School Notes (8/29)

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.

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.

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. Sept. 2, 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.

Summit School is SunWise

This year Summit School of Ahwatukee will officially implement the SunWise program, a formal educational curriculum, created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). SunWise provides lesson plans and activities for teachers to use as part of classroom learning, to help raise awareness about the dangers of overexposure to the sun.

For more information about this program, visit http://epa.gov/sunwise/index.html or http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/sunwise/.

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 breakfast prices go up Sept. 2

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the Kyrene School District Governing Board approved an increase in meal prices.

At both elementary and middle schools, the breakfast prices will increase from 60 cents to $1. This is the first price increase for breakfast since 1990.

Middle school lunch prices will increase from $2 to $2.25. The last time any lunch prices increased was the 2006-07 school year. Elementary school lunch prices will remain at $2.

The price changes are related to significant food costs increases.

Since last year, Kyrene parents have had the option of paying for lunch online. To find out more or to sign up for this service, go to www.mylunchmoney.com.

School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program

Training sessions for teachers to implement the School Violence Prevention Program are being offered by IGM Education Resources, Inc,. as granted by the Center for Civic Education and funded through the U.S. Department of Education.

The nationally-sponsored program approaches violence prevention through the use of quality civics education materials and student engagement in lessons that foster positive attitudes toward their community and others, respect for authority and social inclusion.

Eight training sessions will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Phoenix-Chandler, 7475 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, on Aug. 30, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 29, Dec. 13, Jan. 24, Feb. 28 and March 28.

For more information or to register, call (480) 471-6026, e-mail igm@cox.net or visit www.igmresources.com.

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.

The first of four Food Value Club sales for the fall semester will be Friday, Sept. 5. Subsequent dates 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.

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: (480) 898-7924 or jwalker@ahwatukee.com.