Anti-Bullying Tips for a Positive Community

« Back  |  junio 1, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

While many Star Wars fans were busy celebrating “May the Fourth Be With You,” ASU Prep Academy was also recognizing May 4th as Anti-Bullying Day with a focus on digital citizenship. Just as there are powerful alliances formed in the Star Wars franchise, ASU Prep Academy encourages students to come together to support and encourage one another. Here are some anti-bullying tips to foster a positive community. 

Hold That Thought

Getting ready to post that picture with a filter that makes your classmate look like a furry Ewok? Remember not to post photos or videos of others without permission, especially those who are minors. While you think your classmate’s Ewok impression is spot-on, she may not appreciate it going viral. 

And just like we use a filter to enhance photos, let’s do the same for our comments. Filter your thoughts before posting them to make sure they are truthful and kind. Avoid teasing and sarcasm, which don’t usually translate well online. Instead of jokingly commenting on a friend’s post about his new Mandalorian backpack, “You’re such a dork!” try “Love your style!” instead. 

Leave a *Good* Lasting Impression

Everything we do online leaves behind a trail. Everything from social media posts to search history. So make sure the prints you leave behind are good ones you wouldn’t be embarrassed for your teachers, family members or future boss to discover. 

ASU Prep Academy Supports You

ASU Prep does not tolerate bullying, harassing or intimidating others on school grounds, school-sponsored events, or through use of technology. Any reports of such behavior will be investigated and may lead to disciplinary action like a guardian conference, or in serious cases, removal from the school community. 

Connect in a Positive Way

Show your school spirit by posting positive accomplishments like club activities or the triumphant completion of a project. Finally finished your watercolor of Yoda? Post it! When sharing your Sun Devil successes, strengthen our community connection by tagging #RepthePrep and #ASUPrepAcademy. 

Student Spotlight: Jacob Mudry, #1 Goalkeeper

« Back  |  mayo 31, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

Jacob Mudry, Goalkeeper, on and off the Field

ASU Prep Digital isn’t exaggerating when they say students can take classes at their own pace from anywhere in the world. Just ask Jacob Mudry, a 16-year-old from Austin, Texas, who completed the school year online from Berlin, Germany.  

Because of ASU Prep Digital’s flexible online coursework, Jacob is able to continue his high school education while also training to become the professional soccer player he hopes to be one day. Jacob was scouted while still in middle school to join the International Soccer Academy, a program that recruits talented North American youth soccer players to train with professional European clubs. Jacob just wrapped up an eight-month adventure with Hertha Berlin’s Integrated academy U17 team made up of fellow 16- and 17-year-old North Americans. 

Grateful for ASU Prep Digital

Jacob compliments his ASU Prep Digital teachers, explaining their support: “The teachers are very compassionate. They are focused on making sure we’re up to date and that we have everything we need. The teachers and my Learning Success Coach are just on top of everything and make sure we have good grades.”

He goes on to say that despite the major time zone difference, “It’s really easy to contact them. They respond very quickly. The teachers are a lot more flexible and make time for us.”

Jacob’s favorite subject is math, and he says even though trigonometry is hard, he still really likes it. He applies that same can-do attitude to life and goal-keeping.  

“The teachers are very compassionate. They are focused on making sure we’re up to date and that we have everything we need.”

 

An Unexplainable, Indescribable Year

Jacob appreciates the unique experience he’s had playing soccer in Europe, saying, “What I’ve enjoyed most was the difference between U.S. and European soccer. When I came here, it was just basically a whole new method. The teams and the competition are very intense and much tougher than in America. The coaches are great. It’s just overall very indescribable.”

Jacob says he’s learned life lessons through soccer and has grown a lot in the past year. For example, the challenges of dealing with injuries and the heightened pressure of playing goalkeeper: “The fact that sometimes in a game you can make a mistake, a really big mistake that can impact the match. As a goalkeeper, you can make a mistake that can lead to the opponents scoring a goal.” And without his mom there to hug or his dad to talk to, Jacob’s had to figure it out on his own. Jacob explains, “I’m learning, finding myself and just gaining independence and seeing basically what college life is like without going to college. If I can get through a year in Germany this young, I feel like college life will be kind of a breeze to get through.”

When asked if his future plans include college, Jacob explains his primary goal is to sign a contract with a prestigious European soccer club like Bayern Munich.  

What’s Next

Jacob has returned home to Texas for the summer, where he is excited to spend time with his family and friends, and yes, his hometown coaches for more soccer training. He has a built-in practice buddy in his 12-year-old brother, who is also a talented soccer player. 

