Boxer Briefs issue #15 - Vail Academy and High School

2015/16
ISSUE NO. 15
BOXER BRIEFS
“VAHS LEARNS”
Vail Academy and High School is a small Learning community that Encourages high academic and
social Achievement. We foster Responsibility through Nurturing individual relationships for life long Success.
MARCH 2016
VAIL ACADEMY & HIGH SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
Just a short version of our newsletter as we head off to spring break! When we return to
school on March 28th, we will hit the ground running and getting ready for our big testing window
with AzMerit, AIMS, ACT and AP testing (why do all tests start with an A?).
Please challenge your students to read for fun during the break. How about no screens each
day until they’ve read for an hour? If you have K-8 students, have them fill out the attached flyer to
this newsletter in order to get free ride passes at the Pima County Fair? How about reading a book
together as a family? The single most important academic skill our children can learn is reading, yet
we live in a fast paced society that values sound bites, and flashy images. Please take time to help
them develop their reading skills.
Completely unrelated, during the break we will be interviewing for some of the positions
open on our staff that I emailed you about recently. In fact, we have already offered one candidate a
position and have interviewed for other positions. I will keep you updated on the changes in our
staff over the next few months.
I hope your student’s spring break is happy and safe!
Dennis J. Barger
879-1904
http://www.pimacountyfair.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20166-read-and-Ride.pdf
K-12 Community: The Road to Success
The “Dancing with the Stars” Spring Dance has been
postponed until Friday, April 1st!
Yearbooks are on sale now!
Price goes to $40 on March 28th
Get yours while supplies last!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PRINCIPAL
DENNIS BARGER
[email protected]
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
MICHAEL FESTER
[email protected]
OFFICE MANAGER
TRICIA KAPAROFF
[email protected]
OFFICE: (520) 879-1902
FAX: (520) 879-1901
WEBSITE:
vahs.vail.k12.az.us
OFFICE HOURS:
7:15 am - 3:45 pm
SITE COUNCIL
Mea Santiesteban
(Certified Staff)
Linda Feehs
(Certified Staff)
Ed Kestler
(Certified Staff)
Gina DeLaOssa
(Classified Staff)
Christine Creasy
(Parent/Community)
Kathy Gately
(Parent/Community)
Mike Melton
(Parent/Community)
Betty Biswell
(Parent/Community)
Austin LeBlanc
(Student)
MARCH
14-25 - Spring Break
27-30 - CIMI Trip
31 - Positive Power Assembly (K-5) 1:30pm
31 - Senior Showcase
APRIL
1 - State Geography Bee
1 - High School Spring Dance 7:00-10:00pm
2 - Wright Flight Fly Day (Time TBD)
2 - Through Our Eyes Showing @ The Loft 10:00am
4-6 - FBLA State
11 - ACT Bubbling for Juniors
12 - PTSA Meeting 6:00pm
15 - Movie Night sponsored by PTSA
18 - Site Council Meeting 4:45pm
19 - ACTs 7:40am in MPR
21 - NJHS Induction Ceremony 6:00pm
22 - Boxer Expo
MAY
6 - Half Day - Noon Dismissal
6 - High School Prom
18-22 - Senior Class Trip
26 - Kindergarten Promotion 9:00am
26 - 8th Grade Promotion 10:30am
26 - Last Day of School - Noon Dismissal
AzMERIT Info
COMPUTER-BASED ASSESSMENT
As you are probably aware, last year the AIMS test was replaced
by a new state test called the AzMERIT. Students from third grade
through high school will take the AzMERIT this spring. One
significant difference is that the AzMERIT is computer-based. We
will continue to value pencil-and-paper solving while
recognizing the value of using the tools and technology available
to us.
Please take a few minutes to read through the information on
this flyer.
Mark Your Calendars
• Weeks of April 5th - April 29th. Please help ensure your child’s success by making sure he/she
has had a healthy breakfast and a good night’s rest. Unless there is an emergency or your child is
sick, please make sure your child is at school on time, ready to show what they know!
STUDENTS NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN
EARBUDS OR HEADPHONES
Students will need a personal set of earbuds or headphones to
take the AzMERIT. Some sections include audio, and students
will need to listen to test instructions and can watch tutorial
videos. Please help by reminding students to bring their own
set from home during testing. The school will have some
headphones for students to borrow if they are unable to bring
their own.
MORE INFORMATION ON OTHER SIDE
AzMERIT Info
TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS
ON COMPUTER BASED AzMERIT
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Writing Guide & Dictionary/Thesaurus Tool: Students have access to the writing guide tool and the dictionary/
thesaurus tool during writing test.
Calculator: Students have access to the calculator tool when calculator use is permitted.
Scratch Paper: Schools will provide scratch paper (plain, lined, or graph) to students for the math and writing test.
Expand/Collapse Passage: Expand a passage for easier readability. Expanded passages can also be collapsed.
