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Chandler Parks and Rec offers variety of new classes BY MEGHAN MCCOY
From vegetarian cooking to Halloween arts and crafts, the Chandler Parks and Recreation Department is offering a slew of new activities this fall. The September through November programs are outlined in the new Break Time brochure, which was released last month. Brooke Peterson, marketing and communications coordinator for Chandler Parks and Recreation, says there are thousands of classes listed for literally every age group. Some of the new hands-on classes for preschool-aged children, ages 2 to 4, are theater, and lantern-, piñata- and puppetmaking courses, as well as a new science fun class and Play-Doh Play. The new youth classes, ages 6 to 12, also include many hands-on opportunities. Peterson says such classes as sewing for beginners, Teddy bear workshop and T-shirt design have been added. In October, teens, ages 12 to 17, can create their own “Monster Pillows,” just in time for Halloween. “They will design and hand-sew their very own monster pillow,” Peterson explains. Other additions for teens include a canvas paint workshop, which begins in December, a recycled art course that begins in November, and a cake-making workshop in October. “There are a lot of new art classes in the
READY, SET, GO: Chandler Parks and Recreation is offering a slew of new classes this fall. Submitted photo
junior area,” she explains. In addition to the classes, there are also many one-day activity events or trips. In October, kids can run through an obstacle course and roll and unroll Chandler Fire Department hoses during the Teen Challenge that coincides with the City’s annual Day of Play. Leaders in Training will be offered in the fall, for the first time, from Sept. 29 through Oct. 10. Typically only offered in the summer, Leaders in Training pairs teens with professionals to provide real-world work experience. “It’s a great way for kids to get involved
and figure out what they want to do when they grow up and get some volunteer hours,” she says. The adults will also have the opportunity to participate in some new activities this fall. Two new adult sports leagues, co-rec soccer on Fridays and men’s soccer on Sundays, have been added. Another new sporting event, Slow Pitch Softball Homerun Derby, has been added at Snedigar Sportsplex at 9 a.m. Oct. 11. The derby is open to men and women. More information can be found at www. chandleraz.gov/snedigar.
There is also now the opportunity for adults to play softball on Friday nights, instead of just Mondays. But the new programs do not stop there. Adults can take Introduction to Vegetarian Cooking. Peterson says with a lot of folks moving in that direction, the class is important. A special Grandparents Day event will be held on Sept. 6 at the Senior Center. Snacks will be offered, and grandchildren will have the opportunity to create arts and crafts projects with their grandparents. Peterson says new classes are added after the City of Chandler recreation programmers and coordinators look into trends. The City of Chandler offers Good Will Scholarships to those who fall within a certain income level to help pay for the costs of the classes. “Chandler is a great place to participate because it’s affordable, and we work with our residents,” she explains. The brochure can be picked up at any recreation center, several city facilities including city hall and the library, and online at www.chandleraz.gov/breaktime.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@ santansun.com.
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Brain Fair headed to Gangplank BY MEGHAN MCCOY
An Arizona State University graduate student, who is furthering her professor’s vision of exciting students about science and college, is bringing a hands-on fair to Chandler later this month to teach youth about the brain. The Mind-Power Thrills and Science Exploration: Brain Fair 2014 will be held for the first time in Chandler from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Gangplank Chandler, 260 S. Arizona Ave. The event is free. “We decided to reach out to Chandler to get another part of the Valley interested,” says Stephanie Koebele, ASU Memory and Aging laboratory manager, who was inspired by Professor Heather Bimonte-Nelson. “Our main goal is to reach out to the community and get students excited about science and going to college and learning about the brain. That is our main goal, and I am really excited about it.” The event, Koebele says, will feature at least six scientists who will work with the kids. The event is geared toward elementary- to high school-aged children who are interested in science. Brain Fair will feature arts and craft projects. Koebele says kids will mold brains out of Play-doh, so the children will have a better understanding of the different lobes. Brain cells will be made out of pipe cleaners to teach the youngsters about the different types of communication in the brain.
