Good News

Calendar

• Dec 18 & Dec 19 No Extended Day
• December 19 Holiday Shirt/Sweater Day
• Dec 20- Jan 2 NO SCHOOL, Winter Break
• January 3 Secondary Winterim Begins
• January 5 Spirit Wear Day
• January 9 Parent Empowerment Meeting, 7 PM
• January 16 Reenrollment/Celebration of Excellence Meeting, 7 PM
• January 17 Reenrollment/Celebration of Excellence Meeting, 8:30 AM

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December Builders Theme: I am a builder when I look for ways to serve others (Kigatsuku)

Thank you to all our students for participating in December’s theme by watching for the needs of others! We hope you have been experiencing some of this in your homes. A wonderful trait is to see things that need to be done without being told or asked – and we have made progress in this value this month!  We are creating a wonderful community together as we unite in looking for ways to help.  

Holiday Shirt/Sweater Day – December 19 

We are so excited that we reached our goal of collecting 2,100 items for our hygiene drive! Congratulations!  We couldn’t have done it without each of you helping.  Since we reached our goal as a school, everyone will have the opportunity to wear an ugly or holiday sweater or shirt, on Tuesday, December 19th.  Students still need to be in uniform bottoms. Sweaters/shirts need to be school appropriate with no offensive or distracting logos.  If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to Mrs. Hillyard at whillyard@apamail.org.

Parent Empowerment Meeting- January 9 

Our next parent empowerment meeting will be about child safety and human trafficking.  This will be a virtual meeting at 7 PM on January 9th.  You can join this meeting by using the following zoom link: https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/84062701727

Celebration of Excellence Meetings- Reenrollment- January 16 and 17

All returning families planning to reenroll for next year should save the date for our Celebration of Excellence Meetings. These will take place on January 16th at 7 PM or January 17th at 8:30 AM. 

2024-2025 Sibling Applications

We are happy to announce that the application process for the 2024-2025 academic year at American Preparatory Academy has officially started.  You can apply for siblings online at  https://hubs.ly/Q029WfTN0.  Please book a date for a student meeting. This is a required step in the sibling application process. After selecting a date on the calendar, you will be led to the form where you can identify it is a sibling meeting and not a tour that you have scheduled. 

Winterim Donations

Mrs. Hillyard is looking for plastic grocery bags and clean empty water bottles for a couple of service projects for her winterim classes in January.  If you have some that you’d be willing to share, you can have your students drop them off at the front offices, and she will collect them.  

Spelling Bee Lists

Spelling bee study lists will go home with your students this week. Once they have mastered that list, you may reach out to your student’s teacher to get access to the additional study list.  Classroom spelling bees will be held the week of January 22nd- 26th. 

School Lunches

This is a reminder to place your order for school lunches in January.  Our school lunch menu for the month of January and nutritional information can be found at the following link: https://www.americanprep.org/school-lunch-program/menu/.

Snow Boots

On snowy days, students are welcome to bring snow boots if they wish.  They will have to change in and out of them at recess.  Snow boots are not allowed in class. Normal uniform shoes will need to be worn in class

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found will be cleaned out tomorrow.  It is located in the vestibule in front of the elementary office. Please make sure your students check for any lost items. Any remaining items will be donated at this time.

Dear Salem Parents,

We wanted to make you aware of some staffing changes at our campus. We are sad that Mrs. Sophie Mueras-Saavedra will not be returning after her maternity leave, and Ms. Clarissa Lunt will be moving north and will leave at the end of this term.

We are excited to announce that Mrs. Rebekah Vance will be our new Elementary Music teacher, as well as the Choir and Orchestra teacher. She has been so helpful to substitute for music, and we are happy to have her teaching with us full time.

Salem Admin Team
Jessica Barton
Emily Peery
Erin Short
Keri Elmer

Dear Salem Parents,

Early this morning police departments in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming received bomb threats for many schools. While most reports of this nature are simply threats or pranks, we always take them seriously and follow our emergency action plan. At 6:45 am, the police came to our school with bomb sniffing dogs to do precautionary sweeps and cleared the school. We are grateful to have such a great working relationship with the Salem police, who responded so quickly to ensure our students are safe. We are cleared to hold school today as normal.

