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WWW.AHWATUKEE.COM
JULY 20, 2022
Portrait of a Kyrene Kid drives school district BY ERIN HELM AFN Guest Writer
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yrene School District, over the summer, launched a vision for its students that will be a touchstone for future decision making and the foundation upon which the District’s next strategic plan is built. The Portrait of a Kyrene Kid is a model of the competencies each student should possess by the time they finish 8th grade in Kyrene. The District expects students who
complete their Kyrene education to be: • Adaptable Learners; • Collaborators; • Communicators; • Community Contributors; • Critical Thinkers; • Problem Solvers; • and Self-Advocates. The Portrait is the culmination of a yearlong effort to engage hundreds of stakeholders, including current and former students, staff, District leaders, the Kyrene Governing Board, local business represen-
tatives and other community partners. Each group participated in activities to identify what skills and attributes students will need in order to be successful in the future. The groups imagined not only what students will need to succeed in high school, but also in college, the next generation workplace, and future communities. “I am grateful to our Kyrene community for the time, effort, introspection, and imagination that went into the development of this portrait,” said Superintendent
Laura Toenjes. “It is of the utmost importance that we prepare our students for the classrooms and careers of tomorrow. The pace of change in our world is only increasing, and it is incumbent upon us to equip students with the skills necessary not only to keep up with rapid change but to stay ahead of it.” All Kyrene families and staff were also asked to participate in a visioning survey
ministrators have identified as priorities for the 22/23 school year are establishing positive relationships between the school and home; creating a safe and orderly learning environment; and returning to what we do well - providing a high quality education with positive learning outcomes for all students. Now more than ever, we need our students to be just that - students. We want them to have the experiences that are so key to high school and to the human experience - whether it’s competing in a band championship or attending the varsity football game or acing a science exam. Public education plays a vital role in our communities and neighborhoods and we are proud to be a family of schools that offers excellent opportunities for young people. We pride ourselves on quality programs, caring administrators and teachers, and a high level of excellence in academics, athletics and activities. With the involvement of our families,
our community, and our business and faith-based organizations, we can all forge a new chapter as we look towards a successful future. How can you be involved? Continue to be engaged with your home campus. Reach out and connect with your student’s teachers. Attend an athletic event or extracurricular activity so you can see the spirit and culture of our schools for yourself. Follow your school on social media and keep an eye out for your principal’s newsletters. Our ultimate goal is that families are involved with their neighborhood schools and support their child(ren) and their community. When families and neighborhoods flourish, strong connections are forged, and there are positive outcomes for all involved. One of the ways that we believe we can support our families is to provide consistent experiences between TUHSD and our Tri-District partners – Tempe Elementary and Kyrene school districts.
For the past year, we have been working in a collaborative manner to develop a common calendar that would begin with the 2023/2024 school year. The goal was to work on relevant options that would meet the needs of families, students, and staff at all three districts. After carefully considering input from a wide variety of stakeholders, our respective Governing Boards approved the new calendars. We hope that this will be a step in the right direction for our families who have students in multiple districts. You can find the calendar on our website by clicking on “Calendars and Schedules”. Please remember that this does not affect the upcoming school year but will take effect in August 2023. We share this information with you well in advance so that you may plan accordingly. Thank you for your time, your positivity, and your involvement. We look forward to welcoming your student(s) back to school on Aug. 4.
see KYRENE page 33
Tempe Union Superintendent addresses families BY DR. KEVIN MENDIVIL AFN Guest Writer
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ear TUHSD Families, I hope that you have all had the chance to rest and relax over the past few months. We are looking forward to welcoming students back to our schools on Thursday, Aug. 4 – just a few short weeks away. Much of the work your school and district administrators have undertaken this summer is tightly focused on the idea of a reset. School improvement is a never-ending journey and we know how important it is to both evaluate the past school year and plan accordingly for the future. We also know that our families and students have experienced a wide variety of stress and disruption since March 2020. Certainly, many of us are ready for a reset of our own, in all different areas of life. A few key themes that our school ad-
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 20, 2022
Kyrene students get access to instrument museum
and visit the MIM’s galleries all without leaving their classrooms. A variety of virtual field trips are available to varying grade levels including the Virtual STEM Tour for students in kindergarten through 8th grade and the Virtual Musical Menagerie Tour for kindergarten through 2nd grade. New sessions will be available in January.
