ATTENTION RISING NINTH GRADERS!

Launch your future with 糖心Vlog鈥檚 new virtual early college high school.

This new fully-virtual early college pathway through Arlington College and Career High School is for incoming freshmen who want a virtual high school experience with early college opportunities. It鈥檚 ideal for motivated incoming ninth graders who want to jumpstart their college education in a structured, highly interactive online environment.

And it's not too late to get in!听 The new program is open to motivated students in 糖心Vlog and surrounding communities!

THE EXPERIENCE

Hosted through Arlington College and Career High School (ACCHS), this pathway features fully synchronous (live) instruction taught by ACCHS teachers. Students collaborate with their teachers and peers in real time.

Students embark on a clear academic crosswalk designed to earn them a high school diploma alongside tuition-free college hours or an associate degree from Tarrant County College.

KEY FEATURE

The innovative program provides the structure of a traditional school day combined with the innovation of a virtual classroom, complete with dedicated early college counselors and specialized support to help every student succeed.

While all coursework will be online, students may participate in campus events and school activities sponsored by ACCHS.

READY TO LAUNCH YOUR FUTURE?

Spaces for this innovative pathway are limited. Don't miss the chance to get a head start on your college and career.

Learn more and apply today!

Flexible Virtual Program for Juniors and Seniors

If you're already in high school, we have new virtual course options for you, too. This program is perfect for high school juniors and seniors who need more schedule flexibility but still want a vibrant, traditional campus lifestyle. Students can take up to two virtual courses and fit them into their own schedule.

The program blends asynchronous (self-paced) online learning in up to two virtual classes each semester with traditional, on-campus courses. Available virtual courses focus on junior and senior requirements like English III, English IV, Government, Economics, and Precalculus.

AOL offers two programs

糖心Vlog Online Learning has arrived, and it might be the perfect option for your student.

AOL offers FREE flexible, high-quality virtual learning options, with two pathways for high school students:

1)听 听 听 听 Flexible virtual courses for juniors and seniors

2)听 听 听 听 Virtual Early College High School for incoming freshmen

Flexible Virtual Program for Juniors and Seniors

This program is perfect for high school juniors and seniors who need more schedule flexibility but still want a vibrant, traditional campus lifestyle. Students can take up to two virtual courses and fit them into their own schedule.

The program blends asynchronous (self-paced) online learning in up to two virtual classes each semester with traditional, on-campus courses. Available virtual courses focus on junior and senior requirements like English III, English IV, Government, Economics, and Precalculus.

Virtual Early College Pathway

This new fully-virtual early college pathway through Arlington College and Career High School is for incoming freshmen who want a 100% virtual high school experience with early college opportunities. It鈥檚 ideal for motivated incoming ninth graders ready to jumpstart their college education in a structured, highly-interactive online environment.

The innovative program provides the structure of a traditional school day combined with the innovation of a virtual classroom, complete with dedicated early college counselors and specialized support to help every student succeed.

While all coursework will be online, students may participate in campus events and school activities sponsored by ACCHS.

Calling All 糖心Vlog fourth-9th graders

Looking for a fun, FREE way to spend the summer?

Join us at 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Camp Innovation, a week-long camp in June where students dive into coding, robotics, and all things tech!

Camp Innovation exposes students to a variety of innovative technologies and learning experiences, designed to:

• Build foundational knowledge and skills for computer science readiness
• Develop the thinking and problem-solving processes required for coding
• Provide hands-on opportunities to develop coding skills
• Participate in enrichment opportunities with technology that emphasizes communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.

The opportunity to learn coding skills at Camp Innovation can set campers up for success long after camp ends. Teaching kids how to code is one of the best ways to prepare them for the future. Coding helps kids develop academic skills, build qualities like perseverance and organization, and gain valuable 21st-century skills that can even translate into a career. (.)

But Camp Innovation offers even more than that.

"Camp Innovation offers great coding opportunities, but it鈥檚 true value lies in four days of collaborative problem-solving,鈥� said Steve Simpson, 糖心Vlog Director of Technology Integration and Innovation. 鈥淩egardless of their future careers, it鈥檚 the communication, iteration, and teamwork required here that sets students up for success."

There are so many reasons you don't want to miss Camp Innovation. Here are just a few more:

• It's completely FREE
• Learn awesome new skills
• Make new friends
• Enjoy fun snacks like snow cones
• Camp is at the 糖心Vlog Career and Technical Center with free bus rides from your school!

Registration opens on March 1, and spots are limited. Visit for details and the registration link on March 1.

Camp Innovation welcomes 900+ students

Summer break might be a time to relax 鈥� but at 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Camp Innovation, it鈥檚 also a time to explore, get hands-on and try something completely new.听

Back for another exciting year, Camp Innovation 2025 gave rising fifth through tenth graders across the district a chance to dive into all kinds of real-world learning. And we鈥檙e not talking about worksheets. Think robots, drones and coding.听

Hosted at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center (CTC), the camp transforms high-tech classrooms into creative labs where students explore future-focused career fields in a hands-on, exciting way.听

What started as a small summer pilot with just 125 students eight years ago has grown into a major event 鈥� welcoming over 900 students this year from across 糖心Vlog.

