Viking PagesSunnyslope High School

Community Newsletter Winter 2010

Sunnyslope High School

Administration

Linda WhiteheadPrincipal

Eric ZimmermanAssistant Principal

Operations & Resources

Vernon JacobsAssistant Principal Student Services

Michelle ReedAssistant Principal

Discipline & Attendance

Glendale Union High School District

Governing Board

Vicki JohnsonPresident

Donna StoutClerk

Kevin ClaybornMember

Ian HughMember

Pam ReicksMember

Superintendent of Schools

Jennifer Johnson

Dear Parents/Guardians and Community members,

I love to brag about your children/our students! And, that is easy to do with all the exceptional things that occur at Sunnyslope High School. Consider this sample of their achievements during just first semester of this school-year:

“Excelling” academic achievement for sixth consecutive year•

Multiple National Merit Semi-Finalists •

Award-winning Fine and Performing Arts •

In athletics •

5 Region Championship teamso

2 individual State Championships o

1 individual State 2o nd place

2 State Championships teamso

Since the tradition of excellence and high expectations for all is deeply engrained in our culture, our students along with faculty/coaches/sponsors are constantly searching for new and meaningful goals. One of the most recent and ambitious goals is to involve the majority of our freshman students in a volunteer experience. To that end, our current freshman class accomplished the following during first semester:

In multiple visits to Desert Mission Food Bank and in a trip to St. Mary’s Food Bank, working as Graffiti Busters, and helping with Packages from Home, Sunnyslope freshmen accomplished the following to help others:

Packed 16 pallets and 875 pounds of emergency food boxes •

Broke down the distribution areas and cleaned •

Packed 11,700 pounds of emergency food – exceeded their goal!•

Painted over graffiti in alleys, tunnels, and cleaned up trash•

Wrote letters and sent care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.•

Many of our clubs and teams are also involved in volunteering in our community. Please encourage your child to become a part of one of these activities. What is learned while working outside of the classroom with others on a volunteer project in priceless.Again, I encourage you to feel free to contact me at 623.915.8785 or visit the school to discuss any part of your child’s educational plan and progress. We believe “Parents Matter.”

Thank you for sending us such fine young people, Linda Whitehead, Principal Page 1

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Viking Pages Community Newsletter

Sunnyslope High School35 West Dunlap Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85021 This edition compiled

by Melanie Shawcroft

Non-Discrimination Policy The Glendale Union High School District is committed to a policy of nondiscrimina-tion in relation to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin and disabil-ity. Anyone who has an allegation or discrimination complaint should contact the following compliance officers: Eric Zimmerman, Title IX Coordinator Vernon Jacobs, Section 504 Coordinator 35 W. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021623-915-8760 Norma de la No Discriminación El Distrito de las Escuelas de Glendale Union está comprometido a una norma de no discriminación en cuánto a la religión, raza, sexo, edad, origen nacional y dis-capacidad. Cualquier persona que tenga una acusación o queja de discriminación debe ponerse en contacto con los siguientes oficiales de cumplimiento: Eric Zimmerman, Title IX Coordinador Vernon Jacobs, Section 504 Coordinadora 35 W. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021623-915-8760 Page 2

This career and technical education course allows students to explore careers in the fire service. However, many students enroll in Fire Science for different reasons - not just to become a firefighter. One student this year is actually headed to the Police Department in the future. We have also had some in the past headed different directions - ER Nurse, Military, etc. Some of the topics

Fire Science

Senior Gustavo Lopez (and crew) spraying water from a 2 1/2” attack line, one of the more difficult jobs of a firefighter requiring a great deal of teamwork.

in the class include: History of Fire Science, Fire Behavior, Special Operations, Public Education, Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, CPR & First Aid, Total Wellness and Emergency Dispatch. The course is taught by fire service professionals. It includes hands-on exercises and is a very participatory class. Visit your counselor for more information. This class is available to juniors and seniors.

Contributed by: Btyant Johnson

Thanks to the generosity of our Viking students, parents and staff we were able to help 15 families during the holiday season through the Adopt-A-Family program this year. From food,clothing and gifts, we were able to brighten the holidays for 15 Sunnyslope families! THANK YOU!!! Our Unitown program, better known as “THUNDERSLOPE”

Contributed by: Mary Ellen Naughton

Making A Difference was a huge success. It is the first time in our district that we have brought together two schools (Thunderbird and Sunnyslope), approximately 80 delegates and 24 staff to discuss cultural differences. We had such a good time that we are talking about including three schools next year!!!Mary Ellen Naughton Social Worker 623-915-8738

Auditions for the spring musical are being held February 11th and 12th in the auditorium. All SHS students are welcome

to try out. The musical performances are April 22nd and 23rd at 7PM and

the 24th at 2PM and 7PM. Contact Laura LaPrell at (623)915-8771 for more

information.

