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JULY 14, 2019
GPS superintendent: deeply rooted in family values BY DR. SHANE MCCORD Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent
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ear Gilbert Public Schools community: As we prepare for the next school year, please let me start by thanking you for the trust you place in us every day. We take our role as educators, supporters, community leaders and role models very seriously. To that end, despite being a large district, we remain deeply rooted in our core values of being a family while positioning students first in all we do. Last year I asked all our teachers,
support workers and administrators to connect, create and care with every student and every colleague. It is a collective mission and one we will continue this year as we strive to inspire excellence in every learner. As we prepare for our 33,000 preK-12 students to return in August, we have been busy over the summer to ensure the 2019-20 school year builds on the momentum we created last year. Here are just some of the summer events I’d like to share with you: Our district and school websites have been updated, thereby enhancing your online experience and improving accessibility to all of the informa-
tion you need. Visit gilbertschools.net for everything you need for back to school, including school-supply lists, new start- and end-time reminders, and much more! Our Operations and Maintenance staff have spent the summer upgrading parking lots and facilities, laying new carpet, resurfacing gym floors, installing computer labs, painting our buildings and other efforts to ensure we are fully prepared for the return of our students and that learning environments are optimal for all. Finally, in addition to the pride I feel as your superintendent, I was humbled to learn in June that Gilbert Public Schools was recognized as the
2019 Employer of Choice by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. This incredible honor is owned by each and every staff member who supports our students each and every day. On behalf of the district, we remain grateful for all of your ongoing support that enables us, among other things, to create the most optimal learning environment possible for our students. To that end, the first day of school is August 1, and we can’t wait to see you all! We will be out at the bus stops and in our schools welcoming new and returning students and staff, and standing alongside our families as we all transition to new school start and end times.
Higley schools chief looks toward an exciting 2019-20 BY DR. MIKE THOMASON Higley Unified Supreintendent
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elcome back for another exciting school year in
Higley! As we review the accomplishments of our teachers, we can say with great certainty that we have the best educators in Arizona. They have been working on their own all summer, attending trainings and making plans to engage your students in the classroom. As we say goodbye to the Class of 2019 and their recordbreaking $35 million in scholarships, we look forward to setting new goals and raising the bar for the children of the Higley Unified School District. This year promises to bring more pride to our schools and community through our nationally recognized arts, athletics and academic programs. From our preschool STEM and foreign language programs to our high school Advanced Placement and Dual Enroll-
ment classes, we promise to appropriately challenge your children academically. If the performing arts is your thing, we invite you to participate in our elementary orchestra program, join one of our award-winning choirs or just enjoy the music of a state champion band. If you enjoy athletics, follow our district sports programs as they promise to bring excitement to the Higley Unified School District. With the many announcements and scheduling information forthcoming from our district and schools, I encourage our families to download the Higley Unified School District App to keep up with all of your school’s latest news and information. Immediate information may be found on the district’s website at husd. org. I also invite you to follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook and tweet us on Twitter. Finally, if you have not done so already, please update your contact information through ParentVue. I look forward to an outstanding school
Gateway Pointe Elementary School begins its first full year as an A+ School of Excellence after earning that coveted designation earlier this year. (Special to GSN )
year! There is no better place to learn and work. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to do our very best for
our community’s children. I look forward to seeing you and your children soon.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
High school students must now learn financial literacy BY DEENA LAGER GSN 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 bipartisan support as well as 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 have a household budget. Likewise, the same percentage of Americans do not pay their bills on
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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? 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.
GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
Chandler schools chief welcomes a new year BY DR. CAMILLE CASTEEL Chandler Unified School Superintendent
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s we prepare for our first day of school, July 23, I want to take this opportunity to thank the families of more than 46,000 students for entrusting Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) with their children’s education. We are honored you have chosen CUSD and believe our efforts to create a menu of personalized learning experiences to meet the varied interests and needs of students is unprecedented. Our success starts with a visionary Governing Board that is providing a road map to make Chandler Unified the top school district in the nation. Expectations are high, but our staff is up for the challenge. In 2018-19, our staff proved that by achieving a score of 92.9 percent on our annual goals. Please visit our website (cusd80.com), where progress is carefully monitored through our 10year strategic plan, Journey 2025. In order to meet those high stan-
dards, our teachers and staff work hard to prepare students for life and career, create diverse paths for learning, develop global understanding, provide student-centered learning and engage parents in the success of their child. With the support of our parents, our students value diversity, think critically and creatively. And, just as importantly, they become problem solvers, engaged learners and service-oriented citizens. We pride ourselves in being the premier district of choice by continuing to add programs that adapt to the needs of the future workforce and interest of students. Our newest endeavor is the development of the Institute for Cyber Operations and Networking, which will open at Basha High this year. This cybersecurity program will provide four years of high school curriculum, offer a pipeline to higher education in partnership with ChandlerGilbert Community College and the University of Arizona and help address concerns of a global shortage of roughly 3.5 million cybersecurity professionals projected in the immediate future. The cybersecurity curriculum is the
latest among a number of choices and safe learning environments for our families to select. 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 Online program • Access to a variety of quality preschool and afterschool programming
Academic achievement is among the highest priorities in the district, as evidenced by test scores that exceed state and national averages. Every year we ask the public to judge us by the graduates we produce. Our graduating class of 2019 experienced a banner year. In addition to state and national honors in academics, fine arts and sports, we experienced a record number of 43 National Merit Semifinalists. Our graduates earned more than $150 million in college scholarship offers, 22,238 dual college credits and provided 113,569 service-learning hours! Please visit our website for an extensive list of accomplishments. The commitment of our staff, students and families lead to wonderful outcomes. As you can see, I am very proud of our students and dedicated staff. If your children are not enrolled in our schools, I hope you will give us an opportunity to serve you. I am so sure that we can find the right school environment for your child that I invite you to contact my office at 480-812-7600 so that my staff and I can assist with placement for this year.
