We Believe in the American Dream!

EXHIBITIONS OF SUCCESSBy Dr. Karen E. Williams, Superintendent

March 2015

On Thursday, March 5, 135 members of the Legislative Committee, parents, community members, and Governing Board members took an exciting educational field trip to the Arizona State Capitol for the District’s Annual State Capitol Tour. This was the largest group of attendees ever!

While at the legislature, Alhambra’s Legislative Committee sponsored lunch for legislators including those representing Alhambra District and members of the house and senate education committees, and we were pleased to have eight legislators and guests join our group during lunch.

Guests included:

• Alhambra’s legislators – Senator Martin Quezada, and Representatives Debbie McCune Davis and Jonathan Larkin

• House Education Committee members – Representative Reginald Bolding• Senate Education Committee members – Senator David Bradley, and Senator Sylvia Allen’s assistant

stopped by• Other Legislators – Representative Chris Ackerley, District 2, and Senator Steve Farley, District 9.

In addition, the group toured the Capitol museum and visited the House of Representatives gallery. It was a great day for Alhambra and for education.

Alhambra Goes to the Legislature

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Live Classroom SpotlightMarch 2015

Ms. Theresa Thomas, second grade teacher at Cordova Primary School, and several of her students demonstrated how they researched the respiratory system. After completing their research, students wrote a three-page essay to summarize and organize their information. They then created an electronic pamphlet on Smart Pages, which they shared with Governing Board members.

Theresa ThomasCordova Primary School

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Alhambra Honors Excellence in Education RecipientsThe Alhambra School District awarded 24 outstanding teachers with the annual Excellence in Education Award. These awards recognize teachers for high student achievement and performance, effective use of instructional strategies, implementation of unique programs to foster student achievement, positive interaction with students, staff, and parents, and activities that extend beyond the classroom.

The 24 honorees achieved excellence in implementing programs that help students accomplish high academic goals. They represent classroom and special area teachers, as well as academic coaches that have made a significant difference in the lives of children in the Alhambra School District. Recipients include: Kimberly Jones, Alhambra Traditional School; Kimberly Burns and Adam Moon, Andalucia Middle School; Melody Hodges, Barcelona Middle School; Marjorie Paez and Deborah Hein, Carol G. Peck School; Tina Bunch and Kimberly Krol, Catalina Ventura School; Maria Landreneau and Cynthia Morand, Cordova Middle School; Rachel Knuth, Cordova Primary School; Rosela Arvayo and Tameia Byrd, Granada East School; Sherry Blank and Kristina Schneider, Granada Primary School; Sabrina Giger, James W. Rice Primary School; Elizabeth Welch and Santy Singpradith, Montebello School; Cassaundra Harmon and Becky Thornton, Sevilla Primary School; Carrie Meyers, Sevilla West School; Vanessa Piña, Simpson School; and LaTisha Smith and Alyson Marcum, Westwood Primary School.

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Employees of the MonthMarch 2015

Carin BayerThird Grade Teacher

Granada Primary School

Melissa CortezData Input Clerk

Sevilla Primary School

Classified Certified

Congratulations!

5Written Classroom Spotlight

March 2015

Barcelona Middle School Fifth Graders Learn the Lost Art of Writing While Creating One World!

Imagine walking to your mailbox, putting in the key, and finding a stamped envelope with your name on it. Is there anything that makes you feel more special? The students in Mr. Greening’s fifth grade class at Barcelona Middle School have delved into the art of letter writing. As one of ten fifth grade classes across the state of Arizona selected to participate in the “One World Program,” Mr. Greening’s students began building relationships with students from Pima Elementary School in Scottsdale. Barcelona fifth graders were paired with Pima fifth graders of different backgrounds to break down barriers among students. The students engaged in lessons focused on connecting communities, cultures and classrooms, through a unit centered around celebrating diversity. The students have enhanced their technology and writing skills. They even added pictures of themselves in their letters. The collaboration did not stop at letter writing. The students had an opportunity to meet one another at an event organized through the National Football League. They participated in team building, workshops, and other activities focused on cultural elements. The class not only gained knowledge in pen pal writing, but more importantly, on respecting people from different backgrounds, communicating effectively, and working together to create One World!

6Alhambra’s MESA Clubs Excel at Regional Competition

Congratulations to Alhambra District schools’ Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) teams as they did an outstanding job at the Central regional competition held at Peoria High School on Saturday, February 28, 2015.

