Focus on TUSD - December 2007

Looking Ahead
Catalina ESL students set health program
ESL students from Catalina Magnet High School will present "Is Anyone Listening? Teen Refugees & Immigrants Speak Out about Health and Healing" on Wednesday, Dec. 19 in the school library. Students will use their photography and writing about health issues they and many Tucsonans face every day," said teacher Julie Kasper in the invitation to the community discussion. Catalina is at 3645 E. Pima St.

Students from Afghanistan, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan will participate. After their presentations, students will share their thoughts with guests. Potential resources and solutions also will be identified and ways to improve our health will be explored.

TUSD Wrap Up
Kellond choir sings at mall
The Kellond Elementary School Good Choices Choir sang for holiday shoppers as part of the Tucson Mall Holiday Concert series on Dec. 17. The choir consists of 24 second- through fifth-grade students who were selected as part of the extra-curricular after-school Good Choices program. OMA Arts Integration Specialist Melissa Callahan leads the choir.

Holladay presented holiday program
Holladay Intermediate Magnet School's third-graders presented the seasonal celebration, "December Nights, December Lights" on Dec. 18.

U. S. Representative Raul Grijalva Visits Carrillo
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva visited all the classrooms at Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School, 440 S. Main Ave., on Tuesday, Nov. 26. He talked to the third-grade students in Myrna Lujan's class about his memories of attending Carrillo as a child.

Vesey students have successful canned food drive
The Vesey Elementary School Student Council led a successful one-month canned foods drive, collecting 6,036 cans of food. In an e-mail, Assistant Principal Leah Dardis said the total was more than double the number from last year, which was about 3,000 cans. The students' goal was 3,500 cans. Food from the drive, which ran from Nov. 13 to Dec. 14, will be donated to the Community Food Bank.

Wal-Mart also donated $500 in gift cards to buy canned food. Student Council teacher facilitators Claire Dunham and Jennifer Culbertson coordinated the project.

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

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

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