DVUSD News - Around Our Schools April 5, 2010

From: "DVUSD News" <no-reply@dvusd.org>
Subject: DVUSD News - Around Our Schools April 5, 2010
Date: April 7th 2010

Around Our Schools April 5, 2010

Deer Valley Elementary Schools

Arrowhead

Arrowhead School sixth grade students Sabrina Hoyer, Samantha Fuller, Matthew Berry, Kiara Forsley, Ashlee Davis, and Emily Bush have been selected to perform in the Arizona All-State Choir on March 20.

Arrowhead School was the winner of the 2009 Arrowhead Mall Holiday Shopping Event and awarded $2,500. This was a combined effort of the community and the staff who all took advantage of the opportunity to fill their holiday shopping needs and garner the school additional funds for the classroom.

Arrowhead principal Dr. Bert Ciaramello was presented with a service award by Scott Foreman, Director of Water for Our World Organization for Arrowhead�s participation and contribution to the �Change for Change� community service project.

Arrowhead School�s Panther Players presented the musical �Theseus and the Minotaur� last month and was a huge success. The 4th and 5th grade students entertained the audience with their lively dialogue and singing talents.

Arrowhead will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair from April 26 � 30.

Desert Winds

Desert Winds sixth grade students had the opportunity to visit the Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) last month to learn about engineering from the leaders in safety avionics systems. Students were given the opportunity to fly a flight simulator, create their own paper airplanes, learn about magnetic fields and how they impact certain equipment, make connections to engineering, and learn how technology plays an important part in day to day operations.

Diamond Canyon

Diamond Canyon PTSA will be hosting a Book Exchange next month. Students can bring in their gently used books by May 12 and receive tickets to purchase other gently used books on May 13-14. Please contact Maren Rae at marenrae@msn.com if you are interested in volunteering for this event.

Esperanza

All Esperanza volunteers are invited to the Volunteer Breakfast on April 21, please RSVP to sue.sprankle@dvusd.org.

Esperanza will be hosting a Renaissance Gifted & Music Academy Open House and Tour on April 30 for all qualified applicants.

Last month Midwest University students provided dental screenings for all Esperanza students.

Gavilan Peak

Gavilan Peak�s fourth annual Avian Allen Charity Basketball Game raised over $2,500 last month. Funds will benefit We Care of Anthem, Mendy�s Place, and Gavilan Peak technology. Business partner Streets of New York donated 50% of their profits back for charity.

Gavilan Peak Chess Club team members Chase Lister, Bailey Lacheman, and Jake Copeland placed first out of 302 students competing in the middle grade section of the Susan Polgar National Chess Challenge for Boys and Girls in Carefree.

Gavilan Peak students Matthew Hall, David Hall, Kaleigh Hall, and Brian Sosnowski are part of the Anthem Community�s �Dolphins� swim team which placed 11th at the Arizona State Swimming Championships last month at the Brophy Swim complex out of 30 teams. This is the highest placed finish for the Anthem community team. Kaleigh Hall achieved personnel best times in all of her events. Matthew and David Hall were part of two relay teams, each of those relay teams took 3rd in the state, and both boys as well as Brian Sosnowski achieved personal best times in other events.

Gavilan Peak 8th grade students received a special visit last month from Mr. Lerman, a Holocaust survivor who shared his life experiences as a 15 year old who was put in a concentration camp.

Gavilan Peak will be hosting a 6th grade dance on April 28 at 6 p.m. in the multi-purpose room.

Congratulations to the student winners of the PTA Visual Arts Reflections Program Students include: Michelle Shibata (K-2nd Honorable Mention); Karyme Martinez (3rd-5th Honorable Mention); Nicole Shibata (Excellence Award); Karissa Rundle, Mitchell Rosbrook, Fionnuala McGirr (6th-8th Honorable Mention); Jennifer Shibata, Jazney Moss, and Kayla Rundle (6th-8th Excellence Award).

Highland Lakes

Highland Lakes held their 2nd Annual Read-A-Thon. The teachers in grades K-6 set aside a 2 � hour block of time during the day and the students were encouraged to bring in their blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and favorite books to read. The students collected pledges from family and friends and all together raised $2,150 which will be used to purchase more leveled reading materials for the school.

Over 400 Highland Lakes students in grades 1-8 participated in last month�s Science Fair. The students were very enthusiastic and took great pride in their finished work. Business partner Surprise Rental donated $1,181.40 worth of table rentals.

New River

The second grade students in Vicki Kearney and Marilyn Yavello�s classes visited Pioneer Living History Museum last month. During their visit the children participated in a scavenger hunt activity to answer questions about the village and the artifacts found there and also had the opportunity to watch the Wild West Show.

