DVUSD - Around Our Schools - January 24 – February 4, 2011

Deer Valley Elementary Schools

Bellair

Bellair students in 2nd to 6th grades participated in a Math Bee to develop fluency with math facts.  Students from each class were selected to challenge each other to be selected as the top two students in a grade level,  First and Second place winners from each grade level received a medal.

Winners were: 2nd Grade, 1st Place – Luigi Capuste, 2nd Place – Andre Adam; 3rd Grade, 1st Place -  Kaleb McIntyre, 2nd Place - Taylor Kaiser; 4th Grade, 1st Place – Andra Adam, 2nd Place – Jonathan Vittore; 5th Grade, 1st Place – Jason Guerrero, 2nd Place – Nailah Haqque; 6th Grade, 1st Place – Titus Morar, 2nd Place – Mariah Perez.

Mrs. Sharilyn Miller’s classes have been studying the “Animals of the Savannah” and to reinforce all of the lessons students put on their safari hats, grabbed their binoculars and went on a lion hunt.  They first walked past the rainforest (large campus mural) as they approached the savannah.  Students were able to use their binoculars to look at animals (stuffed monkeys, elephants, etc) in the trees.  The students came to school dressed in Khaki or Camouflage clothing so they would blend in with the surroundings as they studied the animals.

Canyon Springs

H2O Magic Show:  Richard Steele from the Arizona American Water Company presented an H2O Magic Show to Canyon Springs students this month on January 12. Students learned about the water cycle and how they could help the earth by conserving

Spotlight on Character Counts: Each quarter, Jeanne Getz from Horace Mann gives a Character Counts prize to a deserving Canyon Springs student. This quarter, Chad Spangler, a 7th grader’s name was drawn. At first, Chad chose an MP3 player for his prize and then changed his mind. You see, one of his friends has been saving money for a bicycle that he had been wanting and still didn’t have enough money to purchase it. Chad decided to choose a bicycle instead to give to his friend.

NED SHOW: The NED Show came to Canyon Springs Wednesday, January 19. The show combined a great message with yo-yos, humor and audience participation to teach students how to develop three valuable characteristics in becoming champions at school and in life: Never give up; Encourage others; and Do your best.

 

Congratulations to the Canyon Springs Character Counts winners for the month of December:

Constitution

The Constitution PTSA will be sponsoring a Valentine’s Dance on February 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Third grade students at Constitution will be going on a field trip to the Rock Museum on February 7.

The NED Show held an assembly at Constitution Elementary on Friday, January 14.  Each year the NED show motivates and inspires children of all ages.  NED teaches students what it takes to become a champion at school and in life.  NED stands for “Never give up * Encourage others * Do your best”.  

Student of the Month and Pillar Pride recipients for the month of December /January were recognized with cookies and juice with Principal, Stephanie Tennille, and a special certificate.  Student of the Month is awarded based on academics, and Pillar Pride is awarded based on character.

DECEMBER 2010 / JANUARY 2011 Student of the Month recipients:
Kindergarten:  Taire (Lupe) Silva, Brandon Cruz, Moemi Martinez Perez, Jasmine Herman, Carly Alatallah
1st Grade:  Jeslinne Rosas, Kamille Castillo, Angel Mendoza  
2nd Grade:  Isabel Rosillo, Angelita Flores, Olivia Savage, Ramon Chacon, Nakia Jones
3rd Grade:  Joseph Sandoval, Yazlynn Redondo, Steven Laguna
4th Grade:  Jarelli Lopez, Janette Guerrero, Bradley Tanler, Jovanna Gallo
5th Grade:  Keith Campbell, Fernando Reyna, Tiana Mendoza, Lisbet Rios
6th Grade:  Lisbet Barrera, Brandon Quacken, Makayla Burris

DECEMBER 2010 / JANUARY 2011 Pillar Pride recipients:
Kindergarten:  Katie Lizarraga, Julissa Guerrero, Jordin Williams, Kileigh Emery
1st Grade:  Edgar Alarcon, Heber Pacheco, Ashlynn Kerber, Gariana Begay
2nd Grade:  Jasmine Anaya, Andrea Rincon, Nicholas Pozon, Bailey Isensee, Gridelda Avila
3rd Grade:  Jennifer Morales, Maria Sanchez, Diego Espinoza, David Hernandez
4th Grade:  Marvin Flores-Espinoza, Haley Flanders, Michael Lantry
5th Grade:  Sasha Brown, Lonnie Dausend, Alexis Morales Campos, Maria Conde
6th Grade:  Idalia Morales, Kayla Isensee, Angel De la Torre


