In this issue...

March 28, 2008

Desert Mountain Teacher Wins Award

Julianne Trump, a business and marketing teacher at Desert Mountain High School, was recently named the DECA Advisor of the Year at the Arizona State DECA conference in Tucson.

Ms. Trump has been extremely involved with the DECA leadership both, at Desert Mountain High School and state-wide, for many years. Ms Trump has encouraged students to take on leadership roles in the State DECA program and Desert Mountain Co-President Lindsey Gilman was elected to State Office at the Tucson convention. Student Jennalee Pfeiffer currently serves as a State DECA Officer. This year the DECA-Booster (DMBAA-DECA Booster) program formed a 501 (c) (3) corporation to help provide financial support for the Desert Mountain students.

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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 upcoming meetings are:

View the Superintendent's Blue Ribbon Advisory Council Facility Utilization Presentation that was presented to the Governing Board on March 4^th.

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Help Scottsdale Unified Schools While Reducing Your State Tax Bill!

With tax season upon us, it’s a great time to think about ways you can reduce your 2008 Arizona State Income taxes. Although the deadline has passed for claiming a tax credit on your 2007 State taxes, it’s never too early to make a donation that can be claimed when you file your 2008 State taxes.

Did you know that Arizona law allows taxpayers to receive a tax credit of up to $200 for individual filers and up to $400 for married filers? You can claim the tax credit when filing your 2008 Arizona State Income Tax. The school must receive the funds by December 31, 2008. It’s a win, win situation for you and the school!

To contribute online, please visit: http://payments.susd.org/

If you have additional questions, please contact Scottsdale Unified School District at 480-484-6143, or the Arizona Department of Revenue at: www.azdor.gov/ResearchStats/Schooltaxcredit.htm.

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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.

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.

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Arts in Education Seeks Nominations

The Arts in Education Council would like to recognize the efforts of individuals who 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 our Spring Appreciation Luncheon on May 15^th.

If you want to nominate someone to receive recognition, send a one-page letter describing why the nominee should receive the award. Include the name and affiliation of the nominee. Include the nominator’s name, address and phone number. Identify which category is appropriate for the nominee. The deadline is April 25^th.

You can submit the nomination by mailing it to Bonnie Sneed, 10830 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85255-1800, e-mail artsined@cox.net or fax 480-342-9157.

Winners will receive recognition at the 2008 Arts in Education Council Spring Appreciation and Recognition Luncheon on May 15 at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, 7700 E. McCormick Parkway. For more information, please view the flyer.

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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 Cochise teacher Amy Sokolnicki's nomination that ran in the Scottsdale Republic , please visit: http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0325sr-teacher0326sokolnicki-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 April 16^th and May 14^th
• Desert Canyon Middle, 10203 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Scottsdale, from 2-4 p.m. on April 23^rd and May 21^st
• Mohave Middle, 5520 N. 86th St., Scottsdale, from 11 a.m.-12:30p.m. on 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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Upcoming Events

• Special Day for Special Kids is a free event for the Valley’s special needs children and their families. Special Day for Special Kids will be held at The McCormick Stillman Railroad Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 29, 2008. Special education children and their families can join us for FREE train rides, carnival activities, carousel rides, balloons, activity booths, clowns, face painting, petting zoo and lots of free food and ice cream.
   
• Scottsdale Summer Camp Fair is from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on March 29 in the Gym at Desert Canyon Middle School, 10203 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. Sign up your children and teens for summer school, camps and classes. Camps include sports, band, strings, dance, Kids Club, credit high school courses and much more. Summer Job information for teens will be available.
   
• Valley residents are joining millions of people around the world on Saturday, March 29 by turning off their lights for one hour from 8-9 p.m. to bring awareness about climate change. Earth Hour will show that by working together, each one of us can make a positive impact on a global issue.

  You can sign up at www.earthhour.org and then turn off your lights from 8-9 p.m. local time; during that hour, replace your old light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs and commit to reducing energy consumption in the year ahead. Earth Hour is sponsored locally by the City of Phoenix, APS, SRP and other businesses and organizations.

• 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 Arts in Education Council monthly meeting is at 9:30 a.m. on April 1 in the Kachina Room at the Mohave District Annex, 8505 E. Valley View Road, Scottsdale. This meeting is open to the public. The council is seeking volunteers to help at its 2008 Spring Appreciation and Recognition Luncheon on May 15 at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Sneed at artsined@cox.net or call 480-342-8633.
   
• The Teen Opportunity Expo is for students seeking employment, volunteer, career and college opportunities. The expos will be held at the following locations:
  • Desert Mountain High School, 12575 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale, from 3-5:30 p.m. on April 17 in the Cafeteria
    
  • Coronado High School, 2501 N 74th St., Scottsdale, from 3-5:30 p.m. on April 30 in the Cafeteria

Local employers and exhibitors will attend the Expo, so dress to impress. On the spot interviews will be conducted and resumés are recommended. All Scottsdale students are welcome. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Sheila Williams, teen employment program coordinator, at 480-312-0105.

• Scottsdale Healthcare presents Internet Safety, Drugs & Risky Behavior Workshop from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on April 23. For more information, please view the flyer.
   
• 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
The Arizona Republic named Scott Lovely, Arcadia High School, as the Northeast Valley Coach of the year.

www.wlfleaders.org/london

The following students from Mohave Middle School won awards: EJ Borroughs- Gold Medal, Jonathan Croom- Silver Medal, Conner Wareing- Silver Medal and Gold Medal award for best research paper, David Ingraham- Bronze Medal, Isabella Germinario- Bronze Medal and Noubar Manoogian- Silver Medal.

Six of the 12 projects entered in the 5th and 6th grade division at this year's fair from students in Pima Elementary School's Comprehensive Gifted Program received awards: Ryan Opila, Cellular and Molecular Biology - 1st place and Special Microbiology award;Kaitlyn Malley, Leah Porter and Ellie Crossman, Medicine and Health - 1st place; Trystan Smith and Gabe Salmon, Physics - 1st place; Jasmine Xi and Hannah Zweig, Behavioral and Social Sciences - 2nd place; McKenna Daniel and Parker Stimson, Behavioral and Social Sciences - 3rd place and Kendall McCreary, Chemistry - 3rd place.

The following Desert Canyon Middle School students won awards: Noah Shinbaum, Javanalysis - 2nd place; Philip Bondank, What Size of an Arch on an Arch Bridge is the Strongest? - 2nd place; Kelly Morrison, A Bright Idea Interest IN Saving Energy - 3rd place; Julie Kline, Participant Block the Burn and Paige Lindgren, Participant More Than Meets The Eye.

Congratulations to all students who participated for a job well done!

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