Back to School: West Valley - 2018 by Times Media Group

JULY 15, 2018

(Tim Hacker Photos/ Mesa Public Schools) Emerson Elementary students celebrated the last day of the 2017-18 school Red Mountain High School Principal Jared Ryan checks Steve Durivage gets the floors at Hughes Elementary in tip-top shape. year in May. maintenance details with a custodian.

Mesa Public Schools works all summer on safety and security BY MACIE WILLIAMS Tribune Guest Writer

s Mesa Public Schools’ 64,000 students enjoy their last few days of summer reading and lounging in the pool, the district’s staff is hard at work ensuring a successful start to the school year.

The Mesa Public Schools operations department maintains 82 campuses inside and out. Staff members specialize in maintenance, custodial and grounds, as well as new construction and renovations. The department has made several improvements over the years to work more efficiently, including hiring staff that conducts daily on-campus improvements

from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Projects range from painting and landscape maintenance to structural repair. “Every principal across the district feels like the single-most important person during that week’s visit,” says Todd Poer, director of operations. “And having our team available during extended hours

eliminates disruptions during classroom instruction.” For the more than 29,000 daily student riders on the district’s school buses, safety is the transportation department’s top priority. After all, Mesa Public Schools bus drivers travel approximately 38,000 See

MESA SCHOOLS on page 3

Volunteers sought to help Mesa teachers cope with class size Tribune News Staff

ith many Mesa schools facing teacher shortages and growing class sizes, the value of trained volunteers assisting in classrooms has become increasingly important to student success, according to principals and teachers who partner with Your Experience Counts.

A program of HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Your Experience Counts has been providing volunteers to schools for 12 years. The program provided 92 volunteers in 25 schools during the 2017-18 school year. More volunteers are needed for 201819 to meet the requests of principals and teachers in Mesa Public Schools. The program addresses neeeds in oth-

er areas of the Valley, as well, including Balsz, Osborn, Washington and Dysart school districts. Robby Meldau, principal of Eisenhower Center for Innovation in the Mesa school district, said that YEC volunteers “are fabulous teacher allies, powerful supporters of students and positive impactors of classroom dynamics.” “My teachers are especially grateful for

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how committed our volunteers have been to reaching every student and encouraging them to learn,” Meldau said. Teacher Allison Zingale and volunteer Anthony Mandarino teamed to support a combination fifth-sixth-grade classroom at Eisenhower. Zingale has had a volunteer in her classSee

VISTA on page 3

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

MESA SCHOOLS

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miles each day. “We have a diverse group of people in our department who support educators and school leaders,” said Jeanne Vandemark, transportation director. “From retired career firefighters to business owners and college students, we have one common goal, and that is student success.” The school safety and security department implements the emergency management protocols at district schools, including lockdowns or evacuations. In

recent years, campus safety improvements have included security fencing and safety glass. All district junior high and high schools have full-time school resource officers, who are Mesa Police officers assigned to a campus. Director Allen Moore regularly meets with his security officers, and the Mesa police and fire and medical departments to ensure that the district is up to date with security practices. “Providing a safe and secure environment for students gives them the ability to learn,” said Moore. The purchasing department is responsible for ordering everything from

(Photos special to the Tribune)

Allison Zingale helps studentsin her fifth-sixth-grade classroom at Eisenhower Center for Innovation.

VISTA

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room for her four years as a teacher. “My students greatly benefit from having caring, skilled adults interact with them,” Zingale said. “Anthony helped my students by motivating them and giving feedback on math and reading and offering alternative strategies for students to be successful.” Mandarino has a degree in biological science and an interest in becoming a teacher. “I work with students one-on-one or small groups to teach a lesson,” Mandarino said. “I try to connect with the students and keep them on track. It is really satisfying when they look at you and say thanks for the help.” YEC volunteers typically spend two to

