Knights, thank you for another great year of learning, clubs, events and more! Before you know it, it will be time to kick off yet another year. The first day of school is Thursday, August 1st. Families will get emails in the summer about PTO events like the uniform sales. All students returning to the Academy will keep their devices for the summer. Please take good care of them so you are ready to start the year. Keep your eye out for details regarding Meet the Teacher Night and other back-to-school events. Have a safe and fun summer!- Nikki Wilfert (Principal)

Scarlett Brown

Our Knights want to wish Mrs. Scarlett Brown a Happy Retirement. Mrs. Brown has been part of the MPS Family for many years mostly as a Spanish teacher at some of our junior and senior high schools. She joined our MAAS Team back in 2013 as our part time Spanish teachers. In 2022 she came back to MAAS as our counselor. We will miss her caring and funny personality. She went out of her way to make students feel cared for and alwyas had a story to share. We wish her the very best and thank her for all she has done for our students, families and staff. Ms. Brown was a great counselor. She always made kids feel comfortable and she could relate to almost anything. I know not everyone got the chance to really get to know her, but if you did, you know that she was a one-of-a-kind, sweet, and heartfelt person. We were so sad to see her leave but the time we got with her was wonderful.- Sydney Mitchell

Linda Garrison

IB End of Year Awards

2023-24 Academy Awards

The Final IB Academy Awards for the IB Profiles celebrate one individual from each grade level who embodies each of the traits. These students were nominated by their teachers. All IB programs aim to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. As IB learners, we strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

Inquirers: Jacob O’Neill (4th), David Yauch (5th), Ezra Johnson (6th), Aaron Jury (7th), and Dylan Hernandez (8)

Knowledgeable: Ethan Reeves (4th), Zach Zawadzki (5th), Kevin Lundgreen (6th), Preston Rule (7th), and Justin Mix (8th)

Thinkers: Emmett Ewing (4th), Laith Abugharbieh (5th), Lindsay James (6th), McKenna King (7th), and Jackson Brown (8th)

Communicators: Holly Hom (4th), Avery Von Burg 5th), Camden Walker (6th), Duci Dominguez Hernandez (7th), and Shane Elevich (8th)

Principled: Hazel Cardall (4th), Shawn King (5th), Roxie Cramer (6th), Julia Norton (7th), and Jeremy Wenzel (8th)

Open-minded: Brooklyn Castro (4th), Ify Ubosi (5th), Felicia Pritchard (6th), Genesis Vega (7th), and Lowell Baudouin (8th)

Caring: Remy Thompson (4th), Tegan Collier (5th), Levi Larson (6th), Joshua Acosta Lopez (7th), and Abigail Whitmer (8th)

Risk-takers: Jill Trendler (4th), Luis Durazo (5th), Sam Gazda (6th), William Taylor (7th), and Ryker Profitt (8th)

Balanced: Melanie Wong (4th), Ruby Skye Matosevic (5th), Jude Garcia (6th), Elijha Shaw (7th), and Lakshmi Nair (8th)

Reflective: Elizabeth Decker (4th), John Ligas (5th), Sophia Doulah (6th), Becca Wehrman (7th), and Elizabeth Meidlinger (8th)

Notable Knight Award: The Notable Knight Award goes to Janice Duran who is reflective, balanced, and a communicator of global ideas. She is thoughtful and understands the need to lead a balanced life as supported by Janice's ability to assess her strengths and limitations. Janice is a well-rounded individual who understands and expresses ideas through a variety of means and is confident when collaborating with others.

Academy Knight Citizenship Award: The Citizenship Award goes to Emma Duffek who is both caring and principled. Emma demonstrates compassion, respect, and empathy for others. Emma takes responsibility for her actions and acts with honesty and integrity as she strives to make a positive difference in the world.

Knight of Distinction: The Knight of Distinction Award goes out to Asher Norton who is a risk-taker, thinker, and inquirer. Asher uses strength of character to delve into new and uncertain situations, always ready to use creative and critical thinking skills to challenge intellectual norms. Asher is someone who regularly processes information and turns it around to ask "what if", "why not", and "how about"? Asher loves to learn and will continue to use his natural curiosity to acquire skills to further his learning all his life.

