Peoria Unified Sch�l District MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENU
PEORIA UNIFIED’S LATEST SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE
MARCH 2014 Calendar Highlights: March 6 - Professional Development, all schools dismiss early.
PULSE
Celebrate Peoria’s Arts and Culture at Festival
March 7 - End of third quarter. March 10-14 - Spring Break. All schools and district offices are closed. March 25 - Governing Board Mee�ng, 5:30 p.m. March 27 - Elementary Report Card Distribu�on March 28 - High School Report Card Distribu�on
Free Admission!!
Bring the family and enjoy a day of celebration of the history and culture of Peoria, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, April 5 in Oldtown Peoria, located at 83rd and Grand Avenue. Let the talents of Peoria Uni�ied students amaze you as you look at displays of �ine arts and enjoy all forms of performances: dance, jazz band, orchestra, steel drums, vocal and strings. There will be children’s activities, arts & crafts and bounce houses for a nominal fee. Cool down or �ill-up at one of the many food truck vendors. For more information, call 623-773-7137 or visit www. peoriaaz.gov/specialevents.
Peoria Unified has a Good Thing Going Peoria Unified, one of Arizona’s largest unified school districts, prides itself on a 94 percent high school graduation rate, excelling schools, award-winning teachers, high AIMS test scores, specialized signature programs and championship sports programs. WWW.PEORIAUD.K12.AZ.US
Polls show that while most people are quite pleased with their own kids’ school, the perception of public education in general is not as rosy. Much of the bad rap is undeserved as Kathy Knecht Board Member evidenced in the important article “U.S. Schools are not Flatlining” from the Center for Public Education. The prevalent misperception is a big problem, because public education is under attack, with
policy-makers at the state and national level who would move to dismantle our public system in favor of a privatized one in a heartbeat. There are important conversations to be had about equal access and opportunity for kids across America, but also about what increased privatization would mean to your family, your neighborhood and the Peoria Uni�ied School District. We have a good thing going here with a 94% graduation rate, tens of millions of dollars in scholarships offered every year, students who ace national standardized tests, award-winning arts programs, champion-
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW
ship sports teams and some of the most phenomenal teachers anywhere. The issue is complex, but worthy of every parent’s attention now. Bottom line: If tax dollars are going to private schools (which have no accountability requirements), then they are being diverted from your child’s school. By letting your legislators know how you feel, you support our students, our teachers and our district’s reputation. We have provided a list of legislators who serve in Peoria Uni�ied and their contact information for you on the next page.
Ariz. State Legislators who serve within Peoria Unified
Reading Challenge Victory at Vistancia Elementary
Each legislative district has one Senator and two Representa�ves: LD20: l Sen. Kimberly Yee,602-9263024, kyee@azleg.gov l Rep. Carl Seel, 602-9263018, cseel@azleg.gov l Rep. Paul Boyer, 602-9264173, pboyer@azleg.gov Schools within LD20: Cactus HS, Canyon, Copperwood, Desert Palms, Desert Valley, Foothills, Heritage, Ironwood, Kachina, Marshall Ranch, Pioneer, Sahuaro Ranch. LD21: l Sen. Rick Murphy, 602-9264444, rmurphy@azleg.gov l Rep. Debbie Lesko, 602926-5413, dlesko@azleg.gov l Rep. Rick Gray, 602-9265993, rgray@azleg.gov Schools within LD21: Alta Loma, Apache, Centennial HS, Cheyenne,Co�on Boll, Country Meadows, Desert Harbor, Ira A. Murphy, Oasis, Oakwood, Paseo Verde, Peoria Elementary, Peoria HS, Peoria Transi�on Center, Santa Fe, Sun Valley, Sundance, Sky View. LD22: l Sen. Judy Burges, 602-9265861, jburges@azleg.gov; l Rep. David Livingston, 602-9264178, dlivingston@azleg.gov; l Rep. Phil Lovas, 602-9263297, plovas@azleg.gov Schools within LD22: Coyote Hills, Fron�er, Lake Pleasant, Liberty HS, Parkridge, Peoria Tradi�onal School, Sunrise Mountain HS, Vistancia, Zuni Hills. LD29: l Sen. Steve Gallardo, 602-9265830, sgallardo@azleg.gov l Rep. Lydia Hernandez, 602-9263376, lhernandez@azleg.gov l Rep. Mar�n Quezada, 602-9265911, mquezada@azleg.gov. School within LD29: Raymond S. Kellis HS
Vistancia Elementary third-graders won the annual Peoria Fire Department’s 3rd grade Reading Book Club Challenge. Teachers Lisa Lisack, Chris�na Laubmeier, Crystal Blanton and Suzanne Yee say this is the third year in a row their thirdgraders have won the reading challenge.
