8/31/12

Next week, we will begin the second of three Galileo testing. Not every child dreads tests, but it’s probably safe to say that few of them look forward to them. Does your child get stressed out just thinking about tests? That’s not unusual, but it’s also something that can be eased with some attention now. The U.S. Department of Education has issued the following guidelines.

If you want to read more about easing test anxiety, please visit the education.com article Test Anxiety: How to Help Students Overcome It. And, if you’ve got tips to share with other parents or students on taking tests, please feel free to share them on our Glendale Facebook page or Williams Facebook page!

Parents should:

• make sure their children attend school regularly.
• create and maintain a home environment that will help their children be well rested during regular school days and during the week of testing.
• evaluate their children's academic progress over a period of time rather than on one single test score.
• talk with their children and encourage them to do their best.
• be proactive, contact school officials if they have questions concerning tests results.
• encourage their children to maintain a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis.

Students are encouraged to:

• consistently develop good sleeping habits, especially during the week of the test, and maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

• avoid cramming, develop good study habits and good test-taking skills.

• wear comfortable clothes during the exam and maintain a comfortable and relaxed body posture during the test.

• be aware of time allotted for the test, read directions carefully, and for time management purposes, leave questions blank that they are insure of and attempt to answer them later.

• not compare themselves to other students while taking the test.

• take deep breaths and attempt to regain composure when anxiety levels are high or when negative thoughts are present.

Glendale Campus

• September 3, NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
• September 4, PIT 3-4pm
• September 5, Galileo Training – second of three, 1:30 – 3:30
• September 7, Grandparent's Day
• September 8, Heroes’ Games (Luke AFB v. Glendale Police Training)
• September 14, Jr. High back to school dance, 6-8pm
• September 19, PD – Conferencing Skills

We hope everyone has a great week. Enjoy the Labor Day holiday and be safe!

Raena Janes

8/20/12

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the first week of school! As we all have seen, it’s been particularly hot this year and it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated, not just in the afternoon when it feels hottest, but all day long. If you think you’re dehydrated, experts suggest:

• Drinking a cool, nonalcoholic beverage
• Resting
• Taking a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
• Seeking air-conditioning
• Wearing lightweight clothing

IMPORTANT DATES

Glendale Campus

• August 20-24, Galileo Pre-Testing 
• August 22, PD – Saxon Math, 1:00pm 
• September 3, NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
  

Williams Campus

• August 20-24, Galileo testing, please have your students to school on time!
• August 28, Family Fun Night, Open House, 5-7 p.m.
• August 31, Coconino County Fair school field trip, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Keep an eye out for our newsletter, the Falcon Flyer, available in hard copy and our website, www.hesglendale.org, and on Facebook for more event dates and updates.

GLENDALE CAMPUS

Through the end of September, there will be three cases of frozen/semi-frozen bottled water on each bus.

BOTH CAMPUSES

Heritage will no longer serve snacks in the after-school program. Students may bring their own snacks to eat at 2:45 p.m. or they may buy a snack (healthy options will be available for around $1 each) at 4 p.m.

Have you gotten your Heritage bumper sticker yet? Grab yours for $2 at the front office before they sell out!

Reminder: ALL students must wear a solid red, white, or blue polo shirt, or a Heritage polo shirt. Polos featuring the Heritage logo are available for sale at the school’s front desk. Polos with the school logo are optional; red, white or blue polos are required.

Have a terrific week!

Raena Janes

8/1/12

Hello again, Falcon families! With the new school year starting in less than a week, I thought I’d share what’s new on campus and online at Heritage.

IMPORTANT DATES

Glendale Campus

• Family Fun Fest & Enrollathon: Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 1-3pm. 
• Meet the Teacher Night: Thursday, August 2 from 6-8pm.
• School Start Date: Tuesday, August 7 (Glendale 2012-2013 calendar)

Williams Campus

• Meet Your Teacher Day: Tuesday, August 7 from 11am-2pm.
• School Start Date: Wednesday, August 8 (half-day) (Williams 2012-2013 calendar)

GLENDALE CAMPUS

School supply lists now online
By popular request, we’ve posted school supply lists by grade online this year.

Please welcome our new Vice Principal, Justin Dye
This year, our Glendale campus welcomes Mr. Justin Dye as vice principal for the 2012-2013 school year! Mr. Dye comes to Heritage from our sister school in Tucson, La Paloma Academy, where he served as vice principal of the Lakeside campus. Mr. Dye, who is a native Arizonan, graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. He is pursuing his master’s degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University. Be sure to say hello when you see him around campus!

FREE bus service for Glendale Families
We are pleased to announce that Heritage Elementary School is now able to offer free bus service for our Glendale families! During the 2012-2013 school year, Heritage Elementary School students will be able to take a school bus from a nearby bus stop to the Glendale campus and return to the bus stop at the end of the school day FREE OF CHARGE. Learn more.

WILLIAMS CAMPUS

Please welcome our new Principal, Kaytie Thies
Kaytie Thies has been a part of the La Paloma Academy/Heritage Elementary School family for more than six years. Ms. Thies taught 6th grade for two years at La Paloma before moving to Williams, and is now teaching a 6th/7th grade combo class at Heritage. She earned her bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona and is certified in Elementary Education with a SEI (Structured English Immersion) and Middle School Language Arts endorsement.

Read more about Ms. Thies and her goals for Heritage.

Tell your friends…
We will have a booth at the community Back to School Fair on August 4 from 9am-noon at WEMS (Williams Elementary-Middle School). We will be accepting enrollment packets. If you have friends who wish to enroll, please advise them to bring each child’s birth certificate and immunization records.

BOTH CAMPUSES

Show your school spirit!
Heritage bumper stickers are now available in the school office for just $2.

Please welcome Heritage’s new Athletics Supervisor
We are very proud to have Demond Williams and the AZCAA Football League as a part of our school family. Mr. Williams directs athletics and football at Heritage Elementary School, Liberty Traditional Charter School, and La Paloma Academy. He played football for two years at Pima Community College as tailback, cornerback and on special teams. As a Michigan State University Spartan, he was named Star Player and Player of the Week. Learn more.

Looking forward to an exciting and successful new school year,

Raena Janes

5/4/12

Well, Falcon Families, AIMS assessments are complete and the end of the school year is rapidly approaching! Before the year is out, we’ve got a couple of final fun events planned. Bring your friends and family and have fun with your Heritage family one more time before graduation and the end of another great school year!

Glendale Campus: Friday, May 11 is the End of the Year Open Enrollment Luau from 6-8 pm on campus. Do you have friends who want to know more about Heritage or want their children attending the same great charter school yours attend? Bring them along to the End of the Year Luau! Just like you and your family, they can enjoy food, the company of friends, and fun. In addition, they can see the campus, meet some of the staff, and even enroll that very evening. Hope to see you there! Aloha!

Williams Campus: Friday, May 18 is the Heritage Williams Field Day & BBQ at Cureton Park! Families are more than welcome to join the fun and enjoy the food from 10am-1:30pm. This is a pot-luck event, so please bring hamburgers or hot dogs for grilling, or beverages or dessert. We can always use volunteers, too! We look forward to seeing you!

To continued learning and continued community,

Raena Janes