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RAK Summer Camp Fair brings camps to community
Academics key to Seton wrestling program
BY TRACY HOUSE
BY MAX KRAUST
Celebrating its 11th year of helping families find the right summer camp, Raising Arizona Kids magazine brought its 2014 Camp Fair AZ to Chandler Preparatory Academy at Warner and Alma School roads as part of its two-day summer camp fair. The first day of the summer camp was held at Tesseract School in Phoenix and more than 80 camps were represented, says Brandy Collet, circulation coordinator and camp fair organizer for Raising Arizona Kids (RAK). The Chandler summer camp fair brought in 55-plus camps for parents and children to visit and learn what options are available for the summer. RAK has been promoting the camp fair for six months, ensuring there are a variety of camp options to meet individual camper’s interests. Camps are able to sign up with RAK, which has a summer camp directory, and then come to the fair to meet the families to provide information on the camp. Whether families were looking for fullday, half-day, overnight, out-of-town, or out-of-state camps, there was something for everyone. Camp offerings included music, arts, science, gymnastics, dance and cheer, Spanish learning, drama, engineering, physical fitness, sports, academic, animal fun and more. “The nice thing about this is most of the people at the camps or at their
booths, they are the owners, they are the directors, so these parents come, they know who the people they’re working with, where they’re going to send their kids this summer,” Collet explains. “That’s the nicest thing about it. You’re not just sending your kids off into somewhere you searched on the internet. I think that’s really the nice thing, you get a chance to meet with the directors and really get a feel for the camp.” Camps for consideration are for preschool age through high school. Families were able to interact, ask questions and get a sense of what each of the camps has to offer and what might be the best fit. Children got a chance to pet a bunny, iguana and snake, build with LEGO, rock climb and try their hands at some crafts and guitar playing. For a parent considering sending a child to overnight camp, this was an opportunity to talk with the camp representatives, Collet says. “They’ll talk with your kids and help them work through the insecurities and not being sure whether they want to do it or not.” Offering a variety of camps for parents to come and find something for kids, Collet says, “A lot of parents don’t think to send their kids to camp. This just offers a way to get involved and start thinking about ‘Hey this is a really great experience to send SEE SUMMER
CAMP
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Seton Catholic High School’s wrestling team is one that prides itself on academics and it was able to excel on and off the mat during the 2013-14 season. The Sentinel wrestling team had four wrestlers finish in the top five of their weight class at the 2014 AIA D3/D4 State Championships. And all of them were also honor roll students. Freshman Quentin Hovis and junior Sergio Chavez were
crowned champions in their individual weight classes, the school’s first two wrestling champions. Freshmen Vincent Dolce and Brandon Konecny also placed at the state tournament, finishing second and fifth, respectively. “Our priority is making strong studentathletes. We push our kids to get all A’s in school,” says SCHS Head Wrestling Coach SEE SETON
WRESTLING
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TOP-NOTCH PROGRAM: Coach Jack Cardinal, Vincent Dolce, Brandon Konecny, Coach Kellan Fluckiger, Quentin Hovis, Sergio Chavez and Coach Eric Larkin after the 2014 AIA D3/D4 State Championship wrestling tournament. Submitted photo
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Youth
March 15 - April 4, 2014
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SUMMER CAMP FROM PAGE 26
your kids to camp.’ Teaches them how to be independent of their parents and teaches them lifelong skills.” From the two-day fair this year, Collet estimates that more than 1,600 people came out to the summer camp fairs. “We’ve got great feedback from our vendors. They all say this is the best camp fair around.” She says many of the camps have been out several years to represent the camp and talk to parents and kids. Looking forward Collet explains, “Our newest event in November, we are going to do something similar to this, is an education fair. So we’re working with charter schools, private schools, all kinds of schools all around the Valley, after school programs
Youth and we’re going to do a similar set up.” The education fair will be another tool for parents to find out what’s available, what choices are out there and make that decision based on what’s best for their child’s educational needs. Raising Arizona Kids magazine is celebrating its 25th year of providing quality information for Arizona parents. For more information about the camps, visit www.campfairaz.com. Go to www.raisingarizonakids.com for more information about Raising Arizona Kids magazine. Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
SETON WRESTLING FROM PAGE 26
Eric Larkin. Larkin and his coaching staff took over the SCHS wrestling program last year and have since preached academic and athletic excellence. Larkin wrestled at Arizona State University for five years where he was the 2003 NCAA Division I National Champion at 149 pounds. Assistant coaches Jack Cardinal and Kellan Fluckiger also wrestled at the collegiate level. “Our goal is to be a top high school team in the country,” Cardinal says. “The kids that we have work extremely hard and all have goals of wrestling in college.” The Sentinel wrestling team only had four wrestlers when Larkin took over, but that number has since grown to 11. As a team, the Sentinels finished ninth at the state tournament and eight out of the 11 wrestlers are honor roll students at SCHS, achieving a GPA of 3.0 or better. Wrestlers must take on an extra workload at practice if their grades fall below the expectations of receiving A’s in all their classes.
