August 4, 2010
First grader, Ben Baldwin, sixth grader, Anthony Bonomolo, and first grader, Chloe Mandeville, are ready to join their classmates from Fountain Hills Charter School and those attending the Fountain Hills Unified School District in beginning the 2010-11 school year.
Already? School starts Monday In Fountain Hills, local schools have become an integral part of town life. Residents attend ballgames and science fairs. Students donate volunteer hours for local non-profits. Parents take the time to run concession stands and chaperone field trips. More than 100 individuals mentor young students. Teachers take part in community events and the superintendent pops up just about every which way you look. Only in a town like Fountain Hills can such an educational ecosystem exist and, next week, it all starts up again. Summer is drawing to a close and students are preparing to load up their backpacks, march onto the buses and head back to school. To help make the transition from poolside to classroom run more smoothly, The Times has once again put together this Back to School edition with loads of information on individual schools sites, fees, bus routes and more.
With only a few days left before the 2010-11 academic year officially kicks off, now is the time for Fountain Hills Unified School District and Fountain Hills Charter School families to say goodbye to the hot and slow days of summer and prepare for another exciting year of education, sports, clubs and more. This year, FHCS and FHUSD will be starting in tangent Monday, Aug. 9, with both districts observing half-day schedules for this first day. There have been no changes to start or end times for the 2010-11 academic year. McDowell Mountain Elementary runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Morning kindergarten will run from 8:45 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. Afternoon kindergarten will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Four Peaks Elementary School will begin at 8:40 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Fountain Hills Middle School operates from 7:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
Fountain Hills High School will run from 7:30 a.m. to 2:08 p.m. Fountain Hills Charter School will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. For those with kids and those without, these are important times to keep in mind as pedestrian traffic will be much higher around schools and bus stops, and traffic will become more congested as parents and buses prepare to cart students to and from their destination. Returning teachers have spent much of their summer hours preparing for the coming year with professional development while new instructors have been eagerly awaiting the chance to finally meet the student body. The economy has been hard this past year, but both FHUSD and FHCS will be pulling out all the stops to guarantee the best possible education for local youths. More details on what to expect from each site can be found in this special edition of The Times.
WHAT’S INSIDE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: The McKee Branch keeps youth active, Page 3
BUS SCHEDULES: Find the closest bus stops, Pages 8-9
FHMS: The quest for excellence continues at FHMS, Page 12
PTOS: Info on local parent/teacher organizations, Pages 4, 5
MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN: Town’s youngest learn at McDowell Mountain, Page 10
SPORTS: A look at last year’s sports and a glimpse ahead, Pages 13, 14
SCHOOL CALENDARS: Important dates for the coming school year, Pages 4, 5
FOUR PEAKS: Four Peaks set for another successful year, Page 11
SUPPLY LISTS: Everything you need to head to school, Pages 6, 7
PRESCHOOLS: A look at local preschools, Pages 11, 12
FHHS: High school continues forward momentum, Page 15 FHCS: Charter School ready for standout school year, Page 16