Zoom In/Zoom Out: Enlarge the font and images in the test. Undo zoom in and return the font and images in the test to
original size.
Highlighter: Highlight text in a passage or item.
Line Reader: Allows student to track the line he or she is reading.
Mark (Flag) for Review: Mark an item for review so that it can be easily found later.
Pause/Start: Allows the session to be paused at any time and restarted and taken over a one day period. For test security
purposes, visibility on past items is not allowed when paused longer than 20 minutes.
Review Test: Allows student to review the test before ending it.
Strikethrough: Cross out answer options for multiple-choice and multi-select items.
Text-to-Speech Instructions: Listen to test instructions.
Equation Tutorial: Allows student to enter math answer in proper mathematical format.
Tutorial: View a short video about each item type and how to respond.
NOT ALL MULTIPLE CHOICE
AzMERIT is not ALL multiple choice answers. Here
are some types of questions students may see:
MATH
Multiple Choice
Short Answer
Drag-and-drop
Coordinate Plane
Equation
Interactive
ELA - Writing & Reading
Writing From Sources
Two Part Questions
Multiple Choice
Multiple Select
Hot Text
Short Answer
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information and access to the
sample tests, please visit the AzMERIT
Student and Families webpage at:
http://azmeritportal.org/students-and-families/
PRACTICE & PREPARATION = SUCCESS
To help prepare for success on the computerbased AzMERIT, students are:
Receiving Focused Classroom Instruction
On Arizona College & Career Ready
Standards
Completing Technology Enhanced
Benchmarks
Improving Keyboarding Skills with Typing
Agent
Completing AzMERIT sample test online
For questions, please contact our
Student Achievement Teacher,
Joanna Parker at 879-1909 or
[email protected]
Counselor's Corner
from Mr. Gutman
Important 2016-2017 Course Selection Information for
Parents of Current 8 th Grade Students RETURNING to
VAHS for 9 th Grade
2016-2017 High School Course Selection
8 th Grade students continuing at VAHS for High
School next year will have an opportunity to make their
course selections next week. On Day 1, students will be
provided with a course selection sheet. They will take it home
to discuss their next year’s courses with you.
COURSE SELECTION SHEETS WILL BE COLLECTED
ON DAY 2 AND MUST HAVE A PARENT’S
SIGNATURE. Please see the schedule below:
DAY 1: Monday, March 28 during Science Class
DAY 2: Wednesday, March 30 during Science Class
Please spend time discussing your child’s course selections and
feel free to contact the Counselor if you have any questions.
High School Course Descriptions are available here:
http://class.vail.k12.az.us/vahs-counseling/course-descriptions/
Questions? Contact the VAHS Counselor, Michael Gutman, 879-1906, [email protected]
Sports Spotlight
CONGRATULATIONS
Lady Boxers
for a great season!
SPORTS FORMS
Click on the link below to
access all required forms
for participating in middle
school sports.
http://vahs.vail.k12.az.us/
printable-forms/
TRACK & FIELD
Practice Begins: March 28th
Physicals Due: March 28th
Paperwork & Fees Due: April 8th
Practice Schedule:
OP T
Con IONAL
Sche dition
ing
du
(see le Atta
ch
next
page ed
)
• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 2:45-4:15 - VAHS field
• Tuesday - 3:15-4:45 - Empire (take bus #6)
Meet Schedule: All meets are held at Empire @ 3:30
• April 13th
• April 20th
• April 27th
• May 4th
• May 11th
• May 18th - Championship
OPTIONAL
CONDITIONING
CLUB NEWS FROM VAHS...
SARSEF
Congratulations to the Southern Arizona Science and Engineering Fair winners.
3rd Place Grand Award to Courtney Barger and Cecilia Kimball
2nd Place Grand Award to Colleen Gately
Sponsored award for Excellence in Hydrological Research
st
1 Place Grand Award to Matt Fosdick
Sponsored award for Excellence in Computer Science
SARSEF 2nd place software award
International Science Fair Observer
Science Olympiad
This past weekend, at the Southern Regional Tournament, team members won
over 60 ribbons for placing in the top 10 of 23 events. This includes a first place
win in Dynamic Planet and a second place win in Bridge Building, Road Scholar
and Disease Detectives. Overall, the Varsity Team came home with the 4th
place trophy. Congratulations!
Wright Flight
Wright flight is wrapping up soon. Wednesday, March 30th is our last meeting.
The students will be taking a test on all nine lessons that have been taught.
Take some time over Spring Break to review the lessons.
Our “Fly Date” is scheduled for Saturday, April 2nd (weather permitting). Ms.
Stevens will notify you of the time as soon as it is made available.
FBLA
Judges Needed for the 2016 State
Leadership Conference!
Greetings from the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)!
FBLA Arizona will be hosting our 54th Annual State Leadership Conference April 4th and 5th.
At this conference, our high school students will be competing in different performance
events ranging from public speaking and job interview to marketing and entrepreneurship. In
order for these events to happen, we need performance event judges at the conference.
