September 4, 2009
Editor's note: District offices and schools will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Please have a safe and happy holiday weekend.
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Gary Catalani
Dear Scottsdale Unified School District Staff, Parents, Students and Community:
Backpacks are stuffed with new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils, every student knows which bus to take, and many new friends have been made. Yes, the 2009-10 school year is underway at Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), and there are great things happening all around our District. Read more...
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SUSD Hosts K-3 Override Road Shows
Scottsdale Unified School District is hosting K-3 Override Road Shows at each complex to provide factual information to the community about the upcoming K-3 Override. The meetings will include a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Gary T. Catalani 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 p.m. The dates and locations for the five meetings are:
- Wednesday, September 9 at
Arcadia Complex
Arcadia High School
Library
4703 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
- Wednesday, September 16
Chaparral Complex
Chaparral High School
Media Center
6935 E. Gold Dust Ave., Scottsdale
- Thursday, October 1
Desert Mountain Complex
Desert Mountain High School
Cafeteria
12575 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale
- Wednesday, October 7
Saguaro Complex
Saguaro High School
Media Center
6250 N. 82nd St., Scottsdale
- Wednesday, October 28
Coronado Complex
Coronado High School
Media Center
7501 E. Virginia Ave., Scottsdale
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Dr. Catalani's Office Hours at Schools
Superintendent Dr. Catalani will be visiting schools throughout the year.
- September 9 from 8-10 a.m. at ANLC, 4330 N. 62nd St., Scottsdale 85251
- September 11 from 8-10 a.m. at Cocopah Middle School, 6615 E. Cholla St., Scottsdale 85254
View the complete schedule
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Factual Override Information Available Online
On November 3rd, a K-3 Renewal Override will be on the ballot.
The K-3 Override is a continuation of an existing override approved initially by voters in 2005. The K-3 Override reduces Kindergarten class size to a District-wide target of 21 students to 1 teacher. These funds also allow us to reduce class sizes in grades 1-3 below current staffing ratios. Additional funds are used for instructional assistants in Kindergarten and first grade as needed. The override raises about $3.4 million per year.
To view a complete Fact Sheet about the K-3 Override, please visit www.susd.org.
Classroom Technology Installation Update
The Classroom Technology Implementation has been completed at Desert Mountain and Saguaro high schools and Sierra Vista Academy, Supai and Mohave middle schools and Anasazi, ANLC, Tonalea, Yavapai, Hohokam, Navajo, Pima, Tavan and Redfield elementary schools and Cheyenne Traditional School. Installation is in progress at Chaparral on Monday.
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SUSD Receives 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant
Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) was recently awarded the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant in the amount of $400,767 to provide services for students at Yavapai Elementary School. The 21st CCLC is a 5-year federal grant and is designed to support the No Child Left Behind Act. It is administered by the Arizona Department of Education. Read more...
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Supai Receives Arizona Physical Therapy Association Grant
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Chris McKenna, adaptive PE;
Marcie Groom; Supai Principal Dawn
Thompson and Kay Wing. |
Today, Supai Middle School received the Operation: Move Your Body grant in the amount of $1,000 from Kay Wing, president of the Arizona Physical Therapy Association (AzAPTA). The grant money will be used for the inclusion of special needs children in physical education. The grant is sponsored by the Arizona Physical Therapy Association for Title 1 middle schools.
“I heard about the grant from our District's grant writer Renee Mesnik, and she helped me write the proposal along with Anna Brennan, physical therapist, and Stacy Griffin, SPT (intern). I applied for the grant to help promote fitness for our special needs students and to assist with obtaining equipment due to our limited funding for newer equipment,” said Marcie Groom, lead physical therapist.
Supai hopes to purchase a Wii-fit and games to help promote fitness and peer interaction between regular education and special needs students. Other fitness equipment will be purchased such a mini-trampoline and a stationary bicycle if there are enough funds. back to top
Mitchell Tours Pima during ‘Congress at Your School’ Event
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Pima Principal Sheryl Rednor and
Congressman Mitchell |
Congressman Mitchell |
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This morning, Congressman Mitchell took part in the first Flag Raising Ceremony of the school year at Pima Elementary School. He met with teachers, students and parents before the event. Pima students sang a patriotic song during the ceremony. Congressman Mitchell was also presented with a Pima T-shirt. Following the ceremony, he spoke with parents and community members as part of his “Congress on Your Corner.”
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Service Learning Guest Speakers Needed
Do you believe in giving back? Is your organization in need of volunteers? Would your organization be interested in speaking to 7th and 8th grade students that are taking a community service class? Service Learning guest speakers are wanted for Cocopah Middle School’s Service Learning classes. If you are interested, please contact Ann Achtziger at 480-484-4400 x4311. This is a great way to promote awareness for an important cause and/or obtain volunteers. The speaking times would be: 8:55 a.m.-12 p.m. with an hour and a half break and then from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
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Register for Nixle
Scottsdale residents can receive emergency alerts right on their cell phones. Nixle allows government agencies, like the Scottsdale Police Department, to send e-mails or text-message alerts on everything from traffic problems to missing adults and children, crime warnings and weather hazards. Nixle is a free service that allows you to receive real-time neighborhood information for where you live, work or visit–or for where your family and friends are located throughout the country.
Features of Nixle include:
- Choose the information you want, for the locations you want, from urgent public safety alerts to less time sensitive advisories and community information.
- Choose how you want to receive the information, whether it is on your cell phone by text message, by e-mail or over the Web.
- Stay connected to what is happening in the communities and the locations that are relevant to you!
- Registration is free, simple and secure.
