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In
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Important Dates...
March 26-30 - Spring Break
April 6 - District Recess
April 17 - Governing Board Meeting |
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This week's featured school...
Cocopah Middle School
An Excelling School
Year opened: 1965
Address: 6615 E. Cholla St.
Scottsdale 85254
Phone: 480-484-4400
Principal: Dr. Tere Peterson
Grade: 6-8
Colors: Blue and Gold
Mascot: Mustang
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March 23, 2007
Editor's note: Schools and the District offices will be closed the week of March 26 for Spring Break. Classes will resume on Monday, April 2.
Attendance = Learning and Successful Testing
AIMS and Terra Nova Tests Administered in April
 As parents, you know that learning only happens when your children attend class. That is why it so important for children to be in school every day.
Due to the increase in rigor of state standards, it is more important than ever that students are in school so they have ample opportunity to learn. Because new skills build on skills already acquired, students are more successful on tests when they have consistent classroom attendance.
During the week of April 10th, students will be taking either the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) or the Terra Nova DPA tests. Each school’s AZ Learns label and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) are contingent on attendance during these tests.
Here are just a few tips to help your child when it comes to taking tests:
- Make sure that your child is in school during the testing sessions. Do not plan any doctor or dental appointments on test dates.
- Make sure that your child arrives at school on time. Late students will not be allowed to enter a classroom after a test has started.
- Encourage your child to study over a period of time rather than "cram" the night before.
- Encourage your child to listen carefully to all test-taking directions given by the teacher and to ask questions about any directions that are unclear.
- See that your child gets the proper amount of sleep before the tests and is well-rested.
- Make sure that your child eats a nutritious breakfast on the day of the test. Hunger can detract from a good test performance.
- Encourage your child to do his or her best.
To view testing calendars, please visit: www.susd.org/district/assess/index.cfm .
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SUSD Hosts Public Discussions
Scottsdale Unified School District is hosting Public Discussions at each complex to discuss with and inform the community about two possible upcoming overrides — renewal of the M&O Override and a proposed Capital Override. The meetings will include a presentation from Superintendent Dr. John M. Baracy followed by a Q&A session for the public. SUSD Administrators and Governing Board members will also be present.
All meetings are scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. The dates and locations for the five meetings are:
- Thursday, April 12
Saguaro Complex
Saguaro High School
Media Center
6250 N. 82nd St., Scottsdale
- Monday, April 16
Desert Mountain Complex
Mountainside Middle School
Mini-Auditorium
11256 N. 128th St., Scottsdale
- Tuesday, April 24
Chaparral Complex
Chaparral High School
Media Center
6935 E. Gold Dust Ave., Scottsdale
- Thursday, April 26
Arcadia Complex
Education Center – District Office
Governing Board Room
3811 N. 44th St., Phoenix
- Monday, April 30
Coronado Complex
Coronado High School
Media Center
2501 N. 74th St., Scottsdale
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Take Your Child to Work – After School is Out
 Scottsdale Unified School District and other schools across the Valley encourage parents to take their children to the workplace for a learning experience – after school is out for the summer. Districts around the Valley are recommending June 21 as a preferred date for Take Your Child to Work Day. The national date, April 26, comes at a particularly difficult time for students who are working hard to complete their school work for the year. Taking children to work after the school year ends allows them to get the best of both – exposure to the workplace without missing a single precious day of school.
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Super Kids Field Day
It was a special day for students at SUSD’s 7th Annual Super Kids Field Day on March 15th. Almost 200 students were treated to bowling, face painting, football throws, music and much more.
The event, held at Mountain View Park in Scottsdale, also featured a surprise visit from some familiar faces, the Arizona Cardinal's and ASU’s mascots, Big Red and Sparky.
A big thanks to the Adapted Physical Education Staff of KC DiMickele, Pam Evans, Jan Blocher, Jim Cottrell and Teresa Gustafson. Without their dedication and hard work, this wonderful event would not have been possible.
