Community Connect: Vol. 3 Issue 2

communi communitty CONNECT

Vol. 3 Issue 2

MAGAZINE

A Bench for Kenzie Local family makes a heartfelt tribute to their daughter who passed away from cancer.

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Shadow Ridge Student Takes Flight

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Tips for Staying Fit, Healthy and Active

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Full Calendar of Events for the Spring

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

EVENTS

Growing Minds Preschool Summer Camp Dysart Summer Camp The Vista Summer Theater Camp Summer Enrichment and Athletic Camps Also: Growing Minds Preschool 2022-2023 School Year Registration Before and After School, Den Club 2022-2023 School Year Registration

Learn more and register today at dysart.org/CommunityEducation!

WE’RE ALSO HIRING FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS! CONTACT JERI.ATCHUE@DYSART.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

IN THIS ISSUE 4

Calendar of Events for the Local Community

communi communitty CONNECT MAGAZINE

APRIL 2022 • Vol. 3 Issue 2

6

Meet Pinky: Western Peaks Crossing Guard

15802 N Parkview Place Surprise, AZ 85374

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Student Voice: What AVID Means to Us

Editorial Staff Renee Ryon Ryan McGinley Carly McVay Ambria Brown

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Cover Story: A Bench for Kenzie

16

Teacher Tips: Staying Healthy, Fit, and Active

18

Local Students Honored for Essays

20

Feature Story: Gone Fishing

26

Spotlight: Soaring Through School

28

Feature: A Unique Storyteller

32

Spotlight: The Pack Gives Back

34

Feature Story: Vital Efforts

38

Parent Perspective: Why I Joined the PTA

40

Community Capture Artwork

Contributing Writers Jessica Silva Alejandro Arevalo Mendoza Saul Montenegro Kira Provo Angel Wood Bev Zwick Contributing Artists and Photographers Eliseo Miguel Advertising Interested in advertising with us?

The Community Connect Magazine offers full page, half page, and quarter page options for each issue.

Contact us at publicrelations@ dysart.org for more information on pricing and deadlines or visit dysart.org/CommunityConnect.

Story Ideas?

The Community Connect is always looking for story ideas and contributing content. If you know of an idea or person that should be featured, please feel free to reach out to us at publicrelations@dysart.org.

About Us The Community Connect Magazine is a publication aimed at telling the stories of students, staff, and community members who make extraordinary contributions to our community. The magazine has one of the largest circulations in the Northwest Valley. The mission is to provide a publication for the community, about the community, through the support of community business advertisements.

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ON THE COVER

Flowers lay on a bench dedicated to former Western Peaks Elementary School student Mackenzie Hancock, who passed away from cancer.

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On the Calendar:

Spring Theatre Performances

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 3

CALENDAR

APR

College 101 Night

Spring Egg-stravaganza

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Shadow Ridge Presents: The Secret Garden

Mary experiences the tragedy of losing her parents to the Cholera epidemic. She travels to live with her uncle Archibald where she meets a disabled boy and helps him heal in the garden.

April 13-15 @ 7 p.m.

Tickets: https://our.show/ srhssecretgarden TICKETED

FAMILY

STUDENT PRODUCTION

Children 10 and under are invited to take the field in search of more than 50,000 plastic eggs filled with candy and toys! This FREE family event will also feature face painters, balloon artists, inflatables and more. Food and drink are available for purchase.

April 16, 2022, 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Surprise Recreation Campus - KC Royals Practice Fields FREE

April 7 5:30-7:30pm Valley Vista High School FREE

PARENTS

FAMILY

Surprise Day of Service Valley Vista Presents: Into the Woods Come and enjoy a night of your favorite fairy tales with a modern twist April 13-15 @ 7 p.m.

Valley Vista High School Tickets: https://our.show/ valleyvistahighschooldrama TICKETED

This event is perfect for families in grades 5-11.

35 colleges and military representatives will be present. Informational Sessions include FAFSA, dual enrollment, athletics in college, study abroad, honors, military academies, financial planning and more.

FAMILY

STUDENT PRODUCTION

Events Notice:

Show your community pride by participating in a day of community service.

Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Surprise Senior Center, 15832 N. Hollyhock St., before venturing out to various cleanup and beautification projects across the city. Projects will run until approximately noon.

April 16, 2022 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Surprise Senior Center FREE

DONATION

All calendar events are subject to date, time, and location changes and/or cancellation. Please check with the hosting venue and/or organization for the most up-to-date information on the event.

Willow Canyon Presents: Crazy for You Crazy For You® tells the story of young New York banker Bobby Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre. Bobby falls for spunky Polly Baker, the theatre owner’s daughter.

But Polly takes an instant dislike to the city slicker, so Bobby vows – through cunning, razzmatazz, and a hilarious case of mistaken identity – to win Polly’s heart and save the theatre.

April 20-23 @ 7pm willowcanyontheatre.com TICKETED

FAMILY

STUDENT PRODUCTION

4 APRIL 2022

MAY Poetry Slam at WHAM Community Art Center

This event features open mic night for poetry, free verse, and storytelling! All are welcome to participate as performers and/or listeners. Any established or original pieces may be read. This is a free event and open to the public!

April 15, 2022, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. @WHAM FREE

FAMILY

Community Appreciation Day

City of El Mirage presents a celebration filled with fun activities for all! Video game trucks, balloon creations, lifesized dinosaurs, axe-throwing, entertainment and more!

April 29, 2022, 5 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Gentry Park FREE

FAMILY

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Teacher Appreciation Day Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our community.

They are kind, patient, hard-working, dedicated, and understanding professionals who help mold our children and guide them in positive directions. We entrust our children with the teachers, and they affect their lives daily. Make sure to thank a teacher you know today!

May 4 Community Wide FREE

CALENDAR

Local High School Graduation Ceremonies Graduation ceremonies for Shadow Ridge, Willow Canyon, Valley Vista, and Dysart High School in the Dysart School District are scheduled to be held on Wednesday, May 18, at State Farm Stadium.

The event will also be livestreamed for the community. Details will be released closer to the event.

• Dysart High School 10:00 a.m.

• Shadow Ridge High School 12:30 p.m.

• Willow Canyon High School 3:00 p.m.

• Valley Vista High School 5:30 p.m.

FREE

FAMILY

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 5

SPOTLIGHT

PINKY Meet

a crossing guard at Western Peaks who’s name is synonymous with smiles and joy.

S

ixteen years ago, during the inaugural year of the school, Western Peaks sought out, among other jobs, a crossing guard. They were looking for someone dedicated to helping children cross Surprise Farms Loop and arrive at school safely. A woman named Thelma Notaro applied. She was a retired accountant who had moved to Arizona from Connecticut and lived in the neighborhood. Thelma had two grandchildren who would be attending Western Peaks, so it made sense for her to be a part of the school and help out where she could. Little did she or anyone else know, sixteen years later, Thelma would still be a crossing guard at the school and a longstanding symbol of dedication, kindness, and love for their community.

But no one knows her as Thelma Notaro. As she walks into the school each morning everyone can be heard yelling out with incredible enthusiasm, “Good Morning Pinky!” Pinky is quite the unusual name, but when she tells the story, it all makes sense. When she was growing up at school in Connecticut, there was this boy who had a crush on her. He didn’t know her name though. One day she was walking in a group with some friends wearing a pink bow. Noticing that, he yelled out, “Hi Pinky” to get her attention. Amazingly, after all these years, the nickname stuck. “My real name is Thelma,” she says with a bit of disgust. “Who wants Thelma. I just tell everyone my name is Pinky.”

