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AAEC – ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN – Now Open and Enrolling!!!
Location
3400 N. Dysart Rd., Avondale, AZ 85392 (Dysart rd. and Osborn Rd.) // Phone: 623.535.0754 // Click here for directions.Click here for directions.
Click here to View Buildings
Welcome from the Principal
Dear New AAEC Students and Parents:
Welcome to the first year of AAEC Estrella Mountain! As we progress from unfinished buildings to a modern, hi-tech campus, we are all extremely excited to begin our first year! With all of our excitement, we know that the only way our school will be successful is if we all work as a team – students, parents, faculty and staff. We realize there will be a great deal of hard work but hopefully, also a lot of fun. I have had the pleasure to work with most of you in the scheduling process and I’m very impressed with the nurturing attitude our parents have demonstrated. Research continues to prove out that the single largest factor in a child’s education success is parental involvement. Based on what I have seen so far, I am very excited about the future successes of our students.
All AAEC high schools are multi-dimensional so students can pursue their individual interests. At AAEC Estrella Mountain we will offer classes based in agriculture, agribusiness, vet science and equine studies and biotechnology. If, however, your interests lie in other areas, you are certainly free to pursue those providing they meet graduation requirement and will transfer to universities. Once our science building is complete, AAEC – EM will boast two state-of-the art science lab including a biotechnology lab complete with an electron microscope! We will be offering classes that take advantage of these outstanding facilities.
Many students are drawn to AAEC because of the early college component and the opportunity for our students to take classes at Estrella Mountain Community College as part of their high school graduation requirements. These students earn both high school and college credit for these classes – some even earn an associates degree by the time they graduate high school – saving two years of college attendance for the student and, probably more importantly, saving two years of college tuition payments for the parents.
Students entering AAEC EM can expect to take CPD 150 (Strategies for College Success), two Foreign Language classes and two Fine Arts classes at EMCC (unless they transfer in with these credits in place).
Enrollment and Testing: All freshmen students beginning the Fall 2010 semester will take their college placement tests as a group and need not do individual testing. For all other grades and those freshmen that enter after group testing has taken place, testing will be done individually by EMCC. These tests determine which college classes the student is eligible to take and provide baseline date for our school.
Scheduling: Students schedules will be developed by AAEC in conjunction with the parents and students. Mr. Asadi will meet with students to provide students are on track for graduation and help select high school and college classes. One thing to keep in mind with any schedule is that the student must attend classes at least 4 hours a day – this is a state requirement.
College Courses: Usually, freshmen are only allowed to take CPD 150 during their spring semester. Sophomores are allowed to take up to 7 credits per semester, usually containing a fine art and foreign language. If they are not enrolled in two college classes they must be enrolled in enough courses at the high school to have 6 full time classes each semester. Juniors can obtain 10 college credits each semester, which will vary depending on their placement and choice. As with the sophomores, students must take enough high school and college classes to have 6 full time classes per semester. Seniors have the ability to take up to 12 college credits each semester, usually including English 101 and a Math course. ALL college courses must be approved by the principal prior to enrolling or AAEC will not pay for the course(s). Of note – because AAEC EM is in its first year and only teaching freshman and sophomore core classes, juniors and seniors this year may be enrolled in more college classes than listed above.
Students who fail a high school or college course will have their college courses limited the following semester to only what is required and not offered at the high school. Any class a student receives a D or an F in at the college will be considered an F at the high school, and the student will be responsible for reimbursing the school the cost of the class.
Community Service: As part of their graduation requirement, each student must participate in 30 hours of community service each year.
Rules and Expectations: While we have a formal student handbook, some of our rules and expectations are highlighted here. Attendance is compulsory and failure to attend school may result in removal from the school. Ditching/truancy are not tolerated and will result in immediate suspension. Students are expected to be in class on time and prepared. Tardiness to classes disrupts the class and makes it hard for students to catch up. Excessive tardiness will result in a detention, and continued tardiness will lead to further consequences. Our campus is a smoke free, drug free, alcohol free and bullying/intimidation free zone. Any presence or use of these during school hours or affecting the school learning environment will result in immediate suspension from school, and recommendation for expulsion. Any presence of drugs or alcohol on campus will result in police intervention and removal from the school. We strive to keeps students safe, and these items have no place on campus.
Drop-off and Pickup: The school day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 3:00 AM Monday through Thursday and at 12:30 PM on Friday. Friday afternoons are left open for additional tutoring and various club events. Students may be dropped off at school beginning at 7:30 AM when the office opens (usually someone will be there by 7:00 AM) and should be picked up by no later than 4:00 PM. The office closes at 4:00 PM, and if a student is not going be picked up by then the office must be notified.
College Expectations: It is expected that students will attend every college class, even if there are days when AAEC is not in session but the college is. AAEC will periodically check with the college for student attendance, as well as patrol the college campus to ensure students are not ditching college classes. Any action or behavior that occurs on the college campus is subject to the same rules as the high school campus. Any issues that occur at the college that are actionable by the college will result in a student’s loss of college class privileges for the remainder of the year and possibly beyond. AAEC students are treated just like any other college student, and are expected to behave as such. AAEC rules regarding student conduct apply to AAEC students even when they are on the college campus. College professors should be afforded the utmost respect, therefore talking in class or cell phone usage is prohibited.
Dress Code: While AAEC does not have a uniform policy, we expect students to dress in an appropriate manner while at the high school or college. Female students are allowed to wear skirts, but they must be fingertip length or longer. Shorts are permitted but also must extend to the fingers, and have no holes in them. All shirts/tops/blouses (both male and female) must be sleeved. Pants and shorts must be worn at the waist, with no exposed undergarments of any kind. Any student who is violation of dress code policy will either have to change or be given alternate clothing to wear. First two dress codes violations will be warnings; further dress code violations will be treated as insubordination and will follow the discipline progression.
Academic Probation: Academic Probation is a condition of both heightened accountability and greater support. Students may be placed on Academic Probation based on the performance in the previous semester. Parents are informed, a mentor is appointed, and conditions to remain in school are established. A student making no effort to improve after being placed on Academic Probation will likely be asked to leave the school.
I hope this letter has been helpful and informative. It is my goal to have continual lines of communication to our students and parents. The first and most comprehensive is through this website. All important announcements will be posted here even if they were e-mailed to parents directly. I also welcome your input and assistance with our school. AAEC has a long history of tremendous parental support that I would like to continue at AAEC EM.
I’m sure I speak for all of the AAEC EM family when I tell you how excited we are to begin our legacy. Together with your help we can make great things happen!
Sincerely,
Bob Asadi – Principal |
