Braves Newsletter

Braves Newsletter
Empowering graduates with skills to be 21st century Nnee.
SPRING 2013
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Quarterly Newsletter of the San Carlos Unified School District
Sixth graders compete in
statewide competition
www.sancarlosbraves.org
by Zak Kent
SCSS Robotics
Club participates in
tournament
A group of
sixth grade Rice
Elementary students
competed April 6 in
Arizona’s statewide
Odyssey of the
Mind competition
in Tucson. During
the recent regional
competition held
in Scottsdale the
sixth grade students
received the Ranatra
Fusca which is
Odyssey’s most
prestigious creativity
award. The sixth
grade team includes
Scott Kenton, Ariana
Wesley, Antonio
Hooke, Christabelle
Altaha and Kayona
Gilbert.
(Top photo) Antonio Hooke, 6th grade, sports a new
Odyssey of the
Mind is a worldwide hairdo and his San Carlos Odyssey of the Mind t-shirt.
(Bottom photo) Members (left to right) from 5th and
creativity-based
6th grade are Christian Bartlett, Scott Kenton, Antonio
problem solving
Hooke, Christabelle Altaha, Kayona Gilbert, Joy
Henderson and Ariana Wesley.
competition
that takes the
brightest students from each region and has them compete
at the local, state and world level. Our students received their
award because of the creativity and resilience they showed in
completing their long-term structure building problem. Ranatra
Fusca is defined as “A Creativity Award that represents the
essence of the Odyssey of the Mind. It is presented to teams
or individuals who exhibit exceptional creativity, either through
Earlier this year
members of the San
Carlos Secondary
School’s Robotics
Club participated
in a VEX Robotics
Tournament at
Fountain Hills High
School near Phoenix
where they were
able to test their
robots and witness
how other schools
design robots.
Thanks to the 21st
Century afterschool
program, students
were able to purchase
robotics equipment
Students who participate in the
so they could build,
Robotics Club include Kevin Victor,
design, program
8th grade, Angela Browning, 10
and test robots
grade, Marquel Jones, 10 grade,
and Elijah Grimes, 7th grade.
for VEX Robotics
Competition event(s).
The robots are timed as the students pick and
carry objects to certain spots. The SCSS team
robot ranked 33 out of 38 robots. The students
who participated included Angela Browning, 10th
grade, Marquel Jones, 10th grade, Kevin Victor,
8th grade, and Elijah Grimes, 7th grade. The
teachers who assisted the students included
Renevie Magboo, Jennifer Guevarra, Emerald
Moore and Sammy Gonzales.
The purpose of this club is to give students
a background in STEM subjects: Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
continued on page 2
Spring 2013
continued on page 2
SAN CARLOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SCSS Robotics Club participates
in tournament
No Summer School
continued from page 1
The San Carlos Unified School District (SCUSD)
will not offer summer school this year due to the
uncertainty of the budget cuts and the required
teacher trainings. In the past as many as 250
students participated in summer school and
summer programs at Rice Elementary and San
Carlos Secondary schools. Unfortunately and
unrelated to our reduction of summer school, the
popular MAX program, a media arts exchanges
education program, is also not returning for its four
week run. The news is disappointing to students
and teachers.
Studies show students tend to forget much of
what they learn during the school year over the
summer, which is why it’s important for you to
challenge your child’s brain by playing board games
and reading books with them. Visit the San Carlos
Library to check out books or use their computers
to play educational games. Parents are also urged
to take advantage of other summer programs
offered through the Boys and Girls Club and
various tribal programs.
The club will teach students important traits to
use in courses involving engineering including
programming, building a robot, troubleshooting, and
using a Computer Aided Design programs.
Through the program students generate a
design to complete a difficult task using teamwork,
imagination, and a Computer Aided Design Program.
They build a working product using VEX robotics
pieces. They learn about wiring, terminology of any
tools or supplies, and understand the proper use
of all equipment and pieces. Students eventually
learn how to program a robot and they learn how to
use Computer Aided Design programs, like Google
Sketch Up, to design imaginative recreations and
designs.
Important test dates!
