School Notes (11/6)

Altadeña Harvest Festival tonight

Altadeña Middle School’s Harvest Festival will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at 14620 S. Desert Foothills Parkway. The community is invited to enjoy rides, games, food, music, the book fair and performances by the school’s band, choir and orchestra. Admission is free, and tickets or wristbands may be purchased for the rides, games and food.

MPHS students competing in CGCC math contest

Chandler-Gilbert Community College will host more than 200 East Valley students in grades 9 to 12, including students from Mountain Pointe High School, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, for the college’s annual Excellence in Mathematics High School Competition.

The Excellence in Mathematics Competition was created by the CGCC Mathematics Division with the intent of supporting the efforts of local community schools in motivating and encouraging today’s youth to be successful in mathematics.

For more information, call (480) 732-7030 or visit www.cgc.edu/math.

The  Odd Couple on stage at MPHS

Mountain Pointe Theatre Company will present The Odd Couple at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7.

SMCC, Ace Auto Repair offer auto repair class

Students will learn how to perform their own routine automotive maintenance and repairs in a new two-session, non-credit class offered by South Mountain Community College. Class will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, Nov. 7 and 14, at Ace Auto Repair, 5010 S. Central Ave., and be taught by Dick Sellers, owner of Ace Auto Repair.

The cost is $40. Registration for CONT_ED 74725 is available online at my.maricopa.edu or by calling (602) 243-8123. For more information, call (602) 243-8034 or e-mail smcc@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

Nursing college hosting open house

Chamberlain College of Nursing will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, to provide potential students and their families an opportunity to tour the campus and talk with staff and faculty members about education and career opportunities in nursing.

Chamberlain is located at 2149 W. Dunlap Ave.

For more information or to RSVP, call (888) 556-8226 or visit www.chamberlain.edu/phoenix.

Phoenix School of Law to host dean’s open house, mixer

Join Dean Gene Clark for an open house and mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Phoenix School of Law, 4041 N. Central Ave. The free event will be held in the Admissions Department and will feature a tour of the school. Refreshments will be served.

Parking is available in the garage, directly east of the building. RSVPs requested by Nov. 9 to Jasmine Crowe at (602) 682-6800 or jcrowe@phoenixlaw.edu.

Mr. Thunder Contest at DVHS

The Desert Vista High School Mr. Thunder Pageant will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 in the school’s auditorium, 16440 S. 32nd St.

Twenty DV students will compete for the highly coveted Mr. Thunder crown by participating in an opening dance number as well as “board short,” talent and formal wear competitions. Contestants will be judged by a panel of local business owners, Desert Vista’s most beloved security guard and guest Phoenix Suns Dancers. Ramsey Carroll, Mr. Thunder 2008, will have the honor of crowning this year’s winner.

The public is invited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with general admission tickets available for $7 each or $5 in advance at the DV Bookstore. The Mr. Thunder Contest is a fundraising event organized and put on by the Desert Vista High School Spiritline.

For more information, contact Tracy Neumayr at TracyN00@cox.net.

ASU students host open gym sessions at MPHS

A new program has been introduced to Mountain Pointe High School to promote physical activity for students. Arizona State University physical education majors are hosting “The Den,” or open gym sessions, from 7 to 7:44 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the gym at Mountain Pointe. Activities also take place on the football field, outdoor basketball courts and the softball field. Students are encouraged to come out and play and get in some of their recommended minutes of daily physical activity.

For details, contact Kimberly Cowell at kcowell@asu.edu or call (480) 217-2136.

Fundraising sunglasses sale supports MPHS Grad Night

Dr. Kelly de Simone of Eye Priority is offering a 25 percent savings from purchases of sunglasses at her office during the month of November, plus a 10 percent donation to Mountain Pointe High School Grad Night.

Eye Priority is located at 15725 S. 46th St., Suite 112.

For information, call (480) 893-2300.