five hours a week in classrooms in grades 3 through 6. Volunteers bring a variety of life and work experiences to their schools. Many are retired from business, military or education. Some are stay-at-home moms or work part time. Your Experience Counts provides extensive training for volunteers in subject areas – including STEM – and classroom management. At Balsz Elementary School, volunteer James Mallard utilizes his experience as a life and business coach to work with eighth-grade students on reading comprehension and writing. He also created a career day for students. His teacher, Rikki Garcia, said: “James is awesome. He brings positive uplifting energy, listening skills and real-life experiences to our classroom.” And at Griffith Elementary in the Balsz

textbooks and erasers to air filters and cleaning supplies. Over the summer, the purchasing team orders supplies for the upcoming school year. Director Michelle Hamilton says her team’s job is to make sure schools have everything they need for successful teaching and learning. “We’re here so that teachers can focus on students,” she said. The district’s food and nutrition department continuously improves recipes to meet the needs of their young customers’ discerning palates. This includes summer professional development opportunities to keep menus fresh and exciting.

3 BACK TO SCHOOL The district’s central kitchens will be hopping bright and early on the first day of school. The department serves more than 37,000 lunches and 18,000 breakfasts per day. So as students say goodbye to summer and hello to their classmates on Aug. 8, last-minute preparations are occurring to ensure another successful year of teaching and learning at Mesa Public Schools. Information about our diverse educational choices: mpsaz.org/enroll. -Macie Williams is a public relations/marketing specialist for Mesa Public Schools.

Your Experience Counts volunteer Anthony Mandarino helps students in a fifth-sixth-grade combination class during a reading assignment at Eisenhower Center for Innovation in the Mesa Public Schools district.

District, volunteer Robyn Burgoon, a former teacher, works with students in math, science, spelling and writing. “Some students just need a confidence boost,” Burgoon said. “I think it is most helpful to support the teacher by working one on one with struggling students.” Similar classroom success stories are reported in other districts. In a YEC year-end survey, a Dysart principal stated: “You were an amazing support to our teachers, students and school. You are making a positive difference in the life of our students.” And in the Washington Elementary School District, a principal said: “Volunteers have become an integral part of the classroom and are much valued by the teachers and students. Our volunteers have been able to really build strong relationships with students.”

At Solano Elementary in the Osborn District, teacher Mae Nevarez says that her third- and fourth-grade students “love having (volunteer) Maria Salvucci in the room. She has been an enormous help, particularly supporting students with math concepts.” Salvucci, herself a former teacher, has been a YEC volunteer for 3½ years. “Seeing the need in Arizona for assistance in overcrowded classrooms, I thought serving as a volunteer would be a good fit. I absolutely love helping children build their confidence,” Salvucci said. For more information, or to volunteer for the 2018-19 school year, contact Mike Beardslee, Educational Programs Manager at mike@handsonphoenix.org, 623-223-9248, or handsonphoenix.org/ YEC.

BACK TO SCHOOL 4

Help your child prepare for the first day of kindergarten BY DONNA SHOTT Tribune Guest Writer

he first day of school is within reach for East Valley families. If you have a kindergartener in your home, this is a very big deal! There are activities you could do during the final countdown to help your child prepare for the kickoff to their school career. “Preparing your child in the summer prior to kindergarten for what lies ahead is an important step in ensuring that your child has a smooth transition,” said Danielle Petroniero-Klein, who teaches kindergarten at Summit of Ahwatukee. First Things First, a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten, recommends the following: Wake up at the time necessary in order to give your child plenty of time to get ready. “In the weeks leading up to kindergarten, it is helpful for your child if you establish a set bedtime and wakeup routine,” Petroniero-Klein said. Plan and fix a healthy breakfast. Teach your kindergartener how to help with this. Lay out clothes the night before and make sure zippers, buttons and ties are able to be easily fastened. If your child takes the school bus, walk to the bus stop and talk about boarding and where to sit. If you plan to drive to school, talk about the landmarks along the way. Pack a lunch for both of you. Sit down with your child and practice opening things together. If you will be sending a lunch, make sure it is nutritious food that they like and can open. Juice boxes, fruit cups, and zip-lock bags can frustrate your child if there hasn’t been practice. Remind your child to ask for help if needed. Prior to the first day of school, meet with the teacher and introduce your child. Be sure to express your appreciation for their hard work. Kindergarteners sometimes have accidents. It’s a reality that should be anticipated. Pack an extra pair of clothes for your child to bring to school. Give your child a family picture to keep in their backpack or pocket. Reassure them of the pickup time. Spend extra time on the first day of school, but do not drag out saying goodbye. Send them off

