Jan. 12 Governing Board meeting happenings Announcing a new Gifted Preschool program with two locations District Spelling Bee results Annual online parent satisfaction survey Campo Bello and Echo Mountain Primary Schools awarded Beat the Odds Gold labels Thank you tax credit donors Around the district February is National Library Lovers month

Jan. 12 Governing Board meeting happenings

• At the Jan. 12 meeting, the PVschools Governing Board members elected Dr. Sue Skidmore as president for the 2012 calendar year.
• Superintendent Dr. James P. Lee delivered the annual State of the District presentation, highlighting the district's many successes in 2011 and discussing the challenges that lie ahead.
  View slideshow and hear Dr. Lee's address
  View photos from Jan. 12 Board meeting
  

Announcing a new Gifted Preschool for 4-year old children

We are pleased to announce the opening of a Gifted preschool program for 4-year old children who are identified as gifted. This unique, tuition-based program is open to gifted preschool students throughout the Valley.
The program will be offered at two schools:

• Desert Cove Elementary School provides a full-day option.
• Elementary school #32 (PV’s new school, opening Fall 2012) provides a half-day option, either morning or afternoon.   Learn more

District Spelling Bee results

The PVschools District Spelling Bee was held Friday, Jan. 20.  The district winner was Ben Jackman from Grayhawk Elementary, correctly spelling the word mechanistic. The runner up was Supriya Weiss from Sonoran Sky Elementary. Congratulations to these top eight spellers who will move on the the Region II Spelling Bee at Deer Valley School District on Thursday. Feb. 17:

• Ben Jackman, Grayhawk, grade 6
• Supriya Weiss, Sonoran Sky, grade 5 
• Michael Vedder, Vista Verde Middle, grade 8
• Samantha Sokol, Desert Trails, grade 6
• Catie Morenzoni, Boulder Creek, grade 6
• Derek Scott, Cactus View, grade 6
• Prgna Karlapudi, Desert Cove, grade 4
• Josh Colten, Sandpiper, grade 5

Annual online parent satisfaction survey

Provide input about our schools in the online, district-wide parent satisfaction survey. The survey will be available through Saturday, Feb. 4, midnight. Complete the survey once for each school in which you have a student enrolled. Parent feedback will be used to improve services. Parents who do not have computer or Internet access can contact the school for assistance. Access the survey from the link on your school's website.

Campo Bello and Echo Mountain Primary Schools awarded Beat the Odds Gold labels

Both Campo Bello and Echo Mountain Primary Schools were awarded Gold labels from the Beat The Odds Institute, a rigorous, multi-year school improvement program. Beat the Odds is based upon the Center for the Future of Arizona's nationally acclaimed research study that found six elements associated with successful minority schools: a strong and steady principal, clear bottom line, ongoing assessment, collaboration, a program built on individual student needs and a commitment to stay with successful instructional programs.

Only schools that attain gold-medal status are conferred the title of a Beat the Odds School. It requires demonstrated, consistent growth in student academic achievement over at least three years, among other criteria.

Thank you tax credit donors

Our first year of online tax credit donation acceptance was a success, with a marked increase of donations through the convenient online site providing for credit card acceptance and up-to-the-deadline availability. Your donations will be used to enrich education for PVschools students by funding programs and activities such as sports, visual and performing arts, field trips, character education and clubs. Remember to claim this credit when you complete your 2011 state tax forms.

Jennifer Minor, principal of Sonoran Sky Elementary School, location of one of the district's self-contained gifted programs, was selected by the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented as the 2012 Gifted Administrator of the Year. PV schools Gifted Director Dina Brulles commented to her, "I cannot think of a better recipient for the honor. Congratulations for the very well deserved recognition and thank you so much for all that you do to support our gifted programs."

PVschools is honored to announce that Governing Board member Anne Greenberg is one of five board members in the state named to the All-Arizona School Board by the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA). This is the highest honor given to individuals by ASBA.

Horizon High School was awarded the 2010-11 Arizona Cup from the University of Arizona. The Arizona Cup was established in 1978 and is awarded annually to the Arizona high school with 30 or more of its graduates earning the highest cumulative grade point average during their freshman year at the UA.

“The hard work and achievement from these students’ shows that Horizon High School is preparing students well for their future here at the university,” says Paloma Boykin, admissions counselor in the UA Office of Admissions.

Copper Canyon Elementary School is one of five schools nominated from Arizona for the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award. This U.S. Department of Education recognition highlights schools that are producing outstanding results and have demonstrated consistent excellence.

Shadow Mountain High School art student Rachel Axthelm is the 2012 recipient of the Shemer award for the New Horizon's Student Exhibition. Lauren Null, who is also an Advanced Placement art student at the school, had her work exhibited in the art show. Their art teacher is Tia Tull. (See photo of Rachel and her artwork, right. Click to enlarge.)
View student exhibit link on the Shemer site

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