November 17, 2015

“Excellence Through Performance”
Dear Desert Vista Family,
As the weather starts to cool off, we are looking forward to our upcoming winter season of extracurricular activities along with amazing teaching and learning in our classrooms. I have highlighted
many successes in both our extra-curricular activities and academics, and encourage you to read
through the letter to learn more about our amazing accomplishments. The accomplishments are truly
an inspiration to us all!
I want to acknowledge and congratulate the following programs who reached the ultimate victory of
competition…State Championship status! Congratulations to the following:
Marching Band- Mr. Josh Thye, his staff and marching band students.
Girls Volleyball-Mrs. Molly West, her coaching staff and athletes.
Boys Cross Country-Mr. Chris Hanson, his coaching staff, the athletes and state champion D.J. Harris.
Badminton- Mr. Jeremy Williams, his assistant coach and state champion Karen Guo.
Swim/Dive-Mr. Shawn O’Connell, Mrs. Elaine Hullverson, coaching staff and state champion Joshua
Vedder.
Girls Swim and Dive were State Runners-up this year. Congratulations to Mr. Shawn O’Connell, Mrs.
Elaine Hullverson, assistant coaches and athletes.
I ask that you join me in congratulating ALL those involved within these programs. Success does not
come easy and we, the Desert Vista Community, appreciate the sacrifice, hard work, dedication and
commitment to excellence. Way to show “Excellence Through Performance”! So very proud of you
all!!
As we know, the AzMERIT was administered to our students last spring. The results will be mailed
home and the overall school results will be made public on November 30, 2015. In order to better
understand the difference with AIMS and AzMERIT, I have included a few links that will assist with
better understanding AzMERIT assessments and results, and ask that you feel free to reach out to us if
you have questions regarding the results once they are released.
District information:
http://www.tempeunion.org/Page/1208
ADE information:
AzMERIT Communications Toolkit
AzMERIT Brochure
Parent Overview of AzMERIT (English and Spanish)
FAQs
Grade-by-Grade Parent Guides in English Language Arts and Math for Kindergarten through High School (English and Spanish)
AzMERIT Parent Webinar
AzMERIT Parent Video
What’s next for AzMERIT scores? Webinar by the Arizona School Boards Association
Quick video from a neighboring district:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icDjPK_T_DA
Central AZ HS Math Champions
The DV Math Club placed in several categories at a math competition held at Higley High School this past
Saturday. Our team, comprised of Aditya Bollam, Brandon Jiang, Sophia Liu, Sanjeev Murty, Neha
Parvathala and Bronson Wu, did very well. Individually, Brandon and Aditya placed 3rd and 4th
respectively amongst all juniors, and Sanjeev and Sophia placed 1st and 2nd amongst all seniors.
As a team, we finished 1st among all of the schools present for the competition which included Brophy,
University High School (Tucson), and Basis (Tucson). Nicely done team!!
Girls Volleyball – State Champions!
Congratulations to Coach Molly West and the Girls Volleyball team! The Thunder won their second “back to
back” State Championship versus Xavier. The girls beat the Gators in four sets with an "epic" second set that
went 32-30 to turn the momentum around to win the match. It was a great team effort with a few
exceptional student-athletes who kicked it up a notch. Captain Kendall Glover had 33 digs and 15 serve
receptions. Captain Hailey Harward had a double double with 19 kills, 22 digs and 30 serve receptions. Hailey
Dirrigl kicked in 19 kills and Olivia Fairchild had 12 kills and 16 digs. Amazing level of play by the Thunder that
ended their season 41-1, #1 in Arizona and #1 by Max Preps in the country! Way to go ladies!!
Marching Band – State Champions!
Congratulations to Band Director Josh Thye and the Thunder Marching Band as they finished their season this
past Saturday and were once again named Arizona Division 1 State Champions! They came into
Championships as the #2 seed, with less than a point separating the top three groups. Desert Vista performed
with confidence and precision and left no doubt. They finished in 1st place - distancing themselves by 2 1/2
points. They also received the High Music, High Visual, and High Percussion scores. This is the Marching
Band's 5th state title, and their 5th in the last 6th years.
Mr. Thye commented: "This group of young men and women never fail to amaze me. They work hard each
and every day, and they distinguish themselves through their daily commitment to excellence, character,
discipline, and respect. I am humbled and honored to be their Director. It was another remarkable year and
an amazing journey."
Congrats DV Band on a phenomenal season - we are proud of you!!
Boys Cross Country and D.J. Harris – State Champions!
Congratulations to Coach Chris Hanson and the Boys Cross Country team! On Saturday November 7th, the
Desert Vista Boys Cross Country team destroyed the field, grabbed its 7th State title, and repeated as Arizona
State D1 Champions by posting a mere 43 points to win by a margin of 81 points.
The beautifully clear and cool day, combined with a favorable early-morning start, enabled the Thunder squad
to set a DVCC State Meet record cumulative time of 1:21:11, the 2nd-fastest in Arizona State Meet history.
Consistency and depth are hallmarks of DVCC Head Coach Chris Hanson's Cross Country teams; the Thunder
have been either State Champs, or State Runners-Up, in 11 out of the past 14 years.
This year was no exception. The incredible depth of the Thunder allowed it to overcome the loss of Senior CoCaptainMatt Anciaux, who had bravely battled health issues and injuries to return to top form this season
(posting a career-best 15:55 at the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival) only to suffer a setback shortly
thereafter.
Senior Co-Captain DJ Harris is the 2015 Arizona D1 Boys State Champion, winning the race in 15:50. He joins
fellow Thunder runners Matt Boughton (2006, 2007) and Garett Kelly (2005) as Arizona D1 Boys State
Champions. He capped off an incredible career (3-time State Meet runner, 2-time 1st-Team All-State) and
completed what is arguably the best year ever by a Thunder runner: in addition to winning the individual title
at the State meet, he also broke the DVCC State Meet record of 16:05 set by Andrew Kellogg in 2008; earlier
this season, he set the DVCC 5k record of 15:20 at the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival, beating the longstanding record of Matt Boughton (15:30 at the 2006 Regional Meet).
Senior Xavier Esparza finished in 5th place (16:08), earning a spot on the 1st-Team All-State squad. After
missing most of the year due to personal challenges, he returned late season and completed his career as one
of the few 4-time State Meet runners in Thunder history, earning spots on three, 1st-Team All-State squads in
the process. He was the model of consistency in the State Meet over his career: 2015-5th (16:08), 2014-5th
(16:09), and 2013-6th (16:11).
