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MONDAY
MESSAGE
Hello all:
Just
today I read a summary of the actions that schools
and the District Office are taking to aid the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. As always, it feels wonderful to be a
part of a school community who gives so much to those in
need.
As some
of you may know, some homeless families have already
been welcomed into our schools and we think we may have
a few more in the coming weeks. I know you will welcome
them with that same generous spirit that you have
displayed to all of the evacuees.
All
of us share the concern that the lives of
these families return to as close to normal as is
possible. Should you have any questions about the
efforts that are underway, or general questions about
your involvement in assistance activities, please
contact your supervisor and he/she can direct the
question to the appropriate department here, if
needed.
Best
wishes,
Maria
Note: Attached
are a few of the many activities taking place in Kyrene
to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
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NEWSFLASH
K-8 Programming Study Update
At the Tuesday, September 13 Governing Board meeting, the 2005-2006 K-8
Programming Study Work Plan will be presented for the
Board’s review and approval. In addition, a Solutions
Team – consisting of Kyrene parents and school and
district staff – has been convened to study gifted
programs in the Kyrene School District. The next meeting
of the K-8 Programming Study Committee will take place
on Thursday, September 22 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in
Training Room 4 at the District Office. The agenda will
be posted on the Web site prior to the meeting.
Author
to Visit Milenio one of Kyrene's Own
Denise
Tobin, one of our Milenio first grade teachers, has
become a children's author! Her first book, Anna
Saves the Day, was published this summer by Trafford
publishing company. She will be Milenio's visiting
author on September 15th.
Anna,
from Anna Saves the Day, is a child that
learns about litter and what it might do to the world
through a story told by a talking squirrel she
encounters in her yard. Mrs. Tobin created her story a
number of years ago to use with her students in
celebration of Earth Day. Mrs. Tobin's students have
enjoyed the story each year and encouraged her to
publish it. She has always dreamed of becoming a
children's author and decided to follow through after
her students’ requests.
Mrs.
Tobin has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education
from ASU and a Master's degree in Early Childhood
Education from NAU. She will be speaking with Milenio
students Thursday, September 15th, where she will
discuss the steps she used to write, revise, and publish
her story.
Greece
Volunteers to Present at Board Meeting
The past summer, eight members of the Kyrene staff spent
two weeks volunteering in a Greece orphanage for
children and young adults with special needs. The Agios
Nektarios Institution houses children and young adults
born with a variety of mental and physical disabilities,
such as cerebral palsy and autism. The Kyrene team
developed a summer day program where orphanage residents
would participate in a fun-loving program that would
give them the opportunity to participate in arts and
crafts, musical therapy, sensory motor activities, and
games. The team will make a presentation about the
experience at the Tuesday, September 13 Governing Board
meeting. Members of the volunteer team included Margie
Barrows, Karin Crider, Michele Ferber, Alicia Holt,
Michele McCuen, Karen Reiss, Ann Pinkwasser, and Joanne
Thomas.
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GOVERNING
BOARD
Kyrene
Governing Board Meeting
The
next meeting of the Kyrene Governing Board will take
place on Tuesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. The agenda for
the meeting is posted on the Kyrene
Web site.
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STAFF
REMINDERS
Procurement
Procedures
The attached
document is a reminder to all staff about Kyrene’s
procurement procedures.
Arizona
Republic “Caught Being Good” Feature
The Arizona Republic is profiling students
from Kyrene’s Ahwatukee schools in its “Caught Being
Good” feature. The intent is to feature a student who
may have done something special to support his or her
community. To nominate a student, please send the
following information to Johnny
Cruz: name, age, grade, school, what they did, and
name of nominator. The Arizona Republic will
probably make arrangements to take a photograph of the
student if he or she is selected for the feature.
Safe
Schools Expo
The Kyrene
School District Safe Schools/Healthy Students team is
hosting the first Safe Schools Expo and Family Fun Day
at Kiwanis Wave Pool in Tempe. The event will take place
Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone
in the Kyrene community is invited to attend this event.
The Expo will provide beneficial information on
community resources; health information, such as
physical, mental and behavioral wellness; and safety
information vital for student success in school and in
their community. Attached
is a list of the exhibitors already scheduled for the
Expo. Attendance to the Expo is free to the
public, and wave pool access is available for a
discounted rate of $2. For more information or to
secure discounted wave pool tickets, contact Donna
Chojnacki at x4083.
Elementary
Report Card Changes for Language Arts
The District Leadership Council approved the elementary
report card changes for Language Arts this week. All
teachers should have received an e-mail the week of
August 29th outlining these changes.
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TRAINING
AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Grant
Writing Training
Have
you been thinking about implementing an exciting lesson
in your classroom but don’t have the needed financial
resources to purchase the extra materials, or are you
wanting to take your class on a fun educational field
trip, but don’t have the funding to do so? Well
there are many grants that teachers can apply for that
will enhance the work being done in the classroom.
Don’t be intimidated by the grant writing process –
it can be fun, and easy! Come to the next grant writing
training class on September 22nd at 4:00 at
the District Office to learn how to apply for grants.
Registrations are being taken through the PGO.
Rio
Salado Vouchers Available for Teachers
There are still
vouchers available through Rio Salado College for
individuals who need to become Highly Qualified,
certified in their content area, or for individuals
needing a middle school endorsement. The final date for
distribution of these vouchers is September 16. If
you are interested in enrolling in an online class
through Rio Salado, contact Patty
Hineman at x4115 in the Curriculum and Assessment
Department. These vouchers will be distributed on a
first-come, first-served basis. There is a maximum limit
of 6 credit hours per person. Vouchers will be available
in 1 credit hour increments.
Teacher
Support for Implementing the New Harcourt Reading
Material
This
summer hundreds of teachers attended the second, more in
depth elementary reading training called Planning with
Harcourt. This is a different training than the training
offered in May 2005 and during NEO. If you were not able
to attend one of the three-hour trainings this summer or
on August 22 there will be a final opportunity available
on September 15. The classes for September are posted on
the PGO. It is an
expectation that teachers attend a 3-hour training in
order to implement the program effectively.
Kindergarten – Planning with Harcourt
September 15, 2005, 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the District
Office
1-2 Grade Teachers – Planning with Harcourt
September 15, 2005, 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the District
Office
3-5 Grade Teachers – Planning with Harcourt
September 15, 2005, 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the District
Office
ASU
Language and Literacy Master’s and Reading Endorsement
Program
The
ASU
Language and Literacy Master's and Reading Endorsement
Program will continue to be offered at various
school sites in Kyrene for Fall 2005. Since this is
considered a "rolling cohort," participants
are able to enroll in this program any time a new class
is offered.
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KYRENE
CLASSIFIEDS
Supplemental
Education Department
The Supplemental Education Department is hiring
additional staff. If you or someone you know enjoys
working with children (ages 6 weeks through 8th
grade) and is looking for employment with the Kyrene
School District (or if you are looking for additional
duties and compensation), check out employment
opportunities at http://www.kyrene.org/hr/suppsum.htm.
For
information on teaching a before and after school
enrichment program, contact Ashley
Coates at x4089.
For
information on jobs with Kids Club programs, contact Jena
Brandon at x4059.
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