| Dec. 10 , 2004
Still time to register for Community Dialogue
In an effort to accommodate busy holiday schedules and allow as many people as possible to participate, Superintendent Dr. John M. Baracy has moved back the deadline for community members to sign up for a Community Dialogue on the future of Scottsdale schools. The deadline to sign up is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22.
To sign up, call the Arizona Prevention Resource Center at 480-727-2772 and indicate your interest in participating in the Scottsdale Unified School District’s Community Dialogue. Read more...
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Open Enrollment applications being accepted
The Governing Board has approved a new Open Enrollment policy that allows students to enroll in any of our schools as long as there is space available in your child’s grade or program.
Applications are now available in any Scottsdale Unified School District school office or on the district Web site by visiting www.susd.org and clicking on the Open Enrollment button at the top of the page. Read more...
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Parents can invest in their child’s school
How would you like to give your child a $250 present that doesn't cost you a single penny?
State law allows you to get a tax credit when you pay up to $200 for single filers and $250 married filers to a public school for extracurricular activities that require an enrolled student to pay a fee. This means taxpayers may help Scottsdale schools — not the state treasury — and reduce their state tax bill by the same amount. Contributions are due by Dec. 31.
In January 2005, Arizona lawmakers will have to solve a large deficit and one of the cuts may be funding for your child’s school. Parents can make sure their child’s school receives their gift by completing a tax credit form. The tax credit form must be submitted to your child’s school by Dec. 31.
Tax credit information is available on our Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/businessservices/taxcreditform.htm
The tax credit information has also been translated to Spanish and is available on the Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/businessservices/taxcreditformsp.htm
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Deck the halls with Holiday Lights
Families and community members can join the holiday festivities by visiting the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park's Holiday Lights from 6-9 p.m. from Dec. 10-23, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale.
Admission to the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park is free. Train and carousel rids will be available for $1, the snack bar will open and Santa and other costume characters will also be there. Holiday Lights is co-sponsored by APS.
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International Baccalaureate informational meeting Jan. 6
Parents, students and community members are invited to attend an informational meeting to learn more about Scottsdale Unified School District’s International Baccalaureate Program (IB) from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, at Desert Mountain High School, 12575 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale. Read more...
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Annual Super Saturday Program
Are you looking for academically challenging programs for your creative and artistic child? The Gifted Program is hosting Super Saturday Program with Winter and Spring Camps. Mini-courses include Exploration to Mars, Creating Computer Games, Ceramic Creations, Reptiles and Amphibians in Arizona and Birds and Plants of the Sonoran Desert.
The Super Saturday Winter Camp is from 12:30-3:30 p.m., Jan. 22, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, at Pima Elementary School, 8330 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. The cost is $50 per camp and includes all materials. Registration forms are available online at www.susd.org and at the front offices of your school. For more information, please visit: http://www.susd.org/district/gifted/SuperSaturday2004-2005.pdf 
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Evening School starts Jan. 24
Do you want to free up your schedule so you can take exciting electives like Video Production, Web Page Design, Yearbook Production or Service Learning courses? Evening School is the ticket for your academic growth. Evening school offers additional courses in Government, Computer Basics, Consumer Math and Economics.
Evening School is a great opportunity for you to retake classes you need to graduate. Replacement courses offered for the spring session include English I, English II, English III, English IV, World Geography, World History, US/AZ History, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Earth Science, Biology I and Chemistry I. For more information, please contact the Community Schools department at 480-484-6102.
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SSG presents Parent University
Scottsdale Supporters of the Gifted (SSG) brings Parent University to SUSD's Super Saturday program for gifted and talented students. Parents of gifted students are encouraged to join SSG from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Pima Elementary School, 8330 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. The SSG will cover topics designed to help support your gifted and talented child such as Introduction to Giftedness and Gifted Education and Parent Advocacy: How to support Gifted Education in your Child's School. For more information, please contact Pauline Bowie at 480-451-6895. For more information about Super Saturday classes, visit http://www.susd.org/district/gifted/SuperSaturdayWinterCamp2005.pdf
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Student Essay Contest
The Arizona Alliance for Arts Education announces a Student Essay Contest. The theme for the contest is Arts Education: The Role and Meaning of the Arts in My Life. Essays must be postmarked no later than Jan. 7, 2005. Read more for contest rules...
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How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds
Scottsdale Supporters of the Gifted invites parents, educators and community members to attend Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St., Scottsdale.
Dr. Jan Davidson, president and co-founder of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, will be the guest speaker at the event. Dr. Davidson provides an absorbing look at how our nation is neglecting children of exceptional intelligence - a compelling case for approaching the challenges associated with giftedness in order to draw more attention to the needs of gifted young people, and an even stronger argument for parents, teachers and citizens to consider the potential loss to American society in the costliest imaginable terms. The cost of the event is $5 per family and educators attend free.
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World-Class
news
Copper Ridge Middle School students Sara Gushgari, Courtney Yu and John Kay all were accepted into the People to People Student Ambassador Program. John will represent the State of Arizona in France, Italy and Malta; Sara will represent Arizona in Japan and Courtney will represent Arizona in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Congratulations to Jerry Dawson, Chaparral High School Baseball coach, for being inducted into the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Anasazi Elementary School students raised $11,700 for the American Heart Association in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser.
Max Aaron, a seventh grade student at Copper Ridge Middle School, placed first in the Country (USA) in Juvenile Boys and his sister, Molly Aaron, an eighth grade student, placed 17th in the U.S. in Intermediate Ladies at the Ice Skating Junior in Nationals Jamestown, NY last week.
Chaparral High School football player Ekom Udofia has been nominated to the Ridell Footwear All American High School Team. He is one of 10 defensive lineman in the United States nominated for the position.
Zuni Elementary School's student council recently collected more than $2,000 during its "Toss a Coin" drive. The money was donated to Kids Helping Kids and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Chaparral High School artists, Robin Sendlein, Leia Steingart and Cahlie Kreuziger were selected to display their art work in The Shemer Art Center's New Horizons Art Exhibit, 5005 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. The exhibit will be on display until Jan. 3. At an awards ceremony on Dec. 4, Robin Sendlein's work received one of three Jurors Awards and the Center's Directors award totaling $150 cash.
The Chaparral High School Speech and Debate Team won third place in the 4A Winter Trophy Tournament at Sinagua High School in Flagstaff that took place on Dec. 3-4. The team of Max Ullman and Nick French won first place in Novice Public Forum Debate. The team of Rudy Wong and Albert Shieh won first place in Policy Debate. The teams of Emily Shiau and David Shapiro, and Josh Shapiro and Andrew McNichol tied for third place in Policy Debate. Teresa Teodori won first place in Dramatic Interpretation. Ben Grossman, Lucy Pound, and Jessica Morse took third, fourth and fifth place respectively in Original Oratory.
To view archived issues or subscribe to Community Connection,
please visit our Web site at: www.susd.org/district/communications/emss.asp
To submit an idea for coverage in Community
Connection, please send an e-mail to Tom
Herrmann.
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