Copper Creek

3rd Annual Teachers Vs All-Star game:  To close out our after school Volleyball intramural program, the students nominate players from their team to play in an all-star game against the teachers. The teachers won the first two games and kept their tradition of an undefeated team.  To see pictures of the games visit http://sites.google.com/site/coppercreekpe/. 
 
 
The Copper Creek Bobcats continue to work on good health and exercise.  The students, staff, and parents come out the fields Fridays after school to fun or walk for 30 minutes.  The students keep track of how many laps they complete every Friday.  When they run five miles, they are put in the Mileage club.  


Hillcrest

Hillcrest and the Glendale police Department teamed up and raised $800 to purchase Christmas gifts for kids they encountered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Watch the video.
 
 
Legend Springs

Legend Springs 6th grade students are collaborating on a mural with an Artist in Residence Theresa Shostakovich.  The sixth graders come in groups of five to work on the mural that will hang in the cafeteria for all to enjoy.
 
Sixth graders are learning how to write effective summaries and Miss Neveux is also exposing them to real world skills by teaching them how to write a resume.  Student resumes will be on display outside of her room. .
 
Next month, Miss Sromek's class and Miss Neveux's class will be participating in a mock-Olympics activity on the field with activities similar to those of the very first Olympics as part of their Ancient Greece studies.  Students will be reflecting on the similarities and differences of the original Olympics and ours today.


New River

New River first graders in Miss Thomsen’s class learned about Ancient Egypt, pyramids, farming, and special rituals such as mummifying (using their teacher as a model).

 

The following students were awarded with the following awards for December/January.
Excellence in Education
AM Kindergarten: Lilly Graham, Adam Richardson, Ramie Schaublin, Alex Shaffer, Ian Walker, PM Kindergarten: Macy Bevard, Athena DeLaRiva, Lexus Dibler, Jaime Figueroa, John Hancock, David Rodgers, Lea Jones, Shelby Rowe, Sawyer Scullion, Wyatt Wilson, First Grade: Devyn Acevedo, Brady Bevard, Lucas Bulat, Andrew Colussi, Megan Coupaud, Jacob Fowler, Isabelle Graham, Hayden Hancock, Mekenzie Lach, Chloe Meyer, Vinnie Terracino, Second Grade: Karrah Byrne, Ethan Conklin, Gia Corte, Lorenzo DeVivo, Andrea Dominguez, Nedallas Hammill, Dakota Johnson, Justin Killian, Alyssa Masterson, Tommy Miller. Paul Otradovec, Taylor Pemberton, Tyler Rackley, Shanele Rowe, Mae Sartin, Matthew Warren,

On A Roll
AM Kindergarten: Bowdrie Byman, Baylie Byrne, Alexia Brakefield.  PM Kindergarten: Aries Fitzpatrick, Breanna Potter. First Grade: Canyon Adams, Reven Bitting, Adam Eckhardt, Cameron Kain, Ava Keown, Calin Shaffer.  Second Grade: Gia Corte, Justin Killian. Jamilyn Lethem, Haley Lubich, Seth York.  Third Grade: Brennen Litz, Turner Pingitore, Gino Autieri, Preston Long.  Fourth Grade: Valerie Bartlett, Autumn Brown, Tea Byman, Marcos Castillo-Carrillo, Noelani Crider, Destiny Garrobo-Pehm, Luke Gunsalus, Nicole Spielman.  Fifth Grade: Dylan Cotton, Payne Hathaway, Austin Johnson, Sam Lawler, Katelynn Parry, Nick Loucks. Sixth Grade: Autumn Brown, Matthew Nelson, Maria Sanchez, Phoenix Walter.