Lake Pleasant Elementary is Pet Friendly
Purple Power!
Lake Pleasant Elementary second-grader Derek Kiepke and his grandfather, Fred Mar�nez, collected pet food and treats to donate to the AZ Humane Society during the schoolwide Pet Drive, a girls vs. boys competition which
Peoria High Senior is Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Camrae McManaman, a senior at Peoria High School, was selected as Youth of the Year by the Jerry & Helen Wisotsky/Peoria Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix (BGCMP). This is the highest honor a Club can bestow upon one of its members.
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW
Oasis Elementary kindergartener Lily Hernandez and sister Izzy, in third-grade, dressed head-to-toe for Purple Day. This is the seventh year Peoria Unified has par�cipated in Purple Day, a student led fundraiser, and has raised more than $60,000 for the American Cancer Society. Oasis students and staff collected more than $275 for Purple Day and Raymond S. Kellis High raised $2,056, exceeding their goal by $42.
PULSE / MARCH 2014 / PG 2
Thank You for Record Tax Credit Contributions!
Pesticide Application Schedule
The Peoria Unified School District is required to provide wri�en no�fica�on at least 48 hours prior to the applica�on of any pes�cides at any school site. Pes�cides are applied in the late a�ernoon, a�er school is dismissed. Mar. 3 Pioneer, Sahuaro Ranch Mar. 4 Oakwood, Peoria Elementary, Santa Fe Mar. 5 Sundance, Sun Valley Mar. 6 Co�on Boll, Fron�er, Parkridge, Sunrise Mountain, Zuni Hills Mar. 7 Canyon, Copperwood, Marshall Ranch Mar. 10 Cactus, Desert Valley, Foothills, Ironwood Mar. 11 Centennial, Oasis Mar. 12 Ira A. Murphy, Peoria High Mar. 13 Alta Loma, Apache, Cheyenne Mar. 14 Desert Palms, Heritage, Kachina, Paseo Verde Mar. 21 Country Meadows, Desert Harbor, Raymond S. Kellis Mar. 25 Coyote Hills, Lake Pleasant, Liberty Mar. 28 Vistancia Mar. 26 Sky View Apr. 1 Oakwood, Peoria Elementary, Santa Fe Apr. 2 Sundance, Sun Valley Apr. 3 Co�on Boll, Fron�er, Parkridge, Sunrise Mountain, Zuni Hills Apr. 4 Canyon, Copperwood, Marshall Ranch
Extracurricular activities will continue to thrive in the Peoria Uni�ied School District thanks to the generosity of our local community. The district received a record $1,640,574.54 in donations in the 2013 tax year. This record-breaking amount is a $117,234 increase over 2012, making 2013 a banner year for the district. Kindergarten Academy brought in the highest amount with more than $465,000 in donations. Patrons
who stopped by the district of�ice to make last minute tax credit donations on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013 brought in more than $33,000 in contributions. Thanks to community members across Arizona, tax credit donations fund extra-curricular activities such as clubs, �ield trips and participation fees for athletic programs. Contributions for the 2014 tax year can be made anytime throughout the year. You can make a contribution online,
Zuni Hills and PTS Teams Colonize the Moon in Honeywell Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge
Congratula�ons to the teams of students from Zuni Hills Elementary and Peoria Tradi�onal School that competed in the Honeywell Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge. Team Alpha Omega whose members are Bebee Obando, Sage Kaminski, Ethan Caraway and Nolan Flock won Honorable Men�on for the Kid’s Choice Award for Best U�lized Recycled Materials. Team Among the Stars whose members are Megan Carpenter, Gabby Hunt, Megan Leon, Arleth Or�z and Parker Forrester received Honorable Men�on for the Judge’s Award for the Base the Judges Would Like to Live On. Over five months, 25 fi�h– through eighth-grade students, coached by Technology, Life & Careers teacher Kris�ne Kwant, worked together in teams to design a space colony to sustain up to 50 astronauts who would mine a special energy source called Helium-3 on the moon.
