Back to School: Gilbert - 2018

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

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For more community news visit gilbertsunnews.com

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Higley Uni�ied is ready for the new school year

BY KRISTINA REESE GSN Guest Writer

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ust a few days from now, thousands of students will take a step onto Higley’s 13 campuses, ready for the new year.

Hundreds of teachers and staff await them, prepared to help young learners master new skills, renew interests and fuel talents.

There is great excitement this time of year, but there is also a great sense of responsibility. I am in awe of our teachers and staff, hearing the stories they share about the many hours of preparation and their own studies to better themselves and pass along knowledge in language, math, science, the arts and more to the next generation.

They take on personal challenges – achieving National Board Certification, second (or third) degrees, seeking out professional development opportunities across the country and sharing what

they know to help others also become better at their craft. They are passionate and excited about the future – and so am I. I look forward to hearing stories from the classroom, those “aha” moments students experience as a lesson sparks an understanding. I can’t wait to see what Higley student-athletes will achieve on the field. I know Higley students will humble themselves again and again in service to the community.

I hope you will follow along on this journey. Higley staff will share these stories through social media and video, which can be (Special to GSN) found on Higley’s new You- Gateway Pointe Elementary School’s Kids Club worked on science, technology, engineering and mathemetics projects last school year.

Tube channel.

There, you will discover how Higley staff are developing a future be leaders and why Higley employees -Kristina Reese is president of the workforce for Gilbert and Arizona, how choose our schools to help students grow, Higley Unified School District Governthe arts is opening doors for students to learn and lead. ing Board.

Welcome to a new year from Gilbert Public Schools

BY SHANE MCCORD Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent

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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 before.

Academic excellence continues to be a cornerstone of what we do. Our

well-rounded curriculum and extensive range of programs ensure all students receive the support and challenges they need in order to take full advantage of their educational experience.

We continue to hear from the business community about the need for qualified graduates with real-life skills, applicable in the modern-day workplace.

We are proud at GPS to be ahead of the curve in this area.

Our well-established and highly performant extracurricular programs deliver exceptional opportunities for our

students to learn and develop the key skills required for a successful career and further education including problem-solving, leadership, citizenship, service and communication.

This year, we are excited to announce new school options, designed to meet the needs of our community.

The 2018-19 school year will see the addition of two traditional “Schools Within Schools” – at Spectrum and Canyon Elementary (K-6). We are de-

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MCCORD

GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

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lighted 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 continue to deliver academic excellence, while bringing communities together in ways that only a public school can.

We are extremely proud to have 13 A+ Schools of Excellence within our district, and in 2018-19 more of our schools will be applying for this great honor.

One thing that never changes is our core goal of delivering teaching and learning in a safe and supportive environment.

This year, as a district, school safety and security will be a top priority. You already may have seen over the summer some of the work we have been doing on campuses, including the installation of new security entrances at our junior high campuses.

(Special to GSN)

Superintendent Shane McCord read to students at Gilbert Elementary School earlier this year. He is beginning his second year as superintendent.

We will continue to build on this extremely important work throughout the year and will keep our community informed.

It truly is my honor to serve you and our community. As I enter my second year as your superintendent, I am excited for the year of learning that is

ahead of us. Together, we will continue to build the leaders, problem solvers, innovators, creators, and citizens of the future.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

It's never too late to have a rewarding career!

(Special to GSN)

Neely Traditional Academy students are ready for a new school year.

GPS starts performance academy, more choices

BY DAWN ANTESTENIS GSN Guest Writer

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s families prepare for the new school year, Gilbert Public Schools is ready with 3 new school op-

tions.

In direct response to demand from parents and families in the Gilbert and Mesa areas, GPS will add two traditional “school within a school” options at Canyon Rim Elementary and Spectrum Elementary, and a unique Performance Academy for grades 3-8 hosted at Mesquite Elementary.

GPS was an early adopter of traditional education with Neely Traditional Academy, established in 1999. Since then, interest in this education model has increased, in response the district is adding two more Traditional options for K-6 students.

The traditional model offers students access to a rigorous education experience, with high expectations for all students in academic achievement, music and art performance, physical education, and technology, with a focus on character development.

Students in these programs will engage in the traditional instructional model in reading and math. The Spalding method teaches comprehensive, spelling, writing and reading with phonics.

Mathematics instruction utilizes Saxon Math, a program that develops deep mastery of math skills and concepts through

instruction that builds on prior knowledge through an incremental, distribution, and cumulative approach.

