Boxer Briefs issue #16 - Vail Academy and High School

2015/16
ISSUE NO. 16
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.
APRIL 2016
VAIL ACADEMY & HIGH SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
April is here! It typically doesn’t bring us showers as much as it brings us school events. On
Friday, no foolin’, our very own Nicholas Cosentino (8th) was the Arizona Runner-Up for the National
Geography Bee, beating out 98 other school champions! He has made us proud with his efforts.
On Saturday, I had the chance to visit with some of our future flyers, who participated in the
Wright Flight program down at the Tucson International Airport before heading over to the Loft and
watching short films made by 12 of our students in the Through Our Eyes Club. Here is a link to a piece
that was on NPR h#ps://news.azpm.org/p/news-­‐spots/2016/4/1/85064-­‐students-­‐find-­‐inspira?on-­‐
elders-­‐find-­‐catharsis-­‐in-­‐exchange-­‐of-­‐stories/. I also watched our robotics team compete in Lubbock,
Texas at the HUB Regional.
Today, 70 of our students will participate in the State Competition for Future Business Leaders
of America, and hopefully our very own Ceci Kimball will be elected as a state officer. Our students
have prepared well and I have no doubt that many of them will be recognized for their efforts and be
offered a chance to compete at Nationals this summer in Atlanta.
We have a small matter of state testing to try and squeeze in as well. AzMerit is in its second
year and our students will do well based on last year’s scores as well as benchmarks throughout the
year. This year we expect to have scores returned near the end of the school year, unlike last year where
we received them in October so the state had time to analyze scores and set the appropriate ‘cut scores’.
Also please mark your calendar for the 6th Annual Boxer Expo on Friday, April 22nd! We look
forward to seeing you all there.
Keeping busy,
Dennis J. Barger
879-1904
K-12 Community: The Road to Success
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)
APRIL
4-6 - FBLA State
4-8 - Talent Show Sign Ups (in the office)
7 - 1st grade night
12 - PTSA Meeting 6:00pm
12 - Kindergarten Field Trip to the Zoo
13 - Talent Show Auditions 2:45 - 5:30ish
15 - Movie Night sponsored by PTSA
16 - Chess Tournament
18 - Site Council Meeting 4:45pm
19 - ACT 7:40am in MPR
21 - NJHS Induction Ceremony 6:00pm
22 - Boxer Expo 4:30 - 7:30pm
25 - Talent Show
28 - One Acts 6:00pm in MPR
MAY
2 - MS/HS Choir Performance 7:00pm in the MPR
3 - Youth Orchestra Spring Concert 5:30pm in the MPR
4 - AP English Literature Exam
5 - AP Calculus Exam
5 - Robotics Banquet 6:00-7:30pm in the MPR
6 - AP U.S. History Exam
6 - Half Day (Noon Dismissal)
6 - High School Prom 7:00-11:00pm
18 Students from Vail Academy
Art classes have artwork on
display at Arizona Superior
Courthouse Gallery. If you have a
chance, go check it out during
the month of April, at 110 West
Congress, Tucson.
Testing Information
Schedule – Mark Your Calendars
*April 5 *April 12 *April 14
*April 19 *April 20 *April 20 *April 26
*April 27 *April 27
AzMERIT Writing for grades 3-5
AzMERIT Writing for grades 6-8 and 9-11
AIMS Science for grades 4th, 8th and 10th
AzMERIT Reading/Math Part 1 for grades 3-5
AzMERIT Reading/Math Part1 for grades 6-8
AzMERIT Reading End of Course
AzMERIT Reading/Math Part 2 for grades 3-5
AzMERIT Reading/Math Part 2 for grades 6-8
AzMERIT Math End of Course
Testing will occur from 7:40am – 10:40am on the dates indicated above. Please help
ensure your child’s success by making sure he or she has eaten a healthy breakfast and
had a good night’s rest. Attendance is very important. If you are aware that your
child will not be attending school on one or more of these days, please let Ms. Parker
know so that other testing arrangements can be made.
Ms. Parker - #879-1909
[email protected]
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]
Sports Spotlight
We are looking for several volunteers to
assist with the track meets (dates listed
below.) It takes lots of people to keep
the track meets running smoothly. We
need assistance with lining up runners,
recording times, and supervising field
events. Please notify Dawn Hildreth at
879-1949 if you are interested in
assisting. The meets typically begin
around 3:30 and last 2-3 hours.
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:
• 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
CLUB NEWS FROM VAHS...
Wright Flight
Wright Flight is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to “helping kids reach new heights” in
both their classrooms and their lives. Wright Flight is a motivational program that teaches today’s
youth how to set goals and achieve them. The Wright Flight program teaches that with hard-work,
diligence, and focus no goal is out of reach — not even becoming a pilot. Passing the program is
not easy as each student must achieve an academic or personal goal while simultaneously
completing the Wright Flight curriculum and passing a final test. Only students who work hard
enough graduate and only they earn the right to fly. They do not just get a ride, they will take the
controls as they soar through the sky.
On Saturday, 7 of our students did just that....they each flew a plane! Dale Schorzman, Emma
Wettstein, Michael Cosentino, Trenton Byrd, Octavio Vidrio, Leia Kadlec, and Mackenzie Hildreth
became some of the youngest pilots ever.
