School Notes (9/5)

Marching bands work hard to entertain

In order to be ready for each performance, members of the Desert Vista Thunder Marching Band follow a rigorous schedule by attending a week-long band camp the week before school starts, with nine hours of practice daily, followed by between 11 and 12 hours of practice outside of school each week. The band also participates in two March-A-Thons early in the season.

This week, the 100-member DV Marching Band will perform the opener of its 2008 show, "Civilization," at the game hosted at Gilbert High School. The opener is based on the video game Lair and employs several themes taken from the new PS3 game.

With the help of director Josh Thye and staff members, the marching band will perform at five in-state competitions and one out-of-state competition.

DV Grad Night meeting

An initial planning meeting for the 2009 Desert Vista High School Grad Night event will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, in Room H-106 at the school, 16440 S. 32nd St.

For more information, e-mail dvgradnight09@yahoo.com.

Ceramics fundraiser to honor those lost on 9/11

Desert Vista High School ceramics instructor Mark Honaker will be working at the wheel in Room A149 from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, with the goal of creating approximately 3,300 bowls to honor those lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and benefit those who responded and now suffer health issues.

The bowls will be sold for $10 each throughout the year (beginning Sept. 11), and the proceeds will be forwarded to The WTC Environmental Health Clinic of Belleveu Hospital in New York.

Eight showings of the third annual 9/11 Memorial slide show will take place during the school day on Thursday, Sept. 11, and two showings (5 and 7 p.m.) will be open to the public. The presentation is about 45 minutes and consists of hundreds of moving images and inspiring music. During these showings the sale of the first cycle of fundraising bowls to come from the kilns will take place and a reflection/meditation area will be provided in the lobby of the auditorium.

Desert Vista is located at 16440 S. 32nd St.

Parent Network meeting

The Parent Network will meet 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Kyrene School District Office, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe, and the topic will be "Perspectives of Superintendents Regarding the Big Issues in Education for 2008-2009."

In addition, learn important facts about the Tempe Union High School District overrides and bond measures coming up on the ballot this November.

Meetings are always open to everyone. For more information, e-mail membership@kyreneparent.org, call Eduarda Schroder at (480) 242-1963 or visit http://kyreneparent.org.

Tour Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori

Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori, 3221 E. Chandler Blvd., will offer a tour at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. A short video on Montessori will be shown, followed by a visit to a classroom where the school's materials and program will be presented. A few afternoon spots are available.

For more information, call (480) 759-3810.

Learn about Rotary Youth Exchange

An informational meeting for high school students and parents will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Grace Inn at Ahwatukee, 10831 S. 51st St., to learn more about the exchange program. Rotary sends more than 8,000 students abroad each year on a reciprocal exchange.

For more information on the meeting, call Sandy Blackwell, international director of the Ahwatukee Foothills Rotary Club, at (480) 785-2966 or e-mail sandy.blackwell@snrdesigns.com.

Visit these Web sites for additional information about Rotary Youth Exchange: www.rotary.org, www.rotaryyouthexchange.net, www.scrye.org and www.rye5510.org.

DV Orchestras hosting social, concert and fundraiser

Bring your family and join the Desert Vista High School Orchestras from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, in the school's Courtyard and Café, 16640 S. 32nd St., for an evening of fun featuring music, scooped ice cream and toppings, courtyard games for the young ones and a special visit from the Phoenix Fire Department Ladder No. 43.

The concert will begin at 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the DV Orchestras, and 20 percent will be donated to the orchestra programs at Akimel A-al and Altadeña middle schools. Donate $5 or more in coins and receive a pass for the concert and the ice cream and toppings bar.

Admission is $5, which includes donated coins.

For more information, contact Allison Branigan at (480) 704-1184.

Political forum for TUHSD Governing Board candidates

The community is invited to a political forum to meet Governing Board candidates for the Tempe Union High School District and hear a 2008 Overrides and Class B Bond presentation given by Yes Yes Yes Support Our Schools PAC from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Tempe Police South Substation, 8201 S. Hardy Drive.

Candidate questions may be submitted to tuhsdforumquestions@yahoo.com.

New Frontiers classes open to all

Classes and seminars include computers, photography, history, investing, art and many others. Members also enjoy many social gatherings such as concerts, hiking, tours, trips and more. After paying an annual membership fee, participants may sign up for classes, most of which carry no extra costs.

Classes are held at Mesa Community College at Southern Avenue and Dobson Road and at the Red Mountain campus at Power and McKellips roads, as well as several off campus sites.

The public is invited to an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Navajo room at the Kirk Student Center at MCC, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa.