Calendar

• Nov 30- Dec 15 Hygiene Drive
• December 12 Elementary Missing Work Deadline
• December 13 Science Fair
• December 13 No Extended Day
• December 14 Choir Concert, 6 PM
• December 15 Spirit Wear Day
• December 15 Secondary Missing Work Deadline
• Dec 18- Dec 19 No Extended Day
• Dec 20- Jan 2 NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

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December Builders Theme: I am a builder when I look for ways to serve others (Kigatsuku)

There is something so deeply rewarding about this builders theme as we watch your children fall into the rhythm of kigatsuku.  Imagine the energy and influence of an entire community of kigatsuku as we work toward something better than just ourselves. Imagine doing it without reward or compensation. Imagine what we could accomplish if we did the simplest thing- see a need, meet a need.

Heroes for Hygiene Drive: Nov. 29 – Dec. 15

APA’s multi-campus annual donation drive has begun! This year, we are collecting hygiene supplies for Tabitha’s Way in Spanish Fork.  We are accepting shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap (either body wash or solid bar soap), lotion, Kleenex packages, deodorant and dental floss, standard sized toothbrushes, packaged combs/brushes, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes. Items must be unopened and unused. We prefer that items have at least 6 months before the expiration date.

2024-2025 Sibling Applications

We are happy to announce that the application process for the 2024-2025 academic year at American Preparatory Academy has officially started.  You can apply for siblings online at  https://hubs.ly/Q029WfTN0.  Please book a date for a student meeting. This is a required step in the sibling application process. After selecting a date on the calendar, you will be led to the form where you can identify it is a sibling meeting and not a tour that you have scheduled. 

Builders of the Month

Congratulations to our Builders of the month for November: 

Allison Aguilera
Jackston Bastian
Micah Bradford
Boston Brockbank
Jaylani Carrera
Millie Cottle
Remy Davis
Kaylee Eatchel
Aaron Elmer
Jade Fajardo
Sowala Hunt
Wei Liao
Hanna Mourtgos
Ellery Neslen
Joseph Richards
Brooklyn Roberts
Stetson Tejada
Miranda Triste-Corona
Libby Watkins
Maeve Webster

Reading University Winners

Congratulations to our Reading University award winners for November:

Amelia Blatter
Charles Colver
Helen Davis
Mia Enz
Jane Garner
Wray Gormley
Atticus Gray
Benny He
Alivia Nielson
Greysen Nguyen
Rowan Peterson
Dottie Telford
Azariah Vega
Adam Williams

Snow Boots

On snowy days, students are welcome to bring snow boots if they wish.  They will have to change in and out of them at recess.  Snow boots are not allowed in class. Normal uniform shoes will need to be worn in class. 

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found will be cleaned out the Tuesday before Fall Break.  It is located in the vestibule in front of the elementary office.  Please make sure your students check for any lost items. Any remaining items will be donated at this time. 

2024-2025 Calendar

We are including next year’s calendar with this newsletter: https://salem.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/12/Salem-2024-2025-Calendar.pdf.  The dates of the breaks are set so you can use this to plan vacations.

Calendar

• Nov 30- Dec 15 Hygiene Drive
• December 7 Secondary Band and Orchestra Concert, 6 PM
• December 8 Winterim Fees and Permission Slips Due
• December 12 Elementary Missing Work Deadline
• December 13 Science Fair
• December 13 No Extended Day
• December 14 Choir Concert, 6 PM
• December 15 Spirit Wear Day
• December 15 Secondary Missing Work Deadline
• Dec 18- Dec 19 No Extended Day
• Dec 20- Jan 2 NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

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December Builders Theme: I am a builder when I look for ways to serve others (Kigatsuku)

Kigatsuku is a Japanese word meaning “an inner spirit to act without being told what to do,” or “see a need, meet a need.”  It’s simple; we don’t need to go out of our way; we don’t need to schedule it; we don’t need to travel to other countries.  We only need to look around us and see how we can help the person right in front of us. 

