The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) announced that 28 Arizona public schools earned the A+ School of Excellence award for the 2012-2013 academic year including one in Ahwatukee Foothills, Kyrene de los Cerritos Elementary School in the Kyrene Elementary District. Darcy DiCosmo is principal.

Out on the grass between classroom buildings and the baseball field at Kyrene Centennial Middle School, a group of 7th graders were measuring indoor temperatures of their model homes for an urban heat island project last week.

The 3-year-old resource center in Tempe serving Ahwatukee families is in need of food donations for April.

As school bells rang in the start of spring classes on Monday, Ahwatukee Foothills students trickled into campus from a two-week break over the holidays.

Decreases in bond sales and legislative cuts could affect Kyrene School District with larger class sizes, program reductions, and reduced compensation for teachers and staff.

Members of the Senior Advocacy Group of Ahwatukee (SAGA) would like to extend our gratitude to the Ahwatukee Foothills community for making our Inaugural Symposium on Nov. 3 a tremendous success. Over 175 seniors, caregivers, industry experts, vendors and volunteers attended SAGA Symposium 2012, a first-time educational forum on important local resources hosted by the Pecos Community Center.

Nearly 1,200 students at Kyrene Middle School in Tempe gathered last week, challenged to start a “chain reaction” of kindness to others.

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce has announced nominees for the 2012 Palo Verde Business Woman of the Year and the 10 women are well known in the community for not only their business but their service.

Too often in our politics, education is used as a political football by both sides of the aisle. Candidates make campaign promises to earn votes that they fail to fulfill, and our students pay the price.

First American Title and The Exchange Club of Tempe are hosting its second ‘Stuff the Bus’ Back to School Drive benefiting the Kyrene Foundation.

Dr. Chris Woolaver of Woolaver Orthodontics, a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, is volunteering his time and expertise as a dental professional in Tomorrow’s SMILES, a National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America’s Toothfairy program. Tomorrow’s SMILES helps restore smiles and self esteem while encouraging teens to take responsibility for their oral health.

In a new class this summer, Kyrene students are getting a taste of what is like to be online entrepreneurs.

In a new class this summer, Kyrene students are getting a taste of what is like to be online entrepreneurs.

The number of homeless children in the Kyrene School District has stayed constant over the past three years, said one employee, but the number that is worrying is how many kids are now on free or reduced lunch.

The number of homeless children in the Kyrene School District has stayed constant over the past three years, said one employee, but the number that is worrying is how many kids are now on free or reduced lunch.

The Kyrene Foundation provides a variety of goods and necessities to families within the district that might not be able to afford them on their own. For families who hand-down shoes, shirts and other clothes, being provided new or slightly used clothing can be a huge boost in confidence for the children as well.

The Kyrene Foundation provides a variety of goods and necessities to families within the district that might not be able to afford them on their own. For families who hand-down shoes, shirts and other clothes, being provided new or slightly used clothing can be a huge boost in confidence for the children as well.

We often hear that it takes a village to raise a child. This was evident in a recent partnership between Kyrene School District, Science Foundation of Arizona and Arizona State University. Thanks to a generous grant and the dedication of teachers, ASU students and professionals, Kyrene middle school students were able to participate in an amazing after-school program, the ASU Citizen Scientist Engineer @ Kyrene. Once a week, students met with ASU doctoral students and got to learn in-depth about science and its impact on our environment.

Local business leaders recently partnered with Roger Clyne, a Kyrene parent and front man for the band Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and his father-in- law, businessman Dan Jellum, and hosted a casino night fundraiser for the Kyrene Family Resource Center.

Local business leaders recently partnered with Roger Clyne, a Kyrene parent and front man for the band Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and his father-in- law, businessman Dan Jellum, and hosted a casino night fundraiser for the Kyrene Family Resource Center.

The bar has been raised for three Kyrene schools, two of which sit in Ahwatukee Foothills.