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JULY 18, 2018

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Kyrene’s vision: Help students be all they can be BY DR. JAN VESELY Kyrene Superintendent

he beginning of a new school year, like the dawning of a new day, reminds us that the future in Kyrene School District holds infinite possibilities. This time of year is an especially rewarding one because it brings us together to share stories of time spent with family and friends over summer adventures and to launch a new year, filled with hope, vision, and excitement. This year will continue to be shaped by our reform efforts as outlined in our Strategic Plan 2022, which defines priority work in the following goal areas:

• High-performing students • High-quality talent • Inclusive culture • Responsive organization • Collective governance There is never a shortcut to strategic planning and implementation when working to scale up innovative educational practices. It takes years of sustained commitment. In the Kyrene School District, we are continuing our journey into this continuously evolving, deeprooted work that requires a crystal-clear focus on our vision: ensuring all students achieve at their maximum potential to become problem solvers, creators and visionaries of tomorrow. Rather than chase trends, we will maintain an unrelenting commitment to

improving our core focus on the delivery of effective and rigorous instruction to maximize student learning and achievement. Our most important stakeholders will always be our students, and years of research have proved that nothing schools can do for their students matters more than giving them effective teachers. A strong teacher can make an impact that lasts a lifetime, putting even the most disadvantaged students on the path to college and career success. This year, we will continue to reach out to community partners for engagement and guidance and make sure that we deploy resources where they have the greatest impact on achieving our desired results. Our work is about large-scale

implementation within an existing system of schools. We are clear about the learning expectations for students and want to make sure that every student reaches those standards. We rely on our teachers and administrators to create rich learning experiences using the very same skills we are developing in our students: creativity and innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, systems thinking, and ﬂexibility, among others. Our pillars for student success focus on academic excellence, responsive instruction and student agency. Our accomplishments have been monumental and we will continue See

KYRENE on page 5

New Tempe Union head explains district’s values, beliefs BY DR. KEVIN MENDIVIL Tempe Union Superintendent

s a proud native Phoenician and graduate of Arizona State University, I have spent the majority of my adult life experiencing the growth and prosperity of the East Valley. It is why I chose to begin my teaching career 32 years ago in the East Valley and have never looked back. As an educator and member of the community, I have been honored to interact and be inspired by amazing students, teach alongside the best and

most passionate of educators, and to work with parents and community partners who are just as committed to a meaningful and quality education and the safety and happiness of their children as I am. As the new superintendent for Tempe Union High School District, I feel more connected than ever to the people in this community and to the education profession. The district recently went through a strategic planning process and a team of teachers, administrators, district staff, community members and others developed the Tempe Union “Core Values and Beliefs.” These core values and beliefs depict who we are as a community

of learners. In the upcoming school year, we will focus on ensuring that all of our staff and students are connected to these ideas. Students First: At Tempe Union, we put students’ academic and social/emotional needs at the forefront of everything we do. We believe that all students can learn, and we accept responsibility for their learning. We eliminate barriers to student learning. We believe that all students learn best in a safe and well-maintained learning environment. And, we believe a variety of extracurricular opportunities enriches the learning experiences of our students. Employees Matter: We hire and develop

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a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We hold all employees to high expectations. We provide a healthy, happy, safe and supportive work environment. And, we believe in providing opportunities for all staff to collaborate and continually improve their craft. Family, Community and Business Partnerships: We pursue a strong and active relationship with families and the community to meet the social/emotional and academic needs of our students. We believe strong relationships provide students the tools and strategies needed to learn and succeed as responsible and See

MENDIVIL on page 3

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KYRENE on page 4

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 18, 2018

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JULY 18, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