BRAINS: Emma Baier, an ASU Polytechnic High School student, learns about the functions of a brain with Stephanie Koebele, ASU Memory and Aging Laboratory manager, during a MindPower Thrills and Science Exploration: Brain Fair. Submitted photo
A real sheep’s brain will also be featured at the event. “That seems to be the favorite station that we have,” she explains with a laugh. “Koebele says that, occasionally, a scientist will dissect the sheep’s brain as he/she explains the similarities between human and sheep brains. “We give the students an opportunity to hold the brain and feel what the tissue is like and how much it weighs,” Koebele
NEURONS: ASU graduate student Amber LaCrosse teaches students about brain neurons at a previous Mind-Power Thrills and Science Exploration: Brain Fair. Submitted photo
says. “Most people are very eager to hold a real brain.” A panel of scientists will talk with kids about the benefits of attending college and heading into the science field. Bimonte-Nelson started the brain fair several years ago to inspire elementaryaged students. When Bimonte-Nelson became an ASU faculty member, she started thinking about how she could get underprivileged kids to consider college and science. “The brains were a bridge between their minds and college,” she says. “We want these kids to think about college.” Bimonte-Nelson says Koebele has been very proactive with the brain fair.
“She has really taken this work to heart,” Bimonte-Nelson says. “I am so proud of Stephanie. This woman is not only smart, she is so creative. She has come up with so many new ways to access all different grade levels. She is forming her own contacts and coming up with her own ideas to get all different levels excited about college and science. It’s been rewarding as a mentor to watch her dedication to these younger minds.” Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@ santansun.com.
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Paving the way to mathematical success from preschool through sixth grade BY JULIE DEVINE, MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT, NVCE
“Math is like a ladder. If you miss a step, sometimes you can’t go on.”—John Mighton. Parents of children from preschool to sixth grade often ask how they can foster their child’s mathematical success in school. Rather than give a one-two-three formula for success, it is far more useful for parents to understand the incremental introduction of mathematical principles and how children learn them beginning at an early age. Armed with such understanding, parents will be key partners in their children’s mastery of math enabling them to be prepared for algebra and beyond. As indicated by the above quote, success in math hinges on sequential learning, one step building upon the next, upon the next. Mastery at every level is key, and practice is the key to mastery. Math is all about precision. There are no ambiguous statements or hidden functions. Definitions are precise, reasoning exact, logic essential. Logical reasoning is the skill that holds everything together while problemsolving is what mathematics allows us to do in real life. So what are the basic building blocks of mathematics that will lead to precision? Is precision built on terms, operations and symbols without understanding? Or are they built on more basic building blocks? Skills
without understanding has little value and, likewise for understanding with no skills. Each is essential.
Five building blocks to mastery of math Numbers Students who struggle in math usually have difficulty remembering math facts, handling word problems and doing multistep arithmetic. Certainly, memorization of math facts is a worthy goal, but it can only be achieved when certain foundations are laid for understanding these math facts. Counting by threes matters little if the child does not understand such basics as: number recognition, number meaning, numbers and their relation to quantity, sequencing and the performance of operations. Understanding numbers and their relationships makes learning math facts a logical exercise. Place Value System Understanding place value is the basis of our entire number system. A place-value system is one in which the position of a digit in a number determines its value. In the standard system, called base 10, each place represents 10 times the value of the place to its right. It is the organizing and unifying principle for our five essential building blocks and is foundational to arithmetic and algebra. Without it, keeping track of greater numbers
rapidly becomes cumbersome. Can you imagine writing 999 with all ones? Whole Number Operations Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers represents the basic operations of mathematics. Much of mathematics is a generalization of these operations and rests on an understanding of these procedures. They must be learned with fluency using standard algorithms. The standard algorithms learned in elementary school lend structure to operations and demystify whole number arithmetic. Whole number operations give students power over numbers and, by learning them, give students and teachers a common language. More complicated algorithms are built on these basics to later include fractions, decimals and ratios. This incremental transition prepares the foundation for higher-level math concepts. Fractions and Decimals All of the whole number operations can now be applied to fractions and decimals. Fractions are everywhere in mathematics and in day-to-day life so the ability to manipulate them with fluency is essential. If students can successfully operate numerical fractions with accuracy and fluency and understand their definitions, they can then make a smooth transition into algebra and other higher levels of math.