鈥淢y favorite part is kids getting opportunities that they don鈥檛 get to have during the school year,鈥� said Susan Anderson, 糖心Vlog technology integration specialist. 鈥淲e hire the most creative and the best teachers. They can do some amazing things with the kids.鈥�听

That vision has paid off. Over the past few years, Camp Innovation has grown not only in numbers but in impact 鈥� offering experiences students say they鈥檒l never forget.听

鈥淚 have never flown a drone before,鈥� said Anna Sanchez, an incoming seventh grader from Bailey Junior High and a returning camper. 鈥淏ut we completed almost all our challenges. I got to try new things.鈥�听

And that鈥檚 exactly the point. The camp is built around exposure 鈥� giving students the chance to explore new tools and subjects they don鈥檛 always see in a typical school day.听

鈥淲e knew programming and robotics was not something they got to focus on in school,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淪o, our department wanted to create something where they could.鈥�听

But the camp isn鈥檛 just about technology 鈥� it鈥檚 also a fun way to connect with new peers.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 fun meeting people who don鈥檛 have the same experiences as you,鈥� Sanchez added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to work with people creatively. We get to do trial and error. It challenges you and it鈥檚 fun.鈥�听

First-time campers like Sarah West, an incoming seventh grader at Boles Junior High, were especially drawn to the tech.

鈥淢y favorite part is the ,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really like how you get to control it, but it still has its own personality.鈥�听

Even the tougher parts of camp left a big impression.听

鈥淭he Spike Prime class is definitely a challenge,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work and puts your brain to the max. It鈥檚 so fun!鈥�听

In a week packed with creativity, connection and discovery, Camp Innovation gave students much more than something to do over the summer.

But it doesn鈥檛 stop at Camp Innovation. 糖心Vlog offers future-focused learning throughout the year starting as early as pre-K, with specialized STEM-focused programs designed to nurture curiosity from the very beginning. By the time students reach junior high and high school, opportunities like those at the CTC open the door to real-world experiences in robotics, engineering, culinary arts, health science and more.听

These kinds of experiences are available to every student in 糖心Vlog. If you want your student to be part of it, now is the time. Enrollment is open and transfer applications are being accepted until July 17. Visit here for transfers details and the application. It鈥檚 never too early to start building their future.听

CTAC Academy

In preparation for the 2022-23 school year, 糖心Vlogs technology integration and innovation (TI虏) department is hosting a summer academy for the campus technology advisory committee (CTAC).

The objective of the academy is to equip teachers, librarians, instructional coaches, deans etc. with proper tools that make teaching students materials for the and STAAR exams simpler to comprehend and complete.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to speak with CTAC members about campus goals and how technology can be used purposely in classrooms and libraries,鈥� said Steve Simpson, the director of TI虏. 鈥淲e want our CTAC members to be the most skilled and knowledgeable educators because they serve as a model for their colleagues and can be a strong support system.鈥�

Teachers can learn too

For the TI虏 department, having CTAC members back in person for hands-on training was a breath of fresh air. Seeing their colleagues and having a space to share new ideas and techniques has been something they have looked forward to for the past two years.

For technology integration specialists Stephen Hayes, Lori Heaton, Susan Anderson and Levianne Mirabelli, each session and its area of focus has something unique to bring to the committee. Tools such as Edpuzzle, Canva, genially and learning.com allow the teachers and students to express their creativity.

The tools

The Edpuzzle platform taught by Hayes allows teachers to use interactive videos to ask questions or add notes to a video for students to answer and track their progress.

Canva, which is taught by Heaton, is a tool that assists in graphic design. Teachers can make posters, flyers, brochures, infographics, newsletters etc. The possibilities are endless, but what makes this platform one of the best to use in education is its versatility and capabilities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a great tool for teachers and students to use and create and collaborate,鈥� said Heaton. 鈥淗aving multiple collaborators on one project is amazing and seeing what the students have learned on the platform makes it so much fun.鈥�

Learning.com is also a huge hit with the committee as the platform aligns directly with TEKS technology. One of the problems TI虏 and teachers have discovered is that students struggle with taking the STAAR test because it is now completely online. Navigating the test has been an issue and typing answers for the exam is also an obstacle. Well, platforms such as learning.com helps students familiarize themselves with taking tests online.

鈥淚t鈥檚 our technology textbook,鈥� said Mirabelli. 鈥淣ow that the STAAR test is online and students have to navigate the system and type their answers, this tool is great in preparing our students ahead of time for the exam. In turn they feel comfortable on the test and can be successful.鈥�

Learn more

To learn more about the TI虏 department, visit their page and check out the tools along with other great tools that will help your student throughout their academic career.

Competition builds common ground

The moment couldn鈥檛 have gotten any more intense.

糖心Vlog superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos was laser-focused. So was Arlington Police Department Chief Al Jones, as the two men battled it out in front of a small crowd this past Saturday afternoon.

Well, not in reality, that is.

At Game Up 5-0鈥檚 first-ever gaming tournament, held at (ESA), the two area leaders controlled multiple characters to kick and slam each other around within the arcade game Marvel vs. Capcom.

