Education

Free FASFA Help Available for Local High School Students and Their Families

Applying for financial aid for college or any type of postsecondary education can be a challenge. Luckily for local students and their families, there’s 24/7 help available through an innovative chatbot program called Ask Benji.

Ask Benji is a first-of-its kind chatbot specifically designed to help students, parents/caregivers, and educators get quick answers to a wide variety of questions about the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for post-secondary funding opportunities at universities, colleges, and trade schools. Ask Benji is free and easy to use. Questions are confidential and Benji responds 24/7 within 60 seconds.

“On behalf of the partners, we are thrilled to be able to expand Ask Benji statewide,” says Richard Daniel, executive vice president and chief operating officer for College Success Arizona, Expect More Arizona and Achieve60AZ. “The expansion of Ask Benji comes at an important time when we’ve seen drops in FAFSA completion and college enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ask Benji was launched in October 2019 as a partnership of ASU, College Success Arizona, Achieve60AZ, the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education, the Arizona College Access Network (AzCAN), Helios Education Foundation, Mesa Public Schools, Maricopa Community Colleges and Be a Leader Foundation. In 2021, it was expanded to serve students state-wide thanks to a $1.5 million grant. Visit askbenji.org for more information about Benji, the FAFSA, and other resources. Text “Help” to Benji anytime at 602-7868171 to get started. Opt out at any time by texting “Stop.”

CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION @PVCC

Fall Registration Now Open

At Paradise Valley Community College, we provide a variety of learning options, affordable tuition, and faculty and staff who care about your success. What’s more, we are close to home and provide easy access to our campus in north Phoenix.

Online and in-person options are available. Register Today!

18401 N. 32nd Street Phoenix, Arizona 85032 paradisevalley.edu/chat paradisevalley.edu

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District.

The Maricopa County 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 http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

Education

SCHOOL NOTES: News from PVSchools

Get out your pencil and paper and take note of some of the latest news items from Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVSchools).

SHADOW MOUNTAIN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR NAMED AIAAA 4A CONFERENCE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Ron Safcik, former athletic director at Shadow Mountain High School, has been named the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA) 4A Conference Athletic Director of the Year. The AIAAA gives this award to only one athletic director in each conference. “Being an athletic director has given me the opportunity to develop relationships with the Shadow Mountain community and other athletic administrators around the state,” says Safcik. The award came at a perfect time as Safcik just retired at the end of the school year after 25 years of service at PVSchools, 13 of which were as an athletic director.

SUNRISE MIDDLE DLC STUDENTS ADVANCE TO NATIONAL HISTORY DAY COMPETITION

Sunrise Middle School’s Digital Learning Center (DLC) students have done it again. Three students (Ira Parsons, Audrey Haralson and Isabelle Ross) took first place at the Arizona National History Day competition and advanced to the National History Day competition in mid-June. “I am so proud of my students and the hard work and dedication all of these students exhibited in creating and presenting their projects and in their own learning and passion for continued growth,” says Rebekah West Keur, social studies teacher.

HORIZON HIGH SCHOOL WINS WINTER GUARD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Horizon High School is adding another state championship to the list of accomplishments for the 2021-22 school year! At the Winter Guard Arizona State Championships, Horizon High School had two separate groups win their state championships. The Horizon Indoor Percussion Ensemble (HIPE) and Winter Guard teams both took home the prestigious state championship titles. “Both of our groups worked extremely hard over the season, and you can see that with their performances. Their determination to grow at every rehearsal was evident every day, and their passion for music is inspiring. I also cannot thank our assistant directors enough for helping create a great environment for all of our students,” says Kyle Hollerbach, band teacher.

SUNRISE MIDDLE DLC STUDENTS

Choose your Journey ofEXCELLENCE

It’s not just open enrollment. It’s open up their full potential enrollment!

 Preschool to 12th grade Gifted services  K-12 International Baccalaureate  District-wide STEM programs  Career & Technical Education  Award-winning Fine Arts programs  Suzuki Strings, violin program  Spanish & Mandarin Immersion

Enroll Today!

›› www.PVSchools.net/enroll 602.449.2000

Follow/Like “PVSchools”

Education

Congratulations to the Cactus Shadows HS Class of 2022!

By Cort Monroe, Ed.D., CCUSD Superintendent Photo Courtesy of CCUSD

Please join me in congratulating the Cactus Shadows High School Graduating Class of 2022!

HERE IS OUR FALCON CLASS OF 2022 BY THE NUMBERS:

• 473 students graduated. • 67 students were in our Cactus

Shadow eLearning Program and two were early graduates. • 198 students have been with us since kindergarten. • Their combined GPA is a 3.359 on a weighted scale and the highest is a 4.850. • Congratulations to Sophia Barnedo and Bryden Kaminsky on being named

Co-Valedictorians. They each had a weighted GPA of 4.850. Ryan Toughill was named Salutatorian and was also named a National Merit Finalist. • One senior had perfect attendance for the 21-22 school year. • 51 seniors participated in the

Superintendent’s Challenge, accruing 9,052 hours of community service in four years. Twenty-seven seniors completed the challenge. Senior

Elizabeth Hord had the most hours over her four years for a total of 658 hours. • 250 students are going to college/ university and three to the military to serve our country. • Two seniors received the Global Seal of Bi-literacy; nine seniors received the CCUSD Seal of Bi-literacy; and 34 received the Arizona State Seal of Biliteracy. • The Class of 2022 has been awarded over $16 million in scholarships to date. • Eleven of our senior student athletes have signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level. And the Class of 2022 is very ready for college, already graduating with college credits: • 22 seniors achieved the Advanced

Placement Capstone Diploma. • 13 seniors were in the International

Baccalaureate program. • 12 seniors were in Paradise Valley

Community College’s Early College

Program. • Over four years, 254 students took Paradise Valley Community College Dual Enrollment courses.

