Echo Canyon School, 4330 N. 62nd St., has been recognized as a 2023 National ESEA Distinguished School.

“It truly highlights the hard work and dedication of our students, staff and community to create and foster a learning environment that is built upon relationships with our families and our community,” said Echo Canyon Principal Kat Hughes.

Read More...

Learn More: Echo Canyon

“These grades reflect the hard work and dedication of our students and staff,” Menzel said. “The drive for excellence is never ending and we look forward to building on this positive report card and continuing to provide world-class, future-focused learning opportunities for our students.”

SUSD Board President Julie Cieniawski saw the generally high grades as an affirmation of the board’s policies and district’s teaching and learning model.

“The proof is in the pudding,” she said. “Dr. Menzel is a thoughtful and supportive leader and with that kind of guidance our employees have  tremendous opportunities to become great leaders as well.  

Read More...

WASHINGTON – Gabriella Nakai said she has tackled the challenges facing Indigenous communities on her own, but that being surrounded by others who share her passion makes the load a little lighter.

“Seeing all of the amazing work that all of these Native national native youth leaders are doing pushes me forward and lets me know that when I am the only Native in these spaces that I have, all these people behind me that are going to have my back,” Nakai said Monday.

Read More...

Scottsdale Mayor David D. Ortega congratulated more than two dozen students for their winning entries in his annual “We the People” contest. More than 110 parents, students, teachers and administrators attended. The contest commemorates the September 17, 1797, signing of the United States Constitution. 

“The ‘We the People’ Constitution Contest promotes civic engagement, community reflection and understanding of the principles that guide our participation in our representative form of government,” said Ortega. “We were especially impressed with this year’s creative entries from Scottsdale area students.” 

Read More...

Future Titan Night has been a longstanding tradition for Arcadia High to strengthen its learning community within the neighborhood and the Scottsdale Unified School District. Students from Hopi, Tavan, Echo Canyon and Ingleside gathered for the annual Arcadia get-together on September 15.

“Offering events like a Future Titan Night is a great opportunity to invite all of our school communities to come to support our Titans, but also have fun and mingle with other families before a football game,” Nicki Ess, President of the Arcadia PTO, said. She also stated that this year’s event was highly successful, with over 500 people attending throughout the evening’s festivities. 

Read More...

Last summer, Arcadia High students Aani Nagaiah and Gage Samaddar conjured up an endearing and creative way to enhance the lives of seniors in their community. The art and music muses formed “Our Ode to You,” a nonprofit with a testament to the healing power of the arts. 

Gage entertains through voice and piano, while Aani, a flute and guitar player, provides art projects. The duo travels to memory care units and retirement homes to rekindle older adults’ interests in painting, singing and performing. The team recently formed their passion project into a foundation.

Read More...

Scottsdale Arts' in-residence artists have been guiding Navajo Elementary and Coronado High School students' Canal Convergence creations. Check them out Nov. 3-11 along the Scottsdale Waterfront!

Read More...

Learn More: https://canalconvergence.com/

Pueblo Elementary in the Scottsdale Unified School District recently celebrated the completion of the rebuilt campus, which was designed by BWS Architects and built by McCarthy Building Companies, with an official ribbon-cutting celebration.

Originally constructed in 1971, the school, located at 6320 N. 82^nd St. in Scottsdale, Ariz., sits on 15.6 acres and includes 56,000 square feet of new building space divided into three buildings as well as new ball fields and related amenities. The approximately $25 million project is the sixth, and final, SUSD campus to be rebuilt using a $229-million bond approved by voters in 2016.

Read More...

Learn More: https://www.susd.org/pueblo

While there may be many reasons for students missing school, studies show the cumulative effect of student absenteeism can take a significant toll on learning, achievement, relationships and mental health.

Attendance in Scottsdale Unified School District classrooms dropped from 92.37% in the 2021-22 school year to 91.86% in 2022-23. With a governing board goal of increasing attendance to at least 92.5% this school year, SUSD is undertaking an initiative to improve attendance and address the issue of chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year. In Arizona, that constitutes 18 days – nearly four weeks – of the state-required, 180-day school year.

Read More...

Learn More: https://www.susd.org/attendance