In this issue...

February 29, 2008

Facility Usage Community Forums

Scottsdale Unified School District is hosting Facility Usage Community Forums at each complex to inform the community about proposed options and offer the community an opportunity to provide input.

All meetings are scheduled at 6 p.m. The dates and locations for the five meetings are:

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Grass Roots Efforts Aim to Address School Utilities at State Capitol

Members of the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board, teachers, parents and SUSD administration visited the state capitol on February 11, 2008 to discuss their concerns about school utility funding. Senator Barbara Leff and Representative Michele Reagan took the time to meet with the group. During the meeting, the women explained how they are each sponsoring a bill – SB1446 and HB2770 – that addresses this unmet need.

More than 20 years ago the Arizona Legislature capped public school district funding for electric, trash collection, sewer and water costs at 1985 levels. The plan at that time was to fix or update the utility-funding formula at a later date, but this never happened. Thus, school districts remain locked into 1985 funding levels despite the fact that utility companies have given several double-digit rate increases during those decades. In addition, utility usage has increased dramatically in the workplace because of computers and other technology. Read more...

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Boys and Girls Clubs Announce Youth of the Year Finalist

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale has announced the eight finalists for the clubs' 2008 Youth of the Year, including three from Scottsdale high schools.

The finalists were selected based on the club's five core values: home and family, community service, scholastic achievement, moral character and service to the club.

SUSD's finalists for the club's highest honor are Allison Kueffner, Saguaro High School; Katie Loker, Desert Mountain High School; and Caitlin Peil, Coronado High School.

The winner will be announced March 29 at the Celebrate Youth Dinner and Auction at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center. The Celebrate Youth Dinner and Auction is sponsored by General Dynamics and Casino Arizona. The Arizona state finalist for Youth of the Year will be announced during the State Youth of the Year Breakfast scheduled for April 22 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.

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Kids Club Spring Break Camp

Do you need child care during Spring Break? Kids Club will have camps at Hopi and Cheyenne Elementary schools, March 10-14.

Camp hours are from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. The cost to attend is $40 per day. Children must bring their own lunch, three drinks and two snacks. For more information, please view the flyer.

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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 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 Cherokee Elementary teacher Diane Dodge's nomination that ran in the Scottsdale Republic , please visit: www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0226sr-teacher0227dodge-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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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
• 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
• Mohave Middle, 5520 N. 86th St., Scottsdale, from 11 a.m.-12:30p.m. on April 9^th and May 7^th

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.
   
• 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.
   
• The Scottsdale Arts in Education Council (AEC) holds monthly meetings to discuss arts related district information beneficial to all SUSD schools. The next meeting is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. in the Kachina Room at the Mohave District Annex, 8505 E. Valley View Road. The topic of the meeting is meet new AEC members.
   
• Governing Board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. on March 4 in the Auditorium at Arcadia High School, 4703 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix.
   
• "Electric Fusion II" Concert featuring professional rock violinist Mark Wood with the nearly 200 member Scottsdale Unified School District Honor Orchestra is at 7 p.m. on March 4 at in the Auditorium at Chaparral High School, 6935 E. Gold Dust Ave., Scottsdale. The cost to attend is $10 for students and $20 adults.
   
• Coronado High School is hosting the Eugene L. Hanson Auditorium Dedication, Gatti Mosaic Unveiling and Open House at 6 p.m. on March 19, 2501 N. 74th St., Scottsdale. The ceremony will include performances by the Dons Band, the Advanced Choral Ensemble singing the CHS hymn and the 2008 Dancing Donettes performing to the Dons' fight song.
   
• Scottsdale Community College (SCC) Piper Scholars Program will offer scholarships to eight Scottsdale Unified School District Seniors (Class of 2008). Scholarship recipients will receive $1,500 for the Fall semester and $1,500 for the Spring semester for a maximum of four semesters if all eligibility requirements are maintained.

  This unique program is only available to students in the Scottsdale Unified School District. The application deadline is May 9, 2008. Application process and complete details for this and any other SCC Scholarship can be found by clicking on “Available Scholarships” at www.scottsdalecc.edu/financial or calling 480-423-6549.

• 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 Service Learning students volunteered at the Via Linda Senior Center last Friday night for a "Paris Evening to Remember" dance.

This year, five students will be competing at the National History Day State Competition on April 12th, having won at the regional level. The students advancing to States are: Karis Felthouse and Jamie Heuermann for their exhibit on Rosalind Franklin and the Double Helix, Vidur Gupta with his exhibit on the Partition of Pakistan, Matt Kalina with his exhibit on Rum Runners and Greg Hopkins with his paper on Northern Ireland.

Students participate in National History Day, a challenging opportunity to conduct in-depth research and hypothesize like historians, as part of their National Junior Honor Society membership requirements. Lois Sugar is the Mountainside National Junior Honor Society adviser.

Last year Mountainside had two students who placed third in the United States for their NHD entry. Mountainside has had students advance to the national level for five consecutive years.

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