Santan Sun News: 11-1-2014, Youth

New Vistas celebrates 35 years

BY TRACY HOUSE

The press corps assembled to pose questions to Chandler’s Vice Mayor Rick Heumann. That doesn’t sound out of the norm, but these members of the media were first- through sixth-grade students at New Vistas Center for Education. They sat straight and tall waiting for their chance to ask the vice mayor about himself and the City of Chandler.

Questions ranged from, “Do you enjoy being the vice mayor and can you tell me what you do as the vice mayor of Chandler?” to “Can you tell me how you are helping the City of Chandler better the environment?” Heumann answered the thoughtful questions from the beaming students who sat politely waiting to be called on for their turn.

The student-led press conference was part of New Vistas’ 35th anniversary. Following the question-and-answer session, student ambassadors provided a tour of the school and classrooms.

Founded in 1979 by co-directors Carol Elias and Dr. Eleanor Jordan, New Vistas welcomes 500 students through the doors each morning. Believing that students grow best academically when artificial grade-level ceilings are removed, students are individually advanced by means of a unique protocol of standardized testing that gives an accurate assessment of student’s current skill level. For example, a student may be chronologically in second grade, but academically works at his or

her own ability level—some students are working two to six years above their chronological grade.

“It’s very neat to see the interaction, the kids really learning, the progressiveness of the school in terms of some of the things they’re doing at such a young age,” Heumann says. “The attitude of letting kids excel to their level...it’s really neat when we allow kids that openness in terms of being able to learn.”

The private school has close to 100 teachers and more than 35 aides. There is at least one teacher and an aide or two coteachers in every classroom. The diversity of the school is unique.

“I call us a mini United Nations,” Jordan says. “We represent 38 countries.”

Elias explains the school started 35 years ago in a church a few blocks from where it stands today.

“We just had two classrooms in the church,” Elias says. “We were there for 10 years. Then, it was a farming community. Our children were all children of ranchers and farmers and dairy farmers. Everything in Chandler was involved in that in one way or another.”

She gives credit to City officials for the rich diversity at the school now.

“These families are here because of the things they’ve offered in the City of Chandler,” referring to the technical, research and medical companies that conduct business in Chandler attracting families from all over the world.

GIVING BACK IN COSTA RICA

From Dr. Chamberlain’s Desktop

My wife, my daughter and two of my assistants accompanied me to Costa Rica last month to help in an orphanage in San Jose. During the visit, we were fortunate to meet dozens of local people who needed our help. Unfortunately, the numbers in need far exceeded our meager efforts. I believe that poverty presents humankind's greatest and most widespread challenge. At the orphanage and church (abrahamproject.org) we worked in a small but relatively modern dental facility on their campus. We treated many people in the local community that could not afford regular dental care elsewhere. Most of the treatment was extractions although every once in a while we

“This is a multicultural school. They (the students) are going to be living all over the world and they can transfer anywhere and be considered a very good student,” Elias explains.

Looking ahead at the next 35 years, Elias says, “Our school was and always will be a balanced school. We’re not a school that swings moving far in one direction or another. We’re always looking ahead to see what’s out there and what’s new and what we can use in our classrooms, but we also balance.”

Named a Top 10 School by Johns Hopkins University and Top Science and Engineering School by Intel, Helios and other high-tech companies, New Vistas Center for Education is located at 670 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Visit the website at www.newvistasaz.com for more information.

Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.

would do a filling or a cleaning. It was a wonderful privilege to help the people there although there were many situations in which I felt that if their circumstances were changed we could certainly save the teeth that were infected and that we extracted. In fact, one of our first patients we saw was an 11-year old girl who had some severe crowding. Although I knew the crowding was preventing teeth from erupting and would one day cause a lot of trouble, besides extracting an infected primary tooth, there was little I could do with her in the 20-30 minutes we were able to spend with her. It certainly made me grateful that we were able to help those during our time there. It also made me grateful for what we are able to do in our practice back in Chandler. I am proud of my

assistants. They paid for a great portion of this trip and took a week off work to do so. I openly acknowledge the unearned and undeserved blessings I have in my life. I don’t know why the economic, health and educational conditions vary so widely on our earth, but I do know that although I have been given much, I too must give. I feel such a blessing that we as a people can do what we can, wherever we can for those not as blessed as we are.

Rock the Block features family fun

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

With the weather cooling down, the activities are heating up in Chandler.

Coming up from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, is the AchenGardner Construction Rock the Block, which focuses on family fun and great entertainment in downtown Chandler.

The event is produced by Downtown Chandler Community Partnership with Steve Levine Entertainment and Public Relations with support from the City of Chandler and sponsored by AchenGardner Construction. The SanTan Sun News is sponsoring the kids zone.

“Initially this event started as a celebration of the Arizona Avenue improvements project,” states Scott Kirchhofer, business development and marketing manager for Achen-Gardner Construction.

“It’s built up since that first year to become a larger event. It’s certainly still a way that we celebrate that project which is one of our signature projects.”