Heroes for Hygiene Drive: Nov. 29 – Dec. 15

APA’s multi-campus annual donation drive has begun! This year, we are collecting hygiene supplies for Tabitha’s Way in Spanish Fork.  We are accepting shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap (either body wash or solid bar soap), lotion, Kleenex packages, deodorant and dental floss, standard sized toothbrushes, packaged combs/brushes, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes. Items must be unopened and unused. We prefer that items have at least 6 months before the expiration date.

Winterim Update- Fees and Permission Slips Due December 8 

All Winterim course assignments have been finalized. Your student’s class schedule and fees can be found in Skyward. All school fees must be paid by December 8 or your student may be scheduled into a different class without fees. All permission slips are also due by December 8. 

For students who are participating in Dance, Futsal, Rugby, and Winter Adventure – they need to submit an additional permission form. Students DO NOT need a physical exam to complete that permission form.

2024-2025 Sibling Applications

We are thrilled to announce that the application process for the 2024-2025 academic year at American Preparatory Academy has officially started.  You can apply for siblings online at  https://hubs.ly/Q029WfTN0.  Please book a date for a student meeting. This is a required step in the sibling application process. After selecting a date on the calendar, you will be led to the form where you can identify it is a sibling meeting and not a tour that you have scheduled. 

Policy Reminders

• Acceptable use of email accounts – student emails are issued for academic purposes only. Students should not use their email to create group threads or for communicating socially. There is no expectation of privacy when using a student email account. Policy linked here
• Gum is not allowed at school. Policy linked here
• Students are not allowed to consume the following beverages during school hours: drinks with red dye, soda, or drinks containing stimulants of any kind, including caffeine or herbal stimulants. Caffeinated sodas and energy drinks are not allowed to be sold or provided to students on the school premises. Policy linked here

Winter Weather Closure

American Prep strives to follow Nebo School District with regard to school closures due to inclement weather or emergencies. However, there are times that Nebo District closes and APA chooses a delayed start at 10:00 am.  Parents should check our website (https://salem.americanprep.org/) and watch for emails/texts for school closure information. We send out emails and text messages as soon as a decision is made, between 6:00 – 7:00 am.  

Parents are ultimately responsible for deciding if inclement weather is severe enough that they cannot drive to school.

Calendar

• November 29 No Extended Day
• Nov 30- Dec 15 Hygiene Drive
• December 1 Spirit Wear Day
• December 7 Secondary Band and Orchestra Concert, 6 PM

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November Builders Theme: I am a builder when I express gratitude in word and deed.

We would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of you in our American Prep family.  Thank you for all you do to make our school so wonderful.  We are grateful for the efforts you make to bring your students to school on time, dressed for success, and ready to learn!  Thank you for your willingness to volunteer.  We appreciate your generous gifts of time and talent.  We could not do what we do without you.  It is a privilege to teach your children, and we are grateful for this opportunity you have given us. 

Heroes for Hygiene Drive: Nov. 29 – Dec. 15

APA’s multi-campus annual donation drive will be starting soon!  This year, we’ll be collecting hygiene supplies for Tabitha’s Way in Spanish Fork.  We will accept shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap (either body wash or solid bar soap), lotion, Kleenex packages, deodorant and dental floss, standard sized toothbrushes, packaged combs/brushes, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes. Items must be unopened and unused. We prefer that items have at least 6 months before the expiration date.

Winterim – Fees and Class Changes

Students have received their Winterim schedules. This Wednesday (November 29), the students will receive any additional disclosures/permission forms needed to participate in the classes. All permission forms and fees are due immediately, and no later than December 8. If your student needs/wants to request a class change, parents must complete the following form online by December 1st: https://forms.gle/2GqDKqpJ5sC7NL69A 

School Spelling Bee

The classroom spelling bees begin in January. Study lists will be sent home before winter break, but this year, Scripps is providing the word club app free of charge. This is a fun way to study for the bee. Follow the link to download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-club-spelling-vocabulary/id1479862742.

