JULY 15, 2018
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(Tim Hacker Photos/ Mesa Public Schools) Emerson Elementary students celebrated the last day of the 2017-18 school Red Mountain High School Principal Jared Ryan checks Steve Durivage gets the floors at Hughes Elementary in tip-top shape. year in May. maintenance details with a custodian.
Mesa Public Schools works all summer on safety and security BY MACIE WILLIAMS Tribune Guest Writer
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s Mesa Public Schools’ 64,000 students enjoy their last few days of summer reading and lounging in the pool, the staff is hard at work ensuring a successful start to the school year. The Mesa Public Schools operations
department maintains 82 campuses inside and out. Staff members specialize in maintenance, custodial and grounds, as well as new construction and renovations. The department has made several improvements over the years to work more efficiently, including hiring staff that conducts daily on-campus improvements from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at individual
schools. Projects range from painting and landscape maintenance to structural repair. “Every principal across the district feels like the single most important person during that week’s visit,” says Todd Poer, director of operations. “And having our team available during extended hours
eliminates disruptions during classroom instruction.” For the more 29,000 daily student riders on the district’s school buses, safety is the transportation department’s top priority. After all, Mesa Public Schools bus drivers travel approximately 38,000 miles each See
MESA SCHOOLS on page 4
QC High School starting year with new principal Tribune News Staff
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ueen Creek High School students will have a new principal to look forward to when school resumes July 24. Julie Oster, a Chandler resident, is taking the helm while their former principal, Paul Gagnon settles into his role as the planning principal for the district’s second
senior high. That school is under construction on a 60-acre tract near Ray and Ellsworth roads in Eastmark, where it will become the third school to set up shop in the community that has now mushroomed into 2,000 homes and an estimated population of 5,000 since it started five years ago. The new building will “bring another
comprehensive high school with rich elective and extracurricular offerings to students and families,” said district Superintendent Perry Berry. “The class of 2017 earned $7.9 million in scholarship offers and we are confident that this new high school will soon be home to outstanding educators that will help produce similar results. Berry also praised the district’s
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partnership with the city of Mesa and Eastmark developer DMB. “Over the years, our team has worked with educational partners in the Mesa area to bring top-ranked schools to Eastmark,” said Dea McDonald, Eastmark general manager. “We are thrilled to partner with Queen Creek USD to bring a true See
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QC HIGH on page 4
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
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MESA SCHOOLS
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day. “We have a diverse group of people in our department who support educators and school leaders,” said Jeanne Vandemark, transportation director. “From retired career firefighters to business owners and college students, we have one common goal, and that is student success.” The school safety and security department implements the emergency management protocols at district schools, including lockdowns or evacuations. In recent years, campus safety improvements have included security fencing and safety glass. All district junior high and high schools have full-time school resource officers, who are Mesa police officers assigned to campuses. Director Allen Moore regularly meets with his security officers and the Mesa police and fire and medical departments to ensure that the district is up to date with security practices. “Providing a safe and secure environment for students gives them the ability to learn,” said Moore. The purchasing department is responsible for ordering everything from
textbooks and erasers to air filters and cleaning supplies. Over the summer, the purchasing team orders supplies for the upcoming school year. Director Michelle Hamilton says her team’s job is to make sure schools have everything they need for successful teaching and learning. “We’re here so that teachers can focus on students,” she said. The district’s food and nutrition department continuously improves recipes to meet the needs of their young customers’ discerning palates. This includes summer professional development opportunities to keep menus fresh and exciting. The district’s central kitchens will be hopping bright and early on the first day of school. The department serves more than 37,000 lunches and 18,000 breakfasts per day. So as students say goodbye to summer and hello to their classmates on Aug. 8, last-minute preparations are occurring to ensure another successful year of teaching and learning at Mesa Public Schools. Information about our diverse educational choices: mpsaz.org/enroll. -Macie Williams is a public relations/marketing specialist for Mesa Public Schools.
