When Meghan Waugh was a teenager, she started using tanning beds weekly.
Then a Michigan resident, Waugh wanted to add color to her naturally fair skin so that it would contrast her white cheerleading outfit.
Waugh continued to use tanning beds when she moved to Arizona. Two years ago, during a routine visit to her dermatologist, Waugh got the news that a seemingly innocuous small pink growth on the back of her right knee was melanoma.
Although it was just the size of a pencil eraser, removing the cancer has left Waugh with a 3-inch scar and a devout promise to never use a tanning bed again.
“If someone paid me hundreds of dollars to go into a tanning bed there is no way I would do it,” Waugh said. “Getting melanoma was the scariest thing I have ever gone through.”
The risks of tanning beds
With spring just around the corner, local teens may be considering going to a local tanning bed to get a golden glow. Brittany Conklin, senior consultant and media relations manager from the American Cancer Society, hopes they think twice.
but eyes as well, said Dr. Arlynn Roper, an optometrist at Southwestern Eye Center in Tempe.
“The way tanning beds work is like the sun, so the UV rays that tan the skin can also burn it and affect the eyes,” he said.
“UV light accelerates the formation of cataracts, which causes cloudiness in the eyes, and it can also cause melanoma to develop in the eye.”
Dr. Arlynn Roper, an optometrist at Southwestern Eye Center, says tanning beds can lead to eye damage such as dryness, cataracts and cancer. Submitted photo
As Conklin noted, younger people are at a higher risk than the rest of the population of suffering from the harmful effects of indoor tanning devices later in life. In addition, she says melanoma, the most deadly form of cancer, is the fourth most common cancer among young men and women ages 15 to 29.
Meghan Waugh used tanning beds regularly as a teenager and was diagnosed with melanoma two years ago. Submitted photo
“In fact, using a tanning device before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 59 percent,” she said. Because a young person’s skin is still developing, it makes them even more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV rays, Conklin said.
The dangers of tanning devices are so serious that the World Health Organization has put these in the same category as tobacco and asbestos, labeling them as “carcinogenic to humans.”
Eyes are also at risk
Tanning beds not only harm the skin,
While tanning bed businesses typically provide their customers with goggles, Roper said some teens and adults don’t want to wear them.
“They say they don’t want to look ‘raccoony’ so they say they will just close their eyes, but this is not enough to prevent UV damage,” Roper said.
Teens who use tanning beds may also notice that their eyes are drier than usual; if this happens Roper said they should use overthe-county artificial tears.
“If they come out of the tanning bed and notice that their eyes are red, they need to watch this closely, and get medical attention quickly if it does not go away,” he said.
Roper suggested that teens use self-tanners or spray-on tans instead of tanning beds. If teens insist on using a tanning bed, he said they need to understand the risks of doing so, ask if the provided goggles provide UV protection, and then use them every single time.
Waugh, who is cancer free and doing well, also hopes that teenagers think twice before using a tanning bed. For teens who are considering it, she offered this advice:
“Self-tanners or spray tans are definitely the way to go,” she said.
“It’s just not worth it. What you do at this age can definitely affect you years from now, and just because you don’t burn in a tanning bed, it does not mean you won’t get cancer.”
Resources:
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http://1.usa.gov/1bbBePF
Around the district
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Boulder Creek Elementary School
Boulder Creek Elementary School will have a Sonic Spirit Night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16.
A character counts breakfast for second- through sixth-grade students will be held from 8:40 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday, April 23. An Academic Day NEHS Induction will also be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. the same day.
Carol Rae Ranch Elementary School
The Carol Rae Ranch Elementary School will have AZ Merit testing week from Monday, April 6, through Friday, April 10; Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17, and Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24.
Relay for Life will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, April 10, at Gilbert High School.
Crazy Mustache Day will be held on Wednesday, April 15.
Carol Rae Ranch Elementary fourth graders will have their field trip from 8:45 a.m. to 1p.m. Tuesday, April 28. Academic Night will be also held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Gilbert Elementary School
Gilbert Elementary School will have its AZ Merit testing from Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17.
The elementary school’s Family Pride Night will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 30.
Mesquite Elementary School
Mesquite Elementary School will have a Scholastic Book Fair from Friday, April 17, through Friday, April 24.
A field day will be held for kindergarten through second-grade students on Monday, April 20; a field day for third and fourth graders will be held on Tuesday, April 21, and a field day for fifth and sixth graders will be held on Friday, April 24.
A school talent show will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, and Wednesday, April 29.
Playa del Rey Elementary School
Kindergarten registration has begun and can be done in the front office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to fill out a packet. Parents must bring proof of residency, original birth certificate and immunization records.
AZ Merit testing will be held from Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17.
The Primary STEM Club is held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 9, Thursday, April 16, and Thursday, April 23.
Settler’s Point Elementary School
A golf tournament will be held from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Western Skies.
AZ Merit testing will take place from Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17.
The Dad’s Club Campout will meet from Friday, April 17, through Saturday, April 18.
An Academic Night will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.
Settler’s Point Elementary School will have a strings concert from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.
The first grade program will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30.