AFN NEWS STAFF
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yrene students have been granted free access to explore the Musical Instrument Museum’s collection, which showcases instruments from around the world, courtesy of a $26,000 grant from the Scottsdale-based museum. The grant will fund MIM field trip entrance fees for up to 2,000 students as well as staff and chaperones, and fund district-wide access to the MIM’s Virtual Education Programs during the 2022-23 school year. The only remaining costs for field trips will be the cost of school buses to transport students to the museum. MIM is home to a collection of more than 8,000 instruments from at least 200 countries, presenting a highly educational opportunity for Kyrene students. “Thanks to the Musical Instrument Museum, we can offer students a unique way to expand their global awareness and explore cultures from around the
The Musical Instrument Museum is renowned for its collection of guitars and other instruments. (Special to AFN) world,” said Julie Hackmann, Kyrene visual and performing arts coordinator. “That global perspective will be extremely valuable to students in the future, not just in their education but in their future careers.”
Beginning in August, teachers can also host in-classroom field trips for their students through the MIM’s Virtual Educational Programs. The programs offer students a unique way to explore cultures, create music,
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 20, 2022
Kyrene del Milenio aims New Niños principal is a to ‘capture kids’ hearts’ a former ‘Kyrene Kid’ AFN NEWS STAFF
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yrene del Milenio Elementary School in Tempe is hoping to “capture kids’ hearts” with the launch of a new training program this year. “Kyrene del Milenio staff will embrace their own love for learning through the Capturing Kids’ Hearts initiative,” the district announced last week. The program “is designed to empower schools and staff members to create meaningful connections with students through five key Social-Emotional Learning competencies: Relationship skills, social awareness, self-awareness, self-management and responsible decision-making.” The program is funded through a $56,000 grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family, “As a counselor, it is exciting to be a part of a school staff that is passionate about taking care of their students in every way,” Milenio counselor Katrina Maranville said.
“We are so excited to be implementing the program this fall as we forge ahead and create a healthy and loving environment for all children who enter our campus.” A district spokeswoman said focusing on social-emotional wellness “helps ensure students are set up for success in school and beyond.” “Capturing Kids' Hearts will help us take a huge step forward in that journey as we create a place where kids thrive emotionally and academically,” Maranville said. Milenio Principal Michael Lamp added, “Humans are born without the ability to regulate. As children, we require adult support to meet our needs, and through consistent caregiving and repetition, we learn to regulate on our own. As educators, our primary way to support regulation is through strong relationships with our students. Capturing Kids' Hearts is designed to strengthen those relation-
see MILENIO page 31
BY ERIN HELM AFN Guest Writer
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yrene School District has a 100% retention rate among school principals and department directors, heading into the 2022-23 school year. Only one Kyrene leader hung up her principal’s cap last year – Lisa Connor, Kyrene de los Niños – but she didn’t leave the District. She is now a Director of School Effectiveness, working at the main office to support all schools. Stepping up to lead Kyrene de los Niños is Principal Olivia Parry, who previously served as the Niños assistant principal for 10 years. Not only an experienced leader, Principal Parry is also a former Kyrene kid, having spent a total of 30 years in Kyrene, as both a student and an educator. She earned her undergraduate degree
see NIÑOS page 33
OLIVIA PARRY
JULY 20, 2022 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
MILENIOfrom page 30
ships.” The training provided to Milenio staff will not only empower teachers to create intentional relationships with their students, but also empower students to create those same connections with their peers. “Milenio is proud to become a leader in social emotional learning,” Lamp said. “At a campus where every child feels seen and heard, hearts and minds are open and ready to learn.” If successful, Kyrene School District may look into introducing the program to other campuses, a spokeswoman said..
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Horizon Honors launches special staff training on mental wellness AFN NEWS STAFF
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orizon Honors Schools, 16233 S 48th St., Ahwatukee, is embarking on a new training program for all teachers and other staff as part of a school-wide effort to help students and the rest of the school community recover from the effects of the pandemic. “Over the past two years, everyone has gone through some form of trauma due to the pandemic,” said spokeswoman Melissa Hartley. “Horizon Honors will adopt the adult-first, evidence-based social-emotional learning training program presented in ‘Building Resilience in Students Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Whole-Staff Approach.’ “The training focuses on educator well-being, understanding behavior and trauma-informed social-emotional learning,” she explained, adding all K-12 staff and teachers will focus on a common goal.
