Chandler Beat

This news came into the Tribune:

Raymie Humbert, an eighth grade student at Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School in Chandler, too second place in Saturday’s state spelling bee championship. Peoria’s So-Young Chung took the title. Her prize package includes an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. for her and one chaperone for the week of the Spelling Bee, compliments of the Bee’s presenting sponsor US Airways. She will also receive a 60-volume set of The Great Books of the Western World from Harrison Middleton University, a $100 Savings Bond, a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica online, $500.00 and Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. The Arizona Educational Foundation’s (AEF) State Spelling Bee was held Saturday, March 28, at Eight/Arizona PBS in Stauffer Hall at Arizona State University.  So-Young is in seventh grade at Terramar Elementary School in Peoria.
So-Young out-spelled 26 other students with the winning word solecism in the 15th round of the Bee. (Solecism [sol-uh-siz-uhm] an ungrammatical combination of words in a sentence).  So-Young will represent Arizona at the 82nd Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. from May 26-28.  
The third- through fifth-place finalists were: 3rd Place:  Jim Denker, 8th grade, Christian Home Educators of Tucson, Tucson; 4th Place:  Hannah Fechter, 7th grade, Alhambra Traditional School, Phoenix; 5th Place:  David Joe, 8th grade, White Cliffs Middle School, Kingman.

This was the 10th year the Arizona Educational Foundation sponsored the Arizona Spelling Bee.  The 2009 Arizona State Spelling Bee will air on Eight/Arizona PBS Channel 8 at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 12; 11 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19. The National Bee will be broadcast live on ESPN and ABC.

This news came into the Tribune today:

Please give a BIG shout out to Albert Rodriguez, Kirsten Amberson, Athena Green, and Celeste Cantsee for taking home the GOLD MEDAL this weekend in the Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament. They competed against and beat 2 teams from Scottsdale, Mesa and Tucson to get the gold.

This news came into the Tribune today:

Weinberg’s multipurpose room Weinberg kindergarten teacher Lisa Newberry stands next to some of her students’ self-portraits.

On the evening of January 29, 2009, Chandler’s Weinberg Elementary School was the place to be. The multipurpose room was ablaze with color; each student had a work of art on display and available for framing. Math centers, purchased through a grant, were out for students to teach their families. Students showed off their amazing science projects ranging from erupting volcanoes to tooth decay. Each grade level had their own science project and the fifth and sixth graders worked in groups to design their own experiment. Science fair winners at the fifth grade level include Hunter Baker, Cody Davis, and Joseph St. Germain for their project, Soda & Mentos; Esmeralda Araujo, Isabel Camou, Mariah Garcia, and Erandy Gastelum for Speed of a Skateboard; Mackenzie Ness, Valentina Ortega, and Nick Prickett for Protecting Eggs; Chris Le, Kendra Owens, and Hunter Roland for Heart Rate Change; and Julie Pavlovic, Karla Ramirez, and Mazzy Smith for Heart Rate. 6th grade winners include Brock Hoffman, Austin Strandling, and Austin Williams for their Water Rocket Car; Kaylee Lewis for her Electric Motor; Samantha Hom, Sierra Frishman, and Erin Pellegrino for Geysers; Cassie Diones, Patricia Madsen, Arionne Ward for The Buzzer; Quincy Caston, Ryan Shaffer, Kirk Sovereign, and Cole Warner for their exciting Bottle Rocket; and Kasey Jex, Raena Schulze, and Sydney Smith for Cold Drinks.

Registration for preschool will be held April 13-24.
Since every child is unique, our preschools are organized to allow children to initiate activities that grow from personal interests and intentions. Through exploration our preschool students interact with material, people, ideas and events. Our preschool teachers encourage active learning by providing resources, planning experiences and creating an inviting environment in which all children can learn. Navigate to http://ww2.chandler.k12.az.us/community-education/preschool.asp to learn more about the different preschool programs available.