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Pencils, Parents, Precepts and Practicalities This is the seventh installment in an eight-part series about helping your child succeed in school. Problem Solving Problem-solving is the “doing” part of mathematics and paves the way to increased levels of critical thinking. Problem-solving belongs at every level of a student’s mathematical education. Each new concept and skill learned should be incorporated within a series of increasingly more complex problems—from single-step word problems to multistep word problems. It is here that parents and teachers alike must require the student to demonstrate how they arrived at the proper solution to the problem. The mechanics of the calculation is essential. How did the student translate a word story into concrete mathematics? This is called abstracting the process to a standard algorithm. All five of these mathematical building blocks provide the incremental transitions from arithmetic to algebra. Students must learn the precise use of the terms, operations and symbols of mathematics. Precision is not only a requirement but a strength of mathematics. Julie Devine is in her 12th year teaching mathematics at New Vistas Center for Education, a preschool and elementary school specializing in gifted and advanced education. This article was excerpted from her presentation at the Parent Partnership Institute, a division of EAJ Institute, in 2014.
Basha club ‘making a difference one kid at a time’ BY TRACY HOUSE
Get a bunch of teenagers together with a common goal, and amazing things can happen. Members of Basha High School’s Kids Helping Kids club are putting their energy and compassion for kids to work by collecting donations for underprivileged youth. Founder Dustyn Phillips started Dustyn’s Kids Helping Kids 10 years ago. Dustyn explains he’s been involved in community work around the country, beginning in Tennessee and then other places he’s lived, such as California, Florida and New York. In 2013 he brought his organization to Basha, and the club took off. The 16-yearold junior, along with the rest of the club members, is making an impact on the community and helping children. Recently, Dustyn brought collected clothing to Brazil while he was there to watch the World Cup. “I wanted to turn it into a chance to help others, so I started collecting soccer uniforms and cleats and balls through one of our sponsors,” he says. Through a contact with an organization in Brazil, Dustyn says they wanted to get the donations to kids who really needed them. Basha’s Kids Helping Kids is sponsoring a back-to-school drive, collecting backpacks and other school supplies for a school in need. “We pretty much give it to whoever
needs it.” Logan Milton, 16, a junior, says the club is looking for donations as it continues to build its supplies. New members are welcome to join the club, which meets the first and third Wednesday of the month. The group welcomes students who would like to earn volunteer or community service hours toward scholarships. “More people, comes with more connections,” says Bechet Proto, 16, a junior. “So, more stuff for us to do.” The club is expecting to add events through the school year. “We learned that stuff needs to be planned way in advance,” Logan says. The group is creating a float for the Chandler Parade of Lights event. The club delivered Christmas gifts to Chandler Christian Community Center and was involved with Operation Santa, something they plan on doing again this year. “It’s nice because we get to directly hand them to the kids,” Dustyn says. “It’s nice to be able to see how much they appreciate it.” Dustyn explains they’ve arranged for Kona Ice to come to campus during lunch and the group will receive half of the profits as an ongoing fundraiser. Logan says the group will be helping with a field day at Pueblo Middle School in the Kyrene School District as another outreach program.
BASHA’S KIDS HELPING KIDS: Back row from left: Logan Milton (secretary, cofounder), Nick Duhart, DaVaughn Dunbar (public relations), Auche King (public relations). Front row from left: Bechet Proto (treasurer, historian), Dustyn Phillips (president, founder and founder of Dustyn’s Kids Helping Kids), Gabyy Sanchez (vice president). Photo courtesy of Donna Phillips
Dustyn sees the club expanding to miniclubs within the middle schools to get younger students involved. “We wanted to focus on getting this really going before trying to branch out. But that’s definitely coming in the future.” A true passion for Dustyn, he says, “It gives me joy to be able to see the appreciation that the kids have, and to be able to give them joy and see how they react to it.” Bechet adds that the parents are appreciative as well. The club’s motto is “Making a difference one kid at a time.” Bechet explains,
“Overall, it’s empowering to us just to see their expressions. It’s help for the kids, and gives the parents a little relief...and it helps us with our scholarships, our hours, and we can link it to our senior project. Our goal is to do more activities with kids and donate.” To donate, volunteer or find out more about Basha’s Kids Helping Kids, go to its Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/ DustynsKidsHelpingKids or www.facebook. com/bashaskidshelpingkids. Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
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Teens spend summer abroad helping those in need BY TRACY HOUSE
While some teens were working on their tans, shopping at the mall or catching the latest summer blockbusters, two Perry High School students were helping the less fortunate. For more than two weeks, Amanda Lee and Cassandra Neal volunteered their time to work with the poor in Third-World countries through Humanitarian Experience for Youth (HEFY) HEFY is a nonprofit service organization that offers humanitarian expeditions to youth ages 16 to 19. Amanda’s service project brought her to Tonga, and Cassandra spent her time working in Peru. Both teens say it was an amazing experience.