April 29 - May 10
Grades K - 8
AIMSweb Benchmark Window
Please make sure your child is in school every day, gets a
good night’s rest and has a healthy breakfast!
Mt. Turnbull Art
Contest Winners
Sixth graders compete in
statewide competition
continued from page 1
Devon Brooks (left), 5th grade, and Tierra Key (right),
4th grade, recently won a cash prize and ribbons for
the artwork they submitted in the Mt. Turnbull Fair and
Rodeo Art Contest. Devon is in Ms. Debbie Tower’s class
and Tierra is in Ms. Jacquie Burns’ class.
Congratulations!
2
some aspect of their problem solution, or an
extraordinary idea beyond the problem solution. A
successful problem solution is not a criterion for
winning the award; rather, the award is a way to
acknowledge and encourage creative thinking and
risk-taking.” This award is a great honor and it’s the
first time a team from San Carlos has advanced to
the state level of the competition.
During the state competition the students greatly
improved upon their previous performance and
came in 4th place for the amount of weight held by
their balsa wood structure, a very respectable 140
pounds. Throughout the day the students continued
to perform at a high level and represented the San
Carlos Unified School District (SCUSD) very well.
Looking towards next year the Young Warriors
Program with the help of the SCUSD hopes
to sponsor more teams and continue with our
Empowering graduates with skills to be 21st century Nnee.
Barbara Ayze retires after 35
years with SCUSD
Barbara Ayze
worked for the
school district
off and on for a
total of 35 years.
She held the job
of Counselor’s
Assistant,
Secretary, and
Office Manager.
Barbara Ayze
She worked four
years for the Miami Unified School District prior to
coming to SCUSD. Barbara retired but chose to go back
to work after three months. Currently, she is working
for the Tribe’s Human Resource Office as an HR
Assistant. Barbara is a graduate of Globe High School.
She also took classes at Gila Pueblo Community College.
She is married to Larry Ayze. They have been
married for 40 years. They have four adult children,
and seven grandchildren. She grew up in the Gilson
Wash District, but has lived in the Peridot District for 33
years. Her husband Larry Ayze is a bus driver for the
school district and has been for six years.
Barbara loves to read. She likes to read non-fiction
novels. Her favorite subjects in school were reading
and math. Her advice to students, “Stay in school,
graduate and continue your education!” Her future
plans? “I would like to travel when my husband fully
retires and also renovate our home.”
Title VII/JOM
Parent Committee News
The JOM Program Indian Education Committee (IEC)
and the Title VII Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)
have been meeting on a monthly basis since the last
newsletter. Currently, the IEC is busy planning its 2013
Honors Banquet. They have identified a guest speaker
for the event that will be held on May 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
This past week they were able to set the criteria for
students to meet the honor status. Eighty five students
will be receiving an invitation to the banquet and each
student will be allowed only two guests.
As for the PAC, they have been working with the
consultant on the completion of the Title VII Indian
Education Program 2014 application. It is this program
that has sponsored the development of the Apache
Language instruction at the elementary school. The
Apache Language teachers provide monthly reports at
the meetings.
All parents are invited to these meetings. The next
Title VII meeting will be on May 9th at 5:00 p.m. See you
there!
Spring 2013
SAN CARLOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Apache Language
by Kathy Wesley-Kitcheyan,
Mentor, Apache Language Program
Dagot’ee Shik’iiyu!
The Apache
Language teachers
have been busy
teaching at least
120 students on a
daily schedule, from
1st to 6th grades.
This includes
Apache Language Teacher Judy
art and computer
Shorten is teaching students at Rice
classes, and we are
Elementary School to
known as Specials.
speak and sing in Apache.
Our teachers are
on a rotating schedule, doing so every two weeks so all
children are served. However, a disadvantage is that
a whole month can go by without a child being taught
Apache Language, due to the schedule. Hopefully, we
can have a schedule next year that will be compatible
with one of our goals, which is to teach Apache Language
on a daily basis. Furthermore, we don’t service the
preschoolers, and we should be because they are at a
vulnerable and impressionable age to learn.