Sophomore Habtamu Cheney finished in 8th (16:15), earning a spot on the 2nd-Team All-State squad in his
first outing as a State Meet runner. He was one of the most-improved Thunder runners this season, showing a
60-second improvement in his times from last season, including impressive finishes at the Woodbridge Cross
Country Classic (63rd-15:26) and the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival (41st-15:59). He has a bright future
and will be leading an impressive group of returning juniors next season.
Junior Chris D'Angelo finished in 15th (16:26), improving his 15th-place finish from last year by 15 seconds to
earn a spot on this year's 2nd-Team All-State squad. He burst onto the scene last year and continued to deliver
on his potential this season, posting incredible times at the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival (22nd-15:43)
as well as at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic (62rd-15:35). He is already a 2-time State Meet runner with
two 3rd-Team All-State honors to his credit. DVCC will be counting on his energy and leadership in his senior
year next season.
Sophomore Reece Donihi finished in 16th (16:30) in his first outing as a State Meet runner, gaining 3rd-team
All-State honors with his top-20 finish. He is likely the most-improved Thunder runner this season, showing a
full two-minute improvement across the board in his times from last season. He nearly broke the 16-minute
barrier at the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival (45th-16:03). He is on a positive trajectory and will be one
of the Thunder runners to watch next season and beyond.
Junior Nicholas Walrod finished in 27th (16:47) in his first outing as a State Meet runner. He also showed
significant 60-second improvements in his times this season, highlighted by a clearing of the 16-minute bar at
the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival (37th-15:56). The Thunder will be counting on his leadership when
he returns for his senior year next season.
Senior Anthony Ramirez finished in 54th (17:15) in his last race as Thunder runner. He completed his career as
one of the busiest DVCC runner ever, having competed in a total of 27 races. His senior year was certainly his
best, including a 16:45 at the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival, a career-best of 16:30 at the Cool Breeze
Evening Invitational, and a spot on the State Meet squad in his final outing.
Congratulations, gentlemen!!
Swim & Dive – State Results
Congratulations to Coach Shawn O’Connell, Coach Elaine Hullverson, the coaching staff and the Girls Swim &
Dive team for taking home 2nd place at state competition with a score of 234.
Highlights from the meet are as follows:
 200 free Shae Nicolaisen placed 2nd (school record of 1:50.39), senior Erin Spielman placed 7th
 50 free Noelle Lavigne placed 6th with a 24.27
 200 free relay placed 2nd
 100 Free senior Erin Spielman placed 4th with a personal record of 52.51, Noelle Lavigne placed 7th,
Lauren Gaines placed 8th
 500 free Shae Nicolaisen placed 3rd and first time state competitor Caymen Fiarkoski placed 7th, which
is amazing for a freshman
 400 free relay placed 4th
 DIVE: Alexis Tupponce placed 5th for girls
The boys also had an impressive state finish to their season with a score of 182. Their highlights are below:
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200 Medley Relay placed 4th with a school record of 1:35.57 (Joshua Vedder, Miles Dunn, Frank Van
Alstine, Lawrence Hu)
200 IM Tyler Dennis placed 7th
100 Fly Frank Van Alstine placed 6th
100 Free Joshua Vedder placed 4th
100 Back STATE CHAMPION Joshua Vedder with a school record of 50.26
100 Breast Miles Dunn placed 5th
400 Free relay placed 6th
Way to go, everyone!!
Girls Cross Country – State Results
The Desert Vista High School (DVHS) girl’s cross-country team competed in the 2015 AIA State Cross-Country
Championships at Cave Creek Golf Course, Phoenix, on Saturday, November 7 th and took home an impressive
3rd place finish.
DVHS was represented by student-athletes Emily Crall (Class of 2017), Madi Bucci (Class of 2017), Haley Wolf
(Class of 2018), Mason Swenson (Class of 2016), Mandy Davis (Class of 2017), Baylee Jones (Class of 2017), and
Kelly Harris (Class of 2018).
In a race that included one-hundred-and-thirty-three (133) qualifying competitors, the Thunder ladies placed
all seven of their competing student-athletes in the top forty-four (44) places.
The DVHS girls team placed third overall (56 points, lowest score wins) behind the 2015 Chandler High School
(46 points) team and perennially strong Xavier College Preparatory (51 points).
DVHS junior Emily Crall paced the Thunder girls with a brilliant runner-up individual finish (2nd) and thus
established herself as a co-favorite for the 2016 individual state championship consequent to a skillful, tough,
and complete competitive effort.
Junior Madi Bucci produced her finest race as a DVHS student-athlete with an inspiring twelfth (12th) place
finish. Madi recorded one of the fastest final miles on the five-kilometer (3.1-mile) course in order to lower
and thus significantly improve the Thunder’s final team score.
Immediately behind Madi was sophomore sensation Haley Wolf. Haley’s outstanding thirteenth (13 th) place
finish combined with Madi’s finish to give the Thunder an excellent 1-2-3 scoring combination.
Senior captain Mason Swenson produced her strongest race of the 2015 season and propelled junior
teammates Mandy Davis and Baylee Jones to a critical pack finish that earned the fifteenth (15 th), sixteenth
(16th), and seventeenth (17th) places for the Thunder.
First-time state championship competitor and sophomore star Kelly Harris similarly constructed and executed
a wonderful competitive effort in order to place forty-fourth (44th).
Collectively, the Thunder girls were extremely privileged to represent their team, program, school, and
district. The Thunder girls duly acknowledge and congratulate the great student-athletes that represented all
the competing schools and, again, specifically re-emphasize their heartfelt congratulations to both Chandler
High School and Xavier College Preparatory.
Furthermore, the Thunder girls’ cross-country student-athletes fully acknowledge and sincerely thank the
amazing parents, boosters, teammates, and additional program supporters who attended the state
championship event and provided such incredible support for the team both during the event and, more
generally, throughout the 2015 Arizona high school cross-country season.
Congratulations, ladies!!
Desert Vista Chamber Orchestra
Congratulations to Dr. Darlene Wedington-Clarke and the Desert Vista Chamber Orchestra. They have been
selected by the ABODA Board to perform at the 2016 Arizona Music Educators Association State In-service
Convention at the Mesa Convention Center.
