A Message from the Superintendent

Dear Parents & Guardians,

It is hard to believe that we have been in school for seven weeks and nearing the end of the first grading term. Here are some updates regarding several initiatives we are currently working on. 

Report Cards

McDowell Mountain’s first quarter comes to an end on October 6th, and report cards will be posted at that time. We will host parent/teacher conferences October 5^th to 6^th, which is a great way to connect with your child’s teachers and review their work and progress. If you want more information about report cards, please contact Principal Wilkinson at kwilkinson@fhacademics.org.

Fountain Hills Middle School moved to a trimester grading schedule to be in alignment with our high school. Students take core classes each trimester but rotate electives each trimester. The first trimester comes to an end on November 3^rd. We will host parent/teacher conferences October 5^th to 6^th, which is a great way to connect with your child’s teachers and review their work and progress. If you want more information about report cards, please contact Principal Weeldreyer at kweeldreyer@fhacademics.org.

Fountain Hills High School moved to a trimester grading system this year to provide more opportunities for students to take classes and advance in areas of interest. The first trimester comes to an end on November 3^rd. The high school does not have parent/teacher conferences scheduled like our K-8 grade levels. Still, our teachers are always available to meet if you want an update or review of your child's work and progress. If you want more information about high school report cards, please contact Principal Hartmann at chartmann@fhacademics.org.

Bond Information Nights

In an effort to share with our parent community facts about the upcoming bond election, we are hosting two additional information sessions, one at Fountain Hills High School and another at McDowell Mountain Elementary School. Please join us to learn more. 

• September 27^th 6:30 p.m. at MMES Gym
• October 2^nd 6:30 p.m. at FHHS Cafeteria

McDowell Mountain Library Construction

We are excited for construction to begin on the new library. We expect Core Construction to be on-site next week to start working on the project. There will be minimal disruption due to construction, which will take a couple of months to complete. The end result will be worth the wait.

Reteach

Our Reteach program officially started a few weeks ago and is off to a great start. Reteach began in 2017 at FHHS and was instrumental to our significant academic growth and three consecutive “A” letter grades. This year, we added Reteach to Fountain Hills Middle School. This program ensures that your child does not fall behind, receives additional help, and ultimately raises their grade and overall achievement. Please work with your child’s teacher when a conflict arises, and please know that this program is in place to ensure that your child is cared for and successful. At McDowell Mountain Elementary School, Reteach is built into their schedule, and they receive either intervention or enrichment. 

Senior Internship (FHHS)

We are beyond excited about our partnership with the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce to offer our students an internship with a local business. We had a successful job fair last month, and the high school administration will be meeting with our seniors September 26^th during advisory. Morning EVIT students will meet at 12:40 in the lecture hall. During that time, our administrative team will train students to be prepared to start their internship, how to be successful, how to report issues, and will share their placement. If you have additional questions about this initiative, please contact Principal Hartmann at chartmann@fhacademics.org.

EVIT

I would also like to share information about our amazing partnership with the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) for our high school students. FHUSD provides transportation for students who choose to enroll in an EVIT program. EVIT offers real-world career preparation that culminates with an industry certification to make the transition from school to career much more accessible. Students who graduate from EVIT are prepared to enter their field of study directly after high school, and many further their studies at the college level. This week, I took a group of school board members, community members, parents, and staff to visit the Main Campus in Mesa. It is quite impressive. We will offer students a tour of EVIT in January and parents may join us for that visit. As an EVIT parent, I highly recommend exploring this amazing opportunity for your child. To learn more about EVIT, please visit their website by clicking here. Below, you will find a list of their programs available to our students as well as some pictures of the different programs on campus.

Please join me for coffee and conversation on October 3^rd at 9:00 a.m. This is an excellent opportunity to meet new friends and share your feedback so FHUSD can continuously improve. 

Sincerely,

Dr. J

Superintendent

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