Valley Christian begins 201819 with accolades, junior high BY TROY THELEN Tribune Guest Writer
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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. “Our junior high Principal Chris Fryar and his team have already done a tremendous job in setting up Valley Christian Junior High for success.” 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,” Kuiper said. 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.
QC HIGH
THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
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comprehensive high school option to our residents and the greater East Valley.” Gagnon had been principal at the existing Queen Creek High for two years after a five-year stint as principal of Pahe High School and assistant principal at Cottonwood Middle School. He started his career in education as a high school history and economics teacher and also worked several coaching gigs. Julie Oster, the new Queen Creek High School principal, has two “Opening a new high children who both attend school in the district. She replaces Paul school is exciting and we Gagnon, who is the planning principal for the new high school feel that Paul’s experience, that the district will open next year in Eastmark. leadership, organization, passion for students, and work ethic are confidence to find success in it,” she said. the right combination for this job,” Berry “I have always considered Queen Creek said. High School my home and couldn’t be Oster is a 19-year employee of the more honored or excited to serve my district and has spent most of that time at community in this new capacity.” Queen Creek High. The Tempe native comes from a family She has been a social studies teacher, of educators and has two children who guidance counselor, assistant principal, attend schools in the district. cross-country, track and varsity softball The district also recently held a ribbon coach and elementary principal. cutting for its newest STEAM-focused She has a M.A. in education from neighborhood school, Faith Mather Ottawa University and a second master’s Sossaman Elementary, at 22801 E Via in educational leadership from Grand Del Jardin in Queen Creek. Canyon University. Faith Mather Sossaman lived in, or “Many people within our community will know Ms. Oster from her years of was associated with, the area for 82 years service devoted to our District in varied and started teaching at Queen Creek capacities at Queen Creek High School Elementary School in January 1932. and Queen Creek Elementary,” Berry Her original teacher desk was on display said. “We are excited to have Julie lead a during the ribbon-cutting as well as her high school diploma dated 1923. school that she knows so well.” The school will be home to grades pre-K Oster has worked closely with all departments and has worked diligently through 5 and will feature maker’s space to expand the honors and Advanced and computer labs, media center and several collaborative learning spaces. The Placement opportunities for students. “I have dedicated my life to providing grounds also include baseball and soccer opportunities for all students to learn what fields, spaces for music and band, and an their passion is and gain the education and outdoor amphitheater. Queen Creek’s new high school in Eastmark will open for the 2019-20 school year and will be able to accommodate more than 1,300 students.
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
Welcome to a new year from Gilbert Public Schools BY SHANE MCCORD Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent
D
ear Community,
It's never too late to have a rewarding career!
addition of two traditional “schools within schools” – at Spectrum and Canyon Elementary (K-6). We are delighted to be in a position to offer families school choice within Gilbert Public Schools and to continue to build on the success of Neely Traditional Academy, established in 1999. We are also excited to debut a new Performance Academy for grades 3-8, hosted by Mesquite Elementary. Let us not forget the outstanding quality and excellence of our neighborhood schools, which continue to go from strength to strength. Highly trained, certified educators in all our schools contin We are extremely proud to have 13 A+
A very warm welcome to all of our Gilbert Public Schools students and families joining us for the 2018-19 school year. This is an exciting time, when we come back together as a community, ready to learn and ready to thrive. Thank you for your continued support of the important work that takes place in our schools every day. This school year is about building on strengths and looking to the future. If you have the privilege of working or volunteering in one of our schools, you know that while much has stayed the same over the years, our schools continue to evolve and now offer students a level of academic excellence and educational choice like never GPS superintendent Shane McCord reads to students at Gilbert Elementary before. School earlier this year. Academic excellence continues to be a cornerstone Schools of Excellence within our district, of what we do. Our well-rounded cur- and in 2018-19 more of our schools will riculum and extensive range of programs be applying for this great honor. ensure all students receive the support One thing that never changes is our they need in order to take full advantage core goal of delivering teaching and of their educational experience. learning in a safe and supportive enviWe continue to hear from the business ronment. This year, as a district, school community about the need for qualified safety and security will be a top priorgraduates with skills for the modern-day ity. You already may have seen over the workplace. We are proud at GPS to be summer some of the work that we have ahead of the curve in this area. been doing on campuses, including the Our well-established and highly per- installation of new security entrances at formant extracurricular programs de- our junior high campuses. liver exceptional opportunities for our We will continue to build on this imstudents to learn and develop the key portant work throughout the year and skills required for a successful career and will keep our community informed. further education, including problemIt truly is my honor to serve you and solving, leadership, citizenship, service, our community. As I enter my second and communication. year as your superintendent, I am excited This year, we are excited to announce for the year of learning that is ahead of new school options, designed to meet us. Together, we will continue to build the needs of our community. the leaders, problem solvers, innovators, The 2018-19 school year will see the creators, and citizens of the future.