Parents will be asked to complete the district registration forms and provide the following information:

Certified Birth Certificate
Call the State of Arizona Vital Records at (602) 364-1300 to obtain a copy.

Up-to-Date Immunization Records

Must include the following:
DTP: 5 doses unless the last dose was given after 4th birthday. If so, then 4 doses.
POLIO: 4 doses unless the last dose was given after 4th birthday. If so, then 3 doses.
MMR: 2 doses, the first dose given on or after 1st birthday and the second dose at entry to kindergarten.
HIB: 4 doses given. If no dose has been received, at least one is required.
HEP B: 3 doses required. Dose 2 should be received at least 1 month after dose 1 and dose 3 should be received at least 4 months after dose 1 and at least 2 months after dose 2.
VARICELLA: The state requires that children either have the vaccine or provide documentation that the child has had the disease (form is available upon request).
Proof of Residence

Utility bill or home purchase/lease agreement with current address.

The Chandler Unified School District will conduct Kindergarten and Kindersteps registration from February 17-27, 2009. Children who turn age five prior to September 1, 2009 are eligible for kindergarten. You will need to register your child at the elementary school that pertains to your residential boundaries. Navigate to http://ww2.chandler.k12.az.us/2008-2009_Approved_Elementary_Boundaries.pdf to determine the appropriate registration location.

What is Kindersteps?
Parents of children who turn age five after September 1 and before December 31, 2009 may request placement for their child in Kindersteps if they believe it is in their child’s best interest. The program is designed to prepare children for entry to first grade upon successfully completing the district Kindergarten curriculum. This program is open to all residents in the CUSD. There are ten sites that host Kindersteps. Learn more about the Kindersteps program at http://ww2.chandler.k12.az.us/community-education/kindersteps_moreinfo.asp

Karen Labutta, the principal of South Fayette Middle School in Pittsburgh, Pa., has challenged Payne Junior High School students to a “Souper Bowl.”  Students will bring cans of soup to their 5th hour classes. Payne’s goal is to collect more canned soup their counterparts do. Soup will be donated to a local food bank.  Whoever wins will have to wear the other team’s colors the day after the real Superbowl. Karen Martin, the Payne principal ,has approved a  a mini Superbowl flag football game on Friday during 5th hour for the two classes that bring in the most soup. Teachers who wear “Cardinal” or “Steeler” wear are allowed to wear jeans to promote the event.

Mitchell Behling

Mitchell Behling, a sixth grade student at Navarrete Elementary, Thursday won the Chandler Unified School District spelling bee at the Chandler Center for the Arts. He prevailed over 35 contestants by correctly spelling “laryngitis” and “incompatible.”

Mitchell and seven runners-up advanced to the regional spelling bee to be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Also advancing to the regional were first runner-up Quinn Goodman of Chandler Traditional Academy Independence campus, Joey Davy of Hancock Elementary, Atticus Townsend of Ryan Elementary, Vikaas Krithivas of Hamilton Prep Academy, Hanna McDonald of Chandler Traditional Academy Freedom Campus, Jacob Ginn of Santan Elementary and Bharath Tata of Basha Elementary.

This news came into the Tribune this week:

Seton Catholic High School invites interested parties to attend the Seton THON, the annual student fundraiser, 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 30 at the high school, 1150 N. Dobson Road, Chandler. Donors will sponsor students in a 5K Fun Run/Walk through Chandler.  The school’s goal this year is to raise $30,000 to upgrade school facilities and to donate to the Arizona Lost Boys Center, located in Phoenix.

The event includes live bands, including the featured group, Street Jam, a percussion and dance band which uses objects such as pots and pans, oil drums and trash cans to create a unique sound.  The Seton Catholic cheer team and dance team will also perform.

A complimentary BBQ lunch will also be provided on the football field following the fun run!

For questions, call Becky Sanchez, Assistant director of advancement at (480) 963-1900, x2006, or e-mail at BSanchez@SetonCHS.org.