New principals begin year at four Kyrene schools BY ERIN HELM AFN Guest Writer

hile Kyrene School District students have been celebrating the summer, teachers, staff and leaders have been hard at work preparing for those students’ return. Every fall, fresh faces join the Kyrene School District team, so some of the staff welcoming students back to school next month will be new – most notably, the principals at four Kyrene schools. Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary – Principal Sarah Collins Collins considers it a homecoming. She grew up in Ahwatukee, attended Kyrene schools and was in the first full four-year graduating class of Mountain Pointe High School. In her 21 years in education, Collins previously served Kyrene as a teacher and dean before accepting a principal position in another district. She is thrilled to be returning to lead Kyrene de la Estrella. “Estrella has a history of incredible leadership,” Collins says. “It is my hope to maintain that level of excellence while serving the students, families and staff as

principal.” Ahwatukee education is a family affair for Collins. Her husband teaches at Altadeña Middle School, and her two sons attend Centennial Middle School and Mountain Pointe High. “I am thrilled to be back in Kyrene and am looking forward to meeting the families and students at Estrella. It’s going to be an amazing year!” Collins takes over the Estrella principal seat from Lamp, who is moving over to Kyrene del Milenio. This will be Lamp’s 22nd year in the Kyrene School District. He started as a teacher, then moved into administration and now is entering his seventh year as a principal. Kyrene del Milenio Elementary – Principal Michael Lamp Lamp believes change offers opportunity to grow, and he says the Kyrene del Milenio opening gives him the perfect chance to move to a new school and make an impact while still serving the Kyrene community he loves. Lamp says of his educational approach, See

PRINCIPALS on page 5

Milenio Principal Michael Lamp

KMS Principal Julio Martinez

(Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer) Cielo Elementary Principal Tammy Thaete shows the path that muralist Suzanne Whitaker painted so kindergarten students can find their way between class and the front office.

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PRINCIPALS

from page 3

“In a world that is constantly changing, fostering effort and risk taking in our students will give them the best chance to succeed.” Kyrene del Cielo Elementary – Principal Tammy Thaete Thaete is taking over at Kyrene del Cielo. She should be familiar to students because she served as assistant principal at Cielo last year and has been in the district for 17 years. Thaete has two master’s degrees, one in elementary education and one in school administration, and she started her career in education as a teacher. Thaete sums up her educational philosophy this way: “Together we’re

MENDIVIL

from page 1

contributing members of society. We believe in fostering meaningful and collaborative business relationships to ensure an innovative and future-focused workforce. Diversity and Inclusion: We believe that all people bring value to our organization. We believe that all people deserve respect and dignity. We value the richness that comes from our diverse cultures. We benefit and learn from the voice of our diverse community. Integrity: We behave with integrity in everything that we do and say. We act with civility; our words and actions matter. We value truthfulness and

KYRENE

from page 1

to build upon work from last year in areas of pre-K offerings; pre-K-8 design that focuses on traditional, dual language, International Baccalaureate, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and addressing student needs through dyslexia support and sitebased interventionists. This year, we also will focus on expanding efforts to address socialemotional learning and school safety initiatives. The Kyrene community can count on regular updates through our oﬃcial communication channels of public meetings, email, social media and Kyrene.org.We welcome participation in our schools and hope you stay connected throughout the year by participating in activities when possible

BACK TO SCHOOL better. When school staff, families and community members work together to support children learning, amazing and wonderful things will happen!” Thaete has two daughters who attended Kyrene schools and went on to graduate from ASU. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, hiking and trying new recipes. Kyrene Middle School – Principal Julio Martinez The new principal of Kyrene Middle School has 24 years of experience in public education. Martinez started out as a teacher and has served as a principal for the past six years. He has two master’s degrees, in educational administration and bilingual/multicultural education, which will serve him well at KMS. “In order for any school to be successful

you have to make personal connections with everyone in the school,” he says. “We are all in this together and together we will be successful. When we moved back to Arizona and, in particular, Phoenix, my goal was to be in the Kyrene district. Words cannot even begin to describe how excited I am to be here, to lead KMS, and to serve my community!” KSD is also welcoming new leaders to the district oﬃces. Brian Lockery joins the district as the director of business services. Lockery brings 20 years of experience in educational policy, leadership, management and budgeting to Kyrene. In

addition to his district-level experience, he has served as an audit manager for the Arizona Department of Education, and prior to that, as a policy advisor and research analyst at the Arizona House of Representatives for 11 years, covering areas of K-12 education, higher education, academic accountability and more. Most of Kyrene’s new leaders joined the district July 1. Kyrene students will meet their new principals on the first day of school, Aug. 2.