PRINCIPAL’S LIST
Sixth Grade: Trista Brasmer, Christian Colussi, Sierra Kaczocha, Noelle Peterson, Brooke Robinson, Eric Sierra, Lorigan Whitaker.  Fifth Grade: Brionne Byman, Andee Kaczocha, Desiree Turner. Fourth Grade: Sophie Baumgarten, Madeline Hall, Cayla Jones, Nathan Lach, Jake Myles, Leah Walter, Macayla Watson, Miles Wilson. Third Grade: Thomas Clarke, Rachel Clay, Reagan Clay, Alex Foster, Tori Kaczocha, Joseph Thomason.

HONOR ROLL
Sixth Grade: Tristan Addington, Alexis Clarke, Cindy Dominguez, Brianna Hall, Brianna Miles, Elijah Morford, Hailey Myles, Seth Nelson, Daniel Otradovec, Samuel Salas.  Fifth Grade: Alec Aragon, Brooklyn Behl, Jacob Bulat, Casey Cowan, Heidi Davidson, Jessica Garcia, Ethan Hancock, Jessica Jones, Raechelle Koskovich, Mariah Marx, Jaidyn Mundell, Montanna Munhollon, Raquel Reid.  Fourth Grade: Autumn Brown, Kyle Bunce, Kayla Colussi, Katherine Evans, Luke Gunsalus, Lane Hall, Samuel Houck, Harleigh Irizarry, Cade Johnson, Axel Lozoya, Clayton Mundell, Jared Nelson, Robert Peterson, Hailey Schaublin, Nicole Spielman, Jared Whitaker, Raquel Wuollet.  Third Grade: Marcis Aragon, Taylor Blattmachr, Dylan Buckalew, Kelsey Coupaud, Maleka Crider, Presley Curry, Taylor Doukas, Kathryn Erickson, Christen Johnston, Gavin Kertz, Brennen Litz, Joel Masterson, Sophia Myles, Turner Pingitore, Payson Reed, Christopher Rogers, Jaxon Rohde, Kaylee Salas, Cheyenne Schaller, Michael Singleton,
Andrew Stapleton, Brody Vultaggio.

TERRIFIC KIDS: Nathan Lach-Thomas, Jake Myles-McKesson.


Norterra Canyon

Jersey Mikes recently presented Norterra with a $ 1269.59 check from their December fundraiser. In December, Norterra Canyon hosted a fundraiser with Jersey Mikes. The company provided all staff and students with coupon to go in and get a free sandwich if they donated $ 1.00 to Norterra Canyon. The funds will be used to help the school purchase banners to be displayed in their MPR of sports teams and their awards.
 

Mr. Kent shaved his head when Alysha started losing her hair from her treatments. They are pictured at Chick Fil-A

Norterra Canyon hosted a fundraiser at Chick Fil A to help raise money for a fifth grader that was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma bone cancer in October. Together the school raised $600 for the family from just the 10% of the sales the night of the fundraiser.


 

Park Meadows

Sponsored by Phoenix Children’s Hospital, 30 Park Meadows students participated in the PF Chang Kids Rock Marathon. As a prerequisite for entry in the one-mile race, each student had to complete 25 miles of running by the time of the race. For the past three months, physical education coaches Patty Sisson and Randy Smith supervised these dedicated students as they practiced before school and during PE class time. Each student earned a T-shirt and a medal as they crossed the finish line. Congratulations runners on a job well done.

Students in grades K-5 were recently treated to a visit by Frank Monahan, author of the Stanley and Norman series.  Mr. Monahan read his two books to all grades.  He discussed his joy and inspiration, two basset hound puppies, with the K-2 students.

Sierra Verde

Sierra Verde students Devin Holmgren and Arun Yadav participated in the district spelling bee. Congratulations to Devin as he placed placed 7th, moving on to Regionals.

Sierra Verde school held an after school gardening club during the first semester of the school year. Club Green Thumb was established in order to support the school’s focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math as the Deer Valley School District’s first STEM academy.

Sierra Verde enjoyed The NED Show assembly on Friday, January 29. Students in grades K-5 experienced an educational experienced the assembly which combined a great message with yo-yos, humor and audience participation that taught students how to develop three valuable characteristics involved in becoming champions at school and in life...Never give up (focus, persistence), Encourage others (kindness, shared learning), Do your best® (diligence, excellence).