In the fall, Jacob plans to play once again with the International Soccer Academy, returning to Hertha Berlin for a second year while also continuing another school year with the support of ASU Prep Digital’s online curriculum.

Student Spotlight: Lucas Henseler, Center Back, #7

« Back  |  mayo 17, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

Lucas Henseler, ASU Prep Digital Scholar and Soccer Star

ASU Prep Digital student Lucas Henseler is originally from sunny San Diego, California, and enjoyed the advantages of our rigorous online platform to spend his last school year in Berlin, Germany playing for International Soccer Academy‘s Integrated Academy U17 team at the Bundesliga soccer club Hertha Berlin. International Soccer Academy provides elite youth soccer players from all across North America the opportunity to live, train and play soccer in a professional environment.

With the help of ASU Prep Digital’s flexible curriculum, the 16 year old has successfully balanced academic excellence with a burgeoning soccer career. His goal is to gain the training and attention required to play for a European “football” club and this program prepares top players for professional opportunities.

Lucas, #7, is a Center Back on his Hertha Berlin’s academy team and has been an impact player all year. Lucas and his teammates lived at the Berlin Football Association where they complete their respective online school work, eat and sleep between twice-daily soccer training sessions, plus games. 

It Takes Motivation

When asked about balancing his ASU Prep Digital schoolwork, his intense soccer schedule, as well as living in another country away from family, Lucas explains, “In the end, it takes motivation, you got to be willing to put in the work. And for me, I really like to think about my dream of becoming a professional soccer player at the highest level, so I use this to drive me to make sure everything that I do is well organized and in high shape.”

“…I really like to think about my dream of becoming a professional soccer player at the highest level, so I use this to drive me to make sure everything that I do is well organized and in high shape.”

It’s that mentality that motivates Lucas to maintain all A’s even though he admits school is not his favorite. He likes that ASU Prep Digital schoolwork is dispersed throughout the week so that he can complete assignments while also focusing on making his soccer dream a reality. Lucas explains that players are expected to get their school work done during study hall hours in the classroom or during their free time, and that many student athletes like to do so from the comfort of their rooms. Turns out, Lucas’ teammate and roommate Hugh Eaton is also an ASU Prep Digital classmate; they’re in the same English class and both call Southern California home!

Taking it to the Next Level

Lucas’ biggest takeaway from this experience so far has been the opportunity to play an elevated standard of soccer. He emphasizes, “I’ve gotten to experience the level of soccer in Germany and how good you have to be if you want to make it in Europe as a professional. You work harder, way harder, because the level of soccer for a 17 year old in Berlin is way higher than it is in America.”

Despite the cold and cloudy climate, a language barrier, and not-so-great food at the hotel, Lucas is adamant, “No regrets, no mistakes.” He says, “I came here knowing that I needed to get better so I can make my dream come true. That was the purpose and I got that.”

“I came here knowing that I needed to get better so I can make my dream come true. That was the purpose and I got that.”

Lucas will return to Germany in September to join the Integrated Academy team at FC Schalke 04 continuing both his soccer training as well as his education through ASU Prep Digital. For now, he looks forward to heading home for the summer not to rest and chill at the beach, but to reunite with his hometown coaches and trainers to practice and share what he has learned. 

Middle School Student Council Is Now in Session

« Back  |  mayo 17, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

Making friends in middle school can sometimes be awkward. Enter the ASU Prep Digital Middle School Student Council, recently formed to make things a little easier.  

Social studies teacher April Hale saw a need for students to make connections with their peers, so after careful thought and with the support of Principal Toya Abrams, she started the Middle School Student Council. The initial members came from a defunct camaraderie club, which was lucky in that they already shared the similar goal of friendship. Ms. Hale also invited some of her current and former students who she knew to be outgoing and eager to participate.  

Ms. Hale started the initial meetings with songs about friendship and icebreaker activities. She explains, “It’s really important to me that it’s a fun, safe place for students to be themselves. I want the students to share their ideas. I want it to be a safe place to brainstorm.”  

And brainstorm they did. The students spent the first couple meetings determining the Student Council’s mission statement and set of values.

“I want the students’ perspective. It is important to me that the students create their own vision and then find a way to achieve it. The whole purpose is to meet their needs. Student Council is driven by the kids. It is their ideas, their goals, their vision.”

The following is what this group of about twenty-five dynamic students came up with.  

Mission Statement

ASU Prep Digital Middle School Student Council works to make our school a place where every student feels welcome and included. We encourage students to make friends, help others, and support the school.  Our core values are Learning, Community, Kindness, and Leadership.

