Glendale Union High School District
Students’ artwork will take spotlight online
The talent and creativity of students will be on display at the Glendale Union High School District’s upcoming virtual Student Art Show on Monday, May 3.
The virtual event will feature paintings, sculptures and photographs. Judges will choose several pieces of artwork for awards. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/GUHSDAZ or www.guhsdaz.org.
WHS students to compete in Educators Rising event
Several Washington High School students with a passion for education will be competing in a national virtual conference in June.
Students who won awards at the state level and will attend the virtual Educators Rising National Conference include state champions Citlali Lopez for Children’s Literature Pre-K, Lisette Garcia for Lesson Plan and Delivery in Arts, and Bianca Luna and Marianne Martinez Diaz for Researching Learning Challenges; second-place students Garcia, Vanessa Bailon Barrera and Adelen Bowen for Ethical Dilemma; and third-place students Diana Ortega for Creative Lecture and Karen Gonzalez Suchet for Children’s Pre-K Literature.
EdRising Arizona offers students opportunities to use what they learn in their Early Childhood Education and Education Professions classes and apply them in scenario-based, relevant competitions at the annual State Leadership Conference.
Boys basketball team wins state championship
The boys basketball team at Sunnyslope High School is basking in the glory of becoming state champions. This team beat Mountain Pointe High School in a 63-62 game to win the 6A boys basketball championship at Mesquite High School this spring.
Washington High earns gold ranking for arts
Arts are thriving at Washington High School, demonstrated by the campus’ recent Gold rating in the Arizona Exemplary Arts Schools Awards.
There were 28 schools that received a Gold rating out of 1,542 schools evaluated. Schools were ranked on their access to arts, participation in arts and growth of arts programs. The gold-rated schools provide four artistic disciplines: art, music, theater and dance, enrolled at least 60 percent of their student population in an arts class and increased enrollment in all programs.
Madison Elementary School District
Summer program provides academic intervention
Students can participate in Summer Academic Intervention in the Madison Elementary School District from June 21 to July 22.
The program, which addresses identified learning gaps and offers learning opportunities over the summer, will be provided four hours a day Mondays through Thursdays at centralized locations. Lessons will focus on English Language Arts and math.
The district also has been exploring the possibility of delivering online tutoring for students. To learn more, visit www.madisonaz.org.
Madison Rose Lane shines with state arts distinction
Madison Rose Lane Elementary School has received a Gold Designation from the Round Table Advisory Committee for AZ Arts Education’s Exemplary Arts School Program. The program was created as a way to distinguish schools in the state that offer excellent arts education programs by providing access to many artistic disciplines. Schools also receive this award for demonstrating robust student participation in programs and efforts to grow arts enrollment.
Arizona schools were designated as developing, bronze, silver or gold for the 2019-20 academic year, based on that criteria and utilizing the Arizona Arts Education Data Project standards.
Amanda Cowen and her fourth-grade class raised $400 recently towards Madison Rose Lane Elementary School’s fundraiser in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (photo courtesy of Madison Elementary School District).
Rose Lane fundraiser helps cancer organization
A Madison Rose Lane Elementary School fourth-grade teacher and her class are showing their hearts for helping others.
Amanda Cowen and her fourth-grade students raised $400 towards Madison Rose Lane’s fundraiser in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Rose Lane teachers and students took in a total of $3,000 for this organization.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds research for all types of blood cancers and advocates on behalf of blood cancer patients and their families to try to prompt lawmakers to adopt policies that tackle the serious burdens of these diseases. To learn more, visit www.lls.org.
Second-grader gets a look at school board work
A second-grade student at Madison Simis Elementary School had a chance to show off his ambition and enthusiasm for education.
Levi Powers recently provided the Madison Elementary School District governing board a report on what is happening at his school and said he was excited to be back learning in-person. He said he is enjoying physical education classes and basketball.
Levi, who wants to be a superintendent someday, had the chance to sit next to Madison district Superintendent Kenneth Baca and watch the system that board members use to vote. He also was asked to adjourn the meeting.