Spring MusicalContributed by: Laura LaPrell

Glendale Union High School District’s definition of a literate student is “The literate student in a global society will communicate effectively by listening, reading, reasoning, speaking, and writing in a variety of situations.” In order for your son or daughter to be successful in school, a parent can do some of the following things to help with his/her success. The first thing is to have a place at home where the student can do his homework and study where it is quiet. The

area should have good light and be away from the rest of the family. The second thing is to put limits on how much television he/she watches or how long he/she plays video games. Even if a student does not have written homework, she should bring home an RC book every day and read each night. The last idea is to be in touch with your student’s teacher when you have a concern. Our goal is to make certain all students can be successful in our global community.

Literacy CoachContributed by: Sally Doocey

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The Sunnyslope Instrumental Music Department had a busy winter season. After holding a successful concert entitled ‘Deck the Halls!’ , which honored both the John C. Lincoln Health Network and the Camelback Kiwanis, the Band and Orchestra, along with the Sunnyslope Band Boosters and the John C. Lincoln Health Network, sponsored the 1st Annual Sunnyslope Community Holiday Fair. The event had over 50

vendors selling products ranging from cosmetics and holiday clothes to food and figurines. The event was highlighted by a book signing by Phoenix’s own ‘Queen of Clean’ Linda Cobb. Children had fun at the event while bouncing in the bounce house and eating the tasty hamburgers and hot dogs available by A&B fine foods. Most of the proceeds from booth and food sales that day will go

Music Department Winter Season & Upcoming Events

Contributed by: Andy LaRusch

Sunnyslope will be starting a Chinese Club this spring. The purpose will be to teach students the Chinese language and to have them learn about Chinese culture. Stay tuned for more details. Classes will start in March as a pilot program; then, next year we will offer Chinese before and after school, non-credit. The teacher is from Hong Kong, well-

qualified. E-mail Mr. Birk if interested. Mr. Birk and Mr. Hershberger’s German students have linked up with a high school in Memmingen, Germany. Students are corresponding via E-mail and video conferencing. Students from Memmingen hope to visit Arizona in the near future. Memmingen is a small town southwest of Munich.

Foreign Language DepartmentContributed by: Tom Birk

toward the Sunnyslope Instrumental Music program for new instruments, repairing old instruments and purchasing new music for students to perform. Upcoming events for the Viking Bands and

Orchestra include a traditional concert on March 9th and a Pops concert on May 13th, both beginning at 7pm in the Kenneth Coffin Auditorium. Mark your calendars and join us!

Band and Orchestra were given a check for $2,500.00 from Gold Cash For Stash.

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On three days in November, the Future Educators of America and Education Professions students conducted a “Read-a-thon” as a community service project, to promote literacy, and to raise funds. Prior to the read-a-thon, students solicited pledges that were tied to the number of books that they would read to younger children. On November 16th, 17th, and 19th, students visited classrooms at Desert View Elementary School where they spent up to two hours reading

to individual students and groups of students. The Education Professions students also used literacy cue cards to promote effective strategies for comprehension. Here are the results:17 Sunnyslope Students39 hours of reading2011 books read to students$250 collected The Education Professions students enjoyed the opportunity to practice reading aloud and questioning strategies, and the Desert View students enjoyed the stories.

Ready, Set, Read!Contributed by: Sheila Novak

Right: Senior Rachel Kerns

Left: Senior Lorena Seguvia

Left: Senior Geronimo Cortez

Tour de Cookie The Tour de Cookie event was held Sunday, December 6th, 2009 in the Sunnyslope community. This event was designed to help schools raise money for their clubs and sports. Sunnyslope raised a little over $1000 from the event. There were 63 participants which included four Sunnyslope students and two Sunnyslope teachers. There were ten cookie stands along the 26-mile bike ride where the participants were allowed to purchase baked goods from several vendors. There was also a 6-mile short race. NHS, Choir, Cheer and StuCo set up cookie stands and raised money for their club.

