 Week of September 21st, 2026Here's a look at what we've been up to lately and what's coming next. Thanks for being part of The Academy! An Encouragement from the Head of SchoolMr. Derek Bargatze, M.EdThe post below is from a video posted by Mr. Bargatze to our school's Instagram. If you haven't watched this video, please check our IG to view. Here is a portion: Hi parents, I wanted to make a video to share a few things with you, but also to let you know how thankful I am. I’m very thankful for our teachers. I’m very thankful for the wonderful students we have, and I’m very thankful for you—the loving and caring student body and parent body we have here at the Academy. I think a lot of the growth and changes occurring at the Academy have been wonderful and are heading in such a good direction. We are getting closer to a place wher e, with our Zia Media Group, we can clearly articulate our mission, our purpose, and our core values. That has been such a wonderful exercise for me and our leadership team, and I’m thankful to have gone through it. One thing that has really stood out to me is our ability to make sure we see every single student and know every kid who walks through our halls. I was listening to and meeting with a parent yesterday, and they shared a wonderful testimony about when they first brought their daughter to our school. Their daughter didn’t know exactly where to go, so another student simply grabbed her hand and excitedly said, “I’ll show you. I’ll take you where you need to go.” The parent compared it to being at the Ritz-Carlton, and I just love that so much. I love the godly character revealed through that child. It speaks so much to the parents and how they have raised their daughter, but it also speaks to the emphasis we place here at the school and the kind of character we want our students to develop as a result of their love for God. I’m also thankful for the work being done academically. If you haven’t seen the explicit instruction article Mr. Duffy wrote, I think it’s very helpful. One of the reasons we really value that instructional method is because of how much interaction it encourages and how active it requires students to be in the classroom. That’s one of the things I really love about it. Secondly, it brings together the social-emotional well-being of the student and their academic learning. Research such as Project Follow Through identified the importance of the competence students gain through their education and how that competence contributes to their self-esteem. Competence leads to confidence. As students gain academic knowledge and skills, they develop the confidence and self-esteem we want them to have. We want our students to love God and love one another. But, as Scripture says, we are to love one another as we love ourselves. There is a need for students to understand that they are God’s children, that God loves them, and that He cares for them. Their ability to gain knowledge and develop skills contributes to that growth. Please watch the full video HERE. AnnouncementsTardy/Check-In Time AdjustmentStudents are expected to arrive at school on time and be prepared to begin instruction at 8:30 a.m. To better align with our academic schedule, tardy students must now check into the office starting at 8:40 a.m., instead of 8:45 a.m. Students arriving between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. may report directly to class, and will be marked tardy. Students arriving after the 8:40 a.m. bell must check in at the front office with a parent before reporting to class. Excessive Tardy PolicyWe value student timeliness and preparedness for the school day. Please consider how your family can partner with us to ensure your student is on time for school each day. When excessive tardiness becomes an issue:
At the K-6 levels, parents will receive a notice once their student has received 5 tardies. At 8 tardies, parents will receive a notice from the principal. At 10 tardies, parents will be asked to attend a meeting with administration to discuss a plan of intervention. At the 7-12th levels, parents will receive a notice once their student has received 5 tardies. At 8 tardies, parents will receive a notice from the principal. At 10 tardies, students will be required to report to detention as assigned by the principal. Click here for our full attendance policy. Thank you for your cooperation! Lunch Rollover Benefits to ExpireRollover benefits for free and reduced meals will expire on 9/22/2026. Once you submit an application for free and reduced meals you will receive the benefits determined from that application. If you would like to get the most out of your benefits we recommend waiting until as close to the expiration date as possible to submit a new application. All free and reduced meals applications are now within the School Cafe Family Hub where parents can view the menu and make payments.  Academy for God School AppDid you know we have a school app that can be downloaded from your device's app store? Keep your student's class schedule, attendance records, school handbook and calendar all in one place by having the app on your mobile device. Please reach out to admin@academyforgod.org if you have any trouble connecting.  Save the Date: A Night of the Arts Mark your calendars for November 19–20 for our Night of the Arts, featuring Academy's Got Talent and The Arts Showcase! We can't wait to celebrate our students' creativity and talent with you. Students can participate in both AGT and The Arts Contest, if they'd like! Register for the talent show. - Audition registration closes on Sept 20th! Register for the arts competition. -Registration closes on November 1st! Fall Portraits for PurchaseElementary fall portraits are now available to view & purchase at the link below. The watermark will be removed from digital files once purchased for $5/file. We kindly ask that out of respect for our photographers and costs for school portraits, all photos are purchased and screenshots are not taken/shared. Thank you! Grades 7-12 will have individual and class photos taken on Wednesday, Sept 30th. Senior cap and gown photos will also be taken on Sept 30th. AcademicsFAFSA Frenzy & College Info Night Please submit your RSVP HERE Attn Parents of High School Students: |
