CGCC, Soles4Souls partner to collect shoes for those in need

This spring, Chandler-Gilbert Community College is partnering with Sole4Souls, a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes shoes to vulnerable populations. Soles4Souls is currently helping in Haiti with the earthquake response and has coordinated relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“Free Your Feet” Day will be Tuesday, March 2, in conjunction with “Liberation Theology,” a presentation by philosophy and religious studies professor Dr. David Alberto Muñoz at 4:30 p.m. in room SC140-144 at CGCC, 2626 E. Pecos Road, Chandler. Bring shoes to campus, donate them and go barefoot all day.

“Make a Mountain” Day will be Tuesday, March 9. Students and community members will help create a mountain of shoes. Those who attend Dr. David Walton’s keynote presentation on the novel Mountains Beyond Mountains from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center will be invited to bring a pair of shoes to contribute to the mountain.

Through March 12, students and community members may drop off new and gently used shoes in receptacles in the Library and Student Center Pavilion.

For more information about the Soles4Souls campaign, access www.cgc.edu/soles4souls or call (480) 732-7030.

SMCC Storytelling Institute features Folktales for Grownups

The South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute is hosting its annual “Folktales for Grownups” series, featuring ensemble performances that spotlight time-honored folktales from cultures around the world.

Upcoming performances will feature tales of “Noodleheads, Fools and Tricksters” on March 3 and “Earthcare” on April 21. Performances start at 6:30 p.m. in the SMCC Studio Theatre at 7050 S. 24th St. In courtesy to the storytellers, no one will be seated once the storytelling has begun. Admission is free.

For more information, visit www.smcstorytelling.com, call Liz at (602) 243-8026 or e-mail liz.warren@smcmail.maricopa.edu. 

DV Grad Night meetings

The Desert Vista High School Grad Night Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursdays March 4, April 1 and May 6 in room H108 at the school, 16440 S. 32nd St.

To make Grad Night successful, the committee needs help from senior parents. For more information or to serve on the committee, e-mail dvgradnight10@gmail.com.

Spring Boutique benefits MP Grad Night

A Spring Boutique will run from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at 13642 S. 32nd St. to raise money for the Mountain Pointe High School Grad Night party taking place after graduation in May.

The boutique will feature clothing, jewelry, purses, hats, personalized stationary, Pampered Chef, candles, home accessories, fun signs, unique gifts, make-up application, facials and more. Guests may also sample Tastefully Simple recipes, Fairytale Brownies and other goodies. Admission is $5.

For information, contact Leslie at (602) 684-5329 or leslie@expressionsofthanks.com.

AAA seeks Crossing Guard of the Year

AAA Arizona is on the search for Maricopa County’s Crossing Guard of the Year, and the deadline to submit nominations is March 12.

School administrators, faculty, staff, parents, students and community members are invited to describe why they believe their candidate deserves the Crossing Guard of the Year designation. Self-nominations will also be accepted. AAA Arizona staff will evaluate nominations to select finalists for the award based on dedication, friendliness, professionalism and safety.

Nomination forms are available at all Maricopa County school district offices or at www.aaaaz.com/news/CrossingGuardoftheYear.htm. Completed forms may be e-mailed to publicrelations@arizona.aaa.com, faxed to (602) 776-0466 or mailed to AAA Arizona, Attn: Public Affairs, 3144 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013.

Cronkite New Media Academy teaches digital media skills

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication has opened registration for its third Cronkite New Media Academy, offering 10 sessions to develop multimedia Web skills.

The program, which runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. over 10 Saturdays from March 13 through May 22, is designed for people who want to learn how to set up and develop a Web site for personal or professional use.

Registration is ongoing. For additional information and to register, go to http://cronkite.asu.edu/newmedia. Questions may be e-mailed to newmedia@asu.edu.

Primrose hosting family dance-off

In partnership with Children’s Miracle Network, Primrose Schools are hosting a nationwide family dance-off competition and parents are invited to submit 30-second home videos of their family’s best dance moves. The winning family will receive the grand prize of $5,000 and a $30,000 donation to their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. The two runners-up will receive a Wii Fit Bundle and each weekly finalist will be awarded a Flip Video Camcorder.

