Santan Sun News Youth: 11-15-14

Father-son company shows Arizona pride

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

Great business ideas can hit anywhere, anytime. In Thomas Baldrick’s case, it happened while he was in the shower.

Thomas Baldrick loves the Grand Canyon State. He found a way to offer Arizona products through the company AZ STRONG and get his young son in on the business development and management action.

When Thomas Baldrick’s son Julian inquired about getting an allowance, his father had a different idea.

“I brought it up and my dad said, ‘No, let’s do something bigger. Let’s start a business,’” Julian explains.

Thomas was inspired by the Boston Strong movement, a slogan that was created as part of the reaction to the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013.

“It inspired me to change Arizona from being divided by issues such as immigration, ethnicity, geography and politics,” says Thomas, a seven-time Emmy Award winning producer/reporter out of the New York and Philadelphia broadcast areas.

“I knew it could be great to unite one Arizona with people feeling proud and AZ STRONG. Choosing to take on this project with my favorite little native Arizonian and empower him with strong, real-life experiences is exciting beyond words.”

Julian attends Jacobson Elementary School and loves karate and soccer. As CEO of AZ STRONG, Julian is involved in every aspect and decision of the fledgling company.

“Because it’s just the two of us, we talk about everything together,” notes Thomas.

Julian adds, “I like being the CEO because it gives me a chance to work with my other workers and decide what we want to do.”

As CEO, Julian does everything from labeling merchandise boxes to making decisions about the direction of the company, with input from his father.

Behind the company is the mission of creating a united and proud Arizona while showcasing merchandise offered by our state’s artisans and business people.

“What we have so far is water bottles, golf and T-shirts, car window decals and some watches,” explains Julian of the

Arizona merchandise sold on the website.

Going forward AZ STRONG will be looking for additional Arizona vendors that make unique merchandise that will be sold on the company website.

Part of getting the AZ STRONG’s name out to the public is becoming involved in the community. The company is part of Local First Arizona, a statewide nonprofit that works to strengthen local communities and economies. The Baldricks also recently took part in their first event, the PrepperFest Expo which was designed to explore the environment of self-reliance in a family-friendly atmosphere. Julian enjoyed meeting and

speaking with new people.

Each month the company will showcase a community member or organization as AZ STRONG Person of the Month.

“The AZ STRONG Person of the Month is someone who is working to make Arizona stronger,” explains Thomas, and a donation will be made by AZ STRONG to the organization of that person’s choice.

The first showcased community member was Gov.-elect Doug Ducey, who was personally chosen by Julian. He conducted an interview with the thenpolitical candidate for a YouTube video.

The November AZ STRONG Person of the Month is a group of Phoenix VA whistle blowers.

“Julian and I have talked about them being heroes for what they did and saving veterans’ lives,” states Thomas.

AZ STRONG was one of the sponsors of the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. In another division of the company, Thomas offers photography, writing and video services.

As the company continues to grow, the Baldricks hope to have a strong retail presence in various stores in Arizona. To learn more about AZ STRONG, visit www.azstrong.org. If interested in having merchandise included on the AZ STRONG website, contact Thomas Baldrick at info@azstrong.org.

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

Have fun with Junie B. at Tempe Center for the Arts

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

A popular book series about a first grader will come to life at Tempe Center for the Arts this holiday season featuring a humorous character full of life.

“Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” will be held from Saturday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Dec. 28. The Saturday showings are at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and the Sunday showing begin at 1 p.m. Tickets begin at $15.

A special Junie B. Jones Holiday Extravaganza will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, featuring ornament making, designing wrapping paper, decorating a cookie, playing theater games, answering Junie B. trivia, as well as a VIP performance of the play. Tickets for the special event are $40.

Childsplay’s Founder and Artistic Director David Saar says the extravaganza is perfect for the family because everyone takes away different aspects of the play.

“There is no one right interpretation of a play and that makes for some rich conversations after the event,” Saar says. For the first time, Kate Haas will play Junie B. Jones.