For the past few weeks, we have been teaching the
concept of “Shik’ii”, and as some of you may know, this
means, relatives. There are 22 kinship terms we have
been teaching, and the appropriate way it needs to be
used, and with whom, in terms of male and female. For
children that have hardly ever heard this, I am sure it can
get confusing, but we have been continuously working
on this lesson. Family is very important, and we want
to impress upon the young minds that the concept of
“Shik”ii” is precious and embedded in our life’s values,
such as respect, honor, compassion, integrity, etc.
Furthermore, the concept of “Shik’ii,” is fundamental to
our cultural existence as Apache People.
May 7th, 2013, from 5:30-7:30, we will be hosting an
“Apache Parent Night”, where some of our projects will
be demonstrated, and the Apache Language staff will be
teaching lessons. We also invite you to have some acorn
dumplings with us in the Intermediate cafeteria. If you
have any questions, please feel free to call me at 4752315 x5108.
Finally, I encourage you to talk in Apache to your
children and make that the official language of your
home! English is spoken everywhere they turn, but
Apache is not so if we can commit ourselves to talk
daily to our children in Apache, can you imagine how
much they will learn and retain? Parents are the first
educators in a child’s life so your role and contribution to
preserving our language would be invaluable.
Ahi’yi’e!
3
Student Profile
SCUSD Staff Profile
Scott Kenton is 12-yearsold and in the 6th grade at
Rice Elementary School.
Currently he serves as
Student Body President. Scott
was elected last fall by the
students in the fourth through
sixth grades. He is the son
of Cheryl Moses and Michael
Kenton. He has one brother
Steven who is in the fourth
grade. He lives in the Peridot
Scott Kenton,
District. His favorite subject in
6th Grade
school is math. He was Student
of the Month last September. He
took part in Odyssey of the Mind recently. “It was a
really fun thing!” he said. As for future plans, Scott is
undecided but he is interested in the medical field and
education. “Probably a doctor. I like helping people.
Maybe even a teacher,” he said. His favorite hobby is
reading. “I encourage kids to stay in school and help
people out because you will get a bunch of respect
from people and they will know who you are,” he said.
As for his role models, he says “My mom, my dad and
some of my teachers!”
Kathlene Thomson was
born and raised in the
coastal town of Garibaldi,
Oregon. Her father was
a commercial fisherman
and her mother was a
homemaker. She met
her husband in Oregon
while working at the local
hospital. They moved
to Bemidji, Minnesota
shortly after getting
Kathleen Thompson,
married to raise their two
SCSS Master Teacher
children. While in Bemidji
she attended Bemidji State University majoring
in Elementary Education. After Minnesota they
relocated to Navajo, New Mexico where Kathlene
taught Kindergarten through Third Grade. They
stayed there for five years then relocated to Jeddito,
Arizona.
While in Jeddito, she taught 2nd grade, worked
as the Staff Development Coordinator, Director
of Curriculum and Principal. She received her
Master’s degree in Educational Leadership while
working at Jeddito. Three years ago she was given
the opportunity to work with the wonderful staff
and students at San Carlos Secondary School as a
Master Teacher. During her time at SCSS she has
gotten to know the students and found that they are
dedicated to their learning and looking forward to
succeeding in life. Her advice to students is stay in
school, get the education you deserve and follow you
dreams!
Apache Parent Night
May 7 5:30 - 7:30 pm
RES Intermediate Cafeteria
Come see what your child is learning in Apache!
Acorn dumplings will be served. Please speak to
your child and grandchild in Apache every day!
SCUSD purchases
propane fueled bus
Members of the San Carlos Unified
Transportation Department pose in front of
the district’s new propane fueled bus. The
purchase is part of a pilot project to determine
the feasibility of using propane fueled buses
versus those that run on diesel fuel. Fuel and
maintenance costs for a propane fueled buses
are expected to be less than half the cost for
buses running on diesel fuel. Several Arizona
school districts have switched to propane
fueled buses due to overall cost savings.
Students may notice how much quieter the
propane fueled buses are compared to those
that run on diesel fuel.
4
Empowering graduates with skills to be 21st century Nnee.
