the latest from laveen - spring 2014
DESCRIPTION
Laveen Elementary School District newsletter sent twice yearly to district residents.TRANSCRIPT
from
The Latest
Two Laveen Schools are Named 2014 A+ Schools of Excellence™
Page 4
SPRING 2014
Students from M.C. Cash show off their A+ designation. Photo provided by D.L. Withers Construction.
Dear Community Members,
We already know we have
the best schools and the
best students, but it’s still
very gratifying when others
take notice and give recog-
nition to our Laveen neigh-
borhood schools and students.
Two Laveen schools, M. C. Cash and
Trailside Point, received the prestigious A+
School of Excellence award from the Arizo-
na Educational Foundation. Trailside Point
School was designated a No Place for Hate
school by the Anti-Defamation League and
also won a Silver Award from Positive Be-
havior Interventions and Supports of Arizo-
na. Vista earned the Higher Performing
School designation from the National Cen-
ter for Educational Achievement for the sec-
ond year in a row.
This has been another amazing year for
our students as well. We have a number of
students who received individual recogni-
tion from a variety of organizations. You
can read about their accomplishments on
Page 4.
In addition to these recognitions, many
of our students participated in neighbor-
hood beautification and service projects.
They sent thousands of cards to active duty
troops and visited a senior center. Together,
they donated thousands of dollars through
the Laveen Lions Club penny drive to fund
food baskets for families in need. For the
second year in Laveen, several of our stu-
dents were inducted into the National Jun-
ior Honor Society.
Schools are at the heart of any communi-
ty and, in a very big way, help to define the
quality of a community. In the Laveen
School District, we aren’t just building a
school district, we’re building a community.
Thank you to all our community members
for supporting your neighborhood schools.
— Dr. Bill Johnson,
Superintendent
Page 2
All Laveen schools to offer electives in 2014-15 In addition to offering art, P.E., and music, all seven
Laveen schools will be providing additional electives
next school year. Here is just a snapshot of some of next
year’s offerings.
Cheatham will offer STEM with a focus on technolo-
gy. Students in Grades 6-8 will first be introduced to
technology and various applications. Eighth grade stu-
dents will become Google certified. All STEM students
will create their own websites in preparation of present-
ing a detailed engineering project during the spring se-
mester.
Desert Meadows will offer technology integration
and character education. Students in Grades K-5 will be
on an exploratory schedule while middle school stu-
dents will take weekly blocks of the offered electives.
At Laveen School, students in Grades 5-8 may take
band or choir. Spanish will be offered daily in Grades 1-
8.
M.C. Cash will be focusing on computers in all grade
levels. Students in Grades K-2 will take Computer Ba-
sics. Computer Design and Digital Citizenship will be
offered to students in Grades 3-5. Middle school stu-
dents will take Advanced Computer Design and Coding.
Rogers Ranch will further their engineering offerings
offering a variety of programs from which students may
choose. Elementary is Engineering (EIE) will be offered
to students in Grades 2-4. Fourth and fifth graders can
take Design Squad and students in Grades 6-8 may
take Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement
(MESA). Robotics will be offered to seventh and eighth
graders.
At Trailside Point, Reader’s Theater will be offered
to K-5 students. Band and Or-
chestra will be offered to fifth and
sixth graders. Junior high stu-
dents have a variety of electives
to choose from including: Band,
Consumer Science, Broadcasting,
Theater, Set Design and Produc-
tion, Creative Studies, and Robot-
ics. Living History Wax Museum
will be available to sixth graders.
Vista del Sur will be offering Spanish daily to all sev-
enth and eighth grade students.
Page 3
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LaveenESD
Laveen District adopts new curriculum The Laveen Elementary School District will implement new math and reading curriculum when
school starts in the fall. That means new textbooks, new workbooks, and new learning resources for
Laveen students.
Teams of teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators dedicated hundreds of hours to review
and evaluate mathematics and English language arts programs that are aligned to the Arizona College
and Career Ready Standards.