Levi Powers, a second-grade student at Madison Simis, recently attended a district governing board meeting and had a chance to sit next to Superintendent Kenneth Baca. Levi wants to be a superintendent someday (photo courtesy of the Madison Elementary School District).
Osborn Elementary School District
District prepares specialized programs
The Osborn Elementary School District is making plans for its Dual Language and Montessori preschool programs.
The Montessori program had a limited online component in the first quarter of this school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was fully put on hold so it can completely open in a robust program in the next school year. This Arizona Department of Education-certified program is offered at Montecito Community School and features individualized learning, brain-based strategies and practical life skills. While there is tuition for the preschool program, it is tuition-free for students starting at 5 years old (kindergarten age). The program is building to eighth grade.
The district’s Spanish Dual Language program aims to help children become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural. Teachers have provided whole group and small group instruction in English and Spanish since the pandemic began, as well as provided students access to supplemental programs and digital books in both languages. It is delivered at Encanto, Longview and Solano elementary schools.
To learn more, visit www.osbornnet.org.
Non-profit donates books in honor of cycling activist
The Osborn School District Educational Foundation (OSDEF) recently purchased and donated sets of books named “The Radtke Collection” to all the schools in the district. These books honor former Osborn governing board member Maxine Radtke’s long, distinguished service from 1990 to 2020. She focused on improving student achievement and wanted every child to become a life-long, effective reader.
Because Radtke was a role model for boosting health and fitness, as well as protecting the environment, which she demonstrated by riding her bicycle everywhere, the books focus on bikes and their impact on the environment.
Kindergarten through sixth-grade schools each received five picture books while Osborn Middle School was given two challenging books for bike lovers on the history of cycling. Each book has a book-plate honoring Radtke’s work, designed and printed by Core Construction.
Children will be able to check out the books at each school.
Phoenix Union High School District
District offers in-person, virtual summer classes
Students in the Phoenix Union High School District will have a chance to get a jump-start on learning and stay busy over the summer both in-person and virtually.
The district’s summer school will take place in the mornings and afternoons May 24 to June 24. There will be classes on site Mondays through Thursdays while students who choose online/virtual courses will check in weekly through TEAMS. Students can schedule on-site academic help during the designated class period. Assessments will be taken in person during scheduled class periods.
Youths also can enroll in student workshops, which are non-credit offerings, Mondays through Thursdays on site. Students have to show up on time and stay on campus for the whole planned period each day.
For details, visit www.pxu.org/summerschool or email summerschool@phoenixunion.org or call 602-764-0020.
‘Nerdcore Rapper’ chats with Coding Academy seniors
Phoenix Coding Academy seniors recently met virtually with Raheem Jarbo, an American “Nerdcore Rapper,” DJ and record producer known as Mega Ran, who talked with them about leaving a positive legacy.
These talks coincided with seniors’ final project on what “legacy” means to them. An Arizona resident, Mega Ran is an influencer on gaming and hip hop, who recently published a book, “Dream Master.” A former teacher, he also holds a Guinness Book of World Records title for having the most songs about video games.
Students dance their way back onto campuses
Students around the Phoenix Union High School District are staying on their toes and bringing their love of movement to the community.
Dance teachers around the district recently created a video showing students from the various schools dancing on a football field, in classrooms and other areas of campuses wearing face masks. After a year of online/virtual learning, dance teachers were excited for students to return to their studios for in-person learning.
You can watch the video at www.smore.com/89pa7.
Washington Elementary School District
Summer programs to engage students
The Washington Elementary School District will offer a number of summer programs, including 32 morning programs at 24 locations for eligible students.
The Summer Academy programs will be held June 1-24. More information on these programs will be provided at www.wesdschools.org.
KidSpace Summer Camp will run from May 26 to July 31. The KidSpace Summer Camp will be provided at Lookout Mountain Elementary School at 15 W. Coral Gables Drive and at Sunburst Elementary School.