STICKS AND BRICKS: This is the first level of the school building in Peru. The second level is held up with sticks and bricks. Cassandra Neal says it was completely stable, and the volunteers were able to stand and work on the top without it collapsing. Submitted photo
SERVING WITH PURPOSE: Amanda Lee, third from left, poses with the Siale family. Amanda traveled to Tonga to help build the Siales’ house through her experience with Humanitarian Experience for Youth. Submitted photo
and mortar, laid cinderblocks, sifted sand for the cement, built the frame of the house and put on the roof. “From start to finish, we built the entire thing.” Her group consisted of four adult leaders and 20 youth volunteers. “I think everybody needs to experience something like this,” Amanda says. “After you travel out of country or overseas, I think it totally changes you as a person. I’m sure a lot of it was just the experience of serving.” Amanda enjoyed learning about the culture and visiting with the locals in Tonga. “The people were my favorite part of it. Tonga is called the ‘Friendly Island
was for an elementary school, the ages start at 6 or 7.” The school is three stories; Cassandra’s group worked on the second story of the eight-classroom building for boys and girls in the area. In addition, she helped teach the local students English. She worked in a poor section of Lima. “Where the school was, it was on a mountain. The houses didn’t have running water. They had to bring water up every day. They were just very, very poor.” Cassandra was joined by four adults and 19 other youth. The group stayed in three different hostels on the trip. It wasn’t all work, though. Before heading to the area
Time in Tonga Traveling to Tonga was an experience of a lifetime for Amanda. The 17-year-old senior chose to cross the international dateline to Tonga to build a house for a family of seven for her 17-day experience. She spent a few days in Fiji, on the way to Tonga, staying at a resort, hiking, snorkeling and visiting other tourist attractions. In Tonga, the days started at 7 a.m. with breakfast and then she would work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Part of her $3,000 cost for the trip included the building materials used for the house. “There were five skilled builders that directed us,” she explains. Water was brought to the site in wheelbarrows, she says. They mixed cement
Kingdom,’ and it’s so true because everyone there is insanely friendly. I was not used to people warming up to me so quickly.” She says serving was her main purpose of the trip, but it was a growing experience as well. “I did a lot of reflecting while I was there. I think when you focus on what you already have, or what other people are lacking, you can be grateful for what you have and help others.”
Serving in Peru For 17-year-old Cassandra, serving in Lima, Peru, for 18 days was a memory she will have for the rest of her life. “We helped build a school,” she says. “It
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Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
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Wrestling club bred for success BY TIM J. RANDALL
“Born Winners...Trained to be Champions.” That is the slogan that adorns Thorobred Wrestling T-shirts worn by students of the 10-year-old Chandler club. Thorobred’s four principals— brothers Mike and David Douglas, along with Eric Larkin and Jack Cardinal—say they are looking forward to the club’s future. That was solidified as the City of Chandler Planning Division made a unanimous recommendation on July 10 to amend zoning on 5,000 square feet of building space in the Paloma Kyrene Business Community for the club. The zoning approval was a necessary step for the four partners, under their AZBRED LLC, to purchase the condo unit, known as Unit 14 in Building M of the 14-building mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Kyrene Road and Gila Springs Place. “This is a big step for the four of us and our club,” Cardinal says. “We are very excited that the process is moving forward.” Thorobred was founded in 2004 by the Douglas brothers, both of whom were accomplished Arizona State wrestlers. Larkin, also a decorated ASU wrestler, joined the group several years later, followed by Cardinal, also an acclaimed grappler. Larkin and Cardinal also coach wrestling at Seton Catholic
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where the school was located, she hiked Machu Picchu. One night, the group visited a water fountain park with a water show. “We would work all day, and then at night time we would hang with the natives or go do something touristy.” Working with local construction workers, Cassandra and the HEFY group tied rebar, shoveled sand and rocks, mixed and hauled cement and laid bricks for the school. She says the water wasn’t safe to drink so she had to brush her teeth with bottled water. “You work with what you have.” She says it isn’t fair to compare her experience to hotels in the United States. “When you look at it from what there was from the areas we were working, it was really nice,” she says. The natives’ homes were the size of her bedroom. “They would have nothing,” she says. “(But) we were treated so nicely. The natives all knew what was happening. They knew the Americans were here to help build the school. They thought we were just these saints, and everybody just went crazy because they were so nice and so loving.” Cassandra is starting to save up for next year. “I really want to do it again next summer.” She shares her experience any time she can. “It makes you so happy you want to keep talking about it.” For more information about Humanitarian Experience for Youth, visit www.hefy.org.
