- Do you have to live in Mesa in order to enroll your child at Eagleridge?
- Is there a cost associated with attending the program?
- Do parents have to pay to check out curriculum from Eagleridge?
- Can students participate in both the K-6 distance learning program and Eagleridge?
- How is the block program different from the rotational program at Eagleridge?
- Do students receive grades for classes taken at Eagleridge?
- Do students who attend Eagleridge have to take the AIMS or Stanford Tests?
- Can students enroll for more than two days per week?
- Do the kindergarten, first and second graders rotate through classes and teachers?
- Can students younger than 5 years of age enroll at Eagleridge?
- Is it okay for students to attend sometimes, but not every week?
- Are Eagleridge teachers certified?
- What precautions are taken to keep students safe at Eagleridge?
- Can parents observe in the classrooms?
- Can parents donate ECA tax dollars to Eagleridge?
- Does Eagleridge provide field trips for students?
Do you have to live in Mesa in order to enroll your child at Eagleridge?
No, we have over 500 students from throughout the Valley who
attend. In many cases families who live far away from our
program's location carpool.
Is there a cost associated with attending the program?
No, the Eagleridge Enrichment Program is a member of the Mesa
Public Schools, and is supported by your tax dollars. Students
who are being homeschooled are welcome to attend, free of charge.
Do parents have to pay to check out curriculum from Eagleridge?
No, once a child is enrolled, parents can check out books, free
of charge. All the Mesa Public Schools' adopted texts are
available to the parents. We provide teacher’s editions, student
textbooks, workbooks, and more. Parents do need to provide a
valid Visa or Mastercard each time a book order is placed. If
books are not returned at the end of the school year, parents are
charged.
Can students participate in both the K-6 distance learning program and Eagleridge?
Yes, students can be enrolled in both programs. We do not
recommend that students attend Eagleridge more than one day per
week if they are taking a full load of distance learning classes.
The online teachers will be glad to talk to you about online
classes and the texts and other materials that are available
through the Distance Learning Program. MDLP K-6 is located and
managed out of the Eagleridge site at 1313 W. Mednina Ave. in
Mesa. The K-6 website can be accessed at www.mdlp.org/k6online.
How is the block program different from the rotational program at Eagleridge?
The rotational program was the design originated in 1996, with
input from our homeschooling parents. In this Wednesday or
Friday, 8:30-3:30 program, we have grade-level grouped the
students. Students rotate through a series of classes that
provide wonderful, creative curriculum that is sometimes
difficult to offer in the homeschool setting. Students take a
hands-on art class where they learn to create art in a variety of
media. They work with musical instruments, and learn rhythm, and
many other fun musical concepts in a music class. In our
composition class, students enter creative writing contests, read
literature, and practice punctuation and grammar skills. Our
laboratory science class offers hands-on science, using our
nationally recognized Mesa Public Schools hands-on science kits.
We provide P.E. so that students can learn games and play with
other homeschoolers. Our computer science class enables students
to work with the latest technology, learning word processing, and
even web design at the higher grade levels. We highly recommend
this program!
Our block program was designed to offer students
and their parents choices in specialized enrichment classes.
Students can take everything from chess, to drama and much
more. Students may participate in the one-day per week program on
Monday, or the two-day per week program on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. Classes change, and students must re-register, at
semester.
Do students receive grades for classes taken at Eagleridge?
No, Eagleridge is an enrichment program. Students are not
evaluated in the enrichment classes; however, parents are welcome
to fill out a Teacher-Parent Contact Form, if they wish to talk
to one of the teachers about their child’s progress.
Do students who attend Eagleridge have to take the AIMS or Stanford Tests?
Yes, once a student is enrolled, even for one day per week, at
Eagleridge, he/she is a part-time public school student. All
public school students are required to take the AIMS in grades
3rd-8th grades, and the Stanford 10 in grades 2nd and 9th grades.
These tests are administered in April over a two-week period.
Can students enroll for more than two days per week?
Yes, but we advise parents that they are the primary educators of
their children. Parents should take a good look at the state
standards (www.ade.state.az.us/standards/contentstandards.asp).
Parents should plan to spend a set amount of time weekly to teach
basic skills to students. We believe that parents know what’s
best in this situation, but we do not recommend that students
spend more than 3 days per week at Eagleridge because more days
away from home may not leave enough time for basic skills
studies.
Do the kindergarten, first and second graders rotate through classes and teachers?
No, our primary students work with one teacher, in a self-
contained classroom. However, they do go to a specialist for P.E.
and music, and their regular classroom teacher takes them to the
computer class for computers.
Can students younger than 5 years of age enroll at Eagleridge?
Students must be 5 by December 31st in order to enroll. Students
who turn 5 between September 1st and December 31st can be tested
for early enrollment, but parents need to be aware that
Eagleridge does not provide pre-school services.
Is it okay for students to attend sometimes, but not every week?
Eagleridge is a standards-based program where students learn
skills that build from week to week. It is difficult for students
who have missed classes to catch up. Eagleridge is not a day-care
service, and parents should be aware that certified teachers are
providing students with instruction in a publicly funded
facility. This means that the program is one that should be taken
seriously, and parents should make every effort to have their
children attend the classes for which they are registered.
Are Eagleridge teachers certified?
Yes, Eagleridge provides state- or board-certified teachers for
all classes.
What precautions are taken to keep students safe at Eagleridge?
Eagleridge’s classroom doors are kept locked during the school
day. Parents who visit must stop by the office to sign in and
pick up a visitor’s badge. The primary playground is gated and playground aides are on duty during the lunch time. Students who
come to the office are sent in pairs. Teachers take attendance
each period so that all students are accounted for. In
addition, Eagleridge has a full-time health assistant and part-
time nurse on staff.
Can parents observe in the classrooms?
Certainly! We love to have parents visit and even volunteer to
assist in the classroom. Please sign in at the office before
going to our classrooms or the playground.
Can parents donate ECA tax dollars to Eagleridge?
Yes! We use ECA monies to fund our many field trips. Two-parent
households can donate up to $400 this year and since it is a tax
credit, this money will be refunded in your tax return or
directly applied to taxes you owe.
Does Eagleridge provide field trips for students?
Yes, Eagleridge students have many opportunities to go on theater
trips, science trips, and a variety of other types of fun and
educational field trips.