As a District, our schools were represented in the top six awarded places and we received 54% of the total awards. We also received 44% of all first place awards (4 of 9). Overall, we were recognized 28 times for our students’ efforts, with Montebello receiving the most school awards with seven! Below are overall placements by Alhambra’s teams:

Roller CoasterFirst Place

Sevilla West School

Solar CarSecond Place

Alhambra Traditional School

Third Place Catalina Ventura School

Fourth Place Montebello School

Fifth Place Andalucia Middle School

On-Site Challenge using the Engineering ProcessSecond Place

Montebello School

Third Place Alhambra Traditional School

Fourth Place Alhambra Traditional School

Fifth Place Andalucia Middle School

Sixth Place Sevilla West School

7Hydro PowerFourth Place

Sevilla West School Sixth Place

Barcelona Middle School

Change Maker Problem-Solving in the CommunityFirst Place

Montebello SchoolThird Place

Barcelona Middle School Fourth Place

Simpson School Fifth Place

Granada East School

Duct Tape ChallengeSecond Place

Granada East SchoolFourth Place

Montebello School

Rocket LaunchFourth Place

Andalucia Middle School Sixth Place

Cordova Middle School

Aquatic VehicleSecond Place

Sevilla West SchoolFourth Place

Alhambra Traditional SchoolFifth Place

Montebello School

Prosthetic ArmFirst Place

Montebello School Second Place

Cordova Middle SchoolThird Place

Montebello SchoolFourth Place

Andalucia Middle School Sixth Place

Simpson School

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Alhambra Celebrates Read Across America

Schools across the district celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday the week of March 2 for Read Across America. This day celebrates the importance of reading by having caring adults visit schools as guest readers to share books with children.

Cordova Primary School partnered with their high school neighbors from Glenview College Preparatory School. High School students dressed as characters from The Cat in the Hat and made special appearances at the kick-off assemblies. They lead the Cordova Primary students in the readers’ oath and pledged to read each and every night, because that is what makes you grow up right! The Glenview College Preparatory students returned throughout the week to read to students in their classrooms. A special thanks is extended to the Glenview College Preparatory Mustangs for being great role models, tutors, readers, and helping Cordova Primary students learn and grow!

In addition, Sevilla Primary staff dressed as their favorite book characters and paraded around the school as student onlookers celebrated their favorite books.

9ALHAMBRA SCHOOL DISTRICT

J B FAIR

Alhambra School District hosted its second-annual Job Fair on March 24. Participants explored district booths and expressed interest in certified, classified, and guest teacher positions.

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March 2015

Derek Medina EspinozaKindergarten

Westwood Primary School

Cordell StadickFirst Grade

Sevilla Primary School

Camila Valenzuela UrreaSecond Grade

Carol G. Peck School

Scarlett GrifforThird Grade

Catalina Ventura School

Makayla ContrerasFourth Grade

Sevilla West School

Emely Salazar SaldivarFifth Grade

Catalina Ventura School

Diana Rayas CampuzanoSixth Grade

Simpson School

Grace HardySeventh Grade

Catalina Ventura School

Layla LopezEighth Grade

Barcelona Middle School

One of Alhambra District’s Core Values is to ”Build enduring relationships and respect diversity.” We, in the Alhambra School District, are truly blessed to have the continued support of parents and community members, which was evident by the largest turnout ever for our Annual Capitol Tour. Imagine, 135 parents and community members descending on the Capitol grounds all in support of public education.

This month’s launch says it all . . . BELIEVE! Believe that you can make a difference in our children’s lives. Believe in our students. Believe in being the light for our kids so they may one day live the American Dream!

Believe!

Dr. Karen E. Williams, Superintendent

Launch of the MonthBelieve

The start to a better world…or better life…

or better future…is simply our belief that it is possible.

Believe.Believe in fresh starts and new beginnings.

Believe that opportunity is everywhere and all around you.Believe that the universe is friendly and that life is on your side.

Believe that you are here for a reason.Believe that nothing is too good to be true.

Believe you must take your chance.Believe it when others might not.

Believe there’s always, always, always a way. Believe you are far bigger than anything that can happen to you.

Believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.Believe you might be that light for someone else.

Believe that life is sacred.Believe you are blessed.

Believe in the miracle of a second chance.Believe in giving back.

Believe in love and everything it touches.Believe that friendship is an honor and privilege.

Believe in taking a stand.Believe you can make a difference.

Believe we can build a better world.Believe in today.

Believe that the best is yet to be.And believe in yourself.

No matter what kind of challenge lies before you, if somebody believes in you and you believe in your dream, it can happen.

~Author Unknown

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Editor

Linda Jeffries

Superintendent

Dr. Karen E. Williams2014 Administrator of the Year

AZ Technology in Education Association

Alhambra School District4510 N. 37th AvenuePhoenix, AZ 85019

(602) 336-2920

We Believein the

AmericanDream!