Contributed by: Nicole Martin

Career Foundations freshmen were introduced to service leaning at the start of the year and since then have had many opportunities to see what a difference they can make by volunteering in the community. Here are a few of their recent activities. Freshmen have volunteered at Desert Mission Food Bank by walking over after school and making emergency food bags. Each time, a different group of students put together over 800 emergency bags. While there students learned about the economy’s effects on their own community. They were told that the number of bags they packed used to last a week to ten days. Now, the demand is so high that the same number of bags lasts only two days. Students have also gotten rid of miles of graffiti, not just in the Sunnyslope area, but in other parts of Phoenix as well. Freshman Ana Brito said of the experience, “Since I’ve done this, I see that no matter how old you are, you can really help your neighborhood.” Brenda Rios added, “It showed that a small number of people can make a huge difference.” SHS students also spent a

Freshmen volunteer in the community Contributed by: Terri Fields

Saturday at St. Mary’s Food Bank where by working very quickly, they were able to pack over 11,000 pounds of food into one-pound boxes. The line director complimented them on their excellent work ethic and said that because of them 11,000 people who might have gone hungry would have food. Hugo Campas, who was a first-time volunteer said, “It was fun and really helped people.” St Vincent de Paul Dining Room and Warehouse was another recipient of SHS freshman volunteer effort. Students served 181 dinners and cleaned the dining room afterwards. Daisy Santana said, “It was nice to greet people and serve them dinner, especially the kids.” In addition, eleven hard-working students unloaded three huge moving trucks of donated goods so that they could be sorted and sent to the thrift stores to fund the dining room. St. Vincent de Paul was particularly impressed with our dock workers and said that they don’t get nearly enough help in this area. Our SHS student helpers said, “It taught me teamwork,” “I never knew how much stuff could fit in one moving truck.” “I liked to be part of recycling. Everyone should

donate things instead of throwing them away.” And one boy added, “Maybe I’ll get a job as a moving man.” Our bus drivers, Gilbert Garcia and Alex Mezza set a great example for the students by coming in to volunteer right with the students. SHS Career Center Coordinator Pam Atkisson, volunteered her time on several of the major projects, and as she worked, she told students how community service could help them in getting scholarships and jobs. Terri Fields, coordinator of the volunteer projects, says that she’s thoroughly enjoyed taking the students on every single community service event. “Every time, I’ve gotten compliments on our students, on how well-behaved they are and how efficiently they work. It’s great that students are providing the community with valuable service, and providing a positive image of SHS, but in many cases, students are also boosting their own self-esteem and knowledge.” Freshman Jasmine Nieto says, “People should get the chance to help others and also, like me, if they did it for the first time, it lets them see they would like to do it again because it feels so good to help out.” Page 5

Choir is having a Rum-mage Sale! Bring us your tired, your poor, your used, and your unwanted treasures to sell at our rummage sale that is February 6th!

All proceeds benefit the choir students and help us pay for our trip to Ana-heim in March! Bring clothes, household items, small furniture pieces, etc. to the choir

room anytime during the first week of February. Any large items would need to be dropped off in front of the auditorium Saturday morning, Febru-ary 6th, as we have no place to store them! If we can't sell it, we'll

donate it for you! You can also help fund our trip by giving your tax credit to Choir! Thanks for your awe-some support. The spring Choir Con-cert is March 11th in the auditorium.

Choir Rummage SaleContributed by: Stephanie Gramm

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Journalism goes to DC

Using the subway to visit the sights for a true big city experience. Sophomores Elizabeth Fishman and Elise Anaya think about WWII.

Editors Jordan Ryan and Sarah Poland at the Korean War Memorial. Senior Jared Celniker taking a picture at the Vietnam Memorial.

Abraham Lincoln was the Master of Ceremonies for a full house. Soaked from rain, standing in front of the Washington Monument.

At the Lincoln Memorial and site of the “I have a dream” speech. Journalism staff has bonding time over dinner at Buca de Beppo.

Viking Views Sunnyslope High School 35 W. Dunlap Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85021

Advisor: Melanie ShawcroftBusiness Manager: Jessie Brown

623-915-8760 ext. 2911 fax 623-915-8762mashawcr@guhsdaz.org

If you are interested in running an advertisement in the Viking Views, the student newspaper at Sunnyslope High School, please fill in the entire advertising contract below, indicating the size of the ad you would like to run. Please take note of the ad deadlines on which we must have black and white hard copy of your ad. If you would prefer, an ad can be designed for you by our staff.

