Fall 2014 The Latest from Laveen

The Latest

from

Fall 2014

Laveen Schools Show High Academic Achievement

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From the Superintendent In recent weeks we have heard much discussion about Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards.

Adopted by Arizona’s State Board of Education in 2010, the Laveen Elementary School District has spent the past four years preparing for the new academic standards. We have invested not only in new curriculum aligned to the mathematics and English language arts standards, but also in educational resources, assessments, and teacher training.

A great amount of time and effort was put into the creation of the new standards. They were developed by a consortium of states through a public process that invited review and input. The business community was directly involved, as were educators and content area specialists. The public was invited to review and provide feedback as well.

The new standards provide a solid foundation for learning for our students. They provide students, parents, and teachers with a clear understanding of what students should know and be able to do in every grade level. Ultimately, they will help our students develop critical-thinking skills and become better prepared for college and beyond.

Laveen has taken these standards and developed a complete curriculum that meets the individual needs of our students. Teams of Laveen teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators researched, reviewed, and evaluated new curriculum materials. Our teachers have participated in numerous professional development opportunities to implement the curriculum into our classrooms. I am confident Laveen will remain a high performing district and our students will continue to achieve.

For more information on how the standards impact Laveen students, visit our website at www.laveeneld.org.

— Dr. Bill Johnson, Superintendent Page 2

Board approves strategic plan The Laveen Governing Board approved the district’s strategic plan at their September meeting.

The district’s administrative team, comprised of principals, assistant principals, and department heads, spent several months developing the plan’s goals, initiatives, and action steps.

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. It can be viewed online at www.laveeneld.org.

New board members to be appointed The Maricopa County Education Service Agency cancelled Laveen’s November school board elections and will instead appoint the new members The district had three seats to be filled, however, only three individuals applied to fill those seats. Each will now be appointed in December.

Jill Barragan will continue on the board and serve a four-year term as will new member Louis Monteilh. Michelle Anderson, also new to the board, will serve a two-year term.

The three replace Isaac Serna, whose term expires in December; Shari Gustafson, who resigned in August; and a vacancy that occurred in 2013.

Laveen launches flickr page The Laveen Elementary School District has launched an online photo album on flickr. This will allow Laveen to easily share numerous photos from events around the district.

You can view our photos through the flickr icon link at the top of our school webpages or by visiting the direct flickr link, www.flickr.com/photos/ laveenesd/.

In addition to flickr, you can also find the Laveen District on Facebook, www.facebook.com/LaveenESD.

Academic Achievement Laveen District awarded grade of “B” The Arizona Department of Education has once again awarded the Laveen Elementary School District with a grade of “B” as part of the state’s 2014 A-F Letter Grade accountability system.

The district earned a total point value of 133, which is ten points higher than last year and the highest the district has been since Arizona began assigning letter grades in 2011.

Vista del Sur earned a grade of “A” and all other schools earned grades of “B.” The A-F Letter Grades are based on two components: a composite score and a growth score.

The composite score represents student achievement on AIMS. The growth score represents the average academic growth of students from one year to the next. The state’s accountability system is designed to place equal value on the two as shown in the chart below.

Only students who attend a Laveen school for the full academic year are included in the letter grade accountability scoring.

The Growth Score represents the average academic growth of all students.

Students who attended a Laveen school for the entire school year, and have taken AIMS the last two years, earn a student growth percentile score (SGP) based on how well they grew academically compared to their peers across the state.

The Composite Score represents the percentage of students, attending a Laveen school for the entire year, who passed reading and math on AIMS. Schools may earn bonus points for reclassifying English Language Learners and reducing the percentage of students scoring “Falls Far Below” in certain areas.

District earns bonus points The district earned the six bonus points possible for an elementary district to earn in the state’s accountability system. The points were awarded for the reclassification of English Language Learners and reducing the amount of students scoring “Falls Far Below” in specific areas.

School districts are expected to reclassify 23% of their ELL students to earn three bonus points in the A-F Letter Grade calculations. Reclassification means those students have become proficient in English based on the state’s Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA). This spring, Laveen tested over 500 ELL students with an excellent district-wide reclassification rate of 44%. This is an increase from 25% in 2013.

Additionally, the District earned the three bonus points awarded for reducing the percentage of students scoring “Falls Far Below” in third grade reading and in eighth grade math.

