Chandler Beat

Members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church are donating more than 1,000 pounds of food to the Chandler CARE Center this week, the largest donation of the year, said Susan Horan, the center’s director. The rice and beans will arrive Tuesday and will be rebagged by volunteers and disbursed. Horan estimates 175 families will benefit from the donation. “What’s significant is even in these hard economic times, a church is doing a ‘Christmas in July,’” Horan said. “They realize people need help with food throughout the year.” The center is located at San Marcos Elementary School, 451 W Frye Road.

Dee Dee Walker, a seventh-grade student at Santan Junior High, won fourth place in the Chandler Public Library poetry contest. She was the youngest applicant, and her poem will be printed in an anthology of poetry.

This news came into the Tribune today:

The kindergarten classes at Chandler’s Weinberg Elementary are celebrating Mother’s Day. Some classes are asking moms and dads to come and eat with their child during lunch time. Lunch will be followed with a special ice cream snack and time to play on the playground. Other classes have invited the moms to come in and spend time in the classroom for an hour. The activities will include listening to the children sing a few songs, creating a ladybug cookie, and making a ladybug frame, which will be complete when a picture of the mom and child is added. We hope all of the mothers enjoy their special time at our school.

This news came into the Tribune today: On April 4th, Willis Junior High CATS (Chandler Unified School District’s gifted program) students competed in the State Competition for National History Day at Fountain Hills. National History Day is a contest to inspire students to revive history and use critical thinking skills to analyze primary and secondary sources. This years theme is The Individual - Actions and Legacies. Only two entries per category for each state are allowed to compete at nationals. The students have been working on this project since August.
Those chosen to represent Arizona at the national contest in Washington D.C. from Willis are: John Wang, 8th grade (First place individual exhibit) and Cali Cappuccio, 7th grade (second place individual exhibit).
Group exhibits are 7th graders Elijah Olivas and Jeremy Duffy (first place) and 8th graders Ali Muller and Mary Nguyen (second place). For documentaries, Corey Nelson - 8th grade (first place Individual documentary) and for 7th grade Sean Graham and Bryce Royball (first place group documentary) and Adithya Nott and Oliver Dorr (second place group documentary). Shandel Roberts teaches language arts and social studies to the 7th graders and Katie Dial teaches Language Arts and Social Studies to the 8th graders.

This is a tremendous academic accomplishment for these students.
Congratulations!!

The Chandler High School spirit line took home the first place trophy in varsity show cheer at the Arizona State Cheerleading Tournament on March 7th for the second year in a row.

This news came into the Tribune today:

Thirteen of Chandler Unified’s Basha High School students competed in the 60th annual American Mathematics Contest (AMC) 12 and six students participated in the 10th annual American Mathematics Contest (AMC) 10. The contest is given at participating schools internationally. Students who score in the top three on the AMC 12 are used to rank the school both regionally and nationally.   

Basha senior Thomas Nall, who earned the AMC12  top score, and Joe Schneider, who earned the top AMC 10 score, were joined by Manasas Kalluri, Jayce Pangilinan, Joyce Zhang and Sudhanshu Ambadipudi, who also earned recognition as achieving the “top three scores”  in their given contest.

Riggs Elementary students were honored for their essays this month.

This news came into the Tribune this week: Shea Homes Arizona announced the winners of the “What Makes a House a Home” essay contest conducted at Riggs Elementary School, a Chandler Unified School District campus located in Gilbert.  The contest challenged fourth, fifth and sixth-graders graders to write a 200-word essay explaining what they felt was the difference between a house and a home.  The teachers selected the top 10 finalists from each class and a judging panel at Shea Homes decided on the top three winning essays from each grade.  

 A presentation was made on February 3 at Riggs Elementary, to award winners with a gift card, Shea Homes backpack and a certificate of achievement.  This contest was developed to elevate awareness for one of Shea Homes’ key initiatives of reducing illiteracy through reading and writing as well as encouraging parents to read with their children at least 15 minutes a day.  Winners were: fourth grade, Jacob Vitucci, Rhea Johnston and Kaylee Pedersen; fifth grade, Ashley Tenaglia, Paige Botten and Keanna Suh; sixth grade, Callie VanRyn, Ally Captain and Dallin Simonton.

Glenna McCollum-Cloud, CEO of the Chandler Education Foundation and Marlane Porter, past president of the foundation, present the keys to a new 2009 BMW to Lori Hinojosa, her daughter and husband, along with Bob Arvizu from Chapman BMW.

Lori Hinojosa of Gilbert had the winning ticket in the Chandler Education Foundation’s drawing for a 2009 BMW. Hinojosa learned of winning the car through a phone call then made the drive to receive the keys to her new car on Saturday.

The principal and staff at San Marcos Elementary want to send a special “Thank You” to our very generous tax credit donors this year.  We are very fortunate to have such support, and in today’s economy the generosity shown to our school and children is truly remarkable.  You really came through for us and gave us the largest donation total yet!  We are overwhelmed at your kindness and because of your generosity, our students will be able to have many new experiences that we would not otherwise be able to provide.  Thank you all so much!

This news came into the Tribune this week:

The Chandler Unified School District Art Masterpiece Program is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to present art enrichment lessons at elementary schools with a volunteer shortage.  Art Masterpiece is a national program that has been successfully operating in the Chandler Unified School District since 1991.  
Throughout the school year, volunteer “Art Guides” visit a classroom on a monthly basis to present art appreciation lessons using a reproduction of a famous work of art.  Students are introduced to new artists, their styles and elements of art.  A hands-on art project reinforces the lesson in a fun, creative way. 
Volunteer Art Guides DO NOT need to have a background in art.  All training, pre-planned lessons and supplies are provided by the District.  The only qualifications needed are enthusiasm and a desire to share a learning experience with the students through art appreciation!
Art Masterpiece is totally dependant upon community volunteers due to the absence of art teachers in our elementary schools. If you are interested and would like more information, please call the District Art Masterpiece Dept. at (480) 224-3955.