Creighton School District
Suns players visit Loma Linda School
Phoenix Suns players, alumni, front office executives, and staff stepped out into the community during the “Suns Week of Service,” September 22-26. Events held throughout the week were to benefit various nonprofit organizations in the Valley.
Stopping off at Loma Linda Elementary, 2002 E. Clarendon Ave., on Sept. 25 were Suns Ring of Honor member Tom Chambers, Suns alumnus Steven Hunter, and The Gorilla, who participated in a “Day of Play” with K-6 students to teach kids how to get along while playing together.
The activity was in partnership with Playworks Arizona, a nonprofit organization that creates activities for children during recess in which everyone plays, belongs and contributes to the game, making recess fun, energetic, safe and inclusive. Visit www.playworks.org for more information.
Madison School District
Parents give input on math textbooks
Madison School District has announced that a pilot to select new mathematics textbooks is under way. Materials from the two publishers, McGraw-Hill and Houghton-Mifflin, are under consideration. These materials are currently on display in the Madison Simis teacher’s lounge through Oct. 31.
Community members who would like to review the materials and provide feedback are welcome to visit during the display period. Questions regarding the math textbook pilot or curriculum adoption at Madison School District should be directed to Michael Winters, administrator for Curriculum and Instruction, at 602-664-7925 or mwinters@msd38.org.
Osborn Elementary School District
Sports and character building in Osborn
The Osborn School District’s after-school sports program offers students a chance to represent the district and the community by reflecting the highest standards of citizenship and sportsmanship.
Coaches are mentors who go above and beyond traditional expectations. For fourth- through sixth-grade students, opportunities in volleyball, soccer, and basketball bring a healthy competition to the schools. Sports are taught by Osborn certified teachers, which further creates close relationships between coaches and teammates.
Students are required to pass their classes before attending sports and the district offers homework help classes to all of its student athletes.
Each season brings the community together by showcasing a district tournament where families can come support their team. Cheer on your favorite team at the Soccer Tournament set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Solano Elementary School, 1526 W. Missouri Ave.
Contact Sara Shaffer at 602-707-2713 or sshaffer@osbornnet.org for more information.
Phoenix Union High School District
Governing Board holds no election
The terms of five ward seats on the Phoenix Union Governing Board are ending in December of this year, but there will be no November voting. All of the candidates would have run unopposed, and because of that, the County cancelled the election.
Incumbents Randy Schiller in District 1, Laura Pastor in District 4, and Linda Abril in District 5 will begin four-year terms in January. Stephanie Parra in District 3 and Stanford Prescott in District 2 will be new board members, replacing Amy Kobeta and Ricardo Gallego, both of whom declined to run again.
Parra, a native of Yuma, is employed by Teach For America, and teaches for NAU. Prescott, a South Mountain High School alum, is a director of Projects for the Center for Neighborhood Leadership.
The seven-person board also includes at-large members Lela Alston and Ian Danley, whose terms run through 2016.
Discount Internet program extended
The Cox Communications Connect2Compete (C2C) program that provides discounted high-speed Internet and free digital literacy training to students and their parents has been extended for two more years.
The national not-for-profit initiative is bridging the “digital divide” as schools increasingly incorporate digital tools to enhance learning, assigning online homework and using email to communicate with parents and post grades. Families with at least one child receiving free school meals through the National School Lunch Program are eligible for the $9.95 a month Cox home Internet service.
For more information, visit www.connect2compete.org/cox or call 1-855-222-3252.
Partnership encourages careers in medicine
Metro Tech High School and doctors from St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center are partnering in a program called “Doctors Back to School,” to encourage minority students to consider career pathways in medicine.
Led by Dr. Crysta Chatman, she and colleagues addressed a large group of students about careers in medicine on Sept. 12. Currently only 7 percent of physicians and 6 percent of medical school faculty members are African American, Hispanic or Native Americans.
The doctors also met with Health students about health and welfare issues on Sept. 9, and follow up with a day of one-to-one and small group counseling for students who would like more information or assistance.
Chatman and colleagues will also be available one evening a month to meet with parents and students about health-related issues in a new school outreach, called Family and Community Engagement Team. (FACET). The goal of FACET is to provide wrap-around services to our students and families through the support of the community.
According to Principal Kate McDonald, families can hear from professionals in medicine, legal, health, social services, and classes will be offered for parents in English and technology. For more information, call the school at 602-764-8000.