And Lamar High School junior Jesus Luna couldn鈥檛 help but join in on their fun. While balancing a hot dog in hand, the 17-year-old walked back-and-forth between Cavazos and Jones to give each one tips on how to defeat the other until the time ran out.

鈥淚 gave myself a victory,鈥� Cavazos quipped, while raising his arms in celebration, as a group of officers and 糖心Vlog students relished in the moment.

鈥淵ou were a good teacher, buddy!鈥� Bowie principal and event organizer Reny Lizardo instantly shouted to Luna.

So what exactly was the teen鈥檚 advice?

鈥淚 just told them to button mash,鈥� Luna said, suggesting that the men鈥檚 busy schedules likely made them gaming novices. Therefore, randomly clicking to execute their attacks was the way to go, he said.

Luna was among more than 100 糖心Vlog high school students and about 30 officers who participated in the free event at the stadium, located in Arlington鈥檚 entertainment district. With blaring hip-hop music keeping the energy high, it was a gamer鈥檚 paradise.

Most of the action took place in a large room decked out with peg artwork of classic characters from games like Mike Tyson鈥檚 Punch-Out and The Legend of Zelda. Donning masks and headphones, the participants sat in comfy gaming chairs while indulging in Street Fighter, Call of Duty, Valorant and many other games.

Like his peers, Luna was excited 鈥� shocked, even 鈥� to see the police officers join them for seven hours of video gaming. Throughout the day, the officers banded together against the youths in four wildly popular games: League of Legends, Madden NFL 21, Fortnite and Super Smash Bros. (Luna鈥檚 personal favorite). Winners received prizes including one-month passes to the Esports Stadium.

Crime Prevention Sgt. Vincent Pewitt helped spearhead the initiative through the department鈥檚 mentoring program, Coach 5-0. A 24-year officer, he鈥檚 recognized a deep divide between community members and the police. The event was designed to help local youths and APD officers find common ground, he said.

鈥淲e know that a lot of students don鈥檛 play basketball, don鈥檛 play football,鈥� Pewitt said. 鈥淏ut we have students who play games. This is a sport, it is just different.鈥�

Pewitt further explained that the program came into fruition a few months ago after several dozen APD policemen shared that they were also extreme gamers. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know there was a big interest (among the officers),鈥� Pewitt said. 鈥淭hat was great for us.鈥�

听The event was right up Joshua Loesel鈥檚 alley. The APD officer of five years said gaming profoundly impacted his life when he grew up in an impoverished, single-parent home in Killeen. It was a positive outlet throughout his middle school and high school days, he said.

Today, the officer has nearly 400 video games. It is a stress-reliever after a hard day鈥檚 work of patrolling the streets 鈥� particularly because of the creative, detailed character storylines often found in the games, he said.

Loesel, 28, hates the stigma that gaming is a mindless, destructive activity. 鈥淧eople need to separate reality from fiction. It鈥檚 been statistically-proven that video games do not make you violent,鈥� he said.

During the event, Chief Jones emphatically charged Loesel and other officers to 鈥済o to town鈥� on the students. But the teens remained ready 鈥� especially Trayn Kearns, a junior at Venture High School and longtime lover of Minecraft.

鈥淟et鈥檚 get it. Woo-hoo!鈥� Kearns yelled as she sat down and strapped on her headset before facing off against officers in League of Legends.

Just prior, the 17-year-old candidly 鈥渆ducated鈥� district resource officer Rebecca Martin on voice-over recording for animated characters 鈥� a profession that Kearns hopes to enter in the near future. She said watching officers play video games was 鈥渁 very interesting concept.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 not something really that I would put two and two together,鈥� Kearns said.

The gaming tournament did more than provide entertainment, however. Chino Lee, ESA鈥檚 chief revenue officer, said the event helped bring younger guests back to the state-of-the-art facility since the COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down.

Natalie Houghton, director of annual giving for Cook Children鈥檚 Health Foundation 鈥� one of the tournament鈥檚 many sponsors 鈥� was thrilled to attend the event. From her booth, Houghton shared information about her organization鈥檚 gaming marathon called 鈥淓xtra Life.鈥� It brings thousands of gamers together to raise funds and awareness in support of local Children鈥檚 Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $50 million for local children鈥檚 hospitals.

鈥淪o, basically, it鈥檚 play games 鈥� heal kids,鈥� Houghton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a direct impact to our patients because it鈥檚 benefitting those areas that help them still be kids and still have fun.鈥�

Houghton said Extra Life participants can include their involvement with the charity on their college applications and also receive volunteer hours. This falls right in line with Lizardo鈥檚 vision. The Bowie principal and event organizer is writing a dissertation on esports and hopes the initiative will lead to possible futures in gaming for the teens.

Pewitt hopes that police departments from cities throughout the Metroplex would start their own programs that would bring their school districts鈥� students to Arlington to compete in gaming. He feels that Esports Stadium is the perfect venue because of its central location, and that APD鈥檚 first event was a success.

鈥淪eeing officers talking and communicating with the students, learning from each other and having fun, it was a win-win for everyone,鈥� Pewitt said.听