In this issue...

February 22, 2008

Cocopah Students Build Futuristic City

A team of Cocopah Middle School students has designed a city for the future. This week, Daniel Baele, Samuel Brebner and Kyle Koser, along with Gifted Specialist Jan Speisman, went to Washington, D.C. to present their designs at the Future Cities Competition.

The Future Cities Competition is a national team-based education program designed for 7^th and 8^th grade students. Working in teams of three, the students are required to create a city of the future.

The Cocopah team won the Arizona Future City Competition in January with an entry called Luz de la Vida, a city in northeastern Venezuela that uses bioluminescence principals to generate light.

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Living History

Students at Mohave Middle School can now get a first hand look at history.

The Scottsdale Exchange Club has donated a "Freedom Shrine" to the school. The Shrine consists of more than 30 high quality reproductions of American Historical documents mounted on fine wood.

The school recently held a dedication ceremony in the cafeteria, where the documents are displayed.

Thanks to everyone who made this wonderful donation possible.

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House Representative Schapira Visits Hohokam

Democrat House Representative David Schapira made a special visit to Hohokam Elementary School today.

Representative Schapira visited Nurse Allie Ernst, RN, BSN to discuss HB2673, and why the bill is a vital step in the success of students in Arizona schools. Representative Schapira is one of the sponsors of the bill. He also visited with Principal Chad Caudle and Dan Craddock, assistant principal, as well as the 5th and 6th grade gifted classes which are learning about legislation.

Starting in the 2009-2010 school year, HB2673 would require the governing board of schools/districts to assign at least one registered nurse (RN) on a full-time basis to each site in the district; require the governing board of schools/districts with fewer than 750 students to assign at least one RN to serve on a rotational basis to the sites in the district; and require that if the governing board decides to opt out of the requirements, they must hold a public meeting no later than November 1 of that school year and specify the reasons for opting out and then transmit a written explanation of the reasons to the Arizona Department of Education who will publish a list of these schools on their Web site.

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Attendance = Learning and Successful Testing

Each day our teachers plan new and important lessons to help SUSD students gain mastery of the subject matter in their classes. 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.

On February 26-27, 10th grade students will be taking the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) writing and reading tests. Any 11th or 12th grade students who haven’t met the standard or wish to retake the AIMS test to exceed the standard may do so. 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 medical 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.

April Testing Dates to Remember:

• AIMS, Dual Purpose Assessment (DPA) and Terranova will be administered April 7-18.
• Elementary and middle school students will take the DPA April 7-11 with make up tests the following week.
• All 2nd graders will take the Terranova April 8-9.
• All 9th graders will take the Terranova April 8.
• All 10th grade students will take the AIMS math test April 8. Any 11th or 12th grade students who haven’t met the standard or wish to retake the AIMS test to exceed the standard may do so.
• All 9th and 10th grade students currently enrolled in a Biology course will take the AIMS science test April 9.

To view testing calendars, please visit: www.susd.org/district/assess/index.cfm.

Students in SUSD’s attendance boundaries who attend private schools or are home schooled may sign up to take the AIMS test. Please contact Fredda Campbell, testing coordinator, at 480-484-6279. The deadline to register for the high school reading and writing portions of the AIMS tests is February 15. The deadline to register for all April testing is March 17.

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2008-2009 Kids Club Registration

Starting March 3^rd, Kids Club registration for the 2008-2009 school year will be open to currently enrolled families as well as families that have enrolled their children in Pre-Kindergarten for next year. Registration packets will be available at the end of February at the Community Schools office, the Education Center, every Kids Club site and the School Offices at Anasazi, ANLC, Aztec, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Cochise, Copper Ridge, Desert Canyon, Hopi, Kiva, Laguna, Pima, Pueblo, Tavan and Zuni elementary schools.

If you register your child for Summer Camp, you will not have to fill out another Emergency Information and Immunization Record Card (Yellow Card) for the 2008-2009 school year, but another copy of your children’s immunization records is needed.

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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 Arcadia teacher Heather Demmons' nomination that ran in the Scottsdale Republic , please visit: www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0220sr-teacher0220demmons-ON.html

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Kindergarten Round-Ups

Schools throughout the District will be hosting tours and open houses in preparation for enrolling children in 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 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:

• Cocopah Middle 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:

• 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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Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation — "Quest for Excellence" Golf Tournament

The Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation is a charitable organization which supports exceptional public education opportunities. On May 13^th, the Foundation is holding a golf tournament in its “Quest for Excellence” as it raises the money necessary to support key programs that improve academic achievement for all students within the Scottsdale Unified School District.

If you would like to be part of the "Quest for Excellence," you may request an invitation by e-mailing quest4excellence@cox.net or calling Mary Donaldson at 480-998-7206. For more information, please view the flyer.

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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.
   
• Mohave Middle School's PTO is hosting a Family Internet Safety program from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on February 26 in the Cafeteria at Mohave, 5520 N. 86th St., Scottsdale. All SUSD parents and their children are encouraged to attend. At the conclusion of this one-hour program, there will be a question and answer session. There is no cost to attend this event. For more information, please view the flyer.
   
• Lighting Hope: A Candlelight Vigil to Remember Darfur- an evening with Sudanese refugees and the Arcadia community to remember five years of genocide in Darfur. This event will feature Darfuri testimonies, student speeches, live music from Hilary Brubaker and Dan Hildebrand and a symbolic candle lighting at 7 p.m. on February 27 in the Courtyard at Arcadia High School, 4703 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix.
   
• Phoenix Coyotes February specials. For more information, please view the flyer.
   
• Sharing Healthy Experiences (s.h.e.) is a program designed to help young teens and parents survive and thrive in today’s environment. The s.h.e. Forum is from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on March 1 at Ingleside Middle School, 5402 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix. For more information, please view the flyer. If you have any questions, please contact Katey McPherson at 480-484-1114.
   
• ASU Discount Basketball Tickets are available for the March 1 game against USC. For more information, please view the flyer.
   
• Governing Board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. on March 4 at the Education Center, 3811 N. 44th St., Phoenix.
   
• AAA Arizona and the Maricopa Association of Governments are currently seeking candidates for the 2^nd Annual Crossing Guard of the Year Award. Applications are due no later than May 31. For more information and the nomination form, please view the flyer.
  

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Excellence in the Classroom On February 6, The Horace Mann Companies presented a check for $1,000 to Dan Cooper and the staff at Supai Middle School to help support their curriculum goals. Presenting the donation were Michelle Titus, Arizona Agency manager, and Steve Edman, local representative. The staff at Supai received praise for their willingness to meet their current challenges and were reminded what a positive influence they can be on their students' development.

The Horace Mann Company was founded by educators for educators and was named in honor of Horace Mann, the "Father of Public Education" in the United States.

In addition, the Comprehensive Gifted Algebra I and Pre-Algebra classes will be sending a team to the Papago Chapter MathCounts Competition 2008 on February 23.

Emily Habinck from Maricopa Parks Department delivered a presentation about Sonoran desert animals and their adaptations to this climate to students at Pueblo Elementary School. She also spoke with students about desert safety.

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