Creighton Elementary School District
Teacher seeks support creating sensory space
A teacher at Monte Vista Elementary School is hoping to provide comfort and creative tools to help special needs students succeed.
Nick Indoma has posted a request on Donorschoose.org seeking financial support to create a “sensory corner” in a special education classroom on campus. He said students in the varying exceptionalities program (who have autism and other developmental disabilities) have unique, specific learning needs and they “bring joy, patience, perseverance, and determination to move forward in school and life.
The total project goal is to raise $582.32 to buy sensory tools in a corner so when students cannot cope with classroom demands because of an overwhelming sensory stimulation, they can take a break. This will provide a calming space for students to relax with a beanbag chair, noise-reduction ear muffs and fluorescent light filters. It also needs dividers and partitions to offer a well-defined area and to keep distractions for students at a minimum, Indoma wrote.
To make a financial donation to his project, visit donorschoose.org.
Parents can provide input about attendance
If you have a child in the Creighton Elementary School District, officials want to hear from you.
The district is asking parents with students in its schools to answer a survey as it is considering whether some of its signature schools should become schools of choice. If they were schools of choice they would no longer have set attendance areas. The benefit of those types of campuses is that they offer families an option to send their children to alternate learning model schools while still providing them with the option of staying in an attendance area.
3TV Reporter Gina Maravilla, Washington High School teacher Beau Wagner, Washington High School Principal Ashley Burns, Glendale Union High School District Superintendent Brian Capistran and Dairy Council of Arizona representative Eric Rovey pose as Wagner receives the Silver Apple Award (submitted photo).
Creighton’s governing board will talk about proposed attendance maps at its meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the district board room at Papago-West at 2052 N. 36th St. To take the survey and learn more, visit www.creightonschools.org.
Glendale Union High School District
Washington High teacher earns Silver Apple Award
Washington High School Teacher Beau Wagner is getting state recognition for his work with students.
3TV and Dairy Council of Arizona officials recently surprised him with the Silver Apple Award for his excellence in education. As part of the honor, he received a $1,000 check. 3TV chose him for this distinction after one of his students nominated him.
Wagner teaches government and economics at the school.
Arizona School Boards Association President Steven Chapman, Glendale Union High School District Associate Superintendent Craig Mussi, district Governing Board members Susan Maland and Patti Hussey and district Governing Board President Patty Kennedy and district Superintendent Brian Capistran pose as the district receives the Golden Bell Promise Programs High School Level Award for its Summer Academy Programs (photo by Glendale Union High School District).
Summer Academy receives award
There is good news for those who enroll their children in the Glendale Union High School District’s Summer Academy Programs. The Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) recently honored these programs with the Golden Bell Promise Programs High School Level Award, which was presented by ASBA President Steven Chapman at the ASBA annual conference.
The Golden Bell Promise Programs awards go to districts that demonstrate excellence through educational initiatives and programs that maximize the promise in all students and that have shown student growth and success.
Glendale Union High School District’s Summer Academy Programs are free of charge and available to high school and elementary school students. Youths take classes in math and other subjects with some courses offered online. Transportation is free and free lunches and breakfasts are provided to participating students.
To learn more about the district’s summer programs, watch for updates this spring at guhsdaz.org.
Sunnyslope High students to pack meals for kids
Students at Sunnyslope High School are going to help starving children around the world.
The Sunnyslope Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club is collaborating with the non-profit organization Feed My Starving Children to host a community service MobilePack Event on the high school campus on Saturday, Feb. 8, during which students will aim to pack more than 108,000 meals. The club also hopes to raise more than $20,000 to pay for the meals.
The club also received a $1,000 grant for the project through #GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement that gives back to organizations.
District to host job fair for teachers
If you or someone you know would like to teach children in the Glendale Union High School District, the district will hold a job fair on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Greenway High School media center at 3930 W. Greenway Road.
The district, which is hiring for the 2020-21 school year, is a top-performing high school district in the Valley with schools in North Central Phoenix.
District Human Resources Department employees will be on site to conduct interviews. To schedule an interview, contact Ester Evans at 623-435-6017.
Madison Elementary School District
Kensie Neville, 13, a seventh-grader at Wigwam Creek Middle School, and Kirean Chesser, a nine-year-old third-grader at Madison Heights Elementary, delivered gifts for children at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Kirean decided to donate toys and other items his friends brought to his birthday party to the kids being treated at the hospital (photo by Jarica Vinson-Chesser).
Third-grader donates gifts to hospital
Kirean Chesser, a nine-year-old third-grader at Madison Heights Elementary School, was the one giving gifts on his birthday recently.
After visiting some children at Phoenix Children’s Hospital with his mother, Jarica Chesser, he decided he wanted to do something for the patients. Jarica is a special education teacher at Madison Camelview Elementary School and she was visiting some of her students that are frequently admitted to the hospital for specialized care. She and Kirean came up with a plan.
“I realized they were stuck inside and couldn’t go outside to play,” Kirean said. “They must get so bored and I told my mom I wanted to do something to help.”