Obtain registration forms for KidSpace Summer Camp by contacting Aimee Adams at Aimee.Adams@wesdschools.org. If you have other questions, contact Keri Moore at 602-896-6971 or through Keri.Moore@wesdschools.org.
The KidSpace Summer Camp will not be provided on Memorial Day, May 31, on July 5 due to Independence Day on July 4; and the week of Aug. 2-6.
Private And Charter Schools
Brophy soccer scores state championship title
Brophy College Preparatory’s soccer team is the Division I boys state champions for the third consecutive year. It is Brophy’s 10th state title in program history.
The Broncos entered the playoffs with only one regular-season loss, sweeping their early competition and ultimately meeting the San Luis Sidewinders in the title game.
In other sports news, Brophy basketball headed into the playoffs seeded in the top eight for the fifth year in a row. The Broncos made it to the semifinals — the final four, then lost to Sunnyslope, which went on to win the Division 1 title.
Brophy’s wrestling team put two Broncos on the podium at the state meet – sophomore David Sweetman, who finished in third place and freshman Ty Trickle, who finished fourth at state.
Xavier soccer team scores state championship
Xavier College Preparatory scored its 11th girls soccer state title in the 6A conference state championship.
The team won the state title after beating Scottsdale Chaparral, 2-0 recently at Campo Verde High School. This was the 15th time the Gators soccer team has competed at a state championship. Xavier’s climb to the top came from the semi-final game that ESPN featured. Bella Leonard, a sophomore, kicked the winning 41-yard goal with just three seconds left in the game.
Xavier’s soccer team is in good company as the school’s golf and five-person stunt teams also became state champions this year. The soccer team’s victory marks Xavier’s 143rd state championship in Arizona.
Phoenix Christian back into swing of things
Phoenix Christian Preparatory School students are embracing the rituals of the last days of school in person after the COVID-19 pandemic caused schools to shut down for in-person learning and many sports and other extracurricular activities for most of the previous year.
The month of May saw the return of regular seasons of softball, baseball, track and field, as well as men’s volleyball, middle school basketball and golf.
From athletics to academics, students also were able to take their College Board Advanced Placement final exams and complete dual enrollment (college and high school) classes covering U.S. History, calculus, Spanish and literature.
Phoenix Christian seniors also will be able to participate in the school’s commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on May 28 at Bethany Bible Church at 6060 N. Seventh Ave. Of the 38 graduating seniors, nearly half will be the first-generation college-bound students in their families, earning about $3 million altogether in college scholarships. They will make up the 70th graduating class at Phoenix Christian.
Midtown Primary School recently received support from the Million Dollar Teacher Project, which donated 60 computers and 20 WiFi hotspots to the school (photo courtesy of Midtown Primary School).
Midtown Primary School receives tech donation
Midtown Primary School recently received a boost from the Million Dollar Teacher Project and its partner, which organized a “tech device drop,” that donated much-needed technology to the school. Midtown Primary received 60 computers and 20 WiFi hotspots earlier this school year. The computers and hotspots have been used for math, meetings with teachers, read-alouds and other lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Access to technology became increasingly important to Midtown Primary in the past year in helping the school meet its mission to give each student a “strong educational foundation that embraces creativity, as well as critical thinking skills.”
Xavier students sign national letters of intent
Several Xavier College Preparatory student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent.
Mia Alejos, a soccer player, accepted an offer at Arizona Christian University, where she plans to major in political science/criminal justice.
Jaden Campbell, who also plays soccer, will attend Benedictine University and major in psychology.
Emmie Paulson, also a soccer player, received an offer from University of San Francisco, where she intends to major in computer science.
Kaori Robertson, who plays volleyball, committed to the University of Arizona, where she plans to study pharmaceutical science.
Elliana Steely-Judice, a crew member, has secured an offer from Bucknell University, where she is going to major in business and environmental science.
Jamie Stelnik, who runs cross country and track and field, has committed to attending Johns Hopkins University and plans to major in computer science.
