Chaparral High School	Sierra Vista Academy	Saguaro High School

Construction is underway at five Scottsdale Unified School District high schools and Sierra Vista Academy.

• At Chaparral High School, demolition crews razed the west side of the auxiliary gym. In its place a new gym and vocational education building is being constructed. Academic buildings will be built during Phase II of construction. The estimated cost to rebuild Chaparral is $49 million. McCarthy is the contractor and Orcutt/Winslow is the architectural firm for the project. Construction at Chaparral High School should be completed in January 2009.
   
• At Saguaro High School, the parking lot was demolished to make way for a two-story "A” Building. During Phase II of construction, the athletic complex will be renovated. The estimated cost to rebuild Saguaro is $47 million. DL Withers is the contractor and DLR Group is the architectural firm for the project. Construction at Saguaro High School should be completed in January 2009.
   
• At Coronado High School, crews are erecting the auditorium and performing arts building. Then, the 700 building will be demolished to finish construction on the baseball fields. The estimated cost of construction is $45.2 million. Construction at Coronado High School will be completed in December 2007.
   
• At Arcadia High School, crews are constructing the main academic building. Next year the gymnasium and athletic complex will be built. The estimated cost of construction at the school is $42.1 million. Arcadia High School will wrap up construction by August 2008.
   
• At Desert Mountain High School, the dining facilities, parking lots and drop-off areas will be expanded. Restrooms will be built at the baseball/softball fields, and a field house will be constructed. A zoned air conditioner for the shared City of Scottsdale Library will also be installed. The estimated cost of the construction at the school is $3.0 million and will be completed in June 2008.
   
• At Sierra Vista Academy, crews are almost finished doubling the size of the campus. New buildings include classrooms, art and science buildings and a fitness center. The Phase II construction at the school is estimated at $4.1 million. A dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled in mid-May.

During this construction process, the administrations at all sites are successfully balancing construction to accommodate academic and athletic needs at the schools with minimal disruption to the education process.

These projects are thanks to voters who approved a $217 million bond in November 2004 to modernize Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado and Saguaro high schools, make improvements to Desert Mountain High School, begin Phase II construction at Sierra Vista Academy and to purchase land and buses. At this time, all projects are on-time and on-budget. The result will be outstanding centers of learning, arts and athletics for our children.

At the February 14th Governing Board meeting, the Board approved the proposed calendars for 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and a template of subsequent calendars through 2017. The calendars are posted at: http://www.susd.org/district/administrativeservices/calendar.cfm.

At the same meeting, the Board approved Pueblo Elementary School’s Foreign Language Immersion Program, which will begin in the fall of 2007. This program offers parents an opportunity for their child to learn a second language at a time when children learn languages best.

Beginning in the first grade, English speaking students spend half of the school day learning regular first grade curriculum in Spanish and the other half learning in English. Students are taught the first grade curriculum and will learn to speak, read and write in two languages.

Parents who are interested in learning more about the programs are invited to attend an informational meeting from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 22nd in the Media Center at Pueblo Elementary, 6320 N. 82nd St.

For more information about the Foreign Language Immersion Program, please view the brochure or call Pueblo Elementary School at 480-484-3100.

Gifted Services is hosting Comprehensive Gifted Program Tours at Pima and Zuni Elementary Schools and Mohave and Desert Canyon Middle Schools.

• Pima Elementary School: May 9 from 1-3 p.m., 8330 E. Osborn Road
• Zuni Elementary School: March 7 and May 16 from 1-3 p.m., 9181 E. Redfield Road
• Mohave Middle School: March 21 and April 10 from 2-4 p.m., 5520 N. 86th St.
• Desert Canyon Middle School: April 11 from 2-4 p.m., 10203 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road

Prospective parents can reserve a seat today by e-mailing their name, address and phone number to Robin Madison. Also, indicate the location and date you plan to attend. Click here to view the informational flyer.