He decided to invite friends to his birthday party and told them on the invitation he would be donating the gifts they brought to children in the hospital. Kirean’s friends were excited and brought more than 30 gifts and toys to the party for him to donate.
He donated all the gifts to the hospital and said he felt good knowing “how many kids and their families would be happy.” Kirean’s selfless act has influenced other kids. One of his friends recently decided to host a sock drive at her upcoming birthday party.
Samuel Lipovitch, a fifth-grader at Madison Traditional School, was one of five students Maricopa and Pima counties whose essays were selected as winners in the Arizona College Savings Program (AZ529) writing contest recently (photo by Michele Lipovitch).
Fifth-grader’s essay wins college savings
A fifth-grader at Madison Traditional School already has some money saved for college after he won an essay contest.
Samuel Lipovitch was one of five students in Maricopa and Pima counties whose essays were chosen as winners in the Arizona College Savings Program (AZ529) essay writing contest recently. The contest was designed to commemorate 20 years of providing college savings around Arizona.
In his essay, Samuel said his goal to “change the world in 20 years,” which was the essay prompt, was to “publish a collection of children’s chapter books.” He wrote his books would “teach important-life lessons through interesting story lines and exciting characters.” Samuel wrote that he wants to share stories about “being kind; helping the environment; supporting your family; always trying your best, and loving yourself.” Hundreds of essays were submitted for the contest. To learn more, visit az529.gov.
Washington Elementary School District
Fifth-graders at Richard E. Miller Elementary School recently sang for senior citizens at three senior centers. HonorHealth Desert Mission Adult Daycare Center gave Kelsey Mcalarney, music teacher at the school, a check for $1,350 for the school’s music program (submitted photo).
Seniors give school music program a boost
The music program at Richard E. Miller Elementary School is reaping the benefits of a senior citizens community that showed it some love recently.
HonorHealth Desert Mission Adult Daycare Center gave Kelsey Mcalarney, music teacher at the school, a check for $1,350 for the school’s music program. That was when fifth-graders at the school recently sang to people at the center. The fifth-graders also visited Beatitudes and Acosta Senior Living to sing to the senior citizens at those facilities. The adult daycare center residents raised money for the music program by selling ceramic items.
The Royal Palms Baptist Church members recently made and served breakfast to staff members at Richard E. Miller Elementary School. They visited the school as they have for the last several years to show appreciation for what employees at the school do for children in the area.
The church has been consistently supportive of the school community and some of its members also took part in the Love our Schools Day. They helped the school make bulletin boards to highlight its after-school program.
Private And Charter Schools
Brophy students sign sports letters of intent
Several Brophy College Preparatory students are on the ball as they signed National Letters of Intent to attend and play sports at various universities.
The seven Brophy seniors signed the letters at events in November and December. One of them is Francisco “Case” Montanile, who led his team to a state championship last school year. He signed to play soccer at the University of California Irvine. Francisco was chosen to play in last summer’s Allstate All-American Cup. Also on the soccer team, Conner Leber signed to play for Cal Poly.
A standout on the cross country team, Jose Acuna signed to run at Rice University. He has been in all-state for the last two years.
Michael Diaz, a two-sport athlete, who had an option of playing football or baseball in college, signed to play baseball at Santa Clara University. Meanwhile his teammate, Colby Musselmann signed to play baseball at Central Washington University.
A major contributor on Brophy’s 2018 state champion golf team, Zack Missigman, who was also on last year’s runner-up team, has signed to play the sport at St. Mary’s University.
Andrew Milek, an anchor on Brophy’s offensive line, received offers from five schools, and signed to play football at the University of Southern California.
Friends, family members and President Adria Renke and athletic director Bill Woods joined the student-athletes at the signing event and noted their accomplishments.
Auction to raise money for Brophy students
Get ready to enjoy a night of dinner and dancing to benefit students who want to attend Brophy College Preparatory.
The school will have its annual auction from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 on the campus in the Harper Great Hall at 4701 N. Central Ave. There will be an “Under the Boardwalk” theme and silent and live auctions, as well as dinner and dancing. Proceeds from the event will go to the Brophy Endowment Fund that helps ensure the school may follow its Jesuit mission to offer an education to all qualified students, regardless of their financial situation well into the future.
The event fundraising will include a chance to win a 2020 Jeep Wrangler in a raffle. The vehicle was donated by Moore Automotive Group. There will be other raffle prizes that night. The event committee also is looking for items to provide in the auctions. To learn more, visit brophyprep.org/giving/brophy-auction.
CASA Academy to hold fundraiser
Help low-income children receive a quality education, building the skills they need to succeed in life by attending a fundraiser at CASA Academy.
The school will hold its “There’s No Place Like CASA” fifth annual fundraiser from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 on its campus in Burns Hall at 1500 W. Maryland Ave. At this chic event, there will be appetizers and desserts, as well as beer and wine, live entertainment and testimonials given by CASA Academy staff and students.
All proceeds from the gathering directly benefit the low-income children the school serves as it transitions into a new home (building) in August.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $40 each if bought in advance or $50 at the door. There also are opportunities for people and companies to be sponsors for the event.