www.SanTanSun.com “It is going to be easy for these guys in college because they are already dialed in,” Larkin says. The Sentinels also have plans of competing in national tournaments where they will be seen by college coaches from programs all over the country. The team will travel to a tournament in Iowa in April as well as one in Fargo, N.D., this July. “One of the big differences with our program is that we are committed to the parents and kids,” Cardinal says. “We don’t start in November and end in February, we are with them 10 months out of the year.” “We want them to be well-rounded student athletes, be respectful and humble,” Larkin adds. Larkin and his staff will continue to expect the best out of their studentathletes on and off the mat and hope to further build the foundation of the Sentinel wrestling program. Max Kraust is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at max@santansun.com.
Grants available to CUSD teachers
CAMP RUFFIN’ IT: Samantha Taubel and Toto with the Arizona Animal Welfare League were on hand at the Raising Arizona Kids 2014 Camp Fair AZ. STSN photo by Tracy House
The Teacher Next Door Program offers up to $5,000 in grant money to teachers who are buying or selling a home in Arizona. All teachers—kindergarten through 12th grade—qualify for at least $1,000 in grant money through Teacher Next Door. For more information, contact (800) 989-3550 or visit www.teachernextdoor.us. Teachers can also contact Realtor Melissa Kalinowski at (602) 432-2488, mel.kal@pruaz.com; or Realtor Tammy Gray, at (602) 931-6382, tammy.gray@pruaz.com. The Teacher Next Door Program is a free benefit available to all teachers. A personal representative will guide teachers smoothly through the entire process, from pre-approval to locating the perfect home; contract negotiations through closing and beyond.
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Youth
March 15 - April 4, 2014
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Kids: Win $15 gift card from Changing Hands Bookstore Students who either live in Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek or surrounding areas or who attend area schools can win $15 gift cards from Changing Hands Bookstore, thanks to a partnership between the bookseller and the SanTan Sun News. This ongoing, monthly promotion awards a $15 Changing Hands gift card to every youth whose article, story, poem, essay, editorial, book review, photo or illustration is chosen to be printed in the SanTan Sun Kids Opportunity section, while supplies last. The Kids Opportunity section is printed in the Youth Section of the first paper of the month, each month. The best news is that even though only one to three submissions are printed per month, all good submissions are
held in a file to be printed in future issues. So if an entry doesn’t win this month, it could win next month—or even the month after that. To enter, visit SanTanSun.com, click on Youth and then on Student Writer Permission Slip to download a submission-permission slip. Complete the form and have a parent sign it so the paper has permission to print the entry and the author or artist’s byline. Then, email the submission-permission slip and writing or artwork to news@ SanTanSun.com as a Word file, if writing, or JPEG, if art, or pasted into the email.
K.O.
Registration begins for CYF Registration for Chandler Youth Football’s upcoming season will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 5; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 16; and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Youth ages 6 to 15 are welcome to register to participate in the youth football organization, which has served the Chandler community for more than 39 years and remains committed to providing high-level football instruction while emphasizing sportsmanship, teamwork and academic excellence. To learn more, visit www.ChandlerYouthFootball.net or call (480) 840-4142.