Issue date Ad deadline September 25, 2009 September 11November 6, 2009 October 23December 11, 2009 November 25February 12, 2010 January 29April 2, 2010 March 12May 14, 2010 April 30

Advertising Contract

Advertising Company:___________________________________________1.

Contact Person:________________________________________________2.

Company Billing Address:_________________________________________3.

City:______________ State:_________ Zip Code:______________

4. Phone Number:______________ Fax Number:________________

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Thank you for your investment in the Viking Views. You will receive a copy of the paper and a billing statement within a week of publication. Please send in your payment upon receipt of the billing. If payment is not received within three weeks of billing, a $10 late charge will be applied to your bill. If you wish to cancel your ad, please send in a written request ten days before the newspaper goes out. If contract is cancelled less than ten days before publication or the advertisement is not received by the ad deadline, the advertiser is responsible for one half of the total cost of the ad.

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Type Size Price (Width X height”) Business Card….....5x2.…………….$35Eighth Page……….4x5.……………..$45Quarter Page……...5x8……………..$75 Half Page………….10x8…………...$135Full Page…………..10x16…………$200Inserts……..1700 handouts…………$50 (Advertiser provides inserts)Advertisers will receive a 10% discount off their total for signing a year round contract.

Support Journalism By Placing An Ad in the Next Issue of the Viking Views, the student newspaper.

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Counselors’ Page

Mike Childress

JohnnyFrias

Rex Hazelton

JodyKend-hammer

JenniferEmanuel

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Sophomore and Junior Educational Plans: In January, counselors went into the classrooms to meet with all sophomores and juniors. There they handed out transcripts, provided course offering books, and answered numerous questions ranging from explaining GPAs to college-entrance exams. After sending the students home to consult with their parents, all were brought into the Media Center to work on their educational plans. We want to thank all of the caring parents and guardians who helped make this a successful process.

ASVAB, Exploring Careers: While you’re reading this, the scores for the ASVAB test will have arrived. With these in hand, for one day, the United States History classes will be turned into Career Exploration centers. Parents, we encourage you to spend time with your children discussing what took place, looking at the ASVAB booklets that were handed out, going over their test scores, and examining the information gleaned from all of this. You might even want to take the Holland Interest Inventory yourself. Who knows what you’ll discover about yourself?

Financial Aid Night: Every year, Sunnyslope High School presents a “Financial Aid Night”. Recently, a mailer was sent out to the families of all seniors to announce this important event. This year, it will be held in the auditorium on Wednesday, January 27th. The program will begin at 7:00 pm. Oscar Celaya, Financial Aide Access and Outreach Counselor from ASU, will answer your FAFSA questions and talk about steps to college. If you would like to learn more about FAFSA, go to the following website at www.fafsa.org.

Bridges: In March, the counselors will be working with all juniors, presenting instruction that will enable your students to better access the Bridges computer program. Focusing on a College Search, the juniors will be taught how to find pertinent information pertaining to colleges, universities, technical and trade schools.

SAT & ACT Test Preparation: The counseling department recommends Juniors take their college entrance exams (ACT & SAT) during the spring semester. Paradise Valley Community College offers Test Prep Edge, a set of courses formatted to help those who are preparing to take the college entrance exams. You may call 602-493-2669 to get more information or see your counselor. In addition, Sunnyslope High School offers its own SAT and ACT Prep courses. Stay tuned for announcements regarding the dates for these valuable classes.

Christian Club on Campus Christian Club on Campus meets Thursday after school at 2:45 to 3:30 in room 811. The sponsors are Lisa Pres-ton and Kathy Dowell. They

Contributed by: Kathy Dowell

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study the Bible, play games, have guest speakers, do community service and have a great time fellowshipping. Recently,

the club collected over $120.00 to buy gifts for an Adopt-A-Family during the holiday season.

The CCC gather at their weekly meeting to discuss community service ideas.

Contribute up to $400 to Sunnyslope High School and reduce your tax bill liability dollar-for-dollar by the

amount of your contribution.

For more information:go to www.guhsdaz.org/taxcredit.asp(online donation through PayPal is

available)or call 623-915-8783

Thank you for supporting Sunnyslope High School!

Glendale Union High School District7650 N. 43rd Ave.Glendale, AZ 85301

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Want to help and save on your taxes???????

GUHSD is strongly committed to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, reli-gion, sex, nation of origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its programs or activities.