Glendale Union High School District

Sunnyslope High student, others receive honors

Several members of the Sunnyslope High School community have been recognized for their contributions to the campus.

Blayke LeTart

The Glendale Union High School District’s Achievement Above All events recently honored the top teacher, student, student group, support staff employee and volunteer from each high school in the district that exhibit outstanding leadership and exceptional accomplishments. At Sunnyslope, the 2019-20 Achievement Above All recipients are student Blayke LeTarte, a senior; English teacher Sheila Novak; the Sunnyslope Student Council, facilities supervisor Todd Blutter and band volunteer Deb Hinds.

The district Governing Board presented the awards during a recent meeting.

Senior honored for volunteer work

A senior at Sunnyslope High School is in the spotlight for her community service work.

Vivian Clarke

Vivian Clarke recently received a Certificate of Excellence from The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program, which is sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). She applied for the distinction last September and was chosen as a local winner. International Scholarship and Tuitions Services, an independent judging organization, then selected Vivian as one of the top volunteers in the state. The judges chose recipients based on their initiative, impact, effort and personal growth.

German students’ puppet play wins fair

Sunnyslope High School German students took a classic fairytale to new heights when they won a language fair.

These teens won first place in the Advanced Known Play category at a recent language fair. They performed a modern twist of “Chicken Little/Henny Penny” as a puppet show after having made puppets over two weeks.

One of the students, Rose Wiesinger also took home a first-place certificate as she played guitar and sang a folk song in German. Other students earned places for their posters created from Grimms’ Fairytales, including Penelope Kieborz and Yasmina Lubovac, who won first place; Haylee Fuentes and Ivonne Martinez, who received second place; Sarah Epstien, who brought home third place and Ciarra Garland, who got an honorable mention.

Alumna receives future educator honor

Sunnyslope High School alumna Kaitlyn Fahrendorf recently received the award for Outstanding Future Music Educator at the Arizona Music Educators Association’s (AMEA) Annual Conference in Mesa. A student at the University of Arizona, the AMEA chose her for her achievements and leadership, including serving as the president of the University of Arizona’s Symphonic Choir, as well as vice president of the University of Arizona’s Student Chapter of American Choral Directors Association. Fahrendorf is a junior at the university.

Madison Elementary School District

New principal picked for middle school

A new principal will start at Madison Meadows Middle School on July 1.

Katy Clark

The Madison School District governing board recently approved Katy Clark as the next principal at the school. Clark had been a high school International Baccalaureate (IB) biology teacher and IB coordinator for 12 years. She has been a middle school assistant principal, as well as a principal, for the last five years. Clark earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin and received a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Arizona State University.

Speech pathologist seeks support for training

A bilingual speech language pathologist at Madison Park Middle School is hoping to raise enough money to enhance students’ mindfulness practice.

Heidi Rodriguez is asking for financial support via Donorschoose.org to help her grow the mindfulness in education movement at Madison Park. She is hoping to raise $4,394 to participate in two in-person retreats and a year of intensive online coursework in order to become a Mindful Schools Certified Mindfulness Instructor (CMI).

Earning mindfulness certification also will allow Rodriguez to be qualified to use the Mindful Schools K-12 curriculum to adapt mindfulness programs, to teach adults the primary practices and principles of mindfulness, to lead professional development work tied to mindfulness practice and to support attempts to design a mindfulness program for the school community. She has been accepted to the Mindful Schools Year Long Certification Program and received a partial scholarship for Title One Schools.

To donate, visit Donorschoose.org and search for Heidi Rodriguez in Phoenix.

Phoenix Union High School District

Washington High soccer scores state title

Washington High School varsity soccer is on a roll as it recently won the 2020 Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Boys Winter Soccer 4A State Championship.

They nailed it in a close match against Arcadia High School with a 1-1 tie before Washington High’s Melvin Salazar scored a goal at the last minute to win the game 2-1. This is the second state title for Washington High School varsity soccer since 1989.

Private and Charter Schools

‘Green eggs and ham’ part of Dr. Seuss fun

Students at Midtown Primary School recently celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by making “The Cat in the Hat” hats and eating “green eggs and ham” (photo courtesy of Midtown Primary School).

Midtown Primary School students enjoyed a meal inspired by a classic children’s book and celebrated the importance of reading.

One week in March was designated to mark Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Students came to school in pajamas and laid, as well as made “The Cat in the Hat” hats and “Thing One” blue wigs, in honor of Dr. Seuss’ well-known books. They also ate “green eggs and ham” in recognition of the book of the same name for a snack. Their activities were a way to remind them how fun reading can be.

Midtown Primary to celebrate parents

Parents are appreciated at Midtown Primary School, which is planning a pizza lunch on April 24.

Parents can visit the school to eat with their children, ahead of Mother’s Day, which is in May, and Father’s Day, which is in June. Since those holidays fall on weekends, this lunch will give the school an opportunity to recognize parents at school. Contact the school to ensure the event is still taking place due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The school may be reached at 602-265-5133.

Xavier junior shines in archery

Xavier College Preparatory junior Alexandra Scott has qualified to compete in a national tournament.

Alexandra Scott

The teen, who is on the school’s Hot Shots Archery Team, is expected to participate in the NASP US Western National Tournament in Sandy, Utah in April. However, as of press time it was unknown whether the tournament will be rescheduled because of the Coronavirus outbreak in the world.

Scott first held a bow her freshman year at Xavier. She attributes some of her success to the help she receives from Xavier’s coaches and friends she has made on the team.She said archery athletes have a “good sense of community even though we are individual shooters.”