DVUSD News

Around Our Schools

April 4, 2011

Deer Valley Elementary Schools

PHOENIX SUNS GORILLA Cheers Anthem School Kids on During Fitness Walk A Thon

WHEN: Friday, April 8, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Anthem School, 411020 NE Freedom Way, Anthem 85086

Anthem School students from kindergarten to eighth grade will participate in our PTA Walk A Thon with special guest the Phoenix Suns Gorilla to cheer the kids on, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.  In an effort to promote fit and active lifestyles and raise funds Anthem school will have students collect sponsors per lap or a flat donation for participating.  On the day of the walk our students will walk or run as many laps as they can in a twenty minute time frame.  Parent volunteers and NJHS students will track the laps completed, distribute water bottles and stickers. 

Congratulations to John Taber who represented Arrowhead Elementary School in the 2011 Arizona All-State Band.  On Saturday, March 19^th, JT rehearsed all day and preformed that evening in a 160 piece concert band made up of the finest 6^th grade musicians from throughout the entire state of Arizona.

Jennie Allen with Arizona Opera first shows Mrs. Mitchell’s 5^th grade class an emotion and then plays out a scene with Josh Berry with only singing in Italian for the class to figure out what is going on in the scene.  The students accurately described her trying to show that she liked him, but he didn’t like to hear what she had to say. Music instructor Mr. McKee continues to share his expansive taste in music with Arrowhead students.  Thank you Mr. McKee.

Get ready for Big entertainment!  The Arrowhead Elementary talent show will be presented on Friday, April 29 @ 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium! Mrs. Chisholm has gathered up some of the most talented acts you will see this year outside of the X Factor! 

KIDS FOR COWS FOR  KIDS SPRING EDITION

Flynn’s  First  Grade  is  holding  the  first  annual  Spring  Edition  of  Kids  For  Cows  For  Kids  call  BUNNIES  AND  BASKETS  FOR  BULEMBU.  For  a  one  dollar  donation  your  name  will  be  entered  into  a  drawing  to  win  one  of  six  prizes.  You  could  win  one  of  three  spring  baskets  filled  with  all  sorts  of  goodies  and  toys,  or  one  of  two  fuzzy  bunnies,  or  the  grand  prize  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rabbit,  three  foot  tall  stuffed  bunnies,  which  are  display  in  the  office  front  window.  Tickets  will  be  available  April  4-19  in  the  cafeteria  at  lunchtime,  in  the  office  or  in  room  6.  The  grand  drawing  will  be  on  April  20 during  morning  announcements.  All  the  money  will  be  going  to  orphanages  in  Bulembu, Swaziland,  a  town  where  47%  of  the  children  are  orphans.

Constitution Student of the Month and Pillar Pride recipients for the month of March 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.

MARCH 2011 Student of the Month recipients:

Kindergarten:  Oscar Garcia, Rodrigo Vasquez, Noemi Martinez Perez, Riley Janesky

1^st Grade:  Samuel Felix, Fatima Diaz, Rosario Bernall, Quest Sanders

2^nd Grade:  Leslie Ayala, Yanitzia Catillo, Trenten Walls, Anjelo Martinez

3^rd Grade:  Jacob McNeil, Angel Rufino, Amanda Lopez, Jose Rodriguez

4^th Grade:  Jennifer Rogel, Thomas Galvez, Ricardo Barocio

5^th Grade:  Eymard Torres, Lourdes Bailiff, Jamie Johnson, Joel Mancillas

6^th Grade:  Alyssa Ramirez, Elvira Alvarado, Elizabeth Guerrero

MARCH 2011 Pillar Pride recipients:

Kindergarten:  Mario Felix, Johanna Sierra, Damian Soto, George Brader

1^st Grade:  Fernando Zabueleta, Heber Pacheco, Leeah Russ, Sierra Knoll

2^nd Grade:  Angel Perez, Angel DeAnda, Arriana Ramierez, Deanna Flores

3^rd Grade:  Sofia Durand, Daisy Juarez, Marissa Romero, Francisco Valencia

4^th Grade:  Cameron Dortch, Bryanna Longoria, Roger Eustler

5^th Grade:  Vince Smith, Marcos Ocegueda, Martin Catillo, Ashley Paz Martinez

6^th Grade:  Devin Driscoll, Michael Temple, Belen Rosillo

THIRD QUARTER PRINCIPAL’S LIST:  Aurora Angeles, Cesar Avalos, Jakeb Burris, Makayla Burris, Karla Carbajal, Gold Carbonell, Shaun David, Matthew De Koch,  Angel Desiderio, Tyler  Eccles, Yazmin Encinas, Jasmin Garza, Elizabeth Guerrero, Henry Hill, Bryan Ibarra, Daniel Ionel, Taylor King, Alyssa McElheny, Tiana Mendoza, Jacqueline Ramos-Saavedra, Yazlynn Redondo, Brenda Siegried, Graciela Soria

