October
9, 2009
Editor's Note: Community Connection will not
be published the week of October 12th. Have a safe and happy
Fall Break
SUSD Hosts Informal
Discussions
Scottsdale Unified School District invites you to join Dr.
Gary T. Catalani, Governing Board members and school administrators
at an informal discussion on several topics including K-3
Override, class sizes, enrollment, budget and goals. The meetings
will include a presentation followed by a Q&A session
for the public.
The remaining meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m.
- 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.
- November 4 from 12-2 p.m. at Navajo Elementary School,
4525 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale 85251
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 Saguaro, Chaparral and Desert Mountain high schools and
Sierra Vista Academy, Supai, Mountainside, Desert Canyon and
Mohave middle schools, ANLC, Copper Ridge and Cheyenne Traditional
School and Anasazi, Laguna, Desert Canyon, Sequoya, Tonalea,
Yavapai, Hohokam, Navajo, Pima, Tavan and Redfield elementary
schools. Installation is in progress at Cochise Elementary
School.
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 PMT
Services Available During Home Varsity Football Games
Superintendent Dr. Gary T. Catalani
and Chief William McDonald, Scottsdale Fire Department, met
and agreed that PMT Ambulance would provide emergency services
for varsity home football games beginning with the October
8 game. The ambulance crew will stage at the game and will
respond to emergencies in the immediate area. During this
time, PMT may have to leave the campus during the game. If
at all possible, PMT will return after responding to the emergency
for the duration of the game. Thank you, Chief McDonald, for
your commitment to student safety!
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Pueblo Students Learn
Dual Language with FLI Program
 The
Foreign Language Immersion (FLI) program at Pueblo Elementary
School offers parents an opportunity for their children to
learn a second language at a time when they learn languages
best.
The FLI program enrolls students starting in pre-Kindergarten.
English speaking students enrolled in this program will spend
half of the school day learning the regular curriculum in
Spanish and the other half learning in English. Students are
taught the curriculum and will learn to speak, read and write
in two languages.
“It is truly amazing what students as young as four
years old are able to do in Spanish and English,” said
Principal Terri Kellen.
This year first, second and third grade students are also
beginning an exciting partnership through City of Scottsdale
Sister Cities with Alamos, Mexico. Students are exchanging
art work and artifacts about Arizona and becoming pen pals.
“I am absolutely amazed at the amount of Spanish that
my daughter speaks and understands after only two years in
the FLI Program. I can truly see that she will be fully bi-lingual
and bi-literate before reaching 6th grade and that she will
be prepared to be a leader in the global economy,” Kristi
Bigelow, a parent at Pueblo Elementary School.
Pueblo has seen an increase in enrollment because of this
specialized program. The school will add a new grade level
every year until the program is expanded to sixth grade.
For more information about the Foreign Language Immersion
Program, please visit www.susd.org/Pueblo
or call Pueblo Elementary School at 480-484-3100.
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Congratulations
to Ingleside's 7th Grade Boys Baseball Team
A big congratulations goes
to Ingleside Middle School's 7th grade boys baseball team
for an undefeated season (a perfect 8-0 record). This is the
first time in the school's history that a 7th or 8th grade
team has gone undefeated! Way to go IMS Trojans!
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Sparky’s
Tour Visits Mohave
Today, Mohave Middle School students dressed in maroon and
gold to welcome Sparky, Arizona State University (ASU) mascot
and special guests including ASU athletic coaches, athletes
and the cheer squad. Topics discussed during Sparky’s
Tour included what it means to be a Self-starter, Positive,
Active, Responsible, Knowledgeable and Yourself (S.P.A.R.K.Y.).
Sparky’s Tour is a community outreach program created
in 2008 by ASU Athletics as a way to directly reach out to
Arizona youth by visiting local schools to encourage students
to work hard, make positive choices and spread goodwill. After
a successful first year, ASU is excited to continue and proud
to have teamed up with the Mary Lou Fulton School of Education
and Access ASU to assist local educators in stressing the
value of education to Valley students.
Each tour stop features a 45 minute program that includes
videos, guest speakers (student-athletes, alumni and staff),
the ASU Spirit Squad and lots of fun. During the program guest
speakers stress the importance of education and making good
decisions while Sparky focuses on how everyone can be a S.P.A.R.K.Y.
Sparky is more than just a mascot, and it takes more than
Maroon and Gold to be a Sparky. That’s why another goal
of Sparky’s Tour is to teach students what it means
to be a S.P.A.R.K.Y. Being a S.P.A.R.K.Y. means you are a
Self-starter, Positive, Active, Responsible, Knowledgeable
and Yourself. Sparky believes if students strive to be all
these things they will be successful in not only gaining an
education, but throughout their lives as well.