As one might assume, that nickname works well with kids and adults alike. “If she’s at the high school to watch her granddaughter, she’ll see kids who had been at Western Peaks, and they’ll yell out, Hi Ms. Pinky,” said Stacie Brown, Western Peaks Principal. Thelma says she’ll hear her nickname called out at stores and all around town as people spot her.

6 APRIL 2022

Pinky takes her job as a crossing guard very seriously.

In the 16 years she’s been on the job at the same crossing location, she’s missed a total of two days of work. She’s always there on time, always dependable, wants to do the best she can at her job. “That just takes a huge load as principal off of me, because I know we don’t ever have to worry about finding coverage,” said Brown. Pinky also has a very rigid set of rules for the kids to ensure everything goes smoothly. She thewest kids trained to get off their SUNhas CITY bikes and scooters before getting to the crosswalk. There

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Pinky, who’s real name is Thelma Notaro, greet’s a family as they cross the street in front of Western Peaks Elementary School.

can be no “dilly dallying,” as Pinky calls it, and students must go straight to school or straight home. “I love kids, and I want to make sure that they get to school safely and they get home safely,” she said.

Accompanying her every morning is her trusty stop sign.

Like her, it’s been around since the beginning. She carries the original stop sign given to her and has since repainted it herself. It’s held together with tape and looks like it could shatter if dropped, but that doesn’t stop Pinky from carrying it as her pride and joy. “It’s my mascot,” she says while hugging it. “It’s going with me in my coffin.”

A few months ago Pinky celebrated her 80th birthday.

The school had a party for her, cake and all. Despite her age, don’t expect Pinky to be thinking about hanging up her reflective jacket and stop sign anytime soon. “I feel great,” she said. “I don’t feel it. I’m ready for another 10 years. If I’m still healthy I’ll be here.”

“She just loves the kids,” said Brown. “She always comes to all our after-school events. She really wants to be part of the community. She’s just a cornerstone of Western Peaks. I can’t imagine Western Peaks without her because she’s just part of who we are.”

Pinky celebrates her 80th birthday at Western Peaks COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 7

AVID

STUDENT VOICE

What A

means to us

dvancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a college-readiness program that helps students overcome obstacles and achieve success. Not only do students in the program receive support through their academics, the AVID program helps students find the best versions of themselves and helps forge a strong foundation for postsecondary success. Senior students Jessica Silva and Alejandro Arevalo Mendoza, as well as Saul Montenegro of the class of 2018 want to share their experiences with families who might be interested in the program.

“Starting the first day of high school, the AVID program has positively impacted me and prepared me for the real world, and has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. I applied to AVID because I was interested in earning scholarships and going to college, but I have gained much more than I expected. At the beginning of my Freshman year, I was desperate to find a friend in everyone I met, but they did not last. During my Sophomore year, I found that my closest friends were (and are still) actually my AVID peers. Throughout high school, my AVID family has made every second a moment worth remembering. I felt safe to open up and be myself when I was with my AVID peers. I felt confident to start pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Junior year, I ran for an officer position in the AVID Club and was elected as President, and Vice President for Key Club! This year, my Senior year, I stepped out of my comfort zone again and was elected as the Senior Class President, while serving as the Key Club President and the AVID Club Treasurer. AVID has provided me the opportunity to advance myself and demonstrate my leadership skills. Most importantly, AVID has helped me realize that it’s okay to say ‘No,’ go home, and take a break. AVID provided me with the resources I need for real-world success ranging from organization skills and presentation skills, mock interviews, and resume building. Through AVID, I was able to apply and enter the Achieving a College Education Program at Estrella Mountain Community College where I have taken college classes since summer of my Junior year.”

Alejandro Arevalo Mendoza has eight college acceptances, nearly 30 college credits and over $400,000 in scholarship offers. He plans on attending Northern Arizona University to major in Mechanical Engineering.

8 APRIL 2022

“I had a very rough start to high school. I was crying all the time, and filled with anxiety worrying about if I’ll make it in high school, or become a high school dropout. I didn’t have the confidence to know I could succeed. With the help of my AVID family I have been pushed past my negative thoughts. I was helped and supported to focus on my classes and extracurriculars. AVID helped me become a more confident, vibrant, and energetic person. I used to be so worried about how I sounded to people and how I was perceived by others, but now I know that I am worth the investment.

AVID is the program that celebrates my achievements with me and always supports every small milestone that leads to the main goal.

I’m experiencing all my firsts with AVID, my first college acceptance, my first scholarship award, my first college campus visit, and I am so happy to know that there are other people out there that are like me. I started my high school journey thinking graduation was unlikely.

Little did I know how fast these four years would be. Here I am looking at graduation just a few short months away realizing that I WILL graduate, with honors. I, for certain, know I changed for the better because of AVID and I know that without that type of motivation and support I wouldn’t have ended my high school career with the opportunities and options for my post secondary education.”

Jessica Silva has 11 college acceptances, and over $400,000 in scholarship offers. She is planning on attending either Northern Arizona University or Grand Canyon University to major in Business.

“AVID helped me prepare for college by giving me the organizational skills that have helped me succeed in my college classes. I use my agenda almost everyday, especially when I’m advised of big projects, such as final projects, on the first day of school. The agenda is the main reason that I do all of my homework, and I would have never built that habit without AVID. I learned organizational skills like maintaining a binder, which I use on a daily basis in college as well. I even organize all my notes and worksheets into one binder at the end of the semester for classes that I have to look back on for my major. AVID also gave me a heads up on preparing for and taking college entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT, which I’ve found out that a lot of my cohort, especially first generation college students, were not aware of. Now I am a student at the University of New Mexico and I am currently majoring in chemical engineering, but considering a career in education. I am still in touch with my AVID family and it has had an immensely positive impact on my life.”

Saul Montenegro is an alumni of the AVID program at Dysart High School, as well as a former tutor for AVID students.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 9

FEATURE

10 APRIL 2022

A Bench for Kenzie

Around 20 people gathered at Western Peaks Elementary School and many more joined in online via Facebook in October 2021 to celebrate the installation of a bench in front of the school. This was more than just a bench though, it was installed in remembrance of Mackenzie “Kenzie” Hancock, a student at the school who sadly passed away from a brain tumor in February of 2020. “The bench was a reflection of who Kenzie was, how she cared about her friends, and cared about people she didn’t even know,” shared Kenzie’s mother, Elizabeth Hancock. “She was such a funny kid, loved her friends, and always wanted her friends to be happy even if it was at her own expense.”

Mackenzie Hancock during a family photo shoot at the SnowBowl in Flagstaff in the fall of 2018.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 11

FEATURE

Kenzie snuggles up to her pet bunny, Sam.

12 APRIL 2022

“She loved to learn about the world around her and invent ways to make everyone’s life easier,” shared Douglas Hancock, Kenzie’s father.

This was actually the second buddy bench installed at the school, and Kenzie was instrumental in raising funds to purchase the first one. The idea of the bench is simple - if a child feels lonely, they can go to the bench as a signal that they need someone to play with.

Another child will see them, go and talk to them and include them. Kenzie loved the idea as she was shy and sometimes making friends was a challenge. The fact that there was a way to silently ask for a friend was what she loved about the bench the most.

Western Peaks Elementary School hosted a fundraising effort for the first bench in which students sold cookies, soups, and cookery during the 2018-2019 school year. It was a group effort as Kenzie reached out to neighbors, friends and family to sell the baked goods.

