School Notes (10/10)

Governing board candidates from Kyrene, Tempe Union

"Perspectives of Kyrene Elementary and Tempe Union High School Districts' Governing Board Candidates on Educational Issues" will be presented by The Parent Network (kyreneparent.org) at the Oct. 16 forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Corona del Sol's cafeteria, 1001 E. Knox Road, Tempe. Questions may be submitted prior to the event by e-mailing president@kyreneparent.org.

Attendees are asked to bring one personal/cleaning item to be donated to the Kyrene Resource Center.

For more information, e-mail president@kryeneparent.org or call Sandy Lowe at (480) 961-0388.

MPHS to hold candidate's forum

Mountain Pointe High School's Advanced Placement Government class will be hosting a Candidate's Forum from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in the school's auditorium, 4201 E. Knox Road. The event will consist of two forums and a presentational intermission.

In the first forum from 6 to 7 p.m., Tempe Union High School District Governing Board candidates DeeAnne Clowes, Michelle Helm, Sam Holdren, Zita Johnson and Donald Keuth will respond to audience questions. In the second forum from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Congressional District 5 candidates Harry Mitchell and David Schweikert will respond to audience questions. From 7 to 7:30 p.m., between the two forums, a presentation will be given about the upcoming Tempe Union Bond and Bond Override elections. A "Meet-and-Greet" for candidates with the audience members will take place after the second forum.

For more information, call K.R. Scott at (480) 759-8449, ext. 58131 or e-mail krscott.mtp@tuhsd.k12.az.us or Jasonkrell@yahoo.com.

New host family needed for German student

The SHARE! High School Exchange Program is looking for a new host family for an exchange student from Germany for the remainder of this school year. He is currently attending Camelback High School. He speaks English, is covered by medical insurance and has spending money for personal expenses. He is 16 years old and enjoys soccer, snow skiing, tennis, movies, theater, watching sports and camping.

The SHARE! High School Exchange Program is sponsored by ERDT, a non-profit educational foundation. For more information, call Vicki Camassa at (480) 860-2695 or the SHARE! Southwest Office at 1-800-941-3738.

Kiser participating in teacher exchange

Phoenix Sister Cities has launched a new Youth and Education program, the History Teacher Exchange, with Ennis, Ireland.

As a part of the exchange, Mountain Pointe High School history teacher Heather Kiser left for the sister city of Ennis on Sept. 27. She is spending two weeks there, staying as the guest of Ennis teacher Helen Sheil.

The purpose of the exchange is to offer students a global perspective on world history while giving them insight into the cultural differences between the two sister cities. Aside from the experience of teaching in a foreign country, the exchange will provide the teachers a unique opportunity to learn from one another as well.

DV homecoming parade, carnival

The Desert Vista High School senior class student council will present this year's homecoming parade and carnival on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the school's practice field. The parade will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and the carnival will follow from 2:30 to 7 p.m.

The festivities will include entertainment from local arts groups and the school dance/cheer squad, carnival rides, games, inflatables and food. There is a $5 entry fee for all rides.

For more information, call Maggie Fountain at (480) 706-7953.

Keystone charity classic, auction

Keystone Montessori School will hold its fourth annual Keystone Charity Classic and Auction on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event is open to the general public as well as parents and teachers of the school.

To start the festivities, a golf tournament will be held at the Raven Golf Club in the morning. The tourney will include a scramble format, an awards ceremony followed by lunch. Golf is $150.

The evening's entertainment is a Monte Carlo Night starting at 5:30 p.m. at the school, 1025 E. Liberty Lane. Tickets to this event are $65.

The silent and live auction will be followed by a raffle drawing. Raffle tickets are $20 each, or six for $100. The winner does not need to be present.

All proceeds benefit Keystone Montessori School. For more information or to register, visit www.keystonemontessori.com or call (480) 460-7312.

Goddard announces new student lending standards

Attorney General Terry Goddard's office has created the Arizona Student Loan Code of Conduct to ensure students are treated fairly when financing their college education. Arizona's three major universities, along with 31 other Arizona colleges and post-secondary schools, have adopted this voluntary code of conduct.

The Arizona Student Loan Code of Conduct addresses several of the same issues as the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 that was signed into law last month. The Arizona code, however, exceeds the requirements of the federal act in some key ways, including that the Arizona Code:

- Prohibits schools from engaging in revenue sharing with lenders of private loans, as well as federally guaranteed loans. 

- Restricts schools from accepting anything of value from a lender in exchange for any advantage related to student loans, including placement on a "preferred lender" list.

- Requires schools to list three lenders on lists of private student lenders (the federal law requires only two lenders on lists of this type). 

- Prohibits schools' financial aid employees from seeking reimbursement of travel or other expenses for serving on advisory boards of private lenders. 

Assistant Attorneys General Taren Ellis, Dena Rosen Epstein and Vincent Rabago handled this matter. For more information, contact Anne Hilby at (602) 542-8019.

Individuals with complaints about student lending or other consumer problems should file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Office. Complaints can be filed online at www.azag.gov. Consumers also can call (602) 542-5763 to have a complaint form mailed to them.

