DVUSD News - Around Our Schools April 6, 2009

From: "DVUSD News" <no-reply@dvusd.org>
Subject: DVUSD News - Around Our Schools April 6, 2009
Date: April 7th 2009

Around Our Schools - April 6, 2009

Deer Valley Elementary Schools

Arrowhead
Back in October Arrowhead�s third graders created the �Support Our Troops� project. They donated money to help purchase footballs for soldiers overseas. As a result of their efforts, the soldiers received footballs and handwritten letters from the students for Thanksgiving and experienced an America tradition far away from home. These letters touched the hearts of the men and women overseas and were sincerely appreciated as they were reminded by our youth how much their efforts allow for our freedom. The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation acknowledged these students� efforts and presented them with a trophy at a ceremony held earlier this week with more than 700 people in attendance.

Desert Sage
The Desert Sage and Esperanza Advanced Band earned a Division 1 �Superior with Distinction� rating at the Arizona Music Educators Association Pageant of Bands held this past Saturday. The �Superior with Distinction� is the highest rating a school band can earn.

Esperanza
Esperanza students celebrated international �Be Kind Day� for the entire week of March 30. The students practiced kind acts and if caught being kind they received a lucky lobo ticket. The primary and intermediate students with the most tickets received Barnes and Noble gift cards. Winners for the �Be Kind Week� prizes were fourth grader Dylan Johnsen and third grader Colton Lukinuk.

Ms. Johnsen�s first grade music students are busy preparing for the musical �Bugz.� The performance is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria which is located at 251 W. Mohawk, Phoenix 85027. Admission is free and all are welcomed to attend.

Highland Lakes
Highland Lakes held its first Read-A-Thon for students in grades K-6 to raise money for a Scholastic Guided Reading Program. The school's goal was to raise $21,000 and the incentive was that the school principal, Mark Anderson, (who shaves his head and has NO hair) would grow out his hair for a month.

So far the school has collected a total of $3,300 in pledge donations. Highland Lakes also reached out to local businesses in the area and invited them to become a "Team Member" to help support their efforts in raising money for the Scholastic Guided Reading Program. To date, they received a donation of $2,000 from Arrowhead Honda and welcomed them as a Team Member.

If you would like to invest in the students at Highland Lakes School and become a �Team Member,� you are encouraged to contact Jennifer Bender at 623-376-4349.

The Elementary Student Council sponsored their first annual "Teachers vs. Students" kick ball game last month to raise money for their trip to Sea World. The school had a great turn out and everyone in attendance hollered for their favorite team.

Highland Lakes asthmatic students and their parents have been attending school workshops to increase their awareness of the disease. They learned their disease is manageable and that life does not have to be restrictive because of asthma. After the group completed all the workshops they celebrated with cake and were given "Good Asthma Management" t-shirts and certificates. School nurse Karen Hurst was responsible for arranging the workshops and increasing awareness for students and parents.

Sixth grader Nathan Haines will be swimming to Alcatraz this month on April 18. Haines has trained very hard for the 1.4 mile swim.

The Highland Lakes National Junior Honor Society is making Easter baskets for homeless children again this year. The National Junior Honor Society is currently collecting Easer donated items which include baskets, toys, and candy to fill the baskets. To donate please call 623-376-4300.

New River
New River second grade students had the opportunity to experience the natural world behind their school which is unique to the area. The students learned about New River�s plants and animals and even visited the river behind the school. The students had the opportunity to explore the area finding interesting rocks and animal tracks.

New River third grader Miley Reynolds in Mrs. Ward�s class had the opportunity over spring break to go on the set of �Hannah Montana� and meet Miley Cyrus and the entire cast. Reynolds described the experience as �pretty cool.�

The New River Green Team is sponsoring a Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 18 from 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the school parking lot which is located at 48827 N. Black Canyon Fwy, New River 85087. The Green Team is currently collecting gently used items to be sold. Vendor stalls are also available. For additional information please contact the school office at 623 376-3500.

Deer Valley High Schools

Mountain Ridge
Mountain Ridge HS student participants excelled at the State National History Day competition held at Fountain Hills Middle School this past Saturday. After a school-wide competition among MRHS students in January, top winners went to the National History Regional competition in February. Out of 17 MRHS groups entered, 11 groups advanced to the state competition with �Excellent� or �Superior� ratings from the judges. Eight groups received �Superior� ratings.

Eight MRHS regional winners attended the state competition held on Saturday. Almost all of the Mountain Ridge participants placed in their categories at the state competition. Two groups won overall state recognition awards which are accompanied by a monetary reward.

First and second place winners will now advance to the national competition on June 14-18 in Washington D.C. Third place winners won alternate positions to attend the competition.

See below for a list of MRHS student participants, their entrance categories, and their placements/awards:

Marissa Haarman, MRHS Junior
"Jackie Robinson", Individual Documentary, Senior Division First Place Winner, Superior Rating
BEST ENTRY AWARD, Arizona Humanities Council

Lauren Chittick and Karyn Vo, MRHS Juniors "The Genesis of Video Games: Ralph Baer", Group Documentary, Senior Division First Place Winners, Superior Rating

Anthony Bedene and Brandon Evaerts, MRHS Juniors "Oskar Schindler: The Man, The Legend", Group Documentary, Senior Division Second Place Winners, Superior Rating
BEST ENTRY AWARD, Jewish History Award

Corina Lovescu, MRHS Junior
"Desmond Tutu: A Leader by Default", Individual Documentary, Senior Division Third Place Alternate, Excellent Rating

Lucas Bridge, MRHS Junior
"Emperor Meiji: Revolutionary of Japan", Website, Senior Division Third Place Alternate, Excellent Rating

Greg Kearns, MRHS Junior
"Walt Whitman: The Great American Poet", Performance, Senior Division Fourth place

Around Our Schools can be viewed on the district website at https://www.dvusd.org/news.htm