School Notes (4/16)

DV student wins National Peace Essay Contest

Sumana Veeravelli of Desert Vista High School won a $1,000 scholarship for writing the best essay from Arizona on the relationship between natural resources and international conflict in the National Peace Essay Contest sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace.

Veeravelli will join fellow winners for an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., from June 22 to 27 to participate in a week of briefings at embassies, conflict resolution simulations and meetings with officials from Congress, federal agencies, experts and practitioners from various organizations.

At a gala dinner on June 26, the three best essays - selected by the Institute's Board - will be awarded scholarships of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.

For more information on the National Peace Essay Contest, visit www.usip.org/ed/npec

Tour Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori

At 3 p.m. April 16 a short video on Montessori will be shown, followed by a visit to a classroom where Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori materials and program will be presented. There are a few afternoon spots available for fall.

Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori is located at 3221 E. Chandler Blvd.

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

Summit kindergartners participate in bedtime book exchange

Summit kindergartners and their families joined together in their classrooms at nighttime to enjoy books around the theme of bedtime. After snuggling with their parents and siblings on sleeping bags and reading their books in the dark with flashlights, the students listened to a bedtime story read by their teachers Danielle Klein and Erin Vosseller. The festivities ended with a bedtime snack of cookies and milk and a book exchange where the kindergartners exchanged a book they brought in with a friend.

Estrella literacy night

Kyrene de la Estrella's literacy event ‘Rootin' Tootin' Reading Roundup!' will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 17 at the school. The event will include a Scholastic book fair, pop-up book making, music performance, storyteller, biography wax museum, computer activities, reader's theater, literacy displays and giveaways.

Lagos 20th anniversary

In 1987, Kyrene de los Lagos Elementary School opened its doors to Ahwatukee Foothills. Two decades later, the school "of the lakes" is still growing, serving not only our original community but many of the new neighborhoods within the Phoenix area. They will commemorate the last 20 years of learning April 17, where families can enjoy numerous events from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Call the Lagos front office at (480) 783-1400 to pre-order food by April 15, or for more information.

Anniversary cake will be available in the MPR from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Milenio spring fundraiser

Milenio Elementary School's Annual Spring Fling Fundraiser will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. April 18.

Adults are free; children's tickets are $8 for an "all access" activity bracelet. Raffle tickets available for prize packages are $1 per ticket or six for $5.

Milenio is located at 4630 E. Frye Road.

Cub Scout Pack 978 garage sale

Cub Scout Pack 978 from Kyrene de la Esperanza Elementary School will be holding a garage sale from 6 a.m. to noon April 19 at 3937 E. Cholla Canyon Drive in Ahwatukee Foothills. Proceeds will benefit the boys attending Cub Scout Summer Camp at R-C Camp in Payson. Donations can be dropped off on April 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. 

For more information, contact Kim Helfenbein at (480) 704-1715.

Teen Hero Awards

The Taco Bell Foundation for Teens and Think MTV are seeking nominations for unsung heroes in Phoenix who deserve to be recognized for all their charity work. The first-ever Teen Hero Awards is a nationwide search to celebrate teens extraordinary activity on behalf of their community in tandem with National Volunteer Month. In addition to national winners, a Phoenix-area teen will be awarded $5,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice.

Beginning March 31 through April 25 individuals can nominate a Teen Hero by submitting a nomination form and an original essay of 100 to 250 words explaining why the teen is a hero. Nominations can be submitted by logging onto www.teenheroawards.com.

Kyrene ‘Board Candidate Preview' meeting

Three positions on the Kyrene School District Governing Board will become available in November.

On April 23, Kyrene Superintendent David Schauer and governing board president Sue Knudson plan to hold a "Board Candidate Preview." The meeting, scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., is for those interested in becoming school board candidates so they can familiarize themselves with district operations and the critical role the governing board members play.

For more information, call (480) 783-4161.

The meeting will be held at the Ben Furlong Education Center, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, in Tempe.

Mountain Pointe dance concert

The Mountain Pointe Dance Company, along with the beginning, intermediate and advanced classes will perform their spring dance concert, "Destination Unknown," April 23, 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for adults and free for children 5 years old or younger.

For more information, call (480) 759-8849 ext. 58053 or 59814.

SMCC writing workshop

Noted African-American author Toni Eubanks will present a free writing workshop, "Historical Fiction: Reshaping Our Past Through Stories Untold," at South Mountain Community College from 10 a.m. to noon April 26.

Participants will examine a colorful selection of children's historical fiction, select a historical setting and character, and begin to develop plot, conflict and how to build a story.

Admission to the workshop is free, but those attending are asked to RSVP at (602) 305-5771, or e-mail sue.aroz@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

South Mountain Community College is located at 7050 S. 24th St. in Phoenix. The workshop will take place in the college Student Union.