Campo Verde High School
Every Wednesday and Friday during both lunch periods, the PAC program is held in the gymnasium, as well as the fields to provide students with such
variety of activities as volleyball, flag football, basketball, badminton and soccer.
Prom Spirit Week will be held from Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24. Prom will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Villa Siena, 890 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 104, Gilbert.
A dance concert will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24.
The junior and senior Scholarship Awards Ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30.
Desert Ridge High School
The junior and senior prom will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at AZ Science Center.
The Golden Scholars/Senior Scholarships Awards will be held in the auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 28.
Gilbert High School
The Gilbert Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society event, will be held from 6 p.m. Friday, April 10, to 6 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at the Gilbert High School track.
Dance auditions are being held at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the Gilbert High School Dance Room. Paperwork is due to Mrs. Henning by Friday, April 24, for those auditioning for Danceworks and Core 2015-2016.
The annual Golden Scholars Recognition Program will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 20, in the auditorium. The Honor Awards Ceremony will be held from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30, also in the auditorium.
Highland High School
Highland High School prom will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Villa Siena. Tickets are $45 a person through Wednesday, April 8, before increasing to $50. Tickets can be purchased at the bookstore. Tickets cannot be purchased at the door the night of the prom. Guest passes are available at Mrs. McGee’s desk in the front office. They are due by 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 8.
A Career Center “Job Fair” will be held Thursday, April 23. Students interested are asked to see Ms. Ward in the Career Center.
Mesquite High School
Juniors and seniors are invited to attend the Career Fair on Thursday, April 23. Those interested should stop by the Career Center to sign up.
The percussion ensemble winter drumline will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.
Cap and gown distribution will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the auditorium library.
Mesquite High School’s prom will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 25.
The Golden Scholar Awards will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 27.
Nonprofit seeks local families to host exchange students
ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE), in cooperation with community high schools, is looking for local families to host boys and girls between the ages of 15 to 18 from a variety of countries, including Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Japan. ASSE students are enthusiastic and excited to experience American culture while they practice their English. They also love to share their own culture and language with their host families. Host families welcome these students into their family, not as a guest, but as a family member, giving everyone
involved a rich cultural experience.
The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. ASSE students are selected based on academics and personality, and host families can choose their student from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.
To become an ASSE Host Family or to find out how to become involved with ASSE, call the ASSE Western Regional Office at 1-800-733-2773 or go to www.host.asse.com to begin your host family application.
GPS orchestra director receives prestigious award
Bill Bitter, Highland High School’s orchestra director and performing arts department chairman, has been selected by the American String Teachers Association as the winner of the 2015 Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award.
The prestigious award is one of the highest given by the American String
Teachers Association.
Bitter has been teaching at Highland High for 22 years. The Highland High symphonic strings orchestra became the first orchestra from Arizona to perform in the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. Its astounding holiday concert is consistently sold out.
while still in high
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Summer camp registration opens April 21 for residents
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
A vast array of summer camps will become available this month for the area’s youngest residents.
Registration opens for Gilbert residents on Tuesday, April 21, and on Thursday, April 23, for nonresidents. The summer guide becomes available on Friday, April 10.
“Most of the camps registration fills up very quickly,” said Gilbert Community Center Recreation Coordinator Krista Neugebauer.
She said the camps geared toward kids from ages 3 to 16 run from Monday, June 1, to Saturday, Aug. 1.
“It’s fun, safe and it’s a clean environment,” she said. “We really emphasis having fun with the kids and safety.”
The camps are broken down by age. Neugebauer said the traditional camps for kids ages 6 to 10 are held at Freestone Recreation Center. Activities include baseball, basketball, dodgeball, flag football, floor hockey, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball.
KIDZ Kamp is also held at Freestone Recreation Center offering weekly themes; physical activities; active and
sedentary games; crafts and weekly projects; educational fun; rock wall climb; special guest performances; character development and special events days.
Children can brush up on math and language arts skills, as well as arts and crafts and science, at McQueen Park Community Center.
The Kinderbridges Enrichment Camp is for children 5 to 7 years old who are transitioning from kindergarten to first grade. The camp will focus on reinforcing phonics, reading, writing and math, as well as incorporating science, arts and crafts and sports.
The Primary Connections Enrichment Camp is also held at the McQueen Park Community Center for children 6 to 8
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years old. This camp helps first graders who are either trying to catch up or get ahead before going into second grade.
The campers will read, write, dive into math, science, as well as play sports and create arts and crafts.
The McQueen Park Community Center is also offering a new camp this year called Crazy Chefs Camp for ages 4 to 6. The camp will focus on preparing snacks.
Science camps, such as Mad Scientist Mythbusters Lab and Squishy, Mess, Sticky Science Camp, are also held at the McQueen Park Community Center.
The Community Center focuses on
crafts and science camps for ages 6 to 10.
Neugebauer said each week a different themed handmade craft will be created, which includes mustache, super hero, LEGO and Disney “Frozen” crafts.
During the wacky science camp, participants will experiment with making slime, putting candies into diet Coke, and creating rockets.
“It is fun science stuff,” she said.