When Haas was younger, she enjoyed playing make believe. That passion continued in high school, which led to the pursuit of a theater career. With a bachelor’s degree in theater from Arizona State University, Haas has worked professionally for Childsplay since 2007 and continues to do a few shows a year for the company.

JUNIE B: Kate Haas will perform the role of Junie B. Jones during “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” production at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Photo credit Tim Trumble

Saar says the theater commissioned the piece and worked closely with the writer, Allison Gregory, when creating the play.

“Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!,” is based on a handful of Barbara Park’s popular chapter books.

“Junie B., she is pretty iconic,” Haas says. She says one of the great things about Park’s books is that they’re about the world of first-grade students who are still learning about things through observations.

“Junie has this earnest quality to her.

PERFORMANCE: “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” features Kate Haas as the title character; Kaleena Newman as May; John Gentry as Grampa/Mr. Toot; Yolanda London as Lucille; Dwayne Hartford as Mr. Scary; Thomas Strawser as Sheldon; Tyler Eglen as Herb/Phillip and Carlos A. Lara as Jose at Tempe Center for the Arts this holiday season. Photo credit Tim Trumble

She feels things very strongly,” Haas says. The character exudes her feelings, whether it is sadness, happiness or frustration.

“I like her thought process,” Haas says. “She likes to talk things out. She writes in her journal and really likes to talk through things she is thinking about.”

She also spends time having conversations with her stuffed elephant, Haas says, which helps her work through her problems.

The Tempe Center for the Arts is

located at 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. Tickets can be purchased at www.childsplayaz. org, or by calling the box office at (480) 350-2822.

Haas says she thinks the play has a good message about friendship, which encompasses the holiday spirit.

“It’s super fun,” she says. “There are a lot of really fun moments.”

Meghan McCoy is the Business and Neighbors section editor. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.

Huskies birdie to win championship

BY TIM J. RANDALL

In high school golf, there is no more esteemed trophy to win than the Arizona Division I championship, a feat accomplished by Chandler Hamilton High School varsity boys’ team on Nov. 5 and 6.

Playing at the par-72 Aguila Golf Course, a Phoenix municipal track, the Huskies squad brought their best stuff, finishing nine strokes better than runner-up Desert Mountain.

For Steve Kanner, the head golf coach at Hamilton for 14 years, the victory was especially sweet.

“All five of our players contributed to the win, which is great,” Kanner says. “These are real special kids and great golfers.”

In all, 14 schools qualified for the Division I tournament. Hamilton secured the second position after 14 regular season events.

“This was a new system of qualifying this year, so we were all learning the process,” Kanner notes.

Over two 18-hole rounds during the tournament, the four best scores each day were aggregated to determine the team’s score. After day one, Hamilton led by two shots, but was followed closely by seven teams within 11 shots of the lead. As day two unfolded, the race became a twoteam affair between Hamilton and Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale.

“On hole 7, our teams separated from the pack and it was back and forth from there on,” Kanner says.

As the pressure mounted, the Hamilton’s

golfers were able to grind out pars.

“Individually and as a team, these wonderful kids stepped up and played great at the exact time they needed to,” Kanner says. “That is what it is all about.”

After a birdie on the 17th hole from senior Jino Sohn, Kanner was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

“I am an old-school guy, and it’s not over until the scorecards are signed,” Kanner says. “But I felt like (at that moment), we had won,”

After another Sohn birdie on hole 18, the Huskies finished the round with more clutch play and captured the team’s sixth Division I state championship in school

history.

“This was a great accomplishment,” Kanner notes. “We won our first championship in 2005 and then won four in a row in the middle part of the decade. We have been competitive in recent years, but this win is special.”

In crafting their victory, the Huskies were boosted by stellar individual performances; three Hamilton players placed in the top 11 of 77 overall finishers. Sohn finished in second place with masterful rounds of par 72 and a sizzling 6-under. Senior Tommi Avant shot rounds of par and 1-over, while sophomore Jack McDevitt scored 2-over and par.

