In this issue...

February 2, 2007

News from Copper Ridge Math & Science Academy

Copper Ridge Math & Science Academy (CRMSA) recently announced the creation of its first Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board will provide valuable input and recommendations for curriculum enrichments that will reinforce the skills CRMSA students need to enter an ever-changing work force. The Advisory Board will also facilitate the establishment of community partnerships with organizations throughout the state.

The Advisory Board members are: Dr. Jan Belt, owner and executive director, Oxford Learning; Dr. Sue Bradley, dean of education, Wayland University; Richard Harrer, intellectual property attorney, Dial Corporation; Liz Harvey, senior vice president and general manager, Dial Corporation; Mayor Mary Manross, Honorable Mayor of Scottsdale; Dr. Edward Moticka, director of research, Scottsdale Healthcare; Dr. Candice Nulson, program manager/educational and outreach, Translational Genomics Research Institute; and Ted Tyler, retired, Lucent Technologies.

Mark your calendars for the following CRMSA events:

• Family Night from 6:30-8 p.m. on Monday, February 5th in the auditorium, 10101 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale. Current eighth and ninth grade students and their parents are invited to attend this event to learn more about CRMSA. At the meeting, you will meet the faculty and learn about the curriculum, the admission requirements and the application process. For more information, please view the flyer.
  
  
• Science Symposium from 6:30-8 p.m. on Monday, March 5th at the Barnes & Nobles Bookstore, 10500 N. 90 th St., Scottsdale . Guest speakers at the Science Symposium include members of the Dial Corporation Team — Jeanne Howard, Kristin M. Leisgang, Tyler Mikkelsen, Keith Molever, Debra Park, Nancy Rodgers and Jessica Walker. For more information, call the school at 480-484-1560.

Additionally, CRMSA is accepting students for the 2007-08 school year. This specialized program offers incoming freshmen and sophomores who have an aptitude for math and science the opportunity to excel in a unique learning environment. To apply for the program, please complete the CRMSA application, and return it to the school. For more information about the program, please contact the school at 480-484-1560 or visit www.susd.org/CRMSA.

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Cheyenne Students Explore Colonial Life

Fifth graders at Cheyenne Traditional School stepped back in time to the days of Colonial America.

Dressed in traditional pilgrim and Native American clothing, students explored Colonial crafts, including candle making, paper quilling, calligraphy, doll making and quilt making. They also played Colonial-era games.

Learning about America’s rich history from the American Exploration through the Civil War is part of the fifth grade curriculum.

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EVIT Tech Fest

Many Scottsdale Unified School District juniors and seniors attend the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) half-days in order to acquire specific job skills prior to high school graduation.

This year's Tech Fest is from 6:30- 8 p.m. on February 6th at the EVIT campus, 1601 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201.

All interested students, prospective students, parents and educators are invited to attend. Students need to be 16 years old to attend EVIT, but it is good for middle school students and their parents to visit Tech Fest and begin to make future plans.

For more information, please contact Lynn Strang, EVIT public relations, at 480-461-4000.

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Middle School Road Show - Coming to an Elementary School Near You

The transition from elementary school to middle school is a big change for most parents and students. To help make a smooth transition, parents are invited to attend Myth and Magic - the Middle School Road Show. Upcoming presentations are as follows:

• Hopi Elementary School — at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7th in the cafeteria, 5110 E. Lafayette Blvd., Phoenix
   
• Tavan Elementary School — Held at Hopi. Please see above for details.
   
• Pueblo Elementary School — at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 7th in the cafeteria, 6320 N. 82nd St., Scottsdale

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Comprehensive Gifted Self-Contained School Tours

Gifted Services is hosting Comprehensive Gifted Program Tours at Pima and Zuni elementary schools.

• Pima dates and times: February 9, March 9 and May 24 from 1-3 p.m., 8330 E. Osborn Road
• Zuni dates and times: February 23, March 30 and May 25 from 1-3 p.m., 9181 E. Redfield Road

Reserve your seat today by e-mailing your name, address and phone number to Robin Madison. Also, indicate the location and date you plan to attend. Click here to view the informational flyer.

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Upcoming Events

• Scottsdale Public Library will host a family exhibition about homes around the world — Your House, My House. This exhibition is recommended for children 4-12 years of age. The exhibition will be open daily from February 2nd through April 14th.
   
• Scottsdale Parent Council General Membership Meeting
  Lauren Kielsmeier, Governor Napolitano's education advisor, will meet and address SUSD parents and administrators at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6that the Education Center, 3811 N. 44th St., Phoenix. Please RSVP to scottsdaleparentcouncil.org.
   
• Kindergarten Round-Up

  Cherokee: February 7th, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Media Center.
  Cochise: February 8th, 6-7 p.m. in the cafetorium.
  Sequoya: February 8th, 6:30 p.m. in the Media Center.
  Pueblo: February 15th, 6-7 p.m. in Room 1.

  To find out when a school in your area is having its Kindergarten Round-Up, please see the full schedule at www.susd.org/district/forparents/KindergartenRoundUps.htm
   
• Kiva Elementary School “Memory Lane” 1957-2007
  It was 50 years ago that Kiva Elementary School opened its educational doors. With some red bricks, eight teachers, a principal, and a small staff, Kiva began 50 years of excellent education for the children in our community.
  