The “school within a school” model allows students from the same family to attend the same elementary school, while offering the option for parents and students to choose the curriculum program that best suits each child.

Mesquite Elementary will host a new Performance Academy for students in grades 3-8.

The format is designed to offer a flexible learning platform and schedule enabling students to take part in athletic and performing arts training and competitive events, while ensuring the students have the opportunity to experience school and all the socialization and personal development that occurs within the classroom environment.

A key part of this program will be mentorship. Students will work one on one with a mentor to track personal progress and develop goals. Other program goals include personalized learning, academic success, flexibility and socialization.

The program is set up to ensure students gain skills in working collaboratively on real-world, performance-based learning challenges.

To learn more, schedule a tour or enroll: gilbertschools.net.

-Dawn Antestenis is the director of marketing and communications for Gilbert Public Schools.

GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

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Higley’s gifted program rolling out new initiatives

BY DR. KIM DODDS KERAN GSN Guest Writer

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s families are preparing for the start of a new school year, teachers, too, are busy preparing their classrooms, attending professional development training and writing lesson plans to welcome young scholars back to school.

This school year, the Higley Unified School District Gifted program is ready to welcome our youngest kinder-prep and kindergarten “thinkers” through the expansion of THINK, Higley’s Highly Gifted Academy, located at Sossaman Early Childhood Development

Center and Bridges Elementary school.

This self-contained program is designed to respond to the academic and social-emotional characteristics of our highly gifted students.

We are also beginning the second year of Higley’s Accelerated Academic Learning Model for third- and fourthgrade students.

Designed for gifted and talented students in the content areas of English language arts and math, this model is present on every campus and is supported by a grade-level classroom teacher and a gifted specialist, both of whom have or are working toward their full gifted endorsement.

Support services provided by site gifted specialists will continue for students in kindergarten, first, second, fifth and sixth grade.

A cornerstone of the HUSD gifted and talented program is differentiated curriculum and instruction. What this looks like in the classroom is opportunities for students to learn based on readiness and interest within their daily curriculum.

Inside the classroom, students work collaboratively in small or large groups to demonstrate reading comprehension or creative application of math concepts. Learning centers and choice menus are helpful instructional structures within the classroom that allow teachers to personalize student learning and support students with individual learning goals along the way.

Students also experience “Independent Study,” the process of conducting nonfiction research. This type of learn-

ing is important for students who have insatiable curiosities.

Students learn to “think like a disciplinarian” and become a zoologist, historian, engineer or other specialist.

Enrichment like this allows students to learn grade-level content and learn the language, methods and tools used by experts in those fields.

Maker-space environments, robotics clubs, future problem-solving and school-leadership programs foster creativity, problem solving and social development.

We can’t wait to see how our elementary age gifted and talented students will show their love for learning this year!

-Dr. Kim Dodds Keran is the gifted services coordinator for Higley Unified School District.

Higley parents: Encourage student involvement

BY AMY KAYLOR GSN Guest Writer

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elcome back to Higley Unified School District!

As a board member, I’m always excited to hear about everyone’s awesome summer adventures and, of course, grateful to those who worked all summer to prepare our schools for the next year.

As a mom, I’m always eager to see what teachers my children will have, what friends will be in their classes and, of course, how expensive my back-to-school clothes bill will be after shopping with four teenage daughters.

In May, my oldest daughter graduated top 5 percent at Higley High School, received her private pilot’s license and is off to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University next month.

As I look back at her Higley High School career, I want to encourage parents just beginning these precious years to have your student try out as many opportunities as they can when it comes to classes, clubs and sports.

My gal entered high school as a top drama student and left with 30-plus college credits and a pilot’s license after trying out AFJROTC. Encourage them to go to

the football games and cheer on their school’s team on Friday nights.

Help them shop for that perfect outfit for the next dance and, even if they don’t have a date, encourage them to go with their friends and make memories.

Challenge your child, but don’t let them get too stressed out over academics. If you see them struggling, get involved: find tutoring and let them know that maybe while they’re in an “I can’t” moment, you can help them see it through to an “I can” moment!

High school has changed since I was a teen and yet the one thing that every student still needs is connec(Special to GSN) tion. Social media, in Mastering some aspects of STEM was the goal of a project by Kids Club members at Gateway Pointe Elementary last my humble opinion, has school year. actually made us less social.

I hope you love the journey – all of it skill of starting over.