Contestants may upload videos through March 19. Weekly finalists will be featured on www.FamilyDanceOff.com March 22 to 26, and visitors will be able to vote for their favorite. The winners will be announced March 31.

Ironwood Hall now open at CGCC

Chandler-Gilbert Community College is celebrating the opening of Ironwood Hall on the college’s Pecos Campus at 2626 E. Pecos Road in Chandler. A multi-purpose classroom building, Ironwood contains physical science laboratories, general education classrooms, lecture halls and faculty offices. A new ceramics studio lies adjacent to the hall features 24 potters’ wheels, natural light and professional-grade kilns.

Just outside of the building is a two-story “Grand Canyon rock wall,” depicting the geological strata of Grand Canyon, which will be utilized as a teaching tool in the college’s geology classes.

The design and construction of LEED-certified Ironwood Hall honors the college’s commitment to environmental stewardship by incorporating sustainable materials and strategies. 

Coronado High School sets tri-class reunion

Coronado High School in Scottsdale will host its tri-class reunion for the classes of 1969, ‘70 and ‘71 on April 30 and May 1.

For details, visit www.coronadohigh.com.

Seton Catholic students present check to Shifting Gears program

On Feb. 5, 549 Seton Catholic students participated in the 25th Annual Seton ‘THON, a student-led 5K walk-a-thon. The students raised almost $27,000 (a 28 percent increase over last year) and presented a check for $5,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Shifting Gears Ministry Program.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and providing others with the opportunity to serve.

High School summer internship opportunity at ASU’s Biodesign Institute

Encourage students who will be seniors in the 2010-11 academic year to apply for a summer internship at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. Interns are expected to volunteer a minimum of 15 to 20 hours per week June 7 to July 19 and will receive a monetary stipend for travel expenses. The application is online at www.biodesign.asu.edu/education/k-12, and the deadline to apply is March 31.

SMCC offering certified fiber optics networking classes in March

The South Mountain Community College Guadalupe Center will offer three industry-recognized and certified fiber optics networking classes during the week of March 8 to 14.

The courses, presented in association with BDI DataLynk, are Certified Fiber Optics Technician (CFOT), March 8 to 10; Certified Fiber Optics Specialist in Testing and Maintenance (CFOS/T), March 11 and 12; and Certified Fiber Optics Splicing Specialist, March 13 and14. Each class session runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The SMCC Guadalupe Center is located at 9233 S. Avenida del Yaqui in Guadalupe. To enroll or get more details, visit http://my.maricopa.edu or call (602) 243-8217.

Scholarships for single parents returning to college

A limited number of tuition scholarships are available to single parents who have returned, or will return, to college after a break of at least one year due to family demands or other commitments.

South Mountain Community College is teaming with Dorrance Scholarship Programs to establish a scholarship program designed specifically for single parents. Awards are available for as much as $4,000 annually, for a maximum of six semesters (three years), and are renewable.

Applications must be received or postmarked by May 1.

For information regarding the scholarship program requirements and application, visit www.dorrancescholarship.org or contact Christopher Erran at (602) 305-5607 or christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu. 

ANF announces scholarship program

The Arizona Newspapers Foundation, Inc. is offering a scholarship available to Arizona college students majoring in journalism. This summer, ANF will award two scholarships of $1,000 each to students attending Arizona State University, University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University full time. Students must have completed at least one term and have one term remaining before graduation.

Complete scholarship information, including award criteria and an application for fall 2010 awards, are posted online at www.ananews.com/scholarship.

The deadline for applications is May 31. Winners will be chosen by a selection committee and notified by July 15.

Compadre High School hosting rummage sale

A rummage/craft/bake sale will take place from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 27, at Compadre High School, 500 Guadalupe Road, Tempe.

For a small fee of $25 per table and space, community members may sell goods and keep the profit or donate goods to be sold by students and have the profit go directly to Compadre High School.

For reservations to participate, call Jan at (480) 752-3565. 

DV marching band selected for 2011 Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship

The Desert Vista High School marching band has accepted an invitation to participate in next year’s Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship. The top two finishers in this year’s 2009 Arizona State Marching Band Championship were invited to the national championship for the 2010-11 school year. Desert Vista placed second in this year’s state competition with a score of 83.5. All members who join the 2010-11 marching band will attend the competition on Dec. 30, 2010. 