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YOUTH CHRONICLES Ghassan Abukar of Chandler is a December 2013 graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Ghassan earned a Master of Science degree in systems engineering. Kaitlyn Ammerlaan, Margarita Garcia, Holly Hobgood and Sarah Moonen of Chandler and Donovan Fiore, Alicia Knox and Colby Lancaster of Gilbert are among 17 Phoenix-area students awarded a special scholarship from Honeywell to attend the 2014 Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Dylan Cowan of Chandler is the recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship at Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Hong Bin Kim of Chandler is on the fall 2013 Dean’s List at Emory College, the undergraduate liberal arts college of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. Students must be in the top 20 percent of Emory College or have approximately a 3.85 grade point average or higher to be named to the Dean’s List. Sung-Min Kim of Chandler is on the fall 2013 honor roll at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn. Founded in 1843, Miss Porter’s School is a college preparatory boarding and day school for girls in ninth through 12th grades. Legacy Traditional School District has been awarded AdvancED accreditation. The accreditation follows an extensive
review process during which the learning environments at all eight district campuses were observed and interviews conducted with founders, board members, administrators, teachers, support staff, students and parents. Legacy Traditional Schools joins just 13 other school systems in the state to gain full accreditation. Mitch McCulley, Zach Werlinger and Levi Sterling of Chandler and Gannon Conway, Drew Emanuel, Luke Petruzzi and Jackson Spilsbury of Gilbert and Carson Sawyer of Queen Creek were among 39 high school and college football scholar athletes honored recently by Valley of the Sun Chapter of National Football Foundation. Sarah Moore of Chandler is a fall 2013 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Sarah earned an Associate of Arts in child care and guidance. Jared Ruchensky of Chandler was inducted into the student chapter of the Jesuit Honor Society Alpha Sigma Nu at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Jared is a student in the Creighton University College of Arts and Sciences. Hugo Soll of Chandler is a fall 2013 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. Hugo earned a Master of Business Administration in business administration-online from RIT’s Saunders College of Business.
www.SanTanSun.com
Youth
March 15 - April 4, 2014
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CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT March 10-21: Spring Intersession; no school March 24: Teacher Inservice/Workday; no school
Carlson Champions Looking ahead – Carlson’s PTO is accepting nominations for next year’s officers. Forms must be submitted by Tuesday, March 25. Elections are Thursday, March 27. Spring carnival – Silent auction donations are being sought for the schoolwide event in April. Donationrequest letters can be retrieved through the students’ Monday Morning Message or room parent.
Calendar March 27: General PTO meeting and elections, 6:30 p.m., Media Center April 4: Jamba Juice Fun Friday, smoothies $3 each —Lora Robinson
taxes for the full amount. Thanks to the Hancock families who have already contributed. —Andrea Dickson
CTA-Independence Hawks
Yearbook photos – Submit photos of Hull students and events to the yearbook by Saturday, March 15; email to hullyearbook@yahoo.com and include the names and grades of students’ pictures. Read-a-thon – Hull’s PTO is excited to sponsor its first read-a-thon, “Reading Takes You Places,” designed to promote reading as a fun activity while raising money to support the school. Students will track their reading from Friday, March 28, through Thursday, April 3, for chances to win great prizes. All pledges are due by Friday, April 11, to be eligible for prizes. Election time – The last PTO meeting of the school year and elections for the 2014-15 PTO executive board will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the Media Center. Along with elections, the PTO will vote on how to spend its fundraising dollars. Email hullptopres@gmail.com for more information. Thanks due – Albertsons staff and store manager Mike Farfalla presented a check for $1,000 to Hull PTO recently. Thanks to everyone at Albertsons for supporting Hull. —Kristen Boyd
Movie night – Student Council hosts a Movie Night at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 28. All families and siblings of students are invited to attend. Save the dates – State testing is scheduled for April 9 and April 10, second grade; April 9 through April 11, third grade; and April 8 through April 11, fourth through sixth grades. Families are asked not to schedule appointments during testing dates. Budding scientists – Congrats to CTAIndependence fifth graders Anthony Catone, Alec Gonzalez and Zak Lalani, whose science project, “Freeing Water from Chlorine,” placed third at the Hamilton Invitational Science and Engineering Fair. —Wendi Olson
Hancock Heat FOLLOW THE CARLSON KIDS: Student Council stages its rendition of “The Wizard of Oz” at a recent school assembly, after participating in the CUSD leadership convention, “The Wonderful Leaders of the World.” The group won first place for its banner out of 28 other CUSD elementary schools. Submitted photo
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Welcome kindies – Families may come in and register their children for the 2014-15 school year; documents needed for registration include the child’s birth certificate, immunization records and proof of address. Tax credits – Donations for 2014 can be given any time. Up to $400 can be donated to Hancock for credit on 2014
Hull Heroes