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E

xcellence in ducation

Each year seven teachers from across the district are selected to receive the Excellence in Education Award. This prestigious award is given to those who attain high academic achievement for their students, provide exceptional service and leadership at their school, and make a positive difference outside of the classroom and in the community.

Recipients of the 2014-2015 award are: Erin Rogers, Rogers Ranch; Brooke Somers, Desert Meadows; John Carpenter, Laveen Elementary; Allison Presutti, Trailside Point; Nathan Kissel, Vista del Sur, Stephanie Hillis, Cheatham; and Emily Soltis, M.C. Cash These recipients were recognized at the November Governing Board Meeting.

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Schools, administrators recognized for achievements At the August 14 Governing Board meeting, three schools and four administrators were recognized.

Rogers Ranch School was recognized for outstanding student achievement as demonstrated on Arizona's A-F Letter Grade Accountability System. Rogers Ranch School received 62 growth points, which is a 37 point increase from 2013. The growth score represents the average academic growth of all students and the bottom quartile students.

M.C. Cash and Trailside Point schools were recognized for receiving the Arizona Educational Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence™ designation.

Rogers Ranch Principal Tim Thomas, M.C. Cash Principal Lisa Sandomir, Trailside Point Principal Sarah Zembruski, and Technology Coordinator Eddie Lopez were also honored with the district’s Pinnacle of Leadership Award. This award recognizes select individuals for exceptional leadership, outstanding accomplishment, and dedicated service to Laveen’s students and community.

The principals received the award for their school recognitions as mentioned earlier. Lopez received Snow the award for the number of technology devices that have been integrated into classrooms, specifically almost 1,700 Chromebooks in July. Laveen schools have a 2:1 or better student-to-computer ratio in the classroom.

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Your tax dollars at work Cheatham’s gym nears completion Construction of Cheatham’s gymnasium and other classrooms is nearly completed.

When Cheatham was originally built as a K-6 school it did not need both a cafeteria and gym. Having since been reconfigured to K-8, a gym is needed to support the larger campus including Grades 7 and 8.

Art, science, and band rooms are also being added and the computer lab and library are being expanded as part of the project.

The new facilities are located at the southeast corner of the campus. Playfields and basketball courts will be rearranged to fit nicely on the remodeled campus.

These additions will bring Cheatham up to the district standards that other Laveen campuses currently meet. The additions were designed by EMC2 Architects and are being constructed by D.L. Withers Construction. They should be completed in January.

The project is funded primarily through proceeds from bond sales approved by voters in 2008.

School #8 planned for 2016 Laveen School District continues to grow, attracting families who care about their children’s education and want the best. As a result, our schools are filling up. It will be necessary to build a new school to accommodate the growing numbers of students.

This year, the district is planning to begin the design work, followed by construction next year and a targeted opening for the start of school in 2016.

The ability to build the school will depend on continued voter support of our bonds and budget overrides.

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The stage, located in the gym, takes shape (top). The existing library is expanded (above). Below, this aerial view shows the exterior walls of the new gym. It is located behind the cafeteria.

Construction underway at LEC

Trenching is completed in preparation of the pouring of the footers for the LEC (above). A welder completes the joining of a metal beam (below). Framing is completed as the new LEC takes shape (below right).

Phase II of the Laveen Education Center construction began this fall.

The second building will house academic services, business services, technology, and support services staff and will be a mirror image of the existing LEC. It will replace the buildings to the south that currently house business and technology.

Once this second building is completed, our transportation department will temporarily relocate to the old buildings while their building goes through a major renovation.

This project is funded through proceeds from bond sales as approved by Laveen voters in 2008.

The project was designed by Orcutt Winslow and is constructed by Jokake Construction

Other recently completed projects that have utilized bond funding include: Cheatham Exterior paint Cafeteria renovation Parking lot seal coating Vista del Sur Restroom renovation Carpet replacement Exterior door replacement

Trailside Point Exterior paint Interior door install Concrete repairs Hand wash station install Drinking fountain install

Desert Meadows Exterior paint Concrete Repairs Hand wash station install Drinking fountain install

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Around our Schools Rogers Ranch Students in Mrs. Terry Snow’s technology integration class were visited by a crime scene specialist as part of their forensic science unit.

Paul McMurry, a crime scene specialist for the Phoenix Police Department, came to talk to the 7th and 8th grade students as an extension of the Paxton/Patterson Action Lab curriculum.

He gave the students an overview of his day and explained how he processes different crime scenes and the tools he uses.

