District Dialogue For employees of the Laveen Elementary School District
February 28, 2014
Note: We have had a request to produce the District Dialogue twice per month. It will now be issued on the second and fourth Friday of the month.
Trailside Point wins PBIS Silver Award Trailside Point received the Silver Award for high fidelity PBIS implementation and student outcomes at the annual Behavior Education Technology Conference (BET-C). Trailside implemented PBIS three years ago. Since the Panther P.A.C.T was launched, discipline incidents have significantly decreased and academic achievement has increased with Trailside going from a ‘C’ to a ‘B’ label. In the first two years the school focused on Tier 1 interventions and defined what the Panther P.A.C.T. would look like. This year, Trailside focused on beginning Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. Staff members conduct check in/ check out mentoring with students. Small group interventions have resulted in new groups such as a Bully Patrol trained to report and monitor bullying, an Ambassadors and Classy Ladies groups for middle-school students, and the Panthers-Cubs mentoring program.
Trailside Point representatives at BET-C.
Meadows teacher is February’s TEC recipient Congratulations to this month’s Technology Excellence in the Classroom Award winner, Steven Humble. Humble effectively integrates technology into his junior high science lessons. Students regularly use Chromebooks and iPads to access the curriculum, engage in digital labs, and apply research and writing skills. Virtual reality is used to bring science concepts to life such as taking a “star walk”, participating in a PhET Density Simulation, or investigating biotic vs. abiotic factors in the environment. He designs lessons to include guided study projects, which he posts through his online science portal. He provides students with a wealth of digital resources, including downloaded documents, links to research, and video screen casts to engage them both at school and at home as they work through the scientific inquiry process. Humble (middle) with Meadows Assistant Principal J.P. Ketchum and Technology Director Jordy Fuentes.
Laveen staff to receive raises All Laveen staff members will see an increase in their pay next year of approximately 4%. Each salary schedule will increase by 2%. Additionally, employees will receive a step increase, representing another 2%. The Governing Board approved the salary schedules at their February board meeting.
Kindergarten Round Up participation increases
Calendar
Kindergarten Round Up was held the evening of February 20 and most schools showed an increase over last year. Across the district 209 kindergarten families visited our schools for Round Up activities. That number is up from 135 last year. M.C. Cash had the biggest turnout with 56 families showing up for the event.
March 3 Read Across America Day
Laveen goes green You may have noticed green dumpsters appearing at our schools and the LEC. Laveen has partnered with United Fibers to turn our recycling into money for education. The program accepts newspaper, magazines, mail, bagged shredded paper, office paper and cardboard. United Fibers picks up the materials and returns between $5 to $20 per ton back to us each month.
March 12 Staff Development Half Day Release March 13 Governing Board Meeting 6:00 pm
March 14 End of 3rd Quarter March 17—21 Spring Break March 27 Report Cards Sent Home
Vista student takes 3rd Place in regional bee
Cheatham students clean up neighborhood Over 20 students from Cheatham’s NJHS joined residents from the Cheatham Ranch HOA to clean up the neighborhood sidewalks, streets, and parks last weekend. The City of Phoenix supported this effort with equipment and staff from the Neighborhood Services office and the support of District 8 Councilwoman Kate Gallegos.
Meadows student places in Grand Canyon Games Desert Meadows second grader Elisabeth Montoya took second place and won the Silver Award during the recent Grand Canyon State Games essay contest. Montoya
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Vista del Sur Traditional School eighth grader Jaad Waters took 3rd Place at the Regional Spelling Bee. He made it to Round 11. Just a few of the words he spelled correctly were: infinitesimal, keest, gauche, chassis, embarcadero, conquistador, durwan, and vorlage. Fourth grade Desert Meadows student Eddy Hadzic also participated and made it to Round Waters 3 at the regional bee.
Rogers Ranch student honored Rogers Ranch second grader Josiah Davis was selected by the Council for Exceptional Children to receive the “I Can Do It” award. He was nominated by counselor Shannon Gregory for making significant social, emotional, behavioral, and academic progress in Davis the last year. “Josiah is an outstanding child and has been able to overcome and achieve more each year. His smile and sweet personality touches our lives each day,” Gregory wrote in Davis’ nomination. Davis was honored at the group’s annual conference. FEBRUARY 28, 2014
Don't Leave Your Health Behind‌ Register for Your Health Evaluation Today! The wellness program is available at NO COST to all employee ASBAIT health plan participants.
Get started down the path of improved health today!
Health Evaluations are by appointment Please schedule by the dates shown.
Location
District Office Vista Del Sur Traditional School Trailside Point School Cheatham Elementary School Desert Meadows School Laveen Elementary School M.C. Cash Elementary School Rogers Ranch School
Date
March 5 March 6 March 7 March 10 March 11 March 12 March 13 March 14
Hours
7:00-10:00 a.m. 6:30-9:00 a.m. 6:00-8:30 a.m. 6:00-8:30 a.m. 6:30-9:00 a.m. 7:00-9:30 a.m. 6:00-8:30 a.m. 7:00-9:30 a.m.
Sign-up Deadline:
February 26 February 26 February 26 March 5 March 5 March 5 March 5 March 5
Schedule your appointment Call Interactive Health at (800) 840-6100 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. The representative will ask you to provide some brief enrollment information and will answer any questions that you may have. Please have your insurance card ready – you will need your Meritain ID Number. Your results are 100% confidential and will not be shared with your employer.
You will need to Fast before your appointment Please fast for 12 hours before your test. Drink plenty of plain water – no food or other beverages. If you are diabetic, pregnant, on medication, or have a medical condition that will prevent you from fasting 12 hours, please follow your doctor’s instructions regarding fasting.
Unable to attend onsite? Participate at a nearby lab! Call Interactive Health at (800) 840-6100 and ask to Test at a Lab. Interactive Health will mail you the paperwork and instructions you will need to go to a lab facility. Please do not go to the lab until you receive this packet. If you use this option, please call by March 17 and complete the testing no later than March 31, 2014.
Your Wellness Program Provider
Teacher Job Fair March 4, 2014 ● 4:30p.m.—7:30p.m. ● Laveen Education Center
High Starting Salary Strong Support for Teachers Excellent Benefits Years of Service/ Education Rewarded Begin your online application today!
Laveen Elementary School District Laveen Education Center ● 5001 W. Dobbins Road, Laveen, AZ 85339 www.laveeneld.org ● 602-237-9100