DV Lady Thunder Basketball Team hosting golf tournament

The Desert Vista High School Lady Thunder Basketball Team will host a golf tournament on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Ahwatukee Country Club, 4848 E. Warner Road. The tournament begins with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

Registration is $99 per player or $390 for a foursome. Registration and fees are due by Oct. 18.

For more information, to sign up or to make a donation, call Evie at (602) 577-7410.

DV Hockey Club hosting annual golf classic

Desert Vista High School Hockey Club's Fourth Annual Charity Golf Classic will get under way with a shotgun/scramble start at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Foothills Golf Club, 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive. Registration and sign-in start at 11 a.m.

The cost is $95 per player or $350 per team. Sponsorships are available, and raffle and silent auction prizes and donations are needed. Funds earned will help defray ice costs and other expenses associated with running the program.

For more information or to sponsor, donate or sign up, contact Tina at (480) 699-5773 or tpyke1@aol.com or visit www.desertvistahockey.info.

DV dancers set golf tourney

Desert Vista High School's Dance Program is taking registrations for its ninth annual fundraiser golf tournament Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Foothills Golf Club, 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive.

The four-person scramble format will have an 8 a.m. start. The entry fee of $125 ($500 per foursome) includes green fees, cart, range ball, registration bag and post-game barbecue meal. Prizes will be awarded for first through third places, longest drive, closest to the pin and longest putt.

For information contact (480) 759-5834.

Cardinals coach Whisenhunt to speak at Seton Catholic golf tournament luncheon

Enjoy a day of golfing with Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt while raising funds for student athletes at Seton Catholic Preparatory High School in Chandler.

Whisenhunt will participate and give the luncheon keynote address at Seton's 15th Annual Golf Tournament, which begins with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Ocotillo Golf Club, 3751 S. Clubhouse Drive, Chandler. After the tournament, enjoy lunch with Whisenhunt.

To register, follow the link on the Seton Catholic Web site, www.SetonCatholic.org. For more information, call Booster Club President Patrick Molloy at (602) 885-7229.

Third graders' art to be featured in 2009 ‘green' bus calendar

Youth can enter the fourth annual Cool Bus STUFF contest themselves, or as part of a class art project.

Using the theme of Valley Metro: Let's Go Green Together!, draw a picture that focused on one of the following topics:

- Go Green and Save: Show how you and your family travel green by using city buses to help Planet Earth

- Go Green to Fun Places: Show you and your family traveling green on the city bus to a fun place in your city

- Go Green and Be Safe: Show a safe way to ride the city bus as you and your family travel green

Entries will be accepted until Friday, Oct. 24, and entry forms may be downloaded from ValleyMetro.org.

For more information about the contest, call Dolores Nolan at (602) 262-4001.

Golf tournament benefits CAC students

Registration for Central Arizona College's annual East Valley Golf Tournament to benefit area students with scholarships is now under way through the institution's Aravaipa Campus.

The four-person shotgun scramble will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at The Preserve in SaddleBrooke. The cost is $260 per team and includes green fees, carts and lunch following the 18-hole event.

For more information, to receive a registration form or to register for the event, contact Domingo Barragan at (520) 357-2838 or domingo.barragan@centralaz.edu or Maria Munoz (520) 357-2801 or maria.munoz@centralaz.edu.

Recycling scholarships available for seniors

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is encouraging Arizona high school seniors interested in environmental issues to apply for the 2009 Arizona Recycling Scholarship Program.

Under the program, ADEQ will award 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to high school seniors to be used for expenses at a college or university in Arizona.

To apply, students must submit a proposal outlining a waste reduction or recycling project in their school or community to be implemented during March 2009. All Arizona high school students in their senior year are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The 10 scholarship recipients will be selected by ADEQ based on the proposals submitted.

Proposals must be received by ADEQ no later than Feb. 6, 2009, and the scholarship winners will be announced Feb. 20. ADEQ will provide scholarship funds to the students after receiving proof of enrollment at a community college or university within the state of Arizona.

For more information, visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/solid/program.html.

SMCC receives grant for Bioscience Education

A $290,000 Expanding Undergraduate Bioscience Engagement Track (eUBET) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CSREES Higher Education HSI Office has been approved. The South Mountain Community College Division of Math, Science and Engineering (MSE) submitted the grant proposal that will run for three consecutive years.

This is the third USDA grant awarded to SMCC for biosciences in the past five years, according to Helen Smith, MSE chairperson. The grant provides means for students to conduct biotechnology research projects and publicly present their works.

South Mountain Community College is located at 7050 S. 24th St. It is one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.

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.

Obama, McCain imitated in DV debate

Desert Vista High School will host a political day on Friday, Oct. 31, in the school's library and cafeteria. Speech and Debate students will present a mock debate for all students in the library, including their very own Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain. The event will feature a moderator and all the fixins,' as well as a mock election for the entire student body from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during lunch.

Send submissions to: jwalker@ahwatukee.com