students can log in anytime to view grades, attendance, class schedules, assignments, report cards, and important school information.

📱 Access ParentVUE/StudentVUE here:
https://afsd.edupoint.com/PXP2_OEN_Login.aspx

New to ParentVUE? Contact your school's registration office for assistance with activating your account.

Planning your student's high school journey starts here! The AFUHSD Course Description Book provides detailed information about all courses offered throughout the district, including graduation requirements, honors and AP courses, Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways, electives, and course prerequisites. It's a valuable resource for students and families as they explore academic opportunities and plan for future success.

Helpful Resources:

• 🎓 Graduation requirements
• 📚 Course descriptions and prerequisites
• ⭐ Honors & Advanced Placement (AP) offerings
• 🛠️ Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways
• 📝 Academic planning information
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📖 View the Course Description Book using the button below.

The Arizona Department of Education requires us to update our records to determine if a child meets the criteria for homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act. If your housing has changed, please review the Arizona Residency Questionnaire and turn this into [social worker name and email]. You may also drop this document off at the school. The school social worker will determine eligibility.