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
Help your child prepare for first day of kindergarten BY DONNA SHOTT Tribune Guest Writer
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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: 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. 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,” Petroniero-Klein 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 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 and online information and resources. 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. Topics include: child development, sleep, fussiness/colic, challenging behaviors, parenting, feeding/ nutrition and support to child care/ preschools. 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.
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
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Kyrene adopts new way to help kids, families in need Tribune News Staff
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he Kyrene School District has become the first in Arizona to partner with a Georgia-based nonprofit that gives people a new way to help the district raise money for children’s needs. The district last month approved entering into a non-binding, cost-free memorandum of understanding with Purposity, an organization that works with school systems to connect donors to specific needs, whether they be shoes or classroom supplies. “Purposity signs up donors within the ZIP codes of a school district, seeking people who are looking to find purpose through generosity,” an administration states. “Once Purposity has identified donors, staff identified by Kyrene would have access to the Purposity platform to enter specific student needs.” People who sign up provide their cell number and then are texted by Purposity
when a particular need in their ZIP code emerges. The memo states the likely staffers would be social workers or counselors with access to Purposity’s system.The children’s identities would not be publicized. “Once a week, users who have signed up to participate with Purposity will receive a text with a need in their area. By clicking on the link, they can read the story about the need and decide whether or not to help out. The price is clearly displayed, meaning they simply click ‘Complete Purchase’ and head to Amazon to finish the checkout process,” the administration memo states, adding: “The item is set up to ship directly to the Kyrene School District. Our staff would then distribute the needed item to the student.” Purposity also can be used “if a family were to experience a large loss due to a life event like a fire. Purposity will even See
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
Volunteers sought to help Mesa teachers cope with class size Tribune News Staff
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ith many Mesa schools facing teacher shortages and growing class sizes, the value of trained volunteers assisting in classrooms has become increasingly important to student success, according to principals and teachers who partner with Your Experience Counts. A program of HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Your Experience Counts has been providing volunteers to schools for 12 years. The program provided 92 volunteers in 25 schools during the 2017-18 school year. More volunteers are needed for 201819 to meet the requests of principals and teachers in Mesa Public Schools. The program addresses needs in other areas of the Valley as well, including Balsz, Osborn, Washington and Dysart districts. Robby Meldau, principal of Eisenhower Center for Innovation in the Mesa school district, said that YEC volunteers “are fabulous teacher allies, powerful supporters of students and positive impactors of classroom dynamics.” “My teachers are especially grateful for
how committed our volunteers have been to reaching every student and encouraging them to learn,” Meldau said. Teacher Allison Zingale and volunteer Anthony Mandarino teamed to support a combination fifth-sixth-grade classroom at Eisenhower. Zingale has had a volunteer in her classroom for her four years as a teacher. “My students greatly benefit from having caring, skilled adults interact with them,” Zingale said. “Anthony helped my students by motivating them and giving feedback on math and reading and offering alternative strategies for students to be successful.” Mandarino has a degree in biological science and an interest in becoming a teacher. “I work with students one-on-one or small groups to teach a lesson,” Mandarino said. “I try to connect with the students and keep them on track. It is really satisfying when they look at you and say thanks for the help.” YEC volunteers typically spend two to five hours a week in classrooms in grades 3 through 6. Volunteers bring a variety of life and work experiences to their schools.
