District Dialogue Bi-weekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District
May 5, 2017
Students place at engineering competition
District hosts inaugural science fair
Over 50 students from across the district participated in the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) Day State Competition. Several of our teams took home medals after placing in a variety of challenges. Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy took four 1st Place medals and Rogers Ranch took home a 2nd Place and 3rd Place medal. Arizona MESA is sponsored by The University of Arizona. The event was held at the Tucson campus.
Laveen hosted its first district science fair this week. Each Laveen school held science fairs that included students in Grades 4 — 8. Schools awarded two winners per grade level to compete at the district level fair. Family, friends, and teachers of the science entrants spent an evening at the Laveen Education Center perusing the variety of experiments. Ribbons were awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each grade level. Vista del Sur 5th grade student Kiara Rubio took the Grand Prize Award for examining how a soccer ball’s pressure affects travel distance when kicked.
Two schools receive SRP grants Salt River Project has awarded two schools with $2,500 grants. Paseo Pointe School received a Learning Grant for their “Where in the World” project, which incorporates geography, earth and physical science, and math. It will fund environmental science materials, a geo-caching event, topographical maps, and math manipulatives. Vista del Sur received a Social Studies Grant for their “Discovering my place on the map” project. It will provide books, globes, geography study materials, modeling material, geography games and hands-on maps and geography artifacts. Students will investigate how adults employ global competence in the workplace, experience a Geography Bee, and engage their senses through a variety of cultural lessons. .
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Neill, Magos are April’s Employees of the Month Employees of the month for April were Jessica Neill, Paseo Pointe 5th grade teacher, and Daniel Magos, Laveen School crossing guard. Neill has made a huge positive impact in her three years with the district. She serves formally as a mentor for four staff members and informally to the many colleagues who turn to her for help, advice, and ideas. She is involved in an astonishing number of programs and activities. She serves on the school Success Team, coordinates tutoring programs, coaches soccer, chairs the Climate & Culture Committee, and launched Paseo's College-Bound Wednesdays initiative to encourage students to plan Neill Magos for their future. She creates positive change in everything she does. Magos is the "face" of Laveen School each morning and afternoon as he stands at the street, greets all passing cars with a smile and wave, and ensures the safety of students. He enjoys working with students so much that he became a lunch room supervisor between crossing guard shifts. This allows even more positive interactions with students. He is a role model and a mentor. He arrives early and always gives 100%. He makes the absolute most of every day. He is a true asset to Laveen School and is representative of what makes the Laveen community great.
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May 5, 2017