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW
drop it off or mail it to the Peoria Uni�ied School District Administration Center, 6330 W. Thunderbird Rd., or your local school. Online contributions can be made using a credit card. To download a tax credit form or make a contribution online, go to www.peoriaud. k12.az.us and look for the Tax Credit button in the lower left corner of the home page.
We Welcome Your Feedback in Annual Parent Survey It is that time of year when we ask our community to take the annual Parent Satisfaction and Engagement Survey. Please let us know how we are doing! The Governing Board, district administrative staff and local school of�icials believe that parental input to the educational process is critically important. Parents are welcome to take this survey through March 7. Plan for 10 to 12 minutes to complete a survey. If you have children at multiple schools, you can take a survey for each school. The feedback we receive from the survey will help to improve our schools. Click here to take the Parent Satisfaction and Engagement Survey in English; click here to take the survey in Spanish.
PULSE / MARCH 2014 / PG 3
Peoria Unified’s Governing Board & Mee�ng Informa�on The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board consists of five members, each of whom resides within the school district and is elected to a four-year term. They serve voluntarily. School board elec�ons are held in conjunc�on with state and federal elec�ons every two years.
Cactus High Concert: They Could Have Danced All Night for Foster Kids Charity
Ironwood Crowns Senior Prom Court
Cactus High students Dus�ne Cline, Karina Baker, Sasha Hodge, Andrea Rosas, Lexi Parker, Samantha Heidorn, Sarah Hagen and Brianna Bullock performed in Peoria Unified’s 4th Annual District Dance Concert. Students chose the Arizona Friends of Foster Children as the charity to benefit from this special event which raised $1,420.
Prom King Don Smitherson, who will celebrate his 100th birthday next month, and Prom Queen Marlene Messer were crowned at the 12th Annual Ironwood High School Senior Prom. The prom was a�ended by 85 senior individuals.
Peoria Unified Governing Board Mee�ngs are typically held at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month with a few excep�ons. Mee�ngs are held at the District Administra�on Center, 6330 W. Thunderbird Road, unless otherwise posted. The public is welcome to a�end. To verify the start �me of a meeting, access an agenda, or view a meeting streaming live, visit peoriaud.k12.az.us. The public is welcome to contact board members by email: Hal Borhauer hborhauer@peoriaud.k12.az.us Ma� Bullock mbullock@peoriaud.k12.az.us Kathy Knecht kknecht@peoriaud.k12.az.us Tracy Livingston tlivingston@peoriaud.k12.az.us
Traditional School Team Hosts Block Party
The PULSE is published by Peoria Unified’s Public Rela�ons Department: Danielle Airey, Janet Clarke, Erin Dunsey, Kerri Staack. Nondiscrimination Statement: The Peoria Unified School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, na�onal origin, sex, age or disability. Declaración de Non Discriminación: El Peoria Unified School District no discrimina a raza, color, nacionalidad, género, edad, o habilidad diferenciada.
Teams of Peoria Tradi�onal School sixth-graders organized and par�cipated in ‘Make A Difference’ events in their community. Paige Mabbi� and Kasey Cameron hosted a block party to encourage neighbors to meet one another. Teachers Emily Bryan and Lorri Hammons were proud of all the Make A Difference projects and events: an�-smoking campaign, nearly $250 was raised for United Cerebral Palsy, $140 and toy dona�ons were collected for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Many students par�cipated in trash clean-up or recycling projects, more than 100 food items were donated and 140 sack lunches, plus Blessing Bags were made and delivered to the homeless.