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Bosco principal looks forward to new year BY ANITA PETITTI AFN Guest Writer

elcome Back to School! It is hard to believe it is almost time for the 20182019 school year to begin, but it is just around the corner! I hope you have had an enjoyable, refreshing summer with family and friends and are eager to return to school in August. Whether you are new to Saint John Bosco Catholic School or a returning student/family, we look forward to having you as part of our SJB family. I encourage every student and parent to embrace the opportunity to make this an enriching school year with active involvement in various activities. Teachers and administrators have been busy over the summer preparing for the 2018-19 school year. Teachers have participated in professional development to enhance learning opportunities for all students. Our goal is to continually improve student progress as an ongoing process.

Regardless of where students begin the year, we will help them advance their critical thinking, knowledge, skills, and ability to problem-solve. Saint John Bosco Catholic School takes pride in educating the whole child -- spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. We provide students with hands-on experiences that require them to John Bosco students can look forward to enhancing their think critically, problem solve, and St. technological skills at the Ahwatukee school. assess the process and the outcomes. We work hard to prepare your student You may also contact us at 480-219-4848 for high school and beyond. with questions. Integration of technology is an essential I hope to see you on Meet the Teacher and inevitable part of today’s society. Day Monday, Aug. 6 from 3-5 p.m. Students must learn and master how This is a great opportunity for you to access information, synthesize, and and your student to meet teachers, bring evaluate it. We have built a state-of-the in school supplies, and learn about the art media center with Chromebooks, various programs and activities our school 3-D printers, a green screen, and more has to offer. The first day of school is to provide students with the opportunity Wednesday, Aug. 8 -- we can’t wait to get to learn and enhance today’s critical started! technology skills. Best wishes for a successful 2018-19 If you have not registered your student school year! yet, you are welcome to do so by contacting us at admissions@sjbosco.org. -Anita Petitti is the principal of St. John Bosco If you have a returning student, online Catholic School in Ahwatukee. registration is a simple and easy process.

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Help your child prepare for the ﬁrst day of kindergarten BY DONNA SHOTT AFN Guest Writer

he first day of school is within reach for East Valley families. If you have a kindergartener in your home, this is a very big deal! There are activities you can do during the final countdown to help your child prepare for the kickoff to their school career. “Preparing your child in the summer prior to kindergarten for what lies ahead is an important step in ensuring that your child has smooth transition,” said Danielle Petroniero-Klein, who teaches kindergarten at Summit of Ahwatukee. First Things First, a voter-created statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten, recommends the following:

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JULY 18, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

FIRST

from page 6

Wake up at the time necessary in order to give your child plenty of time to get ready. “In the weeks leading up to kindergarten, it is helpful for your child if you establish a set bedtime and wakeup routine,” Petroniero-Klein said. Plan and fix a healthy breakfast. Teach your kindergartener how to help with this. Lay out clothes the night before and make sure zippers, buttons and ties are able to be easily fastened. If your child takes the school bus, walk to the bus stop and talk about boarding and where to sit. If you plan to drive to school, talk about the landmarks along the way. Pack a lunch for both of you. Sit down with your child and practice opening things together. If you will be sending a lunch, make sure it is nutritious food that they like and can open. Juice boxes, fruit cups, and zip-lock bags can frustrate your child if there hasn’t been practice. Remind your child to ask for help if needed. See

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 18, 2018

Valley Christian begins 2018-19 with accolades, junior high

BY TROY THELEN AFN Guest Writer

or 36 years, Valley Christian High School has been educating students in 9-12 grades. Starting this fall, they open their doors to junior high students, as well. “Expanding from four grades to seven allows us to extend the Valley Christian brand not only to more families and students, but for a longer period of time, as well,” said Dan Kuiper, the school’s administrator. “We’ve seen continued growth and exceptional demand for a Valley Christian education over the last five years, in large part due to the value added to our academic and extracurricular programs. We believe we can create this same value for students in junior high and prepare them for high school and college by offering our big-school opportunities in a small school environment.” Kuiper, who has been teaching or in administration at the school since its See

VALLEY on page 9

(Corey Gilmore/Valley Christian High) Valley Christian High school staff includes, from left, Paul Schanaker, vice principal; Lisa O’Brien, assistant to counselor and athletic director; Robyn Bellerson, director of admissions; Michelle Cefola, director of academic, college, and career advising; Dan Kuiper, administrator (seated); Lynn Spina, development coordinator and girls soccer head coach; Drew Streeter, English and yearbook teacher; and Allan Alvarado, director of business affairs.