This singular honor is the direct result of superior teaching and much hard work and effort. The convention
performance will be attended by music educators and administrators from across the state and will showcase
the wonderful talents of the Desert Vista Chamber Orchestra.
We are so proud of your accomplishments…congratulations everyone!!
All State Show and Jazz Choirs
Congratulations to Choir Director Meg Foote and the following students who participated in the All-State
Show and Jazz Choirs this past weekend. Stephanie Larson and Cade Hortline represented Desert Vista in the
All-State Show performance and Susannah Cowley and Sague Molina for the All-State Jazz choir. The students
did an amazing job!! Susannah said, "This weekend was the best time I've ever had making music in my life".
Great job, all!!
Jessica Symmes: Brilliant, Beautiful, and Bold Role Model award
Congratulations to Jessica Symmes who won the Brilliant, Beautiful, and Bold Role Model award ($500 in
Cash/Prizes) from the Girls Rule Foundation Shine Brightly Summit. She was also recently picked as the DV
PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) nominee for the Star Scholarship, which is based on her
exemplarily character and accomplishments. She was bestowed this honor after having to complete several
interviews and essays. Nicely done, Jessica!!
DV Robotics
This past weekend, the Desert Vista Robotics competed in the Casa Grande Vex Robotics State Qualifying
Tournament. The teams included the veteran team of Ryan Bodhipaksha, Alvin Pan and Alex Zaremba. Alvin
and Alex were also assisted in running the tournament. First year teams included Sarah Peterson, Sierra Dean,
Tara Buzinski, and Elizabeth Wu and Olivia Pinkowski, Kris Alme, and Robert Rush with the assistance of Cole
Barnett and Junior Volrath. They did a fantastic job for their first time out! Ryan and his team had several
issues during the competition, but kept working on the problems and with them solved, they were able to
work with their alliance partners and won the tournament. They are now qualified for the state tournament
in March.
Desert Vista took 1st and 2nd at the Campo Verde Tournament during the weekend of November 7th. The team
of Justin Maldanado, Andrew Basha, Ryan Voung and Sungwon Park took 1st and the team of Alvin Pan took
2nd. They had to compete against each other, but they both did a great job! The team of Alex Zaremba made it
to the semifinals, but was eliminated by Alvin’s alliance. They next compete on December 5th at Westwood.
Great job and good luck, everyone!!
Jr. Achievement Stock Market Challenge
Twenty-seven Desert Vista students traveled to the Downtown Sheraton Hotel to compete in Junior
Achievement’s Annual Stock Market Challenge competition. The competition is a fast paced computer
simulation consisting of 60 trading days on the stock market and it keeps competitors engaged right to the
ending bell. The competition itself is a lot like a trading day at Wall Street. Student investors have to use a
trader/broker to buy and sell stocks and even a 20 second delay can make or break your team’s ability to win.
This year 18 schools and 405 students faced off at the downtown Sheraton. Desert Vista did an excellent job
with four out of our six teams finishing in the top 15. Please click here for more information and to view a
televised Channel 12 interview with Desert Vista’s own, Senior Connor Hogan. Nicely done!!
Team Photo: Elizabeth Beeks, Armando Delgado, Chase White, Morgan Higginbotham, Brady Barbut, Cassie Sanchez, Abhigyan Kotti, Nick Maxwell,
Mollie Sperry, Jack Moyer, Matt Lewis, Jeremiah Quick, Zakaria Koudssi, Doug Sellers, Aidan Marin, Cole Gilman, Ally Everett, Ishan Pannala, Ryan
Mai, Edward Lon, Daniel Chimal, Keylin Whitfield, Connor Hogan, Brooklyn Paige, Glen Madsen, Jason Ratner, and Alasdair Darroch
Desert Vista Speech and Debate vs. Mtn. View
The Desert Vista Speech and Debate team had another strong performance this past weekend. The Thunder
defeated over 40 schools from Arizona and New Mexico on their way to winning the Mountain View
Tournament over the second place McClintock Chargers. The Thunder were led by Mackenzie Saunders and
Lucas Selby who each won two speech events. On the debate side, Ruthvik Gundala and Erica Lane finished
first and second place in Congressional Debate. The team chose Tomas Bencomo and Alex Para tournament
MVPs for their strong work ethic and dedication to the team. This week DV will be heading to Chicago, IL, to
compete against some of the top teams in the United States at the prestigious Glenbrooks Tournament.
Great job, everyone!!
School Sweepstakes
1st place - Desert Vista High School
2nd place - McClintock High School
3rd place - Hamilton High School
4th place - Brophy College Prep
5th place - Phoenix Country Day School
Extemporaneous Speaking
Ruthvik Gundala - 5th place
Neelesh Bagrodia - 2nd place
Impromptu Speaking
Neelesh Bagrodia - 2nd place
Original Oratory
Aradhana Kumar - Semifinals (Top 14)
Cameron Krafft - Semifinals (Top 14)
Jessica Romero - 5th place
Expository Speaking
Madeline Fiber - Semifinals (Top 14)
Sarah Jalaghi - Semifinals (Top 14)
Aradhana Kumar - 3rd place
Simon Shen - 2nd place
Hanven Yang - 1st place
Dramatic Interpretation
Elise Lange - Semifinals (Top 14)
Mackenzie Saunders - Semifinals (Top 14)
Haley Witt - 1st place
Humorous Interp
Carly Goodman - Semifinals (Top 14)
Hanna Dawson - Semifinals (Top 14)
Lindsey Brannen - Semifinals (Top 14)
Alex Parra - 5th place
Mackenzie Saunders - 1st place
Duet Acting
Zach Hills & Taylor Gilliam - Semifinals (Top 14)
Prose Interpretation
Alex Parra - Semifinals (Top 14)
Karter Goggin - Semifinals (Top 14)
Isaac Lemus - 3rd place
Dylan Ketcham - 2nd place
Mackenzie Saunders - 1st place
Poetry Interpretation
Isaac Lemus - Semifinals (Top 14)
Virginia Byrd - 5th place
Lucas Selby - 2nd place
Program Oral Interpration
Lucas Selby - 4th place
Haley Witt - 2nd place
Bronwyn Doebbeling - 1st place
Duo Interpretation
Sushil Sudhakar & Ashley Tse - 4th place
Emily Godin & Dylan Ketcham - 3rd place
Hanna Dawson & Lucas Selby - 1st place
National Letter of Intent – November 11, 2015
Alexis Tupponce, Dive: New Mexico State University
Olivia Fairchild, Volleyball: Fordham
Rachel Kramer, Volleyball: University of Florida
Sydney Mathison, Volleyball: Montana State University
Alyssa Bambic, Wrestling: Ferrum College
Girls Lacrosse – Parent/Player Informational Meeting on December 1st
The 2016 Girls Lacrosse practice season begins January 25th, with games starting mid-February and registration
in December. Please come to the Parent/Player informational meeting on Tuesday, December 1st, in the
Desert Vista Cafeteria and learn all you need to know about joining our team. We would like to welcome new
players and parents and our current players/parents are strongly encouraged to attend.