August 16 - September 5, 2014
Preparatory. The quartet’s mission is to train its students, ages 4 to 14, in wrestling, but with a focus on “turning young boys into young men, teaching them life skills,” says Mike Douglas. All four coaches take pride in passing on their experience and dedication to the sport. “Our students are working to better their skills 10 months of the year, and the four of us work year-round to make them winners,” Larkin says. There is no shortage of talent
on the coaching end with a Pac-10 championship and wins, an NCAA champion and NCAA All-America awards. These accomplishments have flowed to Thorobred students, who have learned and gone on “to win multiple state championships and AllAmerica awards, and most recently a student—Jason Holmes—making the World Wrestling Team,” David Douglas says. Thorobred, which practices at Chandler High School, anticipates an Oct. 15 grand opening of its new facility. Once up and running, the club hopes to have 50 students to train. “We want to ensure that the kids get our full attention and have dedicated coaching,” says Mike Douglas. “Our job is to give them a solid foundation to eventually become successful high school wrestlers.” The club participates in tournaments nationwide to give its students the opportunity to showcase their talents. With the new facility, the opportunities will expand to substantively impact its students “on and off the mat,” notes Mike Douglas. “We are building student-athletes at Thorobred,” Cardinal adds. For more information about the club, visit www.thorobredwc.com. Tim J. Randall is a freelance writer for the STSN. He can be reached at news@santansun.com
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Chandler taekwondo students win awards
Teens sought for service on center’s advisory council
Eight local students from Arizona Taekwondo School in Chandler earned high honors recently at the 2014 National Championship held by USA Taekwondo. More than 7,000 competitors from all over the country attended. The school returned home with two bronze medals in Poomse competition and one bronze medal from sparring. Students participating from Arizona Taekwondo School included Derrin McDevitt, Sue Kim, Yeojung Yoo, Geoffrey Kim, Juneau Kim, John Yoo, Jessee Cruz Salcido and Aidan Salcido. Masters Hyun Christopher Kim and Byungsoo Frank Kim and GM Jong Lee were among the national referees; Masters Wonmi McDevitt and Derrin McDevitt supported the athletes as Association Coaches, and Master Hyun Christopher Kim assisted as the Level I coach. Arizona Taekwondo School is at 2100 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite 17, Chandler. To learn more, call (480) 442-3150 or email aztkd.chandler@gmail.com.
Applications are being accepted for Chandler Center for the Arts’ fourth annual Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Teens on the YAC focus on arts appreciation, community service and development of leadership skills to become advocates for the arts and well-rounded community leaders. Applicants must be between 13 and 18 years old and currently attending a public, private, parochial, charter or home school; deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 12. A maximum of 15 teens will be selected for a six-month term that begins Wednesday, Sept. 24, and concludes at the end of March. Each council member will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program year, and the class list will be
prominently displayed in the Chandler Center for the Arts lobby. The YAC is a component of the larger Connecting Kidz initiative, through which Chandler Center for the Arts provides youth with opportunities to experience performance and visual arts. The YAC is made possible with the support of Nordstrom, Wells Fargo, Kinder Morgan, Law Office of Shannon S. Bradley and Lorah Neville. To download the 2014-15 YAC application, visit www.chandlercenter.org/connecting/ youth-main.html. To learn more about the Youth Advisory Council and the Connecting Kidz program, visit www.chandlercenter.org/ connecting.html.
‘Sip, Soak and Splash’ through end of summer The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is offering SanTan Sun-area families one last summer escape with its “Sip, Soak and Splash” package, available the weekend of Aug. 30. Offered at $129 per night, the package includes accommodations in a luxurious guest room, complimentary upgrade to a deluxe-view room if available, four complimentary snow cone vouchers and a total of four wristbands granting entrance for two children and two adults into the resort’s Soak and Splash water lawn.
The Sip, Soak and Splash party will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31, on Hemapik Lawn, and includes the Blue Crush 22-foot dual slip and slide, multiple sizes of inflatable water slides for kids of all ages, a water tag station, the Down Pour Derby, family-friendly food trucks and more. The Sip, Soak and Splash first family tournament kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday at the resort’s pool area, where family members in age-ranked brackets can compete in tournament-style bocce ball, corn hole and watermelon-eating contests
and a water balloon toss, with live poolside music. Additional surrounding nights are available for $99 per night. Guests not on the Sip, Soak and Splash package can purchase individual entrance wristbands for $20 per person, based on availability. The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is at 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., in Chandler. For more information or to reserve the package, call (866) 837-4156 and mention rate plan “LABOR14” or visit www. wildhorsepassresort.com/labor-day.