Service Learning students from Saguaro High School volunteered their time to help make this event a success.
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Arts in Education Seeks Nominations
The Arts in Education Council for Scottsdale Schools is sponsoring its 2nd Annual Fine Arts Awards event. The council is seeking nominations to recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional support for the fine arts in a school or schools within the Scottsdale Unified School District. These awards will be presented at the Annual Spring Luncheon on May 3. The categories are:
- Fine Arts Teacher
- Administrator
- Arts in Education Council Volunteer
- Community Individual
- Community Organization
The nominations will be judged on the following criteria:
- The significance and/or magnitude of the contribution and/or achievement
- The breadth of the school population served
- The length of time and/or intensity dedicated to the art in our schools
Please send a one-page letter of nomination describing why the nominee should receive the award. Include the name, affiliation and contact information of the nominee, and include the nominator’s name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Identify which category is appropriate for the nominee. The deadline is Friday, April 13, 2007.
Please send your nomination to: Bonnie Sneed , 10830 E. Raintree Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85255-1800 or fax to 480-342-9157. For more information, call 480-342-8633.
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Upcoming Events
- Kindergarten Round-Up
Hohokam Elementary School ~ April 19th, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Room 12, 8451 E. Oak St., Scottsdale
Laguna Elementary School ~ April 25th 9-10:30 a.m. in Room 109, 10475 E. Lakeview Drive, Scottsdale
Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center conducts monthly individual or group tours of the campus. To schedule a tour, please call the ANLC office at 480-484-7500.
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
- Scottsdale Public Library is hosting 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 continues through April 14th at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
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Excellence in the ClassroomLaressa Manning, an art teacher at Saguaro High School, placed second in the National Society of Arts and Letters' juried art competition. This organization works to promote upcoming young artists in their work and scholastic endeavors.
 Students in Allison Newland's 3rd and 4th grade classes at Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center made traps to catch Leprechauns. The traps were set up on March 16. Over the weekend, Ms. Newland added chocolate gold coins to the traps as a surprise for the students when they came back to school on March 19. This ties in with what the students are learning about Irish literature and folklore. The students are also creating their own stories.
Arcadia High School's Speech team competed at the 4A State Competition last weekend. Out of 12 competitors, eight went to semi finals, and the following placed in the finals:
- Amber Williams - 4th place Poetry
- Megan Webb - 2nd Place Prose and Debate Quarter Finalist
- Jessica Jardine - 1st Place Drama
This is the second year in a row that the school won 1st place in Drama. Arcadia also ranked 5th overall in the tournament and was recognized at the awards ceremony.
 A big thank you goes to Megan Norling, a sixth grader at Cocopah Middle School, who entered Nickelodeon's "Let's Just Play Giveaway" contest for sports equipment and won! Cocopah will receive $5,000 to be used toward the purchase of new equipment!
The following students competed and placed in the Central Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
The winners from Pima Elementary School are:
- Hector Torres - 3rd place Engineering
- Jackson Pfundheller - 2nd place Environmental Science
- Jon Schertzer, Aidan Levine, Anthony Berti, 3rd place Team Projects
Josh Brody - 2nd place Team Projects Please note that an additional student participated, but the parents requested that the name not be released.
Kailey Kreais and Samantha Surk - 2nd place Team Projects
Jimmy Crnkovich and Gabe Salmon - 1st place Team Projects
The winners from Mohave Middle School are:
- Savannah Smoley - 1st place Behavioral and Social Sciences. She also won the USN Naval Science Award.
- Sara Toma - 4th place and Steven Karis - 1st place Medicine and Health
- Conner Waring and Ryan Archer, 2nd Place - Team Projects
 This is the third annual Kite Day field trip to Scottsdale Ranch Park for kindergartners at Laguna Elementary School. This field trip began as a way for students to apply science exploration skills from their Science Unit on Push and Pull and Weather. However, what has evolved has been far greater for Laguna students. This activity has promoted other areas of the curriculum, which includes building character, encouraging responsibility, trustworthiness and citizenship. Students take the responsibility to have good manners while walking to the park and utilizing their community's park services by seeing the world around them. This activity prepares students for first grade when they will use these life skills to go on other field trips. By bringing more than 100 kindergarten students and their families together creates a sense of pride and community. Nothing but big smiles as they learn to problem solve kite flying with those who care about them the most.