Girls Lacrosse is a spring sport that is open to girls in 7th through 12th grade living within the DV School
boundaries. We currently have both a Varsity and Junior Varsity team. It is a no-cut sport and NO experience
is necessary to be on the team. We will teach you all you need to know before the games start! Girls in
7th and 8th grade are only allowed to play on the DVGL Junior Varsity Team. For more information about our
team, check out our website by clicking here.
Boys Golf Volunteer at Frank Elementary
The Desert Vista Boys Golf program volunteered at Frank Elementary in Guadalupe at their Halloween Fall
Festival on Friday, October 30th. The boys were there for about 2 1/2 hours setting up their school event and
then working various booths/games/stations. This was a great opportunity for the boys to get to work with
kids in a neighboring community. Desert Vista and the community of Ahwatukee was well represented by our
boys. They had such a positive impact on the students and faculty at Frank Elementary. We are proud of
you!!
Desert Vista’s – The View
Desert Vista’s newspaper, The View, has just been restarted after five years, and they’re looking for
advertisers! If you or someone you know would be interested in advertising in the upcoming edition set for
distribution on December 15th, please contact Journalism/English teacher, Brian Banach at
[email protected] .
Senior Parent Financial Aid Night
THS/MHS
MdN/CdS
MtP/DV
Monday, January 11th at 6:00 PM in the McClintock Library
Thursday, January 21st at 6:00 PM in the Corona del Sol Auditorium Lecture Hall
Thursday, January 28th at 6:00 PM in the Mountain Pointe Auditorium
ParentVUE and StudentVUE access update
Please see the attached instructions to access.
Parent Access to Canvas
Parent accounts in Canvas are created for you automatically. To log into Canvas, please follow these steps:
1. Log into ParentVUE (which must have been previously set up)
2. Click on the Canvas Login button on the left side menu near the bottom
This will allow you to login to your own Canvas account and view the courses that your students are enrolled
in.
College Connect
Wondering what to do after high school? Questioning which college is right for you? Second guessing how to
pay for it all? Join us for the free College Connect workshop to find the answers to these questions and more.
The upcoming workshop of the 2015-16 college prep workshop series will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on
Saturday, November 14th at the Tempe Public Library at 3500 S. Rural Rd. The event is free and day of
registration opens at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday’s workshop has been titled – It’s All About the Money – Part I – as it will focus on how to fund your
education. Specific topics include a session on financial literacy that will cover everything from the FAFSA to
the FAN, a panel of current college students will share their experiences funding their own educations and
attendees will learn all about scholarship opportunities.
The College Connect workshop series will continue to educate students on the college process from 10 a.m. to
noon on Saturday, January 30th and February 27th at the Tempe Public Library.
AZ Merit
Student achievement on the 2014 AzMerit will be released October 20th and the district office will mail the
student reports shortly thereafter. In order to assist you with any parent and teacher questions that may
arise, we have created a page on our TUHSD website with information and resources related to the AzMerit. If
you should have any questions, please click here for the AzMerit link on our district’s website.
We believe parents will find the AzMerit Key Information, Frequently Asked Questions, Sample Family Score
Reports as well as the Parent Guide To Score Reports most beneficial. These are all listed on the District
AzMerit Webpage under Additional Resources (see link above).
College Preparation Workshop Opportunities
You asked, we listened! Students completed a survey during the fall counseling presentations and identified a
number of topics they wanted to learn more about. Following is a schedule of upcoming workshops. Students
can register to attend through Sign Up Genius on the counseling calendar.
Scholarship Search – Juniors and Seniors
Tuesday, 11/24, 3:20am, Counseling Career Center
Sending Transcripts through Parchment & College Applications – Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
Wednesday, 11/18, 7:30am, Counseling Career Center
Friday, 11/20, 7:30am, Counseling Career Center
NCAA
Monday, 11/9, 3:20pm, Career Center
Friday, 11/13, 7:30am, Career Center
PSAT Results Interpretation
January 2016--days and times to be determined
Grad Night
Desert Vista Grad Night 2016 will be held at Ultra Star Multi-tainment Center in Maricopa! The Grad Night
committee will be selling tickets during both lunches the week of November 9th and the cost per ticket is $100.
If you register during that week, you have a chance to win two great seats for the Cardinals/Seahawks game in
January. Grad Night will also be holding a fundraiser at Loco Patron Restaurant on Monday, November 9th
from 5:00-9:00pm. Please check out our facebook page at Desert Vista Grad Night 2016 or call the Desert Vista
main office with any questions. Let's make this last night as the Class of 2016 memorable for our students!
Reminders about the Flu Season
Please see the attached letter for more information.
DV Students: Community Awareness
We are known in the community for having incredibly responsible and caring students. With that being said,
we are asking all students to please be mindful of the communities that directly surround our school. We
value our community members and their property, so we are asking that you refrain from taking short cuts
and walking across lawns, jumping fences that border another's property other than yours, etc. Although this
may not seem like a big deal, please know that in fact it is actually considered trespassing and if any property,
such as a stucco fence/wall is damaged, it is considered vandalism. This is something we, as DV community
members, do not want to occur. We are very proud of our students and say so wherever we go, so we would
like to thank you for allowing us to continue to “brag” about you and being respectful by taking the long way
around someone's property.
Safety Reminders re: 202 Construction
We want to encourage our students to be aware of their surroundings while walking to and from school in the
construction zones regarding the extension of the 202. There are many heavy equipment machines being
operated in these areas and we ask that you talk to your child and remind him or her about the dangers of
these areas and to be pro-active when passing.