New River kindergarten students visited Tolmachoff Farms last month. This was a culminating activity for their study of animals and the beginning of a unit on gardening. The students learned about animals, planting, and harvesting crops from Arizona soil.

The New River first graders visited the Wildlife World Zoo last month to conclude a study on animals. They enjoyed seeing the animals in a more natural habitat and even saw some of the animals that they did reports on. Highlights included feeding the giraffe, touching the sting rays and a shark, and seeing some Air Force jets on our way to and from the zoo.

New River School will host a Community Spring Fling Recycling Day, Rummage Sale, and Barbeque on Saturday, April 17 from 8 a.m. � 1p.m. The day will also include children�s fingerprinting by MC Sheriff�s Department; wildlife exhibit by Adobe Mountain Preserve; games for the kids; rummage sale by local residents; local businesses; New River Community Pride T-Shirts; and a bake sale by New River Parents and teachers. If you are interested in selling your new and used goods or advertising your business please call 623-341-4712.

Deer Valley Middle Schools

Desert Sky Middle School

Each Desert Sky student has been designated a teach mentor who will discuss grades and homework, personal issues, and other pertaining topics. The mentor will become the student�s "Go To" staff member for anything the student wants or needs to discuss. Mentors will be in contact with their students throughout the school year.

Desert Sky Middle School students are receiving handmade �positive comment cards� from certified staff members who exemplify Character Counts traits (i.e., Caring, Citizenship, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, and Trustworthiness). The first rounds of cards were personally delivered to each recipient�s classroom by principal Don Morrison and assistant principal Sharon Wieser last month. The school�s goal is to deliver one card to each student by the end of year.

Desert Sky Middle School�s T-Bolt Cheer Squad placed 3rd in the State Cheer Competition last month at the Veteran�s Memorial Coliseum. The squad received positive feedback from the judges about their enthusiasm and smiles as they participated in the Jr. High Performance Cheer Division, which included various cheers, stunts, and tumbling demonstrations. The T-Bolt Cheer Squad members are: Amanda Colella, Sabrina Dahlbereg, Hailey Davis, Rochele Delucia, Bailee Fritz, A. Gaston, Ashley Gilbert, Elaine Hedden, Julie Huynh, Ashley Jones, Emily Jones, Korissa Marsteen, Megan MC Cosh, Amber MC Farlane, Alyssa Nava, Kaya Santee, and Logan Wade.

The Desert Sky Middle School Band program was represented by several musicians at last month�s annual Arizona Educators Music Association Solo & Ensemble Festival at Highland Lakes. Each student prepared a classical selection which they performed with an accompanist before a judge. Each musician received a rating, a certificate and a ribbon. The participating students are: Tracy Boettcher, Brynn Easter, Corissa Fehl, Kaitlyn Grounds, Gabriel Hernandez, Wuteh McCurry, Tiffany Ramos, Kaya Santee, Charlie Segrest, Caitlin Summer, and Rebecca Williams.

Deer Valley High Schools

Mountain Ridge High School

Mountain Ridge High School teachers Megan Pickens and Jaymie Foreman have been selected as semi-finalists for the Teacher Rookie of the Year award (sponsored by the Deer Valley Education Foundation).

Mountain Ridge DECA students attended the Arizona DECA Career Development Conference last month. DECA students Taylor Parham, Melissa Graffam, Kalada Wariso, Amanda Anderson, Autumn Coleman, Vanessa Behm, and Denise Pedroza received test awards in their individual events. Amanda Brown placed 7th in Retail Merchandising and Denise Pedroza placed 3rd in Technical Sales and won the opportunity to compete at the International level. The DECA Club will be competing in the upcoming International Career Development Conference in Louisville, KY next month.

The annual Mountain Ridge HS Student/Teacher Basketball Game will take place on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. in the main gym. Funds will be donated to Haiti survivors and the MRHS Community Interact Service Club. Interact will use the money generated from this game to support projects such as painting the exterior of homes owned by low income senior citizens and purchasing food which is used to prepare meals for families at the Phoenix Ronald McDonald House

The MRHS Varsity Spirit Line competed in the AIA National Competition last month. The Spirit Line placed 8th in the All Girls Stunt category and Show Cheer placed 5th place in the Advance Large Group Division category.

Mountain Ridge HS art students Andrew Gnann, Rubi Lugo, Josef Santos, Jonathan Lindstrom, Tyler (TJ) Lippert, and Alex Spayde were selected to display their art work at the 2010 Regional Teen Art Competition, sponsored by the Arts Council of the North Valley (ACNV). Jonathan Lindstrom, TJ Lippert, and Alex Spayde won honorable mentions.

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