Focus on TUSD - March 2007

Looking Ahead
Holladay Magnet stages production
"100 Years of Broadway," a performance by fourth-graders at Holladay Intermediate Magnet School, will be Tuesday, March 20, at 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria at 1110 E. 33rd St.

Fire-Up A Career
The District's second annual Career and Technical Education Event -- "Fire-Up A Career" -- will be Thursday, March 22, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Amethyst Room at Pima Community College's Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave. Olympian LaTanya Sheffield will speak.

The purpose of the event is to recognize and thank local businesses and community members for their support of TUSD Career and Technical Education programs; to honor TUSD CTE alumni who now have successful careers; to provide CTE students a forum to exhibit their skills and training; to inspire CTE teachers and business members to continue in their efforts of "preparing Arizona students;" and to present the 2007 TUSD CTE Hall of Fame Awards.
Call Carol Huerta, CTE curriculum/compliance specialist at 225-4655 or visit www.tusd1.org for more information.

Rogers plans yard sale
Sixth-graders at Rogers Elementary School are sponsoring a yard sale on Saturday, March 24, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school, 6000 E. 14th St., "to raise money for their field trip to San Diego to study ocean related topics," said Principal Cricket Gallegos. To donate items, call Gallegos at 584-7100.

OMA showcase March 24
Dr. Carroll Rinehart will be recognized at the 2007 OMA Artist Showcase on Saturday, March 24, from 3-5 p.m. in the Rincon/University High School Auditorium, 421 N. Arcadia Blvd. The showcase will feature 200 students and professional artists who teach the students throughout the year.

OMA -- Opening Minds Through the Arts -- is a nationally recognized research-based program that integrates the arts into teaching reading, writing, math and science in public elementary and middle schools. More than 17,000 students and 650 teachers in 37 TUSD schools participate in the OMA program.

Dr. Rinehart has served the music profession for more than half a century as music teacher and administrator, school principal, college instructor, author and composer, said Joan Ashcraft, director of OMA and the District's Fine Arts Department. In 2000, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tucson Pima Arts Council, according to the OMA Web site.

A "Meet the Artists" reception will follow the showcase. Tickets, $40 per person, are tax deductible. Call 225-4900 or visit www.omaprogramaz.org for more information.

Pueblo parents meet March 29
What can my children do this summer? What kinds of opportunities are there for them?
These and similar questions will be answered at Pueblo Magnet High School's March Parent Association meeting Thursday, March 29, from 6-8 p.m. in the school auditorium, 3500 S. 12th Ave. Information on summer school, summer enrichment opportunities and Parks and Recreation activities will be provided. Parents and children are welcome.

For more information, call Evelia Lopez, Pueblo's student and family mentor specialist, at 225-4525.

Stories that Soar! coming to Wright
Approximately 25 stories written by John B. Wright Elementary School students will be performed Friday, March 30, at part of the Stories that Soar (STS) program. The performance will start at 9:30 a.m. on the outdoor stage at the school at 4311 E. Linden St.

The Stories that Soar! program "empowers children to believe in themselves by giving voice to their original words and creative ideas," said a press release from the theater program. Through the program, elementary school students are invited to voluntarily 'feed' the hungry, talking Magic Box their stories, promising to give them back magic!" STS actors read hundreds of stories before selecting about 25 for artistic interpretation, always honoring the words with the highest level of integrity, said the release.

Tucson City Councilwoman Nina Trasoff will be present to receive a public thank you for providing a $4,000 matching grant for this performance, and a December performance in conjunction with Robison Elementary School.

Wright kindergartners through fifth-graders will have their stories performed. The free performance is open to the public but visitors must check in at the main office to obtain a visitors pass. Lisa Howells is principal of Wright.

Exception Ed seeks teachers
TUSD's Exceptional Education Department has applied for a federal grant to offer teacher certification in severe and multiple disabilities to District teachers.

Although it is too early to have received notification on the grant, it is not too early to recruit candidates, said Phyllis E. Brodsky, Exception Education project coordinator.

"We found that a late recruitment can sometimes leave out viable candidates for this program. For that reason, we want to get an early start. If for any reason, we do not receive funding for this project, we will directly notify any candidates who have expressed an interest in this certification program," wrote Brodsky in an e-mail.
Teachers should call Brodsky at 232-8432, or visit TUSD's Web page for more information.

Catalina's AFJROTC to compete in national meet
Catalina Magnet High School's Air Force JROTC drill teams have accepted an invitation to compete in the U.S. Air Force Academy National Invitational Drill Meet next month in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Thirty-one cadets will compete in the meet on April 21. The drill teams were invited because of their "outstanding performances this year," said Lt. Col. August DeRosa, AFJROTC instructor, in an e-mail.
Congratulations cadets!

TFCU seeks scholarship entries
Tucson Federal Credit Union will award $1,500 scholarships to three Tucson-area graduating seniors through its 15th Annual Scholarship Contest. To apply, students must submit a typed essay on the most inspirational person or experience in their lives.
The essay should answer these questions:

• Who or what inspired you?
• Why were you inspired?
• How has this person/experience changed your life?
• How will you use this inspiration to help others or the community?

Essays will be judged on content, neatness, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Essays must be submitted by Friday, March 30. Mail essays to TFCU Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 42435, Tucson, AZ 85733-2435; or submit an e-mail to tfcumarketing@tucsonfcu.com and attach essays as a Microsoft Word or text file.

Three winners will each receive $1,500 scholarship checks made payable to them and the schools they will attend. The school must be an accredited college, university, business or trade school. Winners will be selected no later than April 27.

For a list of contest rules and criteria, visit www.tucsonfcu.com and click on the "15th Annual Scholarship" link. For more information, call TFCU's Marketing Department at 795-8520.

TUSD to host national conference for science educators
The Next Step Institute, a national conference held biennially for science educators and corporate sponsors, will be in Tucson Oct. 31-Nov. 3. The District's Science Resource Center won the honor of hosting the conference after competing with organizations from around the country. Three hundred participants from across the country are expected to attend as five-member teams.

The Next Step Institute is sponsored by the Association of Science Materials Centers, housed at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. The association represents school districts and consortia supporting exemplary science instruction through the use of hands-on learning and nationally recognized curricula.

Each team member chooses one area of in-depth study and then joins the rest of the team to create action plans for their districts or consortia, their "next step" in either initiating or expanding and improving their materials centers. Study areas will be:

• instructional materials support
• research-based curriculum
• competent teachers
• aligned assessment
• engaged school and community

Thea Canizo, from the Science Resource Center, wrote in an e-mail that TUSD was selected to host the conference based on the District's "commitment to support a quality science program."

Menlo Park walks to wellness
Ella Gomez, librarian at Menlo Park Elementary School, has created a fitness course to keep Menlo Park students, parents and staff moving and in shape!

"Your program inspired me to create a fitness course at Menlo Park . . . . This morning Rey Bussari from Facilities Management installed the course I developed and at noon today we have 300 kids exercising," Gomez wrote in an e-mail to Human Resources on March 12.

"We are thrilled to have this addition to our school campus. Thanks for getting everyone moving!" wrote Gomez.

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

Unless otherwise noted, all photos in the March issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations.

The deadline to submit material for the April Focus is Friday, April 6. The Focus will be published Friday, April 13. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.