District Dialogue Bi-weekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District
September 12, 2014
Board approves Strategic Plan The Laveen Governing Board approved the district’s strategic plan at their meeting on September 11. The district’s administrative team, comprised of principals, assistant principals, and department heads, spent several months developing the plan. The final plan sets goals for increasing academic achievement, enhancing the positive climate and culture, attracting and retaining quality staff, building school/community partnerships, and maintaining equitable resources. The complete plan can be found on the district website, www.laveeneld.org.
CrossWalk Church donates items CrossWalk Church collected over 1,000 personal hygiene products and 650 uniforms to provide to Laveen students. The items were collected as part of the church’s annual hygiene product and uniform drive. Separate uniform pieces as well as soap, underwear, deodorant, and socks were collected at the Cesar Chavez High School campus during CrossWalk's church services and at several businesses throughout Laveen. Volunteers from the church not only donated items, but sorted, transported, and packaged the items. Laveen businesses that participated in the drive included: Cintas, which donated the time and supplies needed to wash the items, and Edward Jones, Scooptacular, In and Out Chiropractic, Starbucks on 19th Ave. & Baseline Road, and Palm Dental for hosting drop-off boxes
Volunteers from CrossWalk Church get ready to sort donated uniforms..
Phillips, Valenzuela are August’s Employees of the Month Employees of the month for August are Jamie Phillips, Art Teacher at Laveen, and Liz Valenzuela, M.C. Cash Receptionist. Phillips not only serves as Laveen School’s art teacher, but she coaches Girls on the Run, is a grade level chair, member of the PTO and a volunteer for the Phoenix Children’s Museum. She was nominated for always willing to lend a hand to integrate art into any class. She has a passion for her profession and has positive impact on the entire Laveen Community. Valenzuela is the face of M.C. Cash School as she is the first staff member all families and community members encounter when they walk into the office. She greets everyone in a friendly and professional manner. Always busy, yet always maintaining a positive attitude, she exemplifies the concept of collaboration. She was nominated for going above and beyond to ensure that students, staff, parents, and community members are treated respectfully and their needs are met.
Phillips
Valenzuela
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Thank you for your patience and support during the recent floods!
Laveen student inspired by Dolphin Tale movie appears in sequel Laveen Elementary School first grader Fernanda Rubio has had prosthetic legs since she was just three years old. After contracting bacterial meningitis, Fernanda underwent a kidney transplant, multiple surgeries, and the amputation of both legs below the knee. “She wouldn’t wear her prostheses or cooperate with her therapists,” her mother Edith Rubio explained. That was until the movie Dolphin Tale was released in 2011. The movie is based on the true story of Winter, the dolphin who was fitted with a prosthetic tale after hers was amputated. “Fernanda soon saw how Winter, also wearing a prosthetic, was able to do so much with it and that inspired her to also learn how to use hers,” her mother said. But little did Fernanda know that she would appear in the sequel to the movie that inspired her. In January, she attended Camp No Limits in Florida. Camp No Limits empowers Rubio meets Winter in children with limb loss to become more independent. Campers visited the Clearwater Florida. Marine Aquarium, where Winter resides. This just happened to be the same time the crew from Dolphin Tale 2 were on site filming. Dr. Kevin Carol, one of the two original doctors from Hanger Prosthetics that designed Winter's prosthetic tail, invited Fernanda to meet Winter. The crew filmed her interaction with Winter and included the short clip in the movie due out September 12.
Desert Meadows PTA recognized by Department of Defense The Desert Meadows PTA was recognized by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. A representative from the office, Krista Titus, surprised the group with the Patriotic Employer Award for leading fundraising efforts to support families of deployed soldiers. The PTA has conducted a number of events to support soldiers. Last September 11, they held a dine-out at Barros Pizza raising $425, this money was used to purchase wish list items for the Veterans Hospital. School families then delivered the items and spent the afternoon playing Bingo with the vets. Additionally, they partnered with Laveen Farmers Market to hold a book drive; collected books were sent to chaplains oversees. A Coins for Cookies drive was also held where classrooms collected change to purchase Titus (right) presents Maggie Jolly, Girl Scout cookies and send to troops overseas. Over $200 was collected for on behalf of the PTA, with the Patriotic Employer Award. the cookies. PAGE 2
September 12, 2014