The band is currently looking for sponsors to support their extended season to participate in nationals.

For more information or to sponsor, e-mail Julie Smith at jsmith411@cox.net.

$18.85M gift to transform teacher education at ASU

Arizona State University has joined forces with Teach For America (TFA) to address the most pressing educational needs of our time. Through this partnership, ASU will adapt TFA’s most successful tools in order to attract, prepare, support and retain more highly-effective teachers.

Teach For America has recruited, trained and placed more than 24,000 teachers since 1990, becoming one of the nation’s largest providers of teachers for low-income communities.

Teach For America is widely known as a non-traditional route to teaching, and most of its recruits are not graduates of schools of education. But now with a five-year, $18.85-million investment from entrepreneur and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, ASU will partner with Teach For America to bring changes to the way ASU recruits, selects and prepares future K to 12 teachers.

This program is known as the Sanford Education Project.

MPHS offering Summer Mathematics Academy

Mountain Pointe High School will host its inaugural Summer Mathematics Academy starting June 1 for students in fourth through eighth grade looking to advance their math skills.

The academy will offer sixth-grade math, seventh-grade math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Honors Geometry for middle/high school credit. Students will be issued textbooks and given direct instruction by highly-qualified math teachers and should bring a spiral notebook, pencils and folder.

Classes will meet 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday June 1 to July 9 (no classes July 5) at the school, 4201 E. Knox Road. The cost is $270.

For more information or to register, contact Stephen Heiser, Math Department chair, at (480) 759-6122, e-mail stheiser@tuhsd.k12.az.us or visit http://staff.tuhsd.k12.az.us/mtpmath/summer.

SMCC earns continued accreditation

As it celebrates 30 years of helping students to achieve their educational goals, South Mountain Community College has received formal notice from the Higher Learning Commission that it has been granted continued accreditation as an institution of higher education. Official notice was received by the college in a letter issued by the commission on Dec. 16, 2009.

Since the fall of 2006, college faculty and staff have been laying the groundwork for SMCC’s successful re-accreditation. Key to this effort was a two-year self-study, through which the college reviewed and assessed its performance and achievements.

For additional information about the college, visit http://southmountaincc.edu.

Creative Writing course offered at SMCC

Iliana Rocha is offering CRW 150: Introduction to Creative Writing from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays June 7 to July 29 in room AFC-102 at the South Mountain Community College Ahwatukee Foothills Center, 10429 S. 51st St., Suite 101.

Registration for summer and fall 2010 classes is now open. To review a class listing and enroll, visit http://my.maricopa.edu.

CGCC offers engineering degree

Created in partnership between Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Glendale Community College, the Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Technology degree will enable students to enter the workforce as an entry-level engineering aid upon graduation from the two-year program.

CGCC and GCC worked with local industry, including Honeywell, Avnet, AeroSpec, SRP, ATL Incorporated, Medtronic and Sundt Construction to create a degree program that meets the current employment needs of the engineering industry.

CGCC is located at 2626 E. Pecos Road in Chandler.

For more information about this program, contact Bassam Matar at (480) 732-7139.

SMCC offers GED high school equivalency testing

South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th St., is offering GED testing for individuals who do not have a high school diploma and are seeking to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Candidates must be at least 16 years of age. Those under 18 must bring a notarized letter of consent from a parent or guardian, along with an official letter of withdrawal from their last school attended. The GED testing fee is $75, with a $15 re-test fee for each subject area. Testing is by appointment only, and pre-registration is required prior to testing. Pre-registration takes place on Monday afternoons between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Testing takes place on Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tests are available in English, Spanish and large-print. Special accommodations are available for examinees with documented disabilities.

For more information, call (602) 243-8188.

60-day review of Kyrene health materials runs until March 26

The Kyrene Governing Board has voted to initiate a 60-day review of lessons and resources to support Strand 8 (Growth & Development) and Strand 9 (HIV/AIDS & STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) of the Kyrene Expanded Health Curriculum.

Parents, teachers and community members are encouraged to review the lessons and resources in addition to the “Guidelines for Presenters” document and provide feedback. All feedback will be reviewed by the Health Steering Committee and shared with the Kyrene Governing Board prior to a final decision in the adoption process. 

The materials will be available for public review through March 26 at the Kyrene District Office, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.