(Special to the Tribune)
Your Experience Counts volunteer Anthony Mandarino helps students in a fifth-sixth-grade combination class during a reading assignment at Eisenhower Center for Innovation in the Mesa Public Schools district.
Many are retired from business, military or education. Some are stay-at-home moms or work part time. Your Experience Counts provides extensive training for volunteers in subject
areas – including STEM – and classroom management. At Balsz Elementary School, volunteer See
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VISTA on page 10
THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
Gilbert students examine restaurants and environment BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor
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group of Desert Ridge High School students recently analyzed the environmental impact of several restaurant chains for a class project. They went into the project with a variety of questions: Should they use paper or plastic? Should they use trash, recycle or compost? Are brown napkins better than bleached white ones? How about using Styrofoam containers, plastic straws and individually packaged sugar and condiments? How much do these practices contribute to its carbon footprint? Among their findings: Each Dunkin Donuts store throws away about 100 bakery products every day, Olive Garden restaurants use plastic straws that are discarded after one use and Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles doesn’t recycle waste products. The students were directed by ecology teacher Tara Dale to develop four changes in their practices that the restaurants could adopt that could decrease their carbon footprint without negatively affecting their bottom line. A total of 49 restaurants were contacted, and 37 agreed to attend a business meeting in the school. “All but two of those committed to taking at
VISTA
from page 8
James Mallard utilizes his experience as a life and business coach to work with 8thgrade students on reading comprehension and writing. He also created a career day for students. His teacher, Rikki Garcia, said: “James is awesome. He brings positive uplifting energy, listening skills and real-life experiences to our classroom.” And at Griffith Elementary in the Balsz District, volunteer Robyn Burgoon, a former teacher, works with students in math, science, spelling and writing. “Some students just need a confidence boost,” Burgoon said. “I think it is most helpful to support the teacher by working one-on-one with struggling students.” Similar classroom success stories are reported in other districts. In a YEC year-end survey, a Dysart principal stated: “You were an amazing support to our teachers, students and school. You are making a positive difference in the life of our students.” And in the Washington Elementary School District, a principal said: “Vol-
least one of the kids’ suggested changes to the next step for possible implementation,” Dale said. Ashley Downing, who researched her neighborhood Dunkin Donuts in Mesa together with fellow student Andrea Heath, spotted many beneficial changes that could be made. “You don’t really notice it at first, but once you dig deeper into it and take a bigger look at it, just the impact and the changes that one restaurant could make can have a big impact on the environment,” she said. “There are more than 11,300 Dunkin Donuts locations, and if each store throws away 100 items each day, it equates to 1,130,000 bakery items,” the students wrote in their report, adding: “Assuming these are all yeast-raised donuts weighing 1.3 ounces each, that would equal 91,812 pounds, or 46 tons, of food thrown away daily.” “For each ton of food that is thrown away, 65 kg of methane is emitted into our atmosphere. This creates 2,990 kg, or 6,591 pounds of methane produced by Dunkin Donuts every single day,” they calculated. The teens suggested the donut shop establish a partnership with a hunger relief charity to donate its unsold food. See
RESTAURANTS on page 11
(Special to the Tribune)
Flanking Rainforest Cafe manager Nicole Troyer are Desert Ridge High School students Destiny Stewart, left, and Oceanana Kitchen. Both students and the restaurant were involved in a project aimed at reducing the eatery’s carbon footprint.
unteers have become an integral part of the classroom and are much valued by the teachers and students. “Our volunteers have been able to really build strong relationships with students.” At Solano Elementary (Special to the Tribune) in the Os- Allison Zingale helps students in her fifth-sixth-grade classroom at Eisenhower Center for born District, Innovation in the Mesa Public Schools. teacher Mae Nevarez says that her third- and fourth-grade students thought serving as a volunteer would be “love having (volunteer) Maria Salvucci a good fit. I absolutely love helping children build their confidence,” Salvucci in the room. “She has been an enormous help, par- said. ticularly supporting students with math For more information, or to volunteer for the 2018-19 school year, contact concepts.” Salvucci, herself a former teacher, has Mike Beardslee, Educational Programs Manager at mike@handsonphoenix.org, been a YEC volunteer for 3½ years. “Seeing the need in Arizona for as- 623-223-9248, or handsonphoenix.org/ sistance in overcrowded classrooms, I YEC .