Ashley Holian, a senior at Chaparral High School, will participate in the Arizona Culinary Institute competition on March 24th in Scottsdale. Approximately 25 students will be competing from all over the state.
The students will be making Chicken Chasseur with tourned potatoes and a fruit tart. They have to have made their own chicken stock and glaze in advance, but will have to make everything else in the 2 hours they are allotted at the competition. After they cook, each student will be interviewed. This will help determine which scholarship would be best suited to the student should they win one. Scholarships range from large, like the one given by Johnson and Wales University, to smaller cash scholarships that students can use at a culinary school of their choice.
Social Studies teacher Jeri Bishop is accompanying 19 Chaparral High School students the week of March 17-24 to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The group will be participating in an educational program of citizenship and government functions through the Close Up Organization. Close Up, a non-profit multi-partisan organization, uses these locations as the classroom giving students the opportunity to learn about our government “close up.” During the week, students will have the opportunity to visit many historic and political locations, as well as meet with their representatives in Congress and discuss key issues. The students attending this outstanding event are Sarah Anderson, Dana Becker, Maddie Davis, Erik Ellefsen, Heather Fial, Jennifer Finefrock, Charlotte Gilbert, Giselle Guimaraes, Kimmie Kulesh, Holly Mercier, Scott Moore, Madi Moosbrugger, Rachel Naylor, Alex Smith, Alexandra Sos and Meredith Will. Please note that additional students will participate, but their parents requested that their names not be released.
Principals from Arizona Middle Level Association (AMLA) visited Cocopah Middle School this month. Principal Tere Peterson and Student Council members Meryl Fox, Jane Steffens, Collin Woods and Jonathan Stachel served as tour guides. They gave the visitors an overview of past and ongoing special programs students have an opportunity to participate in, Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) and Leadership and Character Building through Reading and Writing (LCRW). Students Julie Anderson, Bryce Villalpando and Tatum Rehorn presented the benefits of having Partners Advancing Student Success (PASS ) business partnerships in the classrooms with Tech Lab Teacher Louise Bunker. The Artist-in-Residence Graphic Art and Advertising Program was an integral part of the Tech Lab's curriculum last semester. Counselors Ivy Chemodurow, June Solod and Judy Shano led a lively discussion on the services they provide the school. Carolyn Munhall and representatives from Service Learning related how important it is for students to be a part of their community. Congratulations to Jim Mueller, 8th grade social studies teacher, Cocopah's AMLA Teacher of the Year.
Saguaro High School's Cheer Squad received first place for AIA Show Cheer and first place All Girls Stunt in January 29th.
Arcadia High School has been awarded second place in the Mayor’s School of Excellence Award For Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education - City of Phoenix. This contest is sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona. Arcadia will receive a check for $500 and will be entered for a larger competition at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C.
The following Chaparral High School students made Orchestra All-State. They are: Rachel Baumann, violin 1;Crystal Sheffield, violin 1; Rebecca Hui, cello; and Emily Shiau, cello. Congratulations to all.
Please note that an additional student will participate, but the parents requested that the name not be released.
Coronado High School's Band competed in the Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim, Calif. on March 17. The Concert Band and Jazz Band received a rating of Gold, and the Percussion Ensemble received a rating of Silver. The Coronado Band also received the Outstanding Band Award, the Instrumental Sweepstakes and the Adjudicators' Award. The band also received an invitation to compete in the 2008 National Festival of Gold in Boston. Two members of the Coronado Band were also selected to the Arizona All-State Band. Those members are: Ethan Powers, trumpet and Bryce Ingram, horn.
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