The mathematics committee selected My Math for
Grades K — 5 and Glencoe Mathematics for Grades 6 —
8. Both programs are published by McGraw-Hill. The
English language arts committee selected Reading Won-
ders, also by McGraw-Hill, for Grades K — 3. Reading
Street was selected for Grades 4 and 5 and Common Core
Literature for Grades 6 — 8; both are published by Pear-
son.
Both the math and English language arts curricula are
aligned to the new state standards and have a digital platform giving students the ability to access re-
sources, activities, and other online tools. Teachers are participating in numerous professional develop-
ment opportunities to prepare for the upcoming school year.
Laveen’s Governing Board approved the mathematics curriculum in May 2013 and the English
language arts curriculum in April. The new curriculum adoption was made possible by the capital
override approved by Laveen residents in 2012.
Laveen offers free meals during summer
Several Laveen schools will be offering free
breakfast and lunch over the summer as part of
the Summer Food Service Program.
Children 18 years and younger may receive
breakfast and lunch, free of charge, at any of the
designated sites. The program is sponsored by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure chil-
dren continue to receive nutritious meals even
when school is not in session. All meals meet the
federal nutrition guidelines.
M.C. Cash, Trailside Point, and Rogers Ranch
schools will offer breakfast and lunch from May
27 to July 24, Monday through Thursday. Desert
Meadows will operate from May 27 to August 1
Monday through Friday, except July 4. Children
may eat at any of the designated sites, regardless
of where they attend school.
Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to
8:00 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.
Please be sure to check out our website,
www.laveeneld.org to verify times and locations.
Receive biweekly Laveen news directly
to your inbox. Visit our website,
www.laveeneld.org, to sign up for the
District Dialogue!
Page 4
M.C. Cash, Trailside Point win 2014 A+ School of Excellence™ Award*
The Arizona Educational Foundation has named both M.C. Cash and Trailside Point A+ Schools of
Excellence.™
The program recognizes schools that demonstrate high achievement while identifying and meeting
the academic and non-academic needs of their student population.
M.C. Cash and Trailside Point schools submitted applications describing their programs and practic-
es, parent and community involvement, and their commitment to excellence, equity, and service.
The A+ School of Excellence™ selection committee; comprised of award-winning principals, teachers
and community leaders; visited the schools in March.
Both schools will be presented $500 and a banner designating it as an A+ School of Excellence.™
*A+ School of Excellence is a trademark or service mark of the Arizona Educational Foundation and is used by permission.
Josiah Davis, Rogers Ranch
“I Can Do It” Award
Council for Exceptional Children
Elisabeth Montoya, Desert Meadows
2nd Place, Silver Award
Grand Canyon State Games
Essay Contest
Jaad Waters, Vista del Sur
3rd Place
Regional Spelling Bee
Accomplishments
Lizbet Suarez, M.C. Cash
Grand Prize
Phoenix Suns & Southwest Airlines
"Symbol of Freedom" Art and Essay Contest
Jorge Jasso, Trailside Point
1st Place, Middle School Division
Arizona State University
2014 MLK, Jr. Celebration Art Contest
Kitana Olson, Trailside Point
2nd Place, Blitz Tournament Kamila Olson, Trailside Point
1st Place, The Bug House Tournament
AZ Scholastic State Chess Championship
Jeremy Jackrabbit Captures the Sun
Student Illustrations
Celeste Lamadrid, Vista del Sur and Sarah Lynd, Natalie Pol, Stephen Purvis,
and Marissa Torres all from Trailside Point
Page 5
Trailside Point wins Silver Award
Trailside Point received the Silver Award for high
fidelity Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports
(PBIS) implementation and student outcomes at the annual Behavior Education Technology Conference
Trailside implemented PBIS three years ago. Since their Panther P.A.C.T was launched, discipline
incidents have significantly decreased and academic achievement has increased with Trailside going
from a ‘C’ to a ‘B’ label.
In the first two years, the school focused on interventions for all students and defined what the Pan-
ther P.A.C.T. would look like.
