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Glendale single mother to receive free fence from pool safety program
BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
Penny Perkins saved up and bought her first home for her and her three boys in February of this year. They were ecstatic to have their own pool, and she began looking for a pool fence right away.
COVID-19 had Perkins searching for a job soon after purchasing her home. Even when she had secured another position, the cost of a pool fence was far down on her list of expenses.
The Perkins, named the fourth winners of the 2020 Fulton Homes Fence Patrol contest, had a pool fence installed July 1, giving the Glendale mom peace of mind while her boys safely enjoy time outside for the rest of the summer.
“A pool fence was the first thing on my list,” Perkins said. “Being a single mother of three, and having them all be water babies, is a scary thing. Their love for our very own pool scares me. This fence will truly be a huge weight lifted off our shoulders.”
According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 4 years of age in Arizona, where children are drowning at twice the national rate. To date, there have been 25 deaths resulting from 64 water-related incidents this year, according to the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona.
Several tragedies have hit Peoria and Glendale families.
“At Fulton Homes, we always put families first,” said Doug Fulton, CEO of Fulton Homes. “One child drowning is too many, and Fence Patrol is one program that aims to reduce the stigma of Arizona being one of the top states known for child drownings. Water emergencies can happen in seconds, and we want to continue doing everything we can to prevent another family tragedy.”
In its 18th year, Fence Patrol is one of several water safety-related initiatives Fulton Homes supports. The Tempe-based home builder also sponsors the “2 Seconds is Too Long” campaign, which raises awareness to watch children around the pool and gives away free swim lessons. Over the last 20 years, Fulton Homes has invested more than $2.5 million on water safety in the Valley.
For more information, visit fultonhomes.com.
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The 100 Club of Arizona presented an $11,000 check to north Glendale restaurant Pullano’s Pizza to go toward law enforcement and firefighter meals. With first responders in their family, the Pullano’s opened their doors for dine-in exclusively to local law enforcement and firefighters as a safe place to enjoy a much-deserved meal and community support. Restaurant owners Mike and Bonnie Pullano have stayed busy offering curbside pickup throughout the stay-at-home orders but wanted to do something special for local law enforcement and firefighters to recognize their efforts during this challenging time by offering them free meals in a “safe and supportive environment.”
Their generosity spurred the interest of others and the community pitched end to help fund meals with a total of $11,000 raised to date and hundreds of positive messages shared. When The 100 Club became aware of the Pullano’s effort and the community’s generosity, they matched that amount with a check of their own. For more information, visit 100Club.org. (Photo courtesy 100 Club of Arizona)
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PeoriaTimes.com
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Peoria Unified modifies back-to-school plans
BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a fluid situation for school districts around the state. Gov. Doug Ducey, who closed schools due to coronavirus in March, in late June ordered schools not to teach students in classrooms until Aug. 17.
As such, the Peoria Unified School District, which has 30,000 students in Peoria and Glendale, will start the fall semester online.
According to a letter to PUSD parents (also posted on its website), “All Peoria Unified K-12 students will start school on Aug. 5 in a Virtual Instruction model. Within the next two weeks, your school principal will contact you with detailed information about how your student will log in, what to expect for the first eight days of school, as well as more details about student laptops and internet access.”
The district noted a Tuesday, July 21, PUSD governing board meeting was delayed to await further instruction from the governor.
“Many families have expressed concern over choosing an option that is best for their child without knowing a definitive physical return to school date. With all of these variables, we are giving our families additional time to opt-in to the full-time virtual instruction model of our My School, My Way plan and ask that you opt-in by Monday, July 27,” said the letter.
PUSD is offering two options:
Classroom Instruction, which will provide “an in-person learning environment that prioritizes optimal safety measures” once students are permitted to return to classrooms.
Virtual Instruction, which PUSD says is “a complete online delivery model” offered using the Florida Virtual platform.
According to the PUSD letter to parents, “We realize that making a choice may cause angst for families that are undecided about our two options. We also recognize that each family has a different barometer of what feels safe and what they feel is best for their child. The information you provide us on your choice will help us properly staff our programs and train our teachers accordingly on the platforms they will use for learning this year.”
Classroom safety measures at PUSD include:
Hand sanitizing stations will be available at every school site for use in high-traffic areas on campus.
All classrooms will have access to a hand washing or a hand sanitizing station and staff will encourage proper hand hygiene as students enter and leave each classroom.
Additional disinfecting of high-touchpoint areas on campus, such as countertops and door handles, will take place throughout the day.
All Peoria Unified schools and sites will have a disinfectant available for all staff to utilize to conduct periodic disinfecting of all high-touch-point areas, like doorknobs, desks, counter tops, etc.
Students will utilize their own school supplies and will keep their belongings separate or in their backpack throughout the day.
Students will be asked to bring a water bottle or hydro-flask to school that can be refilled from one of our water filling stations since drinking fountains will be inactive. SEE PUSD PAGE 13 July 23, 2020
Now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Program Year
Catholic Charities Westside Head Start and Early Head Start provide comprehensive, early, continuous, year-round, childhood education through a holistic approach by working with the whole family. We also offer in-home services for pregnant expectant mothers. Our programs emphasize pre-reading, language, math, cognitive skills, health, and social and emotional competence to prepare all children for school and to maximize their potential for a bright future. We also offer home based services for expectant mothers and children 0-3 through weekly home visits to each enrolled child and family. WSHS provides child-focused visits that promote the parents’ ability to support their child’s development. The visits last 90 minutes. Twice a month, the program offers opportunities for parents and children to come together as a group for learning, discussion and social activity.