Forensic Science is one of 18 career modules the students can explore in the lab. During the 15day module, students examine evidence, create composite sketches, and do fingerprinting.

Preschool Laveen preschool students came back from fall break to find new equipment on their playground.

A new play set, teeter totter, curvy balance beam, and more were added to the existing play set and swings.

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Cheatham Students in Cheatham’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program recently participated in the College Walk for Success, put on by the Be a Leader Foundation.

Students showcased their school spirit and the importance of education in their lives.

The walk ended at the Phoenix Convention Center where students had the opportunity to speak with colleges from across the United States and receive valuable information for future college planning.

Desert Meadows Mr. Ren Fahey’s 5th graders auctioned off 17 decorated cakes to benefit the Arizona Humane Society as part of the class’s fall community service project.

Basha’s master cake decorator visited the Desert Meadows students and demonstrated her cake decorating skills. The Halloween-themed cakes were then auctioned off with the bidding starting at $10.

Their goal was to raise at least $200, but they actually raised $462! The highest bid for one cake was $60. Two $50 bids were also placed.

The class presented a check to the Humane Society along with student-created posters promoting the adoption of animals.

Vista del Sur

Laveen

Vista del Sur is the recipient of the Western Growers Foundation’s 2014 Arizona School Garden Grant.

The school received $1,500 to create and sustain an edible garden on their campus. Additionally, they received an Arizona Gardens for Learning book, bookmarks, tools, and seeds to get started.

The Western Growers Foundation’s School Garden Program encourages students to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and learn about where their food comes from and the importance of good nutrition.

Farmers from Arizona and California make up the Western Growers Foundation.

First grade student Fernanda Rubio appeared in the movie Dolphin Tale 2, based on the true story of Winter, the dolphin who was fitted with a prosthetic tale after hers was amputated Rubio has had prosthetic legs since she was just three years old. She visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium while attending Camp No Limits, a program designed to empower children with limb loss.

Winter resides at the aquarium.

Crews were filming at the aquarium during Rubio’s visit and captured her interaction with the dolphin.

Winter was an inspiration to Rubio when she first lost her legs. Hesitant to wear her prostheses, “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.

Trailside Point Trailside Point second grader Andrew Capono took the Silver Medal after competing in the state Special Olympics 25 meter free style. This was his first state competition.

Capono advanced to State after unexpectedly taking the Gold Medal in the regional 50-meter competition.

At regionals, Capono was originally scheduled to compete in the 25 meter free style beginners’ competition.

However, an error by the officials resulted in his name not being called. To remedy the mistake, officials allowed him to compete in the 50 meter free style advanced swimmers. Capono, just wanting to swim, accepted the opportunity.

M.C. Cash M.C. Cash School has partnered with the City of Phoenix to offer their community the Good Neighbor Program.

The Good Neighbor Program is a free, eightweek leadership program that gives residents the opportunity to speak to their elected and appointed leaders and improve their community. It also provides the necessary information for accessing City of Phoenix resources.

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Foundation selling storm t-shirts The Laveen Education Foundation is selling T-shirts to commemorate the two 1,000-year storms that hit the Laveen area.

The navy blue shirts note that the wearer survived two 1,000—year storms and includes the dates. The back features a large wave and school bus. Adult and youth sizes are available for $15 and $10, respectively.

To purchase yours, visit the Foundation’s website at facebook.com/LaveenEducation Foundation or stop by the Laveen Education Center at 5001 W. Dobbins. All proceeds benefit the Foundation which provides scholarships to Laveen school alumni.

Foundation hosts Winter Festival The Laveen Education Foundation hosted their first Winter Festival on December 5.

The event featured numerous vendor booths with gifts available for purchase, carnival games, food and drink, and an evening filled with performances by students from across the district.

The highlights of the festival included a snow slide and photos with Santa Claus and a few famous princesses.

Proceeds from the event benefitted the Foundation which provides scholarships to Laveen alumni.

Thank you to those who came out and supported this event.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Are you currently experiencing temporary living arrangements due to eviction, job loss, or a traumatic event? Laveen Elementary School District offers services to families through the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The act requires that children and families who are in a temporary living situation be offered services and supports.

Services provided may include enrollment assistance, nutrition services, clothing or school supplies, community referrals, and in some cases transportation. If you are living in any of the following temporary circumstances: with another family or friend due to financial hardship, living in a shelter, transitional housing, in a hotel/ motel, or an unaccompanied youth waiting for foster care, you may fit the criteria for assistance under this act.