with a reassuring hug and kiss! “If your child has questions or worries, explore his or her feelings through drawing about kindergarten,” Petroniero-Klein said. “As your child expresses excitement and anticipation, join in by pointing out some kindergarten positives such as making new friends or playing on the ‘big kids’ playground.” Children who have positive early childhood experiences tend to score higher on school readiness assessments and are more likely to do well in school and graduate. By turning everyday moments into learning moments, you can send your child to school with the skills – and the love of learning – that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Here are some helpful tools for all parents: FTF digital Parent Kit Covering a wide range of topics from pregnancy, child development, safety, physical and emotional health to finding quality child care, the digital parent Kit provides useful tips and online information and resources. FirstThingsFirst.org/ Parent-Kit. Birth to 5 Helpline Arizona’s only toll-free helpline for parents, caregivers and professionals with questions or concerns about children from birth to age 5. Topics include: child development, sleep, fussiness/colic, challenging behaviors, parenting, feeding/ nutrition and support to child care/ preschools. Call the Birth to 5 Helpline at 1-877-705-KIDS. FTF Family Resource Network The 30 family resource centers across Maricopa County offer referrals to community resources and offer free or low cost programs for families of young children. To find a family resource center near you, visit FamilyResourceAZ.org. FTF Quality First Choosing a child care setting for your infant, toddler or preschooler is a big decision. To find a Quality First center or for more information on what quality early education looks like, visit the Quality First website at qualityfirstaz.com.

-Donna Shott is a spokeswoman for First Things First, a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

Red Mountain grad cultivates a lesson in environmental stewardship “It took two days to distribute the dirt,“ McConaghie said. “Once the truck dumped the soil, we took it by estled on a corner of the wheelbarrow to the playground and Red Mountain High School used shovels to level the field.” campus is the KinderU playThe Mesa Public Schools operations ground. Preschoolers enjoy playing on ground crew assessed drainage issues the grass turf, thanks to forward-think- and installed the sod, which was doing 2018 graduate Lexy McConaghie. nated by West Coast Turf. The At the beginning of the school grounds team modified and year, students in Shane Bycott’s replaced sprinkler heads to Advanced Placement envicreate better drainage and ronmental science class were give the grass an optimal challenged to “Change the environment to thrive. World” through a service McConaghie admitproject. McConaghie chose ted there were a few to put her talents toward snags along the way, improving the young learnsuch as when the sod ers’ playground. installation had to “Lexy took this project be rescheduled to heart,” Bycott shared. twice due to “It wasn’t just green sod the school vs. brown grass. She closures modified the overall from the structure of the area, #RedforEd making a big impact walkout. on our campus.” “ T h e Sharon Pratt, who heat expodirects Red Mountain sure and High’s KinderU prosod’s short gram, was thrilled to shelf life rehave McConaghie’s quired imhelp in improving mediate inher students’ experistallation,” ences. she shared. “The revival of the “But it all grass adds a natural came toplay surface that gether in makes our outthe end.” door experiT h i s ences much Mc( Tim Hacker/Mesa Public Schools) fall, better,” she Lexy McConaghie, a 2018 Red Mountain High School graduate, will C o n a g h i e attend Brigham Young University this fall. said. will attend To get Brigham started on the project, McConaghie Young University in Provo, Utah, to constructed a plan that put her organi- major in entrepreneurial management. zational skills into high gear. However, her presence will be felt for “I thought this project would take years to come at Red Mountain High me a month,” she said with a laugh. “I School, especially among the excited learned a big project is a lot more work KinderU students. One preschooler than you think. It takes many people summed it up when she said, “I just and good management skills.” love the smell of grass!” McConaghie reached out to SilveraKinderU is available at multiple disdo Enterprises Inc. to ask for a soil do- trict locations. Learn more at mpsaz. nation for the project. Then she called org/kinderu. on friends and members of the National Honor Society to prepare the area. BY LAURIE STRUNA Tribune Guest Writer

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

It's never too late to have a rewarding career!

