Mesa Academy for

Advanced Studies

INTRODUCTION OF PRESENTERS

Principal: Nikki WilfertInterim Principal: Sidney WilliamsIB Program Specialist: Dr. Jacob DavisCounselor: Rachel LindsaySpanish Teacher / Interpreter: Gina BoeschPTO President: Cassie FynesMesa Academy Students: Sebastian Arellano, Sadie Christie,

Joey Sandoval, Silvie Schmelter, Brody Sterling, Carena Todd

THE ACADEMY “QUICK FACTS”

• Home of the “Knights”

• Serving students in 4th through 8th grades

• All student use laptops, Google calendars, docs, email and cloud storage

• “Rigor and Challenge in the Classroom” is our motto

THE ACADEMY “QUICK FACTS”• We offer a smaller, safe and supportive learning

environment that emphasizes the core foundations of English, Math, Science and Social Studies.

• We also offer classes in Technology, Health and Wellness, Art, Music (Band, Orchestra, Music Lab), Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

• Authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP).

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)• IB is an internationally recognized program respected

by the world’s finest colleges and universities

• IB is noted for the depth of it’s curriculum that focuses on teaching students “how to learn”

• Students are provided a rigorous experience through inquiry and collaborative hands-on activities

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

• IB offers quality instruction that is aligned with AzM2 state standards

• Educators complete extensive training to ensure high quality curriculum design and engaging lesson delivery

• International mindedness, interdisciplinary connections and the IB Learner Profile are key components

http://drive.google.com/file/d/17jzLtRl5jvzzg9qZOTL58H10bduG9nyZ/view

4TH/5TH GRADE DAY

• 6 period day (8:00 – 2:45pm)

• 4 periods of core classes (Math, Science, English & Social Studies)

• 2 periods of “Specials” on a 3-day rotating basis

“SPECIALS” - 4TH AND 5TH GRADES6 CLASSES IN A 3-DAY ROTATING WHEEL

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

6th pd. (12:48 – 1:51pm)* ART MANDARIN CHINESE

SPANISH

7th pd. (1:55 – 2:45pm) TECH HEALTH & WELLNESS

ORCHESTRA

*Includes Structured Activity

TYPICAL 4TH AND 5TH GRADE SCHEDULE

PERIOD CLASSES

1 LANGUAGE ARTS

2 SOCIAL STUDIES

3 MATHEMATICS

(4) LUNCH

5 SCIENCE

6 SPECIALS/RECESS

7 SPECIALS

6TH - 8TH GRADE DAY

• 7 period day (8:00 – 3:45pm)

• Students take 5 core classes daily (Math, Science, English, Social Studies and a World Language (Mandarin Chinese or Spanish)

• Students also take 2 daily electives per semester

PERIOD CLASSES1 MATHEMATICS2 ENGLISH3 ELECTIVE4 SCIENCE

(5) LUNCH6 SPANISH OR MANDARIN CHINESE7 ELECTIVE8 SOCIAL STUDIES

EXAMPLE OF A 6TH – 8TH GRADE SCHEDULE

PARENT PERSPECTIVE

Cassie Fynes, PTO President

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

• Sebastian Arellano• Sadie Christie• Joey Sandoval• Silvie Schmelter• Brody Sterling• Carena Todd

STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Ranked #1 Middle School in AZ by Schooldigger.com (2015, ‘16, ’17, ‘18,

‘19)

• Ranked #1 Elementary School in AZ by Schooldigger.com (2016. ‘19)

• Great Schools ranks the Academy a 10 out of 10 (2016, ‘17, ‘19)

• MPS Parent Quality Service results – 97-100% A’s and B’s (2013-19)

STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School, 2018

• Arizona Dept. of Education “A” rating since inception

• National Academic League National Champions, 2018

APPLICATION PROCESS

✔Signed parent/student letter of commitment✔Provide letters of support to current teacher(s) and ask that they

complete and send them to the Academy✔Submit a copy of your latest report card✔Submit a copy of your most recent AzMerit scores (or if from

another state, similar standardized test results), if applicable✔Current Mesa Public Schools students need not submit test

scores as MPS will provide them

APPLICATION TIMELINE✔Completed applications are due Friday, January 15th

✔The initial review process continues through February✔Successful applicants, as well as those placed on the wait-list, will

receive notification no later than mid March✔Upon acceptance, parents will be asked to complete a school

enrollment packet✔Applications submitted late will be accepted, but will not be

considered during the initial review process✔Applications are available at www.mpsaz.org/academy

http://www.mpsaz.org/academy/

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS• Uniforms • Transportation• Cafeteria• Parent Involvement

• PTO, SIAC• Still have questions?

Email: ndwilfert@mpsaz.org480-308-7430

mailto:ndwilfert@mpsaz.org

http://drive.google.com/file/d/1WA3yNwY4wqgpaw90bUp35rO-cpQjYs4r/view

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