Banner Academy

2024 Annual Talent Show

^{Staff and students took a group photo at the end of the show.}

On April 18, 2024, Banner Academy held its second annual talent show to give students the opportunity to showcase their talents and passions across different fields: playing ukulele, making beats, singing (in English or Japanese), dancing, playing the guitar as a soloist or in a duet, and performing as part of a rock band.

Standing up in front of an audience can be a terrifying experience for many, but our students showed their grit, determination, and confidence by giving their all to entertain students, staff, and visiting parents.

We are all so proud of our student performers and for our supportive and engaged audience. It was a great morning all-around!

Enjoy the video highlights from our our show:

Up Close: Meet One of Our Graduating Seniors

Dagny has been a student at the Banner Academy since 6th grade, and next month, she will walk across the stage to thunderous applause from her family and her teachers as she receives her high school diploma. Dagny is a top scholar and teaching assistant at our school, and she is currently weighing her options to study veterinary medicine or special education as she moves forward in her education, career, and life. We look forward to celebrating her and our other 5 seniors as they graduate on May 23, 2024.

Click HERE to read about Dagny, who is featured on the Banner Health website. The link will take you to the article posted on the Newsroom and Media Resource page of the corporate site.

^{Dagny, Class of 2024 (Image borrowed from https://www.bannerhealth.com/newsroom/press-releases/banner-academy-recognizes-autism-awareness-month}

Banner Academy Students and Staff Experience the Solar Eclipse 🌒

Banner Academy students were very excited to witness a rare solar eclipse that occurred on April 8, 2024. To prepare for this momentous event, science teachers worked with students to give them a safe way to view the eclipse.

Students created pinhole projectors in science class. Traditionally, a pinhole projector consists of a single pinhole created through a piece of paper and a second solid paper or surface on which an image of the sun is created when light passes through the pinhole.

Specifically, pinhole projectors are a series of pinholes resulting in a creative image. As the eclipse occurred, the projected image showed the progression of the moon across the sun. Projected images were a series of crescent shapes rather than a series of circles due to the moon blocking the sun’s rays.

In addition to viewing the eclipse using a pinhole projector, every student had the opportunity to view the eclipse through specialized eclipse glasses.

It was a great experience for students and staff to be part of this rare solar eclipse. Thank you to the Science teachers for giving everyone at the school the opportunity to safely witness this event, which won’t occur again until 2044.

Grammy Award Winner Zuill Bailey Visits Banner Academy

On March 14, 2024, Zuill Bailey, three-time Grammy winning cellist and Mesa Arts Center Curator of Classical Music, spoke to and played for a captive audience of students and staff at Banner Academy. He talked nostalgically about his early start in music, as well as his cello’s and bow’s incredible histories. Then, he honored the audience by playing Dvorak’s “Silent Woods.”

According to Bailey, he received his first cello at the age of four, and from there, his passion blossomed. Eventually, he gained recognition not only for his obvious talent, but also by playing renowned instruments for affluent buyers of historical instruments. One potential buyer was so moved by Bailey’s playing that he purchased a priceless 1693 “rosette” Matteo Goffriller cello for Bailey to keep and play. According to Bailey, the cello “is worthy of being in the MIM” or Musical Instruments Museum, in Phoenix. The Banner Academy audience audibly gasped when he unveiled the cello from its protective case, along with his bow that existed during the time of Johann Sebastian Bach.

During his hour-long visit with staff and students, he answered a number of student questions, which ranged from how he tunes his cello, to the science of breathing while playing the instrument, to difficulties faced during the Covid era, to his Grammy Awards experience.

Bailey explained to the Banner Academy audience that he won his Grammy Awards in the following three categories in 2016: Classical Instrumental Solo, Contemporary Classical Composition, and Best Classical Compendium.

Born in Woodbridge, VA, Bailey eventually moved to and currently resides in El Paso, TX, where he is a Professor of Cello. He balances his time as a professor with worldwide performances and directorships across the United States, according to his management company’s webpage, https://colbertartists.com/artists/zuill-bailey/.

Thank you, Zuill Bailey, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit Banner Academy. No one will forget this special experience with you.

^{Bailey at the 66th Grammy Awards}

^{(Photo Credit: https://www.grammy.com/artists/zuill-bailey/19556)}

Congratulations to Our Early Graduating Seniors!

Lena and Javon completed their senior year coursework at the end of the first semester of this school year. We are so proud of you both, and we will see you on May 23, 2024, to celebrate you as you walk across the graduation stage at the EVIT auditorium in your caps and gowns! 🎓

Western Day 2024 🤠

Local farriers came to Banner Academy for our annual Western Day. Students learned how to put shoes on a live horse and to try their hand at blacksmithing. 🐴

Our visiting farriers, pictured above from left to right, are Dan, Mike, Aiden, and Justice. The beautiful 20-year-old horse named Char, who belongs to Aiden, is playing coy behind our guests during the photo op.

