Highlights

AZ Academy 2015-2016 Highlights

  • Continued with development and implementation of a rigorous common core inspired curriculum
  • Developed a new action plan that focuses on best practices, standards, assessment, and the resources needed to support increased student achievement
  • Hosted the STX Big Island Adventure Camp @ AZ for the 6th summer in a row
  • Offered 3 diplomas, and had 5 ‘Class of 2016’ graduates who received over $100,000 in scholarships
  • Hosted the 14th Annual Fall Festival
  • Offered 25 after school programs and clubs, like dance, Lego builder’s club, homework helpers, Mine Craft club, gardening, guitar lessons, and more
  • Added sports back to after school programs, with cross country, volleyball, track and field, wrestling, and boxing offered this year; developed PE program to include Cross Fit, field trips, and swimming
  • Expanded music program to all grade levels so that everyone has the opportunity to explore their musical talent
  • Added an intervention/enrichment period to the school schedule to address students individual needs
  • Hired a 2nd Learning Support Specialist to serve students with special needs

AZ Academy 2014-2015 Highlights

  • Froze tuition rates for the 5th year in a row and issued educational vouchers to further aid families
  • Continued Implementation of a rigorous standards-based learning curriculum with a focus on reading, writing, and mathematic expectations that are aligned across grade levels
  • Implemented a 3 year action plan that focuses on best practices, standards, assessment, and the resources needed to support increased student achievement
  • Earned 2nd place ribbon at the Griculture & Food Fair for our educational exhibit in the K-12 category
  • Served the community through the AZ Enrichment Center, a free after school program which supports 3rd – 8th grade students academically, socially, and emotionally, which was funded by (LEPC)
  • Hosted the STX Big Island Adventure Camp @ AZ for the 5th summer in a row
  • oSent 11 students and chaperones to Antigua, Guatemala for 10 days to complete a service learning project at a prosthetics factory, Transitions Foundation
  • Took 4th place in the Kid Wind Challenge, a competition which featured student designed wind turbines
  • Offered 3 diplomas, and had 8 ‘Class of 2015’ graduates who received over $100,000 in scholarshipsoHosted the 13th Annual Fall Festival and the 6th Annual Jail or Bail
  • Offered 25 after school programs and clubs, like archery, volleyball, jewelry making, Mine Craft club, gardening, animation club, and more

AZ Academy 2012-2013 Highlights

  • Received re-accreditation certificate by Middle States Association for the next 7 years using the gold standard protocol “Excellence by Design”
  • Froze tuition rates for the 3rd year in a row and issued educational vouchers to further aid families expense
  • Continued implementation of a rigorous standards-based learning curriculum with a focus on reading, writing, and mathematic expectations that are aligned across grade levels
  • Began implementing a 2 year action plan that focuses on best practices, standards, assessment, and the resources needed to support increased student achievements
  • Completed implementing The School Counselor’s Guidance: Guidance Curriculum that is based on the American School Counselor Association National Standards
  • Distributed iPads to all staff members and students in grades 5-12th
  • Developed a 2 year technology action plan to promote technology integration in the classroom and to support infrastructure development
  • Started using blogs and social media to communicate with AZ families and the community (azvi.org/newsblog)
  • Earned Honorable Mention at the Agriculture & Food Fair for our educational exhibit in the K-12 category.
  • Chartered a troop for the Boys Scout of America
  • Continued to serve the community through the AZ Enrichment Center, a free after school program which supports 3rd-8th grade students academically, socially, and emotionally as they enter adolescence. (A federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Center)
  • Hosted the STX Big Island Adventure Camp @ AZ Academy for the 3rd year

AZ Academy 2011-2012 Highlights

  • Continued to serve the community through the AZ Enrichment Center, an after school program which serves 5th – 8th grade students academically, socially, and emotionally as they enter adolescence
  • Enhanced visual and performing art programs to further cultivate the creative mind, including the introduction of an art history curriculum to the high school course offerings
  • Implemented a rigorous standards-based learning curriculum with a focus on reading, writing, and mathematic expectations that are aligned across grade levels
  • Began phase two of implementing The School Counselor’s Guidance: Guidance Curriculum that is based on the American School Counselor Association National Standards
  • Equipped staff members with the skills necessary to address reading challenges with extensive Orton-Gillingham training
  • Successfully completed the Middle States Associations re-accreditation process using a gold standard protocol called “Excellence by Design”, which focuses on increasing student achievement and fostering a planning ethic
  • Developed 7 year goals and benchmarks, as well as 2 year action plans for growing reading, writing, mathematics, personal growth, citizenship and planning
  • Added an academic intervention coordinator to the guidance program staff to meet students’ needs
  • Distributed iPads to staff and students in grades 5-12th and developed a plan to promote usage in the classroom

AZ Academy 2010-2011 Highlights

  • Expanded after school programs to offer 16 new classes for students of all ages with offerings including archery, jump rope, golf, football, basketball, Xbox sports and dance, and many more
  • Continued to serve the community through the AZ Enrichment Center, an after school program which serves 5th and 6th grade students academically, socially, and emotionally as they enter adolescence
  • Enhanced visual and performing art programs to further cultivate the creative mind
  • Adopted rigorous standards from California and implemented a curriculum with a focus on reading, writing, and mathematic expectations that are aligned across grade levels
  • Introduced a hands-on science program with the addition of a student built Exploratorium of projects that model scientific principles
  • Began phase one of implementing The School Counselor’s Guidance: Guidance Curriculum that is based on the American School Counselor Association National Standards
  • Implemented the use of on-line college preparatory and career curriculum
  • Equipped staff members with the skills necessary for facilitating the success of students with special needs through Applied Behavior Analysis and other forms of training
  • Strengthened Board of Directors and committee activity to drive school leadership and governance
  • Began the re-accreditation process using a gold standard protocol called “Excellence by Design”, which focuses on increasing student achievement and fostering a planning ethic
  • Added an exciting new event, AZ Quest, that showcases student projects, artwork, music performances, and classroom experiential learning
  • Offered 6 full tuition scholarships and financial assistance to 29 families based on need and student merit