The Thunderbird High School Varsity volleyball team celebrated two of its senior players at a recent playoff game (photo courtesy of GUHSD).
Glendale Union High School District
District earns an ‘A’ rating
Glendale Union High School District (GUHSD) announced that it has earned the recognition of being an A-rated district from the Arizona Department of Education. This distinction reflects the district’s commitment to excellence, placing GUHSD among an elite group as one of only three union high school districts in Arizona where all comprehensive high schools received the highest grade possible.
Each of GUHSD’s nine comprehensive high schools – Apollo, Cortez, Glendale, Greenway, Independence, Moon Valley, Sunnyslope, Thunderbird and Washington – achieved an “A” rating, underscoring the dedication and hard work of students, educators, and families.
The Arizona Department of Education’s A-F grading system rigorously evaluates schools on multiple indicators, including academic growth, college and career readiness, graduation rates, and other critical metrics. GUHSD’s district-wide “A” rating reflects strong performance across these areas, as well as the resilience and hard work of the community it serves.
Learn more at www.guhsdaz.org.
Volleyball celebrates electric season
The Purple Pride Marching Machine student musicians have a passion for making good music together and bringing harmony to their WHS Rams Family (photo courtesy of GUHSD).
On Nov. 6, the Thunderbird High School Varsity volleyball team hosted the first round of playoffs for the round of sweet 16. The No. 6 Titans took on the No. 11 Firebirds in a must-win situation and beat them in three in a clean sweep. The energy in the gym was electric, the school said, and the T-squad was full of fans boasting loud cheers and USA swag.
The school also celebrated seniors Hayven Lick and Naomi Walsh on their accomplishments of setting school records – Lick with 1,200+ kills and Walsh with 150+ blocks.
Although the team advanced to quarterfinals to take on the Estrella Foothills Wolves the following week, they fell just short of a win by a score of 3-2, ending a 17-game winning streak for the Titans.
Purple Pride recognized
In November, the Washington High School Purple Pride Marching Machine announced that it was proud recipient of the seventh annual George Hattendorf Ambassador Award. The award recognizes the values of pride, integrity, personal responsibility and selflessness for the betterment of the group.
As the kids have been saying, it recognizes, “The band-kiddiest Band Kids in the best way.” The Ambassador Award celebrates the school’s student musicians’ passion for making good music together and bringing harmony to the “Ramily” (WHS Rams Family) and beyond.
Sunnyslope High celebrates community
On Nov. 6, Sunnyslope High School celebrated the exceptional contributions of its community through the Achievement Above All awards. This prestigious recognition is the highest honor bestowed by the Governing Board, recognizing outstanding achievements in teaching, support, student excellence, student groups and volunteerism.
Those recognized included Michael Sidebottom, a proud alumnus of Thunderbird High School and teacher at Sunnyslope since 2020. The Sunnyslope DECA chapter received Student Group recognition as a cornerstone of campus life, the school said – from rebranding and managing the student store, Victor’s Place, to hosting the successful Merry Marketplace holiday bazaar. Shelby Ferrari, who began her journey as a receptionist and transitioned to the bookstore manager, was recognized as the Support Staff recipient.
Manny Jacobs, who ranks among the top in a graduating class of nearly 600, was recognized as the Student Recipient. The student has excelled in rigorous academic pursuits, earning multiple perfect AP scores and a perfect ACT score. He also captains the varsity cross-country team. And Volunteer Recipients Wayne and Betsy Pulver were recognized for their nearly two decades of support. The district said, “Their dedication spans from attending countless sporting events to providing essential support for the Sports Medicine program. Their generosity and tireless commitment to the Sunnyslope community exemplify true volunteerism, leaving a lasting impact on students and staff alike.”
Betsy and Wayne Pulver were recognized by the GUHSD Governing board for their nearly two decades of volunteer work at Sunnyslope High School (submitted photo).
Madison School District
STEM grant enriches learning
Madison No. 1 Middle School seventh and eighth-grade science teacher Natalie Carpenter was recently awarded a STEM grant from Arizona Public Service (APS). This grant, in collaboration with the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation, will provide funding for innovative STEM learning tools and resources to help enrich the educational experience for students.
Phoenix Suns player Ryan Dunn and the Suns Gorilla surprised Carpenter and students in her classroom with the grant award and a custom Suns jersey, adding extra excitement to the surprise.
Dozens of new trees were planted around the Madison No. 1 campus in October, made possible by a grant from Arizona Public Service (photo courtesy of Madison School District).
The grant will enable the teacher to purchase a variety of new electronics, including Raspberry Pi’s, Arduino starter kits and a multi-color 3D printer for her classes. These new tools will allow her students to engage in more hands-on projects, enhancing their understanding of STEM concepts through real-world applications and creativity.
Madison named A-rated district
The Madison School District has been named an A-rated district following the release of the 2023-24 Arizona Department of Education’s school letter grades. All eight schools within the district are identified as excellent or high-performing, receiving either an “A” or “B” letter grade. This strong performance highlights the commitment and dedication to academic excellence by the district’s educators, students, families and the Madison community, the district said.
Each year, the Arizona Department of Education develops an annual achievement profile for public schools across the state, with the final grades subject to approval by the State Board of Education. The A-F School Letter Grades serve as the state’s accountability model to evaluate school performance, measuring various aspects of student achievement and growth, including year-to-year student academic growth and proficiency in English language arts, math and science; the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners; and other indicators that elementary students are ready for success in high school and high school students are ready for success in a career or higher education.