Central dedicates new JROTC facility
A building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was held Sept. 10 for Central High’s new JROTC facility. Superintendent Kent Scribner, Governing Board Member Lela Alston, Principal John Beira, JROTC Instructor First Sergeant Ronnie Hurt and Battalion Commander Freddie Moreno joined construction partners in the ceremony.
Moreno delivered an impassioned address telling the audience that nothing is free, and the Central JROTC cadets do their best to uphold and honor this building with their actions and deeds. The Central cadets performed an armed drill team exhibition, and raised the first flag to fly over the building, donated by Architechnology and Chasse Building Team.
The project, which included renovation of Central’s football stadium concession stand and ticket office, was made possible through the 2011 Construction Bond. The JROTC complex is located next to the football stadium at the far east end of campus. It features a large classroom, a 12-lane indoor rifle range with observation area, an office, lobby trophy case, and storage rooms. There also is an obstacle course and archery range behind the building. An obstacle course will be added this fall.
Central’s JROTC currently has 133 student cadets, a number that Hurt says is sure to grow.
Two teachers selected for TGC program
North English teacher Joann Martin and Central High Math teacher Dawn Maxwell were selected for the Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) program. TGC is a program of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
More than 400 teachers applied from 46 U.S. states and District of Columbia, and Martin and Maxwell were among 80 teachers who were selected for participation.
The goal of the TGC program is to provide teachers with the opportunity to explore the themes and applications for global education in the U.S. secondary school classroom.
As a part of TGC, they participate in an online professional development course, attend a Global Education Symposium in Washington, D.C., travel on an international fellowship for a two or three week in-country visit, and are eligible for alumni professional development sessions and micro grants.
Washington Elementary School District
WESD seeks foreign language translators
Are you fluent in Spanish, French, Arabic, Vietnamese or other foreign language? The Washington Elementary School District is always looking for translators to aid in communication with parents.
More than 50 home languages other than English are spoken by WESD families. Translators are used at school open houses, parent/teacher conferences, one-on-one meetings, and at other times and events throughout the school year.
If you are multi-lingual and are interested in assisting others by being a translator, contact Angela Perrone, Translation Services coordinator, at 602-347-2609 or angela.perrone@wesdschools.org.
Vermeer named an Employee of Month
Cindy Vermeer, CCB Intervention Specialist at Royal Palm Middle School, was named an Employee of the Month for September.
Sponsored by various business partners, the WESD Employee of the Month recognition is bestowed upon employees who have exemplified the vision, mission and values of the WESD. These employees serve as an inspiration to others by maintaining high customer service standards and a commitment to student achievement.
Honorees enjoyed breakfast with the superintendent and received a plaque commemorating their special recognition.
Private and Charter Schools
Eighth graders invited to tour Xavier campus
Xavier College Preparatory hosts its annual 8th Grade Day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, and its Open House from 12-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2. Both events are free and will take place on Xavier’s campus at 4710 N. 5th St.
The 8th Grade Day event is an opportunity for eighth-grade students to experience Xavier on a school day. Scheduled activities include a welcome assembly, student-led tours, classroom visits, an all-school pep rally, and lunch. Participation is free, but interested students are asked to register online by visiting www.xcp.org, clicking “Admissions,” then “8th Grade Day.” Note that this is a student event, so there will not be any planned activities for parents on this day.
Open House is an opportunity for students of all ages and their parents to attend a Xavier information session, tour the school, and meet the faculty and coaches. Information sessions begin at 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. in the Virginia G. Piper Performing Arts Center, and student-led campus tours will be available after each session. Registration is not necessary.
Brophy newspaper a finalist in contest
The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) named the official newspaper of Brophy College Preparatory, The Roundup, a Pacemaker Finalist for the second year in a row. The Pacemaker is the top honor the national association gives to high school publications.
According to the NSPA, “Judges select Pacemakers based on the following: coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, design, photography, art and graphics.”
The 2013-14 co-editors in chief of The Roundup were Erik Meyer and Aakash Jain. This year’s co-editors in chief are Garrison Murphy and Austin Norville.
“Each year we put forth a lot of effort to generate excellent content and put together the best newspaper possible for the community,” said Murphy. “This award is just further evidence of the quality of the publication and is a reminder to all current staff members that there is a certain standard that we must continue to meet.”