Gathering Homework for Sick Students

As we are entering cold and flu season, please notify the front office if your student is ill. Typically, if a student is sick for 1-3 days, they return to school and get their missing work. Parents can request missing work be provided by the teacher, but teachers have 24 hours to gather homework for absent students. For elementary students we can sometimes help in gathering reading and math books without bothering teachers during teaching time.  However, getting homeroom information and lesson numbers will take more time so we do not interrupt classes. We cannot guarantee we can gather everything the same day a student is out sick. 

2024-2025 Sibling Applications

We are thrilled to announce that the application process for the 2024-2025 academic year at American Preparatory Academy has officially started.  You can apply for siblings online at  https://hubs.ly/Q029WfTN0.  Please book a date for a student meeting. This is a required step in the sibling application process. After selecting a date on the calendar, you will be led to the form where you can identify it is a sibling meeting and not a tour that you have scheduled. 

School Lunches

This is a reminder to place your order for school lunches in December.  Our school lunch menu for the month of December and nutritional information can be found at the following link: https://www.americanprep.org/school-lunch-program/menu/.

Winter Weather Closure

American Prep strives to follow Nebo School District with regard to school closures due to inclement weather or emergencies. However, there are times that Nebo District closes and APA chooses a delayed start at 10:00 am.  Parents should check our website (https://salem.americanprep.org/) and watch for emails/texts for school closure information. We send out emails and text messages as soon as a decision is made, between 6:00 – 7:00 am.  

Parents are ultimately responsible for deciding if inclement weather is severe enough that they cannot drive to school.

Calendar

• Nov 20-Nov 21 NO EXTENDED DAY
• Nov 22- Nov 24 NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break
• Nov 30- Dec 15 Hygiene Drive
• December 1 Spirit Wear Day

November Builders Theme: I am a builder when I express gratitude in word and deed.

Saying “thank you” is a powerful positive force for good when we get in the habit of saying it to our family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers! We can write a quick thank you note, and it can make an amazing difference in someone’s life. We challenge our students and their families to make an extra effort to express gratitude during the month of November.

Heroes for Hygiene Drive: Nov. 29 – Dec. 15

APA’s multi-campus annual donation drive will be starting soon!  This year, we’ll be collecting hygiene supplies for Tabitha’s Way in Spanish Fork.  We will accept shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap (either body wash or solid bar soap), lotion, Kleenex packages, deodorant and dental floss, standard sized toothbrushes, packaged combs/brushes, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and baby wipes. Items must be unopened and unused. We prefer that items have at least 6 months before the expiration date.

Reading University Winners

Congratulations to our Reading University award winners from the month of October. 

Adhvik Chowdhry

Lorali Creek  

Emma Fogleman

Jazmine Garcia

Emily Harmon          

Bryan Heaton  

Lyla Jensen

Adaline Kellersberger

Sophia Mathis

Morgan Messenger  

Paxton Meyers

Izzy Price

Killian Turner          

David Williams

School Spelling Bee

The classroom spelling bees begin in January. Study lists will be sent home before winter break, but this year, Scripps is providing the word club app free of charge. This is a fun way to study for the bee. Follow the link to download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-club-spelling-vocabulary/id1479862742.

Gathering Homework for Sick Students

As we are entering cold and flu season, please notify the front office if your student is ill. Typically, if a student is sick for 1-3 days, they return to school and get their missing work. Parents can request missing work be provided by the teacher,  but teachers have 24 hours to gather homework for absent students. For elementary students, we can sometimes help in gathering reading and math books without bothering teachers during teaching time.  However, getting homeroom information and lesson numbers will take more time so we do not interrupt classes. We cannot guarantee we can gather everything the same day a student is out sick. 

Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) Plans 

The 2023-24 Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) Plans are available on americanprep.org under Parent Resources, Plan,  and Reports titled “Teacher and Student Success Act Plan (TSSA).” You may also find our campus TSSA Plans by going directly to this link: https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/S-TSSA-FY24.pdf

Utah School Accountability Report Cards 

The 2023 School Report Cards are available on americanprep.org under Parent Resources, Plans and Reports, “Utah School Accountability Report Card.” You may also find our campus report card by going directly to this link: https://reportcard.schools.utah.gov/School/OverallPerformance?SchoolID=186480&DistrictID=110573&SchoolNbr=140&SchoolLevel=K8&IsSplitSchool=0&schoolyearendyear=2023

School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) Plan 

The 2023-24 School Improvement Plan is available on americanprep.org under Parent Resources, Plans and Reports, “School Improvement Plan.”  The TSI goals are included in this plan and marked in the far left column.  You may also find our campus SIP by going directly to this link:  https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SY24-Salem-Second.-Stakeholder-SIP.pdf

Progress Reports

All secondary students received a printed progress report on Wednesday. These reports are printed and reviewed with students during 4th period. They are supposed to bring the report home to have you review, sign, and return it to school as part of the leadership class grade. If you haven’t seen a progress report, ask your student about it!