To learn more about Madison School District, visit www.madisonaz.org. Open enrollment applications for the current school year are available online. Applications for the 2025-26 school year will be available online beginning Dec. 2.
Middle school receives support for new trees
Through a generous grant from Arizona Public Service (APS), Madison No. 1 Middle School has been able to add new greenery to its campus for students and the community to enjoy. A total of 66 new trees were funded through the grant.
On Oct. 24, staff volunteers from APS along with Madison School District staff and students rolled up their sleeves to plant the new trees around the school campus.
Through its Community Tree Program, APS works with Title 1 schools, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations, cities and towns in limited-income areas to provide trees and assist in the planting. APS has helped plant more than 1,300 trees since the program launched in 2022.
The newly planted trees at Madison No. 1 Middle School will provide more shade and cooling on the school campus and along the community sidewalks on 16th Street and Missouri Avenue.
Latrell Calamity and Kayana Tsosie were named Mr and Ms. Indian PXU during a special November event that celebrated Native American heritage (photo courtesy of Phoenix Union High School District).
Phoenix Union High School District
District schools earn high marks
Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) announced that Bioscience High School and Phoenix Coding Academy are A schools and Camelback High School, Central High School and North High School are B schools, as graded by the Arizona Department of Education.
The district congratulated the schools, saying that it is proud to continue offering quality education to all students, preparing them for college, career and life.
For additional information, visit www.pxu.org.
Students at Phoenix Coding Academy work together to build campus garden beds (photo courtesy of Phoenix Union High School District).
District celebrates Native heritage
On Nov. 14, the PXU NAEP (Native American Education Program) presented the Mr. and Ms. Indian PXU 2024-25. The special event invites PXU students to share their culture and talents with the PXU community.
After the event, the district said, “A special congratulations to our new Ms. Indian PXU, Kayana Tsosie and Mr. Indian PXU, Latrell Calamity! A huge thank you to the PXU NAEP team for putting together this special event and for supporting our students.”
Learn more about the program at www.pxu.org/o/pxu/page/native-american-program.
Students build garden beds
Phoenix Coding Academy (PCA) recently held an Afternoon at the Garden where the students worked together to build garden beds for the school from beginning to end. Prospective Coding students and parents also attended to tour the school and complete applications. The district says that another project PCA students have in the works is an electric go-kart for the Electric Light Parade.
Learn more about PCA at www.pxu.org/o/pca.
Washington Elementary School District
WESD schools receive an ‘A’
The Washington Elementary School District (WESD) announced that eight schools have received an “A” letter grade from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), including two in the North Central Phoenix corridor – Orangewood School and Royal Palm Middle School. As defined by the ADE, an “A” letter grade or “Excellent” rating means: “distinguished performance on the statewide assessment, significant student growth, high four-year graduation rates, students on track to proficiency; overall performance is significantly higher than state average.”
Additionally, Orangewood maxed out of the growth 50 points, and Royal Palm is the first middle school in WESD to earn an “A” letter grade two years in a row. Overall, the WESD earned a “B” and 78 percent of its schools received an “A” or a “B” rating. The WESD is proud of our schools’ commitment to growth and educational excellence.
To learn more and view a complete list of the 2023-24 WESD school letter grades, visit www.wesdschools.org/23-24lettergrades.
Kids and staff are SUPER
Congratulations were extended to the SUPER Kids and SUPER Staff for November 2024 from Richard E. Miller Elementary School and Royal Palm Middle School. Established in 2006, the WESD SUPER Kids and SUPER Staff program honors select students and staff from each school for their achievements and contributions.
As part of the recognition, WESD Superintendent Dr. Paul Stanton surprises these select students and staff at their schools to congratulate them. SUPER Kids receive a certificate and a free pizza from Peter Piper Pizza, while SUPER Staff earn a certificate and a $5 Starbucks gift card.
To learn more and view the November 2024 SUPER Kids and SUPER Staff, visit www.wesdschools.org/page/3686.
Support local schools this tax season
During this season of giving, the district is asking residents to consider making a tax credit donation to one or more local WESD schools including Desert View, Maryland, Moon Mountain, Mountain View, Orangewood, Richard E. Miller, Royal Palm and Sunnyslope. A tax credit donation not only allows neighbors to directly impact students’ education, but also reduces their state tax liability (up to $200 filing single or $400 filing jointly). A donation also provides students with opportunities to participate in field trips and succeed in extracurricular activities by funding items such as uniform replacements, equipment and stipends for coaches and sponsors.
Donating is simple. Either visit the school office to complete a tax credit form or make a donation online at https://bit.ly/3Ao6nZ7.
Desert View Elementary School teacher Jennifer Spector was recognized as an “Ambassador for Excellence” at this year’s Arizona Educational Foundation’s awards ceremony (photo courtesy of WESD).
Teacher recognized at awards ceremony
WESD celebrated Jennifer Spector, a fifth-grade teacher at Desert View Elementary School, who was recognized as a top five finalist for Arizona Teacher of the Year and an “AEF Ambassador for Excellence” at Arizona Educational Foundation’s (AEF) recent awards ceremony.
While she was not named Arizona Teacher of the Year, the district said it is proud of Spector for being an incredible veteran educator, public education advocate, teammate and mentor. As an Ambassador for Excellence, she will receive $5,000 and professional speech and media training to aid her in delivering presentations during her year of recognition as well as a scholarship to pursue National Board Certification, the opportunity to ride on the APS fire engine during the Fiesta Bowl Parade, a “Fiesta Bowl Experience” package including tickets and on-field recognition and more.
The district expressed gratitude and appreciation for Spector’s commitment and devotion to her students and craft.