Tarwater Toros School Cents – Tarwater families can earn triple School Cents points in March when they log their receipts for the following Chandler Fashion Center stores: Build-A-Bear Workshop, The Children’s Place, Claire’s, Cotton On, Crazy 9, Disney Store, DownEast Basics, Fuzziwigs Candy Factory, Gap, GameStop, Gymboree, Icing, LEGO Store, Justice & Brothers, XXI Forever and Xtreme Toys. Spring Book Fair – Prepare for fourth-quarter AR goals and stock up for summer reading at the Spring Book Fair April 1 through 4. Email arizonadunns@cox.net if interested in volunteering for this event. Save the dates – Tarwater families are invited to enjoy a picnic lunch at school with their students at the spring barbecue Friday, April 4. Tarwater’s final Restaurant Night of the year is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Barro’s; both dine-in and carry-out orders benefit the school. Language learning – Tarwater will offer a Kindergarten Mandarin Immersion program for the 2014-2015 school year. Contact Tarwater for more information at (480) 883-4300 or visit the school website. Music notes – Congrats to the Tarwater students who were recently chosen to participate in the Elementary All-State Orchestra in Show Low: Justin Bai, second chair, cello; Ashley Lepham, third
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Youth
www.SanTanSun.com chair, cello; Holly Xu, 17th chair, first violin; and Lucy Xu, 18th chair, first violin. Thanks to Mrs. Ivanhose for her dedication to Tarwater’s orchestra students. Running Club – The Toros just finished a great season, with 180 students who dedicated themselves to working hard and improving their running abilities. Runners participated in 17 practices and three races over the season, earning 98 individual ribbons. Award winners – Lucy Alwin and Benjamin Neumann were “Sneaker of the Month” award winners for logging the most exercise minutes in January. Both students are in Mrs. Meyer’s class; their classroom also won the Golden Tennis Shoe for logging the most cumulative fitness minutes for third grade. —JoAnne Cawley
Bogle Bulldogs Group work – A group of volunteers led by Sun Lakes resident Don Robins for the AWIM (A World in Motion) program has been visiting students in Mrs. Phillips’ eighth-grade science classes to give STEM instructional lessons and lead a project on motorized toys. Students recently gave their final presentations on their projects. —Terry Locke
Payne Panthers Book notes – Payne students have
been celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday by participating in the Reading Across America program since winter break. Some books were chosen by librarian Stephanie Merrill, but students were also allowed to choose their own. Any students who read six books by the March deadline participated in a VIP party in the library, during which they received lunch, played USA Bingo and had the chance to win raffle prizes. More than 30 students in seventh and eighth grades finished reading six books. —Stephanie Merrill
Basha High Bears Kudos – Basha High senior David Li is a finalist for the 2013 National Merit Scholarship. He qualified by maintaining an outstanding academic record, being endorsed and recommended by a high school official and earning SAT scores that confirmed the qualifying test performance. David took the test as a junior and only missed one question; the previous year, he received a perfect score as a sophomore. Volunteer spirit – Basha High sophomore Dustyn Phillips was honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award, granted by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Obama. Basha High’s Kids Helping Kids nominated Dustyn for national honors
March 15 - April 4, 2014
this fall in recognition of his hundreds of hours of volunteer service at Chandler Christian Community Service, Kids Helping Kids and local churches. High honor – Basha High special education teacher Julie Mitchell is this year’s recipient of Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny’s Committee for People with Disabilities’ Educator of the Year Award. For the last seven years, Mrs. Mitchell has been the CASE (Curriculum for Alternate Standards Education) teacher in the self-contained classroom at Basha, where she teaches math, vocational math, language arts, computers, vocational language arts, vocational/ transitional skills and the Off Campus Work Program; she also created work environments to assist students in acquiring social and vocational skills in order to obtain entry-level competitive employment when they graduate. In addition, she is the sponsor for SHADESS (Students Helping to Achieve Diversity, Educational and Social Success) Club, which offers opportunities for students with and without special needs to form friendships through weekly meetings and monthly club events. —Carol Skocypec
CTA-Goodman Gators Award winner – CTA-Goodman special education student Camila Lopez is the recipient of the “I Can Do It” award from the AZ Council for Exceptional
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Children. Camila receives services for a hearing impairment after retinoblastoma cancer and the accompanying treatment left her with vision and hearing losses. She is an excelling student at CTAGoodman who always demonstrates a positive attitude, excellent citizenship, enthusiasm for learning, kindness, respect and effort to be her personal best. Calendar March 25: APEX Pep Rally March 26: Report cards sent home —Kathie Butters
CTA-Freedom Falcons Tax credit donations – Arizona taxpayers can donate to CTA-Freedom and earn a 100 percent tax refund on their Arizona state taxes. The money goes toward fieldtrips and extracurricular activities. To learn more, visit www.ctafreedom.com and click on the Tax Credit link in Announcements. —Erin Morgan-Canter
Knox Knights Arts Night – The KGA Arts Night will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, featuring live musical performances, hands-on projects and a piece of art from every student in the school displayed in a “gallery.” For more information, email knoxartmasterpiece@gmail.com. SEE CUSD NEWS PAGE 34
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Teacher’s legacy lives on at Hershey Track and Field Meet