This year, Trailside focused on beginning interventions for higher at-risk students. Staff members
conduct check in/check out mentoring with students. Small group interventions have resulted in new
groups such as a Bully Patrol trained to report and monitor bullying, an Ambassadors and Classy Ladies
groups for middle-school students, and the Panthers-Cubs mentoring program.
Rogers Ranch Instructional Coach
named Rodel Aspiring Principal
Cory Woodard, Instructional Coach at Rogers
Ranch, has been selected as a Rodel Aspiring Prin-
cipal.
The Rodel Aspiring Principal
program provides participants
with practical strategies they can
apply at their own schools when
they become principals. Partici-
pants attend professional develop-
ment seminars on the four Rodel traits: Collabora-
tive School Environment, Family and Community
Involvement, Professional Learning, and High Ex-
pectations.
Woodard was selected for this honor by Rodel
for, among other things, his commitment to effec-
tive leadership in a high-needs school.
He will now go through a two-year course of
training, shadowing, and mentorship with a Rodel
Exemplary Principal.
Woodard will be joining Laveen Elementary
School next year as their Assistant Principal.
Rogers Ranch custodian named AZ National
Guard’s Instructor of the Year
Rogers Ranch School’s Lead Cus-
todian, Joshua Snow, has been
named Instructor of the Year by the
Arizona Army National Guard.
In addition to his custodial du-
ties, Snow serves as a Sergeant
First Class in the Guard and is one
of 20 instructors at the Guard’s Re-
gional Training Institute located in
east Phoenix.
Each year, the Regional Training Institute con-
ducts a selection process for the Instructor of the
Year award. Each instructor teaches a class to a
panel of senior leaders. Instructors are judged
based on their ability to deliver a block of instruc-
tion. Points are deducted for using crutch words
like “um,” lacking smooth transitions, or not relat-
ing the material to students in a way they under-
stand. The judges look for the instructor to be en-
gaging and make what could be a dry and boring
class interesting.
Snow will now be evaluated for the Instructor
of the Year award for the entire U.S. Army. He
will find out in a few months how he placed at the
national level.
Woodard
Snow
Page 6
CHILD FIND NOTICE
Child Find is a comprehensive developmental screening assessment process which identifies children, 3 to 21 years of
age who have disabilities that may hinder their learning. If you live in the Laveen Elementary School District bounda-
ries and are parents or guardians of a student enrolled in private school within the district, home-schooled, or if you
know of a child who might be in need of services for a disabling condition such as speech, learning disability, etc.,
please call the Special Education Department at 602-237-9100 ext. 3058. Free special education services are available
to eligible students. For more information, visit the Child Find website at http://www.ade.az.gov/ess/childfind or call
Child Find at (602) 364-4015.
In our Community
Gila River Tribal Education donates preschool equipment
Members of the Gila River Tribal Education and Early Childhood Special Services departments donat-
ed numerous pieces of equipment to Laveen Elementary School’s developmental preschool.
The preschool currently serves several children that are members of the Gila River Indian Communi-
ty. Because Tribal Education does not offer programs to meet these students’ needs, they wanted to
make a contribution that would help support the program and its students.
When asked what was needed for the program, Preschool Coordinator Kandy Clauss, provided a wish
list of 50 items. The list included equipment such as pint-sized chairs and “learn your numbers” carpet
as well as activities such as tricycles, a book center, and mobile dress-up cart.
Imagine Clauss’s surprise when representatives from the Gila River Indian Community, including
Tribal Education’s Director Mario Molina, arrived
with trucks full of equipment. Every item on the
wish list had been fulfilled. “This donation will
have a tremendous impact on our preschool stu-
dents,” Clauss said. “Each item will help further
develop their skills and better prepare them for
kindergarten and beyond.”
Preschool students show off their new tricycles alongside Tribal
Education and Early Childhood leaders.
Lions recognize student artwork Each year, the Laveen Lions Foundation sponsors
a Peace Poster Art Contest within the Laveen Dis-
trict.
