11 minute read
Education
CITY OF SCOTTSDALE RECEIVES GRANTS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY By Molly Cerreta Smith City accepted on consent the grant departments and school stakeholders by a department of transportation, monies to fund the program. The — such as administrators, teachers, metropolitan planning organization,
Late last year, the City of grants are awarded through the PTOs/PTAs as well as students — to local government, school district, or Scottsdale received federal Maricopa Association of Government plan and assist with safety-related even a school. Extensive resources grant dollars to continue (MAG) for the Safe Routes to events and activities. are available through a national and increase safety programs on School program. Scottsdale Mayor center, including an SRTS Guide, Scottsdale elementary and middle Jim Lane serves as a member of the The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) parent surveys and student tallies, school campuses. The grant will be MAG’s Regional Council, along program is a national initiative by and simple strategies, such as the utilized for the city’s Safe Routes to with multiple other valley mayors. the United States Department of walking school bus, that schools School program. The Safe Routes The grant amounts will total $47,148 Transportation. According to the can use to support bicycling and to School program requires $99,997 in fiscal year 2020-21, and $47,149 site, the program is “an approach walking.” in funds to maintain an existing in fiscal year 2021-22. The City that promotes walking and bicycling part-time, temporary Safe Routes to is required to provide a $2,850 to school through infrastructure In addition, the National Center for School coordinator position in the match each year, which is funded improvements, enforcement, tools, Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) transportation department as well as by the operating .2% Scottsdale safety education, and incentives to provides a large amount of resources the incentive items for students. The transportation sales tax. encourage walking and bicycling to and tools to help support the Scottsdale City Council received school.” implementation of SRTS programs two, one-year Transportation A City staff report revealed the City and contact information for each Alternative Program federal grants established this program with the The site also revealed that state’s SRTS coordinator. Another totaling $94,297 — with a total acceptance of earlier transportation nationwide, between 10 and 14 organization, the Safe Routes to requirement of $5,700. alternative program grants and percent of car trips during the School National Partnership, aims the authorization of a part-time morning rush hour are dedicated to to set goals, share best practices, During a City Council meeting on temporary program coordinator school travel. The site reads: “SRTS leverage infrastructure and program December 4, 2019, at the municipal position to run the program in April initiatives improve safety and levels funding, and advance policy change headquarters at City Hall located 2018. The coordinator position will of physical activity for students. to help agencies that implement Safe at 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., the require working with other city SRTS programs can be implemented Routes to School programs.
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PVSCHOOLS OFFERS AN ARRAY OF PRESCHOOL OPTIONS
There are many preschool options are taught by teachers who are Early grams for three and four-year-olds. garten. All students must be screened available to parents throughout Childhood Certified and hold a Gifted The Mini Scholars Preschool and prior to placement in the program, and the Valley. At PVSchools, Endorsement. Little Scholars Pre-Kindergarten use screening appointments are available we offer a variety of early learning the Core Knowledge® curriculum year-round. SUN Kids Preschool proprograms that will fit your child’s MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL that has been adopted by many of our vides experiences to enhance learning learning style and needs. Our youngest Our Montessori Preschool program is elementary schools. The Core Knowl- in all developmental areas with an learners receive the foundation and offered at three locations - Desert Shad- edge sequence guides academic suc- emphasis on meeting each student’s building blocks needed to prepare them ow Elementary with Suzuki Strings cess through hands-on and engaging individual needs. This language-based for success in elementary school. (violin) enrichment, Mercury Mine activities that prepare students for program provides a foundation for Elementary, and Whispering Wind academic success. The program is support of future literacy skills. These GIFTED PRESCHOOL Academy with Mandarin enrichment. offered at the following elementary foundations teach preschoolers the PVSchools is one of the few public- Our Montessori Preschool programs schools - Boulder Creek, Copper “ready to learn” skills necessary to school districts in the nation to of- are based on the principles of Dr. Maria Canyon, Desert Springs Preparatory, acquire future academic concepts. fer Gifted Preschool programs. This Montessori. Three and four-year-olds Desert Trails, Fireside, Grayhawk, program is offered at four locations will flourish in this multi-age classroom Pinnacle Peak Preparatory, Sandpiper Our preschool and pre-kindergarten - Desert Trails Elementary, Desert environment designed to promote criti- (with Spanish Immersion), and Wild- programs are open to students across Cove Elementary, Fireside Elementary, cal thinking, discovery, creative inven- fire. Both the Mini Scholars and the the Valley, not just to students residing and North Ranch Elementary. Our tion, and thoughtful analysis. Classes Little Scholars classes are taught by within our district boundaries. established Gifted Preschool programs are taught by experienced Montessori- certified teachers. ensure that advanced learners can ex- certified teachers. Learn more about our preschool perience a challenging curriculum and SPECIAL EDUCATION programs at the Preschool Universe innovative instruction. The program MINI SCHOLARS PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL Parent Information Open House on provides accelerated learning oppor- AND LITTLE SCHOLARS SUN Kids Preschool provides special January 21 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Fireside tunities, embeds critical and creative PRE-KINDERGARTEN education services for three to five- Elementary, 3725 E. Lone Cactus Dr. thinking processes and integrates tech- PVSchools offers both traditional year-olds with special/unique needs Phoenix 85050 or visit www.pvschools. nology into daily instruction. Classes preschool and pre-kindergarten pro- who are not yet eligible for kinder- net/prek.
For every child at every grade, PVSchools will help unwrap your child’s gifts.