With those exceptional scorecards

leading the way, seniors Michael Marreel and Kevin Yu contributed with scores of 82 and 76, and 81 and 79, respectively, to seal the deal.

Kanner notes that his four seniors are planning to play college golf after they graduate. Sohn is heading to Arizona State University, Avant to Drake University and Marreel and Yu will weigh their options over the next few months.

“It was nice to see these four seniors exit their competitive high school golf on top,” Kanner says. “They have earned it.”

Tim J. Randall is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.

TEAM EFFORT

The RoboCreepers of Chandler will compete in the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Hamilton High School. More than 80 countries are participating in the competition. The 10 members of the RoboCreepers team, working together for their second season, are building a prototype for the competition that will be tested in some Chandler schools. Submitted photo

Annual golf classic benefits JROTC, veterans

The fifth annual Chandler Rotary Golf Classic benefiting Semper Fi and America’s Fund and Chandler High School JROTC will be held Thursday, Dec. 4, at Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass.

Check-in is at 11 a.m., followed by a skills contest from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per golfer, and includes green fee, range

balls, cart, snack, awards dinner and opportunities to win raffle prizes. An awards dinner and silent auction follow golf play. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

To learn more, contact Zane Riley at (480) 216-9182 or golf@chandler-rotary. org, or visit www.chandler-rotary.org/ golf.

ACP – Erie hosts open house, tour

Students and parents interested in learning more about Arizona College Preparatory (ACP) – Erie are invited to take a tour from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the school’s campus at 1150 W. Erie St., Chandler.

ACP – Erie is a publicly funded Chandler Unified School District high school offering an all-honors curriculum, STEM courses, hands-on laboratory work and diverse language classes, with personalized college and career guidance. The school offers courses from grades 7 through 12, while its sister campus, ACP – Oakland, is open to grades 6 through 8.

The open house will include selfled tours of the campus, hands-on demonstrations of classroom work and

information about athletics and a wide variety of extracurricular activities. Visitors are encouraged to speak with faculty, students and administrators who will be on hand to answer questions. Light refreshments will be provided. No registration is necessary.

Enrollment is open and available to all interested students and their families. To apply, students should complete an enrollment application, take a math and reading placement examination and be interviewed by a member of the ACP entrance committee. Applications completed prior to Jan. 16, 2015 will be given priority registration.

To learn more, visit www.cusd80. com/ACPErie or call (480) 424-8000.

Arizona joins recycle program

More than 800 fourth graders recently gathered at Chandler’s Tumbleweed Park to learn about Arizona’s water resources and water on the earth system as part of the “Recycle for Nature” recycling incentive and water conservation program.

Recycle for Nature is a five-year partnership between PepsiCo and the Nature Conservancy to protect drinking water at its source. When people recycle their beverage containers and the national recycling rate increases, PepsiCo will make donations to the Nature Conservancy to protect clean freshwater for more than 35 million people in nine

U.S. states, save 200 to 300 million gallons of water annually and protect or restore at least 3,200 acres of land.

Locally, Arizona Project WET is partnering with the project to work to protect and conserve the waters of the Verde River watershed. Arizona Project WET is a program of the Water Resources Research Center and Arizona Cooperative Extension, both part of the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

To learn more, visit https:// arizonawet.arizona.edu/programs/ arizona_water_festival.

‘Santa HQ’ delivers innovative, interactive holiday experience

Chandler Fashion Center introduced on Nov. 8 a thoroughly modern, extraordinarily experiential visit with Santa—the new Santa HQ, presented by HGTV.

HGTV’s Santa HQ invites families to experience the unparalleled wonder of Santa’s world in the modern and digital age. Visitors can take an ELFIE selfie and star in their own holiday video, explore Santa’s Observatory using ELF-RAY Vision, test out the “Naughty O’ Nice Meter” and enjoy a memorable photo

Kids’ engineering program offers contest, classes

SanTan Sun-area kids can enter a local Facebook contest sponsored by East Valley Engineering for Kids to win a free EV3 or video game design class for themselves and a friend.

