SCHOOL NEWS

Kyrene Elementary School District School breakfast prices increase On Aug. 12, the Kyrene School District Governing Board approved a slight increase in meal prices for all schools. Specifically, at both elementary and middle schools, the breakfast prices will increase from $.60 to $1. This is the first price increase for breakfast since 1990. The middle school lunch prices will increase from $2 to $2.25. The last time any lunch prices increased was the 2006-07 school year. Elementary school lunch prices will remain at $2. The price changes are related to significant food costs increases in the country.  For example, Kyrene’s cost for bread increased 12 percent, rice and pasta went up 14 percent, cheese is up 15 percent and milk prices have risen 17 percent. Since last year, Kyrene parents have had the option of paying for lunch online. To find out more or sign up for this service go to www.mylunchmoney.com. Tempe Elementary School District Proud Parent captures a memory Mother Saima Shah takes a picture of her son, fifth-grader Mahad Shah, and daughter, kindergartner Fiza Shah, the morning of the first day of school at Wood Elementary (photo by Tempe Elementary Schools). Tempe Schools ‘beat the odds’ Tempe Elementary School District will be the first elementary district in Arizona to become a Beat the Odds (BTO) “district partner” with the Center for the Future of Arizona. During last year’s inaugural year, BTO partnered with 27 schools from across the Valley, with about two schools from each of the districts involved. In the 2008-09 school year, the partnership will grow to support more than half of the schools in district. BTO will continue to provide mentors and professional development to Gililland and Holdeman as they begin their second year. An additional 12 schools were selected to begin a partnership this year: Aguilar, Arredondo, Carminati, Curry, Evans, Frank, Laird, McKemy, Nevitt, Scales, Thew, and Wood. “The mission of the Beat the Odds Institute is to dramatically improve academic achievement, which aligns directly with our district’s goals,” said Superintendent Art Tate. “This partnership will assist us as we increase student achievement in every classroom, for every student, in every subject, every day.” Gililland Middle School has already seen the benefits of the BTO partnership. Principal Rick Horvath credits BTO with helping place student achievement at the center of all decision-making with a simple, direct approach. “The significant academic growth for Gililland Middle School is directly related to the Beat the Odds philosophy. This is the road map to improved student academic achievement,” said Horvath. Through its partnership with BTO, Gililland developed a streamlined multi-year plan to support initiatives focused on student achievement. Horvath explained, “BTO does not get bogged down in programs or protocols, instead it is a principle-based approach, allowing us the latitude and freedom to develop a plan unique to our needs.” Lesson learned—in Chinese After learning about the Tempe Sister Cities Educator Exchange Program, Amy Cole, administrator of the Intervention Learning Program, eagerly applied for the opportunity to visit schools in China.     She was selected, and during the summer, Amy visited a Chinese middle school, high school, and special education school. She describes the education system in China as very intense and much different than our system.     “The students in China are learning in high school what Americans are learning in college,” said Cole.     In addition to visiting to schools, Cole spent three days touring Beijing, where she saw the “Bird’s Nest” Olympic stadium and the “Water Cube” aquatic center.     As part of the exchange program, several Chinese educators visited Tempe in August to observe our schools. They also visited the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles Tempe Union High School District IB program at THS Holds open house The International Baccalaureate Program at Tempe High School offers programs for primary, middle school and a diploma program. The mission of the program is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” Parent Informational Meetings for the IB program are scheduled for 6-7 p.m. Nov. 18 in the THS Lecture Hall (for first priority registration beginning Dec. 5), and 6-7 p.m. Jan. 21, 2009, also in the THS Lecture Hall (for second priority registration beginning Feb. 6, 2009.) Tempe High School administration and staff will be talking to parents and the community about the program and answering questions. The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. According to the IBO, “These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.” The IBO works with 1,923 schools in 124 countries to offer the three programs to approximately 500,000 students. For more information, contact Scott Greenhalgh, coordinator of the IB program at Tempe High School, at sgreenhalgn@tuhsd.k12.az.us. It was a great day for the Best Buddies Club from Marcos de Niza High School as the club received a second place award from national organizers and celebrities, from left: back row, Hiliary Cruz, Miss Teen USA; Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies Int. founder and chairman; Paula Schumann, Marcos de Niza Chapter president; Bryan Dunn, Best Buddies Int. Student Board member, and David Quilleon, Best Buddies Int. vice president of Programs; front row, Katie Meade, Best Buddies Int. Board member, and Maureen McCormick, TV’s ‘”Marsha Brady” (submitted photo). MdN’s Best Buddies wins chapter award The Best Buddies chapter at Marcos de Niza High School was presented with the Overall Outstanding Chapter Award at Best Buddies International’s 19th Annual Student Leadership Conference held July 18-21. Marcos de Niza was selected as the top high school chapter from more than 900 high school programs throughout the world for its dedication to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.     Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. The Best Buddies Student Leadership Conference prepares student leaders to operate the Best Buddies chapter at their school, which involves recruitment of new members, planning group activities for their chapters and promoting of the social integration of people with intellectual disabilities in their communities. Nearly 1,400 students, representing Australia, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Curacao, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Lebanon, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United States, traveled to Indiana University to participate in the four-day conference. Working under the theme of “Champions for Friendship,” these students, selected for their active leadership roles within Best Buddies, attended a series of interactive workshops focusing on leadership development, community service, civic responsibility, intellectual disabilities and volunteerism. “Best Buddies International applauds the efforts of our exceptional high school and college chapters, which have pooled the talents of their participants to build and strengthen the Best Buddies mission at their school,” said David Quilleon, vice president of Programs for Best Buddies. “Each chapter’s creativity, dedication and hard work play an important role in furthering the social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities within their communities and around the world.” Private/Charter Schools: Tempe Prep team captures 2nd place Tempe Prep’s Division III Vehicle Team B took 2nd place at the Odyssey of the Mind World Competition held in June at the University of Maryland. Team members included Aaron Benson, Justin Halcisak, Brance Hudzietz, Susan Huppenthal, Jennifer Wagner and Marissa Flogel. The Tempe Prep team beat 33 other teams in this category this year and was the only Arizona team out of 31 teams to place. Tempe Prep’s second team, TPA Division III Vehicle Team A, took 19th place. Congratulations to team members Ryan Ashton, Rowena Garvie, Margaret Golka, Trevor Hughes, Courtney Krygier, Joe Musico and Brianna Valdez. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the United States and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. Tempe Prep is a college preparatory school for grades 6-12. It is a public charter school that has served the Tempe community since 1996. For more information about Tempe Prep, visit www.tempeprep.org. O’Neill receives Rensselaer medal     Gerald “Tre” O’Neill of Tempe recently was named a Rensselaer Medal winner. The Rensselaer Medal, the oldest prize of its kind in the United States, is awarded to more than 3,900 secondary students throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.     This award is given to students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. To be honored with the Rensselaer Medal, a student must be a member of the junior class and the high school’s single-most promising math and science student. O’Neill is a junior at Tempe Preparatory Academy.     Each medalist who is accepted and subsequently enrolls at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., receives a scholarship of $60,000 payable in four yearly awards of $15,000 each.

 

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