Welcome back!  We’ve had a wonderful first week. I’m so proud of our teachers, scholars, and families for creating such a positive environment.

Please use the driveline to pick up your scholar. No parking, dropping off or picking up on Drew Street. We want to keep our scholars safe.

Thank you for supporting the new electronics law. Scholars have been amazing this week. 

If you are new at Heritage, welcome! If you are returning, thank you. I enjoyed seeing so many of you at the Open House on Monday evening. 

Heritage Academy is an incredible place to be.

Heidi Udall
Principal

🏅 Attention Parents of Student-Athletes!
If your scholar plans to participate in fall, winter, or spring athletics this school year, please read the important information below:

✅ Athletic Registration & Sports Physicals

All scholars joining a competitive sports team must complete two key steps before participating:

1. Register Online with Bound
   All athletic packets must be completed through Bound.
   👉 Click here to create your Bound family account and complete registration

2. Submit a Current Sports Physical
   A sports physical is required for every student-athlete.
   ✔️ Physicals completed this month are valid for the entire 2025–2026 school year (July 2, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
   ✔️ Take care of this now to be set for all sports seasons—fall, winter, and spring!

🩺 On-Campus Sports Physicals with Dr. Rush

We’re offering on-site physicals for your convenience:
📅 Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (first come, first served)
📍 Location: Room 1 — check in at the front desk
💵 Cost: $25 (cash only at the time of service)

Please download and complete your physical forms before arriving.
No reservations—walk-ins only.

🏥 Can’t Make It?

No problem! Sports physicals are typically available for around $25 at most NextCare Urgent Care locations and other providers. Your family doctor may also offer them—just call to confirm availability and pricing.

🧠 Bound Parent Training Session

Need help navigating Bound? Join us for a parent info session:
📅 August 9 | 🕘 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 📍 Room 3

We’ll walk you through the registration process and answer your questions.

Let us know if you have any questions—we’re here to help you get your scholar ready for an amazing season of athletics!

Explore. Learn. Grow.
At Heritage Academy, we believe education goes beyond the classroom. That’s why we offer our scholars unique “Tours”—educational travel experiences that help build character, develop new skills, and create lifelong memories.

For over 30 years, these unforgettable adventures have been a signature part of the Heritage experience, giving students the chance to explore history, culture, and leadership in meaningful, hands-on ways.

🧳 Check out this year’s exciting tour opportunities below!
👉 Click here to view all upcoming tours

🇺🇸 Fall Liberty Tour | October 5–11, 2025

Join us this Fall Break for a powerful journey through America’s historic East Coast!
📍 Explore key landmarks in U.S. history
🕰️ Deepen your understanding of liberty and leadership
🎓 Bond with fellow scholars in an unforgettable setting
📄 Click here to view the flyer with full details

Spaces fill quickly, so be sure to review the tour details and register early. These experiences are more than trips—they’re defining moments. MORE INFO

🎨🎶 The 2026 Fine Arts Retreat Is Coming!

Heritage Academy proudly invites all 9th–12th grade scholars to the Fine Arts Retreat, taking place January 7–10, 2026at Emmanuel Pines Camp in Prescott, AZ.

This year’s retreat celebrates America 250 with unforgettable workshops led by award-winning clinicians in Art, Dance, Drama, Choir, Musical Theatre, Ballroom, Photography, and Full Orchestra. Scholars from four Heritage campuses will come together for an incredible experience packed with learning, friendship, campfires, socials, and a final performance!

🗓️ Registration opens August 1, 2025
💰 Cost: $335 for scholars | $275 for chaperones
📍 Don’t miss out on 4 days, 3 nights, 8 workshops, and memories that last a lifetime!
📲 Link to register HERE

#HeritageArts #FineArtsRetreat2026 #America250 #LifelongMemories

From Your College Coach, Bob Brown

Welcome back from summer break!  I hope everyone had a wonderful summer.  Below are topics that will be my main focus in a quick month-at-a-glance.