When Kenzie learned of the prize for the top seller, a giant folding camping chair, she became even more excited to raise funds for the bench. As a family of six, including Kenzie’s parents, two older sisters; Rachelle and Brianna, and Tallin, Brianna’s husband, camping was one of Kenzie’s favorite things to do as a family. They would often head up north to the Arcadia campsite at Mount Graham in Northeastern Arizona. The Hancock Family would pack up the tents and drive the switchbacks on a single, main road. Kenzie’s dad would cook a big breakfast each morning in a large cast iron skillet as the family enjoyed the outdoors and time together. The area is quiet with many hiking trails, a waterfall, and was close to Kenzie’s grandparents who live in Safford. Kenzie would often be found sitting quietly on a flat rock that overlooks the area looking at the clouds, watching the birds and soaking in the nature around her.

She met her goal and Kenzie ended up being the top seller

for the buddy bench fundraiser and she won the coveted, oversized lawn chair which she took with her on her last family camping trip. The school was able to purchase the initial buddy bench for the Western Peaks playground.

“Once she got the chair, it was put up in the living room for a while because that was her chair, and she was going to sit there every chance she got. I can remember her saying, ‘Mom, it (lawn chair) holds six sodas!’. And I said ‘that’s so cool kid, it will hold one for the whole family’,” shared her mom.”

When the school received the first buddy bench, her mom remembered Kenzie telling her about it being on the playground and how happy she was that there is a new way for friends to meet. “She had so much happiness come from the fundraiser,’’ shared Elizabeth.

Kenzie was always thinking of ways to make others happy. She was shy but her kindness often broke the ice as she made many friends at Western Peaks including Aryanna Quintero and Mary Hester.

“When I say unique, I’ve never met anyone like her,” said Aryanna. “She was reserved yet bubbly. Kenzie was selfless, she made sure everyone was doing fine and always looking out for others.”

Kenzie, a foodie like her mother, loved being in the kitchen making meals for the family and trying out new recipes with her friends. She especially loved sweets and baking cookies.

Mary Hester recalled a specific instance when the girls were making cookie dough.

“I love raw cookie dough and would eat the batter right off the spoon,’’ shared Mary.

“Knowing this, Kenzie found a recipe without eggs because she was so concerned about my health and me possibly getting sick. She would have this on hand any time she knew I was coming over.”

Kenzie and her sister Rachelle, would spend the evenings in either one of the girls’ rooms making up stories to see if they could come up with something new. They’d have big sleep

Kenzie Hancock and her older sisters Brianna and Rachelle take a selfie together on the trampoline in the family’s backyard in 2016.

overs and take turns telling scary or silly stories and they fought for ten months in the hospital during her second would always try to outdo each other. The girls would battle. collaborate on stories and jot their ideas down for the “Even while Kenzie was going through her fight, she family to read. never stopped thinking of ways to help others out,” In addition to baking and writing, shared Douglas. She would entertain Kenzie loved crafts. Some of her the nurses and dance in her hospital favorites shows were Five Minute Crafts bed when her favorite song came on. and How It’s Made. “We all tried to do All the nurses loved her and would different arts and crafts projects but flock to her room when they knew she I think Kenzie was the one who was was on their floor. the most passionate and committed to “She was the strongest person I do crafts,” shared her sister Brianna. know,” shared Elizabeth. “She went “She’d always try to make crafts out through so much, the fact that she of just about anything she could find. carried that burden on her own, makes For instance, while going out to dinner me proud how strong she was.” Even together, she would use the little piece in the months of her fight, Kenzie of paper that would be wrapped around would talk about all the things she the silverware to hold it together. Kenzie still wanted to do to help others, a Douglas Hancock would fold it in half and create some kind testament to her heart and strength. of little animal like a frog or panda and “One of those things we discussed was we’d all receive little hand colored and how we could help, what I call ‘littles’, drawn animals.” to make friends easier so they are not In 2015 and at the tender age of nine years old, Kenzie alone,” said Elizabeth. This turned out to be one of her was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had surgery and lasting gifts of kindness. radiation, and the tumor remained inactive for four years.

After Kenzie’s passing both parents took every In 2019, the brain tumor came back with a fury. Kenzie painstaking detail into consideration when designing the

“

Even while Kenzie was going through her fight, she never stopped thinking of ways to help others out

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COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 13

FEATURE bench which was produced by Keystone.

The bench itself includes an aquamarine ocean scene including a sea turtle. The ocean stood for two reasons.

First, it represented Kenzie’s love of animals, sea creatures, the ocean, and her dream to become a marine biologist. The second meaning behind the sea and turtle references a scene in the Disney classic, Finding Nemo, one of Kenzie’s favorite movies. When the family was on vacation or in an unfamiliar place, Mom would often ask, “Do you have your exit buddy?”. This was a key scene in the movie where characters Marlin and Dory find themselves in the East Australian Current with a group of sea turtles, named Crush and Squirt. The turtles instruct the two fish on how to exit the current safely as they continue their quest to find Nemo. Crush asks the phrasedo you have your exit buddy? Kenzie would cling to her Mom as she said the phrase just like Marlin and Dory did in the movie.

Attached to the top of the bench includes a plaque.

A beautiful photo of Kenzie adorns the left side of the

Kenzie in her oversized lawn chair that she won as the top seller at Western Peak’s buddy bench fundraiser.

14 APRIL 2022

plaque. The photo was a candid moment caught by a photographer during family photos when Kenzie was standing off to the side by herself just looking at the sky.

“The photo made her seem so much more grown up then we had seen her in previous years,’’ shared Elizabeth.

A quote by A.A. Milne is included on the plaque: If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.

“That quote conveyed my feelings at the time,” shared Elizabeth.

A small kangaroo was engraved on the plaque to represent her beloved stuffed animal, Kangaroo that was always with her. The dandelion on the plaque is the official flower of the military child because they can float away and plant anywhere and thrive. Kenzie’s father and several other family members served in the military.

“We thought that this bench was the best way to honor that time in her life that she was at the school with the thing that she took the most pride in while she was there.

And I’d like to think that she (Kenzie) is here with us.”

“We decided together to place it outside of the school, so that her family and friends, who are all in high school now, could come by and sit on the bench whenever they wanted to feel close to her,” shared Stacie Brown, Western Peaks Principal.

“It is in such a perfect place. That is the beauty of the location- anyone can come and enjoy it,” shared Douglas, Kenzie’s father.

“When it was unveiled, I burst into tears instantly. How much the bench represented her got to me from the ocean to how much they were able to get into one bench,” shared Aryanna.

Kenzie’s mother and father felt this was a small way they could continue with one of her final wishes to help the ‘littles’ make friends when they might be shy and not know exactly how to make a friend. “I think she would be happy but embarrassed that her picture is on it,” shared Kenzie’s mom during the bench dedication.”

February 15, 2022 marked the twoyear remembrance of Mackenzie’s passing. Friends and family joined in to release paper lanterns and paper wishes that evening at 7:11 p.m. to mark her passing and honor Kenzie.

“I plan to visit the bench because I am hopeful that it is doing what it is intended to do. Kenzie would take people in, she was the most loving person who wanted everyone to feel happy,” said Mary.

“I feel like with this bench, you can sit down and know someone is already there with you, ready to be your friend. Kenzie will always be with us in our hearts and our memories.

Let’s keep her memory alive by being the friend that comes to sit on the bench,” shared Elizabeth Hancock.