For information, call the Community Education Department at (480) 461-7497 or visit www.newfrontiers-mesa.org.

Academic caliber of ASU students continues to rise

Arizona State University is succeeding in its mission to increase both student access and student quality, according to enrollment data released by the university today. ASU enrollment is shattering records once again, with a projected freshman class of 9,700 students and overall numbers expected to top 66,000.

The total includes a record group of 5,600 transfer students from other colleges, 4,500 new graduate students and more top scholars than ever before. It represents an increase of 16,000 students in eight years, the equivalent of a midsize university being added to ASU.

ASU admissions staff processed more than 100,000 inquiries this year, and 47,000 new applications, eight percent more than last year.

With a new ranking of fourth best in "Up and Coming Schools" in the 2009 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, ASU anticipates an even greater surge in applications next year.

SMCC to continue St. Mary's discount food box distribution

For the fifth year, South Mountain Community College employees and students will help their neighbors by packing and selling discounted boxes of high-quality food as volunteers for the St. Mary's/Westside Food Bank Alliance.

Food Value Club sales for the fall semester will be Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

Distribution on all dates will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in front of the Performing Arts Center at SMCC, 7050 S. 24th St.

For additional information, call (602) 243-8065.

Political forum for Kyrene, TUHSD Governing Board candidates

The community is invited to a political forum to meet Governing Board candidates for the Kyrene Elementary and Tempe Union High School districts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Corona del Sol High School cafeteria, 1001 E. Knox Road.

Community members will have a chance to submit questions prior to this event, which is sponsored by The Parent Network (www.kryeneparent.org).

Kyrene offers free immunization clinics

The Kyrene School District in cooperation with Chandler Regional Medical Center will offer free immunization clinics from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 and Dec. 2 at Kyrene de las Lomas Elementary School, 11820 S. Warner-Elliott 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-served basis.

For more information, call (480) 728-5697.

For exact information on what immunizations are required for each age group, call Arizona Department of Health Services, immunization program office at (602) 364-3632.

Childsplay wants to find Valley's best-loved teachers

In honor of Childsplay's upcoming production of Miss Nelson is Missing!, grade-school students in the Valley are encouraged to nominate their favorite teacher to win a prize. Each week in September Childsplay will randomly pick five nominations from all entries, and the winners will receive a four-pack of tickets to see the show at the Tempe Center for the Arts. One grand-prize winner will be selected in October, and that teacher will win a field trip for his or her class to any show in Childsplay's 2008-09 season. Students can enter at www.childsplayaz.org/contest-teacher.

Miss Nelson is Missing! will be on stage at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Drive, Tempe, weekends at 1 and 4 p.m. from Sept. 13 to Oct. 5. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children and seniors ($5 discount for upper balcony seating). A Target Storybook Preview will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, with all tickets at $12.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (480) 350-2822 or visit www.childsplayaz.org/tickets.

Kyrene Kids Club before and after school childcare

The Kyrene Kids Club is enrolling students for before and after school childcare for the 2008-09 school year. The Kyrene Kids Club program provides a state licensed, safe environment with quality caregivers at numerous East and West Valley locations. 

Full-week, three-day, one-day and older-sibling-pickup options are available. In addition to having homework time, children participate in well-supervised, enriching and fun activities both inside and outside. Kindergartners through fifth-grades are served. Special half-day and all-day programs are available for 3- and 4-year-olds at some sites.

Online registration is available at www.kyrene.org/eservices. In person registrations are taken at the Ben Furlong Education Center at Kyrene District Office, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays.

For more information, visit www.kyrene.org/childcare or call (480) 783-7314.

The Kyrene District is still accepting enrollment in some schools and grade levels. To apply, go online to http://www.kyrene.org/oe. For more detailed information, call (480) 783-4175.

High school speech and debate judges needed

A local high school is in search of judges for high school speech and debate tournaments. Tournaments are held on Friday afternoons and Saturdays.

For more information, contact Brian McHugh at smchugh8@cox.net or (480) 460-7088

Leadership award nominations sought

The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence is accepting nominations for the seventh annual Awards of Excellence. Awards are given in three categories to recognize exemplary work on behalf of Arizona school-age children.

The annual awards, recognizing an individual, program and champion, will be presented at the first Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence Awards Banquet in Mesa on Nov. 7.

The submission deadline is Sept. 15, and applications are available at www.azafterschool.org/Awards.htm or by calling (602) 279-7100.

For additional information, visit www.azafterschool.org or call Kim Morgan at the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence at (602) 279-7102.

Send submissions to: jwalker@ahwatukee.com