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW
PULSE / MARCH 2014 / PG 4
Cities Offer Spring Break Camps City of Peoria: Spring Break Camp is offered at three elementary school loca�ons: Cheyenne, Fron�er and Paseo Verde. Camp, for kindergarten t h r o u g h e i g h t h - g ra d e students and will feature organized centers, on-site activities and field trips. Breakfast and morning and afternoon snacks will be provided. The cost is $24 per day, per child which includes field trips. New for Cheyenne Elementary campers this year is Sustainable ‘U’ EcoExplorers Adventure Camp. This unique opportunity c o m b i n e s n at u re a n d natural choices with fun and hands-on learning. Sustainable U campers must be enrolled in Spring Break Camp in order to a�end. For more information, call 623-773-7137 or visit w w w. p e o r i a a z . g o v / breakcamps. City of Glendale: Glendale’s Spring Break program is offered at Sahuaro Ranch Elementary, March 10-14, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Camp fees include three field trips: a Spring training game at Camelback Ranch, Sahuaro Ranch Park Historical Area tour and a hike at Thunderbird Conserva�on Park. For more information, call 623-930-2820.
Healthy Rockstars Meet at Ira A. Murphy Elementary Ira A. Murphy Elementary Kids Rockstars: Tyler White, Emily Secore, Daniel Schmalle, Bryana Madrid Aguilera, Atarah Bryant, Cyrus Killenbeck, Heather Johnson, Jennifer Mora and Vicente Aguilar are third- and fourth-grade students who meet every Friday to exercise and talk about health and nutri�on. Kate Brinson, from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, brought a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for the students to sample.
Express Yourself: What Does Community Law Enforcement Mean to You? The Peoria Police Department invites Peoria residents in seventh- through 12th-grades to enter an art contest. The contest theme, The Role of Law Enforcement in My Community, asks participants to create art that conveys a positive message of how police and the community work together in photography, decoupage, painting, drawing, typography, sculpture and mixed media. Artwork will be displayed during the Peoria Arts and Cultural Festival, Sat., April 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Old Town Peoria, located at 83 rd and Grand Avenue. The public will be invited to vote for their favorite submissions and prizes will be awarded in various categories. The deadline to submit artwork is March 25. For more information about the contest, or how to submit your artwork, visit www. peoriaaz.gov/police or call 623-773-5046.
P E O R I A P O L I C E D E PA RT M E N T P R E S E N T S
Peoria Arts & Cultural Festival
Art Contest!
������������������������������� ���������������������������� �������������� ���������������������� Who: Peoria Residents, 7th -12th grade Where: Old Town Peoria (83rd and Grand Avenue) When: April 5th, 2014 8:00am to 5:00pm
The theme of this year’s contest is, “The Role of Law Enforcement in My Community” and we request that the art conveys a positive message of how police and the community work together. The medium of art is open to photography, decoupage, painting, drawing, typography, sculpture and mixed media. Students are asked to complete these projects no later than March 25th, 2014. Art will be displayed during the Peoria Arts and Cultural Festival where the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite pieces. Prizes will be given to 1st through 3rd, honorable mentions, “Chief ’s Choice”, “Best Illustration of Theme”, and “Most Creative Use of Medium” categories.
Great Prizes
from Bath and Body Works, Wal-Mart, Target, Tilly’s, City of Peoria Community Development Center, Challenger Space Center, Knockout Fitness, & MORE! Winning and selected art pieces will be displayed in the Peoria Police Department lobby/station, and more!
City of Peoria POLICE DEPARTMENT
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW
For more information, call 623.773.5046 or visit www.peoriaaz.gov/police
PULSE / MARCH 2014 / PG 5
Peoria Unified School District
Elementary Breakfast, $1.50 Includes fruit, juice, choice of entree, white or chocolate milk.
Elementary Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Elementary Lunch, $2.50 Includes choice of entree, fruit & vegetable bar, white, chocolate or strawberry milk.
Menu Nutrient Analysis available at www.peoriaud.k12.az.us
MARCH 2014 Monday
Carton of milk, 35-cents
Tuesday
Wednesday
Breakfast Pizza Cereal, Yogurt
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Quesadilla Apple Cinnamon Waf�le Cereal, Muf�in Cereal, String Cheese
Green Eggs & Ham Cereal, Graham Crackers
Cheese Crisp Chicken Pa�y Tuna Sub Sandwich Ranch Style Beans Chilled Pineapple Birthday Cupcakes
Chicken Nuggets Beef & Gravy w/Roll Breakfast Lunch Box
Build-A-Pizza Italian Turkey Sub Oriental Chicken Salad
Mashed Potatoes Strawberries
Sliced Cucumbers Banana
3/2
Read Across America!
