Focus on TUSD - May 2008

Awards and Recognition
Garcia and Lichtsinn will attend MEDCAMP
Abigail Garcia, a Catalina Magnet High School student, and Karin Lichtsinn, a University High School student, will attend the 16th annual MEDCAPM at the Arizona Health Science Center this summer. Over 130 students applied for the 48 openings, said Loretta McKenzie, the MEDCAMP program coordinator.

Busby writes award winning poem
Cameron Busby, a former fifth-grade Wright Elementary School student, has written a prize-winning poem for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He will travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, in June to receive his award. Dave Eggers, a Pulitzer Prize winning finalist for 2000, along with several congressional members judged the contest.

Cameron now attends Whitmore Elementary School. His mother, Cynthia, is a teacher at Wright.

Here is his winning poem:

America is a Refuge

A small child holds out a hoping hand,
a crumb of bread,
or even a penny just to be fed
  Hoping America is a refuge.
A child weeps over her mother's lifeless body,
the tears streaming down her face
  Praying America is a refuge.
A child's torn sock blows in the wind,
as a bomb explodes the tiny sock catches a flame and begins to burn to ash
  Can America be a refuge?
A thirsty father and son seeking shade from the blazing sun,
all they want is a job
and for America to be a refuge.
America can be a refuge for you.
 It can be a refuge for me. 
I am glad that America is a refuge for all.

Kukla earns Presidential Award for Excellence in Math
David Kukla, a Sabino High School math teacher, has won the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics. As a nominee, he traveled to Washington, D.C., for an all-expenses-paid week from April 28-May 2. He received a citation from President George W. Bush, acknowledging the highest achievement a teacher can earn.

Fruchthendler an A+ School; wins Web Site award
Fruchthendler Elementary School has been recognized as an A+ school by the Arizona Educational Foundation.

The school also won the 2008 Exemplary Web Site Award given by the Arizona Technology in Education Alliance for excellence in Web design. Fruchthendler teacher Linda Koehler attended the WOW – Way-Out-West – Conference at Arizona State University earlier this month, where she received a plaque and $500.

Sabino finalists for Intel award
Sabino High School is one of three high schools in the nation being considered for Intel Foundation's Star Innovator Award. As a finalist, Sabino will receive a $2,500 grant from the foundation. Representatives from the winning school will attend a Washington, D.C., gala in September. The winning school will receive a $15,000 grant. Catherine Yslas chairs Sabino's  Math Department.

Manzo dedicates Sonoran Desert Biome
Manzo Elementary School dedicated its Sonoran Desert Biome May 3. Parents, students, staff, the community and the biome sponsors attended the event that celebrated the addition of an outdoor learning center and community garden. The biome has native trees, shrubs, flowers and cacti. Earth work has been done to collect rainwater for irrigation.

The biome is on a vacant lot across from the northwest corner of the campus at 855 N. Melrose. It is being leased for 50 years from the city of Tucson for $1. Students and teachers worked all winter and this spring to dig basins' plant trees, cacti and shrubs; build paths and pull weeds.

The biome sponsors are Home Depot, Desert Survivors, Trees for Tucson, Sonoran Landscape Materials and Bach's Greenhouse Cactus.

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

The deadline to submit material for the June Focus is Friday, June 13. The Focus will be published Monday, June 23. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the online Tip Sheet.