JULY 14, 2019
NORTHEAST MESA EDITION
Mesa school bus drivers have positive impact BY MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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us drivers play an important role in student success. They are often the first and last contact in a student’s school day, extending a positive school climate beyond the classroom. Jacque Dana began her career as a bus driver in 2005 so she could raise money for her sons to participate in a church mission. She stayed because she loves her students. “All my students are good kids and I care for all of them as they are my own,” Dana said. “But my elementary students are my favorite. It’s where you find the warm, fuzzy moments. Their exuberance and zest for life is contagious.” For all Mesa Public Schools employees, safety is a top priority. Dana starts her morning inspecting her bus from top to bottom before she picks up high school students on her first route.
Mesa Public School buses will soon be rolling through the city and motorists need to remember to use extra caution and obey the law once they do. (Special to the Tribune)
After they’re safely at school, she begins her elementary route. Dana also drives for field trips, sporting events and helps with overflow routes due to the current
driver shortage. Superior training sets Mesa apart. Due to the nationwide bus driver shortage, district driver training happens all
you leave at the gate is the same smiling student we have in our classroom a few minutes later. Keep a happy photograph of your child within view to remind yourself that they’re having a great time. 2. Set up new school routines. Designate special areas in your home for backpacks, folders, shoes and jackets. Not having to rush around looking for materials will take some of the stress out of your mornings. 3. Find breakfast items that are nourishing and easy to prepare – and that your kids will eat. Students struggle to learn when their little tanks are empty. Whether your child brings lunch from
home or eats in the cafeteria, they will most likely not finish their lunch (even with prodding, extra time and encouragement by adults), especially at the beginning of the year. This is for myriad reasons, but mostly because eating in the cafeteria is a new and exciting experience. Be prepared for them to be ready for a snack and a nap when they get home. 4. Keep open lines of communication with your child’s teacher. You are an expert on your child. Knowing your child’s background, development, likes and dislikes can help your child’s teacher build rapport.
year long. Supervisor Jose Villarino Fierro oversees safety and training for all district drivers. He works with his team of transportation team members, trainers and supervisors to ensure Mesa maintains its statewide reputation as the gold standard of training. Trainers teach a variety of courses in the classroom and behind the wheel, such as CPR and first-aid. Special education equipment training ensures drivers are comfortable with onboarding wheelchairs and meeting the unique needs of their students. Trainers also conduct post-accident education, mountain safety driving, as well as van and golf cart training for employees and students. Refresher courses are also available for drivers who switch routes. Bus drivers are some of the most highly
Help your child survive the first year of school BY SAMANTHA CALISE Tribune Guest Writer
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bout to send your first child off to kindergarten? Follow these five tips from a kindergarten teacher to ensure a successful first year. 1. Convey calm and enthusiasm about school, and your child will follow suit. Make goodbyes at the bus stop and the dropoff line as quick and painless as possible. Believe it or not, the tearful 5-year-old
see BUS page 6
One year a mom told me that her son loved his dog, Cookie. There were times where he would get shy and quiet. Then I’d ask, “How is Cookie doing?” His whole face would light up. 5. Finally, this time is fleeting, so soak it in! Write down the funny anecdotes and stories they bring home from school. It’s also not a bad idea to stock up on tissues for the first day and the last day. You and your child’s teacher will need them! Samantha Calise is a National Board Certified kindergarten teacher at Brinton Elementary School in Mesa.
BACK TO SCHOOL 2 THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
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EV tutoring service aims for family-friendliness BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer
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ractions and long division didn’t come easy for 9-year-old Emily Hernandez. It came to a point when Diana Hernandez realized that the help she was giving her 5th-grade daughter wasn’t enough. So, she turned to Tutor Doctor East Valley. “She’s showing progress on math at home when she practices,” the Gilbert mom said. “She is enjoying math, which makes me happy.” Emily has been meeting with her tutor twice a week for nearly a month. What’s different about Tutor Doctor is the instructor will come to a person’s home and a key point is the tutor is matched to the learner based on learning style and personality. “I think the single most important element is the match,” said franchise owner Kimberly Selchan, a Gilbert resident. “Whether it’s a college student being matched with the subject or a tutor to a kid who’s lost motivation or confidence and a tutor comes in and believes in them and starts to get results. It’s amazing.” Selchan opened her franchise in January and currently employs over 40 tutors, who are mostly teachers or college students who are subject-specific such as calculus. The tutors’ backgrounds and academics are vetted thoroughly. Tutor Doctor started 15 years ago and has locations serving more than 200,000 families in 15 countries across the world, according to the company’s website.
