2. Harmon Elementary has kicked off their Battle of the Books Club with 15 Teams! Battle of the Books includes a battle of fifth and sixth graders pertaining to twelve total books read throughout the school year. The battle consists of questions about the books with a winning team from each school competing at a district competition against Higley School District and Queen Creek School District in May 2013.
3. The Simonton Choir, an afterschool program sponsored by Emily Jones, music teacher and Kelly Rosenbaum, second grade teacher, both from Simonton is up and running for the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 25 students in fourth, fifth and sixth grade are participating and students are learning to sing harmonies and partner songs.
4. Congratulations to Combs High School’s first Homecoming King and Queen, Zach Craven and Codi Garcia. Criteria for selecting the King and Queen includes qualifying for the Senior Walk by maintaining a 3.27 GPA, providing 90 hours of community service (30 hours in each of student’s freshman, sophomore and junior years), and participating in two or more clubs or teams. High school students determine the final vote.
5. For the second year in a row the District took advantage of the free Mobile Bus Driving Simulator Program offered by the Arizona Risk Retention Trust Inc. This year, the simulator training focused on mirror adjustments, backing and turning. Several drivers participated and received valuable feedback and training from the TRUST Transportation Representative under the direction of Shanna Bailey.
6. A representative from the Arizona Game and Fish Department visited the fourth grade classrooms at Ranch Elementary. The presentation enhanced the students’ learning of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.
7. Combs High School is proud to host a notMYkid parent presentation at Combs High School at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 29. This presentation focuses on Bullying and Internet Safety and inspires positive life choices by educating the community about the consequences of destructive youth behaviors.
8. The Combs Kidz Program is hosting Fall Break Camp October 8-12 and 15, 2012 for Combs families while school is not in session. It will be full of activities to keep our K-6th grade students engaged and active. Activities will include arts and crafts, organized games, indoor and outdoor play activities, technology, movies, reading, and board games. Fall Camp will take place at Harmon Elementary.
9. Combs Middle School recently held elections for Student Council officers. Students elected for the 2012-2013 school year are: President: Sabrina Apostol, Vice President: Jimmy Villalba, Secretary: Cheyenne Floyd, Treasurer: Hayden Woodard.
10. Kimberly Lynch, fifth grade teacher at Ellsworth Elementary, has been selected as one of the top ten finalists for Teacher of the Year from the Arizona Educational Foundation.
11. Tryouts for Combs Middle School girls’ volleyball and boys’ soccer are scheduled to take place after fall break. All students interested in participating are required to have a physical, copy of their insurance card, permission slip, and emergency contact form turned in before they may tryout.
12. Ranch Elementary held its Student Council elections on September 13th. Twenty-five students shared campaign speeches during the morning video announcements. Ranch’s new student body president is Cody Riggs.
13. The J.O. Combs School District has received an “A” rating from Standard & Poor’s. This rating is based on the District’s outstanding general obligation debt and represents a stable financial outlook for the district.
14. Combs Middle School recognizes a Cougar and a Lady Cougar each month from each grade level. Recipients receive a free front of the line lunch pass, a free homework pass for each core subjects, invitations to invite two staff members to join them for lunch, and two free treat passes for use in the cafeteria. Recipients for the month of October are Tristan Alderete and Grace Porter, 7th graders and Brandon Wu and Kailee Shurtleff, 8th graders.
15. The Ranch Professional Learning Community recently celebrated with a “Tailgate” themed pot luck. Staff and students promoted “College Days” by wearing favorite game day shirts and jerseys.
16. Harmon Elementary held its first Character Counts Pep Rally conducted by Dr. Maria Ramirez, school counselor. Dr. Ramirez took pictures of students she caught shining with character and displayed them at the rally. The students had a special visit from “Cougar” the Middle School Mascot.
17. Combs Traditional Academy held their Family Literacy Night on September 20th. Families were able to participate in a number of activities designed to encourage literacy at home, including a Spalding lesson, reading games, literacy websites, and parents spent time reading with their children.
