Welcome Messages
Welcome from Grant Beckwith, Head of School
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU BACK AGAIN!
Many things will be new this year when you return, including new classrooms, new programs, and new faces. But the most important things at AHS haven’t changed. The Book of Mormon teaches us that when we learn by the influence of the Spirit we begin to “enlarge our souls” and “enlighten our understanding” (Alma 32:28). That has been a foundation and a hallmark of AHS teaching and learning every year, and it will continue to be so this year and forever. We trust that you will make many life-long friends here, that you will love your teachers and administrators, that you will enjoy the many opportunities you will have here, and that you will work hard to succeed in your coursework. But most of all, we hope that you will begin to see yourself and each other illuminated by the light of Christ. Each year I spend some of my time at the Salt Lake City campus, but you will still see me here at the American Fork Campus most days, still teaching, still greeting at the door, and still telling you really awesome jokes. I know I say this every year, but it’s more true now than ever: This will be our best year yet!
Sincerely, Grant Beckwith—Head of School
Welcome from Chase Hale, Principal, American Fork campus
WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION DO WE SEEK?
“Education is an important part of Heavenly Father’s plan to help you become more like Him.” – For the Strength of Youth
I am grateful to report that American Heritage’s mission mandate to help students “realize their divine potential” is consistent with the seemingly simple yet profound citation above. Every summer, the school’s faculty reviews, reassesses, and recommits ahead of a coming year that is intended to be a little better than any previous at helping American Heritage students “become more like Him.”
In considering that sentence from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, one word seems to stand out with particular significance: become. Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines that term as the “pass[ing] from one state to another; to enter into some state or condition, by a change from another state or condition, or by assuming or receiving new properties or qualities, additional matter, or a new character…” A synonym of become—and a word with great currency at the school—is transform.
The school has long sought to deliver Transformational Scholarship, adopting that compound term as the middle of its three brand attributes: Christian Character, Transformational Scholarship, Responsible Liberty. American Heritage faculty are passionate about preparing environments, content, and experiences that facilitate the kind of transformation and becoming that our spirits naturally crave.
Are you ready? Are you willing? I invite you to make choices, big and small, today and throughout the school year, that will allow you to experience great joy and transformation this year. I hope this Welcome Guide provides helpful orientation to a coming school year that places Christ at the foundation of all teaching, learning, and becoming. Let’s make this your best year yet!
Sincerely, Chase Hale—Principal
Mission Statement
Seven Principles of Personal and Civil Liberty
Honor Code Commitment for K–12 Students
To view the Honor Code, click here.
Dress and Grooming Commitment for K–12 Students
To view the Dress and Grooming Policy, click here.
Stewardship Commitment for K–12 Students
Technology Commitment for K–12 Students
Faculty Commitment
Uniform & Shopping Guide
Uniform Resale
UNIFORM RESALE will be August 13th from 9:30-11:30 AM in the rec hall of the main building.
- Tables are first come first serve
- Have a sign next to your uniform items with your Venmo
- We trust our school community to be honest with Venmo payments. The school is not responsible for items that go missing when table is left unattended.
New Faculty & Staff
Foundations Training for Faculty and New Parents
Click for Foundations Guide
K–5 Meet Your Teacher & Reading Assessments
K–5 MEET YOUR TEACHER & READING ASSESSMENTS
AUGUST 1–5, 7–13, 2024
This year more than ever, our teachers are excited and ready to meet your child as they become part of the American Heritage School family again, or for the first time.
In order for us to meet your child in a one-on-one setting, and to be prepared to meet the reading needs of each child as the school year begins, each teacher will be individually assessing their students in reading prior to the first day of school. The feedback will inform instruction and help the teacher meet each student at his/her learning threshold from the very first day of school. We will be able to share with you your child’s beginning-of-year reading level as well as the end-of-year goal.
Please sign up for an available time using your Veracross Parent Portal to get access to this spreadsheet: (K-5 Reading Assessment Sign-Up coming soon)
Our preference is for all students to sign up for one of the available times in the summer. However, if the available time slots do not work with your summer plans, you may contact the teacher directly to organize a different time. We look forward to meeting both you and your child.
K-5 STUDENT SUPPLIES
This year teachers are purchasing all student supplies, so there is no need for parents to do so. All supplies will be ready and waiting for your children on the first day of school.
Click for 6-8 STUDENT SUPPLIES
Grades 6–12 Orientation | Textbook Checkout | Meet your Teacher
Click for Grades 6-8 Classroom Supplies
High School Graduation Requirements
K–12 School Maps
K–12 Bell Schedules
Parent Service Organization (PSO)
PARENT SERVICE ORGANIZATION: Get Involved!
