Heritage Academy Salutes our Veterans

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” President George Washington

Heritage Academy’s mission statement:

We are dedicated to youth, their growth and development, and believe in building sound character through strong families, strong communities, and a strong nation.

While teaching the academic disciplines, Heritage Academy is dedicated to instilling into the minds and hearts of our youth knowledge of and respect for the ideals and values of the great men and women of history, including those who founded the American nation.

As they gain an appreciation of these people of accomplishment, they will be ready to provide the selfless service to their fellow citizens and to their country which will be required in the coming years to assist in restoring America’s greatness.

Heritage Academy exists to this end.

Jan. 2, 2023 First Day of Spring Semester!

As we  approach the end of the Fall Semester, we want to be sure our Hero families are aware the first day of the Spring semester is Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.

Please keep this start date in mind as you make your holiday plans.

CLICK HERE FOR SHORT ONE PAGE CALENDAR

CLICK HERE FOR YEARLY COLOR CALENDAR

Important Dates to Remember

  • 11/10 2022 PianoLand Recitals 3:45 pm

  • 11/10 2022 Renaissance Feast and Silent Auction 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Auditorium

  • 11/11 2022 Renaissance Feast and Silent Auction 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Auditorium

  • 11/11 2022 JH Cross Country Banquet 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Heritage Mesa Multipurpose Room

  • 11/14 2022 Ensemble: Jr Musical 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

  • 11/15 2022 PTO 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

  • 11/15 2022 Swim Awards Banquet 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • 11/16 2022 Ensemble: Jr Musical 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

  • 11/17 2022 Scholar Council After School Activity 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
    Courtyard

  • 11/17 2022 Cross Country Banquet -Auditorium 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

    Courtyard

  • 11/18 2022 Ballroom Showcase 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St  

  • 11/18 2022 Dance Concert  8:30 pm – 10:00 pm Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St   

  • 11/23 2022 NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break 

  • 11/24 2022 NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break 

A NOTE FROM Mrs. Udall:

I hope you all have time to visit downtown Mesa and see the tribute to our veterans.

We are proud to continue to honor them this month during our citizenship topic of gratitude

Heidi Udall, Principal

Open-EnrollmentOPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS DEC. 31, 2022!

Siblings of current scholars MUST submit a complete application during open enrollment to ensure a spot in the lottery.  If application is received after Dec. 31, 2022, your scholar will still receive priority status, but will be added to the waitlist.  All complete applications received during open enrollment are eligible for the lottery.

Know a family interested in attending? Be sure to have them apply by Dec. 31!

APPLY HERE

Mr. Denton’s Citizenship Class Collects Brainfood!

Mr. Denton’s citizenship class collected quick non-perishable snacks for AZ Brainfood.  These snacks will be distributed to students around the East Valley that do not have regular access to food upon leaving school for the day. This food will help students to have food to fill their bellies at home!

Thanks to your generous donations we received over 75 items that will be donated to AZ Brainfood.

With much Gratitude,

Mr. Denton’s Citizenship Class

Heritage Science & Language Puerto Rico Excursion!  Mar 12, 2023 – Mar 18, 2023 
This tour is open ONLY to our 9 & 10th grade scholars.   Come experience San Juan, Culebra, Las Cavernas def Rio Camuy, Luquillo Beach
If your scholar is interested in participating in the tour, please complete the sign up form: Spring 2023 Puerto Rico Tour Signup Sheet
$200 (NON-REFUNDABLE) by October 7, 2022 
$700 per person November 11, 2022
$700 per person December 16, 2022
$700 per person January 13, 2023
We encourage students to take advantage of Arizona ECA donation opportunities to help pay for tours.

Includes: Airfare, transportation, hotel rooms, breakfast & dinner, and all entrance fees.