CUSD NEWS FROM AGE 33
BY BETH LUCAS
TEAM WORK: The Knox Gifted Academy VEX Robotics Team holds its Judges Award at the state finals competition. In its rookie year, the Knox VEX Robotics Team competed 14 times during the season, making it to the state finals, and each time earned the prestigious Sportsmanship or Judges Award. KGA is one of only two elementary schools represented, competing alongside other junior high and high school teams. Thanks to team members and parents for the wonderful experience. Submitted photo
Help wanted – Nominations for next year’s Knox PTO Board are being accepted; anyone interested should contact knoxelementarypto@gmail. com for more information. High honors – KGA scored big at the Hamilton High School Invitational Science and Engineering Fair, with sixth grader Sachit S. winning first place for his project, “Antimicrobial Properties of Tumeric.” Also taking home first prize plus a special Intel Innovator Award
were fifth graders Uriel C. and Ethan M. for their project called “Disasteroid.” Yearbook orders – Orders for Knox’s 2014 yearbook are being taken. PayPal users should attach a copy of the receipt to their order forms to expedite processing. Calendar April 4: Arts Night April 8: PTO meeting April 8-11: AIMS testing —Jacqueline Bartrim
NEW VISTAS CENTER FOR EDUCATION
Sue Vant Hof spent her physical education career encouraging Chandler youth to embrace active lifestyles. Her legacy lies in the success stories of local young athletes like 13-year-old Anna Foreman, who placed third in the national Hershey Track and Field Meet last year. Anna returns as an eighth-grader to this year’s Hershey Track and Field Meet in Chandler at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5. Open to youth ages 7 to 14, the meet will feature Vant Hof’s former students who will see her legacy live on. Vant Hof, a 34-year Chandler Unified School District physical education teacher who died in 2013, will be namesake for the event’s participation award. “She believed in the program, and understood its benefits,” says Teo Ruiz, who manages the Hershey program for the City of Chandler. “She really pushed it, and got other P.E. teachers involved from all over Chandler. There’s a lot of positive energy in the event. It’s fun to see the community come together.” The honor recognizing Vant Hof’s successful career teaching youth to embrace activity and healthy lifestyles is new this year. The Sue Vant Hof Award will go to a school that engages children in the most participation. Ruiz said during Vant Hof’s years, enrollment at the Hershey meet grew between 600 and 900 students. He is
trying to meet those numbers. Chandler youth can participate in any two categories, including short and long sprints, relays, long jump and softball throw. Erik Foreman, who encourages both of his eighth-grade children to be active, recalls what a role Vant Hof played in his daughter Anna’s success. “If you take a look at the choices put in front of us as far as health and nutrition, if you don’t choose the right path, you are going to end up later in life with a lot of health issues,” Foreman says. “If you can stick with healthy food choices, and find something you enjoy on the athletic side, you will be much better off later in life.” His daughter chose running, an activity that Vant Hof championed with clubs she established at elementary schools. As a national finalist, she was further encouraged by Olympians and champion runners including Carl Lewis whom she had the chance to meet in Pennsylvania. The goal of the Hershey meet is to encourage a love of active lifestyles among all children. “They celebrate not just the athletes, they celebrate everybody,” Foreman adds. “Physical fitness is really what they are celebrating. They’re celebrating the kids. To me, it’s a really fun event to go and watch.” Vant Hof began her career at Hartford Elementary School in 1976. She helped SEE TEACHER PAGE 36
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Youth
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March 15 - April 4, 2014
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Senior’s project benefits autism awareness BY TRACY HOUSE
Hannah Steele, 17, could have focused on any topic for her senior project. But she chose to help the community. “Dancing 4 Autism—Raising Autism Awareness” is a community dance to benefit Lauren’s Institute for Education (L.I.F.E.) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, in Navarrete Elementary School’s multipurpose room, 6469 S. Sun Groves Blvd., Chandler. The project is one she’s been working on since her freshman year. It evolved from a mere concept and now she’s putting it into action as a Basha High School senior in college prep English. Hannah credits her mom, Debbie Steele, with the idea. “I knew I wanted to raise money, but I didn’t know how because I could do a lot of other things but I felt that a dance would bring them together and have fun,” Hannah says. “My mom works with autism kids so I’ve always been around it and I thought it would be a lot of help if I could do something to help them raise money.” Hannah works at Fitness Works in the gym and says she does get autistic children in the kid zone. Meanwhile, Debbie works as a para-professional in Navarrete Elementary School’s resource room. She works one-on-one with an autistic student. She says the Navarrete student council has been helpful in the planning
Whitening •
ACTION PLAN: Basha High School student Hannah Steele is putting her senior project into action with “Dancing 4 Autism—Raising Autism Awareness” dance at Navarrete Elementary School on March 25. STSN photo by Tracy House of the dance and will be decorating the multipurpose room. Debbie explains that the Panther Pals—a group of student volunteers from Payne Junior High School—will
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be helping out. The suggestion for donating to L.I.F.E came from Karen Smith, a special needs teacher at Payne. L.I.F.E is a therapy center for developmentally disabled children.