• 27 attended EVIT, the East Valley

Institute of Technology. • Students took 240 Advanced Placement courses in four years. • 315 students took Career and Technical

Education courses.

Best of luck and the warmest congratulations Cactus Shadows’ Class of 2022!

CCUSD Preschool

Register your child today!

Preschool classrooms conveniently located on all our elementary school campuses Starting at $338 per month Call 480-575-2440 or Use Our QR code

Education

Ascend Academy of Arizona Offers Quality Programming to Adults with Disabilities

Photos Courtesy of Ascend Academy of Arizona

Ascend Academy of Arizona opened in December 2020 because CEO Jodi Dougan saw the need for a safe place for adults with disabilities to go during the day that is inclusive and supportive. “Arizona really needed a program that supported individuals with the same functioning level to go to continue their learning and give them meaning and purpose,” Dougan says.

“Ascend Academy is a boutique program catering to higher functioning non-violent adults with special needs,” she continues. “Our goal is to provide a loving and healthy environment that generates feelings of inclusiveness, accomplishment, and self-worth. Our services are provided in a fun, loving and nurturing way using all available modern innovations to prepare members [program participants] to not only thrive in the environment around them, but to enjoy all their community has to offer.”

The day program provides transportation to and from the program where participants partake in a variety of experiences including outings, volunteer opportunities, science, arts and crafts, exercise programs, life skills, gardening, games, teaching, team leadership, and socializations.

“Our goal is building friendships and becoming part of an extended family,” Dougan says.

With an extensive background in patient care, nursing, and nonprofits, Dougan leads the charge at Ascend Academy alongside her experienced staff. It’s a family-owned organization and supports a one to four caregiver/teacher to client/ member ratio.

“Ascend Academy aspires to become an example of how services can be delivered to members in a fun and individualized way that promotes access to the community in terms of leisure and vocational opportunities,” she says.

Local resident Ben is the father of Alex, age 34, who has Down’s syndrome and attends Ascend Academy. “In my opinion, the two main skills levels that Ascend Academy has drastically improved with Alex would be cognitive and her socialization skills. Ascend staff works with Alex on her learning skills daily to a point now where Alex can write in a daily journal on her events at Ascend. Before Ascend, her skill level was limited to writing her name. The socialization includes weekly community events. To see Alex’s eyes light up when she shows me pictures of her weekly travels is awesome.”

Nancy’s daughter Tressa is also a member at Ascend Academy. “Tressa is highly functional, a go getter and a modern-day socialite,” Nancy explains. “However, I have spent years fighting with the system and encouraging higher expectations from the programs Tressa has been involved in throughout her life. This is the first program that sees and expects Tressa to grow to her fullest potential, knowing she can accomplish anything. It may take a little longer and navigate through a different avenue, but she can and will. This attitude and vision are what excite me about Ascend Academy. Tressa has grown exponentially in social skills, organization, seeing a bigger picture, staying focused, getting excited over her creativity, and is a better communicator.” Dougan shares that she has some big plans for the future of Ascend Academy and is excited for future growth. She notes that parents or guardians who are interested in Ascend Academy’s programming can reach out for more info. All programming is geared toward the individual member and their family’s needs.

“I believe that every person should enjoy a life with purpose and members should be enabled to reach their maximum potential,” Dougan says.

Ascend Academy of Arizona is located at 4150 W. Peoria Avenue, Suite 125, in Phoenix. Transportation is offered to and from programming for members. To learn more, visit ascend-academy.com or call 602-688-9862.

This content is sponsored by Ascend Academy of Arizona.

Contact us today to JOIN THE FUN! 602-688-9862

www.ascend-academy.com

SERVING ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN ARIZONA!

THE ASCEND ACADEMY DIFFERENCE:

We are a boutique program catering to higher functioning non-violent adults with special needs. We have a FULL daily schedule that consists of many outings, volunteer opportunities, science, arts and crafts, exercise programs, life skills, gardening, games, teaching, team leadership and socializations. Our goal is building friendships and becoming part of an extended family.

OUR DAY PROGRAM & SERVICES

• Arts & Crafts • Life Skills

Coaching • Music /

Singing • Acting / Plays /

Theatre • Job Training • Cooking • Social Skills

Coaching • Exercise • Story Time • Meditation • Sensory

Support • Writing • Field Trips • Family Events • Golf &

Physical

Education

Programs • Transportation • Quiet Room • Community

Service • Gardening