A bench to gather for old friends, a bench to make new friends, a bench to remember, a bench for Kenzie.

Kenzie poses on a bridge at the Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater

Kenzie and her mother, Elizabeth Hancock take a close-up snapshot while watching a movie together.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 15

TEACHER TIPS

Staying

HEALTHY FIT & ACTIVE

By Bev Zwick, Physical Education Teacher at Dysart Middle School

L

et’s face it, the past few years have really changed how we operate as a family. We were told to stay home and stay apart even from family and friends outside of our house. This has resulted in a change in our family dynamics. At the time of this writing we are almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and we may continue to see the impacts for the foreseeable future. How do we as parents and guardians help our children stay healthy, fit and active during this time? Let’s first look at the definition of healthy: • Physical and mental well-being; freedom from disease or pain.

• Soundness, especially of body or mind.

• A condition of optimal well-being.

Why is it important for parents and guardians to develop this in our children? There are many reasons to be healthy. The top ones include: you can live longer, feel better about yourself, and build your selfesteem. And of course, you will be leading by example! The pandemic has increased screen time for our children more than ever before. Prepandemic, students were way more active. They got out and played with their friends. Now it takes a lot of motivation to get our children up and moving. This can start at home. There are many benefits of working toward being healthy, fit and active. If you are regularly physically active, you may improve academic performance and 16 APRIL 2022

concentration, improve “brain health” and reduce the risk of depression, improve muscular and bone strength, strengthen your heart and lungs, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of some chronic diseases WOW! These are all great reasons to implement this lifestyle change at home. How do we get started? First of all, you want to establish some “norms” or expectations.

It’s important to have an open mind. Everyone in the house MUST participate. Everyone should get to share or have his/her turn to speak and comment. Remember to be a respectful listener. Everyone should agree on how decisions will be made. After that it’s time to make a plan. Be intentional and write the plan down, adding the dates to the calendar. Start small and build on it. It’s okay if your plan doesn’t work, but don’t give up. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again!” Also be consistent – if what you planned isn’t working, revisit to make a new plan you can actually implement.

I would start with a family meeting.

Let the family know what you have in mind. Get input from everyone. What do they want to do together–make family meals? Do family activities? Once you decide this, talk through what this will look like. Are you going to plan and cook healthy family meals two times a week (remember–start small and build on it)? When you do this, set some ground rules. No devices - this is family time. Research what should be included in a healthy meal. The USDA My Food Plate is a great resource for this. Actually sit down at the dinner table together at meals and talk about the

day. Remember to focus on the speaker. Ask open ended questions that need more than a yes or no answer. Make sure everyone shares. This will help your child(ren) feel special. It will help build stronger relationships. The more you do this, the more they will know that they “HAVE to share”, so in time, you won’t need to ask many questions.

It will start to come naturally. Some ideas may include: Tell me about the best part of your day, what was the hardest thing you had to do today, what’s the most interesting thing you learned today, or who did you play with today?

Now it’s time to get active! Remember, get input from the family, so they have “buy-in.” Don’t forget the expectation that EVERYONE in the family must participate. You will also need to get creative. An easy way to start is to go for a walk, bike ride, or scooter ride as a family. If your children say, “I just want to play video games,” show them the Fortnight Dance Challenge on YouTube and try it for yourselves. Branch out from this. Is there room in the backyard or neighborhood park? Can you kick a soccer ball around together, play a game of tag, or play catch with some type of ball or Frisbee? Can you make up silly relay races or games? Do you have limited space? How about jumping rope in the driveway or making a “Hopscotch” pattern with chalk.

Once this becomes your new norm, research other activities to do as a family. Remember your “expectation” of being open-minded. Try new activities and if someone dislikes it, have that person help pick something new and different. Bonus points if your family has a step tracker device or app on their phone to track your steps, minutes active and calories burned.

The pandemic has truly changed how we interact with each other, so now let’s turn it into something positive.

Let’s spend quality family time together. Let’s work together to build positive relationships and get healthy and active!

Activity Ideas to Get You Started BACKYARD OBSTACLE COURSE

1. Gather a variety of items and create an obstacle course in your backyard or neighborhood park. Look for items around the house. You can lay hula-hoops on the ground and hop to each one, crawl the length of a jump rope, hop over a sturdy crate, box or stool, and throw a ball into a basketball hoop or container.

2. Be creative and have your kids create their own action or activity in the obstacle course.

3. Time each family member as they complete the entire course.

4. Log your peak performance time in a chart and make it a goal for the next obstacle course.

INDOOR OR OUTDOOR CIRCUIT

I am all for circuit training! Involve the kids in creating a circuit of activities outdoors or inside on hot days in Arizona.

1. Find space to do each exercise.

2. Incorporate stations like hula-hoop, jumping jacks, jump rope, bear crawl, crab-walk, sit ups, push ups, plank position, shoulder taps, wall-sits, etc.

3. Modify each step in the circuit based on age or ability.

4. Have each member of the family pick their exercise to add to the circuit by writing/drawing it down on a piece of paper.

5. Use a stopwatch/timer and set up everyone at their first station.

6. Do each exercise for one minute, and then use ten seconds to transition to the next exercise.

7. You may want to keep track of the exercises you do and how many you were able to do.

Can you do more next time? Set a goal and celebrate successes.

8. Finally, discuss the muscles utilized with each of the exercises.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 17

SPOTLIGHT

Local Students Honored for Essays

Kacey Dunnn from Canyon Ridge School and Caleb Leavitt from Freedom Traditional School were honored for their essay submissions at the Dysart Governing Board meeting on February 23, 2022.

Abel Mendoza from El Mirage Elementary School poses with his certificate at the El Mirage City Council meeting on March 1, 2022

Clare Ebere from El Mirage Elementary School smiles for the camera at the Dysart Governing Board meeting.

I

n partnership between the Dysart Unified School District, the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage, students across the district were invited to participate in the My El Mirage and My Surprise Essay Contest in November of 2021. Students were given the prompt: What Makes Your City Extraordinary?

“The school district and the city are intertwined,” shared Shelley Isai, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Director, 9-12. “We are fortunate to have a city council that believes in investing in their youth and the public school system. To this end we wanted to do a project that honored the city’s commitment to students and their voice.”

More than 100 students in grades 3-12th submitted their essays with schools choosing the top 58 district-wide. The writings were evaluated based on understanding of city services/amenities, creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, 18 APRIL 2022

and proper grammar.

“We are so excited to celebrate our student’s writings with the City of El Mirage and City of Surprise,” said Dana Knoebel, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Director, Prek-8. “We love sharing our student’s voices with the authentic audience of our communities.”

Winners from Surprise were selected in specific grade bands and were honored February 15 at the Surprise city council meeting including: Caleb Leavitt from Freedom Traditional Academy, grade 3-4 division, Kacey Dunn from Canyon Ridge School for 5-8th grade, and Valerie Ortega from Valley Vista High School who won for the high school division.

Mayor Skip Hall and members of the city council recognized the three students and took photos celebrating their wonderful essay submissions with excerpts included below.

Caleb Leavitt: “Surprise is my favorite place in Arizona.

I enjoy everything that Surprise has to offer and really like my school, Freedom.”

Kacey Dunn: “A big reason why so many love living in Surprise is all the scenic views! The city is surrounded by views of the mountains which many of them offer hiking trails at.”

Valerie Ortega: “Surprise has an exceptional sense of community and lots to offer with great places to go for food, events to attend, and communal activities to participate in.”

