In this issue...

February 1, 2008

Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board Appoints New General Legal Counsel

The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board recently approved the appointment of Michelle G. Marshall as the new General Counsel of the District's Legal department.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona, Ms. Marshall graduated from Stanford Law School. She comes to SUSD from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission where she was a trial attorney. Her 12 years of experience also includes work as an associate at Fennemore Craig, P.C., a Phoenix law firm.

Ms. Marshall is a member of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association and the Arizona Black Bar.

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Charros Announce 2008 SUSD Teachers, Volunteers and Students of the Year

This year’s outstanding Scottsdale Unified School District educators, volunteers and students have been announced for 2008. This week Principals at each SUSD school presented their winners with an awards letter from the Charros. The winning educators also received a balloon bouquet courtesy of Cactus Flowers. Founded in 1961 as a special activity organization of the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, the Scottsdale Charros consists of 40 Active members and more than 150 Life members dedicated to serving the community through the promotion and support of education, youth programs and economic development. For more than 40 years, the Charros have provided their time and financial support to athletic programs, parent teacher organizations and the faculty of each school in the Scottsdale Unified School District. The Charros annually award full scholarships to in-state universities to two Scottsdale high school seniors who are pursuing a degree in education.

High School Students of the Year are: Marshall Eckert, Arcadia; Sarah Flynn, Arcadia; Derek Turner, Chaparral; Ashley Singer, Chaparral; Sam Mineer, Coronado; Arika Mangum, Coronado; Jason Boninger, Desert Mountain; Nicole Damari, Desert Mountain; John Ingraham, Saguaro; Gabrielle Hoyt, Saguaro; Gina Krohn-Bezie, Sierra Vista Academy.

Teachers of the Year are: Stefanie Whitten, Anasazi; Kelly Plowman, ANLC; Laurie Ritt, Aztec; Dana Bair, Cherokee; Katie Edmonds, Cheyenne; Jennifer Blalock Wallert, Cochise; Patti Hanlon, Copper Ridge Elementary; Terri Young, Desert Canyon Elementary; Jane Jebelian, Hohokam; Susie Baldwin, Hopi; Sydney Wigle, Kiva; Laura Quisberg, Laguna; Diana Campbell, Navajo; Bret Loucks, Pima; Merrill Bauer, Pueblo; Nancy Vaughn, Sequoya; Teresa Yager, Tavan; Trish Simmons, Tonalea; Lori Chadwick, Yavapai; Patty DeFeyter; Zuni; April Chambers, ANLC; Matthew Eppley, Cheyenne; Louise Bunker, Cocopah; Barbara Ratliff, Copper Ridge Middle; Jordan Greenbaum, Desert Canyon Middle; Shirley Johnson, Ingleside, Kerith Cavanaugh, Mohave; Deidre Rand, Mountainside; Danelle LaMaide, Supai; Bryce McKinney-Wain,Arcadia; Jennifer MacColl, Chaparral; Irma Griffin, Coronado; Joe Tanzosh, Desert Mountain; Barbara Kelly, Saguaro; and Dr. Karin McLeod, Sierra Vista Academy.

Volunteers of the Year are: Sharon Bourne, Anasazi; Cindy Richman, ANLC; Kathy Winterly, Aztec; Tyla Portnoy; Cherokee; Sue Emery, Cheyenne; Mary Chiappetti, Cochise; Nina Hawkins, Copper Ridge Elementary; Kathy Schatzberg, Desert Canyon Elementary; Sue Todd, Hohokam; Michelle Himmelburg, Hopi; Lisa Greguska, Kiva; Lisa Sluyk, Laguna; Rosa McConnell, Navajo; Barbara Perleberg, Pima, Patrick and Iona MacDonald, Pueblo; Mary Donaldson, Sequoya; Tanya Speltz, Tavan; Berta Barker, Tonalea; Carolyn Soine, Yavapai; Julie Hopkins, Zuni; Janet Zbojniewicz, Cocopah; Kim Cross, Desert Canyon Middle; Ellen Leonard, Ingleside; Elisa Brancati, Mohave; Judy Welu, Mountainside; Coleen Dilerenzo; Supai; Debbie Cosgrove; Arcadia; Paula Ullman, Chaparral; Mark Peterson, Coronado; Kathy Schmidt, Desert Mountain; and Jane Wilson, Saguaro.

On Friday, April 18^th, the 22^nd Annual Charros Awards Banquet will honor the Students of the Year, Teachers of the Year at the elementary, middle and high school levels and a Scottsdale Community College professor. The event is sponsored by General Dynamics and the Scottsdale Republic.

Congratulations to all the 2008 Charros winners!

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SUSD Seeks Input

If you have ideas about how SUSD can best utilize our school facilities, please send those suggestions to neighborhoodschools@susd.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Scottsdale Republic to Feature SUSD Teachers

Do you know an outstanding teacher in the Scottsdale Unified School District? Would you like that teacher to be recognized in the newspaper? The Scottsdale Republic is running a new weekly feature highlighting a different SUSD teacher each week. To nominate a teacher for this feature, simply fill out the online Teacher Nomination Form.