To enter the contest, kids can submit a one-minute video explaining why they are thankful for science, or photos of their favorite science or LEGO project. The photos or videos with the most “likes” or “shares” will win. Deadline for entry is Monday, Nov. 24; the winner will be announced on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. If won, the free class must be taken in

December.

Videos or photos can be posted to www.facebook.com/EastValleyEFK or emailed to EastValley@EngineeringforKids. net. To learn more, call (480) 779-8184. Engineering classes for kids ages 7 to 14 begin Monday, Dec. 1, at Primavera Blended Learning Center, 2451 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.

East Valley Engineering for Kids offers the popular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in two formats: the new EFK

Club membership program, with 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. Cost is $125 to $260 per child per month. Additional discounts are available for a new carpooling program and for families utilizing the automatic payment program.

For more information, call (480) 779-8184 or email eastvalley@ engineeringforkids.net.

with Santa. Consumers can also plan ahead this year by booking a reservation online at www.Santa-HQ.com. Santa HQ also features “Sleigh Ride”—a featured track on the recently released Pentatonix holiday album, “That’s Christmas To Me”—as part of the experience’s light show. “That’s Christmas To Me” is available in stores and online, and will be available to those visiting Santa at Chandler Fashion Center throughout the holiday season.

Youth

Three local scouts earn Eagle rank

Noah Cress, Andrew Knoblach and Patrick Zemites, all members of BSA Troop 565, chartered by St. Timothy Catholic Church, have earned the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout rank.

The rank of Eagle Scout, which is held for life, is the highest attainable rank in the BSA program, a notable rank which only 4 percent of scouts earn, according the National Eagle Scout Association.

Eagle Scouts must progress through the five ranks, earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, prove leadership qualities and plan and execute a major service project to benefit the community.

The three scouts, also best friends, have been in the scouting program together since Cub Scouts. As Webelos Scouts—with Tom Zemites, Patrick’s dad, as den leader—they earned the Cub Scouts’ highest award, the Arrow of Light before crossing over into Boy Scouts in 2008.

Combined, the scouts have earned more than 120 merit badges, have served in several leadership positions with the troop, including senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, junior assistant scoutmaster, webmaster, chaplain’s aide, Leave No Trace trainer, librarian and patrol leader.

All three were inducted into the Wipala Wiki Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s honor society, through election by their peers, and achieved the rank of Brotherhood.

Cress and Knoblach attended the Catholic Youth Leadership Training, and Zemites served on staff at Grand Canyon Council Camp Geronimo multiple years. Each has also earned the 50 miler award and several camping awards throughout the years. Additionally, they have completed thousands of services hours working on their Eagle Service projects, helping to feed the poor, sort food at food banks, cleaning up parks, helping with Veterans and Memorial Day services,

and assisting with other Eagle Service projects.

During their years with the troop, the scouts have attended Philmont High Adventure Scout Camp, Florida Sea Base High Adventure Camp, Camp Cris Dobbins in Colorado, camps Emerald Bay and Cherry Valley on Catalina Island in California, and the Grand Canyon Council Camp Geronimo and Camp Raymond. They have been on numerous hiking, backpacking and camping trips

throughout Arizona, including the Anza Trek, Havasupai Falls, the peak of Mount Humphreys, and Reavis Ranch.

Cress’ Eagle project was completing trail enhancements for the Judith Tunnel Accessible Trail at South Mountain Park. He incorporated the use of Bluetooth technology from Sight Compass to narrate features of the park and trail for the blind. Cress was recently recognized by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell for his project and received the Phoenix mayor’s Disability Awareness Recognition Award.

For Knoblach’s Eagle project, he designed and built a walking rosary garden at St. Timothy’s Mary Garden titled, “The Gift of the Rosary.” The project features the artwork of internationally acclaimed local artist Charles Pabst of Chandler (www. charlespabst.com).