“The City of Surprise partnered with Dysart Unified School District on our first annual City of Surprise Essay Contest,” shared Mayor Skip Hall. “It is important that we engage our youth and this essay partnership was an excellent opportunity to do so. Hearing from our local students while utilizing an educational format regarding their thoughts on why Surprise is a great community to be part of was important to us as well.”

The City of El Mirage structured their essay winners a bit differently and awarded the top three students all from El Mirage Elementary: Clare Ebere; 1st place, Abel Mendoza; 2nd place, and Alleeah Gomez; third place.

All three students and their families were invited to

attend the City of El Mirage Council meeting on March 1.

The students were recognized and received ribbons and certificates.

Claire Ebere: “I love El Mirage because it is a good city, and you can have fun at the park with your friends.”

“I want to thank all of the students who participated in the ‘Why El Mirage is Extraordinary’ essay contest and congratulate our three winners,” said El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo. “Reading your inspirational messages really made me proud to be an El Mirage Elementary School alum, and I encourage you to keep up the great work—especially when it comes to believing in our City.”

Student winners from both categories were recognized at Dysart Unified School District Governing Board meeting on February 23 where they received gift cards to local businesses.

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leaders.

“It has been such a rewarding experience to partner with both the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage to honor our scholars and writers,” shared Edgerton. “The essays submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

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COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 19

Jack Zimmerman fishes with his grandfather in a small pond near Brenham, Texas using a cane pole.

20 APRIL 2022

FEATURE

Gone

S

ome of Jack Zimmerman’s earliest childhood memories are when he was only two or three years old. He would go to visit his mother’s family in Brenham, a small town in the heart of Texas. It was there on a few property ponds that Jack learned to fish. He remembers his grandfather teaching him how to bait a hook, put on a bobber, and cast a cane pole. Cane pole fishing is a traditional way to fish. There is no reel; there are no line guides; there are no leaders. It’s pure fishing. They would spend their days mainly catching bluegill as Jack soaked up everything he could about the sport. “At first I would get all tangled up, because it was just like a big bamboo stick,” he said. “Then I got my first rod, and I was pretty good at it from then on.” Jack’s mom, Jennifer, grew up fishing those ponds as well. “I loved fishing and being out on that pond more than dolls and barbies,” she said. “It was only natural that Jack learned to love it too.”

When they would come back to Arizona from vacation though, fishing was much harder to find for Jack. He’d try and convince his Dad to take him to the Surprise pond, and Jack would spend time on YouTube learning everything he could about the sport. But the ponds were few and far between in the Grand Canyon state, and he ended up frequenting the same spots over and over again.

While some of Jack’s family have fished before, none had the passion and drive Jack had. “When I was like 10, I was trying to find anywhere and everywhere to fish,” he exclaimed. “There was nothing there, so I was just kind of stuck.”

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 21

FEATURE At the age of 12 though, a family friend of his named Brody got his driver’s license. Brody liked to fish just as much as Jack, and the two boys were off and running.

They would head out to Lake Pleasant often or hit up ponds at golf courses. “As I got older, I just found a love for it more and more and tried to go for new species.

Then I came across bass, and it just shot off from there.”

By the age of 14 Jack was hooked. He researched tournaments online and this past year began competing in the Phoenix Junior Bass Masters as part of the Wild West Bass Youth Series. For those new to fishing, here’s how a fishing tournament works. For the youth series, you can either enter as a team of two or as a single, for which you draw a partner randomly on tournament day.

Jack enters as a single. Up to 48 boats then launch with two fishermen per boat. They open their live wells, say the National Anthem, and then spend the next four and a half to five hours fishing the lake. You get to keep five fish total. You tag your smallest, and when you catch one bigger than your smallest, you replace it. After the time is up, the team with the five biggest fish wins. In his first tournament Jack finished an incredible 11th out of 62. In his most recent tournament in January, he and his partner finished in first place, an astounding feat for a boy who just started taking his hobby to the next level.

What was Jack’s secret for winning his most recent tournament? Research. He prefished Bartlett Lake the weekend before to get a lay of the land, scout conditions, and figure out what was the best bait. “It’s not like, if you have the best gear you catch the most fish,” he said. “It’s all research. You have to know temperature, wind, and barometric pressure. You have to know their food chain at a certain time of year.”

To hear Jack talk about the strategy of fishing is incredible. For most, fishing is a small pastime or hobby that is more monotonous than it is exciting. But Jack will sit there and explain meteorological factors he learned in school and apply them to the science of catching a fish.

“If there is too much barometric pressure, then the bass are more on the bottom not wanting to eat,” he states.

“If the pressure is less then they are more active and higher in the water.” Depending on the wind speed, he throws different types of baits as well. Analyzing weather conditions plays a huge factor in his approach to the tournament.

If this all sounds serious, you’d be right. “At first it’s not that serious, but if you start winning then you can get college tuition and college scholarships,” he says with a smile. It’s not all that unusual for 8th graders to have 22 APRIL 2022

Jack Zimmerman holds a massive red drum, also known as a redfish, in Charleston, South Carolina while on vacation. Jack’s family visits South Carolina and Folly Beach every year where Jack fishes all day on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

dreams and plans for a career. Jack’s got it all mapped out though. He wants to attend Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, get his degree, and start up a charter fishing business. Once a month he will compete in the Major League Fishing circuit, where the top prizes can reach half a million dollars. “We knew a couple years ago that this would be the direction he was going in his future,” said his mother Jennifer Zimmerman. “He has other hobbies, but nothing like fishing. Fishing is his life.

He also loves Texas so it makes perfect sense [for him].”

While his ascension in the sport is incredible, it’s hard for Jack’s friends at his school, Marley Park Elementary, to grasp why he loves it so much. “When I talk about it, people are just like fishing is so easy and boring,” he said while rolling his eyes. “They think you just throw a bobber in. When you get past that, it’s just a whole new world. It’s just insane.”

“

When I go fish I won’t be hungry, I won’t be thirsty. I’m just like in my zone.

“

- Jack Zimmerman

Jack fixes his line while fishing off a pier at Folly Beach, South Carolina.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 23

FEATURE When asked to explain why the sport is different for him than others, Jack can’t quite put his finger on it.

“They don’t get what I’m saying. I’ve never gotten anyone to understand it.

It’s a mystery to me too. I don’t know how I don’t get bored. When I go fish I won’t be hungry, I won’t be thirsty. I’m just like in my zone.”

Even his family doesn’t quite fully understand. Every summer they spend a week at Folly Beach, South Carolina near Charleston. While the family and friends enjoy the beach and touristy things, Jack fishes on the pier...all day long. He spends 10-12 hours a day out there just fishing and visiting with the local pier fisherman.

“We try to get him to join us, but he would much rather be on that pier,” said his mother Jennifer. “We pop in to check on him throughout the day, bringing him food and drinks. We all wonder how he can sit out there sun up to sun down, but that’s Jack. It’s his happy place.”

“He’s always busy thinking about the next lake or pond he can fish at, the newest rod and reel to purchase, the latest lures and where the fish are biting,” his mother continued. “You never know what’s going to be on the end of that line when you’re out there on the water and that is what keeps Jack going back.”

While Jack may not be able to articulate why he doesn’t get bored and why fishing is so engaging for him, he does know one thing with a clear certainty. When asked about his favorite part of the sport, he sits up with excitement about the opportunity to share why he cherishes it so much.

“The thing I love the most is releasing the fish and watching it swim away,” he says with a grin from ear to ear.