*Please note that a high resolution photo must be submitted to be considered for publication.

To view Cheyenne Traditional School teacher Jennifer Abraham's nomination that ran in the Scottsdale Republic, please visit: www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0129sr-teacher0130abraham-ON.html

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Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Round-Ups

Schools throughout the District will be hosting tours and open houses in preparation for enrolling children in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten for the 2008-2009 school year. Come visit us to meet teachers and principals and learn about great features offered by schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

For more information, please view the schedule for Pre-Kindergarten Round-Up and Kindergarten Round-Up at a school in your area.

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"The Myth and Magic" — Middle School Road Shows

"The Myth and Magic" — Middle School Road Shows are a great way to learn about what to expect during the transition from elementary school to middle school. To help make that transition smooth, parents are invited to attend Myth and Magic — the Middle School Road Show.

Upcoming Dates:

• Supai at 6 p.m. on February 7 in the Cafeteria at Tonalea Elementary, 6801 E. Oak St., Scottsdale.
• Cocopah Middle at 6:30 p.m. on February 19 in the Cafeteria at Sequoya Elementary, 11808 N. 64th St., Scottsdale.
  • At 6:30 p.m. on February 21 in the Library at Cochise Elementary, 9451 N. 84th St., Scottsdale.
  • At 6:30 p.m. on February 27 in the at Cafeteria at Cherokee Elementary, 8801 N. 56th St., Paradise Valley.

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Comprehensive Gifted Self-Contained School Tours

Gifted Services is hosting Comprehensive Gifted Program Tours at the following schools:

• Pima Elementary, 8330 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale, from 1-3 p.m. on February 20^th, April 2^nd, and April 30^th
• Zuni Elementary, 9181 Redfield Road, Scottsdale, from 1-3 p.m. on March 5^th, April 16^th, and May 14^th
• Mohave Middle, 5520 N. 86th St., Scottsdale, from 11 a.m.-12:30p.m. on February 27^th, April 9^th and May 7^th
• Desert Canyon Middle, 10203 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Scottsdale, from 2-4 p.m. on March 26^th, April 23^rd and May 21^st

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.

You may view frequently asked questions, the criteria for acceptance into the program and download the application at www.susd.org/district/gifted/Comprehensive.cfm.

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Upcoming Events

• Scottsdale Unified School District and Kaplan are offering SAT Classes at Arcadia, Chaparral and Desert Mountain High Schools in the spring. For dates and times, please view the flyer.
   
• The Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented will hold its annual conference on February 6, 7 and 8 at the Black Canyon Conference Center in Phoenix. This conference attracts more than 600 participants a day from around Arizona including K-12 classroom teachers, administrators, specialists in gifted and talented education and parents. Session topics include gifted characteristics and identification, program design, curriculum and instruction, social and emotional issues and parents and community involvement. Register for 3, 2, or 1 day attendance at www.aagtconference.org. More information on the conference and AAGT is available at www.arizonagifted.org or by calling 602-882-1848.
   
• Scottsdale Unified School District will host the Regional II Spelling Bee at 8 a.m. on February 11 in the Performing Arts Theater at Scottsdale Community College, 9000 E. Chaparral Road, Scottsdale.
   
• The next Governing Board meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on February 12 at the Education Center, 3811 N. 44th St., Scottsdale.
   
• Scottsdale Parent Council meeting is at 9:30 a.m. on February 19 at the Education Center, 3811 N. 44th St., Phoenix.
   
• Special Education Parents Advisory Council of Scottsdale is hosting an Assistive Technology meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on February 20 in the Kachina Room at the Mohave District Annex, 8505 E. Valley View Road, Scottsdale. For more information, please visit: www.sepacs.org.
   
• ASU Discount Basketball Tickets are available for the February 16 game against California. For more information, please view the flyer.
   
• Phoenix Coyotes February specials. For more information, please view the flyer.

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Excellence in the Classroom Scottsdale Unified School District has received a grant from Autism Care & Treatment Today (ACT Today), a local non-profit organization, to fund training for paraeducators who support SUSD students with autism spectrum disorders. The grant was matched by an SUSD family that has called on others to follow their lead in supporting efforts to improve the quality of support to children with autism. The training program is designed to teach paraeducators proven techniques for successfully working with children on the autism spectrum in inclusive/regular education settings. As the paraeducators become better trained, the District hopes to continue to improve outcomes for students whom the paraeducators support.

Hohokam would like to thank Mr. Thomas, Ms. Banicki, Mr. Bernstein, student council members, Coronado football players and Coronado Principal Mr. John Biera for making this event a success.

40 athletes

The next two banquets will take place later in the spring:

• March 24, 2008 for winter sports (basketball, wrestling, soccer)
• May 19, 2008 for spring sports (track, baseball, softball, tennis)

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