Important Information: Dr. Peterson's January letter

For All Other District Announcements & Events, Please Click Here

Scottsdale Unified School District parents are encouraged to provide input about our schools in the online Annual Parent Survey. The electronic survey will be available beginning Friday, January 20 through February 10. Parents are invited to complete the survey once for each student enrolled. Parents who do not have Internet access may use the school’s computer lab. Access the survey from the District Web site or your child’s school Web site beginning January 20. Your responses will help us make SUSD even better!

To help get more low-income households online, CenturyLink is teaming up with Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) to get the word out to parents in the District about this exciting new program which offers discounted High-Speed Internet service starting at $9.95 a month, plus applicable taxes and fees, to eligible consumers in Arizona and 36 other states where it has local operations. The service provides access up to 1.5 Mbps downstream capability. Higher bandwidth services, where available, are offered at a comparable discount.

CenturyLink is also hosting basic computer education and technology at Coronado High School on Wednesday, February 8 at 6 p.m. There is no need to sign up in advance, but please arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to register. The program is offered free to the public. It is not necessary to be a CenturyLink customer to attend.

See Century Link

Arcadia Learning Community SciTech Festival – February 1 at 6 p.m. at Arcadia High School, 4703 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018. Each school in the Arcadia Learning Community will highlight a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) related projects

Desert Mountain Science and Technology Expo – February 1 from 6-8 p.m. at Desert Mountain High School, 12575 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale 85259. Schools in the Desert Mountain Learning Community will showcase science and technology related projects that are implemented in their curriculum.

Chaparral Learning Community Science Expo – February 2 from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Chaparral High School, 6935 E. Gold Dust Ave., Scottsdale 85253. Students and teachers from the Chaparral Learning Community will share information about grade level science concepts through demonstrations and presentations.

Coronado Learning Community Science and Technology Expo – February 2 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Supai Middle School, 6720 E. Continental, Scottsdale 85257. Schools in the Coronado Leaning Community will showcase and demonstrate STEAM related projects that are implemented in their curriculum.

Saguaro Learning Community Science Expo – February 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Navajo Elementary School, 4525 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale 85251. Activities will include Lego Robotics Demonstration(s), Gaming Demonstration (programming), Project Astro (partnership with the UofA), Embry Riddle- planetary display and activities, ASU’s Daedalus Club (rockets), and much more.

Copper Ridge School – February 29 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Copper Ridge School, 10101 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale 85255. Community leaders and experts in science and technology careers will speak and meet with students and parents. In addition, there will be three 25 minute sessions in which presenters will summarize their careers, share what skills and education are needed and have a question and answer follow-up.

Open Enrollment applications for the 2012-2013 school year are now being accepted.  The first priority deadline is Tuesday, January 17^th.  IF you live outside the Laguna atttendance area and will have a NEW STUDENT starting at Laguna next year, you will need to complete the Open Enrollment process with the district Enrollment Office.  Please see the district website at www.susd.org for detailed instructions or call the school office if you have any questions.

You are invited to attend the next Nutrition Services Parent Committee Meeting, Thursday, February 9^th, 3:30 – 5:00 pm at the Mohave District Annex, Apache A room.  Please join us to share ideas, get your questions answered and concerns voiced regarding your student’s school meal program. 

Laguna entered its first Robotics competition this year with a very successful finish.  The Robo Eagles team included: Katrina Butler, Kasey Molden (former Laguna student), Will Schouten, Parker Abraham, Noah Mader and Mateo Siegel.  The team received the top programming trophy and made the quarter finals in the robot floor exercise.  “This was an amazing feat for a first year team,” commented Mrs. Kimmel.  Although the team did not make it to the state level, they can be very proud of their accomplishments.   It was a fantastic experience for the team and we are very proud of them all.  Mrs. Kimmel and Dr. Root would like to give a special thank you to Rhett and Susan Butler for their co-coaching support and to each of the parents who supported their children through the training and competition. Go Robo Eagles!

 

The National Geographic Bee for school completion was held at Laguna, Friday, December 2^nd with classroom representatives from the fourth and fifth grade. These students were:

Mrs. Bobbett’s class                       Ky Silverman                        

Mrs. Graham’s class                       Sophia Warder            

Mrs. Moore’s class                         Jackson Winford        

Mr. Vogan’s class                           Dylan Brooks

Mrs. Clor’s class                    Adam Coates                        

Ms. Melvin’s Class                         Nick Aspiras                         

Mrs. Quisberg’s class                    Julien LeMene            

Mrs. Sullivan’s class                       Noah Mader

 

 After the first 7 rounds of preliminary competition involving all representatives, the top four students; Noah Mader, Dylan Brooks, Sophia Warder and Ky Silverman went on to the final competition. After several rounds Sophia Warder and Dylan Brooks competed in the championship rounds in which Sophia Warder won for her correct answer of the Gulf of Mexico. Second place was won by Dylan Brooks and Noah Mader came in third place. Congratulations to Sophia, Dylan, Noah and to all the contestants for some great geography knowledge and skills. Sophia will move one step closer in the completion by taking a written exam on Tuesday, January 17^th at Laguna which will be submitted to the National Geographic Bee. Up to 100 students will be selected to compete in the State Bee on March 30, 2012 based on their scores on the written exam. Good luck Sophia, and study hard over the break!

After 21 rounds of competition Laguna’s Spelling Bee winner is fourth grader, Alyssa Zaldivar, from Mrs. Moore’s class! Fifth graders, Katrina Butler, came in 2^nd place and Carson Mullins in third place. What a great competition! After Alyssa correctly spelled the word weasel she clinched the win with the word murmur. Congratulations to all our Spelling Bee Representatives and to our champion, Alyssa Zaldivar, who will represent Laguna at the Scottsdale Unified School District Spelling Bee on January 26, 2012! Go Alyssa! Representatives from other classes:

Mrs. Bobbett’s           4^th Grade Class            Lena Soble

Mrs Clor’s                 5^th Grade Class            Jackie Zeng

Mrs. Graham’s          4th Grade Class             Kennedy Cowley

Miss Melvin’s             5^th Grade Class            Katrina Butler

Mrs. Moore’s             4^th Grade Class            Alyssa Zaldivar

Mrs. Quisberg’s         5^th Grade Class            Carson Mullins

Mr. Vogan’s              4^th Grade Class             Jack Warder

Mrs. Sullivan’s           5^th Grade Class            Amanda Carlson

 

Many families will be receiving an attendance letter from the school because your son/daughter reached a benchmark that requires us, per policy, to send a letter home. We understand there have been some nasty viruses going around causing a higher than normal absentee rate in February. For students who rarely miss school these absences won’t amount to more than 5 days or so. For students who miss school frequently this latest bout of illnesses could have an adverse effect in terms of the total number of absences for the year. The law requires that a student attend 90% of the school year, which means 162 days.

If your child has fewer than 10 absences you can send a simple letter stating why and we will attach this letter to the attendance letter that is placed in your child’s permanent school cum folder. If your child has more than 10 absences we suggest you ask your doctor for a supporting statement that explains why there were so many absences.

If you have more than 17 absences (excused or unexcused) then your child has met the state statute for truancy. I am required to notify our SRO officer and we will set up a meeting with you. At this meeting you will need to provide a letter from a doctor that explains each of the absences your son/daughter incurred.

There are always unusual or unique circumstances. Please call on us if you need to discuss this or if you have further questions.