“Whenever I catch a fish I have a video of me releasing it. It just brings joy to me.”

24 APRIL 2022

Jack Zimmerman stands on the pier at Folly Beach, South Carolina at dusk. When the pier was shut down for maintenance in 2020, Jack was featured by the local paper to illustrate its importance to the community, including the tourists.

Jack Zimmerman holds a large mouth bass while fishing in New Mexico

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 25

Jordan Mirafuentes commemorates with his flight instructor, David Boggs, after completing his first solo flight.

Story by Angel Wood, Shadow Ridge High School Journalism student

S

ome may be afraid of heights, but for Shadow Ridge High School Senior Jordan Mirafuentes, 4,500 feet above the grids of the earth provides him with the feeling of tranquility. While the engine roars and the radio quietly chatters, Mirafuentes sees what the land goers can not, miles and miles of clear blue sky and sunbaked scenery. Since his sophomore year, Mirafuentes has been a student pilot at Glendale Municipal Airport.

Now as a senior, Mirafuentes continues to navigate the path towards being a successful pilot, student, and son.

At an early age, Mirafuentes was introduced to the world of aviation by his father who retired from the military as a pilot. “My dad would always use pilot terms and vocabulary. I got interested in that, so he introduced me to the Air Force,” said Mirafuentes. Through this introduction, he met many pilots and got up and close with the aircraft he dreamed of flying in. “It was amazing, and it sparked what I wanted to do going forward,” said 26 APRIL 2022

Mirafuentes.

His dreams turned into a reality as he experienced his first flight with his father at age 10. “I got to sit in the co-pilot’s seat with my dad in the pilot-in-command seat,” said Mirafuentes. During that experience, he watched how his father performed in the air knowing that one day, he would be following in his father’s footsteps. “The hook for me was when my dad let me take control of the aircraft. It was out of this world and so fulfilling,” said Mirafuentes. He recalls this moment as “memorable” because it was his first time realizing that he wanted to be a pilot.

As a student pilot at Glendale Municipal Airport, Mirafuentes has been able to work one-on-one with a flight instructor who teaches him how to fly, how to get out of dangerous situations, and how to be safe. To become a pilot, the student must pass the written exam, complete a solo, and successfully fly in the check-out ride.

SPOTLIGHT Mirafuentes has completed the first two steps and hopes to complete his cross country flight next, which includes flying more than 50 miles. After this achievement, he plans to receive his license.

Through his three years of flight school, Mirafuentes has learned many things that will not only help him while in the air but also on the grounds of life, one being time management. “Being a pilot is an out of school thing and I have to make time for it, but I tell myself to keep pursuing it because it has been my life dream to become a pilot,” said Mirafuentes.

Other things he has learned - Jordan Mirafuentes require practice before perfect performance is made possible. “The hardest part of flying is talking on the radios. There’s a lot of terms that I am not familiar with, but over time, I will be able to pick it up,” said Mirafuentes.

With a whole world of aviation facts, precautions, vocabulary, and instructions, “there’s a lot of things I still have to learn. Flying is easy but talking is a little bit challenging,” said Mirafuentes. At the end of the day,

“

Mirafuentes has been able to soar past his challenges as he reflects on his goals and dreams. “What makes it all worth it is making my parents proud and continuing with my passion,” said Mirafuentes.

Shadow Ridge High School’s future pilot plans to attend the ROTC program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall. By doing so, he aims to get commissioned as an officer to receive a fighter pilot slot in the Air Force. “I’d really like to become a fighter pilot because my dad got the opportunity, but it was sadly taken away from him because of his eyesight. I’d like to take up the torch for him,” said Mirafuentes.

Soaring 4,500 feet in the air above, Mirafuentes flies without fear of the world beneath him. In the cockpit of his plane, he clears the clouds blocking his view.

“I use flying as a stress reliever because it helps me calm down, and it takes my mind off of things that I have to do,” said Mirafuentes. With miles and miles of clear blue sky and sun-baked scenery, “it’s just me, the airplane, and open sky.”

What makes it all worth it is making my parents proud and continuing with my passion

“

Jordan Mirafuentes celebrates with his mom, Trisha, and dad, Akoni, after getting accepted into Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Jordan Mirafuentes smiles from the cockpit before taking off on his first solo flight. He flew for two hours in the Glendale airspace.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 27

FEATURE

Storyteller A unique

Tracy Agnelli, a plant manager at Countryside Elementary School, poses with his self-published children’s book. Tracy wrote the book to help children learn the importance of reading.

28 APRIL 2022

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 29

FEATURE

A

plant manager at a school is responsible for maintaining the upkeep of the building, addressing cleaning and grounds needs, and a variety of other tasks that help provide an environment conducive to learning for students and staff. It can be a tough job, one that requires getting dirty and exerting more than a little elbow grease from time to time. For Tracy Agnelli, a Plant Manager at Countryside Elementary School, it’s been his livelihood for the past 12 years. As it turns out though, Tracy has a hobby that could not be farther from his day job. In his spare time he authors children’s books.

It might seem unusual for a plant manager to write stories for children, but when Agnelli tells his story about growing up, it makes all the sense in the world. Tracy, you see, was never a good reader in school. He was good at math and physical education, and struggled in everything else. “Everything to me centers around reading and comprehension, and I didn’t like to read, and didn’t learn to read,” he said. It wasn’t until senior year of high school that Tracy had a breakthrough. A teacher in his English class gave him an activity to help dissect and understand a book they were reading in class. It centered around helping Tracy and his fellow students visualize in their head the book’s story as they read it. When children learn to read, they often have pictures that go along with the words that help articulate the meaning and make connections. Once students get older, those pictures generally go away. When those pictures disappeared for Tracy, his interest level and enthusiasm for reading dwindled. But when his senior English teacher suddenly had him visualizing the story in his head and writing that down, it helped him turn a corner. “That was interesting to

An image from Tracy’s first book, “Daddy Loves You No Matter What...”

30 APRIL 2022

Artwork for Tracy’s second book, Nana’s Special Gift, which emphasizes a grandmother’s love for her grandchildren.

me, to actually visualize what I am reading,” he said with a smile.

After that, Tracy was determined to read more. He would find a book, read it over the course of four or five months, and then reward himself at the end. He’d treat himself to ice cream or a movie after each book was completed. Slowly but surely, reading became easier and more enjoyable for him. So much so that 20 years later with the encouragement of his family and principal, Agnelli even started college classes. He only took a few at a time, but after 10 years Tracy earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Communication from Arizona State University.

That story alone is remarkable in demonstrating one man’s journey toward literacy and success in life. But Tracy had more he wanted to accomplish. It wasn’t enough that he could now read well, he felt everyone should be able to achieve what he did. “What I wanted to do was help kids learn and enjoy reading,” he said. Tracy had been kicking around the idea of a children’s book for a little while, researching what it would take and how to go about publishing one. It wasn’t till he was out picking up trash on the field at Countryside one day that his first book began to develop. “I was thinking about my son who was dealing with his daughter at the time,” he said. “She was just being a kid, one minute she was great having a good time and the next minute she’s testing how much she can get away with.” It wasn’t phasing Tracy’s son though, who

had to teach the daughter a lesson about consequences.

“No matter if you are bad or whatever, Dad’s love is forever no matter what the child does,” Tracy said.

It was through that experience that Agnelli’s first book theme began to take shape. After writing it down and a few months of revisions, it was time to find an illustrator and publisher. The whole process was a learning experience, but one that allowed the book, “Daddy Loves You No Matter What…” to eventually reach the market, on Amazon no less. Tracy was ecstatic for the results and the ability to share his passion with a larger audience.