Zemites’ Eagle project was designing and constructing a Memorial to the Unborn at St. Timothy Catholic Church. The memorial includes a wall of remembrance, statues and a reflection area with a waterfall.

The three scouts were honored at an Eagle Court of Honor in October. The Court of Honor is the formal presentation of the Eagle Scout Rank. Cress, son of Byron and Macreena Cress of Mesa, is a senior at Seton Catholic Preparatory. Knoblach, son of Gerald and Conni Knoblach of Chandler, is a senior at Perry High School. Zemites, son of Tom and Mary Zemites of Chandler, is a senior at Brophy College Preparatory.

UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS to energize Arizona youth

UnitedHealthcare and IRONKIDS are teaming up for the second annual UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Tempe Fun Run Saturday, Nov. 15, to inspire and motivate young people to lead active, positive and healthy lifestyles.

The event, which takes place at Tempe Beach Park, begins with onsite registration and activities at 6:30 a.m. For the first time, IRONKIDS will offer a dedicated quarter-mile track for kids with special needs at 8 a.m.

The fun run course for “triathletes to be” will take place along portions of the IRONMAN Arizona race course, which begins the next day.

UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound will lead warm-up exercises and join the kids at the starting line to officially kickoff the fun run. Families, community leaders, UnitedHealthcare employees and IRONMAN supporters will line the course to cheer for local youth on their quest to be “IRONKIDS.” Participants will receive race bibs, T-shirts and medals at the finish line.

All kids and families are invited to participate. UnitedHealthcare and IRONKIDS are providing nocost registrations for the special needs course. Register by contacting Stephanie Wiersum, UnitedHealthcare, at (602) 255-8263.

The cost for the Fun Run is $15 for kids ages 3 to 15. Registration details are available at www.IRONKIDS.com.

UnitedHealthcare will match the first 200 paid entries with a donation to the Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities (SpoFit). UnitedHealthcare, recognizing the importance of SpoFit and its impact on the quality of life for people with disabilities, contributed $20,000 toward specialized, accessible sports wheelchairs that will be showcased during the special needs IRONKIDS race.

“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to help host the first special needs IRONKIDS,” says Sheila K. Shapiro, COO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona. “We share IRONKIDS’ commitment to helping young people with special needs in their social and emotional development, and we applaud all young athletes who are accomplishing the goal of living an active and healthy lifestyle.”

UnitedHealthcare is supporting IRONKIDS events as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through healthy lifestyles. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Children from low-income and low-education households are three-

times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, and many cancers, according to America’s Health Rankings, an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. Nearly 1.2 million adults in Arizona are physically inactive, and almost 1.4 million are obese. Obesity in childhood is closely linked to adult obesity.

The 2014 UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS North American Running Series features nine Fun Runs and a dip-

and-dash, as well as music and health expos, and the opportunity to watch IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events with hundreds of spectators.

“We are thrilled to have UnitedHealthcare team up with IRONKIDS to sponsor these youth events across the country as part of our IRONMAN series,” says Carola Ross, chief sales officer for IRONMAN.

“The opportunity the Fun Runs give children in these communities is tremendous, as these races can be the catalyst for a lifetime of exercise and healthy living.”

After being acquired from the Sara Lee Corp., which owned the event series since 1985, IRONKIDS launched in 2009 with nine events in the IRONKIDS National Triathlon Series. Since the inaugural year, IRONKIDS has seen more than 60,000 participants and has grown to over 40 events worldwide including races in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The brand represents a multi-dimensional approach to creating positive experiences for athletes, families and communities as, as well as embodies achievement and determination while fostering self-esteem.

The IRONKIDS mission is to inspire and motivate through the sport to live an active, positive and healthy lifestyle. For more information visit www. ironkids.com.

Chandler Unified School District

Nov. 27-28: Thanksgiving holiday; no school

CTA-Independence Hawks

Running Club – Running Club practice begins Tuesday, Nov. 18. Students should be dropped off at the west gate at 7:40 a.m., and they will be released to recess at 8:10 a.m.