Papercut
Just a quick reminder that the "Papercut" program is up and running, limiting student printing. Students were
given one dollar in their account and each printed page costs them 10 cents. Students can check their account
balance while on campus by clicking on the "Papercut Login" tab on the Desert Vista home page (Shown
Below). Students will receive an additional dollar in their account every Monday for the remainder of the
school year.
Phoenix Sister Cities' Youth Ambassador Exchange Program
Phoenix Sister Cities is now accepting applications for the 2016 Youth Ambassador Exchange Program. High
school sophomores and juniors who are residents of Phoenix are eligible to spend part of their summer
participating in a six week reciprocal homestay exchange program in one of Phoenix’s ten sister cities around
the world. Upon returning to the U.S., Youth Ambassadors then share Phoenix’s culture with their foreign
counterpart. For more information on this amazing opportunity and to apply please
visit www.phoenixsistercities.org. Applications are due electronically on December 18, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
What is the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program?
Phoenix high school sophomores and juniors apply to be selected to serve as a Youth Ambassador to one of Phoenix's
ten Sister Cities. Upon selection the Youth Ambassadors will participate in Academy Sessions where they not only learn
how to interact in their host country and what to expect, but also how to best represent Phoenix, the state of Arizona,
and the United States abroad. Prior to the exchange, Youth Ambassadors will also participate in fundraising events.
Each Youth Ambassador will depart in the summer to spend approximately three weeks in the Sister City they are
assigned. They will live with a host family and an international counterpart where they will be fully immersed in the
culture of the Sister City. While abroad, Youth Ambassadors can expect an eye-opening experience learning all about the
Sister City, their international counterpart, and themselves.
Upon returning home in Phoenix, the international counterparts are hosted for approximately three weeks by their
Youth Ambassador. While the international counterparts are visiting, both the Phoenix and the international Youth
Ambassadors will engage in trips and activities to give the international students the best representation of Phoenician,
Arizonian, and American culture.
Following the program are a series of alumni events as well as promotion and marketing for the next year's Youth
Ambassadors. By being a part of the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program students become part of global community,
learn about different cultures, make great friends from around the world, and participate in a life-changing experience!
ATTENTION: Bus Riders
As we move forward to ensure the safety and security of our buses, we will be identifying bus riders by
colored stickers. The bus drivers will be attaching a sticker to the back of the student’s ID badge beginning
Monday, October 19th. These stickers will help the driver identify students that should be riding that
particular bus. We ask that you continue to partner with us and ensure your son or daughter is wearing their
ID badge on a daily basis. We also ask that you share with this process with your child so they are prepared
and ready to cooperate with the driver in order to assist in keeping the process timely and efficient. If you
have any questions, please contact a DV administrator and/or our district transportation department. We
appreciate you partnering with us and our combined efforts will ensure all students have a safe school bus
ride to and from school.
SchoolFusion Transition to SchoolWires
Over the past year, the Tempe Union High School District has been in the process of migrating all of the district
schools over to a new website host, SchoolWires. During this time of transition, the automatic
announcements from SchoolFusion are no longer being generated. We will send a daily email with the
announcements to keep our families informed and up to date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may
cause during Desert Vista’s transition.
Official and Unofficial Transcript Requests
Students and parents can order transcripts through Parchment.com (link). Parchment is a bit particular in
regards to how data is matched up to the transcript we upload to them and how you fill out your registration
form. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your transcript is released quickly and accurately:
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Use your official name that is listed on your birth certificate; no nicknames.
Make sure your birth date is correct.
The graduation date reflects the correct year (i.e. May 2016).
Create ONE account only.
Here are the steps to create an account with Parchment:
1. Go to Parchment.com & select the “Sign Up” link on the homepage.
2. Pick Parent or Student and complete the registration page.
3. Once registered, select “My Transcripts”.
4. On the next step, leave the box “Parchment Registration Code” blank. Instead, use your mouse to sign
your signature and mark/fill all other fields below appropriately to complete your registration.
Parchment.com does NOT send SAT/ACT scores. If you need an official copy of these scores sent to your
college/university, please visit collegeboard.org (link) for SAT scores or act.org (link) for ACT scores. Fees will
apply.
If you should need assistance, or if your transcript does not get sent to the college, university, etc., please
contact Parchment support through their portal or at 888.662.0874. They will be able to quickly assess the
problem and assist in what needs to be done to correct it.
Walking to School - SAFETY TIPS
• Stay with a group. Always walk with at least one friend, two or three is even better.
• If a stranger offers you a ride, say “NO!” and stay far away from their car.
• If a stranger follows you on foot, get away from him or her as quickly as you can. You can run and yell
loudly, “HELP!”
- If a stranger follows you in a car, turn around and go the other direction.
- Never leave school with a stranger.
- Tell a trusted adult if a stranger is hanging around the school, playground, or public bathroom.
• Leave items and clothing that display your name at home so a stranger cannot read it and use it to
talk with you.
• If you arrive home alone, call your mother, father, or other trusted adult to let them know you are
home and all right. Keep the door locked, do not open the door for strangers, and do not tell strangers
that you are home alone.
• Never accept things from a stranger.
• If a stranger asks you a question, do not talk to them. Run away.
• Do not go anywhere with a stranger.
Drop Off Items for Students
In order to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum and student learning to a maximum, the front office
staff will not be able to hold, take or deliver student items. We do understand that a student may forget items
from time to time. Therefore, parents/guardians may wait in the front office until a passing period whereby
the front office staff will page their child and the parent/guardian will then be able to hand the item/s to him
or her.
Off Campus Parking
The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation has requested DVHS students not park in the small lot at Vista
Canyon Park (aka DV Park) at 16020 South 30th Street during school hours due to concerns by residents there
are no available parking spaces. The city will post new signage at the park in the near future.
Students who park in the neighborhood east of Desert Vista on 33 rd Street north of Liberty Lane near the
community pool are requested to leave enough space for the trash and recycle garbage cans to be put out on
Tuesdays, per the HOA Property Manager.
We thank you in advance for assisting us in continuing to be respectful of our DVHS neighbors, their property
and public access to the park. Please continue to follow all traffic laws, driving responsibly and not leaving any
trash behind and for helping to keep our community clean and safe.