HERITAGE ACADEMY CHOIRS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL & SILENT AUCTION!
Come one, come all to our Musical Banquet Hall. Enjoy an evening of beautiful music, a farcical comedy, a silent auction, and a 3-course Renaissance Feast!
Thursday Nov. 10
Friday Nov. 11
Reserved Seating $45 per person $80 per couple
Seating begins promptly at 5:30pm

Heritage Academy Dance Concert
Featuring performances from all levels of dance. Director Emily May encourages creativity and ingenuity in the making of each performance dance. Working together each performer has brought a unique effort and enthusiasm that will light up the stage. This concert will include our Teacher’s Dance which is a performance with Heritage Academy teachers and Dance Company scholars. It will also premier the Dance Distinction of Quintin Ellsworth. We look forward to seeing you there!
WHEN: Nov. 18, 2022 at 8:30pm
WHERE: Mesa Arts Center
Tickets must be purchased on the Mesa Arts website.

2ND Semester Schedules available in PowerSchool

Change requests MUST be submitted by Nov. 30
The only 3 reasons a schedule change will be considered:
1- Senior not on track to graduate
2- Open space in the schedule ( I have checked every schedule and no one has an open space)
3- Scholar placed in incorrect level class (i.e. 7th grader in 10th grade class)
The process for requesting a schedule change is as follows:
1. Pick up a blue “Schedule Change Request” form from the front office.
2. Scholar fills out the form completely and turns it into the front desk.
Form will be reviewed and if the request matches one of the reasons for making a schedule change, I will try to make it work.  If I am able to make the change, I will let the scholar know. If the request is for a reason other than one of the 3 listed, scholar will need to write out a detailed, well-written reason using proper grammar and punctuation for the request the on back of the form. We try to be clear that scholars need to choose their classes carefully as we are not able to accommodate the changing of minds.
Please do not email me requests for schedule changes.
Thank you,
Ms. Seaman

CHOIR NEWS

The All-State Jazz Choir is made up of the top 40 vocal jazz students in the state. Hundreds audition for a spot each year. Heritage has 4 – Yes, FOUR students were chosen and are participating!!! This is an AMAZING accomplishment! Furthermore, we had one scholar audition for the All-State Show Choir, and she made it into the choir! Only 60 students are chosen each year and she was the TOP SCORER in the entire audition! If you see any of these scholars, be sure to congratulate them on this very high honor!

Show Choir: Taliana Wilson

Jazz Choir: Michael Olsen, Tabitha Larson, Stephen Gordon, Jocie Clancy

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY NEWS!
Girls cross country had a very successful season finishing second overall at this year’s CAA State Championship Meet. Way to represent Heroes.
Congratulations to coach Skouson and staff!on

FOOTBALL NEWS!
Heroes showed true character and honor as they finished the season with 8 wins and 2 losses with a Semi-Final appearance.
Congratulations to coach Portilla and staff for an excellent job this season in getting our heroes ready to play week in and week out.
(Jack Spilsbury & Zack Bear;  Jace Dupree & Kyle Nelson;  Kyle Nelson)

JUNIORS ONLY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY!

DEADLINE: February 23, 2023

The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that may be used by recipients for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2024 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major.

Academic excellence is the primary criterion considered by the Coolidge Scholarship. Secondary criteria include an interest in public policy and an appreciation of the values President Coolidge championed. Successful candidates will also demonstrate humility and have a record of genuine service to their communities. A complete description of the scholarship’s criteria is available here.

Furthermore, the Coolidge Foundation invites one hundred of the top Coolidge Scholarship applicants to participate in the Coolidge Senators Program, which includes an all-expenses-paid summit gathering and a $1,000 scholarship. Scholarship applicants are automatically considered for the Senators Program.

2022-23 Coolidge Scholarship Application form HERE

YEARBOOK: Don’t get left out! Buy one now!

Missed out last year? Buy the 2021/22 Yearbook HERE limited supplies $30 each!

Want one this year? Buy the 2022/23 Yearbook HERE on sale for $50!

SENIORS: Interested in a senior ad?  Full page: $100; Half page: $50; Quarter page: $25 BUY YOUR SPACE HERE

Also available: BUY INDEX LETTERS HERE  and BUY BUSINESS AD HERE

Questions: Mrs. Melchin kmelchin@heritageacademyaz.com

Fine Arts Retreat  Jan. 11 -12, 2023

Advanced scholars from all Heritage Academy campuses enrolled in arts classes and programs may attend the Fine Arts Retreat in January.