Buy tickets at casaacademy.org/annual-event.
Xavier College Prep to host I.T. Day for girls
Xavier College Preparatory is hoping to get girls excited about STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, arts and math) during a special event.
The private girls school will host the Annual Girls Have I.T. Day from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21. Middle school girls are encouraged to come to the event, where Xavier students will engage them in writing computer programs, making lip balm, creating paper rockets, making “elephant toothpaste” and other STEAM activities. There will be 100 activities at the gathering.
To learn more about the program, contact Catherine Wyman at cwyman@xcp.org.
Midtown Primary School to celebrate Valentine’s Day
Midtown Primary School is feeling the love this month for Valentine’s Day.
The charter school that serves students in grades kindergarten through fourth will celebrate the holiday with students buying Valentines produced by the school. Children can buy them for friends and teachers and parents may purchase them for their children and teachers. The cards are delivered and there will be parties in classes on Feb. 14.
Students also have fun events planned earlier this month and in March. On Feb. 3 and 4 the school’s third and fourth-graders will visit Lake Pleasant’s Desert Outdoor Center for a hands-on educational, overnight science trip. They will stay in the dorms and take classes that rangers provide.
On March 2, for Read Across America, children at Midtown Primary School will celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. They will wear pajamas and bring books and pillows to school and read in the morning. The National Education Association delivers Read Across America year-round to help people motivate children to read, bring the joys of reading to students of all ages and to make all kids feel welcome and valued.
Brophy students sign sports letters of intent
Several Brophy College Preparatory students are on the ball as they signed National Letters of Intent to attend and play sports at various universities.
The seven Brophy seniors signed the letters at events in November and December. One of them is Francisco “Case” Montanile, who led his team to a state championship last school year. He signed to play soccer at the University of California Irvine. Francisco was chosen to play in last summer’s Allstate All-American Cup. Also on the soccer team, Conner Leber signed to play for Cal Poly.
A standout on the cross country team, Jose Acuna signed to run at Rice University. He has been in all-state for the last two years.
Michael Diaz, a two-sport athlete, who had an option of playing football or baseball in college, signed to play baseball at Santa Clara University. Meanwhile his teammate, Colby Musselmann signed to play baseball at Central Washington University.
A major contributor on Brophy’s 2018 state champion golf team, Zack Missigman, who was also on last year’s runner-up team, has signed to play the sport at St. Mary’s University.
Andrew Milek, an anchor on Brophy’s offensive line, received offers from five schools, and signed to play football at the University of Southern California.
Friends, family members and President Adria Renke and athletic director Bill Woods joined the student-athletes at the signing event and noted their accomplishments.
Madison Highland Prep adds musical programs
Madison Highland Prep is taking its musical offerings to a new level.
The school has added three, new extracurricular options. MHP Creative Musicianship is being offered, where students can work with digital audio workstations (DAWs) to build musicianship and explore how to create beats, as well as contribute music to various different genres. Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) are electronic devices or software that can record, edit and produce sound files and they are often used in the music industry to write, create and compose music that might be produced for movies, musical performances and other outlets.
Madison Highland Prep also added two new clubs tied to music. MHP String Orchestra Club serves students who are interested in bowing, song playing, and song writing with a violin, viola, cello or orchestral bass. In the MHP Guitar Club, students can strum, play songs and write songs with a guitar, ukulele or mandolin. The children in the classes must rent or bring their own instruments but they do not need to have any playing ability or musical knowledge to participate.
The Madison Highland Prep’s music program runs under the supervision of music teacher Russell Biczo.
“Learning how to perform and write music create skills that could transfer over to multiple career positions and appreciation for creativity that can last a lifetime,” Biczo said.
CASA Academy kids make brain ‘hats’
Esther Nuam shows off the brain “hat” that she made illustrating what different parts of the brain do.”
CASA Academy students put on their “thinking caps” literally as they explored various parts of the brain.
Gisselle Ponce writes down what each part of the brain does in a lesson at CASA Academy.
At this kindergarten through second-grade, non-profit charter school, students are called “scholars” and classrooms are named after their teachers’ alma maters as a way to help children develop the mindset that they will go to college someday.
CASA Academy second-graders in the California State San Marcos class recently learned what different parts of the brain do and how they help the body function. The scholars learned the location and name of specific areas of the brain, including the frontal lobe. They then wrote down what that part of the brain does for a body and drew pictures to represent that section of the brain’s function. As a culminating activity, students colored each part of their brain to create brain “hats.”
Second-grader Gisselle Ponce said her favorite part of the lessons was learning about the cerebrum because “it’s the part of the brain that controls talking, and I love to talk!”
Empower College Prep reaches milestones
Empower College Prep is celebrating its new construction, consolidation and its first graduating class.
The school at 2411 W. Colter St. recently held an event to mark these milestones and celebrate National School Choice Week. Staff members, students, donors and community members were invited to participate. They had a chance to see what the campus offers.
Empower College Prep serves students in elementary, middle and high school grades and aims to help prepare them for success in college. To learn more, visit empowercollegeprep.org.