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JULY 18, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

FIRST

from page 7

Prior to the first day of school, meet with the teacher and introduce your child. Be sure to express your appreciation for their hard work. Kindergarteners sometimes have accidents. It’s a reality that should be anticipated. Pack an extra pair of clothes for your child to bring to school. Give your child a family picture to keep in their backpack or pocket. Reassure them of the pickup time. Spend extra time on the first day of school, but do not drag out saying goodbye. Send them off with a reassuring hug and kiss! “If your child has questions or worries, explore his or her feelings through drawing about kindergarten,” PetronieroKlein said. “As your child expresses excitement and anticipation, join in by pointing out some kindergarten positives such as making new friends or playing on the ‘big kids’ playground.” Children who have positive early childhood experiences tend to score higher on school readiness assessments and are more likely to do well in school and graduate. By turning everyday moments into learning moments, you can send your child to school with the skills – and the love of learning – that will help them succeed in kindergarten and

VALLEY

from page 8

second year, isn’t the only one that sees the value of a Valley Christian education. Along with an expected 440 students at the high school, more than 80 students are registered for the school before it opens. And the school expects around 90 by the first day. “We don’t believe a family should have to sacrifice any aspect of their child’s education in order to attend a Christian school, so we have invested heavily in our faculty, in technology, and in creating high level opportunities for our students to succeed in and out of the classroom,” Kuoper added, noting: “Our junior high Principal Chris Fryar and his team have already done a tremendous job in setting up Valley Christian Junior High for success.” And the junior high isn’t the only reason the school has been in the news recently. The school has made headlines before as a top educational institution, including being named a top 50 Christian High School in the nation. Kelly Clausen, a faculty member, student council advisor and the beach volleyball head coach, noted:

beyond. Here are some helpful tools for all parents: FTF digital Parent Kit Covering a wide range of topics from pregnancy, child development, safety, physical and emotional health to finding quality child care, the digital parent Kit provides useful tips. FirstThingsFirst.org/ Parent-Kit. Birth to 5 Helpline Arizona’s only toll-free helpline for parents, caregivers and professionals with questions or concerns about children from birth to age 5. Call the Birth to 5 Helpline at 1-877-705-KIDS. FTF Family Resource Network The 30 family resource centers across Maricopa County offer referrals to community resources and offer free or low cost programs for families of young children. To find a family resource center near you, visit FamilyResourceAZ.org. FTF Quality First Choosing a child care setting for your infant, toddler or preschooler is a big decision. To find a Quality First center or for more information on what quality early education looks like, visit the Quality First website at qualityfirstaz.com. -Donna Shott is a spokeswoman for First Things First, a voter-created organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids when they enter kindergarten. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.

“As one of our employees who left and returned, I believe working for Valley Christian is so attractive because it truly feels like you are a part of a family. When you work alongside people who have similar core values and are passionate about the same things as you, it is incredibly encouraging… even on the toughest days.” The school’s junior high campus in Tempe is located at the newly renovated Gethsemane Church campus and features an academic building, multi-use facility, gymnasium and worship center. The high school campus is located in Chandler at Ray Road and 56th Street and includes a gymnasium, baseball field, newly-lit softball field, brand new beach volleyball courts, and a football field and track on a beautiful 17-acre campus. The two campuses are located six miles from each other. Now in its 37th year, Valley Christian embarks on a brand-new chapter. And if you ask their employees, they’ll almost assuredly be around to see it through. -Troy Thelan, a 2003 graduate of Valley Christian High School, is legacy director for the school.

