7 minute read
Education
SCHOOL NOTES: News from Deer Valley Unified School District
Information and Photos Courtesy of DVUSD
Get out your pencil and paper and take note of some of the latest news items from the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD).
100-YARD FREESTYLE GIRLS STATE CHAMPION
For the second year in a row, Sandra Day O’Connor (SDOHS) sophomore Caelle Armijo won the Division I, 100-Yard Freestyle State Championship. Last year, Caelle was the first freshman in a decade to win a Division I state championship title in swimming, and this year she didn’t disappoint, earning the State Championship title in the 100-Yard Freestyle event with a time of 50.64 seconds. Caelle also tied for third place in the 50-yard Freestyle. She recently competed at the national level in the Junior National competition in Austin, Texas in the 50-, 100-, and 200-Yard Freestyle events. Caelle started swimming when she was 11. Her swim coach and team at SDOHS look forward to seeing her compete for them in the years to come.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 6A STATE RUNNERS-UP
The Sandra Day O’Connor High School Girls Volleyball team’s championship game found them in a rematch of their season-opening five-set thriller back in August against Hamilton. SDOHS won that night — each of the four sets went at least 45 points. The rematch at the championship game, however, went the other way and SDOHS had to settle for State Runner-Up. The team went undefeated in the regular season. They were very balanced this season in terms of strength in all positions, according to SDOHS. “Throughout their season, the team earned a reputation for spirited comebacks. In the state semifinals against Tempe’s Corona del Sol, they fought back from losing the first two sets to keep their season alive,” according to SDOHS. “Next season will bring younger players into new roles and new faces on the team. It was a great first season for a new coaching staff, and they are excited with what they accomplished.”
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR FALL 2022 NOW OPEN!
Registration is now open for the 2022-2023 school year for incoming kindergarteners at all DVUSD schools. See upcoming registration and informational events at dvusd.org/kinderevents.
DVUSD’s Elementary #32 has a New Name, Mascot and School Colors
The Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) Governing Board has approved the name “Inspiration Mountain School” with the mascot of a Knight and colors of Royal Blue and Black for the Elementary #32 school currently under construction at 5757 Inspiration Mountain Parkway near 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road.
This recommendation comes following an initial survey that was open to the DVUSD community from December 15, 2021 to January 5, 2022 to collect ideas for its name, mascot, and colors. All suggestions from this survey were carefully reviewed during a school naming community meeting, which was attended by future Inspiration Mountain School students, families, community members, and potential staff members. The group gave input on the suggestions and narrowed the list of ideas.
The community then had the opportunity to select their favorite options in a final voting survey. DVUSD received more than 800 votes from future students, families, staff, and community members. The DVUSD Governing Board approved the name, mascot, and colors at a recent meeting.
Dr. JoAnn Schwarting was named as the principal for Inspiration Mountain School. After serving four years in the United States Navy, Dr. Schwarting earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University (ASU), a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Innovation from ASU. The current DVUSD Principal of the Year, Dr. Schwarting has served the Deer Valley Unified School District since 2005. She taught seventh grade English language arts at Desert Mountain School for seven years. She then transferred to Desert Sky Middle School where she assumed the roles of instructional coach and assistant principal. Most recently, Dr. Schwarting spent the last six years leading Desert Mountain School as principal.
Though it is bittersweet leaving her current school, Dr. Schwarting is up for the challenge and eager for the opportunity. “I am absolutely thrilled to be given the honor of serving this beautiful community. My goal is to nurture a school environment that is caring and connected,” she says. “I believe partnerships are necessary when educating our students, so I’m looking forward to developing strong family and community ties.”
Late last year, the DVUSD Governing Board approved school boundaries for the new school. Several boundary options were developed after two community input meetings and three Governing Board meetings. View the approved boundary maps and see additional information at dvusd.org/ boundary32.
The new school opens in August 2022 and will initially serve K-6 students with the infrastructure in place for future expansion to a K-8 campus. Learn more about the new school, and sign up for future updates via e-mail, at dvusd.org/ InspirationMountain.
Youth
Making a House a Home: Local High School Students Give Back
Students from West-MEC’s General Construction Technology program in Deer Valley are helping to renovate a veteran’s widow’s home in Glendale as part of their work-based learning and community service.
LaGean Levar is the wife of Thomas Phillip Levar, a Navy veteran who passed away nearly a year ago. Levar’s house was in disrepair and needed immediate attention. The city of Glendale contacted Glendale police officer Sgt. Jeff Turney due to his previous service to veterans to brainstorm ways to help. “The house was going to be condemned due to its condition and I contacted Angels on Patrol and Operation Enduring Gratitude. They stepped in to help Ms. Levar and renovate the house,” Sgt. Turney says.
Operation Enduring Gratitude, a nonprofit started by West-MEC’s General Construction Technology instructor and veteran Charlie Ellis, serves veterans and families in need. The nonprofit undertook renovations to make Levar’s house a home again. To help, students from West-MEC’s construction class went to the site and put the skills they learned in their program to good use. They filled in cracks, replaced windows, performed repairs on cracked masonry joints, and more. Avanti Windows and AZ Masonry Council guided students in the process.
Ximena Navarro, a student of the program, says, “It feels great to use the skills that I’ve learned in class while also giving back to the community.”
“The class is here to make a tangible difference while seeing real-life application of techniques learned in the lab,” Ellis says. “They will be coming back a few more times to help in the restoration process.”
“I’d like to thank the students, Operation Enduring Gratitude, and others who have helped in the restoration process,” Levar says.
The full restoration is anticipated to be completed this spring.
A Certification Course is Required to Apply
Want to work a great summer job and meet awesome, dedicated people while making money? The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is actively seeking to hire hundreds of lifeguards ahead of the 2022 pool season. Currently, Phoenix needs to hire more than 400 lifeguards to safely open the city’s 29 public pools for this summer.
“If we cannot hire the number of lifeguards we need, we cannot open all 29 pools and that means less people will have access to a pool where they can cool off and less children will learn to swim,” says Phoenix Aquatics Director Becky Hulett. “Being a lifeguard is the best summer job. You’re taught valuable life skills and meet friends that will last a lifetime.”
According to the City of Phoenix, some benefits of being a lifeguard include:
• $14.02 an hour. • Learn lifesaving skills. • Work in your neighborhood. • Keep your community safe and be a role model for kids. • It looks great on a college application or resume, demonstrates teamwork, responsibility and leadership skills. • Meet other dedicated people. • Flexible summer shifts that are ideal for students.
StarGuard Training for lifeguard certification is required to become a lifeguard with the city of Phoenix. Lifeguards must complete the necessary training during the scheduled certification courses this month. Certification classes are available through March 28. Applicants must be at least 15-years-old and certification courses are $20 each. To learn more, visit phoenix.gov/parks.