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Aspire athletes achieve success at championships Aspire athletes brought home a bronze medal and other accolades from the Trampoline and Tumbling U.S. Championships held recently in Louisville, Kentucky. Steven Harris of Chandler was awarded the bronze medal for trampoline. In addition, USA Gymnastics selected Jerrett Jensen of Gilbert to the U.S. Senior National Team for tumbling; and Michael Liao of Chandler and Matthew Hawkins of Ahwatukee were chosen for the U.S. Junior National Team for double-mini trampoline.
Aspire welcomes team from Mexico A group of 15 Mexican gymnasts were recently welcomed at the Aspire Kids Sports Center facility. The group traveled from the city of Hermosillo in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico to train with Aspire’s team gymnasts and work with the coaching staff. “This is an amazing chance for our young athletes to interact with gymnasts from another culture, and for the Mexican gymnasts to learn some new
skills,” says Aspire owner Scott Barclay. “The Aspire coaching staff will be working with the Mexican coaches to teach them some new training techniques and styles.” Aspire Kids Sports Center is a 32,000-square-foot gymnastics and swimming facility at 51 S. Hearthstone Way, Chandler. Classes are available for all ages in gymnastics, swimming, dance, martial arts, cheer, tumbling and trampoline. To learn more, call (480) 8203774 or visit www.aspirekidsports.com.
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Chandler student brings home award Hannah Tsay, a student at Chandler’s New Vistas Center for Education, was recently awarded third place out of 97 entries in the Junior Individual Websites category at the 2014 National History Day Contest, held in College Park, Maryland. Hannah’s project, “David Brubeck: Jazz for Human Rights,” was also awarded the Star Spangled Award, sponsored by the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission and its affiliate nonprofit, Star-Spangled 200 Inc. The prize is awarded to an outstanding entry in any category and from either division
that incorporates one or more of the commission’s four themes of courage, unity in diversity, inspiration or preparedness. National History Day is a yearlong academic organization for middle and high school students focused on the teaching and learning of history. For more information about National History Day in Arizona, visit www. arizonahistoricalsociety.com/education/ azhd. For more information about New Vistas Center for Education, visit www. newvistasaz.com.
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August 16 - September 5, 2014
Nominate family for free swim lessons SanTan Sun-area families in need are eligible to win one free session of children’s swim lessons from Desert Swim School, to draw attention to Drowning Awareness Month in August. Families with a child or children between 1 and 8 years old can be nominated by emailing info@ desertswimschools.com. Nominators are invited to briefly share the family’s situation, along with contact information for both nominator and nominee. One free session of eight swim lessons will be awarded to a deserving family, to be held at one of Desert Swim School’s
indoor locations in Chandler or Gilbert. The giveaway will also include goggles, a towel and a gift card for a swimsuit. To learn more, visit www. DesertSwimSchool.com or call (480) 4613888.
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Publisher goes ‘Gator’ Chandler-based Five Stars Publications Inc. has launched a crowdfunding campaign to give every second grader in Arizona a free copy of its upcoming title, “Gator, Gator, Second Grader (Classroom Pet...or Not?)” by award-winning author Conrad J. Storad. Published by Little Five Star, a division of Five Star Publications Inc., “Gator, Gator, Second Grader” compares and contrasts a variety of potential classroom critters, using kid-friendly dialogue and rhyme to help students identify which animals make great classroom pets and which do not. Following the story, a researched curriculum guide takes an in-
depth look at American alligators. “Every dollar pledged will go toward purchasing a copy of the book for a second grader reading and studying in a classroom,” says Storad. “We are starting with getting a book to every second grader in Arizona for the new school year. From there, the bigger goal is to put a copy of the book into the hands of as many second graders in North America as possible.” For more information, or to become a sponsor, visit www.gofundme.com/ gatorgatorsecondgrader. To learn more about Five Star Publications, visit www. FiveStarPublications.com.