Join us for a family evening of art, music and refreshments as we showcase Viper student artwork on February 24, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Sierra Verde is rolling out the red carpet to recognize and celebrate creative expression and learning through multiple artistic avenues. In partnership with Kids Art Fairs and Display My Art each child’s artwork masterpieces which will be on display and available for purchase. Stay and watch the Sierra Verde soloist musicians and performances by 7th and 8th grade chorus.

Sierra Verde will be getting their new Earth Work’s Weather Bug Program installed on February 7.

Deer Valley High Schools

Barry Goldwater
    
Barry Goldwater HS was honored with a "Beat the Odds Schools" award – schools in which student academic achievement exceeds expectations last month. BGHS was recently featured on KJZZ radio. To listen to the story go to, www.kjzz.org/news/arizona/archives/201101/ME_BTO

Beat the Odds is a rigorous, multi-year school improvement program based upon CFA's nationally acclaimed "Beat the Odds" research study. The study found six elements that were associated with successful minority schools: a strong and steady principal, clear bottom line, ongoing assessment, collaboration, a program built on individual student needs, and a commitment to stay with successful instructional programs.

 

Boulder Creek

Watch the Arizona Teacher of the Year 2011 tonight, Tuesday, February 1st at 7:30 p.m. on PBS Channel Eight. Boulder Creek teacher Pam Barrier was selected as one of this year’s 2011 Arizona Educational Foundation’s Ambassador for Excellence.

Boulder Creek has been awarded $10,000 as start up funds for its Confucius Classroom from the Confucius Institute and Arizona State University.  The Boulder Creek Confucius Classroom will also receive equipment for its Chinese Culture Corner which includes a touch-screen TV, a computer and Hanban software.  

Boulder Creek had ten students make the All Region Band. Congratulations to the following students for being selected to the North Central Region Honor Band:
Arielle Romano - Flute, 11th Chair
Danielle Lackey - Oboe, 4th Chair
Caterina Lake - 1st Clarinet, 7th Chair
Jacob Buhl - 3rd Clarinet, 3rd Chair
Michael Gregoire - Alto Saxophone, 3rd Chair
Jeff Englis - Alto Saxophone, 4th Chair
Bill Fitzgibbons - 1st Trumpet, 1st Chair (Top Chair Overall!)
Holly Haas - 1st Trombone, 3rd Chair
Adam Soper - Tuba, 1st Chair (Top Chair Overall)
Randy Thomas, Tuba, 4th Chair

Alternates
Zachary Fitzgerald - Oboe, 2nd alternate
Emily Jensen, Tenor Sax, 4th alternate
Michael Gregoire, Baritone Sax, 1st alternate
Kyle Burgard, Trumpet, 2nd alternate
Craig Franzmeier, Trombone, 3rd alternate
Holly Haas, Euphonium, 2nd alternate
Kavan Rios-Lazo, Euphonium, 3rd alternate
Brendan Lackey, Euphonium, 4th alternate

Mountain Ridge

The following MRHS choral students were successful in the regional auditions this past weekend. These students worked very hard in their preparation and Mountain Ridge High School will be well represented in the Southwest Regional Honor Choir on Feb. 18-19, 2011.  Students are:

Soprano--
Gabriella Gibboni
Megan Loehr
Elizabeth Rohrer
Jasmine Crisostomo--alt.
 
Alto--
Sarah Cowan
Kenley Klein
Cindy Hum
Sophie Bryant
Sydney Moss
 
Tenor--
Marqueze Gordon
 
Bass--
John-Cole Garwick
Luke Hilden
 
Mountain Ridge will celebrate the annual tradition of Community of Caring Month in February.  Clubs, student groups and academic classes work together to celebrate each week.  The week of February 7-11 will be dedicated to our military, police and fire heroes.  Lunch time activities will be organized by the SADD Club, sponsored by Sean Romero.

The Interact Club, sponsored by Chris O’Brien, will collect citrus for the Westside Food bank and the Ridge Army, sponsored by Brooks Scofield, will hold a cancer awareness event called Ridge vs. Cancer on Tuesday, February 8th during the boys’ basketball games.


Sandra Day O’Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor marching band is featured in a "$50,000,000 Flash Parade" on YouTube as one of the finalists in the Box Top Contest. Vote for O’Connor’s Flash Parade Commercial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goazs6r4aZA.