Tutor Doctor East Valley owner Kimberly Sechan aims to make the tutoring experience family-friendly. (Special to the Tribune)
Selchan’s franchise has 38 students from Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Ahwatukee in all age ranges, from a 4-year-old to a 53-year-old Mesa mom who went back to college and earn a biochemistry degree. Tutor Doctor customizes a learning plan based on a comprehensive assessment of the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Besides learning a particular subject matter, students also are taught skills such as working memory, sustained attention and performance monitoring to become better learners. For instance, Selchan said, if students are missing deadlines to turn in assignments, they are taught time-management skills.
“We’re not just tutoring in math without giving them the approach to tackle it,” she said. Selchan regularly meets with her tutor and so she knows them, which is important when pairing them with a student. In turn, she asks students about qualities of a teacher they’ve enjoyed and other information to get clues of the person they would respond to the best. For instance, she may have a student who thinks no one understand him or her and thus is not willing to be open to listening to anyone. She would match that student with a college student, who may have gone through that phase not too long ago. The tutor becomes more of a mentor and guide for the student, Selchan said. “If you get a tutor who inspires them, they will get over the hurdle,” she said. “They will not progress unless they find a purpose.” Emily was matched with an older tutor named Chuck. “She thinks he’s super-nice and he is very patient with her,” Hernandez said. “She talks about him like a grandpa.” How often students meet with a tutor depends on their schedule and how far behind they are academically. “If they are in the 6th grade but the assessment is closer to 4th grade, which is really common, they’d need three to four sessions a week,” Selchan said. “If they need a little edge, the average is twice a week.” Majority of the students prefer the tutor come to their homes for instruction, according to Selchan. The big thing is the convenience factor and families realize their children have al-
ready tried the institutional learning model in the classroom and need something more, Selchan said. For Hernandez, she’s having the tutor meet with Emily at a library because there’s too much disruption at the home with two younger siblings. Tutor Doctor’s subject offerings include math, science, language arts and test preparation. Selchan said if she gets requests for a subject currently not offered she would consider adding it such has in the case when she received a couple of requests for help with thermodynamics. She ended up recruiting a polytech student as a tutor. The business also provides tutors for special-needs students and for on-line tutoring. Math, with calculus at the college-level, is the most requested by students for tutors, according to Selchan. Another popular request is test preparation for the SAT and ACT, she added. Although Selchan comes from a sales career spanning over 20 years, Tutor Doctor was a good fit for her, she said. Her skills in building strong teams and delivering the best to clients and employees translated well into her new gig. “I want to help those who want help,” Selchan said. “For kids, their job is school. We teach kids to understand how to do their job better and find its value. And when we have families that want that service and are willing to commit to the education process, the model was a win.” Information: tutordoctor.com/gilbertnorth/contact-us/ or 480-530-8029.