Chandler shoppers find deals at Kid to Kid
Seton hosts 19th annual basketball tourney
SanTan Sun-area families looking for back-to-school deals on clothes, shoes and accessories, or toys and baby gear for younger children, are invited to visit Kid to Kid, 2815 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 12, Chandler. Kid to Kid Chandler is part of a national children’s resale franchise that specializes in stylish, gently used clothing and accessories for kids up to size 14. Parents can also earn cash or store credit
Seton Catholic Prepatory will be hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 6. Age divisions include third/fourth grades, fifth/sixth grades, seventh/eighth grades, JV, varsity, adult and masters (38 years and older) for both male and female athletes. Registrations will be accepted through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. Game information will be posted online Friday evening, Sept. 5, with games being played on Saturday. The cost is $80 per team with
by selling outgrown kids’ clothes, toys and baby gear. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. To learn more, visit www.kidtokid.com.
no more than four players to a team. Each participant receives a tournament T-shirt, and the winning team receives team apparel. Teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games, all of which will be played indoors with referees on all courts. Registration forms are available in the Seton Catholic Prepatory main office or online at www. setoncatholic.org. Contact Karen Self for further information at kself@setoncatholic. org or (480) 545-4309.
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Aquatic facilities change swim hours New hours are in effect for the six aquatic facilities in Chandler: Arrowhead Pool, 1475 W. Erie St.; Desert Oasis Aquatic Center, 1400 W. Summit Pl.; Folley Pool, 600 E. Fairview Dr.; Hamilton Aquatic Center, 3838 S. Arizona Ave.; Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, 5901 S. Hillcrest Dr.; and Nozomi Aquatic Center, 250 S. Kyrene Rd. Arrowhead Pool, Desert Oasis Aquatic Center and Hamilton Aquatic Center are open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. Nozomi Aquatic Center is open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 21.
Rodney James of Chandler and Jordan Lamoreaux of Queen Creek are July graduates of Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rodney earned his Bachelor of Science in business management, and Jordan
sun, without breaking the bank. The $1 Family Swim continues at Mesquite Groves only during the postseason from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
Swim lesson class descriptions offered
Hamilton and Mesquite offer lap swimming hours
The ages listed on the course descriptions are basic guidelines to help place a child, except Seahorse, Otters and Surfer classes. A child may be more or less advanced than the suggested ages. A general rule of thumb is that children will remain in the same level for at least two sessions. The descriptions on the class list are available to assist in educating customers on the variety of classes that the Aquatic Department has the capability of offering. Some classes may not be offered during each session or at each location. Individuals may visit a pool during public swim hours for a free swim lesson evaluation from one of the qualified personnel.
Lap swimming continues year round from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday at Hamilton Aquatic Center and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center. Admission is $2, regardless of age.
Each facility offers $1 Family Swim time. It’s a great opportunity to get the family together for some fun in the
Catherine Coffman of Chandler earned a master’s degree in project management from University of Wisconsin—Platteville in Platteville, Wisconsin.
Kyra James of Chandler is on the Spring 2014 Dean’s List at University of Houston in Houston, Texas. Kyra is majoring in retailing and consumer sciences.
The City of Chandler offers several different class types designed around swimmers’ needs. Whether they are learning how to swim or looking to improve their stroke technique and endurance, it’s never too late to learn to swim or become a better swimmer. For course listings, consult the Breaktime magazine.
August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month, which recognizes the impact of child drownings all month long, and encourages families to take steps to prevent them. The campaign involves purple ribbons, proclamations, events, messaging and a moving kickoff event at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The City of Chandler will be turning the city purple to bring awareness to these preventable tragedies. Keep an eye out when traveling down Arizona Avenue in downtown Chandler for water safety banners; pick up a purple ribbon at various city locations.
KIDS EAT FREE ON WEEKENDS! One free kids meal for each adult meal purchased for $4.79 or more on weekends. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
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STUDENT CHRONICLES Heather Crothers of Chandler recently completed a semester-long wilderness expedition traveling in New Zealand with the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Adult Swim courses designed for individual needs
$1 Family Swim at Mesquite
August 16 - September 5, 2014
earned his Master of Science in information security assurance. Theresa Siver of Chandler is on the Spring 2014 Dean’s List at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. To qualify, students must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale, have at least 12 graded credit hours, no incompletes and no grades lower than a C. Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is the recipient of $400,000 from the state of Arizona’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget, part of $1.4 million allotted to Maricopa Community Colleges’ educational efforts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and Workforce areas. CGCC’s funds will be used for the updating of labs and equipment for its Aviation and Composite Manufacturing programs.