Higley sports teams promise plenty of action this year BY DR. MICHAEL FOWLER GSN Guest Writer
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he start of school means the start of high school sports and fall is always an exciting time of the year. Athletics provide students opportunities to hone their skills, develop new talent and be part of a team. In Higley, we strive to provide a positive environment both on the practice field and in competition. Athletics teams at both Higley and Williams Field often challenge for top ranking in their region, and several make a run for a state title each year. Community support is valued and we hope to see you at any of our events! Football is always fun for community members of all ages. Before the season begins, cheer on the Black Hawks at the community pep rally August 9. The school’s season opener is Aug. 23 vs. Norco from California. Join the Knights for “meet the team” night on Aug. 16. The home opener for Higley High will be 7 p.m. Aug. 24 vs. Bishop Alemany High School from Mission Hills,
California. Girls volleyball is another great event for families. The Higley season opener is Sept. 3 at Sunnyslope High School. The Williams Field season opener is at home vs. Central High School on Sept. 3. The state runner-up Black Hawk boys golf team will play its first match Aug. 22 at McDowell Mountain Golf Club. Higley Knights, which took fifth place as a team in 2018, play its first home match Aug. 22 at Las Colinas. The Higley girls golf team opens Aug. 26. The Williams Field girls team will host its Varsity football promises an exciting season in Higley School District, as do many other sports. (Special to GSN ) first match Aug. 23. Swim and dive at both schools saw competitors country starts in September for both RisingAbove at the state level last year. The Knights schools. and Black Hawks hope to make anWe hope to see you at a game or -Dr. Michael Fowler is assistant superintendent other run toward the state meet. Cross match this season! #HUSDAthletics- of support services for Higley Unified.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019
Preschool offers early education skills to last a lifetime BY PATRICIA GLEASON GSN Guest Writer
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id you know that 95 percent of a child’s brain is developed by the time they
are 5? There are so many ways to fill these early years with learning experiences that will help your child build connections in their brains and develop skills that will ensure future success in school. A quality preschool experience can play an important part. Choosing the right preschool can be a challenge, but Higley has a solution. What to look for: Are teachers experienced, certified early childhood educators? Are teachers making personal connections with children? How do teachers respond to students who are having behavioral difficulties in the classroom? Do they raise their voices to address misbehavior? Do they understand how young children learn?
Are there organized, hands-on, playbased centers for children to learn in? No worksheets! Is there a consistent daily schedule for children to follow? Are you looking for a specialty program – such as Spanish, Mandarin or Gifted – for your child? Higley’s Early Childhood Development Centers start with certified Early Childhood teachers and staff who inspire curiosity, build problem solving skills, self-esteem and foster a love for learning in young children. They get to know each child and build strong relationships that allow children to feel safe and loved and eager to learn. Our curriculum is standards-based and play-based because research shows that is how young children learn best. Kindness rules in our centers and we use Conscious Discipline to teach children how to become a member of a school family along with the socialemotional skills they need to be successful in life. Our centers are licensed by the State of Arizona. We have low teacher to stu-
dent ratios – 2:17 in our 3- to 4-yearold classes and 1:10 in our 4- to 5-yearold classes. Classrooms are spacious and clean, and organized in learning centers to capture the interests of each child. Families may choose a second-language program for their child or undergo the process to see if a gifted pre-
school would be a good fit. We have limited spots available for the coming school year. We would love to show you what quality looks like in Higley. Preschool classes begin in Higley on July 22! Patricia Gleason is director of early childhood education for Higley Unified.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 14, 2019