Host a game night, a loud girls’ Let them learn perseverance is neces- – just as much as I have. I’m ready to do sleepover, dinner before a dance and al- sary in the big game of life that comes fast it again, right along with you, starting in ways encourage face-to-face interaction right after high school. The four years go just a few days. with others. Let your child fail under your fast – though some days with your teen -Amy Kaylor is a member of Higley Unicare and watch them learn the coping might seem very long. fied’s governing board.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

Gilbert teacher �inds space academy out of this world

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY GSN Managing Editor

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hen students return to South Valley Junior High School in Gilbert in August, they will have the chance to learn from a teacher with firsthand experience in space travel…sort of.

While STEM educator Alexis Mason never actually left planet Earth over the summer, she did have the chance to experience simulated missions to Mars and other extraterrestrial-inspired activities at the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy.

Mason received a scholarship to attend the five-day program. A local Honeywell employee reached out to Principal Tim Cannon to find teachers interested in the academy and Cannon referred them to Mason.

“Knowledge is power and teachers are the power generator,” Mason said.

“I want to thank Honeywell for seeing the big picture and that investing in educators is important for helping students along.”

The experience fulfilled a goal for

the Gilbert teacher.

“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to go,” Mason said.

Mason, who previously taught science and STEM courses, will be teaching all STEM next year. She said her classes will help students apply new technology trends to real-world situations.

“This was a really exciting opportunity because I get to help kids learn about coding, robotics and 3D printing – all things we talked about at the academy,” Mason said.

Over 200 teachers from 35 countries attended the academy, which took place at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and featured 45 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction for STEM teachers.

Mason said she particularly enjoyed the training missions, which allowed her to team up with other teachers and use the same types of simulators that astronauts use.

One day featured training for a lunar mission in the space shuttle and

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(Special to GSN)

South Valley Junior High STEM teacher Alexis Mason realized a longtime dream when she was invited to attend the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Alabama this summer.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

aBest Charter aBest Preschool aBest Elementary Teacher (Dani Wilson)

(Special to GSN)

Mason launches test rockets at the Huntsville, Alabama space center.

MASON

Brady Wald Principal

brady.wald@leonagroup.com

Celebrate and Tour the

“New” Liberty Arts Academy

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Mason’s role was to assist in take-off and the in-orbit transfer to the space station.

“We transferred onto the space station and got to practice being a scientist on a station. We did real science in that lab,” she said.

The team’s second mission, to Mars, and had the teachers flex their engineering skills and simulate what would happen if they had to transfer oxygen and nitrogen into a capsule on the red planet.

“That was incredible and really a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Mason said.

Beyond the missions themselves, Mason and the other attendees also went through hours of classroom time, when they learned how (Special to GSN) to build and use technolMason works on robot components. ogy like altimeters – devices used to measure altitude after a rocket launch. some of the robotics components of She also got to hear from speakers the academy back to her class and will like astronaut Larry DeLucas and for- also incorporate engineering, design mer NASA engineer Homer Hickam, thinking and problem-solving skills who was portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal she worked on in Alabama. in the film “October Sky.” ”One of the speakers called (our stuAttendees also got the chance to dents) the Mars generation,” she said. hear from the academy’s alumni, who “That is the first time I heard that offered tips on how the teachers could term. The kids sitting in my classroom, bring what they learned back to the one of them could be on Mars one days, classroom. and that is wild to think about.”

Mason said she plans to bring back

Liberty Arts Academy is excited to announce that we have “new” opportunities that continue to make learning exciting as well as strategies in place within our school and classrooms to enhance and engage the learning experience for our students, parents, and the community. Here is a list of the exciting strategies that we are doing at LAA: • Pre-K thru 8th grade School • Free Full-Day Kindergarten • Full Day Pre-K Programs (3 & 4-year olds) • 8-30 minute specials a week (2-PE, 2-Art, 2-Music, 1-Library, 1-Computers) • Computers & Smartboards in every classroom • Sensory / Interactive Room for ALL students • Implementation of the Finland Educational Model (Family, Play, No Homework) • Free Bus Transportation • Before & After Care with YMCA • Monthly Community Integration / Field Trips • After School Clubs (Lego, Robotics, Sports) • Blended Learning for ALL students • ABC Reading Program with Community Partner, Gabriel’s Angels • Additional Electives for Middle School Students on Fridays We hope to see you soon at LAA as we are enrolling students for 2018/2019 school year!

3015 S Power Rd | Mesa, AZ 85212 | 480-830-3444 | libertyartsacademy.com

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

(Special to GSN)

Teacher Kirsten Chaison is surrounded by well-wishers as she holds a mock check representing her prize.

