SUSD & Community News - June 2, 2009

SUSD in the news

Nicole Esquivel, Sunnyside High School senior, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Rincon Rotary Club of Tucson. See: More deserving youths, http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/294265.php

An article on a skateboarding program at Sierra Middle School ran in the Arizona Daily Star on 5-26-09. See: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/294374

Sunnyside High alum Nathan Arevalo (’04) was named Lone Star Conference (LCS) Baseball Player of the Year. Additionally, Arevalo was named to the LSC All-Conference First Team, and the LSC All-Academic Team, which requires athletes to maintain at least a 3.2 GPA.

In its Memorial Day tribute, “Southern Arizona war casualties,” the Arizona Daily Star featured former SUSD students Army Pfc. Joseph F. Gonzales Jr., Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Lucero and Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Zurheide Jr.

A Spanish-language article on budget challenges and possible furloughs for the Sunnyside District appeared 5-22-09 in the Arizona Daily Star’s La Estrella de Tucson. “Abogan educadores por recorte de presupuesto en Sunnyside.” See: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/293520.php

Sunnyside High alum and SUSD Medicaid Reimbursement Specialist Kathy Laird shared her memories of the Tucson Citizen as a high school journalism student, which were published in the Citizen’s last edition on 5-16-09. See: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/116659

An article on budget challenges and possible furloughs for the Sunnyside District appeared in the Arizona Daily Star on 5-16-09. See: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/293126.php

Jacob Valenzuela, a Desert View alum and trumpet player for the band Calexico, was featured in the Tucson Citizen 5-6-09. See: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/calendar/115978.php

SUSD Updates

Record number of students graduate from SUSD
SUSD has it largest graduating class with a projected total of 714 for the Class of 2009. There were 406 graduates from Sunnyside High School and 277 from Desert View High School. Thirty-one students from STAR Academic Center will graduate June 17. Congratulations to all!

Drexel student writers shine
Fourth-grade students in Larisa Velasco’s class at Drexel Elementary won an essay contest through Bear Essential News which required them to write a persuasive essay describing why trees are important to the Earth, how a tree would benefit their school, and why their school deserves a tree. The winners were announced in this month’s edition of Bear Essential News, and a representative from TEP’s Trees for Tucson program visited the school to congratulate the students and present them with certificates for excellence in writing. The school will receive a new tree this fall.

SUSD administrators honored
On May 9, Luz Social Services, Inc. honored the following Sunnyside District administrators:
Administrator of the Year: Raúl Hodgers, assistant principal, Desert View
Richard Sanchez Coach of the Year: Bert Otero, Desert View

Sunnyside High Battle of the Bands
Several music students from Sunnyside High School competed in the Sunnyside Battle of the Bands. The following students were recognized for their talent. Their music teacher is Geoff Thames.
Best Vocals: Tanayri Carlos-Yniguez
Best Bass: Miguel Calderon
Best Drummer: Jose Molina
Best Guitar: Gerardo Calderon
Best Band: Unplugged Monday starring David Nguyen, Ana Eguia and Jose Molina
Best Upcoming Talent: Eddie Gallegos

Desert View alum wins journalism award
Desert View High School alum Alexis Huicochea (2002) won first place in the Arizona Press Club Awards Competition for the best Journalism in Arizona in the category of Breaking News and Reporting. Alexis, crime reporter for the Arizona Daily Star, won the award for her piece, "Officer on life support after crosstown pursuit," co-written with Brady McCombs. Alexis is a summa cum laude graduate of ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Esperanza penny program boosts attendance
In August, students in three Esperanza Elementary School classes began a program to boost school attendance. Students received a penny for each day they came to school on time. At the end of the week, students with no absences received rewards. Each month, pennies were counted and put on display in the school office so students, parents and staff could see the success of the program and be reminded of the importance of attendance. Money raised will go toward student rewards and a scholarship fund.

Craycroft S.U.N. students raise money for Humane Society
Fourth- and fifth-grade SUN students (Serving Unique Needs gifted program) at Craycroft Elementary raised $765.28 through a penny drive and bake sale. The money has been donated to the Humane Society.

Sunnyside High students plant trees
The Sunnyside High School YES (Youth Empowered for Success) team gave up their free time on a Saturday morning to beautify their school, planting four Chilean mesquite trees on the west side of Blue Devil Stadium. The YES Program is coordinated by Margarito Casillas. Dora Cruz is their teacher.

Correction to Reina y Rey de las Estrellas
The Reina de las Estrellas 2009 is junior Dulce Lopez. Jacqueline Loss was the runner-up.
The Rey de las Estrellas 2009 is sophomore Jesus Baca.

Opening of School Celebration for all employees
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Desert Diamond Entertainment Center
7 a.m. Expo
8 – 10:30 a.m. Program

Community Updates

Non-profit set up in memory of Andrew Rees
Teachers Dwight and Margie Rees have set up a non-profit organization in honor of their son Andrew who passed away on May 15. The goal of the organization—Gut Check (Clostridium Septicum Foundation)—is to raise money for research and the development of a vaccine for this infection. Donations can be mailed to Pima Federal Credit Union, 3730 N. Stone Ave. P.O. Box 50267, Tucson, AZ. 85703. Please make checks payable to Gut Check. All donations are tax deductible. Additionally, the Rees family would like to thank the friends and colleagues for their kind words and support.

Golf tourney funds dictionaries for SUSD third-graders
The Kino Rotary Club of South Tucson’s major fund-raiser is a golf tournament to be held Saturday, July 11. Southwest Foodservice Excellence is the premier sponsor of the tourney, which will fund dictionaries for third-graders at all Sunnyside District elementary schools. Please see the attached brochure for info on participation and sponsorship. For further info, contact Raúl Ochoa, 545-2015, or Monique Soria, 545-2093.

FREE basketball clinic
Who: Students ages 8 – 17
What: Free basketball clinic with the Pima Community College women’s basketball team
When: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Ages 8 – 11, 9 a.m. – noon
Ages 12 – 18, 1 – 4 p.m.
Where: El Pueblo Recreational Center, 101 W. Irvington


C.A.R.E. Fair to be held at Sunnyside High
Who: The entire community is invited
What: Arizona’s largest health and safety fair for children
When: Friday, July 17 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 18 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Sunnyside High School, 1725 E. Bilby Road


Travel program for college students
Southwest Airlines, in conjunction with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), is hosting a travel program to assist Hispanic students with the cost of traveling to and from a college or university. Online applications will be accepted through June 5, 2009. For complete details, see: www.hacu.net/hacu/Lanzate_EN.asp.

TYD Summer Employment Program
Tucson Youth Development (TYD) is seeking worksite supervisors for its Summer Employment Program, whereby employers can have student workers who are paid by TYD. The program begins June 8. For information or to apply as a job site, see attachment. You may also contact Lisa Long at 305-5278 or lisalo@susd12.org or visit TYD online at www.tucsonyouth.org.