Prepare children for kindergarten now BY DONNA SHOTT Tribune Guest Writer
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he months leading up to the first day of kindergarten are the ideal time to prepare your child for what to expect in a classroom. Kindergarten teachers tell parents that helping their child be independent through everyday activities is one of the best ways to nurture self-confidence and be ready for the transition to kindergarten. “There are simple ways that you can begin to encourage independence in your child during your regular daily routines,” said kindergarten teacher Abbey Walejko, who teaches at Kyrene Monte Vista Elementary School. “Find those tasks that you still do for your child that they are capable of learning to do for themselves,
such as pouring their own bowl of cereal or picking out their own clothes. “If they run into a roadblock give them a chance to problem solve before jumping right in to take over. As they find themselves doing more for themselves and working through obstacles they will also build a sense of independence and perseverance that is well worth the milk spills and mismatched clothes.” One of the best ways families can help with independence skills is to be role models themselves. Children watch their parents for clues on how to feel or act. If adults model confidence and the willingness to try new things, young children will start on the path to positive social and emotional development and success later in life. Below are some tips from First Things
First to help your preschooler have a smoother transition to kindergarten: Teach your child how to use the bathroom by themselves, to wash their hands
after going to the bathroom and before eating, to blow their nose and sneeze into their elbow. There will be lots of new activities and foods in kindergarten, encourage your preschooler to try new things over these next months so they have practice in being open to new experiences. Read with your child at least 20 minutes per day. Try books that repeat words; involve activities like counting, identifying colors, objects or letters; or, are about things your child likes. Ask questions like, “What do you think happens next?” Talk with your child everywhere – at home, in the car, at the store. Make up stories or songs about your outings. Writing begins with scribbling. Give
see KINDERGARTEN page 5
THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
KINDERGARTEN from page 4
BUS from page 1
trained, tested, specialized and scrutinized drivers on the road. The district’s commercial drivers license (CDL) prep training for newly hired drivers is one example of the its exemplary training measures. “This course sets our program above others,” Fierro says. “We provide the tools that drivers need. We help them study and train to be successful in attaining their permit.” Although the state requires 35 class and behind the wheel training hours, Mesa Public Schools provides 97 for its drivers. Drivers also pass a biennial Department of Public Safety physical performance test designed to evaluate a driver’s strength, agility and speed in an emergency. According to Fierro, school districts across the state send their employees to Mesa for training, hoping to bring back knowledge to improve their own programs. “Some of the best compliments come from hires that have commercial licenses from out of state,” Fierro said. “They tell us that our program is much more comprehensive than their previous experiences. Some states only require a written test and do not provide the behind-thewheel component.”
Like all Mesa Public Schools bus drivers, Jacque Dana makes sure her young passengers are safe and secure. (Special to the Tribune)
Interested in becoming a Mesa Public Schools bus driver and making a life-changing impact in a student’s life? Along with competitive pay, a comprehensive benefits package is available for full-time drivers. Apply online at mpsaz.org/careers.
your child safe writing tools to play with, like crayons, chalk or markers and blank paper. Ask your child to tell you about their drawings. Horizon Honors Elementary School kindergarten teacher Meredith Colbrun tells parents to foster independence in young children through questions, which will empower a young child to make decisions and think independently. “For example, if the child asks a parent, ‘where are my shoes?’the parent should answer, ‘where do you think your shoes are?’” Colbrun said. “Often times a child subconsciously believes that adults are the authority in all areas and that they cannot make decisions apart from them safely. “When a parents asks the child the same question the child is then able to see that she has the ability to answer her own questions.” Before the first day, talk with your child about what to expect during the school day and types of after-school activities they may be involved in. The more details kids know, the less anxious they will feel.Rehearse for the big day with test-runs of the new routine, which will include:
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Choosing what to wear the night before. Waking up early to have plenty of time to get ready. Eating a healthy breakfast. Walking to the bus stop and talking about boarding and where to sit. Practicing how to open parts of lunch, whether it’s a carton of milk or a small bag of carrots. Remind them that teachers or lunch staff can help if needed. Even if you don’t have kindergarteners this year, it’s never too early to start helping kids prepare. 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, we can send our young kids to school with the skills and confidence that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. 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. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit FirstThingsFirst.org.
480.854.1504 https:// www.aaechighschools.com
Located adjacent to the Red Mountain Community College
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Best Charter 2018-2019 Best Preschool 2018-2019 Best Childcare Center 2019
Brady Wald Principal
brady.wald@leonagroup.com
Liberty Arts Academy
B.A.R.K. to Excellence Brave Attentive Responsible Kind
Parents should take the kids out for walks to help them discover the joys of playing and learn about the world around them at the same time. (Special to the Tribune)
Play is an important part of a child’s life BY DONNA SHOTT Tribune Guest Writer
Our mission, At Liberty Arts Academy, we do Whatever it Takes for students, families, and the community. Our school is dedicated to provide an innovative, creative, and project-based approach through music, art, technology integration, blended learning, movement & fitness, and research-based strategies that promotes active engagement, critical & deeper thinking, and collaboration.
• Pre-School thru 8th grade school • Finland Educational Model Strategies (Education, Play, Family) • Award-winning full-day Pre-School & Pre-K Programs ($500 / month) • 2019 Recipient of the KaBOOM! Playground Grant • 2019 Recipient of the NFL Play 60 Grant • 7 Specials a week (2-PE, 2-Art, 2-Music, 1-Library) • 3 Recess / daily • Sensory / Interactive room for ALL Students • Computers / Smart Boards in every classroom • Free full-day Kindergarten • Free bus Transportation • Before & After care (YMCA) • After school clubs (Harry Potter, Legos, Sports, Dance, and much more) • ABC program with community partner, Gabriel’s Angels
We hope to see you soon at LAA as we are enrolling students for 2019/2020 school year!