Tempe Union online classes

High school students interested in taking online classes may visit the Tempe Union High School District's Web site, www.tuhsd.k12.as.us, to view online classes available. The online courses are located on the curriculum section of the Web site.

Courses are developed and taught by Tempe Union teachers. For the 2008-09 school year, 27 courses are available for students to take. For registration, see a high school counselor. Fees are determined according to the student's current course schedule. If applicable, fees are $135 per semester class.

For more information, call (480) 345-3798.

New 8th-grade health curriculum on review

The Kyrene School District Governing Board has voted to put on a 60-day public review, lessons for eighth-graders that support Strands 8 and 9 of the Kyrene Expanded Health Curriculum. The program under review is "Choosing the Best Life," which is "An Abstinence Focused Curriculum."

All resources, including outlines of the lessons and videos used in instruction, are available for viewing and comment at the Kyrene District office, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 1 to Aug. 22. Parents, teachers and community members are encouraged to view and provide feedback related to the lessons for the Health Steering Committee and governing board.

It is recommended that interested people view all of the five lessons and accompanying video clips. 

Ahwatukee Preschool registration

Ahwatukee Preschool, a ministry of Mountain View Lutheran Church, will be starting their 28th year in August. Registration for fall classes now open. Ahwatukee Preschool is a part-time preschool but increased their day to three hours. The preschool has strived to keep tuition as low as possible so that everyone can participate.

For more information, contact Diane at (480) 893-2531.

Kyrene summer program registration

To accommodate increased interest in summer offerings, the Kyrene School District is making online registration for all summer programs available. In-person registration began on March 17.

Programs include Summer Kids Club, Summer Academy classes and Summer Theatre.

For more information on schools that offer the programs, visit www.kyrene.org/supplemental or call (480) 783-7314.

Keystone Montessori open house

Keystone Montessori School will be holding open houses for toddler and preschool-aged children April 16, 22 and 30 at 6:30 p.m. The open houses will include a tour of the school, a short video on Montessori education, discussion about Montessori philosophy and curriculum, as well as a question and answer period.

The school is currently enrolling for summer and fall positions. For more information, or to reserve a spot at an open house, call (480) 460-7312.

Keystone Montessori is located at 1025 E. Liberty Lane.

Corvette raffle

Tempe Union High School's Education Foundation has a new Corvette to raffle off that will be on display at Arts Jam April 26 at the Tempe Library courtyard, 3500 S. Rural Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Tickets are $25 each, or five for $100 and there will be a maximum of 4,000 tickets sold. To purchase raffle tickets now, e-mail info@artsjam.org.

Children of Hope preschool classes

Children of Hope Childhood Development Center is now enrolling at Esperanza Lutheran Church for 2008-09 classes for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. Classes are available Tuesday and Thursday or Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Pre-kindergarten class is Monday through Friday.

For more information, call Trisha Wolfsen at (480) 759-1515 or stop by at 2601 E. Thunderhill Place.

New special education materials on review

Kyrene School District parents are invited to review supplemental special education oral language and early literacy materials for students with moderate to severe disabilities. The materials under review have been reviewed and recommended by the special education staff through a survey process.

The materials are available for public review March 26 through May 26, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the Exceptional Student Services Department at the Ben Furlong Education Center, 8700 S. Kyrene Road in Tempe.

Parents will have an opportunity for input after review of the materials. The input will be considered before a recommendation is made for adoption at the Kyrene Governing Board meeting at 7 p.m. May 27 at the Ben Furlong Education Center.

YMCA kids running club

Local marathoner David Allison directs a kids' running club through the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA Mondays at 4:30 p.m. at the Pecos Parkway Park, which is diagonal from the Y.

The cost is $40 for an eight-week session. Allison is looking for a minimum of 10 second- to eighth-grade kids. 

Allison coordinates drills, games and works on form, sprints and distance with the kids. It's not a running team, but a running club, good for kids who either love running or are not yet as coordinated in other sports.

Leave No Child Inside photo contest

Photos of nature and children enjoying outdoor environments are being sought for Arizona Parks and Recreation's "Leave No Child Inside" photo contest. Start taking pictures today as entries must be postmarked by May 1.

The purpose of the "Leave No Child Inside" theme is to encourage parents to take their children to national, state, county and city parks to enjoy nature and recreate in Arizona's natural areas.

Prizes will be awarded for the best photos. Categories for photos include "Urban Experience," "Leave No Inner Child Inside," "Kids and Critters" and "Most Unique Experience."

Photos will be displayed at the 2008 Arizona Parks and Recreation Conference at the Camelback Inn in August. Submitted photographs must be 4-by-6-inch and may be either color or black and white.

For more information, visit www.azpra.org or call (602) 335-1962.

Seton Catholic open house

Seton Catholic High School invites all interested members of the community to an open house for the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 4.

Tours of the new chapel will be conducted and refreshments will be provided. The school and new campus are located at 1150 N. Dobson Road, just north of Ray Road.

Send submissions to cfrayer@ahwatukee.com.