• Award-winning Fine Arts programs • Language Immersion (Spanish and Mandarin) • Preschool to 12th grade gifted services • District-wide STEM/STEAM programs • K-12 International Baccalaureate programmes • Suzuki Strings, a violin program • Career and Technical Education programs
PVSchools
COVER STORY
Arizona FINE ART EXPO RETURNS TO SCOTTSDALE
Come January 10, a dedicated parcel of desert in North Scottsdale will become a temporary arts community for the following 10 weeks as the Arizona Fine Art Expo returns to the valley. Renowned artists from across the globe will set up their studios and create original pieces of fine art in what has come to be known as Arizona's premier venue for collecting fine art.
Celebrating its 15th year, the Arizona Fine Art Expo combines the aspects of a juried fine art festival, the elements of a gallery and the inner-workings of an artist’s studio. Today, the event reaches artists around the globe and provides an outlet for the community to appreciate art and to help educate children about fine art as well. During the Expo, guests have the opportunity to meet the artists, watch them in action and learn about their inspiration, techniques and spirit, as well as stroll throughout an enhanced two-acre sculpture garden, which will feature stone, metal, glass and mixed media sculptures.
When asked how the Expo originally came to be,
By Molly Cerreta Smith
Judi Combs, founding partner of the Arizona Fine Art Expo, shares, “Actually, Jess Davila (stone sculptor) talked to me about doing a 10-week show for over a decade. It took ten years to make sure I had someone who I could depend on, and it was my brother, Denny Long and his wife, Judy. I approached them and we all chose Scottsdale for the venue as it is well known in the art world.”
The event features 124 patron-friendly artist studios within a 44,000 square-foot space, where guests have a rare chance to meet the artists, see them in action, and learn about their passion, inspiration and techniques. While the fine art show features several local artists, some artists will travel from Israel, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Holland, China, Canada, France and throughout the United States to participate in the show. Part of what makes the Expo so unique is the friendships and community that develops during the course of each show. “The camaraderie among the artists is very special. The local patrons in Scottsdale and surrounding areas love our show and return every year to support them,” says Combs. Artist Beth Hyatt, who has lived in Arizona since 2002, has been participating in the Expo for more than a decade and loves the family element that is created during each season. “For ten weeks, I’m surrounded by fantastic artists who are like my extended family. Not only do we have fun together, we learn from each other,” she says of the Expo experience. “I’m also grateful for their support. Sometimes, if I’m getting too close to my work, I can ask for and receive honest feedback and helpful suggestions.”
Hyatt is best known for her portraits of people and animals, which focus on faces, but her new abstract work focuses on the female body and motion. “With my facial paintings, I was capturing emotions through the eyes, but now I’m having fun discovering how I can capture emotion through body movement,” she says. “With my faces, I would often include subtle colors that in some ways would appear invisible, and with my fashion series, the figures are not outlined – I create patterns that trick the brain into thinking there is an outline of
CRAIG BERGSGAARD
COVER STORY
CHARLES HUCKEBA
BETH HYATT
the figure.” Hyatt will be showcasing her fashion paintings during this year’s Expo.
Prescott resident Charles Huckeba is a contemporary painter who will be showcasing three distinct styles of paintings this year: one that focuses on rock art, another that is abstract, and a third style featuring his Chroma Textures of southwestern animals. A participant in the Expo since the very beginning, Huckeba says, “The Arizona Fine Art Expo provides a platform of exposure like no other… it’s an art destination that gives us a unique opportunity to connect face to face with collectors. We’re not just there to show and sell our work…we’re there to get to know the patrons. It’s a reciprocal relationship. I also enjoy the sense of community and camaraderie among the artists. We sometimes experience ups and downs during the 10 weeks of the show, and everyone is always very supportive.”
This year, Huckeba is set to exhibit a new series of his hand-painted containers featuring the colors of nature…deep burgundies, deep blues and greens with a plant flora theme. He is also drawing inspiration from the Hopi culture, but taking artistic and archaeological license inserting his own style into his paintings of petroglyphs and pottery shards. His will also exhibit his popular “Chroma Texture” assemblage paintings of wildlife and flora on small and medium-sized canvases. William Daggett, a wood sculptor residing in Paradise Valley, will be showcasing his art for the fourth time at this year’s Expo. “I couldn’t be more excited! The Combs and Longs [show founders/organizer] are experts at setting us up for success and having it all run smoothly for all of the 100+ artists and patrons that are at the show. The 10-week show gives the patrons multiple opportunities to revisit the Expo through special events to see their favorite artists. Wonderful friendships are developed and shared through art.”
Daggett creates sculptures from ancient Juniper. Of his artistic process, he says, “Using multi hand and machine tools, I let the wood tell me what it wants to be. It is a collaboration of what I see and the spirit of what Mother Nature has already given me to work with, bringing it back to life.” For the upcoming Expo, Daggett will be featuring Juniper sculptures including hummingbirds, swallows, eagles, fire, elephants, horses, ocean waves, and abstracts as well as patina and colored bronzes of four of the most popular sculptures including hummingbird, swallows, eagle, and horse.
Throughout the 10 weeks, artisans will sketch passionately in radiograph, pencil, charcoal and pastels; sculpt and fire clay; chisel, carve and shape stone; and saw and carve wood sculptures and fine furniture. Artists also will paint in all media; stain and etch gourds; design lost wax casting; solder and weld jewelry; and assemble mosaics. Art is for sale and commissions are welcomed.
The Expo begins Friday, January 10 and runs through Sunday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily under the “festive white tents” at 26540
N. Scottsdale Rd., on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads, next to MacDonald’s Ranch. Season passes cost $10; season passes for seniors and military are $8; and children under 12 are free. Parking is free. For more details about participating artists or events during the show, call (480) 837-7163 or visit www.ArizonaFineArtEXPO.com.