Alternative School news
Sketches of instruction
Greetings from San Carlos Alternative School staff
and students; we have some exciting news to share
with the community! 140 courses have been completed
for the spring semester thus far, which is a huge jump
in productivity. Detective Wendsler Nosie, Jr. was the
featured speaker for our March cookout. He shared his
experience with our students and their families, which
served as a means to inspire the cookout attendees.
Currently we are planning a cookout for April and
dinner honoring our graduates. Our garden shall be
in full bloom shortly because of our students’ hard
work. Extension Agent: Sabrina Tuttle, PhD. brought
representatives from the USDA to interview students
for a video on garden projects. The students seemed to
enjoy the opportunity to share their experiences about
gardening.
By Geony Provido, Master Teacher
Special Education News
The Special Education Department is working hard
to provide all of the services that are needed prior to
the ending of the school year. Over 150 meetings with
parents are currently scheduled before May 15, 2013.
Plans are underway for staff development during the
months of June and July to provide updated training.
San Carlos Schools are implementing the Common
Core curriculum which has a special method of
teaching special needs students. Staff will be trained on
the new technology the District has purchased. Child
Find will be held mid-summer to locate the students
with special needs that need to start preschool for next
year. San Carlos will be partnering with Head Start
again this coming school year.
Students may need to
repeat 3rd grade
by Tinamarie Cutter, SCUSD Data Specialist
AIMS testing is over for this year, but beginning next
spring students in the third grade who score in the
Falls Far Below category on the AIMS DPA Reading test
will be retained in the third grade. This is now Arizona
law. There are two exceptions to this rule. The first is
for students who are not proficient in English and have
received less than two years of instruction in English.
ELL students in San Carlos have received three to four
years of instruction in English by the end of the third
grade.
The other exemption is for students with
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The school
and the parents must meet and agree that it is in the
best interest of the student to move them to the fourth
grade. It must be written into the IEP document.
Students in second grade have taken the Stanford
“Good morning, Mr. P.”
And so the day begins. But how will it play out?
You’ve had days like this before
And in your perpetual state of deja vu know that
Even with all the algorithms you can conjure
Predicting is never easy. There are too many variables,
Like so many things happened the day before
Or just during that lost piece of cold morning
Between home and school. Caught between Locke
And the gates of Boolean logic, you’re resigned to the
Endless mutation of what ifs.
But you took care of the little pieces. You trimmed
outliers
With structures, rules & clear expectations with the
skills of an artisan
Until everything’s dead set for the machine to hum.
Soon enough you’re modeling the do’s of I, we, & you
Until the iteratives become repetitives. Indeed,
If only it’s a matter of more pronouns
You confronted the myth of blank slates with a ‘hook’
Knowing the moment’s current is as deceptive
As the Gila River’s serpentine bends. Patiently you tried
To ensnare understanding with questions: How?
Explain to me why? Is there another way?
Skills exquisitely polished by a sandpaper of
taxonomies
You practiced what the technicians say:
“You have to assess formatively.”
You circulated & scaffolded using academic feedback
Relentless as a prospector prying open the mesa’s
precious veins.
You know that silence is never golden nor an outcome
You want to have. You find comfort in the words
Of Bacon: conference makes a ready man.
And you have enough faith to believe that
Even a cacophony can yield nuggets of learning.
When it’s finally over,
During the moments of decontextualized resetting
Ushered by the bell, you sometimes hear
“I learned something today!”
“Alright, Mr. P. Have a nice day.”
You then lose yourself to scrubbing off your own
graffiti.
Done and satisfied, you’re ready to begin again.
continued on page 7
Spring 2013
SAN CARLOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
5
A Message from
A Message from
Rice elementary principal
San Carlos Secondary
Turnaround Principal
Dear Parents
and Guardians,
We are
beginning this
year’s state
testing for 3rd
grade through
6th grade AIMS
and 2nd grade
Stanford 10 as I
write to you. As
Steve Myers,
Rice Elementary Principal
you know this is
how our students
show the academic progress they are making
each year. We use this data to determine the
effectiveness of our programs and materials
as well as ourselves.