It offers a variety of therapies that nurture each individual child’s growth to improve his or her quality of life and the lives of his or her family members. For more information about L.I.F.E. visit www.laurensinstitute.org. Fliers have been distributed to surrounding schools and at Basha High School. Hannah has invited L.I.F.E families as well and the public to come out and enjoy the event. There will be a DJ, face painting, games, snacks and a raffle at the dance. Admission is $2 for children, $5 for adults. Hannah says she is looking for donations for the raffle basket: gift cards and vendors items, but any donations are appreciated. The raffle will be $1 per ticket, or six tickets for $5. They’ll be available at the dance, but you do not have to be present to win. Hannah lives in Cooper Commons and plans on heading to ChandlerGilbert Community College after graduation. Her dream is to become a second-grade teacher. Her senior project will include a PowerPoint presentation of pictures from the project and dance, an essay on the topic and presentation. To donate to Dancing for Autism or for more information, contact Hannah Steele at hannahrose1210@aol.com. Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
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GILBERT
QUEEN CREEK
595 N. Dobson Road, Suite A-18 Chandler, AZ 85224
3420 S. Mercy Road, Suite 124 Gilbert, AZ 85297
21321 E. Ocotillo Road, Suite 124 Queen Creek, AZ 85142 (Rittenhouse and Ocotillo)
Call 480-821-1400, or visit online: www.healingheartspeds.com
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Youth
March 15 - April 4, 2014
TEACHER FROM AGE 34
open for additional elementary schools open before retiring from Ryan Elementary School in 2010. In 1996 she was named the Arizona Governor’s Physical Educator of the Year. Leslie Hicks keeps a photo of Vant Hof at her desk as a curriculum specialist with the school district, where she had Vant Hof as a physical education teacher almost every elementary grade. Trained in physical education herself, she is proud to see Vant Hof’s impact continue to make an imprint on the community. “It just shows what an impact and heart she had for kids. She was passionate about kids,” Hicks says. “Whether it was fitness or otherwise supporting them, getting kids to be the best person they could be. She wanted you to find what you were passionate about and would celebrate that with you.” Today, Hicks continues to incorporate a variety of activities to encourage children of every interest to find a lifelong love of fitness and health. “Sue established successful running clubs at each of her schools,” says Terry Locke, district spokesman. “Her love for and dedication to her students was evident in all that she did to support and encourage them.” She would enter students in track and field events, including Hershey, and would always offer encouraging words,” he adds: “Her students often came back winners, although Sue told them, ‘Participation is victory in itself.’”
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Perry basketball coach recalls stellar season BY COACH JOSEPH BABINSKI
HERSHEY HONORS: Anna Foreman was one of three Chandler youth to go to the national Hershey Track and Field Meet in Pennsylvania, where she earned third place in the 800-yard run. Photo courtesy of Erik Foreman Foreman encouraged parents to sign up their children, of all interests and talents. “My advice is, put your kids first when it comes to exercise. It also opens the doors to parents. I see many parents at our local high school walking the track, while they have kids who are running in the field. Use your facilities.” The meet takes place at Chandler High School’s Austin Field, 350 N. Arizona Ave. While the official deadline was March 7, Ruiz says the City will still accept students for the next couple weeks. Cost for Chandler residents is $4; nonresidents pay $6. Visit www. chandleraz.gov or call (480) 782-2704. Beth Lucas is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.