PURPOSITY
from page 7
purchase small furniture items.” None of the items can cost more than $250. “This will allow us to get items for students that we do not have easy access to through the Family Resource Center or other donations,” the administration said, adding that Kyrene is the first school district in Arizona to join the nonprofit. Purposity was started last year by two social media experts in Georgia, but also took root in Denver when one of them moved there. It boasts dozens of school districts, corporations and nonprofits as partners on its website, purposity.com, Co founder Blake Canterbury said, “Purposity isn’t just a tool. It’s a vision. It’s a vision of seeing the world as it should be. It’s the quest to connect neighbors and communities around purpose. It’s you helping those around you. As a group of social entrepreneurs, from the very beginning we wanted to make something that mattered.” The district hopes to sign up 500 people in the first year and add 250 donors every year after that.
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018
RESTAURANTS
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“When throwing away unsold items each day, the store is also throwing away all of the resources that were used to produce those items, such as gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers and water. By donating the unused items, Dunkin Donuts can help reduce their carbon footprint,” they wrote. They also suggested the store begin recycling, eliminate liners and minimize paper use by emailing receipts to customers. Ashley said that the store was “interested in all the changes that we had to offer for them…And they were understanding of the impact they could have in the future if they were to change some of their ways.” Jacen Hagen, Christian Danazio and Max Elenes analyzed the day-to-day practices of Jersey Mike’s and had several suggestions. “I was very surprised at my findings,” Jacen said. “I thought we weren’t going to find much, because I figured they already have it all mapped out, and that a giant corporation knows all these things and we were not going to tell them things that they had not heard before.” “I was surprised that we actually found some groundbreaking things to give them,” he added. The team suggested that the restaurant composts its leftover food to enable it to convert into fertilizer for the next batch of crops, and use brown napkins instead of bleached white ones, which don’t break down as well in landfills. “They really didn’t have a problem with any of the suggestions that we suggested; most of them were very simple…because of the ecological improvements, they were kind and accepting of everything,” he said. Triston King and Prince Young contacted Red Robin, which, Triston said, is already doing many things to decrease its carbon footprint. “I was kind of surprised that they were already doing so much. And those are just some little things that they could add to what they’ve already been doing,” Triston said. “This chain was definitely doing a lot more than what other restaurants were doing,” Triston added. The students suggested that Red Robin use unbleached brown napkins and paper straws and install hand dryers in the restrooms. He, too, felt that the restaurant was receptive to the suggestions. “I feel like they will try to do it and if they work it out, they will definitely do it,” he said. For the analysis, the students used the
Materials Economy Model, a production system that dominates the manufacturing world. They surveyed the entire process involved in getting food to a restaurant, preparing and serving it and disposing of waste. They considered the beginning from the point of growing the food and raising the animals through the production and transportation processes, ending at whether food waste ends in a landfill or compost pile. The students did nearly five months of research focused on many aspects of the business. Transportation, for example, was calculated using specific data at a local location. They researched the distribution and transportation companies that supply the food and paper/plastic/Styrofoam products to that local location. They also researched the trucks used and the roundtrip mileage from the distribution center to the restaurant. Using that information, in addition to the miles per gallon and the type of gas the trucks require, they were able to calculate the number of pounds of carbon dioxide emitted during one roundtrip voyage, according to Dale. “Even though the hours were long, it was a lot of fun knowing that I’ll be able to make a big difference in a small way.”
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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018