The group selects one winner from each school.
These students were recognized at the April board
meeting. The 1st Place winners from each school are:
Jacqueline Ruiz, Cheatham; Francisco Herrera, Desert
Meadows; Guadalupe Barraza, Laveen; Lizbet Suarez,
M.C.Cash; Carlos Grijalva, Rogers Ranch; Sarah Lynd,
Trailside Point; and Vicky Ross, Vista del Sur.
Page 7
Laveen receives grant to provide
back-to-school clothing for students in need
The Laveen Elementary School District is the
recipient of a $15,000 grant by the Virginia G. Pip-
er Charitable Trust to provide back-to-school cloth-
ing for students at all seven Laveen schools.
The grant provides school uniforms, underwear,
and shoes to students with the
greatest need.
“Laveen shares in The Vir-
ginia G. Piper Charitable
Trust’s belief that essential
clothing helps prepare chil-
dren for a successful school
year,” said Laveen’s superin-
tendent, Dr. Bill Johnson.
“This grant will provide some of our neediest stu-
dents with clean, properly-fitted clothes and shoes
and help them get their school year off on the right
start.”
Laveen was selected because of our significant
population of students in need.
Cheatham students clean up neighborhood Over 20 students from Cheatham’s NJHS joined
residents from the Cheatham Ranch HOA to clean
up the neighborhood sidewalks, streets, and parks.
The City of Phoenix supported this effort with
equipment and staff from the Neighborhood Ser-
vices office and the support of District 8 Council-
woman Kate Gallegos.
Vista’s NJHS conducts service project
Vista del Sur
Traditional School's
National Junior
Honor Soc ie ty
cleaned up their
neighborhood using
donated safety
gear.
Vests and gloves
were provided to the students by D.L. Withers
Cash to provide more fruits and vegetables
through grant M.C. Cash School is the recipient of a $42,500
grant by the United States Department of Agricul-
ture’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Pro-
gram.
This funding will provide fresh fruits and vege-
tables to Cash students throughout next school
year.
The program was established to expand the va-
riety of fruits and vege-
tables children experi-
ence, increase chil-
dren’s fruit and vegeta-
ble consumption, and
create healthier eating
habits.
Trailside receives literacy grant Trailside Point is the recipi-
ent of $400 from the Barbara
Park Memorial Literacy Grant
Program.
The grant supports reading
in memory of the late Barbara
Park who authored the popular
Junie B. Jones series of chil-
dren's books.
Around our Schools
Preschool
Preschool students studied dinosaurs this
spring.
Together, students created PowerPoint books
about the dinosaurs by sharing facts they learned.
The books were assembled for students to bring
home.
They also created large dinosaur eggs using pa-
per, stickers, glitter, and a variety of other materi-
als.
Rogers Ranch
The Arizona Cardinals brought 60 minutes of
physical activity to Rogers Ranch School through
the team’s Play 60 program.
Students participated in a variety of stations to
practice their running, catching, and jumping tech-
niques. Cardinals player Justin Bethel was also on
hand to help motivate the students.
At the end of the event, Bethel handed out
signed Gatorade water
bottles to all partici-
pants.
Page 8
Desert Meadows Home Depot donated materials to build a garden
at Desert Meadows. Employees from the store also
donated their time to help set up the garden this
spring.
Kindergartners immediately started planting
vegetables and learned about growing food
throughout the year.
Cheatham
Cheatham’s student council members, teachers,
and staff walked together at the American Cancer
Society’s Relay for Life held at Betty Fairfax High
School on March 29.
Relay participants took turns either walking, or
running, around the track from noon until mid-
night — representing the fact that cancer never
sleeps.
Cheatham was not only the largest team in at-
tendance, but was also named the most spirited
team at the relay.
The team raised over $600 for Relay for Life to
help aide cancer research and join the fight against
it.
Ms. Amanda
Bailey is the stu-
dent council’s
sponsor.
Home Depot volunteers assist students planting vegetables.