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 18, 2018

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Hosts Chinese Language Summer Camp for Arizona Students On June 10th, thirty middle and high school students from twenty-seven schools in fourteen cities across Arizona and three other states arrived at Arizona State University to kick off the tenth annual ASU Startalk Chinese Language Summer Camp. The camp marks an exceptional opportunity for Arizona’s brightest students to come together and develop their Chinese-language skills and cultural understanding. From the day they set foot on the ASU campus, students are immersed in the Chinese language and culture. Students remain at the camp twenty-four hours a day, sleeping in campus dormitories, eating with camp staff and other students, and engaging in a full slate of daily activities. Lasting for a total of fifteen days, the camp offers a unique and exciting learning environment for its thirty participants. The core activity of the camp is Chineselanguage instruction. Students spend several hours a day in Chinese classes taught by experienced area instructors and teaching assistants. Classes, which range from the beginner to the intermediate level, are organized around a yearly camp theme. This year’s theme, “Let’s Plan a Family Reunion Trip to China,” places emphasis on giving students the ability to travel in Chinese-speaking countries. Students create a travel planner and carry out a variety of in-class activities and presentations based on the camp theme. Students also have individualized tutoring sessions with teaching assistants in the evenings. Classes are conducted almost entirely in Chinese, forcing students to develop their listening and speaking skills. While full language immersion can be difficult for language learners of any age, learning alongside other highly-motivated students helps create a positive and cooperative educational environment for camp participants, and students note the improvement they make as the camp progresses. At the end of the camp, students create a poster and a slide show presentation advertising a vacation to one of their favorite Chinese cities. Language instruction, however, is only the beginning of camp activities. Afternoons also include hands-on cultural activities with topics such as dance, calligraphy, and Chinese knots. Students also participate in evening activities such as Chinese movies and games, and are introduced to a variety of foods through Chinese lunches, a dumpling-making activity, and a ‘fear factor’ food-tasting game. Guest instructors also join the camp to conduct cultural activities; for instance, a disciple of a Shaolin master visited campus this week to give a martial arts class for students. Through these activities students gain exposure to different aspects of Chinese culture, while learning and practicing specialized Chinese vocabulary related to each activity. One such popular activity is an off-campus trip to Mekong Plaza in Mesa. After beginning the day with a dim sum brunch, students are sent on a scavenger hunt at the plaza supermarket. As with other camp activities, students must use their newly-acquired language skills to complete the activity, seeking out a list of Chinese foods and drinks from the baffling variety of items on display at the market. The Mekong field trip gives students an opportunity to utilize their learning in the ‘real world,’ and for many students the trip is the highlight of the week. On the last day of the camp, students put on a performance for friends and family. One aspect of the performance is the presentation of group projects on China’s major cities, done entirely by students in Chinese. In addition, each does a song and dance number. The performance gives students the opportunity to celebrate and share their progress with their relatives, friends, and teachers. The camp, notes program director Dr. Xia Zhang, is an enjoyable and valuable experience for students. “This program strives to provide students with the best learning experience by immersing them in an intensive yet fun environment,” says Zhang. “I hope that through this program, students not only learn a foreign language but also learn to better appreciate another culture.” After the camp concludes, students will use what they’ve learned as a springboard for further Chinese-language study at their respective schools and colleges. Apart from building their language skills and cultural understanding, students gain exposure to university campus life and build friendships with classmates that last beyond the camp. Startalk is a presidential initiative funded by the National Security Agency that seeks to expand and improve the instruction and learning of strategically important languages such as Chinese. For the tenth consecutive year, the School of International Letters and Cultures at ASU was selected by Startalk Central to host the Chinese Language Summer Camp. The camp is largely funded by the U.S. government, and students pay only a nominal fee to attend. Arizona students can apply to attend the camp in the spring of each year. More information on the camp can be found at silc.clas.asu.edu/content/startalk-program or on the program Facebook page at facebook.com/asustartalk/. Photo Caption: Participants of the 2018 ASU Startalk Chinese Language Summer Camp