That's where you come in!
We would love to have you volunteer as a judge for the 2016 State Leadership
Conference. As a judge, you will use a rubric and instructions provided to either participate
in a role play situation or judge a presentation. Orientation will be provided before at the
conference.
There are multiple times to volunteer as a judge. Monday April 4th from 5-8pm, Tuesday April
5th from 8 am - 12:30 pm and Tuesday April 5th from 1:30-6pm. The information and link is
listed below.
*If you are a FBLA Advisor OR know anyone who may be interested in judging at one of the
events below, please forward this e-mail and share the FBLA love!
Click the links below to register as a volunteer judge!
State Leadership Conference Judge - April 4th and 5th, 2016
Volunteering - Good for the Heart and the Soul.
Volunteer Opportunities...
Thank you to all of the wonderful
individuals that helped judge our Senior
Exit Projects Wednesday evening.
We need your help...
Track & Field Meets!!
Every Wednesday beginning
April 13th, thru May 18th
3:30-6:30
Contact Info:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d48aeab2fa2fa7-track
Watch www.signupgenius.com for future volunteer
opportunities. Thank you for all that you do!
Dawn Hildreth
879-1949
[email protected]
Costco School Event
THANK YOU
We’d like to thank all of our families and friends for coming out to
Costco this past Saturday. Because of you, the school received
45 CASES of paper. That’s 450 REAMS!!!! That is truly
incredible. We’d also like to thank everyone that made a donation
to Vail Academy. So many of our teachers received wish list items
for their classroom. We can not thank you enough for your
generosity. VAHS is an amazing family!
The Senior Scene
Senior Slide Show - Pictures Needed!!!!!
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Attention Seniors - Mrs. Kaparoff needs 4 to 6
pictures of each of you, from all ages, for the
senior slide show that will be seen at graduation.
She needs these as soon as possible. You can
either scan/email them to Mrs. Kaparoff at
[email protected] or bring them to
Mrs. Hildreth in the front office. All pictures
brought in will be returned to the student the
same day. Middle School Madness
Mrs. Dancil would like to recognize the following students for excellence on the math benchmark,
with a minimum of a 90% or better. I am so thankful everyday when I see how hard my students are
working. There are many students who put forth effort everyday and those are the moments every
teacher treasures. 7th grade BM
Great job to my 6th/7th grade students. Many students did well, even though we have been in 8th
grade math since January and have a different pacing. Ashley Bambauer
Marina Powell
Seth Rico
William Stokes
Ayden Myers
Ian Webb
8th grade BM
I am very proud because the test becomes challenging as students have to use their reading skills
as well as math skills to comprehend the question. James May
Cassandra Palafox (100%)
Algebra BM (high school)
I am so impressed by this WHOLE algebra class. I can give them a task and they all spend time
working, helping one another and researching to ask pertinent questions to elevate their learning.
Shelby Gundrey (100%)
JoAnna Scheidt
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Paige Bullis
by Travis Erb
Paige Bullis is a second grader in Mrs. Roberts’ class. Mrs. Roberts says, “Paige
always supports her peers and helps them in class. She tries her best in
everything she does.” Paige is eight and a half years old and loves to read
because she can learn new words. She enjoys soccer and plays for a soccer team
named the Galaxy Kickers. Her soccer coach taught her team lots of different
skills, and on the last day of practice, the team used all of the skills that they had
learned. Paige likes school and her teachers, as well, because they help the
students one on one.
When she grows up, Paige wants to be a paleontologist.
She says that she loves dinosaurs, so she wants to learn
more about them. Her favorite subject is Science because,
“You can create different things using your imagination.”
Andrea Guardi
by Emma Roberts
Andrea is also in Mrs. Roberts’ second grade class. She is eight years old, and
enjoys art, swimming, and foreign languages. Mrs. Roberts says, “Andrea is
very thoughtful and a quiet student who loves learning about science. She is
always asking questions so she can learn new things.”
Andrea loves to participate in art because, “You can be creative.” She also
enjoys swimming during the summer. In addition to these hobbies, Andrea likes
to learn Spanish.
Andrea feels that attending VAHS with kids ranging in ages
from 5 to 18 is great and that she fits in easily. Andrea’s favorite
subject in school is Science and she plans to become a zoologist
when she grows up. She has a strong love for animals which
helps “motivate her to become a zoologist.”
~TEACHER OF THE YEAR~
~SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR~
Congratulations to Ms. Runyon, 6th grade teacher, and Mrs. Hildreth, our
Volunteer Coordinator. Ms. Runyon was voted Teacher of the Year and Mrs.
Hildreth won Support Staff of the Year! Please join us in congratulating them.
VOLUNTEER AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR!
Please join us in congratulating Kathy Gately as our Volunteer Ambassador of the
Year. You can find Kathy just about anywhere on campus. In fact, many of our
students think she is an employee of the school. Thank you for all of your help
Mrs. Gately!