He received a huge response from his family, friends, the school, and especially the teachers. Tracy reads to classrooms on a regular basis and even bounced ideas off teachers for themes and words that are best for the children for his books. There was just one thing that wasn’t as positive about his first published book.

“I didn’t get my money back from the first one, but I thought, what am I doing it for?” he asked himself. “I kept telling myself not to do it to be selfish, you have to do it for the right reasons. I’m doing it for others, not for me.”

When he came to that realization, it was then he decided to author a second book, which came out in March on Amazon as well. Titled “Nana’s Special Gift,” the second story emphasizes a grandmother’s love for their grandchildren and the bond developed between the two of them. Tracy improved on the publishing process, found an illustrator that he could really collaborate with, and feels

like this second book is an even better representation of his goals to help students learn and love reading.

“I struggled in school,” he said. “I struggled because I didn’t want to read. I pushed back. I didn’t realize reading was good and how much it would help me.”

Now that Tracy has officially published two children’s books, the biggest lesson he learned from the experience was the importance of believing in yourself and what you are most passionate about.

“Being vulnerable is a big thing,” Tracy said. “I’ve never done that. I’ve always been scared. I’m trying to put myself out there. Take chances. The worst thing you can do is fail, and there is nothing wrong with that. If something is important to you, then that is all that matters - and reading is important to me.”

An image from Tracy’s first book, “Daddy Loves You Know Matter What...” Tracy self-published the book as a way to help children so they didn’t struggle with reading the way he did.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 31

SPOTLIGHT

THE PACK GIVES BACK J

ordan Nelson, a defensive end from Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ) football squeezed into the small cafeteria seat next to a group of students at Mountain View School in Waddell to introduce himself, help with lunch duty and visit with the students as part of a community service effort. Jordan, along with a dozen other athletes from Ottawa volunteered for the day as part of the Urban Maneuvers boot camp training and initiative.

Urban Maneuvers is a rigorous training, culture building, and service competition in which all Ottawa football players participate in. The boys begin practice early with an intensive workout at 5:30am.

A team leader motivates the group and keeps the athletes accountable. Points are given based on effort, timeliness, and initiative. Jordan serves as the team captain of the group, the Knuckleheads. This is the second group of Ottawa students that have given their time to the school. Earlier in the month the Breadwinners, led by Andy Simek, OUAZ offensive lineman, helped with lunch duty, played with students on the playground, and assisted students with selecting books at the book fair.

The Urban Maneuvers challenge started five years ago. As Ottawa University in Surprise was being built and athletic facilities were being completed, OUAZ football utilized practice fields, weight rooms, and venues throughout the city of Surprise. “We would be at Valley Vista using the gym, working out at the parking garage at City Hall, running drills at the basketball courts at the Surprise Community Park,” shared Ottawa Football Head Coach Mike Nesbitt.

“The challenge was created as a way to give back to the community that supported us and our athletes in those early years,” said Nesbitt. “It was also a way to introduce our school to the community in Surprise, increase fan support and the knowledge about the university as an overall academic option in the area.”

“I am happy to volunteer and help the kids out and do whatever I can to help the community,” shared Nelson.

32 APRIL 2022

The cafeteria at Mountain View was abuzz with excitement. The players got to know the students, cleaned the cafeteria, shared a bit about Ottawa University in Surprise, and what it is like to play college football as they visited with the students. “It is really cool that these guys came to visit us,” shared a third grade student at Mountain View. “I got a high-five from the team captain!”

“It is very important to have a variety of partnerships to support our school community. We appreciate the partnership we have with the Ottawa Football team,” said Gail Miller, Mountain View School Principal. “They have supported several school events like our Fall Festival and the Scholastic Book Fair. This team consists of outstanding citizens that volunteer not just in these events but also during the students’ lunch and recess time.

By providing these civic duties, they are remarkable role models for our young scholars.”

“The opportunity to give back to our community is one of the foundations of OUAZ Football,” Simek said. “The fact that our volunteer work led us to one of our great neighborhood schools, made this an even more fun opportunity.”

“The challenge is an opportunity for our athletes to get closer, get out of their comfort zone, build each other up, and hold one another accountable,” said Angel Ortiz, OUAZ offensive receiver coach. In addition to the school visits, the teams volunteered at the homeless shelters, food banks, did yard work for retired senior citizens, and gleaned orange orchards in locations across the West Valley. “My hope is that the athletes get to see the impact of what they are doing, the impact beyond the field,” said Nesbitt. “A lot of these guys come from other places and I hope we are instilling the spirit of service, whether it’s with OUAZ or in something that they do after they leave the school.” OUAZ Football begins Spring practice in March and the public is welcome to attend at the Spirit Field on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings at 5:15pm and Saturdays from 8:00am-11:00am.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 33

FEATURE

Student donors Tyanna Flowers and Emily Ames show their support at Dysart High School.

34 APRIL 2022

EFFORTS T

eenagers make up one out of every six blood donations in Arizona and those numbers are a direct result of high school blood drives. In fact, teens are Arizona’s largest blood donor group due in large part to the efforts of Vitalant and the High School Blood Drive Challenge.

Launched in 1984, the High School Blood Drive Challenge was created to recognize excellence among student blood drive organizers and to inspire Arizona’s youth to create a lifelong pattern of donating blood. Even with the impact of school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020, teens prevailed as Arizona’s largest blood donor group. Dysart Schools has been a part of the High School Blood Drive Challenge for more than two decades with participating schools including all four high schools Dysart, Shadow Ridge, Valley Vista, and Willow Canyon as well as Sundown Mountain Alternative Education Program. Schools compete against other schools with a similar number of seniors to earn achievement awards.

Last school year, in spite of school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, students organized 169 blood drives across Arizona providing patients with more than 15,000 lifesaving blood components.

“High school donors play a significant role in keeping our community’s blood supply safe,” shared Greg Wieking, Vitalant Senior Donor Recruitment Representative.

In the 2021-2022 school year, the four participating high schools and Sundown Mountain within the Dysart Unified School District, planned 17 blood drives and hosted nine at the time of this article. Those nine drives yielded 227 donations including 121 first-time donors.

“I donate as I know that this is a way to give back and help others,” said Anna Babler, Blood Drive Sponsor at Shadow Ridge. “My family all donates blood and volunteers within their communities; I was surrounded by this growing up and I think it’s a great message to give to the younger generations. We give to those who need it and we help out where we can. If we have the ability to help, I think we have the expectation to. I think we can all do with doing a little good nowadays.”

By emphasizing community service and focusing on lifesaving activities, the Challenge is unique among other high school programs. Students develop leadership skills as they coordinate blood drives at their school. A healthy dose of competition helps accomplish the life-transforming mission and makes the challenge fun. Each school forms a blood drive committee led by the staff sponsor. Students organize the drives, plan and recruit student, and staff donors leading up to the event.

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 35

FEATURE “We promote the blood drive in the weeks before through announcements and by talking to students in the classrooms,” said Mya Belton Blood Drive President, from Willow Canyon High School. “We organize the appointments for the day of the drive and come to school early to put any last-minute appointments on the schedule. Our committee checks in students and adult donors, oversees volunteers, and works with Vitalant and Willow Canyon staff to ensure a smooth flow in the day. Students are offered incentives like free ice cream, tickets to local events, and skipping a class period during the donation.”