Seton Catholic credits Blue Ribbon for enrollment increase BY JOYCE VALDEZ AFN Guest Writer

eton Catholic Prep, the East Valley’s only Catholic high school, will welcome back students Aug. 8 for the 2018-19 school year. Seton will begin the academic year with about 605 students, a slight increase over last year that school oﬃcials attribute in part to “the Blue Ribbon effect.” Last year, Seton Catholic was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School in the “Exemplary High Performing” category by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. “Being named a National Blue Ribbon School aﬃrmed our commitment to academic excellence, which prompted more East Valley parents to consider Seton,” said Principal Victor Serna. “We’re no longer the East Valley’s ‘best-kept secret,’ which is a good thing for families looking for a high-quality education for their children.” The 2018 graduating class underscored Seton’s commitment to academic excellence. Of 127 graduates in the class, 68 percent received scholarships – totaling $8.9 million over four years—to colleges and universities throughout Arizona and the U.S. Speaking of scholarships, two incoming Seton freshmen are the first recipients of the Pat & Mary Ellen Hennessy Scholarship. Fr. Joseph Hennessy, a founder of St. Andrew the Apostle Church, established the scholarship fund in memory of his late parents. Each scholarship covers half of Seton’s annual tuition. This past year, Seton increased its presence in the community by stepping up its involvement in business and civic organizations. In June, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce recognized Seton Catholic as the 2018 Medium Business of the Year, and Seton hosted the East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s July meeting. Seton’s outreach is not limited to

Arizona’s borders. This school year, it will continue its partnership with New Yorkbased UTP High Schools to attract more international students to its campus at 1150 N. Dobson Road, Chandler. “If I had to describe Seton in a word, it would be ‘wonderful,’” said international student Hailey Tran, who graduated in May after being placed at Seton through UTP. Serna has been busy this summer working with school administrators to fill faculty, staff, and coaching positions. The vacancies include six teacher openings resulting from attrition, the head football coach, and the director of Advancement. Jim Pogge, formerly vice president of advancement at Mercy High School in Omaha, Neb., has been named to head Seton’s Oﬃce of Advancement. In that role, Pogge will work with Mission Advancement Oﬃcer Brian Rosario to develop and implement strategic plans to help raise funds for Seton. Before joining Mercy, Pogge was director of philanthropy at Creighton University, also located in Omaha. Former Arizona Cardinals Assistant Coach Michael Chiurco has been named the Sentinels’ interim head football coach for the 2018 season. Chiurco, whose wife works at one of Seton’s Catholic feeder schools, has more than 29 years of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Seton is a diocesan, coeducational high school open to students of all faiths and dedicated to academic excellence, leadership and loving service to others. For more than 60 years, Seton Catholic has served young men and women from parochial, private, charter, public and home schooling backgrounds. Seton Catholic is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and the Western Catholic Education Association. www. setoncatholic.org. Information: setoncatholic.org or call 480-963-1900.

Share Your Thoughts Send your letters on local issues to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com

JULY 18, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

To help reduce the cost of students’ education Frank Schmuck founded a Dollars for Scholars Chapter more than 10 years ago where hundreds of Tempe Union High School District students have received scholarships enabling them to continue to learn a subject or trade.

FRANK SCHMUCK CARES ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!

BACK TO SCHOOL

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 18, 2018

Welcome to the 2018-19 School Year Enroll your child today! Learning, Leading, and Achieving • Comprehensive core curriculum with a variety of elective courses for PreK-8 • Arts, Dual Language, Traditional, Leadership, and IB Candidacy* schools • Supports for academic, behavioral and social emotional growth • Preschool options include Community, Integrated, and Signature programs (Arts Integrated, Bienvenidos, Leader in Me, Project-based & Reggio Emilia)

First day of school is Thursday, August 2 Meet the Teacher Night in July Elementary Meet the Teacher Night Monday, July 30, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Middle School Meet the Teacher/Curriculum Night Tuesday, July 31. Times vary, please check www.kyrene.org/SchoolCalendars This is the night when your child will meet his/her teacher! You can also purchase PTO items, put money in your child’s lunch account, and drop off school supplies. Visit the Community Education table for information on before- and after-school programs and classes. For information about family communications, supply lists, school lunches, school start/end times, immunization requirements and more, go to www.kyrene.org/BacktoSchool.

Learn more about our programs: www.kyrene.org • 480-541-1000 *Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.

Get Social with Kyrene Kyrene School District uses Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to promote news and events occurring at each of our schools. Please share first day of school photos of your children on our social media using #backtoKSD. For an easy way to check lunch menus, news, ParentVUE or calendars, download our free app from the Apple or Google Play stores.