Thursday
4/3
5/4
Friday Cinnamon Roll Swirls Cereal, Bug Bite Grahams
No lunch is served. Early release for all schools for Teacher Training/Professional Development. Elementary schools that start at 8 a.m. will dismiss at 11 a.m.; schools that start at 8:40 a.m. will dismiss at 11:40 a.m.; high schools dismiss at 10:20 a.m.
French Bread Cheese Pizza Gordita Taco Cobb Salad w/Roll Carrots Fruit Ice
6/5
7/6
13
14
SPRING RECESS All schools and district offices are closed.
10
11
12
Glazed Breakfast Bar Cereal, Graham Crackers
French Toast Sticks Cereal, String Cheese
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Tac-Go Cereal, Muf�in
Omelet, Biscuit & Sausage Cereal, Yogurt
Mini Blueberry Waf�les Cereal, Bug Bite Grahams
Sweet Southern Brunch Stuffed Bread S�ck w/Marinara Sauce Ham & Cheese Bagel
Teriyaki Beef Dippers w/Rice Chicken Nuggets Yogurt Lunch Box w/Muffin
Mini Cheeseburgers Fun Fish w/Roll Egg Salad Sandwich
Sicilian Pepperoni Pizza Hotdog on a Bun Veggie Wrap
Sweet Bell Peppers Orange Slices
Pork & Beans Mixed Fruit
Chicken Nuggets w/Honey Mustard BBQ Pork Rib Sandwich Garden Salad w/Roll
Hash Browns Mangos
17/1
18/2
Salad Chilled Pears
20/4
21/5
Egg & English Muf�in Cereal, Yogurt
Mini Maple Pancakes Cereal, Bug Bite Grahams
Chicken Nuggets Popcorn Chicken Bowl w/Roll Macaroni & Cheese Beef Fingers w/Roll An�pasto Salad w/Breads�ck Veggie Sandwich
Beefy Mac Chicken Nuggets Garden Salad w/Roll
Stuffed Crust Cheese Pizza Mini Corndogs Turkey Combo Sub
Sweet Bell Peppers Applesauce
Broccoli Strawberries
Cucumbers Fruit Ice
Sausage Biscuit Cereal, Graham Crackers
Cherry Frudel Cereal, String Cheese
Queso Blanco Burrito Hamburger Chicken Salad Sandwich Ranch Style Beans Chilled Pineapple
24/6
19/3
Cauliflower Kiwi
Board Meeting 5:30 p.m.
Oatmeal Bar Cereal, Muf�in
Mashed Potatoes & Corn Banana
25/1
28/4
27/3
26/2
Cinnamon Waf�les Cereal, Graham Crackers
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Flatbread Cereal, String Cheese
Mini Choco-Chip French Toast Cereal, Muf�in
Omelet, Biscuit & Sausage Cereal, Yogurt
Blueberry Pancakes Cereal, Bug Bite Grahams
Pretzel Melt Pepperoni Pizza Bites Yogurt Lunch Box w/Bagel
Chicken Nuggets Oriental Chicken Bowl * PB&J Pack
Grilled Cheese Meatball Sub Spicy Popcorn Chicken Salad
Personal Pan Pizza Bean & Cheese Burrito California Turkey Sandwich
Celery S�cks Berry Craisins
Edamame Orange Slices
Corn Tropical Mixed Fruit
Baked Scoops w/Beans & Cheese Chicken Nuggets w/BBQ Sauce Garden Salad w/Roll
31/5
1/6
Numbers to the right of calendar date indicate the 6-day rotation schedule. * Uncrustables are not served at peanut-free schools. Substitutions will be made.
2/1
Carrots Kiwi
Salad Tangelos
3/2
4/3
The National Automated Clearing House Association requires the following nonsuf�icient funds disclaimer: if a child brings a check to school, the parent is giving authorization to electronically debit his/her account for the returned check plus fees if the check should be returned. For more information, contact CCM/Restaurant Fund, 1-888-423-8974.
The Peoria Uni�ied School District is an equal opportunity provider and employer.