Youth Market Days: A Partnership in Action
Scottsdale Unified School District is proud to partner with the City of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Public Library to launch the first ‘Youth Market Days’ event on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center.
This one-day event highlights the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of SUSD students, who have spent months designing recycled products, developing business plans, and learning key economic concepts such as scarcity, opportunity cost, and risk. Their classroom projects will come to life in a real-world market, giving students the chance to share and sell their creations with the community.
The partnership brings together education, civic engagement, and public resources to provide students with hands-on learning that connects classroom lessons to real-world applications. Families and community members are invited to attend, shop local, and support the next generation of innovators.
‘Youth Market Days’ is more than a marketplace, it’s a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and the bright future of Scottsdale’s youth.
Celebrating Our Partnership with the SUSD Foundation: A Festive Night at the Holiday Show
We are truly grateful for our strong partnership with the SUSD Foundation, and this year’s Ho Ho Holiday Show was yet another reminder of the incredible dedication and community spirit this organization brings to our district.
Each year, this festive gathering signals the start of the holiday season in the best way possible. It’s filled with laughter, joyful conversations, and a shared commitment to supporting SUSD students and schools.
To everyone who attended, donated, sponsored, or lent their time and talent, thank you. Your generosity strengthens the Foundation’s impact and supports the work happening every day throughout SUSD. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership, especially during this season of giving.
It was a day filled with discovery and inspiration for members of the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® (SAAR), as they toured two of Scottsdale Unified School District’s innovative campuses to see our premier programs in action!
The first stop on the tour was Mohave Middle School, home to SUSD’s new and only Middle School Math and Science Academy. Student leaders proudly guided our guests around campus, sharing how Mohave’s hands-on, inquiry-based approach prepares students for advanced study and future careers in STEM fields.
Next, the group visited Saguaro High School, the flagship High School Math and Science Academy. Here, Realtors witnessed excellence across the board from the award-winning Saguaro Choir to the Nursing program, where students can earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential before graduation. They also explored biology labs that bring science to life through hands-on experimentation and saw innovative projects designed by Saguaro’s talented robotics students.
The day concluded with a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel, who shared how SUSD continues to elevate excellence by offering rigorous academics, real-world learning experiences, and exceptional opportunities for every student.
A heartfelt thank you to the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® for spending the day with us and for your continued partnership and advocacy for public education in our community. Together, we’re helping families discover why it’s always the right choice to Choose SUSD!
The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is celebrating six more official school locations as Scottsdale Blue Zones Project® approved, underscoring our commitment to student wellness! Coronado High School is the first SUSD High School to receive the health and wellness title. Additionally, Mountainside Middle School, Hopi Elementary School, Redfield Elementary School, Yavapai Elementary School and Cochise Elementary now join the ranks of several other SUSD elementary and middle schools to hold this important title.
The Blue Zones Project is based on the research of National Geographic Fellow and best-selling author Dan Buettner, who identified places around the world where people live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives. The project helps schools, communities, and organizations adopt practices that support better health and stronger connections.
With these new recognitions, more SUSD schools are helping to lead the way in promoting wellness and healthy choices. Other Blue Zones Project-approved schools in the district include Echo Canyon Elementary and Middle School, Anasazi Elementary, Pima Elementary, Cocopah Middle School, and Sequoya Elementary.
SUSD is proud to continue growing its network of Blue Zones schools, reflecting the district’s ongoing partnership and commitment to creating environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The newest Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunity for Scottsdale Unified School District students is already making headlines. In September, FOX10 and KTAR Radio visited Coronado High School to learn more about the district’s brand-new Fire Science Academy.
The academy officially opened in July and is the result of a powerful partnership between SUSD, the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), the Scottsdale Fire Department, and the Scottsdale Charros. Together, these partners are expanding opportunities for SUSD students to gain hands-on training in the fire service while still in high school.
Designed for juniors and seniors, the program combines classroom instruction with practical training that mirrors what real firefighters do every day such as running hoses, placing ladders, and working in teams to solve problems under pressure. The curriculum prepares students to earn industry-recognized certifications in HazMat, Wildland Firefighting, EMT, and Firefighter I and II.
Students in the program also benefit from unique mentorship. Scottsdale Fire Department personnel work directly with academy participants, providing real-world knowledge and guidance. This partnership ensures that students leave the program not only with technical skills, but also with leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities that will serve them well in any career.
While the Fire Science Academy is housed at Coronado High School, it is open to all SUSD students, as well as students from other districts in the EVIT Career Technical Education District (CTED).
For more information about Scottsdale Unified School District programs, visit www.susd.org
Four Peaks Brewing Company celebrated its 14th annual teacher support program
Four Peaks Brewing Company’s 14th Annual Four Peaks For Teachers program provided Arizona educators with classroom supplies and the opportunity to win cash grants totaling $7,000.
Dennis Gibney, a K-5 PE teacher at Yavapai Elementary School in the Scottsdale Unified School District, was selected as a $1,000 grant recipient!! Thank you Four Peaks for supporting our community!
This year, teachers can customize their kits to select the most-needed, premium supplies for their classrooms.
You can learn more about all the ways Four Peaks is working for teachers on their website fourpeaksforteachers.org.