Xavier faculty members honored
Xavier College Preparatory faculty members Alison Mead and Magda Nelson were named 2013-2014 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty at Rio Salado Community College. Both Mead and Nelson teach dual-enrollment college courses.
Mead is a member of Rio Salado’s English department, and Nelson is a member of the college’s Languages department.
Foster nominated as a Rodel teacher
Linda Foster, a teacher at Midtown Primary School, was nominated as a 2015 Rodel Exemplary Teacher. The Rodel Exemplary Teacher Initiative has been recognizing outstanding teachers since 2004. These teachers are noted as being some of the best in the state and are asked to mentor the next generation of educators during the student teaching experience, in order to share their knowledge with Arizona’s top education students.
“It’s teachers like Linda who we rely on to guide all students forward as more thoughtful and dedicated learners,” said Judy White, principal of Midtown Primary, located at 4735 N. 19th Ave.
For more information about the school, call 602-265-5133.
St. Francis Xavier kicks off ‘Team 100’
On Sept. 8, St. Francis Xavier School kicked off the Team 100 campaign, an effort aimed at 10-percent participation from students, faculty and staff, and parishioners at St. Francis Xavier School and Parish.
The goal of Team 100 is on participation, not the amount of money being raised. Students were encouraged to set their own goals and raise money on their own. Each student received a goal sheet where they set their financial goal and explained how they were going to accomplish it. When students returned their goal sheet, they were recognized at Pledge and Prayer and collected their Team 100 T-shirt. Students were able to wear their Team 100 shirt to school each day throughout the campaign.
Many students had lemonade stands in their neighborhoods, held bake sales, did household chores—they got very creative on earning their money. The students took great pride in being able to participate and making a contribution toward their new campus that was completed in October 2013, and also helping with the final phase of the campaign at the parish.
At the conclusion of the campaign on Sept. 18, St Francis Xavier School had reached its goal of 100-percent participation.
St. Francis Xavier School is located at 4715 N. Central Ave. For more information, visit http://school.sfxphx.org.
Arizona Bishop visits Christ Church School
Christ Church School (CCS) parents, students and staff members on Aug. 18 were treated to a visit from The Right Rev. Kirk Stevan Smith, Bishop of Arizona. Smith, along with his puppet friend Margo, gave the students and parents a message for the start of the school year.
Assisting with the Opening Day service were CCS Head of School Betsy Delaney; the Rev. Elizabeth Blunt, priest at Christ Church of the Ascension; and CCS Chaplain Erin Cox Oney.
After the service, fourth-grade students interviewed Smith and asked what he thought about one of the “Fruits of the Spirit:” Kindness. Smith had very good advice—“Kindness is like the Golden Rule. We should always treat others the way we want God to treat us.”
CCS students are learning more about the “Fruits of the Spirit” during all-school Cubs Chapels, held on the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m.
Little is recognized by Hispanic program
Brophy College Prep senior and North Central resident Patrick Little has achieved scholar status in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP). The College Board’s NHRP identifies academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students.
Annually 5,000 out of 250,000 Hispanic students who take the PSAT in their junior year achieve this status. These students are from the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands, as well as U.S. citizens attending schools abroad. They must be of at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino descent and have a GPA of at least 3.0 by the end of their junior year.
Patrick is one of six members of the Brophy Class of 2015 who are among the top 2 percent of Hispanic students nationwide.
St. Francis Xavier to offer Catechesis program
Registration has begun for the “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” religious formation at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Faith Community. The “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” is the only religious education program now offered at St. Francis, and is open to all children after school during the week, Monday through Thursday.
All interested parents can register their children for this religious education programming at the parish offices, at the Marian Shop, 4715 N. Central Ave. Classes will begin the week of Nov. 17.
The St. Francis program will follow the Montessori levels of development, beginning at age 3 and continuing through sixth grade. A supplementary class schedule will be offered for students who are home-schooled.
According to Daniel J. Sullivan, SJ, pastor, Mindy Longwell and Claudia Margarita Schmitt will oversee this distinct religious programming. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori method of spiritual formation where the catechist and the child together explore the mystery of God. By creating a sacred environment for their spiritual needs, the child can grow in a loving relationship with God and the Church.
For more information on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, or to inquire about enrollment, call Mindy Longwell at 602-212-4530.