The blood donation - Dawn Parmley process is simple, straightforward and only takes about an hour after completing the medical screening, actual donation, and post donation refreshments and snacks. An initial finger prick test is performed in order to check hemoglobin levels prior to the donation.

“I hope to make a difference with my donation,” said Brian Schermerhorn, Blood Drive Committee Member at Sundown Mountain. “I want to continue to give away blood to help and aid those who are less fortunate and end up in the hospital.”

Every two seconds someone in the United States receives a blood transfusion. The impact of each donation

“

is measured in moments, second chances and lives transformed. Teens play an integral role in ensuring lifesustaining blood is available whenever and wherever it’s needed. Hosting blood drives empowers students to experience the awe of directly impacting a life and helps them develop valuable leadership and project management skills that will serve them throughout their future.

“I decided to donate to help others in need and to support students at Sundown Mountain,” shared Tamika Jones, Counselor at Sundown Mountain Alternative Education Program. “As an educator I feel it is important to lead by example and show students different ways of giving back and helping others.

Oftentimes people think giving back takes a great deal of time and effort. But donating doesn’t take a great deal of time, and it’s an easy way to help save a life. Donating saved my life. 2016-2017 was the first year I donated blood. I was able to donate three out of four times that year.

When the fourth time for donating came, my hemoglobin was low, which is something that had never happened before. I decided to get to my doctor to get checked out.

At that time I found out I had cancer. I share that to say donating will not just save the lives of others, but it can save your life as well. I truly feel blessed to be able to donate and will encourage others to donate to help save lives.”

New this year, Vitalant provided a printed report of wellness results for donors including cholesterol reading, hemoglobin level, pulse, and blood pressure data at the time of donation.

For each of those 227 blood donations collected during the initial school drives, 681 lifesaving transfusions were provided for patients in hospitals across the Valley.

“I believe it is important to be part of the Blood Drive Challenge because it is a way to save lives,” said Dawn Parmley, Willow Canyon High School Blood Drive Sponsor.

“Some patients are in desperate need of blood and as healthy individuals, we can play a major role in saving or at least improving these lives. Additionally, blood drives are not just a way to earn volunteer hours, but a way for our

Some patients are in desperate need of blood and as healthy individuals, we can play a major role in saving or at least improving these lives.

36 APRIL 2022

“

Jessica Jacobo Naranjo prepares to donate blood at Dysart High School on September 10, 2021 with Macenzi Stoneburner, Vitalant staff member.

students to be involved in something positive that impacts our community. What a great feeling to donate time and blood for such a worthy cause!”

Vitalant and the Arizona Diamondbacks partner to offer three $1,000 scholarships to exceptional Arizona student blood drive committee members. Additionally, a 16 to 19 year-old donor will be one of the ten finalists to win a new car this summer. All teen donors who register online and give blood during the “Summer Drive to Save Lives” Campaign are eligible.

Vitalant is the nation’s second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant’s 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more.

There’s a national blood shortage due to the pandemic.

Ches Pottle, Dysart High School blood drive committee member gives a thumbs up after donating blood.

Upcoming blood drives in the Surprise and El Mirage areas are listed below and are subject to change. For more information or to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 (877-25-VITAL).

UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVES DATE

TIME

LOCATION

04/15/2022

07:30 am - 12:00 pm

Valley Vista High School

04/15/2022

09:00 am - 1:00 pm

Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center

04/16/2022

08:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sun City Grand, Cimarron Center

04/29/2022

08:00 am - 12:00 pm

Dysart High School

05/04/2022

07:30 am - 11:30 am

Willow Canyon High School

05/04/2022

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sundown Mountain Alternative

05/09/2022

09:00 am - 1:00 pm

Briarwood Country Club

05/13/2022

07:30 am - 6:30 pm

West-MEC Northwest Campus

05/14/2022

07:00 am - 11:00 am

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Verde Vista Building

05/14/2022

01:00 pm - 6:00 pm

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Community

05/15/2022

08:00 am - 1:00 pm

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Community

05/19/2022

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sands Chevrolet Surprise

05/21/2022

07:00 am - 11:00 am

City of El Mirage Building Cultural Hall

05/26/2022

09:00 am - 1:00 pm

City of Surprise City Hall

05/28/2022

09:00 am - 1:00 pm

Kohl's Surprise

COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 37

PTA

PARENT PERSPECTIVE

Why I Joined the

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION

By Kira Provo, Mountain View School PTA President

S

ome of my greatest childhood memories from school are centered around the fun events and experiences I was able to participate in growing up. When my children started school, I really wanted them to have the same opportunities and even better experiences.

When we started in the district in 2010, my youngest at the time was entering kindergarten. I didn’t have any more kids at home and wanted to find a way to become involved at school so I could not only keep busy, but also see my kids during the day on occasion. I met a few mom friends and was convinced to join the PTA. I started as Secretary and quickly began to learn about all the things the schools - Kira Provo rely on the PTA for. I had no idea how many things the PTA provided, planned, and organized. Most of those core childhood memories were most definitely provided by a PTA. This eye-opening discovery started my passion for advocacy in schools. I ended up taking a break from PTA for a few years after I had another baby but joined again when my newest child started school in 2017. I immediately jumped back in with the PTA and became

“

even more involved, now as President.

I got really lucky with my team, we are like a big group of friends that love to spend time together and we always look forward to meetings, especially when we decide to meet over a great dinner. We have so much fun planning events and volunteering at school together.

We brainstorm in a group chat nearly every day, and we’re always looking for the next, great idea.

Sometimes we get in over our heads and over plan, but even when we go home exhausted after a long day and occasionally regret our ambitious attempts at having the best festivals in the West Valley, we still feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment just knowing that the students are going to remember these things, some even for a lifetime. Our teachers are stretched so thin and must provide so much out their own pockets and of their personal time. We find it so important to make sure they feel a sense of community, feel heard, and appreciated.

Administration does as much as they can for our teachers but unfortunately there just isn’t enough money in the budgets because state funding in Arizona is incredibly

Creating a place where everyone can have the most valuable and memorable experiences will always be our goal.

“

38 APRIL 2022

low. That’s where we come in! The PTA is there to brainstorm new and exciting ideas to bring money into the classrooms and into the school where needed. We’ve funded Chromebooks for students, touchless water fill stations, library resources and so much more. We sometimes hold donation drives for things teachers need, and we do several different fundraisers year-round to fill in the gaps. A few times a year we ask parents to drop off coffee and supplies so that we can stock their coffee bar in the teacher’s lounge, little things like that make a big difference.

It can be hard to make friends as a mom, joining the

PTA started so many friendships for me. Because we believe in inclusion and welcoming everyone, we have made our motto “you CAN sit with us” in reference to the movie, “Mean Girls”. The idea is to avoid the feeling of a clique and welcome the idea of a community and friendship. Being able to be part of the decision-making process for the book fairs, fun runs, festivals, and movie nights is so rewarding, and I know my own children appreciate seeing us put it all together for them and the community. Creating a place where everyone can have the most valuable and memorable experiences will always be our goal.

Choose College Choose Smart Choose Glendale Glendale Community College is the smart and affordable way to continue your academic journey.

We offer flexible class schedules and hundreds of course options taught by world-class faculty in a supportive, diverse and inclusive community setting.

Choose to make it happen at Glendale Enroll - enroll-gcc.com Learn more - gccaz.edu

The Maricopa Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit: www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

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COMMUNITY CONNECT MAGAZINE 39

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[community capture] Artwork by Eliseo Miguel, Valley Vista High School