Who is eligible?
• Expectant mothers • Children, ages 0-5 • Children with special needs, foster children, and homeless families
For our center based program we offer full day (8-2pm), or half day (8-11:30am or 12:30-4pm) options.
There are multiple class schedules, class times, and locations throughout the West Valley of the Phoenix Metropolitan area for those who qualify.
Call Your Closest Area Office for more information
602-287-6199 623-932-3517
Avondale, Buckeye, South Avondale/Cashion, Tolleson, Goodyear Glendale, Peoria, Surprise/El Mirage
623-934-3657 Glendale
602-568-2401 Home Based Services
July 23, 2020 Peoria Times BACK TO SCHOOL 13 Back to School Clothing Drive ramps up for another year Ch Ch a a l l l l engg eng ee e BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF Though COVID-19 created dramatic changes in education, it didn’t change the fact that elementary school children at Title I schools in Maricopa County need uniforms, backpacks, supplies and clothes. As such, Back to School Clothing Drive Families at Luke Air Force Base and families whose children attend Title I and other participating schools had to pre-register for Back to School Clothing Drive support. “Throughout the rest of the year, we will continue providing support to other schools and districts through direct delivCharter School Charter School is as crucial as ever. “We will fulfill our promise to provide school clothing, uniforms, backpacks, ery of supplies,” Gentles said, adding that “we are still in need of both financial support and donations of supplies, which can keeping famiiliies safef school supplies and other essential items for elementary school-aged students, their families and schools, even with the challenges COVID-19 has presented,” said BTSCD Executive Director Karl Gentles. “Yes, we’ve had to adapt to the virus like everyone else while still being able to provide these essential needs to between 3,500 and 4,000 children. Even with a drop be done online” at backtoschoolclothingdrive.com. Sponsors who have made significant cash and in-kind sponsorship support for the current year include BHHS Legacy Foundation, Bank of America, Arizona Community Foundation, Charles Schwab, Discover Financial, Fiesta Bowl Charities, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and - N i g h t l y f u l l c a m p u s c l e a n i n g & e l e c t r o s t a t i c s a n i t a t i o n - N i g h t l y f u l l c a m p u s c l e a n i n g & e l e c t r o s t a t i c s a n i t a t i o n in fundraising support during this very difWells Fargo Bank. ficult time, we are committed to our misBank of America, a long-time BTSCD sion and to the children.” Gentles said that BTSCD, Arizona’s largest provider of uniforms, backpacks and supplies, has converted from its annual on-site distribution to 5,000 Title I students at Grand Canyon University to: • A distribution of uniforms, backpack-loaded school supplies and clothing partner, added a second cash sponsorship to underwrite the cost of this year’s school supplies since the bank could not host its annual company-wide employee supply drive. Founded in 1967, Back to School Clothing Drive is Arizona’s largest provider of new school outfits, uniforms, backpacks - S m a l l e r C l a s s s i z e s - F i l t r a t i o n s y s t e m s t o e l i m i n a t e u p t o 9 7 % o f a i r b o r n e v i r u s e s - F i l t r a t i o n s y s t e m s t o e l i m i n a t e u p t o 9 7 % o f a i r b o r n e v i r u s e s - S m a l l e r C l a s s s i z e s for families from Luke Air Force Base at and school supplies to children in need. • • 3 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Gila River Arena. Delivering requested supplies for 2,000 students to specific Title I schools in Maricopa County. Delivering supplies to 600 children in foster care in partnership with Arizona Helping Hands. Back to School Clothing Drive provides new school outfits and uniforms, backpacks and school supplies to more than 25,000 K-6 students at more than 260 schools in 40 Maricopa County school districts. Back to School Clothing Drive operates on an annual budget of approximately $1 million with three employees, - F l e x i b i l i t y t o t r a n s i t i o n b e t w e e n o u r A t H o m e o r O n - C a m p u s L e a r n i n g o p t i o n s - F l e x i b i l i t y t o t r a n s i t i o n b e t w e e n o u r A t H o m e o r O n - C a m p u s L e a r n i n g o p t i o n s • Delivering supplies for 400 children who a 15-member volunteer board of directors may be homeless or in transition through Children’s First Academy and Sequoia Choice Charter School in Mesa. and more than 2,500 volunteers. For more information, visit backto schoolclothingdrive.com. Scheduled Opening PUSD FROM PAGE 11 “that will support the self-paced modules August 17th!
To limit exposure to other students and in our online system.” staff, elementary students will stay toWhile the district encourages stugether throughout the day, including for breakfast, lunch, recess and dismissal. dents to participate in live lessons to allow for direct interaction with the Tuition Tuition Free Free Where physical distancing is a challenge, students will be spaced out side by side. teacher and their classmates, the lessons will also be recorded and will be Full-day Full-day Kindergarten-6th Kindergarten-6th Grade Grade For virtual instruction students, Peoria Unified teachers will provide live lessons to students three to five times a week available for playback. For more information, visit peoriaunified.org. 602-938-5411