We have been giving these reports to students all year, but some parents have not been aware of them. You can expect these reports to come home one to three times per month – they are distributed every Wednesday, except when we have an assembly or an event.

Winterim

Winterim classes have been assigned! You and your student can see their classes by signing in to Skyward. If you need assistance signing into Skyward, please contact Mrs. Hall (ahall@apamail.org).

Fees have also been applied to your student’s account. We also assessed fees for the National Latin Exam – this is a fee that is usually assessed in the fall as part of registration. Fees are due immediately, and must be paid by December 8, 2023.

Critical Class Changes

If there is a reason your student cannot participate in a particular class (physical restrictions, etc.), parents can request a class change. There are no limits on critical changes, and we recommend you wait to pay fees until the scheduling concerns are resolved.

Optional Class Changes

Parents can also request a class change in the event that a seat becomes available in a desired class – limit one optional change per student. Please talk with your student and submit all change requests by November 30, 2023.

• Change request form – https://forms.gle/2GqDKqpJ5sC7NL69A 
• Winterim details – https://salem.americanprep.org/winterim/ 

Skyward Schedule and Fees Help

 

 

Calendar

• November 14 Parent Empowerment Meeting, 7 PM
• November 20 Secondary Midterm Missing Work Deadline
• Nov 22- Nov 24 NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break

November Builders Theme: I am a builder when I express gratitude in word and deed.

William Faulkner said, “Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” The latest brain research shows that feeling gratitude for 30 seconds six times a day (a mere three minutes!) will enable our neurons to fire and wire together around gratitude, and we will more easily and frequently access more gratitude.

Parent Empowerment Meeting- November 14 

Among the many lessons learned during the last few years has been just how important it is to pay attention to our mental health and wellness, as well as our physical health. In reality, our physical and mental health are intertwined. Most symptoms of mental illness emerge in the teenage-young adult years. Join us for our virtual Parent Empowerment meeting on Tuesday, November 14th at 7 pm as we explore what mental health is, how to identify symptoms of mental illness, and how to get help.  We will discuss the protective factors to help avoid serious issues.  This topic is appropriate for students and parents, so invite your students to participate with you. See you on Zoom! You can join the meeting at the following link: https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/83457687165. Secondary students can have tardies remediated for attending with their parents (up to 3 tardies per student). 

Secondary: Fidget Items, Thinking Putty

There are a limited number of students who have director approval to have a fidget item. Thinking putty is not an approved fidget item due to potential damage to the carpets.

Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) Plans 

The 2023-24 Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) Plans are available on www.americanprep.org under Parent Resources, Plan,  and Reports titled “Teacher and Student Success Act Plan (TSSA).” You may also find our campus TSSA Plans by going directly to this link: https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/S-TSSA-FY24.pdf

Utah School Accountability Report Cards 

The 2023 School Report Cards are available on www.americanprep.org under Parent Resources, Plans and Reports, “Utah School Accountability Report Card.” You may also find our campus report card by going directly to this link: https://reportcard.schools.utah.gov/School/OverallPerformance?SchoolID=186480&DistrictID=110573&SchoolNbr=140&SchoolLevel=K8&IsSplitSchool=0&schoolyearendyear=2023

School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) Plan 

The 2023-24 School Improvement Plan is available on www.americanprep.org under Parent Resources, Plans and Reports, “School Improvement Plan.”  The TSI goals are included in this plan and marked in the far left column.  You may also find our campus SIP by going directly to this link:  https://www.americanprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SY24-Salem-Second.-Stakeholder-SIP.pdf