Achen-Gardner staff attends the event each year.

“We have a booth every year where we raise money for the Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona,” Kirchhofer explains.

“We have volunteers from our company that man the booth as well as folks from the foundation.” In the past, Chandler City Council members have lent a hand.

In 2013, more than 18,000 people

attended the event and an even larger turnout is expected this year.

Many local country music and southern rock bands will take part in Rock the Block including Zona Road and headliners A Boy Named Sioux. Nashville-based artist Tony Martinez will also perform. The main stage is located inside the family-friendly beer and wine garden.

“They’ll all be on the Bourbon Jacks main stage,” says Jeff Kulaga, executive director of the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership.

“Bourbon Jacks is one of our downtown Chandler restaurants and entertainment places and is once again sponsoring the main stage, so that’s very good. Achen-Gardner is our title sponsor once again and they’ve been at it with us since day one, so many thanks to them.”

A secondary stage will feature community members dancing and singing. Also on the community stage will be “Chandler’s Got Talent.”

“Our event promotion company, Steve Levine Entertainment, gathered those that wanted to compete and there are some prizes lined up for that,” explains Marnie Brookins, special events manager for the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership.

“We’ve got Red Bull back again with their stunt show. They’ll bring their ramps and skateboards. The other thing we have this year that we haven’t had

in years past is the Circus School of Arizona that is coming out and they’ll do live trapeze performances.”

Admission for Rock the Block is free; food, beer and wine vendors set their own prices. Kids zone tickets are $1, with attractions costing between one and four tickets. The 50,000-squarefoot kids zone will feature games, a few carnival rides, face painting and inflatable attractions. Additionally, there will be more than 100 retail and arts and crafts vendors and some of the top food trucks in Arizona to round out the event.

“Arizona Avenue in the downtown

area went through some major reconstruction,” Brookins says about the inspiration behind the event.

With the event being a collaboration between Achen-Gardner, Downtown Chandler and the City of Chandler, it’s a way for the company and the City to thank residents for being patient and supporting the businesses and construction efforts.

Achen-Gardner Construction Rock the Block will take place on Arizona Avenue between Chandler Boulevard and Frye Road. There will be many places to park surrounding Dr. A.J. Chandler Park and downtown

Youth engineering classes return

Youth SCOUTS’ HONOR

Kids ages 7 to 14 are invited to enroll in engineering classes beginning Monday, Dec. 1, at Primavera Blended Learning Center, 2451 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.

businesses will be open during the block party. For a full list of entertainment acts, a parking map and sponsorship forms, visit www. chandlerblockparty.com. To volunteer, contact RTB@slentertainment. com. The Downtown Chandler Community Partnership is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization with a mission of advancing the development of downtown Chandler as a regional destination for shopping, dining, culture, arts and living.

Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be contacted at lynette@santansun.com

The popular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses are offered by East Valley Engineering for Kids from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in two formats: the new EFK Club membership program, which offers unlimited access to all programs and additional discounts off special events, parties and summer camp programs, and an “a la carte” program which allows parents to purchase classes individually for one or two days per week.

Monthly rates range from $125 to $260 per child. Additional discounts are available for a new carpooling program and for families utilizing the automatic payment program. Call (480) 779-8184 or email eastvalley@engineeringforkids.net to learn more.

Hannah Stevenson of Chandler is this year’s honoree for Girl Scouts’ Women and Young Women of Distinction Leadership Award. Hannah, a student in the STEM Scholar program at Perry High School, helped lead the school’s girls’ volleyball team to its first state championship tournament. She also led a committee to keep students and the community informed about the volleyball team’s progress, creating a website and working year-round to keep content updated. “Leadership isn’t a one-time thing,” says Hannah. “It’s a character trait that can be demonstrated anytime and anywhere.” To learn more about the award, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/wywd.

Submitted photo

Youth

CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday; no school

Nov. 27-28: Thanksgiving holiday; no school

CTA-Independence Hawks

Fun Run – Fun Run, CTA’s Apex Fun Run fundraiser, will be held Nov. 3, through Nov. 14. All funds raised will be used for an additional shade structure on the west side of the school building and new technology for the library. The Fun Run event will be held at the school Friday, Nov. 14; parents and adult friends and relatives are welcome to come cheer on their students. For safety purposes and because it is a student event, siblings should not be brought to the event.

Tax credits – Families and friends of CTA-Independence can easily make a tax credit donation by visiting the school website under the “Our School” tab. Donations go directly to the school and are used for clubs and fieldtrips, and are much appreciated. Calendar

Nov. 11: Veterans Day; no school Nov. 14: Progress reports come home Wendi Olson

Haley Tigers

Save the date – Haley students are

excited to honor the bravery and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans at the school’s Veterans Day Celebration assemblies at 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in the Multipurpose Room. The students are learning patriotic songs and the meaning behind the songs in preparation for the event. Veterans from the Haley community are invited to join the students for the assemblies. Girls on the Run – Girls on the Run is a new club with the goal of inspiring girls to be healthy and confident.