(Heidi Hurst/Mesa Public Schools)

Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies fifth-graders participate in the new drone activity at Salk Elementary’s Aeronautical Center of Exploration as instructor Diana Andresen looks on.

District debuts drone activity in Boeing partnership BY HEIDI HURST Tribune Guest Writer

fter a successful 20-year partnership with Boeing, Mesa Public Schools’ Aeronautical Center of Exploration (ACE) has debuted an exciting activity. Fifth-grade students visiting ACE at Salk Elementary learn how to fly a drone, thanks to Boeing engineers who designed the activity and curriculum. “This will help students plan their careers in aviation and science, technology, engineering and math,” said Mary Baldwin, Boeing’s Arizona community investor. “That’s part of what we try to do with our investment – contribute to that pipeline and make sure we have a future workforce.” Engineers designed a sectional map, where students fly a small drone from a spot marked with their school name to a spot marked “ACE.” Three regional airports are included on the map, so students learn about the importance of safe drone flying around airspace in the local area. “It teaches you how to fly a drone and about your sense of direction,” said Katie Wong, a fifth-grader at Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies. “It teaches you to stay out of airports because it’s dangerous, and to not go too high or too low.” The new activity is one of several stations at ACE where students extend their learning about the science of flight. After

learning about flight in the classroom, fifth-grade students visit ACE at Salk or Lowell elementary schools for hands-on activities, including flight simulation. Boeing and Mesa Public Schools collaborated to open the first ACE, then known as Flight Center, in 1998. “Our objective was to teach students about the science of flight and help them in critical thinking and problem solving,” Baldwin said. “As time has gone by, we help the district update curriculum. The new drone curriculum helps students learn a different aspect of flight.” ACE is one of several district programs offered to students, thanks to grants from Boeing. In November 2017, Boeing awarded Mesa Public Schools $301,000 for STEM initiatives, including Engineering Is Elementary, Claiming the Evidence and a KinderU math program. The drone activity, available at the Salk location, is already a hit with students, according to ACE specialist Diana Andresen. “We wanted to add some new STEM activities that engage kids in a higher level of thinking and create awareness of careers in aviation and aerospace,” Andresen said. “It’s a great activity, and they’re having fun.” Wong agrees. “Because of what I’ve learned in school, I’ve learned it would be cool to be a pilot, and I actually can be one day,” she said.

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

Kyrene adopts new way to help kids, families in need

Tribune News Staff

he Kyrene School District has become the first in Arizona to partner with a Georgia-based nonprofit that gives people a new way to help the district raise money for children’s needs. The district last month approved entering into a non-binding, cost-free memorandum of understanding with Purposity, an organization that works with school systems to connect donors to specific needs, whether they be shoes or classroom supplies. “Purposity signs up donors within the ZIP codes of a school district, seeking people who are looking to find purpose through generosity,” an administration states. “Once Purposity has identified donors, staff identified by Kyrene would have access to the Purposity platform to enter specific student needs.” People who sign up receive a text from Purposity when a particular need in their ZIP code emerges. The memo states the likely staffers would be social workers or counselors with access to Purposity’s system.The BEST LUNCH UNDER $7.00 (Total Bill)

