Education

Freedom Academy Charter School Chosen to Create State Ornaments Governor Jan Brewer today announced Freedom Academy Charter School was selected to create the state tree ornaments for Arizona to be featured at this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting event hosted by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. The event will be held this evening on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

At Coolidge Unified School District’s December 8th Regular Governing Board meeting, Member Tina Moore was recognized for her eight years of service on the CUSD Governing Board.  Member Moore chose to not run for another term and officially ends her appointment at the end of this month.Governing Board President Kristi Freader and Superintendent Dr. Cecilia Johnson (pictured below with Member Moore in the middle) thanked Tina Moore for her dedication to the district, and commended her on her passion for education.

On Tuesday, November 9th the 2nd and 3rd grade students at Simonton Elementary School presented a patriotic-themed music concert.  Students were given the opportunity to accompany their classmates on several songs using xylophones, met-allophones, glockenspiels, and rhythm sticks.  On other songs, students presented play parties, which are kind of a combination of a game and a dance.

Combs Traditional Academy, a new K-5 “back to basics” school in the J.O. Combs Unified School District, will hold a special ceremony on November 12th, 2010 in honor of Veteran’s Day. The ceremony will begin at 8:20am around the Combs Traditional Academy’s flagpole as students bring out the flag and raise it, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. Students, staff, and the community will then be invited into our gym for presentations by a Veteran, students, and our choir. Students in all grade levels will be putting together a writing activity around Veteran’s Day, which will be displayed in our hallways and selected writings will be recited at the ceremony as the grade level presentations.

Florence Unified School District is pleased to announce that a new program will be implemented district-wide starting on Monday, November 8th called Beyond Textbooks. This program focuses on teaching the essential standards measured by state testing.

Representatives from American Family Insurance presented a check to Coolidge Unified School District Superintendent Cecilia Johnson in the amount of $900 from the Teen Safe Driver program at Coolidge High School.

Florence USD has been asked to showcase our technology implementation at the National School Board Association's Technology & Learning Conference this week in Phoenix! Nicole Steele, Director of Technology will be speaking about 1:1 computing, with a focus on planning and implementation on Wednesday, 10/20, and on Thursday, 10/21, a panel comprised of Dr. Nine (Superintendent), Ms. Steele, Dr. Pappalardo (principal at Poston Butte) and Mrs. Monks (School Board President) will be answering questions about the benefits of going 1:1.

Circle Cross Ranch has a way for our students’ legacy to remain a part of our school forever!  Ms. Ross, our art teacher, is taking orders for our tile wall project.We began the project last year and would like to complete one wall this year. Parents can purchase a tile of their child’s artwork for $10 and the tile will be placed on the wall.We are...

September 11, 2010 was the ninth anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001.  While most of their students were not yet born when the attacks occurred, the staff at Combs Traditional Academy, a new K-5 school in the J.O. Combs Unified School District in San Tan Valley, felt that it was important to honor and remember those that perished and gave their lives. On the morning of September 10, 2010, the staff, students, and community gathered around the flagpole and linked hands.

PINAL COUNTY - Central Arizona College has received a three-year, $2,182,003 federal grant to provide training in certificate and degree programs in biofuels production and solar installation.Since late 2006, the college has received roughly $6 million in Community-based Job Training Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Lexi Tabor, 11, is clerk and founder of her own hair-clip business in one of the classrooms at Edu-Prize Charter School in Gilbert.Her hair clips come in blue, purple and green and feature tiny decorative flowers.Some are selling for $2, few smaller clips for $1."Business has been really good. So far we've sold about 10 or 11," Lexi said.

Yet another public school district is gearing up to open a traditional academy to fulfill demands from area families.J.O. Combs Unified School District, located in San Tan Valley, leans against the dividing line of Maricopa and Pinal counties at Meridian Road.