AUGUST – Dual Enrollment 

• College Applications open August 1st
• Here, I will be focusing on getting scholars enrolled for their early college credits in our Dual Enrollment (DE) classes
• New scholars to DE must be admitted to Rio and take the Critical Reading test through EdReady 
  • Step #1:  Complete the First Time Dual Enrollment Application – click here
  • TIP:  have a copy of your high school ID or AZ state ID and birth certificate ready to upload.
  • TIP:  Select Rio Salado College and Heritage Academy Mesa as your college and high school field options.  Once completed, you’ll receive your:
    • Rio MEID (username)
    • Rio 8-digit ID#
    • Rio Password & Security Question
    • Set up Duo Security (it is best to use the scholar’s cell phone #; you can add the parent’s)
    • Be sure to save and know this information for future use and to register for your dual enrollment courses
• Started the admissions process but did not finish – call Rio at 480-517-8080 to find your status and next steps
• Returning DE scholars
  • You may now register for your DE classes.  Click here to see our DE Course List

SEPTEMBER – Senior one-on-one meetings

• Here, I will be focusing on meeting with each senior to discuss “life after high school”.  This is a mandatory meeting.  It is up to the senior scholar to schedule the meeting with me for some time in the month of September.  Parents are welcome to attend the meeting.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER – 9TH through 11TH grade meetings

• Here, the focus will be meeting with scholars and/or parents to ensure they are on track to meet HA graduation requirements and track their associate degree progress
• October – FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens
• October –  The College Funding Coach Webinar (date TBD)
  • Learn how to help pay for college outside of scholarships without dipping into your retirement

Please use this link to schedule with me

All Course fees for the fall semester will be due on Thursday, August 8th.  Payments are made ONLINE ONLY through https://www.myschoolbucks.com/.  You will receive invoices for any fee-bearing classes one week after school starts. We DO NOT accept cash or checks.

2025-2026 COURSE FEES

HOW TO PAY FEES THROUGH MYSCHOOLBUCKS

HOW TO PAY FEES WITH ECA TAX CREDIT FUNDS 

If your scholar has an ECA account credit, we will not automatically apply the credit to the open invoice.  Please email mesaregistrar@heritageacademyaz.com to let us know how much of the credit to be applied to an invoice and which fees are being paid via the credit. 

DON’T FORGET 

Please update your scholar’s grade level with MyHotLunchbox. 

PTO also offers a “snack shack” if a scholar forgets their lunch one day, make sure they have a few dollars to buy something in the auditorium. A BIG thanks to our PTO and our parent volunteers for making this possible!

Picture day is coming!

All scholars will be required to be in Heritage uniform for pictures.  Please make sure your scholar’s hair, facial hair, and uniform meets Heritage standards to ensure they will have their photo taken.

Senior/Graduation photos — Info coming soon!

IMPORTANT DUAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

NOTE – if you are a current senior, be sure to schedule your senior one-on-one appointment with me for sometime in September.  Don’t wait for the last second.

If you are new to dual enrollment, you will need to complete admissions (step 1) to Rio Salado College. Enrollment and Registration Steps here .  If you need any placement tests, I will let you know.

Important links here – login is your MEID@maricopa.edu.  Here, you will be able to upload your birth certificate and photo ID, complete the financial responsibility form, and fill out the Petition for Semester Overload if you are enrolling in more than 18 DE credits in one semester, to name a few.

For those who were approved for Tuition Assistance, I have contacted Rio to enroll you accordingly.

For the rest that indicated they wanted to take part in dual enrollment, I will be emailing Rio soon.  Be on the lookout for emails with tasks to complete (if needed).

Email me at bob.brow@heritageacademyaz.com with any questions. To ensure a timely response be sure to provide the scholar’s 8-digit college ID# (starts with a 3) or indicate new to dual enrollment.  Please leave a detailed message, so I can better serve you.

Thanks,

Bob Brown