Haley has 17 third- to fifth-grade girls enrolled in the program, which uses a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running with interactive lessons encouraging positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. The girls have been training to run the 5K Nov. 22 at Kiwanis Park in Tempe.

Cheer up – The second annual Haley Tiger Cheerleading Club began recently. The students are looking forward to their upcoming competition Dec. 13, at Payne Junior High.

Shooting hoops – The Haley basketball team is up and running for its second year in a row. Due to overwhelming demand, the team now includes not only fifth- and sixthgrade students, but third- and fourthgrade students as well.

Stephanie Palomare

YOUTH CHRONICLES

Kayla Forlin of Chandler is the recipient of a presidential scholarship from Central College in Pella, Iowa, for her high commitment to academic achievement. Central’s presidential scholarships range from $14,500 to $18,500 and are renewable for four years. Kayla is a recent graduate of Hamilton High School.

Zach Werlinger , a student-athlete quarterback at University of Arizona and a 2014 graduate of Basha High School, is one of five 2014 NFF National High School ScholarAthlete Award winners named by the

National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Athlos Traditional Academy in Chandler, a Legacy Traditional School, was recently named winner of the 2014 Best of Chandler in the “Best Charter School” category by East Valley Tribune. Athlos Traditional Academy, a public charter school, earned its third consecutive “A” rating this year from the Arizona Department of Education. The school is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Hancock Heat

Running Club – Running Club begins Thursday, Nov. 3. It will be held before school this year, from 7:40 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through February. Parent volunteers are needed for the success of Running Club; email Coach Gee at gee.ashley@cusd80.com if able to help.

Andrea Dickson

Jacobson Jets

Safety first – Jacobson hosts its first Public Safety Day from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, with an assembly that will begin with various types of first responders addressing the students, followed by a viewing of “Ranger,” the DPS helicopter, and other emergency vehicles outside the school.

Sherri Beck

Tarwater Toros

Coin drive – the Toro Ambassadors Coin Drive will be held the week of Nov. 3, through Nov. 7. Students will patrol the parent drop-off areas before and after school all week to collect loose change from families. Toro Ambassadors partner with student council to collect change for the Tempe branch of Feed My Starving Children, an organization committed to feeding hungry

children. The students hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children. The money collected is used to pay for the cost of shipping and supplies.

Date change – The next PTO General meeting was changed to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Barro’s Pizza at Alma School and Germann roads in Chandler.

Fine dining – The Toros will magically transform the school cafeteria into a fine dining restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 13, in a special annual tradition, complete with tablecloths, centerpieces, hosts and hostesses, food servers, buspersons, classical music and a chicken and gravy lunch menu. The meal will be served family-style at each table. Students are asked to “dress up” for the occasion in clothing they would wear out to a nice restaurant.

JoAnne Cawley

KID STUFF

PAINT JOB: Sal Rodriguez, Chandler’s graffiti abatement technician, talks to children in the City’s Public Housing Youth Program about fighting graffiti. Chandler’s Code Enforcement and Public Housing divisions recently worked together to organize a “Graffiti Hunt” for the youth, who rode on buses through central Chandler neighborhoods and alleys looking for graffiti to abate. Dunn-Edwards Paints donated paint supplies and shirts for the children. Submitted photo

Free storytime offered at East Valley JCC

The entire community is invited to East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler, at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, for an exciting storytime.

Miss Sally, a Chandler Public Library volunteer, will entertain children of all ages with stories of princes and princesses, adventure and courage. The storytime is free and snacks will be provided.

The storytime will help highlight the Scholastic book fair that runs through Friday, Nov. 7, with proceeds benefiting the classroom libraries. All participants may enter to win a free basket of books. Raffle tickets are $1 each. Tickets can be earned with each $5 spent at the book fair.

The East Valley JCC’s Early Childhood

Bilingual school hosts open house

SanTan Sun-area families are invited to learn about bilingual education, explore the classrooms and meet the director and teachers at Casa del Niño Bilingual Montessori School’s open house event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Open enrollment for ages 18 months through third grade will be held for the 2014-15 school year as long as spots are available. Refreshments and activities will be available for kids.

Casa del Niño is at 2625 W. Queen Creek Rd., Suite 6, Chandler. To learn more, call (480) 963-2550, email director@ casadelnino.co or visit www.casadelnino. co.

Learning Center, a four-star Quality First Program, values education. A child’s relationship and experience during the early years have a significant impact on their lifelong growth and development. The program provides developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for these formative years.

The staff at the center is committed

to creating a well-rounded, safe and nurturing environment that provides the child with all of the components necessary for emotional, social, physical and cognitive development. It also fosters creativity, curiosity and an understanding of values, along with individual diversity and a passion for learning.

For more information, contact ECE Director Pam Morris at (480) 897-0588, pam@evjcc.org or www.evjcc.org.