  Alumni, teachers, faculty, staff and their families are invited to attend a very special celebration as Kiva walks down “memory lane”. Please mark your calendars and join Kiva from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, February 10 at Kiva Elementary School. A spaghetti lunch will be served along with Kiva’s anniversary cake. The cost of the lunch is $8 per person. You do not have to purchase lunch to attend. The event includes performances by our Kiva band, story-telling by the fifth grade, special guest speakers that will share some of their favorite Kiva stories, and a memory lane of all the eras will be on display. The “Kiva Wall of Fame” will be dedicated to teachers, faculty and staff. Celebrate the gift of education for children by honoring all who have helped make Kiva the special place it has been for the past 50 years.
  
  Please RSVP to this special event to Jana Davis janasbandanas@cox.net (Please indicate whether you were a teacher or alumnus at Kiva when you RSVP.) For general event questions, please contact Tami Miller tamismiller@cox.net
   
• Rachel Simmons Speech
  Cocopah Middle School proudly presents Rachel Simmons, the New York Times best-selling author of “Odd Girl Out” and “Odd Girl Speaks Out.” She is a graduate of Vassar College and a Rhodes Scholar. Rachel is also a "sold out" speaker to young adults and families across the country on combating bullying, internet safety, and developing a positive attitude about life. She will be speaking at the Cocopah cafeteria on Monday, February 12th at 7 p.m. Families and students from the Scottsdale Unified School District are invited to laugh your way through an informative evening with Rachel Simmons as your guide. Get a sneak peek of what's in store and visit her Web site at www.rachelsimmons.com.
   
• The Scottsdale Supporters of the Gifted is hosting Homework Doctor – How to Manage the Rigors of Nightly Homework presented by Victoria Olivadoti.
   
  • The student workshop (1 hour and 30 minute for each group) will be held between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday, February 19th at Chaparral Park and Community Center, 5401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. The cost to attend is $30 and some scholarships are available. Click here for more information.
     
  • Parent and Teacher workshop is from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20th, in the cafeteria at Pima Elementary School, 8330 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. The cost for parents to attend is $5. The event is free for educators. Click here for more information.
     
  "The Homework Doc" is known by hundreds of students and parents and shares how to of nightly homework. For more information, please e-mail ssg@azgifted.org.

• The Academy 2006-2007 Awareness of Substance Use – Signs & Symptoms
  Learn about current drug trends, signs of use, what paraphernalia looks like and how it can be concealed. Education and prevention resources will also be discussed. Presented by Community Bridges.

Date / Time	Location
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 6:30 p.m.	Chaparral High School 6935 E Gold Dust Ave. Media Center
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 6:30 p.m.	Desert Mountain High School 12575 E Via Linda POD (by auditorium)

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Excellence in the Classroom
In December, Arcadia High School's Student Council donated $5,000 to St. Mary's Food Bank.  One of the coordinators at St. Mary's called to thank Arcadia for the donation.  At the end of the conversation, he said that the donation will provide 35,000 meals. 

Sixth graders: Kaley Hicks, Henry O'Keefe, Megan Roberson, Nicole Beaty, Javen Benton, Katherine Routson, Rachel Gossen, Rene Fournier, Amy Chang, Isabel Weintraub, Kelsey Beaulieu, Mackenzie Weller, Gabrielle Greenberg, Dennis Gray, Gabrielle Milillo, Ally Niren, Adam Welu, Scott Heim, Roberto Mariani, Michael Salazar, Steven Holzer, Armond Saad, Sarah Cebrynski, Shelby Gregg, Brian Welu, Ricky John, Reminton Charles and Taylor Lytikainen.

Eighth graders: Kristen Franquist, Samantha Yim, Danielle Penno, Alyssa Clancy, Claire Lieberman, Elise Lieberman, Cynthia Jung, Lindsay Blaire, Kristin Hoffman, Jamie Oko, Melissa Gordon, Mackenzie O'Reilly, Alex Lae, David Baer, Shabeeb Shaw, Ethan Rickert, Shawn Ludgate, Jordyn Greenberg, David Olshansky, Ben Duermit, Hannah Schertenlieb, Jacob Goldstein, Taylor Clausen, Todd Simonson, Alec Dollarhide, Conner Vidano, Jeff Horrocks, Nikkar Abbas, Courtney Block and Ashton Charles.

1st Place - Jonathan Stern, a student in Ms. Lupardo's fifth grade class
2nd Place - Lauren Strickland, a student in Ms. Roberts' fifth grade class
3rd Place - Annika Weaver, a student in Mrs. Rotner's fourth grade class

Desert Canyon Middle School students Katie Hunt

Aztec Elementary School

Desert Canyon Middle School

Devon DeRaad

Congratulations to Mountainside Middle School eighth grade band members Hannah Schertenlieb, French horn, and Cynthia Jung, bassoon, who passed a very difficult qualifying audition and have been selected as members of the 2007 Arizona All-State Band. The All-State Band Festival will be held on Saturday, March 17 at Higley High School. The final concert is at 5 p.m. at the Higley High School Performing Arts Center and is free to the public. Only 80 middle school students from Arizona made this group. Way to go Hannah and Cynthia!

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