For the second consecutive year, the City of Scottsdale is being honored for helping young people succeed, and the Scottsdale Unified School District is proud to be part of that recognition.

The City has been named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth. The quality of education in Scottsdale’s schools was cited as a key factor in the ranking.

More than 1,000 communities nationwide vied for the organization's recognition.

Criteria for selecting the top 100 included community support of children and youth, resources children and youth receive, children and youth outcomes, community innovations in the areas of policy, practice and resources, progress to date and plans for the coming year and broad diversity of American life.

The initiative is sponsored by Colin Powell. For more information about America's Promise, please visit http://www.americaspromise.org/100Best.aspx?id=968.

Did you know that clients purchasing a home in a neighboring school district may enroll their child in a Scottsdale Unified School District school? SUSD accepts Open Enrollment applications 365 days of the year.

Open Enrollment packets are available at all of our 33 schools, on our Web site at http://www.susd.org/district/administrativeservices/openenroll.cfm and in the lobby of the Education Center (SUSD District office).

Here are just a few reasons why your clients (who are parents) should open enroll their children in Arizona’s Most Excelling School District:

• We have 21 “Excelling” schools – the highest academic rating in the state.
• We have more National Merit finalists than any other school district in Arizona.
• SUSD students scores higher than state averages on both AIMS and Terra Nova tests at all grade levels and in all content areas.
• SAT scores for our college-bound students were above the state and national averages in both English and math.

Once accepted to a SUSD school through the Open Enrollment process, parents will not need to fill out another application for the remainder of their child’s public school career. Parents will need to provide their own transportation to and from school. There are a limited number of our schools that are not accepting students through the Open Enrollment process because those schools are at full capacity. Please have your client call the school they are interested in to check Open Enrollment availability.

Purchasing a new home is one the biggest investments a person will make. In today’s’ market, potential clients have many choices when it comes to buying a home. Considerations include proximity to good schools/school districts, jobs, family and friends. In most instances, buyers will choose a home because it is located in a good school district even if they don’t have school-aged children. According to the National Association of REALTORS, a good school district is an excellent indicator of home value appreciation.

When showing a house in Scottsdale, remind potential clients of the many advantages of purchasing a home within the Scottsdale Unified School District boundaries, including:

• Their child is assured of attending one of our outstanding 33 schools.
• Their child will receive a “private education” at a "public school price."
• Twenty-one of our 33 schools are rated “Excelling” by the Arizona Department of Education.
• Scottsdale Unified School District offers unique academic programs such as
  • Foreign Language Immersion Program for first graders at Pueblo Elementary School
  • Copper Ridge Math and Science Academy for 9th grade students (9th and 10th grade students for the 2007-08 school year)
  • International Baccalaureate Program at Desert Mountain High School
  • Aviation Science Program at Coronado High School
  • Nursing Program at Saguaro High School
  • Culinary Program at Chaparral High School
  • Award-winning Media Communications Program at Arcadia High School
    

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visits Cochise Elementary School	Sandra Day O'Connor tutors students at Navajo Elementary School	Pitcher Miguel Batista speaks to students at Coronado High School

Scottsdale Unified School District has welcomed many VIPs to its schools this year, including:

• Sandra Day O’Connor spent time tutoring students at Navajo Elementary School.
• Nancy Pelosi ate lunch with students at Cochise Elementary School.
• Miguel Batista, a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, spoke to Coronado High School students about communicating original thoughts and ideas and about positive self-expression.
• Luis Gonzalez, a former Diamondbacks baseball player, participated in Sequoya Elementary School’s Jingle Bell Jog.
• Rachel Simmons, author of “Odd Girl Out” spoke to students at Cocopah Middle School and Mountainside Middle School.
• Patrick Fischer, Coyotes Hockey player, spoke to students at Yavapai Elementary School about eating right, exercise and the importance of safety gear.
• Derrick Hall, president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, participated in the “Principal for the Day” program at Hopi Elementary School.