Peoria Unified School District December 2014 PULSE Newsletter

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Peoria Unifi ed Sch�l District Monthly Newsletter with Breakfast & Lunch Menus

PEORIA UNIFIED’S LATEST SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE

DECEMBER 2014 Calendar Highlights: Dec 2 | Governing Board Study Session | HS Block Scheduling, 4:30 p.m; Governing Board mee�ng, 5:30 p.m.

Veterans Honored at Events throughout District

Dec 4 | Early Release | MyLife Day | ONLY Area 2 HS & Area 1 elementary schools Dec 16 | Recep�on for Outgoing Governing Board members, 4:30 p.m.; Governing Board mee�ng, 5:30 p.m. Dec 17 | HS Course Assessments | 10:20 a.m. release HS only Dec 18 | End of 2nd Quarter | All students released early Dec 19 — Jan 2 | No School, Winter Recess Dec 22 — 26 | District offices closed for Winter Recess Dec 29 — 31 | District offices open Dec 31 | Drive-thru, Drop-off Tax Credit Contribu�ons at District Administra�on Center, 8 a.m.2 p.m. Jan 1, 2 | District Offices closed Jan 5 | School Resumes

Peoria Unified, one of Arizona’s largest unified school districts, prides itself with a 95 percent high school graduation rate, excelling s c h o o l s , awa rd - w i n n i n g teachers, high AIMS test scores, specialized signature programs and championship sports programs. WWW.PEORIAUD.K12.AZ.US

PULSE

Second-graders Anthony HasenhauerCenname and Annika Cender a�ended a Veterans Day assembly at Zuni Hills Elememtary.

Members of the armed services were honored at Veterans Day events held at schools throughout the district. Students extended invitations to family and neighbors to attend a special Veterans Day recognition at their school. These tributes included breakfast, lunch or schoolwide assemblies with choir, band and dance performances. Guest speakers were introduced, students gave patriotic speeches. Slide shows and videos paid tribute or told the history of Veterans Day. Students made post-

Touching Lives, Making An Impact Recently I learned that a student of mine, �ive years prior, was in critical care and spending her time between surgeries in ICU. My heart sank. In class she always was the �irst to worry about another student, make a poster, rally a cause, and to share openly that Tracy Livingston Board Member her sister was her best friend and how cancer changed their family forever. Heart, love and passion continues to pour out of her soul. I know that from the balloons, the well-wishers, her family and her best friend not wanting to leave her side. Before walking to her

room, I stopped at the desk, washed my hands for the 75th time and took a deep breath. “Are you ok?” The kind receptionist offered...”Yes, I just do not want to go down that hall.” Tearing up and feeling foolish, at my emotion, she put her hand on mine and asked...”Family?” “No,” now feeling like a fool. “Just a teacher of the past, like a ghost of terror, I suppose.” The kind woman nodded. “No, like an angel.” Tears ran down my face. I sat down. A Hispanic family nodded, smiled and said, “Roca de los profesores” (teachers rock), a little pumpkin no taller than my knee hugged me... and with that, courage was given to make the walk and see my doll. That is my life, and one I

ers and signs adorned with American �lags and messages of thanks and support in red, white and blue. Schools held blood drives, collected donations for the Wounded Warriors and Jeans for Troops.

Nathan Hinz Hinz, in first grade at Coyote Hills Elementary Elementary, with his great-grandpa Frank Wells Wells, a World World II Veteran.

would not change for all the money in the world. I touch lives. So do you, everyday and everyway. More often than not I often feel like the students give more than I could ever give back...but then the moment arrived when my doll opened her beautiful eyes, “Mrs. L. I love you, you are my favorite language arts teacher ever... and talked about often at the high school.” The best, still remembered, unbelievable that those words would be uttered, even more from my doll �ighting to get stronger each day. I was there for her, and yet she was there for me, times have not changed. May your days be bright not just during the holidays but those moments when you realize you made an impact.

EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW


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