School tours – Three school tours for prospective parents will be offered for the 2015-16 school year. Tours are scheduled for 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Jan. 8; the tours are for prospective parents only, no children.

Thanks due – Thanks to CTA parents for donating 1,600 boxes of cereal for the school’s cereal drive. Student council did a great job organizing the event and encouraging students to bring in items. CTA is proud to support the Chandler Care Center with its efforts. Thanks also to the entire Hawks community for supporting the Apex Fun Run fundraiser; all monetary pledges are greatly appreciated. The students did a fabulous job at the race and had a fantastic time.

Tax credits – Tax credit donations are still being accepted at the school campus or online. CTA families are asked to encourage friends or family members to donate to the school for clubs and fieldtrips. All donations will be returned in the form of a tax credit.

Calendar

Nov. 18: PTO Dad’s Club meeting Nov. 21: Movie Night Nov. 25: Band/Orchestra concert Dec. 3: CUSD Night of Recognition

Wendi Olson

Hancock Heat

Kudos – Sixth-grade teacher Spring Wilson was selected to receive the “My Teacher Rocks” award from Blacker Orthodontics. Students were asked to write an essay as to why they thought their teacher “rocks” and Brittney Whitesides’ essay was picked from hundreds that were submitted.

Andrea Dickson

Helping HANDS: Jacobson fourth grader Paul Kadavy of Chandler created a plan challenging his fellow fourth graders to donate food to help the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul. He worked hard to organize the food drive, creating flyers, stickers and a speech to encourage his classmates to participate. Submitted photo

Tarwater Toros

Mandarin Immersion News - Students participated in a Chinese cultural day celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. ASU visited Tarwater and supplied cultural learning activities for the Mandarin Immersion Program children to enjoy. Each child tried the

traditional moon cakes. Many students also attended the Chinese Dance and Art Festival at the Chandler Center for the Arts. We love learning about a new culture.

Thursday, Nov. 6 - Kindergarten went on a field trip to Vertuccio Farms where they learned that ingredients from a pizza all come from the farm. Thanks for your tax credit donations which made this and future field trips possible.

Bodies - Second graders at Tarwater have been busy learning about body systems. Each class rotated to a second grade room to learn about a different system. We also had a visit from the Farm Bureau to hear a story and learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin. This followed our study of life cycles the first week of the quarter.

Thanks - The PTO would like to thank all of the volunteers for the Fall Festival. We especially love seeing all of the former Toros who volunteer for “the fun of it.”

—JoAnne Cawley

Perry High Pumas

Music notes – Two Perry High seniors, Kelsey O’Brien and Emily West, were chosen from out of more than 1,300 applicants to participate and perform with the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, receiving an allexpenses-paid trip to San Antonio, Texas, to perform at the All-American Bowl on Jan. 3 at the Alamodome. The game is also televised live on

NBC 12. The students representing Chandler Unified School District are two of five chosen from the entire state of Arizona; only 135 members nationwide were chosen after completing a challenging application process. An official ceremony recognizing the students was held recently in the Perry High Auditorium.

—Brandon Kiesgen

CTA-Goodman

Fall Carnival – CTA-Goodman PTO’s annual Fall Carnival will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14. The community is encouraged to join us for lots of great games and rides. Orders for presale tickets may be placed through Nov. 13; order forms are available in the school office.

Calendar

Nov. 18: Site Council meeting, 3:15 p.m., Media Center, all parents are invited to attend

Nov. 19: Band concert, 6:30 p.m., Multipurpose Room

Nov. 21: City of Chandler presentation for second graders: “Water Saving Tortoises,” 8:30 and 9:15 a.m.; PTO Cookie Dough pickup, 3:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., Multipurpose Room

Nov. 24: Orchestra concert, 6:30 p.m., Multipurpose Room

Nov. 26: “Turkey Trot” Fun Run —Kathie Butters

Youth

Mary Clancy of Chandler, a graduate of Hamilton High School, is a student at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

Kyle Niemtschk of Chandler is the recipient of the Continuing Student Merit Scholarship at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Kyle’s major is business administration –finance.