Second-grader’s letter wins his teacher a prize

BY GSN NEWS STAFF

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hen Nicholas Smith heard that radio station 99.9 KEZ was looking to honor exceptional teachers, he thought of Kirsten Chaison, a teacher who works with gifted students at Neely Traditional Academy in Gilbert Public Schools.

In his nomination letter, Nicholas wrote, “Mrs. Chaison has the patience of an angel while tolerating students who occasionally misbehave. She knows how to grab our attention and get us back on task.”

“I love that she is willing to help all students with any problems, including just feeling down or sad. She is easy to talk to and cheers you up,” he added.

Chaison won one of KEZ and Taylor Morrison’s nine teacher-of-the month awards and ultimately took home the Arizona’s Excellence in Education Award winner for Teacher of the Year and a $999 cash prize.

But for Chaison, an educator for over 20 years, the real reward is in helping students discover what they are passionate about. She teaches students across multiple grade levels in language arts, social studies and science.

“That is what is fortunate about my position. I get to help children find their passion,” she said. “That to me is the best feeling.”

Prior to teaching gifted students, Chaison spent several years teaching in special education and general education.

Over the course of her career, Chaison said she learned to work with students on a personal level in order to accommodate individual learning styles.

“I really let my students create our environment,” she said. “I give them the big

idea and I let them fill in the gaps.”

The letter shows an appreciation for that approach and pointed to Neely’s first science fair last school year – which Chaison helped launch – as an example of the way she provides unique learning experiences for students.

“I love science, and I worked all winter break on my project of finding the most efficient battery level to power a motor,” Nicholas wrote.

Chaison said the event gave students the opportunity to learn about science and engineering in an engaging and fun way and noted that one student took home an award in physics for his project at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair.

Nicholas, who just finished his second year at Neely, also expressed gratitude for the extra effort Chaison made to make him feel comfortable at the school when he first arrived.

“She took the extra time to help me feel welcome,” he wrote. “I would have left the school if it weren’t for her.”

“She always has a story to tell and makes us laugh and enjoy learning. She is willing to take on extra responsibilities and help us experience new opportunities.”

He closed out the letter by writing that “I would really like her to win this award because she goes above and beyond for me and my classmates. I really feel like she is a second mother to me and I know she deserves this award.”

For Chaison, that acknowledgement was worth more than any cash prize.

“It was one of the most emotionally touching experiences of my life,” she said.

“The letter that he wrote was so caring. He felt the way I would like all my students to feel: that I cared about him and that he is important.”

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

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With East Valley Locations In: (Special to GSN)

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Anthony Mandarino, a classroom volunteer from Your Experience Counts, supports teacher Allison Zingale in her fi fth-sixth-grade classroom at Eisenhower Center for Innovation in Mesa Public Schools.

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Volunteer helpers sought to help Mesa teachers cope with class size

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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 2018-19 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 school districts.

Robby Meldau, principal of Eisenhower Center for Innovation in the Mesa school district, said 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 stu-

dent and encouraging them to learn,” Meldau said.

Teacher Allison Zingale and volunteer Anthony Mandarino teamed to support a combination fifth-sixthgrade 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. Many are retired from business, military or education. Some

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018

VOLUNTEER

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are stay-at-home moms or work parttime.

Your Experience Counts provides extensive training for volunteers in subject areas – including STEM – and classroom management.

At Balsz Elementary School, volunteer James Mallard utilizes his experience as a life and business coach to work with eighth-grade 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 amaz-

ing 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: “Volunteers 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 in the Osborn District, teacher Mae Nevarez says that her third- and fourth-grade students “love having (volunteer) Maria Salvucci in the room. She has been an enormous help, particularly supporting students with math concepts.”

Salvucci, herself a former teacher, has been a YEC volunteer for 3 ½ years.

“Seeing the need in Arizona for assistance in overcrowded classrooms, I thought serving as a volunteer would be a good fit. I absolutely love helping children build their confidence,” Salvucci said.

For more information, or to volunteer for the 2018-19 school year, contact Mike Beardslee, Educational Programs Manager at mike@handsonphoenix.org, 623-223-9248, or handsonphoenix.org/YEC.

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QC High School starting year with new principal

BY 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 starting 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 mil-

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lion 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. “ 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.

Oster is a 19-year employee of the district and has spent most of that time at Queen Creek High.

She has been a social studies teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, cross-country, track and varsity softball coach and elementary principal.

She has a M.A. in education from Ottawa University and a second master’s in educational leadership from Grand Canyon University.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS AN EDITION OF THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JULY 15, 2018