Focus on TUSD - October 2007

TUSD Wrap Up

Outdoor classroom debuts with Ford Elementary help
Ford Elementary School students can now step outside for some classes with the addition of an outdoor classroom that a naval crew built inside a neighboring park.

The students participated in the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Oct. 8, after 13 members of the USS Tucson built a podium and benches overlooking the Charles Ford Lakeside Park, 8300 E. Stella Road.

The park is the latest effort by the crew of the USS Tucson, a Hawaii-based submarine that was commissioned in 1995, to maintain a close relationship with the city of Tucson. City of Tucson workers will teach children about fishing and other outdoor activities at the city park.

Ford Elementary, at 8001 E. Stella Road, sent two representatives from each class to deliver and hang a classroom banner honoring the U.S. Navy. Second-graders sang "This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land" dressed in red, white and blue.

"We are excited about this unique opportunity and are proud to share in this historical event for our city and our neighborhood," said Principal Julie McIntyre.

Hohokam students bike and walk to school
Hohokam Middle School students walked, carpooled or rode bikes to classes on Wednesday, Oct. 3, to observe International Walk/Bike to School Day and to support the student-initiated construction of a walkway and bikeway from Sorrel Road to Camino de Oeste. Four years ago, Hohokam Think Tank students used a federal grant to pay for the route on Tetakusim Road, which runs east and west in front of Hohokam, 7400 S. Settler Road. Construction is expected to begin next spring.

Howell spruced up during Days of Caring
Tucson businesses and organizations participating in United Way's Days of Caring joined parents and students to help spruce up the Peter Howell Elementary School grounds on Oct. 3 and Oct. 6. Volunteers painted the outside ramadas and kindergarten shed, and also built, painted and planted a peace garden in the school's patio.

The portable music classroom got a facelift with a musically themed mural painted on the outside. "This depicts the incredible ways our children learn through music and the arts in our fantastic Opening Minds through the Arts program," Principal Joan Gilbert said.

Catalina High students tour UA pharmacy department
Through a mentoring program with the University of Arizona's College of Pharmacy, Catalina Magnet High School pharmacy tech students recently visited several UA sites.

In late September, Joan Dawson's class met with Marti Lindsey, the outreach director of the UA's College of Pharmacy, who took them to Dr. Terry Monk's pharmacology class.

Students also toured the College of Pharmacy museum in the Skaggs Building, which houses pharmaceutical jars, show globes, older products and various tools used to prepare medications in the 19th century.

UA and Catalina students also participated in a discussion about the role of genetics in developing current medications.

Howenstine students attend Washington, D.C., summit
Two Howenstine Magnet High School students represented Arizona at a teen summit Oct. 14-16 in Washington, D.C., which focused on auto safety issues for teenage drivers.

Howenstine, a service-learning magnet school at 555 S. Tucson Blvd., has received three grants from State Farm Insurance Co. to promote safe teen driving. Shelly Camp, Howenstine's Service-Learning coordinator, who led the effort to integrate safe teen driving into the school's curriculum, accompanied Tiffany Dill and Brett Palmer to the summit.

State Farm and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia organized the effort to observe National Teen Drive Safety Week. The summit focused on auto safety topics in the drive to make the leading cause of teen deaths - motor vehicle crashes - part of the national policy agenda and to bring the issue to the attention of legislators.

Family Science Night goes under the stars
Family Science Night on Friday, Oct. 19, brought the Tucson astronomy community together with the Robins Elementary School community for an evening of star gazing. Six to eight telescopes on the basketball court offered views with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association as guides.

In the multipurpose room, nine learning centers were set up, showing comet making, sun clocks, magnitude readers, planet sized activities and a slide show of last August's Phoenix launch. Scientists presenting information were from the University of Arizona, Kitt Peak and the International Dark-Sky Association, as well as Robins staff members.

The Robins PTO sponsored the program. Principal Elizabeth Minno said the science night offered a large scale activity that supported the curriculum, inspired future scientists and offered fun for families.