Education
SCHOOL NOTES: News from Deer Valley Unified School District Information and Photos Courtesy of DVUSD
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et out your pencil and paper and take note of some of the latest news items from the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD).
100-YARD FREESTYLE GIRLS STATE CHAMPION For the second year in a row, Sandra Day O’Connor (SDOHS) sophomore Caelle Armijo won the Division I, 100-Yard Freestyle State Championship. Last year, Caelle was the first freshman in a decade to win a Division I state championship title in swimming, and this year she didn’t disappoint, earning the State Championship title in the 100-Yard Freestyle event with a time of 50.64 seconds. Caelle also tied for third
place in the 50-yard Freestyle. She recently competed at the national level in the Junior National competition in Austin, Texas in the 50-, 100-, and 200-Yard Freestyle events. Caelle started swimming when she was 11. Her swim coach and team at SDOHS look forward to seeing her compete for them in the years to come. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 6A STATE RUNNERS-UP
The Sandra Day O’Connor High School Girls Volleyball
team’s championship game found them in a rematch of their season-opening five-set thriller back in August against Hamilton. SDOHS won that night — each of the four sets went at least 45 points. The rematch at the championship game, however, went the other way and SDOHS had to settle for State Runner-Up. The team went undefeated in the regular season. They were very balanced this season in terms of strength in all positions, according to SDOHS. “Throughout their season, the team earned a reputation for spirited comebacks. In the state semifinals against Tempe’s Corona del Sol, they fought back from losing the first two sets to keep their season alive,” according to SDOHS. “Next season will bring younger players into new roles and new faces on the team. It was a great first season for a new coaching staff, and they are excited with what they accomplished.” KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR FALL 2022 NOW OPEN! Registration is now open for the 2022-2023 school year for incoming kindergarteners at all DVUSD schools. See upcoming registration and informational events at dvusd.org/kinderevents.
DVUSD’s Elementary #32 has a New Name, Mascot and School Colors
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he Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) Governing Board has approved the name “Inspiration Mountain School” with the mascot of a Knight and colors of Royal Blue and Black for the Elementary #32 school currently under construction at 5757 Inspiration Mountain Parkway near 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. This recommendation comes following an initial survey that was open to the DVUSD community from December 15, 2021 to January 5, 2022 to collect ideas for its name, mascot, and colors. All suggestions from this survey were carefully reviewed during a school naming community meeting, which was attended by future Inspiration Mountain School students, families, community members, and potential staff members. The group gave input on the suggestions and narrowed the list of ideas. The community then had the opportunity to select their favorite options in a final voting survey. DVUSD received more than 800 votes from future students, families, staff, and 18 • March 2022 • NORTH PHOENIX NEWS
community members. The DVUSD Governing Board approved the name, mascot, and colors at a recent meeting. Dr. JoAnn Schwarting was named as the principal for Inspiration Mountain School. After serving four years in the United States Navy, Dr. Schwarting earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University (ASU), a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Innovation from ASU. The current DVUSD Principal of the Year, Dr. Schwarting has served the Deer Valley Unified School District since 2005. She taught seventh grade English language arts at Desert Mountain School for seven years. She then transferred to Desert Sky Middle School where she assumed the roles of instructional coach and assistant principal. Most recently, Dr. Schwarting spent the last six years leading Desert Mountain School as principal.
for the challenge and eager for the opportunity. “I am absolutely thrilled to be given the honor of serving this beautiful community. My goal is to nurture a school environment that is caring and connected,” she says. “I believe partnerships are necessary when educating our students, so I’m looking forward to developing strong family and community ties.” Late last year, the DVUSD Governing Board approved school boundaries for the new school. Several boundary
options were developed after two community input meetings and three Governing Board meetings. View the approved boundary maps and see additional information at dvusd.org/ boundary32. The new school opens in August 2022 and will initially serve K-6 students with the infrastructure in place for future expansion to a K-8 campus. Learn more about the new school, and sign up for future updates via e-mail, at dvusd.org/ InspirationMountain.
Though it is bittersweet leaving her current school, Dr. Schwarting is up myhyperlocalnews.com