Counselor’s Corner
From Mr. Gutman
Important info about ACT Testing for Parents of 11th Graders
!
ACT!testing!will!take!place!during!the!school!day!on!Tuesday,!April!19,!2016.!Now!is!
the!time!to!help!get!your!11th!grade!student!ready!for!the!test.!Each!11th!grade!student!
has!received!an!ACT!Practice!Test!Book!and!the!information!below:!
ACT TESTING 11th Grade
Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 7:40am - 11:15am, VAHS MPR
What exactly is the ACT?
The ACT is a College Admissions Test.
Your scores can be sent to colleges and be used for:
I.
Admission into College.
II.
To Earn a Scholarship.
* It has 4 parts: ENGLISH-MATH-READING-SCIENCE
* No Penalty for Guessing
* Calculators are optional for the math section of the test. You are responsible for knowing if your calculator is permitted for the math
section. You are responsible for making sure your calculator is in working condition. Four-function, scientific or graphing calculators may be
used. Any calculator with a built-in algebra system is prohibited. Check www.actstudent.org/faq/calculator.html for a list of calculators not
permitted on the ACT.
General Tips for the ACT
A.
B.
C.
D.
Pace Yourself.
Read the directions of questions carefully.
Practice, practice, practice before test day!
Prepare, prepare, prepare before test day!
How should you Practice and Prepare?
1. Your New Practice Book
a. One Full Length Practice Test
b. Strategies To Prepare for the ACT
2. Online Resources
a. actstudent.org
I.
Question of The Day
II.
Practice Test Questions
III.
ACT Online Prep - $21.95 for a Full Year of Access
b. princetonreview.com/college/free-act-practice-test.aspx
3. Purchase Books on your own (prices on amazon.com)
I.
“The Real ACT Prep Guide” by ACT ($20)
II.
“Cracking the ACT” by Princeton Review ($12)
III.
“Barron’s ACT 36” ($10)
Or pick one on your own…
4. Online Classes ($$)
I.
II.
III.
IV.
princetonreview.com
scoreuptestprep.com
kaptest.com
prepscholar.com
Questions? Contact the VAHS Counselor, Michael Gutman, 879-1906, [email protected]
Volunteering - Good for the Heart and the Soul.
Volunteer Opportunities...
Track & Field Meets
Every Wednesday beginning
April 13th, thru May 18th
3:30-6:30pm
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d48aeab2fa2fa7-track
Boxer Expo
Friday, April 22nd
4:30-7:30pm
Sign Up Coming Soon on SignUp Genius!
Book Mobile
Tuesday, April 26th
&
Tuesday, May 24th
2:00-3:00pm
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d48aeab2fa2fa7-book3
Middle School Lock-In
Friday, May 13th
7:00pm - 7:00am
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d48aeab2fa2fa7-middle
Watch http://www.signupgenius.com for all of our upcoming
events. We appreciate all of our volunteers!
Thank you for all that you do!
Contact Info:
Dawn Hildreth
879-1949
[email protected]
Our 8th grade promotion is
just 8 weeks away, so mark
your calendars now.
Thursday, May 26th
10:30-12:00
As tradition would have it,
we ask our 7th grade
families to assist with the
food and set-up for this
event. We will be sending
out more details, along with
a sign up sheet, soon.
PTSA NEWS
Hello Boxer Families,
I am so very proud to offer my congratulations to the VAHS PTSA members!!
Because of your hard work and support, our school won the Super Size My PTA
award this year. Our membership doubled in the first 2 weeks of school and we
had 100% Teacher and Staff participation by the end of the 3rd week of school.
We were actually eligible for all 7 National PTA awards this year, which is an
incredible feat for a unique school like ours. Way to go BOXERS!
YOUR PTSA President, Stephanie Noyes
Attention All Moms!!
Mark your calendars
The Boxer Expo Silent Auction is coming
soon! See Kathy Gately for more
information on how you can participate.
We have donations to secure, baskets to
put together, and classrooms to coordinate.
In addition, we are looking for a few
individuals to help the night of the Expo.
May 7th
We have a special
surprise planned for you
and your son(s).
Watch for more
information in the next
newsletter.
Come One, Come ALL!!
To the VAHS PTSA Family Movie Night
When: April 15th at 6:30pm
Where: VAHS MPR
Cost: FREE
Featuring: THE GOOD DINOSAUR
and
A PG13 Movie - To Be Determined!
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 NO LATER THAN MAY 2ND. 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. It’s Elementary
CONNECTING WITH
YOUR TEEN
What's Happening?
Sometimes it may feel like your teen doesn't need
you anymore. But teens still need their parents'
love, support, and guidance.
What's Can You Do?
Attend Casa de los Niño's "Just for Teens" family
enrichment classes. These classes are focused
on supporting parents in guiding their child
through adolescence. Learn ways to connect
with your teen and continue strengthening your
relationship.
Date
Time
Topic
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(1 hour lunch break)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Guiding your child through Adolescence
Talking to your kids about Sex & Sexuality
Active Parenting for Teens
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Social Media Training for Parents
Teen Brain Development
to register please visit
www.casadelosninos.org
Or contact Amada Mendoza at (520) 624-5600
All classes are free and open to the community
Classes will be held at Casa de Los Niños - 1101 N. 4th Ave. (Corner of Speedway & 4th)