The last remaining weeks of this school
year are very important to your student as we
are still teaching significant content through
the last week of school. We want to ensure
that all of our students receive the full year’s
content as they prepare for the next grade
level. You can support your child by making
sure they continue to attend school every day
and stay focused on learning through the end
of the school year. With spring upon us it is
also important for parents to make sure their
student is getting a full night’s sleep each
school night.
As you look forward to this summer
you can help your children get a head
start for next year by encouraging them
to read and write throughout the summer
months. We recommend students read or
write 30 minutes 4 or 5 times a week. This
will keep their skills sharp and give them
an opportunity to explore areas they find
interesting. Parents can read with them and
to them or read a book as a family. Summer
is also the time when parents and community
can stress the importance of education and
their own family values regarding learning.
When students see their family members
reading it reinforces their understanding of
the value placed on education and literacy.
It has been an honor to serve the San
Carlos community these last three years. I will
keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers
for the rest of my days.
God Bless and Best Wishes,
Steve Myers
6
Hello San Carlos,
April is a stressful month for
teachers and students of all ages and
let us not forget administrators. Yes,
April is “Standardized test” month.
Grades 10-12 sift through hours and
hours of multiple choice questions
related to Math and Science on the
AIMS test. The AIMS Reading and
Writing was given in February for
LaRonda Lugo,
grades 10-12 and thank goodness,
Turn-Around Principal
imagine taking four high stakes test
in one month.. Geez. Grade 9 will sit through hours of questions
related to math and reading on the Stanford 10 and students
in grades 7 & 8 will engage in AIMS questions related to math,
reading and writing.
The teachers will stress as they proctor their students taking the
test willing them through osmosis to remember everything they
taught them throughout the year teachers will say to themselves
“Oh, please let them remember the identity and distributive
properties” “how to find slope, the scientific process, multiple
choice questions have a completely bogus answer, an answer
related to the reading and two answers that are very, very close, to
write their essay in a five paragraph format with a topic sentence,
supporting details and conclusion.”
The students will stress as they struggle through test anxiety
trying to remember all of the reading, writing, math and science
information that has been crammed into their cerebrum over the
past nine months. Oh yes, the students are under pressure to
perform they have to show the state of Arizona that they too know
just as much if not more than their peers in the greater Arizona
schools.
The administrators stress as they hope and pray they have
provided the teachers and students with the support they needed
throughout the year to be successful on the “High Stakes” AIMS
test, but will appear calm, cool, and collected to the naked eye
as they walk around the campus reassuring the teachers that
they have used effective instruction to deliver the content over
the months and have used formative assessments throughout
the year in their classrooms to ensure mastery of the learning
objectives. “No Worries” the students are bound to achieve. The
administrators provide words of encouragement to students such
as “Oh, don’t worry this test is a piece of cake.” “You had great
teachers and you will be fine.” “You are smart, believe in yourself
and you will be fine.”
Yes people, April is a very stressful month for all involved in
the education of your students. So, when you come into contact
with the teachers, students and administrators this month please
remember their stress and say kind words of encouragement,
because they need a little “Love” too.
LaRonda Lugo
Empowering graduates with skills to be 21st century Nnee.
Student Essay
As part of our Aravaipa unit in
American History, students imagined
the first encounter between Apaches
and early explorers from the United
States, what they would have thought
of each other, and how those
perceptions might have changed.
Students were asked to write a story
about an encounter between and
Dana Dosela
Apache and “an American”, then or
now, marked by a misunderstanding. Following is Dana
Dosela’s fictional story.
One day at Arizona Mills Mall, an older Apache man
was sitting in the food court eating his Panda Express,
his favorite place to dine. He was Steven Hooke, 64,
traditional, wise in his culture, living like the Apache did in
the old days. While Steven was minding his own business,
a young white man about six feet tall, greenish-hazel eyes
and short brown hair sat down at his table. Steven did not
look up. The young white man was shocked, never having
seen an individual keep to himself like that before. So he
greeted Steven, “Hello, sir, my name is Kevin John.” Steven
finished his bite and wiped his mouth with his napkin, “Hey,
I’m Steven, but just call me Steve.” Kevin asked, “So, Steve,
what Indian tribe are you from?”