Kiley Raica of Chandler is the recipient of the Continuing Student Merit Scholarship at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Kiley’s major is exercise science - physiology.

Dillon Sterling of Chandler is the recipient of the Continuing Student

YOUTH CHRONICLES

Merit Scholarship and the FLC Achievers Tuition Scholarship. Dillon’s major is Business Administration.

ASU’s Guided Pathways to Success (GPS) transfer program is the recipient of the Inaugural Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

Zane Higo Wojcicki, a sixth grader at Jacobson Elementary, has passed his 13 hours of testing to achieve his black belt status. Zane also participates in baseball and flag football, and plays trombone in the Jacobson Elementary band.

Seton Catholic hosting art, poetry contest

In honor of Seton Catholic Prep’s 60th anniversary and patroness St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the school is hosting the “Leaders of Tomorrow Art and Poetry Contest,” a competition open to all aspiring artists and writers in the sixth through eighth grades. Pupils are encouraged to submit their entries in art and poetry for the opportunity to earn recognition for their talents, and win cash and other prizes.

The “Leaders of Tomorrow Art and Poetry Contest” was created to recognize the special gifts in all children as set forth by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Courage, determination, faith and love. These gifts are unique to each person and integrated in each student’s experience at Seton Catholic. The contest requires sixth- through eighth-grade students to create their artwork and/or poetry on these four central themes.

First-place winners in each category, art and poetry, will receive a $600 Visa gift card. Other prizes include gift cards to Chandler Center for the Arts, Michaels and Barnes and Noble.

Entries will be judged by Seton faculty members in the fine arts and English departments, and are due by midnight Thursday, Jan. 15.

Winners will be notified by March 1 and announced at the Seton Catholic

Swimming with Santa returns to Kiwanis

After a long and exhausting year of toy making and book keeping, Santa and Mrs. Claus are ready for a postholiday vacation. And what better way to spend time than splashing around the Kiwanis Recreation Center’s heated indoor wave pool.

Join Santa and Mrs. Claus from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 28, for the 10th annual Swimming with Santa event. The Kiwanis Rec Center, 6111 S. All-America Way in Tempe, invites all of those young and young at heart to ride the waves with Santa, have story time with Mrs. Claus, as well as enjoy complimentary milk and cookies and participate in reindeer games with holiday music playing in the background.

As a treat to parents, local company gift certificates will be raffled off to participants throughout the two day event.

Advance tickets are available through Monday, Dec. 15, at a discounted rate of $5 for children ages 2 to 12 and $7 for ages 13 and older. Tickets thereafter will be available for $7 for children ages 2 to 12 and $9 for ages 13 and older.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tempe.gov/sws, in person at Kiwanis Rec Center’s front desk, or at the Parks and Recreation office, 3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe.

Children younger than 8 must have an adult with them at all times while in

the water.

The wave pool will host its annual Winter Waves from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, through Tuesday, Dec. 30.

For more information, visit www. tempe.gov/sws or call (480) 350-5201 or (480) 350-5050.

Visual Arts Showcase and Fine Arts Night events in the spring.

For more information, contest rules and to submit your entry, visit www. setoncatholic.org/60th_anniversary. Founded in 1954, Seton Catholic Preparatory is a private, coeducational high school in Chandler, open to students of all faiths and dedicated to academic excellence, leadership and loving service to others. Seton Catholic Prep serves a diverse student population of more than 550 young men and women from parochial, private, charter, public and home schooling backgrounds. Students come from the communities of Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee and Gilbert. Seton also draws students from Casa Grande and the Gila River Indian reservation.

For 60 years as the only Catholic college preparatory high school in the East Valley, Seton Catholic Prep focuses on developing the individual student. The Seton experience allows ample opportunity for students to discover and develop their God-given talents in a supportive community, thus enabling them to succeed in higher education. For more information, visit www.setoncatholic. org.