The Prep as we know it...

The Phoenix Preparatory Academy as we know it has closed its doors. The facility will reopen as University of Public Schools - Phoenix. The school is part of the University Public Schools Initiative. Read more here.

Former Prep Student to Graduate from NAU

Way to go to former Prep student Nidia Gastelum! She will receive her nursing diploma from Northern Arizona University this weekend. She has been profiled on a piece titled From housing projects to NAU graduation on our local TV station Channel 12 web page and news cast. Read the article by clicking here and Video feature here.

GERMS . . . appropriate precautions when greeting fiends!

View this video to learn about simple steps in preventing the spread of germs.

Please wash your hands and take appropriate precautions when greeting fiends!

Created by classroom teacher Mr. Montoya and crew.

Science Investigations Club Science Fair Presentations

The Phoenix Preparatory Academy’s Science Investigations Club recently took part in the state wide Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. A total of 22 Prep Academy students made up the 9 groups that received awards for their research project presentations that resulted in 3 gold, 2 silver, 2 copper and 2 nickel medals.

In the spring, students developed their own research projects, design experiments to collect data, and created posters to present at this year’s Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. At the state-wide science fair students were interviewed by 3 to 5 independent judges where they gave an abstract of their research project and answered various questions.

The following videos are examples of the student presentations.

Daddy-Less Legs: Importance of Leg Usage in Spider Web Building and Prey Wrapping by Catalina and Kimberly

Human Interaction: Why We Watch Zoo Animals by Kitzia, Karely and Narce

Science Investigations Club and Graduate Partners in Science Education

The Phoenix Preparatory Academy’s Science Investigations Club recently took part in the state wide Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. A total of 22 Prep Academy students made up the 9 groups that received awards for their research project presentations that resulted in 3 gold, 2 silver, 2 copper and 2 nickel medals.

Preparation for the science fair first began with a Prep student partnership with 12 graduate students from the ASU’s School of Life Sciences. The program consisted of 19 7th graders and 29 8th graders staying after school to increase their scientific understanding starting in October continuing through April. In the fall, students had three modules to fine tune their approach to scientifically study the fields of microbiology, animal behavior, and ecology. The Science Investigations Club field site visits included trips to the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Projects and the Phoenix Zoo.

In the spring, students developed their own research projects, design experiments to collect data, and created posters to present at this year’s Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. At the state-wide science fair students were interviewed by 3 to 5 independent judges where they gave an abstract of their research project and answered various questions. This was followed by an awards ceremony and a community banquet where they also presented their projects.

A culminating event will take the Prep students to a field trip to San Diego to study oceanography and marine biology.

What is the Length of the Missing Side? ...a student created mathcast

Again under the guidance of math teacher Mr. Anderson, students have taken problems and created video tutorials (mathcasts) on how to resolve problems that most students previously got wrong.

Here is another video created by one of Mr. Anderson's students.



These mathcasts have been shared on our morning announcements, Coyote Tracks. Mathcasts are screencasts (screen movies of writing with voice) that focus on mathematics.

What is the Value? ...a student created mathcast.

Under the guidance of math teacher Mr. Anderson, students are taking problems from web based assesment tool and creating video tutorials on how to resolve problems that most students got wrong. Here is one of the first videos created by one of Mr. Anderson's students.