Steven chuckled, “Son, I am not from India, I am Native
American. And I belong to the San Carlos Apache tribe
from here in Arizona.”
“My apologies,” said Kevin, “so Apache, huh, I’ve heard
about you people. It’s a shame, you know, that reservation
going to waste because of alcohol and drugs.”
“Enough! Get out of my face, kid, you know nothing.
Everything was perfect before your ancestors came.”
Kevin seemed puzzled. “I am sorry, sir, I just hear things
and never make sure I know the truth.”
Steven smirked and said, “You’re no different, you sound
just like someone who lives on the rez.”
“Rez?” Kevin asked.
“Reservation, Einstein,” said Steve sarcastically.
Kevin laughed, “Explain what you meant when you said
‘everything was perfect before your ancestors came.’”
Steven sipped his raspberry tea, “My ancestors were the
first here in what we call the United States today. No air
pollution, no unhealthy foods, no sickness, no racism, no
alcohol. None of that, just peace and quiet. You just knew
the stereotype, and assumed the same of me. I don’t drink
and never have. Who brought the alcohol to the natives to
take advantage of them? Whites. They didn’t care, because
we Apache were brown. Martin Luther King wouldn’t have
died if your white ancestors never took over. We did not
push ourselves down; we were taken advantage of by
whites. We were the healthiest people around, could run
a hundred miles in a day, until your ancestors brought us
‘junk food’. Alcohol, whites brought that, too. You didn’t
know that, huh? You said it’s a shame because that’s all
Spring 2013
SAN CARLOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
we do, well, the people who introduced it to us had
your skin color. We treated the world like a person,
took care of it and nourished it. Now look at it being
torn apart where there is wood, drilled where there is
oil and minerals, it’s being destroyed. If they just left
us alone, and respected us, our world would still be
beautiful and perfect.”
Kevin sat quietly ashamed. “My apologies, sir, you
are from a very beautiful people.”
Steve smiled, got up and looked at Kevin, “My son,
there are so many colleges here and not one of them
will teach you the lesson you were just taught. Kehheh-ho.”
Then Steven started walking to the trashcan, threw
his cup and tray away, and left the mall. Kevin watched,
still sitting at the table in the middle of the food court.
Importance of hand washing
Brian Hamilton,
who works for
the Infectious
Disease Control
department
at the Indian
Health Service
in San Carlos,
speaks to
students about
the importance
of hand
washing. One
hand washing tip: sing the alphabet song twice while rubbing
your hands with soap and then rinse. Keeping hands clean is
one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection and
illness.
Students may need to repeat 3rd
grade
continued from page 5
Achievement Test form 10 or SAT 10. The students
who have not scored well on this test will receive
additional help to learn to read. A plan will be
developed to meet the needs of the individual student.
They may have instruction before, during, or after
school. They may be assigned to a different teacher
for reading. Summer reading classes may be provided.
Parents and teachers will work closely to ensure that
the student is able to progress to the fourth grade.
Students in grades 3-8 who scored in the Falls
Far Below the Standard category will also receive
additional instruction to improve their reading ability
and continued success in school. AIMS DPA and SAT
10 scores will be available to parents after July 1, 2013.
Parents may contact the school and request their
students’ scores.
7
Spring Athletics
High School Baseball
High School Softball
High School Track
Junior High School Baseball
Junior High School Softball
Junior High School Track
Contact Numbers
District Office 475-2315
Rice Primary Campus 475-5945
Rice Intermediate Campus 475-4837
Secondary School 475-2378
Alternative School 475-5538
District Newsletter compiled by:
Mary Kim Titla,
SCUSD Communications Officer,
475-2315 ext. 2411
SCUSD Governing Board members Mary King, Robert Cassa
and Katrina Talkalai are pictured with Tatanka Means, actor
and comedian, son of the late Russell Means. Robert Cassa
and Katrina Talkalai both serve on the National Caucus of
the American Indian/Alaska Native School Board.
8
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Empowering graduates with skills to be 21st century Nnee.