District Dialogue Bi-weekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District Laveen School named an Arizona Exemplary Title I School
January 24, 2020 Dr. Todd Liolios to be honored by Arizona Council for Exceptional Children
Laveen School has been named a 2019-20 Arizona Exemplary Title I School by the state's Department of Education. This award recognizes schools that show a commitment to excellence and continued school improvement, ensuring the best learning possible for students. This state-level recognition program is based on the Six Principles of Effective Schools and honors schools that have demonstrated innovation and outstanding results in at least one area. Laveen displayed outstanding achievement in the area of Effective Teachers and Instruction as validated by an on-site visiting team. The school will be honored at the ESSA Conference in February.
Dr. Todd Liolios, executive director of student services, is the recipient of the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children’s 2020 Laura Ganoung Award. This award is given to a person who demonstrates innovation in special education and who has made a significant contribution to the field of special education. Dr. Liolios will be honored at the organization’s annual state conference in February.
Curriculum adoption committee makes recommendations Laveen’s English language arts adoption committee, comprised of representatives from each school, has been researching and evaluating potential curriculum programs since October. After many hours of work, reflection and deliberation, the committee has recommended ReadyGen for Grades K5 and StudySync for Grades 6-8. These selected programs systematically integrate four strands: reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language. Additionally, each program provides methods and materials for differentiating instruction for students with disabilities, gifted, and English language learner subgroups, while ensuring that all students still encounter grade-level text during the core block of instruction. Finally, the digital engagement component supports our district-wide technology initiatives. Links to the programs can be found on our district website, www.laveenschools.org in the news section. If approved by the Governing Board, the new curriculum would be implemented across the district for the 202021 school year. .
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Cheatham takes 3rd in Mathleague.org competition Cheatham Elementary took 3rd Place overall in the Mathleague.org competition that the school hosted in December. Seventeen schools and 130 students from around the valley participated in the competition.
Three Cheatham students qualified to move on to regionals. These students are Shayne Ragsdale, Mackenzie Rogers, and Jackeline Santiago-Aguiluz.
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Suns Gorilla visits Laveen School The Phoenix Suns Gorilla stopped by Laveen School on January 10 to congratulate the classes that showed exceptional student growth on the recent district MAP (measurements of academic progress) assessment. The Gorilla stopped in several classrooms and handed out orange Suns t-shirts coinciding with the team's "Orange Friday" celebration held that evening.
Governing Board selects Anderson as President, Barragan as Clerk Each January, the district’s Governing Board selects a president and a clerk to serve for the calendar year. This year, Michele Anderson was selected to serve as Board President. She served as Clerk from 2017-19 and was elected to the board in 2015. Jill Barragan was selected to serve as Clerk. She served as Board President from 2017-19 and Clerk in 2015. She joined the board in 2013.
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Jaquez, Hall are December’s Employees of the Month
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Employees of the Month for December were Lorie Jaquez, ELD Instructional Coach at Rogers Ranch, and Sheila Hall, Behavior Monitor at Desert Meadows. Jaquez works with English learner students at three different school sites. She is committed to the EL program and regularly goes above and beyond her duties to help students succeed. She arranged for after-school tutoring in preparation of AZELLA testing, in which many students passed and exited the program, and she developed a complete audit action plan which led to a highly successful program audit. She is always working to improve the way teachers and associates work with students by offering professional development opportunities on ways to instruct students effectively and efficiently. Hall is an exemplary employee. No matter what the task may be, she is always smiling, demonstrating positivity, and building strong relationships with staff and students. Her professionalism has been demonstrated every time she interacts with a student, parent, or staff member. She is always willing to help where needed. Jaquez and Hall were recognized at January’s Governing Board meeting. The Employee of the Month program is sponsored by Amadio Ranch and Scooptacular. January 24, 2020
LAVEEN PRESCHOOL DESERT MEADOWS │ PASEO POINTE │ VISTA DEL SUR ENROLLMENT BEGINS FEB. 4 Serving Children Ages 3—5 Full Day Academic Program Taught by Certified Teachers Tuition Based Before / After School Programs Available Paseo Pointe offers a dual language immersion program. Vista del Sur and Desert Meadows’ programs provide general education instruction. Registration must be completed at the Kids Club office located at Desert Meadows School, 6855 W. Meadows Loop East.
Laveen School District │ 5001 W. Dobbins │ 602-237-7058 For more information visit www.laveenschools.org/preschool.
Laveen Elementary School District’s KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP For students starting in August 2020 REGISTER● MEET THE TEACHERS ● VISIT CLASSROOMS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. At all Laveen schools* Students may be enrolled in any of our schools regardless of where they live, space permitting. Families living outside of a particular school’s transportation zone will be responsible for providing transportation.
Children must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2020 to register. Children turning 5 after August 31, but by December 31, may be evaluated for early entrance in May.
Please bring the following items to register your child: Proof of Residence (utility bill, rental agreement, etc.) free gift Child’s Immunization Record for students Child’s Original Birth Certificate who attend Parent/Guardian’s Photo ID
FREE FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN AT ALL SCHOOLS *Vista del Sur is an accelerated academy and requires an assessment prior to enrolling. Kindergartners enrolled at Paseo Pointe must be part of the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Estrella Foothills’ Round Up will take place at the Laveen Education Center, 5001 W. Dobbins. Preschool is offered at Desert Meadows, Paseo Pointe (DLI), and Vista del Sur www.laveenschools.org /kindergarten Laveen School District ● 602-237-9100 ● 5001 W. Dobbins ● Laveen, AZ 85339
LAVEEN'S 9TH SCHOOL
ESTRELLA FOOTHILLS GLOBAL ACADEMY Join us for an informational meeting.
January 30 • 6:00 p.m. 5001 W. Dobbins
Find out more about the global studies program and the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate World School. Plans of the campus and construction progress will also be shared.
WWW.LAVEENSCHOOLS.ORG/ESTRELLA-FOOTHILLS-GLOBAL-ACADEMY
Presented by the Laveen School District and the Office of the Arizona Attorney General. image by freepik.com