What Student Council Members Are Saying 

The involved students are giddy with pride when discussing how successfully the Student Council is meeting these goals so far. 

Elana “Laney” Woodward says that Student Council “includes students in their own government to prepare them for the real world” and supports students fit for leadership roles, giving them confidence. When asked about her own future plans, she happily asserts, “Definitely a leadership role.” 

Zinnelyse “Zinnie” Grey agrees that she too has learned about leadership, especially maintaining balance: “We have to keep the goals of school in mind, introduce our own ideas but also build on others’.” Her experience has inspired her to consider pioneering another new club, one that will attract students with less mainstream interests.  

Hayden Hansen says he has not always participated in class, but this year he’s been turning on his mic and volunteering to read in his online classes, which is why he says Ms. Hale suggested he join Student Council. He feels comfortable participating in Student Council and says, “It might just help me be less shy for big events.”

Katheryn Mantey-King has a unique perspective about Student Council, explaining, “It prepares you for dealing with people who are maybe leading or taking charge, or maybe you can be that person who leads and takes charge.” In either role, working in a group and dealing with conflict helps teach compromise.  

What’s on the Agenda

Sponsor Ms. Hale says, “I want to provide an environment for my students going forward, where they can feel connected to their peers at ASU Prep Digital. To know they’re part of a community.” 

That sense of community and connectedness is clear within the Student Council. And now with their mission statement guiding them, they’re extending their vision to the rest of the student body. Their first major success at bringing together students from their online middle school was hosting “Forks Up Friendship,” an online social event with ten breakout rooms based on popular interests gleaned from an anonymous interest form distributed to ASU Prep Digital Middle School students. The event gained such great participation and feedback, the Student Council will host another one May 18.

ASU Microschools Provide Possibilities

« Back  |  marzo 17, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

Microschools, a learning model often referred to as a cross between homeschool and private school education, is the result of rethinking the traditional educational model to better prepare children for the future. With a passion to create flexible school program alternatives that offer high student engagement and inclusion, ASU Prep offered five microschool cohorts on three campuses this Fall.

ASU Prep Local

 ASU Prep Local is a year-long hybrid program for high school students who spend two days per week on an ASU campus and the other three days working virtually from home. Students can take ASU courses and receive concurrent credit for both high school and college.

This last semester, ASU Prep Local welcomed 100 students onto the ASU Media Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center, ASU West, and ASU Polytechnic campuses. At MIX Center location in Mesa, 31 students enrolled in the ASU Prep Digital Cinematography class facilitated by their on-site Personalized Learning Advisors (PLAs) and supported by ASU faculty. At ASU West, 39 of the 44 students enrolled in the Public Speaking ASU course (COM225).

Based on Fall semester grade reports, 95 percent of students received a grade of an “A” or “B” in the site-based local elective.

“We are so proud of the work that has been accomplished this year,” said Megan Hanley, Director of Strategic Initiatives at ASU Prep. “Currently, our seniors are outperforming all other grade levels, with a 93 percent passing rate in all content courses.” 

ASU Prep Experience

ASU Prep Experience is a single-semester program available to ASU Prep Digital students grades 9-11. Students spend one day on-site at an ASU campus and the remaining days work digitally. They attend faculty-supported workshops that focus on real-world, project-based learning and earn honors elective high school credit.

Twenty students enrolled in Fall for the ASU Prep Poly Experience in collaboration with the College of Integrated Sciences and Arts at the ASU Polytechnic campus.

 Another cohort sprouted this Spring with 22 students currently enrolled in the ASU Prep Tempe Experience in collaboration with the Center of Building Innovation at the ASU Tempe campus.  

“This is a very cool, integrative experience this semester with a focus on innovation, design, and architecture,” said Hanley. “Students are learning about the built environment. They get to build models of furniture for learning environments and think through what kind of seating or environments work for certain learners and learning styles.” 

Making an impact

 ASU Prep microschool programs have a significant impact on the students and communities they serve. The project-based learning approach encourages students to take an active role in their own education, which can foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for their learning.

“Our student-centered approach is building community for students,” said Hanley. “They’re on campus, welcomed by other students and faculty…they feel like they’re already college students. It’s a great chance for students to explore university degree paths and career options.”

Student retention is 91 percent—a good indicator that students are finding success with this learning model.

ASU Prep is continuing to look at enhancements and designs to further build out programming with plans to expand next year. 