Utilizing a workbook, they will aim “to create whole-school change as trauma-informed strategies are integrated into every aspect of a school day.” According to the publisher of “Building Resistance,” more than half of all children “have been exposed to at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), such as poverty, divorce, neglect, homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, or parent incarceration. “These students often enter school with behaviors that don’t blend well with the typical school environment.” The workbook provides concrete steps that teachers and staff can take to address this question: “How can a school community come together and work as a whole to establish a healthy social-emotional climate for students and the staff who support them?” Daily instructional practices address “the different experiences and unique
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challenges of students impacted by ACEs in urban, suburban, and rural schools, including suicidal tendencies, cyberbullying, and drugs,” the publisher states. The book was authored by a social worker, behavior specialist and an educational consultant. Hartley said, “All Horizon schools staff members – literally everyone from maintenance to executive director – is attending several days of special training.” Horizon’s K-6 and 7-12 schools start the new year on Aug. 1 with a meet-the-teachers event 1-4 p.m. July 28 for the elementary students and an open house for the secondary school students 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. July 29. Horizon also starts several new classes, including honors courses in exercise science and college math fundamentals, AP Music Theory and AP Computer Science. Information: horizonhonors.org
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 20, 2022
Kyrene School District Welcomes You to the 2022-23 School Year! The first day of school is Thursday, July 28. Meet the Teacher Nights Monday, July 25: • Middle Schools • Kyrene Traditional Academy grades 6-8 Tuesday, July 26: • Elementary Schools • Kyrene Digital Academy • Kyrene de las Manitas Innovation Academy grades preK-5 Kyrene’s annual “Meet the Teacher” events serve as the official kickoff of the new year, giving families an opportunity to meet teachers and get acquainted with individual schools. Each school will provide families with times and additional details.
Back-to-School Information For information about family communications, supply lists, school lunches, school start/ end times, health and safety strategies, before/after school activities and more, visit our website below.
www.kyrene.org/BacktoSchool • 480-541-1000
LEARNING. LEADING. ACHIEVING. Follow us on social media. #BacktoKyrene
• Comprehensive core curriculum PreK-8 (English language arts, math, science, and social studies) • Arts Integration, International Baccalaureate, Leadership, Traditional, Dual Language, Computer Science, SPARK and Digital Academy • After-school classes and activities offered at most schools
JULY 20, 2022 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
KYRENE from page 27
last February. The results of that survey helped shape the Portrait and will also be used as a reference when mapping out the District’s next five years.
NIÑOSfrom page 30
in special education from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. She began her career in Kyrene, teaching students with learning and emotional disabilities. Her passion for supporting students with special needs is matched only by her passion for the students, staff, and families of Kyrene de los Niños. “Kyrene de los Niños captured my heart 10 years ago,” Parry said. “Leading a school I love is invigorating. I’m excited to continue to inspire growth so all students and staff can experience success.” Kyrene has hired only one outside candidate for a school principal or department director position in the last four years. Superintendent Laura Toenjes says creating pathways for professional growth is a key facet of the District’s ongoing retention strategies. “The fact that Kyrene continues to find the best candidates among our own ranks, year after year, is no accident. It is a testament to our commitment to professional growth for educators, support staff and all future leaders,” Toenjes said. “We hire the best people, and we want to keep the best people, so they can then lead the next generation of Team Kyrene.”
Kyrene’s Strategic Plan 2022 is coming to an end, and the Governing Board will launch a new strategic plan in January 2023. The Portrait of a Kyrene Kid is the first step in planning, as it will be a cornerstone of the new plan.
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The Kyrene Aspiring Leaders Academy (KALA) has been key to that work, preparing teachers to be the District’s next principals and assistant principals. This year, Kyrene is expanding KALA to create a leadership training program specifically for employees who are interested in leadership positions beyond the school building. “It is with great pride that we are expanding the successful Kyrene Aspiring Leaders Academy to our non-teaching staff with a special learning track specifically for the talented employees who work outside of our classrooms,” said Director of Professional Growth and Development Jo Shurman. “We look forward to seeing this new cohort develop and enhance their natural leadership skills through the KALA General Leadership Track.” KALA was established in 2011 with the goal of providing opportunities for advancement. The Academy is a free, two-year program offering training and experiential learning opportunities for motivated, emerging leaders. Areas of study for the General Leadership Track will include organizational strategy, workplace culture, leadership styles, meeting facilitation, capacity building, problem solving, and conceptual This graphic shows the competencies that the school district aims to help every “Kyrene Kid” develop thinking, along with practical train- over the course of their education in pre-K through 8th grade. (Kyrene School District) ing in hiring, finance, and policy.
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 20, 2022
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