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Ron Heagy Inspires Desert Mountain's Freshman Class
On October 5, Ron Heagy spoke to the
freshman class at Desert Mountain High School. Students listened
to a very inspiring message. Ron is a quadriplegic who, the
day before his 18th birthday, had a terrible accident. Before
his accident, he had it all. His message was inspiring, motivational,
touching and very informative. Ron has a unique speaking manner
that draws everyone in. One minute you're laughing, the next
he will bring tears to your eyes.
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Help
Our Schools While Reducing Your State Tax Bill!
It’s never too early to make a donation that can be
claimed when you file your 2009 State tax return.
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 for donations made to SUSD schools?
You can claim the tax credit when filing your 2009 Arizona
State Income Tax return. The school must receive the funds
by December 31, 2009. It’s a win, win situation for
you and the school!
Your tax credit donation is used for:
- Tutoring
- Field trips
- Overnight trips
- Athletic programs
To contribute online, please visit: https://touchbase.susd.org/TouchBase/
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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IB 8th Grade Informational
Night
Desert Mountain High School will host an International Baccalaureate
(IB) Informational Night for all 8th graders and their families
who are interested in learning more about the pre-diploma
program on October 20 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, 12575 E.
Via Linda, Scottsdale. Families will learn about the application
process, shadowing program, writing test and other entrance
requirements. They can also ask questions of administrators,
teachers, students and parents involved in IB. If you have
questions, please contact Laura Kamka, IB coordinator, at
480-484-7062.
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Scholarship
Opportunity for Future Teachers
 High
school seniors in the Scottsdale Unified School District are
eligible to apply for a unique scholarship offered only to
graduates of this district.
The Scottsdale Charros, a civic organization supporting youth
and education causes, annually awards at least two deserving
high school seniors four-year, full-ride scholarships to an
Arizona university so they may pursue a bachelor’s degree
in education. The “Future Teacher Scholarship”
is intended to help bring outstanding candidates into the
teaching profession and back to the Scottsdale Unified School
District.
Recipients of the scholarship receive four years of paid
tuition. Those who complete their bachelor’s in education
also are immediately offered employment in the Scottsdale
Unified School District.
“The Scottsdale Charros believe that education is the
cornerstone of any community,” said education chair
George Jackson. “We are looking for the best high school
graduates who want to pursue a teaching career and we’re
proud to support their continued excellence in education.”
Students who wish to apply for the scholarship should contact
their high school guidance counselor for the application or
apply at www.scottsdalecharros.com.
The deadline to apply is November 30.
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 What
Are You Doing Next Summer?
Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program offers
opportunities for selected Phoenix high school students to
spend part of their summer living with a family in one of
Phoenix's 10 exciting Sister Cities around the world. Upon
returning to the U.S., local students host their new foreign
friends in their own homes, sharing Phoenix culture and activities.
Applications are due by Friday, December 4 at 4 p.m. For more
information, please visit www.phoenixsistercities.org.
This program is open to City of Phoenix high school sophomore
and junior students for travel the summer of 2010.
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SUSD Offers
All Day Kindergarten
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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H1N1 (Swine Flu) Update
08-09 - Parent
Letter Update
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On
October 6, Office Max recognized Johanna Cowart,
a 5th grade teacher at Hohokam Elementary
School, as the annual “A Day Made Better”
award winner. Each year, Office Max recognizes outstanding
teachers across the nation for their contributions in the
classroom. Mrs. Cowart was selected because of her passion,
hard work and positive attitude. She will receive over $1,000
in classroom supplies. On this particular day, Office Max
made Mrs. Cowart’s day better, but we are fortunate
that she makes everyday a great day for our students. Congratulations
Mrs. Cowart!
Navajo
Elementary students had the opportunity to hear the
Phoenix Symphony String Ensemble as part of the Classroom Concert
series. The Ensemble performed two morning concerts that included
student participation. Students in Kindergarten-3 grades learned
all about music fundamentals and a few even got to take a cello
apart! During the second performance, grades 4-6 participated
in the innovative and cross-curricular “Science of Sound”
program. Thank you, Mrs. Eisenberg, for bringing such a wonderful
experience to Navajo.
On
Wednesday, CBS (Channel 5) Weather Road Show visited Cochise
Elementary School. The students were also featured
on the news.
Service
Learning students at Cocopah Middle School
collected 1,258 canned food items. These items will be donated
to the Vista Del Camino Scottsdale Community Center to help
the citizens of Scottsdale. Parker Nelson
and Trey Mueller, 7th grade students, were
the project managers for the canned food drive. 