District

Dialogue

Bi-weekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District September 26, 2014

The District Dialogue is issued twice monthly.

Schools offer ASU’s American Dream Academy to parents

All Laveen schools are offering the American Dream Academy to parents this year.

American Dream Academy is a program offered through Arizona State University. The purpose of the pro-

gram is to help families take charge of their children’s education, build stronger families and communities, and

emphasize the core belief that education is the key to success. Through ADA, parents gain the tools and confi-

dence to work with schools and their communities, ensuring their children have successful academic careers

and ultimately prepare for a university experience.

Program topics include:

understanding the critical role attendance plays in your child’s success at

school,

creating home environments that support success,

creating a working plan that focuses on continued education,

working as partners with teachers, the principal, and other school members,

motivating your child to succeed at school,

strengthening your child’s reading skills at home, and

what every parent needs to know about the College and Career Readiness Standards.

The two-hour classes are offered in both English and Spanish. Child care is provided during evening classes.

A celebration is held for parents who complete the program.

Foundation to sell storm t-shirts

The Laveen Education

Foundation is selling T-shirts

to commemorate the two 1,000-

year storms that hit the

Laveen area in recent weeks.

The navy blue shirts note that the wearer sur-

vived two 1,000—year storms and includes the

dates. The back features a large wave and school

bus.

Adult and youth sizes are available for $15 and

$10, respectively.

To order yours, visit the Foun-

dation’s website at

www.facebook.com/

LaveenEducationFoundation.

All proceeds benefit the Foun-

dation which provides scholar-

ships to Laveen school alumni.

County cancels school board election

The Maricopa County Education Service

Agency has cancelled Laveen’s upcoming school

board elections.

The district had three seats to be filled, howev-

er, only three individuals applied to fill those seats.

Each will now be appointed in December.

Jill Barragan will continue on the board and

serve a four-year term as will new member Louis

Monteilh. Michelle Anderson, also new to the board,

will serve a two-year term.

The three replace Isaac Serna, whose term ex-

pires in December; Shari Gustafson, who resigned

in August; and a vacancy that occurred in 2013.

Laveen Governing Board Member Jill Barragan is sworn in after her appointment to the board last year.

PAGE 2 September 26, 2014

Vista del Sur receives garden grant

Vista del Sur is the recipient of the Western

Growers Foundation’s 2014 Arizona School Garden

Grant.

The school received $1,500 to create and sustain

a garden on their campus. Additionally, they re-

ceived an Arizona Gardens for Learning book, book-

marks, and seeds to get started.

The WGF School Garden Program encourages

students to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

Farmers from Arizona

and California make up

the Western Growers

Foundation.

Cash partners with city M.C. Cash School has partnered with the City of

Phoenix to offer their community the Good Neigh-

bor Program.

The Good Neighbor Program is a free, eight-

week leadership program that gives residents the

opportunity to speak to

their elected and ap-

pointed leaders and im-

prove their community.

It also provides the nec-

essary information for

accessing City of Phoe-

nix resources.

Student artwork accepted for children’s book

Laveen students will have an opportunity to submit artwork to be featured in the latest

Jeremy Jackrabbit book.

Jeremy Jackrabbit Saves Every Drop is the fourth book featuring the environmentally-

conscious rabbit. The books are written by a local couple and completely illustrated by Mari-

copa County school children.

Last year, five Laveen students had their artwork featured, including the book’s cover.

For complete rules, visit www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/kids.

conducting vision and hearing screenings for our stu-

dents.

vision and hearing screenings.

So far, over 500 students have received screenings.

The Lions have dedicated almost 100 man

Lions sponsor art contest The Laveen Lions Club is once again sponsoring the annual peace post-

er contest. Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 may enter a drawing reflecting

their vision of peace.

First, second, and third place posters will be selected for each school.

The first place winners will receive a gift card from the Lions Foundation

and compete at the regional level.

Artwork must be received by October 31.

Technology increased across the district

Laveen continues to increase technology across the district.

Over the summer SMART Boards were installed in every 4th through

8th grade classroom. Over 1,680 Chromebooks were also purchased to sup-

port technology integration.

The district now has almost 3,000 Chromebooks and 480 iPads in class-

rooms, exceeding the 2:1 student/device ratio.

Trailside Point teacher David Stuart was recognized for integrating technology into his classroom instruction last year.