Mar 28 District Dialogue

District Dialogue Biweekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District

March 28, 2014

Board adopts English language arts curriculum

Laveen to participate in PARCC field testing

The Laveen Governing Board approved new English language arts curriculum to be implemented next school year.

From August 2013 through January 2014, a committee of 44 teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators researched, reviewed, and evaluated English language arts programs aligned to Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards.

“Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards call for an integrated approach to teaching reading, writing, language, speaking and listening,” said Laveen’s Executive Director of Academic Services Kathy Davis on the need for the updated curriculum.

Committee members selected the following items:  Grades K through 3, Reading Wonders, published by McGraw-Hill  Grades 4 and 5, Reading Street, published by Pearson  Grades 6 through 8, Common Core Literature, published by Pearson In addition to English language arts, new math curriculum will also be implemented in the fall. That curriculum was approved by the board in May 2013. Both the math and English language arts curricula feature a digital platform giving students the ability to access resources, activities, and other online tools.

Teachers are participating in numerous professional development opportunities over the next several months to prepare for the upcoming school year.

The new curriculum adoption was made possible by the capital override approved by Laveen residents in 2012.

Arizona is among a group of states that are in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Consortium. PARCC is conducting field tests on their assessment around the country in randomly selected classrooms, and the Laveen School District has been chosen to participate.

Each Laveen school will have six to ten classrooms participating in a portion of the PARCC field testing, which is aligned to Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards.

The district’s participation allows for those developing the assessment to “test the test” and to ensure student technology devices used for the test work properly. Because the focus of the field test is not on measuring student achievement, no student scores will be provided.

By taking part in the field tests, teachers and students will play an important role in the development of next generation tests. It will allow Laveen to become more familiar with this new assessment, as our state works to align testing to Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards.

PARCC field testing in Laveen will take place on March 31 and May 14, 2014.

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instructional days until

AIMS

A+ committee visits Trailside Point School The Arizona Education Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence committee conducted their site visit of Trailside Point School this week.

The site visit was the second step in the application process for the distinction.

A+ winning schools will be announced at the end of April.

Both Trailside and M.C. Cash schools are candidates for the award.

The District Dialogue is issued on the second and fourth Friday of the month.

Design revealed for Cheatham additions Future Site of The design for Cheatham’s upcoming building adAdditions ditions were shown at this month’s board meeting.

Director of Support Services Eric Peterson provided the design by EMC2 Architects.

A gymnasium will be added to the southeast corner of the campus . When Cheatham was originally built, it was a K-6 school and did not need both a cafeteria and gym. Having since been reconfigured to K8, a gym is needed to support the larger campus including grades 7 and 8.

Also, planned in the project, are the addition of art and science rooms—facilities that weren’t necessary in the K-6 setting. The library and computer lab will also be enlarged. 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 projects are funded primarily through proceeds from bond sales approved by voters in 2008.

Vista parents learn about internet safety

Lions recognize penny drive Classrooms that donated the most pennies to the Laveen Lions Club’s annual drive were rewarded with a pizza party.

The Lions’ Mario Espericueta and Sharon Anderson delivered the pizzas to the following winning classrooms:  Desert Meadows — Todd Morgan  Rogers Ranch — Andrew Hudgins  Trailside Point — Alan Manka  M.C. Cash — Michelle Sawyer  Vista del Sur — Janette Rashedi  Cheatham — Luz Salgado  Laveen — Jeanette Hoskovec Funds from the penny drive go to support the Lions’ holiday toy and food drive.

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Vista’s PTO hosted a presentation by the notMYkid organization on internet safety this week.

Representatives from notMYkid presented information on the dangers of sexual solicitation and cyber bullying and the impact of social media. The meeting gave parents valuable tools to prevent internet misuse at home.

This presentation was the second in a three-part series that the Vista PTO has hosted.

Kroc Center welcomes student club The Kroc Center opened a little early one recent afternoon to welcome members of Cheatham’s Rock Climbing Club.

Twelve students are part of the club that is sponsored by Cheatham teacher Ms. Stephanie Zaleski and Superintendent Bill Johnson.

March 28, 2014

Laveen School Art Club’s

Art Show

Friday, April 11 Building A, 5001 W. Dobbins On display from 6:00 - 9:00p.m.

Held in conjunction with the Laveen Art League’s Art Walk.

BREAKFAST:

the most important meal of the day.

Eating a nutritionally balanced breakfast can help your child do their best every day. Our breakfasts include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Milk and 100% juice are always offered.

Served free to all students, every day.

Join us in the cafeteria 30 minutes before school.

It’s a good start to a great day!