Many people feel the Perry basketball team has flown under the radar for quite some time. That is no longer the sentiment felt the by the team’s 15 varsity players. From the start of the season, the Perry Pumas told themselves, “We’re going to the state playoffs.” That most certainly held true this season for the Pumas. The team had the most difficult schedule set before them of any team in the Division I Section II. Not only did the Corona Aztecs make a schedule change due to testing, their game was rescheduled during the most challenging week for the Pumas, the week they would face the Highland Hawks, Gilbert Tigers and Hamilton Huskies. Corona was thrown in the same week. The Pumas continued to believe. Qualifying for Sectionals, they triumphed over the Westview Knights and the Central Bobcats to play the Corona Aztecs in the finals and earn runner up in Division I Section II Sectional Playoffs. This would solidify a fourthseed run and a bye for the Pumas for the state playoffs, making school history for the Perry. They played the Red Mountain Lions at home in the Sweet 16 for the victory. It was six seniors last game. The Pumas moved on to the Elite Eight to play an undefeated Sunnyslope Vikings. The Pumas would defeat the Vikings and made it to the Final Four, where they were to play Corona. Perry did not only finish the season with a 26-6 record, but it was the first time the school made the Final Four. What a season it’s been for the Chandler students, athletes and coaches. We look forward to what the next season brings. Go Pumas!
Perry Puma Accomplishments: Paradise Valley Invitational TournamentChampions-Perry Pumas Paradise Valley Invitational Tournament-MVPJordan Howard Paradise Valley All-Tournament Team-Markus Howard McClintock Holiday Tournament-ChampionsPerry Pumas McClintock All-Tournament Team-Jordan Howard McClintock All-Tournament Team-Markus Howard Division I, Section II-All Section Teams: First Team-Jordan Howard-Senior-Perry High School-15.9 PPG, 2.9 APG First Team-Markus Howard-Freshman-Perry High School-23.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG Honorable Mention-Geoffrey VredevoogdSenior-Perry High School-8.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG Honorable Mention-Bryce Fisher-SophomorePerry High School-3.5 PPG, 2.2 APG Division I, Section II-All Academic Team: Jordan Howard-Senior-Perry High School-4.375 GPA 2013-2014 State Basketball-Super Sectionals: Runner Ups-Perry Pumas 2013-2014 State Playoffs: Final Four-Perry Pumas-History for PHS Season Record: 26-6 State (AZ) Ranking-MAXPREPS No. 2
www.SanTanSun.com
Youth
March 15 - April 4, 2014
WEEK 1: JUNE 2-6, SUPER SPORTS! Children will participate in playing sports and games, both classic and crazy! From good old-fashioned kick ball to games like monkey soccer and everything in between. Amazing athletes will be spending 30 minutes a day leading our students in athletic fun and games!
WEEK 2: JUNE 9-13, SPLISH SPLASH! Welcome to wettest week of summer, wear your swimsuit to get soaked! Splash pad, rubber duck races, and slip ’n slide are just some of the fun activities planned for this wildly wet-filled week! Come cool off and stay refreshed on the hottest days of summer. Carebear will have a bouncy water slide this week and we will be visited by the Chandler Fire Department to learn about water safety.
WEEK 3: JUNE 16-20, CAREBEAR COOKS Come enjoy the creativity of cooking. This class gives children the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cooking experiences as they create delicious snacks. Students will use cooking tools, learn about etiquette and nutrition, and learn how to make recipes and mix ingredients!
WEEK 4: JUNE 23-27, ANIMAL PLANET Join us for a week of animals adventures. Our Carebear explorers will learn about mammals, birds and reptiles. We will have a visit from the Reptile Guy who will bring his cool creatures.
WEEK 5: JUNE 30-JULY 3, PARTY IN THE U.S.A. The children will celebrate the USA’s birthday with some good old fashioned summer fun, watermelon eating, flag making, sidewalk child, water games, s’mores and much more!
WEEK 6: JULY 7-11, A CAMPING WE WILL GO It's going to be a wonderful week in the wilderness! The children will enjoy reading tents, s’mores and games. During this week as well the children will get to learn about constellations, nature and even get to build a pretend campfire.