Skateboards and Bicycle Racks
We have skateboard and bicycle racks for students to secure their bike or skateboard. We ask that you have
your child utilize this area and not lock their bike to fences and/or carry their skateboard around during school
hours. We are not able to allow this for safety reasons. Please assist us by providing your child with a lock.
We appreciate your assistance as we support their mode of transportation, but must adhere to the lock up
and safety procedure.
Desert Vista Cafeteria Information
We are excited to share that we have some new changes for our cafeteria.
1. There is a new point of sale system for Food Service. It is much more user friendly and very innovative.
Even if we should lose network connection, we can continue to serve.
2. Families can go online and complete a free/reduced application which will be submitted directly into our
system import.
3. We have a new online payment site that will allow parents to set up an account and manage their
student/s accounts. It will show current balances, transaction viewing and payments can be made into
accounts for less of a service charge.
4. All the nutrition data for our menu items are on our website.
Click here for the link to Food & Nutrition on the district website and click here for the application for
free/reduced lunch.
2015-2016 AIA Sport Timelines
Please see the attached flyer for details regarding the 2015-2016 sport seasons.
ISEF – Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
ISEF is coming to Phoenix in May 2016 and it would be great to see some strong & talented candidates from
Desert Vista make a showing. Please click here for more information.
Message on the Measles
Please see the attached flyer for information.
Phoenix Suns Educator of the Month
Please see the attached flyer or click here for more information on how to nominate your favorite teacher.
Channel 3 Arizona’s Family - Silver Apple Award
Please click here to nominate your favorite teacher.
Silent Witness Hotline
480.706.7433
THREADZ
The Tempe Teen Resource Center known as “Threadz” provides clothing, shoes, hygiene items and school
supplies to teenagers for school, internships, and job interviews. Threadz was created in 2009 in partnership
with Communities in Schools of Tempe and Kyrene after requests from school staff and social workers. The
center has served thousands of students in Tempe Union, Tempe Elementary, and Kyrene School districts.
Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location:
Tempe High
1730 S. Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281 (in the “T” building off of the Broadway Road parking lot)
Click here for more information on the program, how to donate items or to become a parent volunteer.
Desert Vista Scholarship & College Visitation Sites
The Desert Vista Counseling Department has made getting college and scholarship information easier.

Receive notification when the Scholarship Website has been updated by texting “81010” with the
message @tuhsdmoney to get updates via text or, to receive them by email, send an email
to [email protected] (you can leave the email subject blank).

Receive notification when the College Visitation Calendar has been updated by texting “81010” with
the message @dvcolleges to get updates via text or, to receive them by email, send an email
to [email protected] (you can leave the email subject blank).
Both areas have information for students in grades 9-12.
GO THUNDER!!
Respectfully,
Christine Barela
Principal
DVHS Mission: Desert Vista inspires a community of learning by demonstrating excellence in academics, arts
and extra-curricular activities.
DVHS Vision: We strive for excellence by engaging our community, promoting accountability, fostering
responsibility, and encouraging life-long learning.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 28, 2015
Contact: Laura Oxley, ADHS Public Information: (602) 542-1094
The Time is Now: Get fully vaccinated
This is a call to action to all Arizonans to protect their community, their family and themselves from measles
and many other diseases by being up to date on vaccinations. The measles outbreak that started in Disneyland
is here in our state and many people are at risk for the disease which can cause blindness, deafness and even
death – especially young children.
“The only way we can protect babies under one year old is to make
sure the rest of the community is vaccinated,” said Will Humble,
director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. “I’m
appealing to everyone whose kids are behind in their vaccinations to
get it done now. Vaccinations are the number one way for us to stop
this disease and save lives.”
Diseases like measles, mumps and pertussis were almost wiped out in
the United States after the development of vaccines. Since 2000, there
has been more than a 100 percent increase in the number of
unvaccinated children in Arizona.
“This is an excellent time to check your children’s immunizations
records and make sure they are fully protected,” said Dr. Cara Christ,
Chief Medical Officer for the Department. “It’s a good idea for people
who work in healthcare, child care or schools to check their
immunization history as well.”
Studies done in Arizona and other places found many of the families
that choose not to vaccinate their children tend to live in clusters. The
unvaccinated cluster effect is extremely dangerous for a disease as
contagious as measles. The virus is able to rapidly spread in these
areas, putting surrounding communities at risk. People with measles
are contagious before they show the rash and can easily spread the
disease in public places without knowing it.
You should be protected from measles if you were immunized by
getting two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine, or
if you have previously had the disease.
###
Symptoms: Typically appear 7
to 12 days after exposure to
measles but may take up to 21
days. It begins with fever (101
F or higher), red, watery eyes,
cough and runny nose and is
followed by a rash that is red,
raised, and blotchy. The rash
begins on the face at the hairline
and moves down the body. The
rash may last for 5 to 6 days and
may turn brownish.
What to do if you think you
have measles: If you have a
healthcare provider, contact
him/her by phone and let them
know that you may have been
exposed to measles. They will
let you know when to visit their
office so as not to expose others
in the waiting area. If you do not
have a health care provider, you
may need to be seen at your
local hospital emergency
room/urgent care center. Please
call before going to let them
know you may have measles.
For more information on
measles’ signs and symptoms or
where you may find vaccine,
please check with your
healthcare provider or your
county health department.