It was an exceptional day for students to engage in this hands-on activity while having fun learning the process of shoeing a horse.

Banner Academy’s New Music Therapy Program

Banner Academy received new musical instruments from a grant funded by the Banner Foundation. Thanks to this generous grant, we have welcomed Emily Bruso, MM, MT-BC, NMT, who is experienced in leading people of all ages and backgrounds into high-quality therapeutic musical experiences. As a board certified music therapist and music educator, she provides a person-centered approach utilizing neurologic and improvisatory techniques. She is driven by the belief that interactions with music have boundless therapeutic potential to make lasting improvements in people’s lives. 🎶

^{_{Above: Emily teaches a student to play drums.}}

The music therapy program at Banner Academy blends the models of instrumental music education with group-oriented instrumental music therapy.

Students have the option to join one of the many groups that take place during the Thursday music sessions. Currently, the school’s music therapy program offers group ukulele, guitar, and beat making classes, as well as two rock bands. These weekly groups are a mixed group of ages and musical abilities with specific group goals and individual goals which direct the musical and social interactions that take place in class. 

Emily visits the school every Thursday, and it has become a day that the students look forward to every week. They have a blast as they work collaboratively on jam session with Emily using the app Launchpad.

Celebrating Veteran’s Day and Our Very Own Social Studies Teacher

Students created bunting flags for Veterans Day. The students, along with Mrs. Judy and Mrs. Theresa, dedicated the flags to Mr. Pete who served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Mr. Pete discussed his experiences in the Army as well as in Germany. 

Staff and students extend a heartfelt thanks to Mr. Pete and all veterans for their patriotism and dedication. 🇺🇸

Transitions Class: Learning Real-World Skills

In Fall 2023, Banner Academy offered seniors an elective to help them as they transition from high school to the real world. The skills taught, practiced, and mastered in the Transitions Elective class will undoubtedly help them in the adult world. 🧰

^{Students in the Transitions class learned about electricity and sockets.} 

^{The students learned to saw, measure, and stain the wood plaques for the classrooms pencil sharpeners.}

The Art Elective: Imagine. Draw. Paint. Create!

Students used their artistic skills and fall colors to make leaf art, just one of the many creative arts projects that they completed during the semester-long elective. 🖼️

Art students also visited the ASU Art Museum and participated in hands-on art activities, like painting. 

Recreation and Enrichment Elective: Building Critical Skills for Inside and Outside of the Classroom

Recreation and Enrichment is another semester-long elective course offered this year at Banner Academy. Students in Recreation and Enrichment spent time building their academic and social skills, especially designed towards group activities to build confidence. For example, they learned how to use the more advanced features in the MS Office Suite of products, as well as to incorporate linked hotspots into Canva. They also practiced presenting their work to their teachers and peers and engaged in collaborative projects that are oftentimes difficult for them.

Students participated in teacher-led activities, but also had the opportunity to enjoy a quiet activity of their choosing every week. 🤗

^{Above: Students collaboratively use building blocks and work individually on tape painting activities.}

Halloween Parade of Costumes!

Thank you, Trish, for organizing our students’ very imaginative and fun Halloween Parade. All students who participated in the costume parade are pictured below. 🎃

We also give Trish special kudos for her awesome Lego creations to celebrate Halloween.

Guest Speaker – Local YA Author David Gordon

David Gordon, an independent writer living in Tempe, AZ, wrote his first series called The Jigsaw Series: Beginnings, Warheads, and Full Circle for young adult (YA) readers. Mr. Gordon is a former public high school history teacher and founder and chancellor of the Global Renaissance Academy and DBA Grand Canyon College Preparatory Academy. He is currently a freelance journalist for “Blog for Arizona” and writes historical fiction and science fiction for young adult readers. He visited Banner Academy to donate signed copies of his series to our students, and also donated generously to our English classroom library collection. Thank you, Mr. Gordon! 📚

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

On the evening of May 25, 2023, Banner Academy celebrated its graduating class.

Principal Judy Subaitis and Banner Behavior Health Hospital (BBHH) CEO Bill Southwick hosted the evening and provided the commencement address, respectively. Graduating students, staff, friends, and family members shed tears and shared laughs throughout intimate and moving celebration of our seven seniors, Devin, Dustin, Gwen, Jaden, Marie, Nakota, and Tyler.

The graduation was held at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), which served as the perfect backdrop to our joyous evening. We congratulate our seniors and wish them the best of luck as they move into the next phase of their lives.

Bill Southwick giving the commencement speech

Principal Judy and Tyler

---

Welcome to High School!

Banner Academy’s current 8th graders received special acknowledgment on May 24, 2023 as they were promoted to high school during a lunch time ceremony. The new 9th graders for the upcoming school year are Aiden, Cari, Jackson, Johnny, Malachi, and Mischa. Welcome to high school!