Focus on TUSD - March 2008

Awards and Recognition
Santa Rita receives Best Buy award
Best Buy gave the Santa Rita High School English Department a $2,000 Teach Award grant on Feb. 15. Santa Rita has received a $2,000 Best Buy gift card, as well as a 1GB Geek SquadTM USB drive loaded with tools and templates. Geek SquadTM and SanDiskTM donated the USB drives. Santa Rita is located at 3951 S. Pantano Road.

Brichta teachers receive technology grant
Two teachers at Brichta Elementary School, 2110 W. Brichta Drive, won one of eight statewide grants that will be used to promote innovative classroom technology. The Qwest Foundation and the Arizona Technology in Education Alliance awarded the grants, which range between $2,500 and approximately $10,000.

Jan Budak and Katie Felix-Eddelman received a $9,367.12 grant to fund their project, "Learning in the 21st Century." In this project, fifth-grade students will conduct online and face-to-face research to find out how technology helps students learn. They will use their collected information to create a two-to-five minute documentary explaining their project, the results and the meaning of their findings. Students and teachers will spend time with local television news reporters to learn about investigative reporting and documentary production.

Magee and Sabino win Odyssey of the Mind competition
All four of Magee Middle School's Odyssey of the Mind teams won first place in the Arizona Odyssey Southern Regional Competition on March 8, at Ironwood Ridge High School. These creative problem-solving teams will compete at the state finals on Saturday, April 5. Marjorie Letson is the head coach and Renee Roberts is the assistant coach

Members of the vehicle team called "Odyssey Road Rally" are Cassie Birch, Daniel Doherty, Jeff Freeman, Austin Pierson, Cody Stein, Tiffany Stoll and Travis Trader.

Members of the technical team called "DinoStories" are Cassie Birch, Charlie Chen, Duncan Reed, Amanda Romero and Tiffany Stoll.

Members of the classics team called "The Wonderful Muses" are Natalie Bales, Amanda Ho, Amanda Interpreter, Katie Moga, Edie Pantoja, Stephanie Sager and Bailey Summer.

Members of the drama team called "The Eccentrics!" are Celeste Fields, Allison Garabini, Cynthia Hernandez, Kaylyn Humphrey, Mark Niadas, Zoe Ruehl and Nathan Whetherhult.

Members of the "DinoStories" team are Briana Kasel, Stephanie Mast, Natalie Finley, Matt Huizenga, Broc Derfus and Allison Fisher.

Members of the "Road Rally" team are Kelly Fitzpatrick, Bryan Zittlosen, T.J. Fisher, Matt Huizenga and Taylor Schacklette.

Their sponsor is MaryAnn Carpenter.

Uttterback drama program chosen for UA recognition
Instructor Nancy Anaya and her drama program at Utterback Magnet Middle School will be recognized for their achievement by the University of Arizona during the national theater education advocacy event called Theatre in Our Schools. This event is sponsored by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.

The university chooses a longtime teacher who has a strong program, is committed to teacher education and has a good relationship with the university.

Anaya and her class will be feted at a party next month. A lobby display featuring Anaya and her students will be on display during the final UA production of "Urinetown," which runs from April 13-May 2.

Utterback helps food bank and Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Utterback Magnet Middle School students pitched in to help both the Community Food Bank of Tucson and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Students collected enough food to help provide up to 31,000 meals daily through the food bank's nonprofit agencies. They also helped collect 300 pounds of clothing for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Blenman wins $5,000 greenhouse grant
Blenman Elementary School has purchased a greenhouse with a $5,000 Lowe's grant won by first-grade teacher John Waugaman. The greenhouse project, titled "Blenman Grows a Greenhouse," will be a school-wide endeavor with all grades participating. The greenhouse will be used in conjunction with an outdoor area that has enough seating for a classroom. Students intend to use the plants to beautify the community and the school, which is at 1695 N. Country Club Road.

JTED students win awards
Eric Nava and Krystle Fagga, Cholla Magnet High School students won welding contest awards on Feb. 8, at Pima Community College's downtown campus. Nava received a first-place Region 6 SkillsUSA award and Fagga took second place.

Valenzuela awarded honorary doctorate
Alfredo Valenzuela, a music teacher and mariachi director at Davis Bilingual Magnet School, will receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree on Saturday, May 17, according to a letter Valenzuela received from University of Arizona President Robert Shelton.

Davis Principal Christopher Loya said Davis is proud to have "Mr. V" on staff because he is absolutely dedicated to students. "He instills an incredible amount of confidence in the students through music and discipline," Loya said. "Having made a difference in many kids' lives, Mr. V is deserving of this honor."

Photos in the March issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations, unless otherwise noted.

The deadline to submit material for the April Focus is Friday, April 11. The Focus will be published Monday, April 21. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the online Tip Sheet.