children’s identities would not be publicized. “Once a week, users who have signed up to participate with Purposity will receive a text with a need in their area. By clicking on the link, they can read the story about the need and decide whether or not to help out. The price is clearly displayed, meaning they simply click ‘Complete Purchase’ and head to Amazon to finish the checkout process,” the administration memo states, adding: “The item is set up to ship directly to the Kyrene School District. Our staff would then distribute the needed item to the student.” Purposity also can be used “if a family were to experience a large loss d u e to a life event like a fire. Purposity will even purchase small furniture items.” None of the items can cost more than $250. “This will allow us to get items for

students that we do not have easy access to through the Family Resource Center or other donations,” the administration said, adding that Kyrene is the first school district in Arizona to join the nonprofit. Purposity was started last year by two social media experts in Georgia, but also took root in Denver when one of them moved there. It boasts dozens of school districts, corporations and nonprofits as partners on its website, purposity.com, Co-founder Blake Canterbury said, “Purposity isn’t just a tool. It’s a vision. It’s a vision of seeing the world as it should be. It’s the quest to connect neighbors and communities around purpose.

It’s you helping those around you. As a group of social entrepreneurs, from the very beginning we wanted to make something that mattered.” The district hopes to sign up 500 people in the first year and add 250 donors every year after that.

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Chandler superintendent: Judge us by our grads BY DR. CAMILLE CASTEEL Chandler Unified Superintendent

s we make final preparations for the start of the 2018-19 school year, I want to take this opportunity to provide a few updates. Our visionary governing board is determined to make Chandler Unified the top school district in the nation through its 10-year strategic plan, Journey 2025, which focuses on four areas: outstanding students, world-class employees, organizational culture and effective resource management. Every year, the bar is raised higher, but our staff proves to be up to the challenge, as attested by our score in excess of 90 points on last year’s metrics. You can view our progress on our website at cusd80. com. In order to meet those high standards, our teachers and staff work hard to prepare students for life and career, create diverse paths for learning, create global

understanding, provide student-centered learning and engage parents in the success of their child. Our students are problem solvers, engaged learners, service-oriented and ethical, and they value diversity and think critically and creatively. This year, we are adding two new positions to provide resources for our staff to assist students. Dr. Adama Sallu has been named our director of equity and inclusion, and Brenda Ramos has been appointed director of counseling and social services. Dr. Sallu joins us from Arizona State University. Mrs. Ramos has a proven track record as a counselor at Andersen Junior High and assistant principal at Hamilton High. We are proud to be the educational provider for families of more than 45,000 students from parts of Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek. In CUSD, parents may choose from a menu of personalized learning experiences that best meet the needs of their children. We know you have choices and we work hard to ensure a safe, learning environment for students with many backgrounds and

learning styles. We are known as a premier district of choice. Academic achievement is a high priority in the district, as evidenced by test scores that exceed state and national averages. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding educational programs at all grade levels, including: • Free full-day kindergarten • K-8 self-contained gifted programs (Chandler Academically Talented Students) • Knox Gifted Academy • Traditional academies • Mandarin Chinese and Spanish Language immersion programs • Elite Performance Academy for our serious young student-athletes • Accelerated Middle School • STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) diploma • Nationally recognized academic, fine arts and athletic programs • College preparatory advanced placement instruction • Accelerated International

Baccalaureate study • Science and biotech classes that promote critical thinking • Chandler On-line program • Access to a variety of preschool and afterschool programming • and much more. Judge us by the graduates we produce. In addition to state and national honors in academics, fine arts and sports, CUSD’s 2018 graduating class earned more than $136 million in college scholarship offers, 33,495 college credit hours and 107,117 service learning hours! Please visit our website for an extensive list of accomplishments. As you can see, I am very proud of our students and dedicated staff. I am so confident that we can find the right school environment for your child that I invite you to contact my office at 480812-7600, so that my staff and I can assist with placement for this year. -Dr. Camille Casteel is the superintendent of Chandler Unified School District.

WELCOME BACK!

We look forward to another great year of teaching and learning!

t r a t s l o o h c S

Aug u s t 8

Choose the best. Enroll now at mpsaz.org.

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018