Cheatham’s Relay
for Life Team gets
ready for the event.
Laveen Students in Laveen School’s Art Club showcased
their work in a recent art exhibit. The event was
held in conjunction with the Laveen Art League’s
Art Walk.
Members from the Art League have been visiting
with the Art Club students to teach them a variety
of techniques. The artists helped Art Club students
create pieces such as gourd drums, ceramics, pa-
permaking, jewelry, and copper pins.
The art exhibit was held April 11 in Building A.
Special thanks to Laveen Art League member
Michael Dicken for organizing the event. Visiting
artists include: Susan Sanborn, ceramics; Andrea
Berusqui, cardboard bracelets; Michael Dicken, pa-
permaking; Laura Zelins, copper pins; and Shelley
Fletcher, gourd drums. Ms. Jamie Polich is Laveen
School’s art teacher.
Page 9
Trailside Point
Trailside Point’s middle school gifted team took
Third Place and won a bronze medal in the recent
Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement
(MESA) Day State On-Site Competition.
Competition participants work on engineering
challenges and problem solving. Trailside’s chal-
lenge was to build a tall tower out of spaghetti,
marshmallows, and a limited amount of tape.
M.C. Cash
M.C. Cash launched a new character program
for middle school boys. The Cash Crew serves mid-
dle school boys in Grades 6-8, as nominated by
staff.
The club is designed to help members exemplify
positive character traits, learn how to be a role
model, and teach the value of wellness through
fitness and team games. Activities include team
building games, fitness routines, character counts
discussions, decision making talks, and a variety
of sport build-up games.
The Cash Crew meets three times each week
and is sponsored by
Mr. Andrew Drenth
and Mr. Matt
Epacs.
Vista del Sur Members of Vista’s yearbook club participated in
a special photo assignment recently. They had the
opportunity to “work” an Arizona Diamondbacks
game and practice their photography skills.
Vista parent, Ross Frank-
lin, has been helping the stu-
dents with their yearbook. He
is also an Associated Press
photographer and was able to
secure a handful of profession-
al cameras the students could use for practice.
The yearbook club members first toured the field
where the photographers shoot. They were then as-
signed secondary shooting positions from the main
concourse level where they were able to practice
their sports photography.
Trailside Point’s team, from left: Sadie Check, Faith Stockton, Michael Lynd, and Victor Martinez with Mrs. Sarah Zembruski, principal and Mrs. Betty Ehret, Gifted Coach.
District Security
Coordinator Sgt. Ron
Jakola talks to members
of the Cash Crew. Artwork displayed included
drums made out of gourds.
Page 10
Design revealed for Cheatham additions
The design for Cheatham’s upcoming building additions were recently unveiled.
A gymnasium will be added to the southeast corner
of the campus. When Cheatham was originally built as
a K-6 school it did not need both a cafeteria and gym.
Having since been reconfigured to K-8, a gym is needed
to support the larger campus including Grades 7 and 8.
Also, planned in the project, are the addition of art
and science rooms—facilities that weren’t necessary in
the K-6 setting. The library and computer lab will also
be enlarged. Playfields and basketball courts will be
rearranged to fit nicely on the remodeled campus.
These additions will bring Cheatham up to the dis-
trict standards that other Laveen campuses current-
ly meet. The additions were designed by EMC2 Archi-
tects.
The projects are funded primarily through proceeds from bond sales approved by voters in 2008.
Future Site of Additions
Now Enrolling for 2014-2015 All Laveen Schools are accepting registrations for the 2014-2015 school year.
Governing Board welcomes new member
The Laveen Governing Board welcomed Jill
Barragan as its newest board member in De-
cember.
Barragan was selected by the Maricopa
County Education Service Agency following a
lengthy application process. She fills a vacancy
on the board that was created in 2013.
Barragan is the Executive Director of Busi-
ness Services for the Avondale Elementary
School District, a position she has held since
2010. Prior to joining Avondale in 2008, she
worked for the Arizona Department of Educa-
tion in the school finance division. Barragan be-
gan her career as an accountant for the Salva-
tion Army.