 Thunder Marching Band wins at ASU Band Day

The Desert Vista High School Thunder Marching Band competed in Arizona State University Band Day on Oct. 24. Out of 25 bands, DV’s marching band was first place with the overall highest score. The band also won the “music performance” caption award.

SMCC to offer short-term classes between fall and spring

Registration is now under way for South Mountain Community College’s “Holiday Express,” a selection of 10 course offerings that students may complete within a four-week period between the fall and spring semesters.

Online classes run from Dec. 19 through Jan. 15 and include Chemistry and Society with lab, College Critical Reading, Chicano Literature, Excel Spreadsheet, PowerPoint, Counseling in a Multi-Cultural Setting and Intro to Art Therapy. Most earn three credit hours. In addition, two one-week counseling classes will be offered the week of Jan. 11.

Tuition is $71 per credit hour, with a $15 registration fee. To enroll, students may register online at www.southmountaincc.edu. For more information, call (602) 243-8123 (English) or (602) 243-8135 (Spanish).

Seton hosts 'Starry, Starry Night’

Seton Catholic Preparatory High School will host its 22nd annual dinner auction, “A Starry, Starry Night,” starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the San Marcos Resort, 1 San Marcos Place, Chandler.

Early bird tickets are $125 per couple.

For more information or to buy tickets, call (480) 963-1900, ext. 2006.

 HCLC hosting Eagle Day

Eagle Day, a fundraiser for Horizon Community Learning Center, will take place Nov. 21 at The Foothills Golf Club. Eagle Day includes a silent auction, dinner, dancing and an optional golf package. Proceeds will be used to increase technology in all HCLC classrooms.

Registration begins at $30. To register, call (480) 659-3098 or visit www.horizonclc.org/hgc.php.

 Kyrene offers free immunization clinics

The Kyrene School District, in cooperation with Chandler Regional Medical Center, is offering a free immunization clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Kyrene de las Lomas Elementary School, 11820 S. Warner-Elliot Loop.

Parents are required to accompany their children to the clinic and should provide shot records. Children ages six weeks to 18 years old are eligible to attend the clinic. Appointments are not necessary, and shots will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information, call (480) 728-5697 or go to www.mcchip.org.

For exact information on what immunizations are required for each age group, call The AZ Immunization Program Office number at (602) 364-3630 or the Maricopa County Health Department at (602) 506-6767.

Enjoy an evening of theater at DV

The Desert Vista Theater Troupe will present a variety of performances in the school’s Black Box Theatre at 16440 S. 32nd St. The lineup includes Tartuffe Dec. 2 to 4, One Acts Jan. 20 to 22 and Children’s Hour March 10 to 12. My Fair Lady will run April 29 to May 1 in the Dr. Joe McDonald Auditorium.

Wednesday and Thursday performances will start at 7 p.m., and Friday performances will start at 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.

 SMCC teams with St. Mary’s for monthly discount food box distribution

South Mountain Community College employees and students are selling discounted boxes of high-quality food for the St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance. The next sales event will take place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 4 in front of the SMCC Performing Arts Center at 7050 S. 24th St.

This is not a government program or a handout, and anyone is welcome to purchase the food. St. Mary’s Food Bank purchases the food at a reduced price from area grocers and passes the savings along to consumers. There is no paperwork, and all purchases must be in cash.

For additional information and purchasing options, call (602) 305-5830.

SMCC offers GED high school equivalency testing

South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th St., is offering GED testing for individuals who do not have a high school diploma and are seeking to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Candidates must be at least 16 years of age. Those under 18 must bring a notarized letter of consent from a parent or guardian, along with an official letter of withdrawal from their last school attended. The GED testing fee is $75, with a $15 re-test fee for each subject area. Testing is by appointment only, and pre-registration is required prior to testing. Pre-registration takes place on Monday afternoons between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Testing takes place on Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tests are available in English, Spanish and large-print. Special accommodations are available for examinees with documented disabilities.

For more information, call (602) 243-8188.