Please contact Kim Kennedy at 602-237-9100, ext. 3051, or at kkennedy@laveeneld.org to inquire further about qualifying for this program.

Child Find Notice Child Find is a comprehensive developmental screening assessment process which identifies children, 3 to 21 years of age who have disabilities that may hinder their learning. If you live in the Laveen Elementary School District boundaries and are parents or guardians of a student enrolled in private school within the district, home-schooled, or if you know of a child who might be in need of services for a disabling condition such as speech, learning disability, etc., please call the Special Education Department at 602-237-9100 ext. 3058. Free special education services are available to eligible students. For more information, visit the Child Find website at http://www.ade.az.gov/ess/ childfind or call Child Find at (602) 364-4015.

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Reduce your taxes by supporting Laveen schools Arizona allows taxpayers to dedicate dollars to education while reducing the amount you owe on your 2014 taxes through the tax credit program.

For every dollar you donate, the amount you owe on your Arizona taxes will be that much less. If you do not owe taxes, the amount you donate may be carried forward for up to five years to offset future tax liabilities.

For example, if a single person owes $300 on their state taxes for 2014 and donates the maximum amount of $200, they will then only owe the state $100.

Couples filing jointly may donate any amount up to $400. Individuals may contribute up to $200.

Tax credit contributions may only be used to support character education and fee-based extracurricular activities such as after-school tutoring and clubs, academic enrichment, field trips, fine art programs, and athletics.

Anyone can participate, married or single, with or without children.

Complete and return this form, along with your payment, to your child’s school or mail to Laveen Tax Credit Program, 5001 W. Dobbins, Laveen, AZ 85339 You may also donate online at www.laveeneld.org.

Donor Information: Name

Address

City, State Zip

Donation Amount: $ The maximum donation for a married couple is $400 and $200 for a single person. Credits may carry over for up to five years.

I would like my donation to go to: (check one) I would like my donation to support: (check one) Program where there is the greatest need Field Trips

Signature

Intramural Sports

the school most in need or Activity Bus

Gifted Enrichment

Art

specific school Band

Preschool

Choir

Equestrian

Tutoring

Phone Number

This non-refundable donation is eligible for the Arizona State Income Tax Credit as allowed by ARS §43-1089.01.

Please consult with your personal tax preparer to determine the application of this credit.

Hand delivered donations must be received by December 18 or postmarked by December 31 to be eligible for a 2014 tax credit.

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Laveen, AZ Permit #6

P.O. Box 29 Laveen, AZ 85339

Residential Customer

The Latest from Laveen is published by the Laveen Communications Department.

Kristen Landry • 602-237-9100 • klandry@laveeneld.org

Laveen Education Center 5001 W. Dobbins Laveen, AZ 85339 602-237-9100 M.C. Cash School 3851 W. Roeser Phoenix, AZ 85041 602-237-9120

Cheatham Elementary 4725 W. South Mountain LAveen, AZ 85339 602-237-7040 Desert Meadows School 6855 W. Meadows Loop East Laveen, AZ 85339 602-304-2020 Laveen Elementary 4141 W. McNeil Laveen, AZ 85339 602-237-9110 Rogers Ranch School 6735 S. 47th Avenue Laveen, AZ 85339 602-304-2030 Trailside Point School 7275 W. Vineyard Laveen, AZ 85339 602-605-8540 Vista del Sur Traditional 3908 W. South Mountain Laveen, AZ 85339 602-237-3046

Enroll your child in a Laveen school You may enroll your child in your neighborhood* school at any time throughout the year.

Registration packets are available online at www.laveeneld.org or in our schools’ front offices. You will need to bring the following documents to complete your child’s registration:  Child’s original birth certificate  Child’s immunization record  Proof of Residence, such as utility receipt or lease agreement (refer to Arizona Residency Guidelines)  Legal papers, if applicable, for custody  Withdrawal form and report card from previous school  Photo identification for parent/ guardian. *Please note, Vista del Sur Traditional

is a school of choice and, therefore, does not have attendance boundaries. Because this is an accelerated school, your child must take an assessment prior to enrolling. Enrollment opportunities are based on available space.

Open Enrollment Open enrollment laws allow parents to enroll their child in any Laveen school outside of their neighborhood. Applications are accepted annually.

Approval is based on space.

Parents/ guardians are responsible for transportation if your child does not attend your neighborhood school.

Visit us online at www.laveeneld.org