Welcome to the Parent Service Organization (PSO) at American Heritage School! The PSO works with teachers and administrators to plan and facilitate parent service opportunities through special events and other experiences that lift and serve students, teachers, and families.
Service is an essential element of our culture here at American Heritage. Every parent is a member of the PSO. It is through service that we come to know our beloved teachers, support our devoted administrators, enhance our students’ educational experiences, and develop lifelong friendships with other parents at the school.
My family and I have been blessed in many ways as my husband and I have served at American Heritage over the years. The special relationships and connections we have created will be cherished forever. We hope that you will also come to feel this sense of community and belonging as you serve this year. I look forward to working together as we take part in this unique opportunity of supporting the school’s mission and building something special together. – Chrissy Sperry, PSO President
To help each household achieve the 30 hours of required service, there are many opportunities throughout the year. We welcome your talents and efforts in accomplishing this requirement. Please see the ideas below for ways to be involved.
Room Parents:
Sign up to serve as a room parent for your child’s class to oversee one of the following:
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Classroom Photography
- Celebrations
- Holiday Celebrations
Annual Events Service Opportunities:
- August: Uniform Resale, New Parent Q&A
- September: Constitution Day, Book Fair
- October: Grandparents Day, Picture Day
- November: Picture Retakes, Christmas Decorating
- December: Teddy Bear Hug Service Project, Christmas Decorations Cleanup
- January: Spelling Bee
- February: Book Fair, Science Fair
- March: Middle School Experiential Learning
- April: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May: Field Day, Elementary Experiential Learning, Shakespeare Week
Ongoing Service Opportunities:
- Pizza Mondays
- Kindergarten Lunchroom Help
- Main Building Lunchroom Help
- Patriot Reading Groups
- Room Parent Support
- High School Dances
- Spirit Wear Sales
- Experiential Learning weeks (let us know if you have specific skills you would like to share with students)
- Field Trip Chaperone
- Faculty Dinners
- Library Help
- Uniform Closet
- At-home Projects
WHERE DO I FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE?
* Look for us in the Center Court of the Legacy Building on August 13th during “Meet Your Teacher” and “Orientation Day”. We will have signup sheets and would love to meet you!
* Join the official PSO announcement GroupMe page for on going service opportunities and other PSO info
* Find all sign ups on the PSO webpage in Veracross
* Watch for PSO quarterly emails
Meet the Library
WELCOME!
We are a K–12 library, serving students and their families. Our library contains family-friendly books for all grade levels. We strive to provide quality literature that invites the Spirit and inspires a love for reading. We acquire library materials through donations as well as from the proceeds of our two semi-annual book fairs held in conjunction with parent teacher conferences. Books are carefully screened for content and age-appropriateness before being placed into circulation.
Students and families are welcome to visit the library before school between 8:10–8:30 a.m. or after school from 3:10–4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3:10–3:30 PM on Fridays. The library is closed during school breaks but is open for limited hours during the summer.
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade have a scheduled weekly library time during which they are invited to check out books. Students and families may view their library accounts and the library catalog on the library’s website, called OPAC. For information on setting up a family library account or logging into your account on the library website, please stop by the library or contact the school librarian, Christy Owens, (cowens@ahsmail.com).
The library also serves as the textbook distribution center of the school. Most textbooks are checked in and out through the library. Textbooks should be returned at the end of the year in the best condition possible. If you have concerns about the condition of the textbook that is issued to your child, please contact the librarian.
Fines will be assessed for damaged or lost library books and textbooks. At the end of the school year, yearbooks will be held until all school and library materials are returned or fines are paid.
Parents are welcome and invited to serve in the school library as part of the 30 hours of required service. We have opportunities to help preview donated materials, shelve books, process new books, as well as assist with textbook checkout and return. If you are interested in serving in the library, please contact Christy Owens. We look forward to serving you!
Homecoming/Constitution Day Festival
Family Dance
4-6 After School Ballroom Classes
6–12 Athletics Fall Tryout Information
TRYOUT DATES
High School
Varsity Baseball: July 29, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Patriot Diamond
Contact: Head Coach Blake Jansen, bjansen@ahsmail.com
Fee: $475
Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country: workouts underway
Contact: Coach Bonner, ybonner@ahsmail.com
Fee: $250
Boys Varsity Golf: Aug. 15 or 16, details TBD. Must bring your own set of clubs to tryouts.
Players should play at least five 18-hole rounds of golf and have an established handicap prior to tryouts.