THIRD QUARTER HONOR ROLL:  David Aguilar, Elvira Alvarado-Avila, Elideth Arrieta, Eruviel Avilez, Victoria Baca, Jacklynn Bougher, Kaylee Bruns, Celina Carrasco, Hugo Carrillo, Martin Catillo Jr., Cameron Clanton, Nethanya Corrales, Zaul Cruz, Lonnie Dausend, Angel De La Torre, Amanda Derrington, Eric Diaz, Alfredo Esparza, Jessica Esparza, Ulices Fernandez, Haley Flanders, Jovanna Gallo, Thomas Galvez IV, Isabel Galvez, Damira Garcia, Victoria Garza, Kristell Gaytan, Janette Guerrero, Daniel Hernandez, Kendy Holguin, Kameron Hoover, Lesley Huerta, Kayla Isensee, Jamie Johnson, Jazzlyn Julian, Elijah Keiffer, Jareli Leon, Vanessa Leonardo, Chantell Lester, Miriam Loaiza De La Cruz, Bryanna Longoria, Amanda Lopez, Jessenia Lopez, Chorde McGee, Chelsi McIntosh, Jacob McNeil, Alexis Morales, Idalia Morales, Jennifer Morales, Marisol Ocegueda, Andrea OchoaRodriquez, Shaylee Oleski, Arlene Pozon, Serenity Proffitt, Brandon Quacken, Yesica Ramirez, Alyssa Ramirez, Brenda Ramirez, Yasmin Ramos, Aileen Rey, Jose Rodriguez, Cindy Rogel, Cynthia Rojas, Angel Rufino, Maria Sanchez-Romero, Madai Santiago, Johan Serna, Bradley Tanler, Michael Temple, Francisco ValenciaBanales, Maria ValenciaBanales, Yesenia Vargas, Justin Velazquez, Arionna Walker, Alexis Whidby

Spring Book Fair a Success: The Diamond Canyon Spring Book Fair was held during Read Across America Week in March. This turned out to be our most successful Spring Fair ever! Thank you so much to all the DC Staff, students and parents who supported the Fair through their volunteer efforts, purchases and attendance at our Family events. Fun was had by all during family night! In keeping with our carnival theme, hot dogs and popcorn were served and carnival style games were played complete with prizes. 

Author Grace Lin Visits with Third Grade: The Grace Lin author visit was very successful as third grade students were lucky enough to attend a presentation by this award winning author. Many students purchased copies of her books through the Book Fair and were able to have them personally autographed. Thanks go out to North Valley Regional Library for helping to coordinate this author visit and to “Friends of the Library” for donating a book to each of our third grade classrooms. 

Three DC Coyotes Receive Honorable Mention for Music K8 Cover Art Contest

DC Fifth Graders Attended Kindness Retreat: Tuesday, March 22, fifth grade participated in a Kindness Retreat at Boulder Creek High School sponsored by the non-profit organization Youth Frontiers.  The goal of their organization is to help young people realize the importance of respecting themselves and others.  The focus of the retreat was on creating a more positive school community by engaging students in activities that demonstrate the painful effects of bullying and emphasize the value of kindness.

Highland Lakes PTA and Art Club hosted a fabulous Art Showcase on March 31. Students entered projects for photography and visual arts. They also entered vocal, instrumental and dance selections. Kindergarten through eighth grade students participated. The projects were amazing!  There are some very talented students at Highland Lakes!  Winners were awarded trophies and ribbons.  

Park Meadows Kindergarten through sixth-grade classes participated in a full-day of competing with their classmates during Field Day. Highlighting some of the events were: three legged race and sack races, Frisbee toss, long jump, water, soccer, and scooter relay races, softball throw, parachute games, jump rope and hula hoop challenges, and volleyball. Field Day is an opportunity for students to excel in active games while practicing good sportsmanship.