Full-Day Programs for 2- to 5-year-olds
FULTON RANCH RIGGS ROAD (480) 802-0058 (480) 219-9049
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Youth
March 15 - April 4, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
There’s More Than ‘Talking With The Animals’ At Zoo Camp 2014
DIRECTORY
BY TRACY HOUSE
Feed a tortoise, bathe an elephant, hang out with a rhino and yes, talk with the animals. Camp Zoo at the Phoenix Zoo is making plans for summer camp 2014. This animal-ďŹ lled adventure runs June 2 through July 25 for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. Camps are weeklong sessions and offered as full and half-day camps. Dean Watanabe, family program supervisor at the Phoenix Zoo, said, “In a typical day of camp, we start at 8 a.m., kids check in and get situated into their groups and from there we are off and running.â€? Campers are separated into ageappropriate groups, kindergarten through eighth grade. Each age group has an animal-based curriculum that includes interaction with the animals, crafts and experiential learning. “The kids all have an air-conditioned home base,â€? he said. “That’s very important. We have new facilities here at the Phoenix Zoo. Usually we’ll start out with some kind of opening circle and then from there we’ll explore the zoo, we’ll have animals visit them in their classroom, all of their activities have to do with the daily and weekly theme.â€? Camp Zoo offers eight sessions with biweekly themes of alternating curriculum ranging from Storybook Safaris to Who Works at the Zoo? In addition to the themes, Watanabe said there is a lot of behind-the-scenes action the campers will be involved in. “A lot of cleaning and feeding, opportunities to do stuff that the general public never gets to do.â€? As hot as it is to be outside in the summer heat here in the Valley, Watanabe said the camp does take precautions for the campers. “All of the kids get a water bottle and a hat as part of what
Camp Zoo offers special needs campers unique opportunity BY TRACY HOUSE
CAMP ZOO: Campers at Camp Zoo make a few “new� friends and experience the amazing interactions and experiential learning at the Phoenix Zoo in its unique and fascinating summer camps offered June 2 through July 25. Submitted photo
we issue them for camp. And we’re constantly drinking and ďŹ lling that up. We incorporate water play into their day at the zoo.â€? Campers cool off at one of the two water pads and most of the hikes and outdoor explorations take place in the mornings to avoid the higher temperatures. In the classrooms, campers enjoy arts and crafts, play games and visit with the animals. Instructors for Camp Zoo are either yearlong camp instructors at the zoo or are hired for the summer camps. All instructors undergo a background check and are older than 18 years old. Campers can sign up for all eight weeks or one week at a time. Animal interactions are related to the theme of the week. “One of the activities we do with some of the age groups is give our elephants a bath,â€? Watanabe said.
Gymnastics, Games, Bounce Houses, Swimming, Water Slide, Crafts, Trampolines, Special Guests and More!
Some activities take the camper experience out into Papago Park for a hike to Hole in the Rock and to perform science experiments on the soil and water of the area. Campers need to provide their own lunch, but do receive a morning and afternoon snack. In addition to the water bottle and hat, each camper receives a T-shirt to wear during their Camp Zoo experience. Camp fees range from $155 to $275. To ďŹ nd out more about Camp Zoo 2014 visit http://phoenixzoo.org/camps-programs/ camp-zoo/ or call (602) 914-9333. The Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. Tracy House is the news editor for SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com
This fascinating experience continues for children with special needs through Camp Zoo Sense of Wonders, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, and Camp Zoo Wild Hearts Camp, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30. Camp Zoo Sense of Wonders is specially designed for campers with visual impairments and combines auditory and tactile experiences for campers to get up-close with the animals, interact, play games and experience the natural world. Camp Zoo Wild Hearts Camp was developed for children with orthopedic impairments to experience the zoo. Activities and behind the scenes experiences have been selected speciďŹ cally for children with physical disabilities. Each camper receives a T-shirt, water bottle and hat. Contact the Camp Zoo supervisor to discuss your child’s needs and determine if Camp Zoo is appropriate for your camper at (602) 914-9333. Both camps are sponsored by the Arizona Diamondbacks and scholarship information is available at www.phoenixzoo.org, click on “Camp Zoo.â€?
Summer Camps NOW Enrolling at Connect 5 Family Center for Ages 6-11
ASPIRE SUMMER CAMPS
10 weeks (May 26-Aug 1) Full and half day available Different theme 480-820-3774 every week! www.aspirekidsports.com
50 S. Hearthstone Way, Chandler — 1 Block W. of Chandler Fashion Center
Preschool
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PLAN YOUR SUMMER NOW & keep your kids active Basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming, >Ă€VÂ…iÀÞ] Ă›ÂœÂ?Â?iĂžL>Â?Â?] w iÂ?` ĂƒÂŤÂœĂ€ĂŒĂƒ MAY 27 - AUGUST 8 ÂŁ ĂœiiÂŽ ĂƒiĂƒĂƒÂˆÂœÂ˜Ăƒ Âą Ă•Â?Â? E >Â?v `>Ăž Ă?ĂŒi˜`i` >Ă€i Âą Ä?}iĂƒ {¤ ‡£Î HUBBARDSPORTS.COM | 602.971.4044