She is a graduate of Arizo-
na State University.
Jill Barragan with Superintendent Johnson and Maricopa County Su-perintendent of Schools Don Cov-ey.
Mark your calendars!
Meet Your Teacher
Night
July 31, 2014
5:00 p.m.
at all
Laveen Schools
Complete and return this form, along with your payment, to your child’s school or mail to
Laveen Tax Credit Program, 5001 W. Dobbins, Laveen, AZ 85339
You may also donate online at www.laveeneld.org.
Donor Information:
Name Address City, State Zip
Donation Amount: $ The maximum donation for a married couple is $400 and $200 for a single person. Cred-
its may carry over for up to five years.
I would like my donation to go to: (check one) the school most in need or specific school
I would like my donation to support: (check one)
Program where there is the greatest need Activity Bus Art Band Choir Equestrian
Field Trips Intramural Sports Gifted Enrichment Preschool Tutoring
Signature Phone Number
This non-refundable donation is eligible for the Arizona State Income Tax Credit as allowed by ARS §43-1089.01.
Please consult with your personal tax preparer to determine the application of this credit.
Hand delivered donations must be received by December 19 or postmarked by December 31 to be eligible for a 2014 tax
credit.
Arizona allows taxpayers to dedicate dollars to
education while reducing the amount you owe on
your 2014 taxes through the tax credit program.
For every dollar you donate, the amount you owe
on your Arizona taxes will be that much less. If
you do not owe taxes, the amount you donate may
be carried forward for up to five years to
offset future tax liabilities.
For example, if a single person owes $300 on their
state taxes for 2014 and donates the
maximum amount of $200, they will then only
owe the state $100.
Couples filing jointly may donate any amount up
to $400. Individuals may contribute up to $200.
Tax credit contributions may only be used to
support character education and fee-based ex-
tracurricular activities such as after-school tu-
toring and clubs, academic enrichment, field
trips, fine art programs, and athletics.
Anyone can participate, married or single, with or without children.
Reduce your taxes by
supporting Laveen schools
P.O. Box 29
Laveen, AZ 85339
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Laveen, AZ
Permit #6
The Latest from Laveen is published by the Laveen Communications Department.
Kristen Landry • 602-237-9100 • [email protected]
Laveen Education Center
5001 W. Dobbins
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-237-9100
M.C. Cash School
3851 W. Roeser
Phoenix, AZ 85041
602-237-9120
Cheatham Elementary
4725 W. South Mountain
LAveen, AZ 85339
602-237-7040
Desert Meadows School
6855 W. Meadows Loop East
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-304-2020
Laveen Elementary
4141 W. McNeil
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-237-9110
Rogers Ranch School
6735 S. 47th Avenue
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-304-2030
Trailside Point School
7275 W. Vineyard
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-605-8540
Vista del Sur Traditional
3908 W. South Mountain
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-237-3046
Enroll your child in a Laveen school
You may enroll your child in your neighborhood* school at any time
throughout the year.
Registration packets are available online at www.laveeneld.org or in our
schools’ front offices. You will need to bring the following documents to
complete your child’s registration:
Child’s original birth certificate
Child’s immunization record
Proof of Residence, such as utility receipt or lease agreement (refer to
Arizona Residency Guidelines)
Legal papers, if applicable, for custody
Withdrawal form and report card from previous school
Photo identification for parent/
guardian.
*Please note, Vista del Sur Traditional
is a school of choice and, therefore, does
not have attendance boundaries. Be-
cause this is an accelerated school, your
child must take an assessment prior to
enrolling. Enrollment opportunities are
based on available space.
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment laws allow parents to enroll their child in any Laveen
school outside of their neighborhood. Applications are accepted annually.
Approval is based on space.
Parents/ guardians are responsible for transportation if your child does
not attend your neighborhood school.
Residential Customer
Visit us online at www.laveeneld.org