Register today at: http://local.nixle.com/city/az/scottsdale/
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September is Library Card Sign-up Month  Library Card Sign-up Month is a time to remind parents and children that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Encourage your children, family and friends to visit their local library where adventures are waiting for them. Get a library card, browse a wide selection of books, movies and music or visit the Knowasis Teen Learning Center at the Civic Center Library. For more information about Scottsdale Public Library, please visit http://library.scottsdaleaz.gov/, and for more information about the Phoenix Public Library, please visit http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/.
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Scottsdale Mayor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities Seeks Nominations
The Scottsdale Mayor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is seeking applications for its annual awards presentation scheduled for Thursday, October 22. These awards recognize students and employees with disabilities and what they have done to overcome them to reach their educational and employment goals. It is also an opportunity to nominate a deserving special education teacher and/or instructional aide for exemplary work with disabled students.
Completed nomination forms should be sent to the following address no later than September 16:
Keti Voss
Scottsdale Mayor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
City of Scottsdale
7575 E. Main St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Jacquelyn Bell at 480-312-2477. For more information, please view the application.
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Sharing Healthy Experience (s.h.e.) Forum
Teens and Parents Participate in Interactive Workshop That Teaches Them to Thrive in Today’s World
Scottsdale Unified School District and Scottsdale Prevention Institute will host the 3rd Annual Sharing Healthy Experiences Forum (s.h.e.) from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, September 12th at Mountainside Middle School, 11256 N. 128th St., Scottsdale.
Hundreds of girls, parents and educators will rock out to live music, enjoy a delicious lunch and participate in interactive experiences all relating to the teen and “tween” girl years. The event is open to all girls in grades 5-8, with or without a parent in attendance. All materials and presentations will be available in English and Spanish. Read more... Registration Form
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Constitution Commemoration Day
Celebrate the signing of our Constitution at the Constitution Commemoration Day Celebration at 5:30 p.m. on September 17 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, 3839 Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale.
Start now! Enter the poster and essay contest by Sept. 9th, so you can have a chance to win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place cash prizes at the event. Details on how you can enter are found at www.CCDScottsdale.com. If you don't submit an entry to the contests, please find time to join the community with families and friends at the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza for lots of free family fun and entertainment. For more information, please view the flyer. View the rules and regulations for the contest.
This annual celebration is sponsored by the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS®.
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SUSD Foundation Night with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Please join the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Foundation for a night out with the Arizona Diamondbacks to support SUSD on September 22 at 6:40 p.m. at Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix 85004. The SUSD Foundation is a non-profit group that raises money to support teachers, student programs, projects and scholarships that would otherwise be unfunded.
Tickets are available at three different price levels. Additionally, a portion of every ticket sold will go directly to the SUSD Foundation. To purchase tickets, please visit www.dbacks.com/groups.
Sign-in ID : susd and Password : ballgame
For more information, please view Flyer
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The Benefits of All Day Kindergarten and K-3 Override
- The K-3 Override was originally approved to provide all day Kindergarten for Scottsdale Unified School District.
- When the State provided funding for all day Kindergarten, we were able to support smaller class sizes in Kindergarten and grades 1, 2 and 3.
- The current State budget challenges may impact the funds provided by the State for all day Kindergarten. District leadership is continually monitoring the State budget process and will update this information as often as possible.
- If the State does not provide funding for all day Kindergarten, the K-3 Override will be used to continue our current all day Kindergarten program. We would not be able to continue to reduce class sizes in grades 1, 2 and 3.
Thank You
- The K-3 Override was passed by voters in 2005. A voter-approved K-3 Override runs for a period of seven years.
- The first five years of this override allow for a school district to budget an additional 5% of K-8 funding capacity.
- If the Override is not renewed after five years, it will be reduced by 1/3 of the approved funds in year six and an additional 1/3 reduction will occur in year seven.
- The K-3 Override allows $3.4 million per year of additional education funding so that the District has reduced Kindergarten class sizes targeted at 21 students to 1 teacher.
- These funds also allow reduced class sizes in grades 1-3, during the important early years of a student’s education. Funds also provide for instructional assistants in kindergarten and first grade.
The Benefits of the K-3 Override to Our Children Are:
- Better academic preparation.
- The opportunity for enrichment of the curriculum.
- More interaction between teachers and students.
- More focused participation during early childhood education which positively impacts later academic performance.
- A more productive learning environment and the opportunity to learn to work well with peers.
Thank you for your continued support of public education! Your support has made excelling education possible in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Thank you!
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Scottsdale Republic Features 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 runs a weekly feature highlighting a different SUSD teacher each week. To nominate a teacher, simply fill out the online Teacher Nomination Form.
*Please note that a high resolution digital photo must be submitted to be considered for publication.
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Scottsdale Leadership Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards
Scottsdale Leadership, Inc., a nonprofit organization serving Scottsdale and the surrounding community, is accepting nominations for the 2009 Corporate Leadership, Frank W. Hodges Alumni Achievement, Drinkwater Community Leadership and Youth Leadership awards. All nominations are due by September 4, 2009.
The Youth Leadership award, presented by Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club and Foundation, recognizes a teenager who exhibits leadership skills within his/her school, community and extracurricular activities. Nominees must be high school juniors or seniors.
Award recipients will be honored at Scottsdale Leadership's 10th Annual Spirit of Community Leadership Awards Luncheon, sponsored by APS, on December 4, 2009 at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, 6333 N. Scottsdale Road.
To download an award nomination form or for more information, visit www.scottsdaleleadership.org or call 480-627-6710. back to top
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Update
08-09 - Parent Letter Update
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