Peoria Unified Sch�l District Monthly Newsletter with Breakfast & Lunch Menus
PEORIA UNIFIED’S LATEST SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE
APRIL 2015 Calendar Highlights: April 3 | Deadline for Feedback on Prospec�ve Governing Members
PULSE
Students Relay, Passing Torch Across 167 Miles
April 9 | Governing Board Mee�ng, 5 p.m. April 11 | Peoria Arts & Cultural Event 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oldtown April 13-15 | AzMERIT tes�ng, Grades 3-12 April 16 | No School | Full Day Professional Development April 17 | All Schools and Offices Closed | April Break April 20-21 | Make-Up AzMERIT tes�ng, Grades 3-12 April 22 | AIMS Science tes�ng, Grades 4, 8 & 10. High schools will run a late start schedule.
Torch Run runners are introduced by David “Skinny” Hill at Peoria High Old Main during Opening Ceremonies of the three-day 125-Year Commemora�ve event.
Johnson and junior Leah Johnson, across their own campuses beginning at the oldest school in the district, Old Main at Peoria High. Each student carried the torch across their own campus, and handed
it off to a student from the next school, visiting each campus in the order they were built. Students participating in the Torch Run traveled on a school bus from school-toschool until they reached their own respective campus. The school bus was followed by a �loat decorated with a 125th anniversary logo created by the Building Trades students at Liberty High. The Torch Run ended at the district’s newest school, Sunset Heights Elementary, for a closing ceremony and schoolwide celebration.
April 24 | High School Progress Report Distribu�on
To celebrate 125 years of educating students, Peoria Uni�ied held a Torch Run including students from all schools across the district in the three-day event. Students ran with a mock torch, created by Cactus High art teacher MJ
April 28 | ACT tes�ng, Grade 11. High schools will run a late start schedule.
Peoria Unified’s Special Ed Programs Shine
April 22 | District Volunteer Apprecia�on Celebra�on, 6 p.m., Desert Valley Elem. April 23 | Make-Up AIMS Science test April 23 | Governing Board Mee�ng, 5 p.m. April 23 | Elementary Progress Report Distribu�on
Pe o r i a U n i f i e d , o n e o f 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
Many years ago, as a child in elementary school, I looked out the window of my classr o o m , and saw a group of “strange” c h i l d re n at recess. T h e s e Judy Doane c h i l d re n Board Member were almost never outside when we were, and we were not told anything about them,
other than that they were “special.” They looked different to us, and not being allowed to get to know these children or anything about them, we became afraid of them. Of course the most frightened among us would often call these “special” children by hateful names (yes, those names.) I had a cousin in that class that I was never allowed to meet. W h e n my d a u gh te r Aimee was born in 1980, I
For a list of runners by school and more photos, go to page 5.
was so ignorant of special needs individuals, that when I was informed she had Down’s Syndrome, I asked the nurse if it would take her life. My, how life has changed since then! Aimee started school when she was three years old and the teachers were wonderful! School was a joy for her, and a blessing for me. So, things continued for us, and I began to Continued on page 2
EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, PREPARED TO SHAPE TOMORROW