First-grade students are studying BEES and the jobs they perform. Students are also involved in investigating birds and bears. First-graders will learn about the life cycle of bees, birds, and bears through scientific hands-on experiences. First -graders in Dena Mill’s class explored the diverse world around them through the investigation of homes from around the world.  The Fantastic Frogs related designing their own homes to the homes in the Harcourt story, At Home Around the World.  Students used mud, tissue paper, moss, sticks, sequins, and a variety of supplies to create their own home.  The Fantastic Frogs developed homes on stilts, castles, skyscrapers, sod houses, and tree houses.  The students were very motivated by the story and had "dream" homes to share at student led parent teacher conferences.

Caleb Lowe, a 7th grade student at Paseo Hills, is one of five finalists for the Space Camp Scholarship.  He will interview on Friday, April 8 with the judges from the Arizona Education Foundation...we wish him great luck!

The Paseo Hills NJHS students are participating in Relay for Life at Sandra Day O'Connor on May 7/8 with two teams representing our school. Both teams hope to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

Paseo Hills NJHS is sponsoring and holding a Penny War in May to raise money for relief efforts in Japan. This is a whole school endeavor to help

The Paseo Hills MESA club will be going to the State MESA Day competition on April 30.  We have 25 middle school students on teams participating in this auspicious competition!

Kindergarten students at Sierra Verde have been researching zoo animals.  Students chose an animal to learn about. Two learning objectives were to focus on building a habitat suitable for their creature and to create a PowerPoint presentation teaching others about the animal. The students and teachers enjoyed a fabulous day at the Phoenix Zoo as a culmination activity.  The students were able to observe their animal in its natural habitat.  A great time was had by all.

Sierra Verde's kindergarten pod will be a bustle of activity on Thursday, April 7 from 4:30-6:00 as the school is hosting a Kindergarten Kickoff for all incoming kindergarten students. To help students and parents learn more about the kindergarten curriculum a variety of interactive activities will set-up. Students will explore Science, Technology and Math station, meet the kindergarten team, Principal Cherryl Paul and Reading Specialist Mrs. Thiebeau. Refreshments will be served to encourage families to meet one another.

Fifth grade teacher Patti Wann and second grade teacher Susan Smith attended a STEM weekend workshop from March 25-27 at Biosphere 2 located in Oracle, AZ.  These two talented teachers submitted an application showing how math and science can be best applied in the classroom. Mrs. Wann and Mrs. Smith showed interest in enhancing their ability to impact creative design and problem solving skills to their students. Their innovated ideas proved creative, earning them a spot with an elite group of teachers who were selected to attend.  As participants for the Arizona Center for STEM Teachers (ACST) engineering short course, "Form and Function", Mrs. Wann and Mrs. Smith learned that the application of math and science can be best investigated and described through the form and function of Engineering. They worked with other K-12 educators and researchers from across Arizona to learn methods, techniques, and strategies to implement problem solving and design skills, creative solutions, and critical thinking applications.

Sierra Verde teachers and staff will be honoring all the many volunteers who have volunteered on campus throughout the year on Friday, April 8 at a special volunteer breakfast. The amazing volunteers will be served a breakfast and the faculty and staff will cater to their every need! Teachers have offered to bring in a variety of breakfast treats, the MPR will be decorated, and teacher greeters and servers will make the morning special for those volunteers who make a difference every day.

Box Tops/Campbell’s Soup Label News: We thank you very much to everyone who participated in the Box Tops/Campbell’s Soup Label contest that ended February 18.  Stetson Hills collected over $840 in Box Tops!  Ms. Craig’s Kindergarten class was the overall winner and we celebrated with a pizza party.

Deer Valley High Schools

Pam Barrier, teacher of Marketing and Business at BCHS received the Arizona Society of Economic Teachers - Teacher of the Year Award this past weekend at the Arizona Council of Economics Education Conference.  She was also elected Vice President of A.S.E.T. for this coming year.

The MRHS Winter Guard captured their fourth win in the past six years at the Winter Guard Arizona Winter Guard and Percussion Championship on April 2 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Leslie Schramm, an MRHS Science teacher, has received the 2011 Adjunct Faculty Award (AFA) for "being an outstanding adjunct for Maricopa Community Colleges."  She was recognized for her efforts on behalf of the students at the Maricopa Community Colleges Spring Conference on April 2nd at Scottsdale Community College.

Mountain Ridge High School junior Alycia Lewis has been selected to participate in the highly competitive National Security Language for Youth (NSLI-Y) this summer.  She will be studying Hindi while learning about the history and culture of India.  During her six weeks in New Delhi, she will be living with an Indian family.  NSLI-Y is part of a broader government-wide presidential initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world.  This is a fully funded experience and there is no cost to the participants.