Contact: Head Coach Rod Morley
Fee: $400
Girls Varsity Soccer: July 30–31, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Parent meeting: August 1, 6 p.m., North Auditorium
Contact: Head Coach Ellie Stafford, e.stafford086@gmail.com
Fee: $475
Girls Varsity/Developmental Tennis: Aug. 5–7, Time TBD, Patriot Tennis Courts
Contact: Head Coach Jeffrey Butler, jbutler@ahsmail.com
Fee: $375
Girls Varsity Volleyball: Aug. 5, 3:30 p.m., Patriot Arena
Contact: Head Coach Kelsie Mendenhall, mendenhall.kelsie@gmail.com
Fee: $450
Middle School
Boys and Girls Middle School Cross Country: workouts underway with high school
Contact: Coach Bonner, ybonner@ahsmail.com
Fee: $200
Boys Middle School Soccer: Sept. 3, 3:30 p.m., AHS Grass Soccer Field
Contact: Head Coach Kofi Bryant, kofibryant11@gmail.com
Fee: $325
Boys Middle School Tennis, Sept. 3, Time TBD, Patriot Tennis Courts
Contact: Head Coach Cassie Thompson, cthompson@ahsmail.com
Fee: $200
For detailed information about registration requirements, physicals, required forms, how to join a team, and more, please visit the Athletics page on the school website.
Heritage Youth Choirs
AUDITIONS
2024–25 LIVE AUDITIONS
PRE-RECORDED AUDITIONS
- Introduce themselves. Name, age, school, hobbies, and other interesting facts.
- Perform a favorite hymn or primary song. Either accompanied or unaccompanied is acceptable.
- Tell why they chose that particular song.
- Sing an ascending scale, beginning with their lowest note up to their highest note.
AUDITION FORM AND PARTICIPATION CONTRACT
Lyceum Youth Orchestras
Our American Fork campus features seven audition-only ensembles and is able to place most students in a performing group that meets the student at the threshold of their learning. Lyceum ensembles are divided by ability, not age, although we do require that students be going into 9th-12th grade for Philharmonic. School ensembles come first! We encourage all students to participate in their school ensembles and ask that all participants practice at home and work with a private teacher. Any absence related to participating in school ensembles is excused including missing Lyceum concerts for your school ensembles.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
Auditions for the 2024-25 season are now open! With our convenient recorded auditions, your cell phone recording of a recent recital or solo performance may be all the audition you need. We ask for roughly five minutes of solo playing for Concert or Philharmonic and 2-4 minutes for other ensembles. The solo should demonstrate the strengths of the player, memorization is preferred, accompaniment is optional. Also submit the student playing a scale of their choosing. The scale should highlight student’s mastery of range and tone. Play the maximum number of octaves possible with good tone. The scale and solo can be in separate videos or together. Percussionists must show proficiency on timpani and mallet instruments.
The preferred method is to upload your cell phone video to YouTube, Google Drive, iPhotos, Dropbox or other file sharing format accessible via a link. Copy those links into the appropriate field on the audition form. You should receive a confirmation email upon submission and expect to hear from us soon regarding placement. Please verify that your video link is accessible for others to view (not private). Questions? Contact us at Lyceum@ahsmail.com.
SUBMIT AUDITION ONLINE
Drama Productions
Improv Troupe Program
IMPROV TROUPE OVERVIEW:
Theatrical Improvisation, more commonly known as “improv,” is a form of theatre that is on the spot, in the moment, and often hilarious, story creation. In this program, we learn the concepts of improv theatre in a collaborative and active style, by practicing and supporting one another in the creative process. Once a semester, we perform in the school’s formal improv show for a live audience. Throughout the whole of the program, we enjoy growing in our skills together, and often experience some of the most enriching and funny moments theatrical scene creation can offer. Most importantly, we explore how these improv concepts apply to our life and God’s plan. He is the best improv player, as our #1 rule in the program states. As we trust in Him, He helps us use our abilities to share His light, enrich the world, and find wholesome fun and joy.
Immunizations
IMMUNIZATIONS
In accordance with Utah Immunization Statutes and Rules, for each of your children to attend school, we are required to have on file a certificate of immunization from a licensed physician or authorized representative of the state or local health department stating that your children have received immunizations against communicable diseases.
A child may be allowed to attend school “conditionally” if at least one dose of each required immunization has been completed and the child is currently on schedule to receive the remaining immunizations. COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend school. Please provide the school with documentation of the scheduled dates for completion. The remaining immunizations must be completed on schedule for the child to remain in attendance.
An appropriate Utah Department of Health Exemption form must be completed for children who claim exemption to immunizations for medical, religious, or personal reasons.
If we do not have a current immunization record by August 14, 2024, your child will not be able to attend school until we have one on file. Please bring all immunization documents to the front Office. If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office at 801-642-0055, ext. 1310, or admissions@ahsmail.com.
Medical Authorization
Grades 6-8 Classroom Supplies
2024–25 Calendar of Days