2015-2016 TIMELINES BY SPORT
Sport/Season
Pratice
Start Date
Regular Season
Competition Start Date
Regular Season
Competition End Date
Entry
Deadlines
Tournaments
FALL
Badminton
Monday, August 10, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Cross Country
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Football
Monday, August 03, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
D VI - Friday, October 16, 2015
NOTE: Any school whose football team has been approved for an early sart game by the AIA Executive
Board may start footbal practice on the fourth week of the NFHS Standardized Calendar
D I-V - Friday, October 30, 2015
Golf
Monday, August 10, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Swim & Dive
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Volleyball - G
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Tennis - FR
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
N/A
Soccer
Monday, August 10, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Basketball
Monday, November 02, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
Friday, February 05, 2016
Soccer
Monday, November 02, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Wrestling
Monday, November 02, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Baseball
Monday, February 08, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Softball
Monday, February 08, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Singles/Doubles Oct. 19, 2015 by 6:00 PM
Sectionals Oct. 26, 2015 by 6:00 PM
State Team Line-Up Oct. 23, 2015 by 6:00 PM
State Nov. 3, 2015 by 6:00 PM
Individual Oct. 23 & 24, 2015
Sectionals Oct. 30 & 31, 2015
State D VI Oct. 23, 2015
Team Oct. 26, 2015
State Nov. 7, 2015
State D I-V Nov. 6, 2015
D II B Team Oct. 27, 2015 by 6:00 pm
D II G Team Oct. 26, 2015 by 6:00 pm
State Dive Qualifier Oct. 25, 2015 by 3:00 pm
D I B Team Oct. 28, 2015 by 6:00 pm
D I G Team Oct. 29, 2015 by 6:00 pm
State Swim Nov. 1, 2015 by 6:00 pm
D II B State TBD,
2015
D II G State TBD,
2015
St. Dive Qualifier Oct. 30, 2015
D I B State TBD,
2015
D I G State TBD,
2015
St. Swim & Dive Nov. 6 & 7, 2015
State - Nov. 3, 2015
State - Oct. 31, 2015
WINTER
Board Cert. Coaches Feb. 5, 2016 by 6:00 pm
Sectionals Feb. 9, 2016
State - TBD, 2016
State Feb. 16, 2016
Sectionals Feb. 5 & 6, 2016
State Feb. 11-13, 2016
SPRING
State - May 1, 2016
State - April 30, 2016
State Individual April 14, 2016 by 8:00 pm
State April 29, 2016 by 6:00 pm
Tennis - V
Monday, February 08, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Track & Field
Monday, February 08, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Volleyball - B
Monday, February 08, 2016
Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Golf
Monday, February 08, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Saturday, May 07, 2016
D III - Team Line-ups May 10, 2016 by 6:00 pm
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Feb. 2016
State Qualifiers Oct. 5, 2016 by 5:00 pm
State Team Line-Up April 24, 2016 by 6:00 pm
Individual April 22, 2016
State May 5, 6-7, 2016
State - May 7, 2016
SPIRITLINE
State - D III May 13 & 14, 2016
Team April 26, 2016
500 West Guadalupe Road  Tempe, Arizona  85283-3599  Phone (480) 839-0292  www.tuhsd.k12.az.us
Dr. Kenneth R. Baca
Superintendent
Dear Parent/Guardian,
In November 2014, the Arizona State Board of Education adopted a new statewide achievement test for Arizona
students called AzMERIT. This new assessment was given to Arizona high school students for the first time in
Spring 2015. The AzMERIT replaces the previously administered AIMS test in reading, writing and math;
however, the AIMS Science test was still administered to students enrolled in Biology.
In a few short weeks we will share with you your child’s AzMERIT results from last year. You will receive a
comprehensive family score report with detailed information about how your child performed on both the
English Language Arts and Math portions of the assessment. Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

There are many tools to measure student learning. AzMERIT is just one of those tools. Throughout
the school year, there are many ways teachers assess how students are doing in their classroom,
including classwork, homework, quizzes, projects, and observations about your child’s growth. The
results from AzMERIT will be used along with this information to ensure your child is on track to
succeed.

This is a transition year for Arizona schools. AzMERIT looks different from previous tests because it
is a new test and is setting a higher bar for what students need to know and be able to do. This year’s
test results may seem lower than what you have come to expect from your child. There is no need to be
alarmed, because that is what we expect during this transition. It doesn’t mean your child is doing
worse. Instead the scores will provide a more accurate view of how your child is doing.

We are on the right track. Arizona is asking more of our students so they can achieve their full
potential. The AzMERIT test goes beyond the previous tests by measuring a wide range critical thinking
and problem-solving skills. For high school students, this exam is NOT required for graduation. It
is, however, the most accurate tool we have available to measure your child’s mastery of skills.
When you receive your child’s score report, it will include a detailed explanation of how to interpret your
child’s performance. I encourage you to review the results with your child and discuss areas for additional
support and practice.
Arizona worked hard to determine cut scores for proficiency levels; that’s why you are receiving last year’s
results well after the start of this school year. We know it is frustrating for parents to receive the scores now, but
in subsequent years, the goal is to have scores available by the end of the same year, so teachers and parents
have a clear understanding of each student’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Governing Board
Michelle I. Helm
Sandy Lowe
DeeAnne McClenahan
Moses Sanchez
Brandon Schmoll
Frequently Asked Questions about AzMERIT: What does my child’s test score mean?  The new state test measures how well your child is performing in English Language Arts and Math. AzMERIT scores are just one of several measures, including report card grades, classroom performance, and feedback from teachers, that can be used to measure your child’s academic progress. Why does my child’s score look different than scores on previous tests?  Because AzMERIT is a new test, these first year test scores set a new baseline from which progress will be measured. Your child’s score, as well as school and district results, may look lower this year because the test measured more complex skills including critical thinking, problem solving, and analysis. A low score does not mean your child did not improve or learned less. It simply means that the expectations have been raised for students. It is also important to know that AzMERIT is a very different test than we’ve had before, so it is not possible to compare our old test to AzMERIT. In addition, as a new test, students and teachers still need time to adjust to the new assessment. Given time and our support, we know that our students will rise to the challenge. How will my child’s score be used?  Scores will be used to better tailor instruction to individual student needs and give us a tool to see how students and schools across the state are doing. What types of questions were on the test?  AzMERIT includes a number of different types of questions, including performance tasks that are multi‐step assignments that ask students to apply their knowledge and skills to address real‐