Invited scholars will spend three nights and four days (Wed.-Sat.) at Pine Summit Camp located in Prescott, AZ. Scholars will spend two full days in intensive study and rehearsal in preparation for a live performance on Saturday.

Cost: $285 (includes transportation, meals, intensive workshops, extracurricular activities, and lodging at the camp.)
AZ Tax Credit can be used to pay for this!
Sign up today!

$140 due September 23, 2022**
$145 due December 1, 2022**

*Subject to based on enrollment
**No money will be refunded

Junior High Southern Arizona Tour April 26 & 27, 2022

Exploring: Tombstone, Queen Mine, Bisbee(including ghost tour), Pima Air & Space Museum, and the Sonoran Desert Museum

Includes: transportation, hotel for 1 night, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners, and admissions to venues

 Payment schedule: $370/person

$123.33 due Nov 1, 2022

$123.33 due Feb 1, 2023

Balance of Tour fee due March 1st, 2023

All payments must be via MySchoolBucks. Do NOT pay invoice directly with ECA funds.

Refund Policy (either tour company or student cancels) Full refund before Dec. 15, 2022. Refund minus $100 between Dec. 16th & Mar. 23rd No refund after March 24, 2023

Class of 2023 Caps & Gowns Order Now!

Jostens’ has created graduation packages for your upcoming celebration!

Heritage Academy Mesa Graduation Packages HERE

Questions: Perry Spindler perry.spindler@jostens.com  or  Matthew Hatten matt.hatten@jostens.com

Please contact Jostens’ directly with any questions. They will have all the answers and will  ensure your order is exactly what you (and your family) want. 

Mr. Fred Martinez

Mr. Martinez joined Heritage in 2019 as our Athletic Director. He has a great love for athletics and how sports can build character in our youth. He has been coaching football since 1985. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration form California State University Los Angeles.

Ms. Emily May Learn more here

I have a Master of Fine Arts in Dance, Graduate Certificate in Dance Teaching Artist Praxis and K-12 Teaching Certificate from Arizona State University. Originally, from Orem, Utah, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Ballet and a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education from Utah Valley University. My recent work, Mi Firma; It Started with a Choice, was performed in the Emerging Artist II concert at the Margaret Gisolo Dance Studio. This work is the result of my thesis research that included a community art project at an orphanage in Mexico. My scholarly research was presented at the World Dance Alliance conference 2015 and National Dance Education Organization conference 2015. During my graduate career, I have cultivated my entrepreneurial and video art skills. I helped organize and produce S.A.M., a successful student art market that connected artists with their local communities.  As a Teacher of Record at ASU, I have taught Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Yoga/Pilates and the online course Dance, Culture and Global Context. I find great joy in dancing and moving with others. I am forever grateful for the love and support of my husband and daughters.

Mrs. Erin McDowell Learn More Here

I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, followed by a Master’s in English Education. Prior to joining the Heritage Team, I taught 9th-12th grade English in Downtown Phoenix. I look forward to another year here at Heritage Academy!

My husband and I live in Mesa with our two young sons and dog. The days I come to school are typically less demanding than the ones where I am home with the toddler and baby! Heritage scholars are truly a delight to teach.

Do you shop at Amazon? 

A percentage of every purchase could be going toward our school if you check out during your transaction at Smile.Amazon.com  instead of the normal amazon site. Do good while shopping and check out with Smile.Amazon.com every time you shop!

COLLEGE CORNER 

Seniors – don’t forget to schedule your senior 1-on-1 meeting with Mr. Brown. 

You can scan the QR code outside Mr. Brown’s office or click here.

FAFSA INFORMATION!

12th grade is the time to apply for admission to college and to apply for federal student aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Opens Oct. 1.  Check out goingmerry.com for a more user-friendly application, plus, there are thousands of scholarship opportunities.  Just complete your profile.

Complete the FAFSA form even if you believe your child won’t qualify for any free federal aid. Many colleges will require FAFSA if you are getting any aid directly from the school. In addition, your family circumstances may change due to divorce, death or medical issues and you can appeal to the school due to the change in circumstance.