3015 S Power Rd | Mesa, AZ 85212 | 480-830-3444 | libertyartsacademy.com
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ecently, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested doctors start prescribing play for young chil-
dren. “Play supports the formation of the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships with all caregivers that children need to thrive,” the report said. Summer is a perfect opportunity to take a drive to escape the summer heat and incorporate some outdoor activities that allow toddlers and preschoolers to spend time outside exercising their bodies and minds. Play in an outdoor, natural environment helps engage a young child’s senses. First Things First reminds families that a nature trip doesn’t have to be a far-off place, it could be a neighborhood park or local splash pads. Here are a few activities to get you started: • Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Think of things you might see while outside then use the list to collect items as you
walk. • Show your child how to explore the forest floor or grassy lawn. • Point out bugs. • Talk about what you see, hear and smell. • Observe patterns in a stream or rainbows made by splashing water. • Have a meal outside. Parents are also encouraged to allow their child time for free play, where the child chooses what activities to do that will allow their imagination and creativity to take over. For more ways on parents can support a child’s development through play, watch FTF’s short video at bit.ly/FTFplay. Use the information above to find time to get outdoors with your child, so they can learn, grow and thrive. -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 14, 2019
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High school students must now learn financial literacy BY DEENA LAGER Tribune Guest Writer
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s students head back to school in the coming weeks, they will be getting a new opportunity to learn the skills they need for the future. This spring, Senate Bill 1184, also known as the financial literacy bill, passed in Arizona’s Legislature and was signed by Gov. Doug Ducey. The bill, which had strong bispartisan support and support from the business community, makes it mandatory for all high school students to take a financial literacy class as part of their general education requirements. The move couldn’t come at a better time for our students and the state as a whole. Indicators are found everywhere showing the struggles Americans have with their finances, and it’s clear our youth have a great deal to learn about money management.
By the end of 2018, American consumers were looking at $67 billion in new credit card debt, while total credit debt had grown to more than a trillion dollars. In fact, one out of every eight millennials has a debt in collections. Student loan debt is at an all-time high, more than $1.46 trillion as of 2018. There are many reasons why this is occurring, but most indicators point to a lack of basic financial literacy, or the skills and knowledge needed to make informed and effective decisions with all financial resources. For example, a 2018 Harris Poll showed that only two out of every five adults has a household budget. Likewise, the same percentage of Americans do not pay their bills on time, subjecting them to late fees and other penalty charges, which will inevitably have a negative effect on their credit scores. For Arizona, the news is not all bad. The state ranks 19th nationally by a
WalletHub survey for financial literacy. But we can do better and that’s what this bill is all about. In my role as director of the Arizona 529 Family College Savings Plan (AZ 529), I spend a great deal of time talking to families and individuals about the importance of financial literacy. I want to help more students have the opportunity to attend college without taking on massive debt. AZ 529 plans are designed to help families put money aside while earning important tax breaks. A little savings now can make a big difference in the future. Each dollar saved today for college can prevent two dollars in student loan repayment in the future. For many families, the savings process starts with simple choices. Do I bring lunch or eat out? Can I make coffee a few times a week instead of stopping at the coffee shop? Should I put that vacation on the credit card, or save for it in advance?
Welcome back! We look forward to another great year of teaching and learning! School starts August 6 Learn more at mpsaz.org/success
mpsaz.org | 480.472.0000 |
@mpsaz
The more tools people have for their financial lives, the easier these choices become. And that’s precisely what this bill is trying to provide – tools for soonto-be adults. Researchers working on a study for the Federal Reserve found a direct link between financial education in school with higher credit scores and lower debt. In a different study, the same authors found that students who participated in Financial Literacy classes made decisions that led to lower student loan debt by the time they graduated from college. While this may not be a solution for all of our financial concerns, it is certainly a step in the right direction – a step that is extremely important for the state and our future. Deena Lager is director of the Arizona 529 Family College Savings Program administered by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. Information: AZ529.gov.
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