Some of the other camps offered include LEGO Princesses & Friends Building & Creativity Camp; Minecraft & LEGO Building & Animation Camp and Super Heroes! LEGO Building & Creativity Camp.
The Southeast Regional Library also offers an assortment of camps for the youth. The camps include such activities as LEGO Animation; Hollywood Special Effects; Lights, Camera, Action; Minecraft Movie Making; Movie Star Camp; The Gaming Academy; Video Game Design and Web Design.
To register for the summer camps, visit www.gilbertrecreation.com or visit any of the recreation centers.
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Session 1:
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Untraditional golf tourney supports Gilbert Education Foundation
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Enjoy one of Gilbert’s newest attractions while supporting the Gilbert Public Schools during the FORE! Education TopGolf Tournament.
Registration is due Friday, April 3, for the event set for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at TopGolf Gilbert, 1689 SanTan Village Pkwy. Tickets are $125, or $650 for six people. Register at bit.ly/1BKJ2Gk. .
The event is slated to bring together business partners and the community to support the school district, according to Leanne McEachran, executive director of the Gilbert Education Foundation.
The funds raised will go toward the foundation’s technology initiatives.
“This is a new business and everybody is excited about TopGolf,” McEachran said. “It’s just a place to hold a really fun function and it just happens to be centered around golf.”
The event, she said will include two hours of golf with prizes and dinner, as well as raffles.
“Whether you are a golfer or not, it is a really fun place to go,” McEachran said. “The foundation is here to support our teachers, our staff of Gilbert Public Schools and ultimately our students. So this event is a way to get this community to come out and join in.”
The Gilbert Education Foundation was formed in 2001 as a fundraising arm for Gilbert Public Schools. The foundation focuses on scholarships for senior high school students and educators, as well as varsity letter, social service and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education programs.
McEachran said the foundation has given more than $21,000 for classrooms as part of its educators’ scholarship program.
The varsity letter program, she said, is for high school students who volunteer more than 200 hours in one year. The program acknowledges those students who volunteer with a varsity letter.
“It’s just like a letter you earn in sports, band or academics,” she said. “It is a good way for kids that don’t excel in some of those areas to get involved in the community. It’s a really good way to
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award their efforts and knowledge and what they are doing.”
The social service program is part of the foundation’s community outreach program. The program helps students and staff of Gilbert Public Schools when they are in a time of crisis or financial need. The money for the program is raised solely through United Way contributions each fall.
The majority of the funds—about 85 percent to 90 percent—are donated by Gilbert Public Schools teachers and support staff.
“They are the ones that are truly strapped when it comes to finances, McEachran said. “We know that teachers and support staff don’t make a lot of money, but they give back.”
McEachran said the foundation has provided financial help with medical bills, as well as helping families who have had house fires and flooding.
“This year we helped with a couple of funerals,” she said. “When people have a time of crisis, they can turn to the foundation for help.”
The foundation also supports STEM education throughout the Gilbert Public Schools district.
For more information about the Education Foundation, visit www.gefaz. org.
Campo Verde student ranks high in academic decathlon competition
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Caitlin Capriotti, a Campo Verde High School senior, placed first in the speech and essay components of the Arizona Academic Decathlon Competition held recently at ASU’s Polytechnic Campus.
“This is the best I have ever done at a competition,” she said.
The Arizona Academic Decathlon’s mission is to “promote, motivate and acknowledge excellence in academic efforts and educational achievement” through academic competition programs for high school students.
This year’s theme for the Arizona Academic Decathlon was “Innovation and Energy.”
Caitlin said 40 teams competed during the two-day event, Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14. The competition included a performancebased competition, as well as knowledge in math, economics, social science, art, music and literature.
The performance portion called for an essay written in 50 minutes around three prompts—science, social science and literature.
“We could write on any of those three
prompts and they were graded,” she said.
She wrote about the effects of carbon dioxide on climate change and scored a perfect 1,000 points. A sevenminute interview was also part of the performance section. Caitlin said she had to write a résumé and dress in formal interview attire while being judged on how well she could answer questions under pressure.
Her interview focused on the work she does with the Special Olympics and being a respite provider. Caitlin started volunteering for the Special Olympics three years ago when her younger brother, who is autistic, began competing. She said she works as a partner for the Special Olympics, an assistant coach, and a summer camp volunteer.
Caitlin is also a state-funded caretaker who works with special needs children to relieve family members.
The performance portion was intense, as short, prepared speeches were also involved.
“For some people that can be the hardest component because it is much more difficult,” Caitlin said. “It’s personally my favorite event. I see myself
as a people person.”
She placed first with her speech “Back to the Future—Fact or Fiction?”
Caitlin is a three-year member of the Campo Verde High School team. Each year the competition’s theme changes. The school’s team played fourth in the competition—marking its best finish.
“I do know how to study for it and do know what to expect,” Caitlin said. She has big plans after graduation. She has applied to Harvard, Columbia and Princeton to study premed.
“I want to be a doctor,” she said.
Caitlyn Capriotti is a senior at Campo Verde High School. Submitted photo