Knowledgeable Knight Award: The Knowledgeable Knight Award goes to Katherine Trendler who is both knowledgeable and open-minded. Katherine demonstrates mastery of academics in every class in which she participates; she is passionate in her genuine desire to learn more about the world. Katherine is not afraid to see things from other viewpoints and cultural perspectives and is eager to learn from new experiences.

M.A.S.A: Each junior high principal in Mesa Public Schools gets to award one student with the M.A.S.A. Award. It is given to one 8th grade student who has continuously stood out in various positive ways, it is the student who is seen as exceptional. This year's M.A.S.A. goes to Isabella Maciera.

Wrapping-Up 2023-24

4th graders displayed their knowledge of the scientific method by inventing something new. The annual 4th grade invention convention was a hit as parents came to see all the cool inventions!

8th Graders in D.C.

Last Band Concert with Student Conductors

District Voices 1st Place Winners and Participants

6th& 7th Grade Gold Award Winners

8th Grade Gold Award Winners

District Voices 1st Place 8th Grade Winners

8th Grade Blue Award Winners

Our 2024-25 Student Council officers

President: Preston Rule

Vice President: Sam Omerza

Secretary: Skye Matosevic

Treasurer: Audrey Sarkissian

We look forward to another great year at Mesa Academy with great student leaders!

Close-up 2024

Highlights of Civics in Washington, D.C.

1. Exploring the Heart of Democracy-

The Capitol Building: Witness where Congress meets and learn about the legislative process.

The White House: Understand the executive branch's role and the history of presidential leadership.

The Supreme Court: Discover how the judicial system upholds the Constitution and ensures justice.

2. Museums and Memorials

The Smithsonian Institutions: Dive into American history, culture, and science through interactive exhibits.

The National Archives: See the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Memorials: Reflect on the sacrifices and contributions of those commemorated at the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and many others.

Incoming 8th grade Families:

8th grade field trip information 2024-2025:

Save the dates: May 11- 16. Our trip will also include a day in Colonial Williamsburg.

Parents and students,please join us in the in the MPR for more information about this exciting opportunity Tuesday June 4th at 5 pm.

Please RSVP to Ms. Brown by 6/3/2024 via email rtbrown@mpsaz.org.

Be on the lookout for a brand new club at the Academy: the Close-Up Club. Details will be released at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year!

Our 8th grade class says Good-bye to Mesa Academy. It has been a great five years. They grew, they gained so much knowledge, became leaders, made friends, and now it’s time to move on. We are proud of our Knights and know that wherever they go, whatever they do, they will do it with pride, integrity, and caring hearts. Good luck 8th grade!

Service Learning is available to 7th and 8th grade students, starting after the last day of 6th grade. (6th graders can start counting Service Learning hours on Friday, May 24, 2024).

Please go Here to learn more.

Students, if you plan to do volunteer service this summer, please fill out an Option B Summer Application prior to your service. You'll fill out an application for each organization you volunteer for.

Option B covers any activity that is initiated by the student for service on the school campus or in the community. You will receive a time card to print out and fill out when your application is approved.

Service must be:

• PRE-APPROVED via online application
  
• Separate from religious worship
  
• Not supervised by a family member
  

In order for these hours to receive credit, students must also complete a Reflection Project and Presentation to share at the end of the year.

Please email Mrs. Chiren (adchiren@mpsaz.org) with any questions.

Summer Application

Attendance Office Reminder:

Daily Attendance Note

Please make sure to call or email all absences to:

(480) 308-7431 or maas-attend@mpsaz.org

Absences will not be excused unless a parent or guardian notifies the school.

New Knight Orientation

If you will be a new student, please be sure to attend our New Knight Orientation! July 25th 4-7 p.m.

4-6 p.m.- Formal Orientation by Mesa Academy Staff

6-7 p.m. Family Social and Uniform Sale hosted by PTO

Summer Communication

Mesa Academy Families, please remember to check your emails over the summer for any imformation regarding th 2024-25 School year.

PTO

We would like to thank all students, families, and the PTO Board for making us feel so special and appreciated. We were spoiled all month with breakfast, lunch, treats, gifts, and heartfelt handmade cards from our students. There is no doubt that Mesa Academy is the place to be.