world problems. In English, students have to apply their research and writing skills, and in math, they solve complex problems and then describe and defend their reasoning. The test also includes traditional multiple choice questions, as well as interactive questions that require students to drag and drop their answers into a box, create equations, and fill in the answer. What if my child did well on his or her report card last year, but not as well on this test?  Report card grades include multiple sources of information, including mastery of skills, projects, and homework, all of which are important in determining a child’s academic achievement. These sources are not reflected on the test, so there may be some differences. Should you wish to explore resources available to parents, please refer to the list at the end of this document. How can I use these test results to help my child improve?  You can use the test results to guide a discussion with your child’s teachers about additional supports or challenges that may be needed in class, as well as ways to support your child at home. Your child’s performance is broken down into categories in each subject. Therefore, you can use also this information to locate activities online that were designed specifically for each category at every grade level. How was AzMERIT graded?  All of the test items are reviewed and approved by Arizona educators. That review includes confirming the answer key for items and any scoring rubrics. Items that require hand scoring are scored by trained scorers using the appropriate scoring rubric. Where can we get the draft score reports?  Examples of the family score reports and the report guide are available at AzMERITportal.org. How will I receive my child’s score report?  Your child’s scores will be mailed to your home and should arrive by the beginning of November. Resources: 


TUHSD Website: o http://www.tempeunion.org/Page/1208 Expect More Arizona has a number of parent resources you can use for free: o AzMERIT Communications Toolkit o Parent Overview of AzMERIT (English and Spanish) o FAQs o Grade‐by‐Grade Parent Guides in English Language Arts and Math for Kindergarten through High School (English and Spanish) o AzMERIT Parent Webinar o AzMERIT Parent Video o What’s next for AzMERIT scores? Webinar by the Arizona School Boards Association The Arizona Department of Education has shared examples of Parent Score Reports for AzMERIT at AzMERITportal.org: o Sample parent score reports o Sample parent guide to the score report HELPFUL LINKS
TUHSD SCHOOLS
Compadre Academy High School
Arizona Department of Education:
http://www.azed.gov/assessment/azmerit/
Main Office: (480) 752-3560
500 W. Guadalupe Road, Tempe, AZ 85283
Expect More Arizona:
http://www.expectmorearizona.org/
Corona del Sol High School
TUHSD AzMERIT site:
http://www.tempeunion.org/TUHSDAzMERIT
Parent’s Guide to
Understanding
AzMERIT
Main Office: (480) 752-8888
1001 East Knox Road, Tempe, AZ 85284
Desert Vista High School
Main Office: (480) 706-7900
16440 South 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85048
Marcos de Niza High School
Main Office: (480) 838-3200
6000 South Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283
McClintock High School
Main Office: (480) 839-4222
1830 East Del Rio Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
Mountain Pointe High School
Main Office: (480) 759-8449
4201 East Knox Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044
Tempe High School
Main Office: (480) 967-1661
1730 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281
For more information visit us online at
www.tempeunion.org
Scan the above QR Code with a QR Code Reader
if installed on your smart phone. This will take you
directly to TUHSD’s AzMERIT Web page.
10/2015
Tempe Union High School District
500 W. Guadalupe Road
Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 839-0292
TDD Number: (480) 345-3799
Tempe • McClintock • Marcos de Niza • Corona del Sol
Mountain Pointe • Desert Vista • Compadre
AzMERIT Overview
The statewide adoption of Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards in 2010 reflects Arizona’s commitment
to ensuring all students are successfully prepared to enter the next grade level and ultimately find success in the
college or career of their choice. In spring 2015, students took the AzMERIT assessment for the first time. This
assessment provides engaging questions and measures more rigorous critical thinking skills for college and career
readiness.
AzMERIT measures different skills and knowledge than AIMS. As a result, AzMERIT and AIMS cannot be
compared. Statewide, fewer students were proficient on AzMERIT than on AIMS.
AzMERIT is given to students in grades 9-11 in English Language Arts and Mathematics. A passing score on
AZMERIT is not required for graduation.
Family Score Report
There are four performance levels on the AzMERIT assessment that describe the general skills and
abilities for students who took the assessment:
• Proficient
• Highly Proficient
• Partially Proficient
• Minimally Proficient
Description of the Scoring
Categories
The back of your Family Score Report shows
more detailed information regarding your child’s
individual strengths and needs. Each test has
three scoring categories:
• Above Mastery —
• At/Near Mastery —
• Below Mastery —
Read the short paragraphs for each scoring
category to see what was assessed and see your
child’s understanding of those concepts.
Students who score in the Proficient
or Highly Proficient range are likely
to be ready for the next course.
Students who score in the Partially
Proficient or Minimally Proficient
range are likely to need support to
be ready for the next course. All
students who took the AzMERIT
assessment will receive a Family
Score Report.
The first piece of information to look
at is the level of proficiency your
child achieved on the assessment. In
addition to your student’s score, you
will see averages for your student’s
school district and the state of
Arizona.
For example, Maria scored 2592 on
the 9th grade ELA assessment which
falls in the proficient range. This
score would suggest that Maria is
ready to move on to the next course.
Please recycle this document
October 28, 2015
Dear Desert Vista Families,
Fall is in full swing and unfortunately that means it’s also the season for flu-like illnesses. There
are several steps we can take to reduce the spread and we need your help in encouraging good
hygiene and health precautions at home. If your children do become ill, we ask that you keep
them home from school.
WAYTO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY:
Flu Vaccinations: Flu vaccines are especially important for school-aged children, since they are
up to 4 times more likely to get the flu than adults. The Centers for Disease Control recommends
the flu vaccine for ALL people 6 months of age and older.
Encourage children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve, not your
hands, when coughing or sneezing.
Wash hands often, and for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water or an alcohol-based
sanitizer.
Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth since germs spread that way.
Don’t share soda cans, water bottles, or utensils.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like toys and doorknobs.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Monitor yourself and your children for flu-like symptoms which include fever, cough, sore
throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes vomiting and
diarrhea.
Do not send sick children to school. Anyone who has the flu or a flu-like illness should stay
home from school, work, or other activities until at least 24 hours after the fever has gone away
without the use of fever-reducing medications.
For additional information, check out the CDC’s Flu Guide for Parents
Thank you for helping to keep our students healthy and safe.
ParentVUE and StudentVUE Synergy 10 App Update
The Tempe Union High School District just completed an upgrade to Synergy 10 for ParentVUE and StudentVUE. In order
to configure the app on your phone or other mobile device, please follow the directions below.
PHOENIX SUNS
EDUCATOR
OF THE MONTH
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, NOMINATE YOUR TEACHER!
WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED THE FOLLOWING:
1. Game Tickets: the selected teacher and the nominating student will each
receive four (4) lower-level tickets.
2. Dinner at Club Annexus: the selected teacher and the nominating student
will each receive dinner for four (4) in the Talking Stick Resort Arena’s
Club Annexus.
3. A chance to watch pre-game warm-ups from the Phoenix Suns bench.
4. Pre-game on-court recognition.
5. $50 Team Store gift card for the selected teacher.
You will receive a free gift from NAU just for nominating your teacher.
REGISTER TODAY AT: SUNS.COM/NAUEDUCATOR
OFFICIAL EDUCATION PARTNER OF
THE PHOENIX SUNS