BASIS schools again make top marks Students at BASIS schools again tested well above average on the OECD Test for Schools. Four BASIS schools were eligible to participate in the OECD assessment, including BASIS Chandler. The OECD Test for Schools, based on PISA, is a student-assessment tool geared for use by schools and school networks to support research, benchmarking and school-improvement efforts. On average, BASIS students, at the four schools tested, outscored such other high-scoring countries as Singapore, Korea, Finland and
Switzerland. All of the eligible BASIS schools earned scores that put them in the top 5 percent of all schools in the world in reading, math and science. According to the results, the average BASIS student is two and a half to three years ahead of the average American student in reading, math and science. BASIS schools are open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter schools with a STEM-focused curriculum, operating now across the country. To learn more about BASIS schools, visit www. basisschools.org.
SEND US YOUR YOUTH NEWS! Have your children performed exceptionally well in school? Have some great news to share? Tell the SanTan Sun News all about it! Send your news to news@santansun.com or to SanTan Sun News, P.O. Box 23, Chandler, AZ, 85244-0023. Photos are also welcome. Make sure they’re at least 300 dpi.
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Youth
August 16 - September 5, 2014
CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Aug. 19: Junior high early release: ACP, Payne, Willis, Hill Aug. 21: Junior high early release: Andersen, Bogle, Santan Aug. 27-28: Elementary early release Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday; no school
CTA-Independence Hawks Smile now – Fall pictures will be taken Wednesday, Aug. 20. Watch for a flier with more information coming home soon. Save the date – The first PTO general meeting of the school year will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, in Room Orange 23. Babysitting for students and siblings will be available across the hall. Parents will have the opportunity to meet the new PTO board and hear about what is happening at the school. Tax credit – Donations for 2014 can still be made. Donate up to $400 to CTA-Independence and receive credit for the full amount. Forms are available in the front office. Thanks to those families who have already donated. Calendar Aug. 20: Fall pictures Aug. 26: PTO general meeting Aug. 25-29: Book Fair, Library Aug. 27-27: Early release at 11:40 a.m., parent-teacher conferences —Wendi Olson
Haley Tigers Great start – Haley Tigers are off to a great start for the 2014-15 school year. The first PTO Family Fun Night will be held Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Chick-fil-a on Gilbert and Germann roads, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Haley. The year’s first round of parent-teacher conferences will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27, and Thursday, Aug. 28. —Stephanie Palomarez
Hancock Heat Decades Dance – The fifth grade will host its annual Decades Dance from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. Those who want to rock out to a variety of music won’t want to miss this exciting event. Tax credit – Hancock families are invited to consider donating to Hancock through the Arizona extracurricular tax credit program. Married couples can donate any amount up to $400; singles can donate any amount up to $200. Tax credit donations can be made in increments or charged on a credit card. —Andrea Dickson
Tarwater Toros Calendar Aug. 26: Fall Picture Day Aug. 27-28: Early release for parentteacher conferences
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Sept. 9: Tarwater Restaurant Night, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Peter Piper Pizza —JoAnne Cawley
Basha High Bears Lifelong learner – Basha High Theater Director Shira Schwartz recently attended a three-week workshop in London, England. The workshop, “Teaching Shakespearet through Performance,” taught practical and active strategies for educating students about Shakespeare, immersing participants in the life of a working theater, from costume design to crafting. Schwartz plans to share what she learned with Basha High’s English Department and AMS. The program is run through the English Speaking Union, Phoenix branch and the Globe Theatre. —Carol Skocypec
available for adults. Exact change is appreciated; adults cannot use their child’s account. Good grade – CTA-Goodman continues to earn an A rating from the state of Arizona. Thanks to all the parents for the many ways they support their student’s education and the CTA program. Calendar Aug. 22: Donuts with Dad, 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m., Multipurpose Room Aug. 26: PTO Cookie Dough sales begin Aug. 27-28: Early dismissal at 11:10 a.m.; conferences —Kathie Butters
CTA-Goodman Gators Save the date – Students may invite any special men in their lives to school to share breakfast with them at “Donuts with Dad.” Fathers, grandfathers, uncles and neighbors are all welcome to the breakfast event, held from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, in the Multipurpose Room. Cost is $1 for students or $1.75 for adults, and includes a donut, muffin, cinnamon roll, breakfast bar or breakfast bun, fruit and a drink, either milk or juice. Coffee will be
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