NOW ENROLLING | LEARN MORE 

 

You Can Be Part of Women’s HERstory Month

« Back  |  marzo 15, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

For many women across the globe, March means much more than the beginning of spring. Women’s History Month, observed annually in March in the U.S. since 1987, is a time to celebrate the contributions, achievements, and discoveries women have made to history and culture. Women do represent 49.6 percent of the world’s population, after all.

Arizona State University is proud to celebrate Women’s HERstory Month to increase the visibility of all women and women-identified peoples in our community. There are many activities planned throughout the month that not only celebrate women, but highlight important issues impacting our world–on campus and beyond.   

ASU Hosted Women’s HERstory Month Events 

Not Your Grandfather’s Union: The History of Women’s Labor Activism
March 15 | 3-4 p.m.

Professor Mary Margaret Fonow (she/her/hers) Professor Emerita, Gender and Women’s Studies will provide a brief historical overview of women’s labor activism in the U.S. through archival photos, song, and oral interviews.
Registration information

Practical Audacity: Black Women and Human Rights
Wednesday, March 22 | 3-4 p.m.

Professor Stanlie James, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) Professor, School of Social Transformation + Vice Provost for Inclusion and Community Engagement Emerita, will discuss some of the highlights from her most recent book “Practical Audacity: Black Women and International Human Rights.”
Registration information

Women’s HERstory Month Events. 

Khan World School at ASU Prep Accelerates Expansion Thanks to Exceptional Academic Performance by Pilot Cohort

« Back  |  marzo 15, 2023 - ASU Prep Digital

Online Honors Program Enrolling Students in Grades 6-12 for 2023-24 School Year

TEMPE, Ariz. (March 9, 2023) –  Building on its successful pilot of a unique honors program for ninth graders, ASU Preparatory Academy is expanding enrollment for Khan World School at ASU Prep (KWS) to all middle and high school students for the 2023-24 school year. The accelerated expansion, which answers growing demand for digital learning options for advanced students, comes on the heels of an assessment that shows KWS students’ academic achievement is far exceeding expectations.

“With the launch of any new learning model, we’re carefully assessing its efficacy in meeting student needs and ensuring we are anchored to our commitment to increasing academic achievement,” said Amy McGrath, Chief Operating Officer at ASU Prep. “With KWS, we had high expectations, but the outcomes were far more dramatic than we anticipated. It’s a clear signal the program can bring meaningful opportunities for accelerated students who are motivated by curiosity and the joy of learning.”

Based on an assessment conducted after the first semester, KWS students’ Math scores rose an average of 50 points from the beginning of the year (typical growth is 11 points). Similarly, English/Language Arts scores saw a notable jump with a 48-point increase (typical growth: 10 points), and Reading scores showed appreciable progression, as well, with a 35-point increase (typical growth: 10 points).

While the results are remarkable in their own right, what’s even more notable is the unconventional methods that led students to this level of achievement, says Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy and author of The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined. “This is not a passive, sit-back-and-absorb-it-all experience,” Khan said. “Students frame their own vision for success and are responsible for the decisions and actions that move them down the path at their own pace.”

KWS, a full-time online school, combines the expertise of ASU Prep and the Khan network (Khan Academy, Khan Lab School and Schoolhouse.world) and in a unique model based on the core principles of mastery-based learning, personalization of each student’s experience and learning together as a community.

Students master core knowledge and explore society’s most challenging problems with support from peers and an inspiring network of world-class learning guides, tutors, coaches and peers who provide personalized instruction, academic guidance and social support.

As participants in the accredited KWS program, students progress through an advanced college-prep curriculum using a combination of high-quality, self-paced online lessons, small-group tutorials and peer tutoring. SAT prep is part of the curriculum and students have the chance to earn university credit in high school, accelerating their path to college and saving time and money when they get there.

KWS enrollment is now open to students entering grades six through 12 for the fall 2023 semester. The program is tuition-free for Arizona residents; out-of-state students will pay tuition to attend, and scholarships may be available. Students interested in enrolling can learn more about admissions requirements and the application process at khanworldschool.com.

About ASU Preparatory Academy

ASU Preparatory Academy is chartered by Arizona State University and serves more than 7,000 students across its network. ASU Prep uses innovative approaches to curriculum to prepare all students for success in graduating from a university. Its mission is to design new models for educational success and raise academic achievement for all learners. ASU Preparatory Academy has schools in Phoenix, South Phoenix, Mesa and Casa Grande. In addition, ASU Prep Digital serves online K-12 students in Arizona and around the world. For more information, visit: https://asuprep.asu.edu.