Reagan Arbelbide is a typical 7-yearold elementary school student. She loves swimming, tennis, traveling, spending time with her family, “I spy” and, of course, playing with her school friends. Reagan also enjoys listening to Pandora, something that seemed impossible when she was born with a rare genetic mutation called Otoferlin (OTOF) that left her completely deaf in both ears.
Now a second grader at Haley Elementary School in Chandler, Reagan can hear due to the miracles of modern science. When she was 9 months old, Reagan became the youngest child in Arizona, and one of the youngest in the country, to receive cochlear implants, electronic devices that are surgically implanted in a patient’s inner ear to feel the sensation of sound.
Her journey and champion’s spirit were celebrated on Feb. 20, when Reagan was bestowed the “I Can Do It” award from the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children during ceremonies at the Black Canyon Conference Center in Phoenix. Reagan’s teachers at Haley describe her as a spunky, motivated and kind child who tackles the challenges of hearing loss with grace and optimism.
Reagan is an excellent student, earning all A’s and B’s in her studies. She cares for her homework and grades, as well as the medical equipment that has become part of her daily routine.
Stephanie Johnson, her second-grade teacher, speaks into a special transmitter worn around her neck that allows Reagan to hear the day’s lessons. Reagan is also tasked with the care of this transmitter, giving it to her teacher at the beginning of the day, carrying it from classroom to classroom, handing it to other teachers, and placing it in a charger each afternoon.
Even as she faces the constant challenges associated with the cochlear implants, such as regular mapping procedures—where the implant’s settings are changed and consequently force her to adjust to new sound levels and speech signals—Reagan is unwavering and always stays positive.
“Even with having to acclimate to the new sounds, Reagan never complains,” wrote Fitzgerald in her nomination letter. “She smiles and asks her teacher, ‘Could you say that again please?’ She embodies resilience and an ability to do her very best in all learning and social situations.”
In school, Reagan seamlessly mingles with classmates, even telling knock-knock jokes and adventure stories.
“She’s her own best advocate in the classroom,” says her father, Roger Arbelbide. “Every school year, we send in a video explaining her implants. I don’t think we’ll have to anymore. She loves to explain her ‘ears’ and show her scars. Other kids gravitate to her. She is exceptionally kind, always hugging and encouraging her classmates.”
Although the surgeries, tests and other procedures could have taken their toll on young Reagan, she has displayed a positive attitude from the very beginning. Her parents recall her sprightly personality and fighter’s spirit even at a young age.
“When she woke up after her first surgery (at 9 months old), with her head wrapped in bandages and her face bruised and swollen, she pulled herself up in her crib and smiled,” her father recalls.
A home video on YouTube captures the moment of Reagan’s first sounds— terrifying for the toddler but a momentous victory for her parents. Until that moment, she had never heard the familiar sounds that most folks take for granted: birds chirping, dogs barking and mom’s singing.
Despite enduring so many challenges, Reagan is for the most part a normal youngster—though many would call her “exceptional.”
“She loves animals, tennis, dancing, drawing, running around barefoot, dressing up and listening to music constantly,” her mother proudly states.
Reagan is a courageous advocate for herself and others with hearing disorders. She is never afraid to explain to curious peers why she needs help with hearing.
For a recent class project, Reagan stated that if she were president, she would make sure that every child, adult and stray animal had shelter and food.
Haley Elementary School second grader Reagan Arbelbide won the “I Can Do It” Award for showing courage and a positive attitude overcoming her hearing disabilities. Submitted photo
Of course she also said she would give everyone pink houses and change her title to “Spectacular Princess.” And if that doesn’t work out, she wants to be a veterinarian or a firefighter.
As her nomination letter stated, “The ‘I Can Do It’ Award was created for a student like Reagan.”
Curt Blakeney is an associate editor of the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at curt@santansun.com.
Open house set for Casa del Nino
Casa del Nino Bilingual Montessori School is inviting the public to tour the school from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 28.
The well-rounded school for children ages 18 months to fourth grade will offer refreshments and activities for children during the free event. While kids are being entertained, parents can meet teachers and receive enrollment information.
The school is located at 2625 W. Queen Creek Rd., Suite 6, Chandler. For more information, call (480) 963-2554.
STUDENT CHRONICLES
Brittany Lichty was named to the honor roll for the fall 2014 semester at University of Kansas, Lawrence. Payal Parikh was named to the Dean’s List at Washington University at St. Louis.
Children’s book author publishes new ‘Sofia’ sequel
BY ALISON STANTON
When Albert Monreal Quihuis published his first children’s book
“Sofia’s Awesome Tamale Day” four years ago, he knew he wasn’t finished telling the young girl’s story.
Four more books followed, including a Spanish version of “Sofia’s Awesome Tamale Day,” which won an international Latino book award.
He has once again tapped into
“Sofia’s
his lineage to present “Sofia’s Summer Adventure,” a book that follows the little girl as she learns about her family’s heritage.
“My first book honored my parents and the lost art of making tamales, and my latest book is dedicated to my grandparents,” Quihuis says.
He was inspired to write “Sophia’s Summer Adventure” after cleaning out his late father’s home. During the task, he discovered historic documents that detailed his paternal grandparents’ lives during the Mexican-American revolution.
“I like my books to be filled with messages about tradition, culture and history and then teach these things through Sofia’s life learning experiences,” Quihuis says.
He enjoys reading his books in classrooms. Samuel B. Munoz, a retired teacher who read the book and wrote an endorsement that appears on the cover, says Quihuis’ stories are wellwritten and appeal to children and adults.
“The stories are educational in terms of anthropology, history, geography and cultural diversities in respect to the customs and traditions of Mexican and indigenous people of the Western Hemisphere,” Munoz says.
He also likes the books’ strong emphasis on the importance of family values.
Quihuis says he has no plans to stop writing about Sofia and Pepe. A coloring book is due this summer, and the next sequel should be out next year, he says.
“As long as I’m alive I will keep on doing this,” he says.
To purchase a copy of “Sofia’s Summer Adventure” or any of Quihuis’ other books, visit www.tiny.cc/AlQuihuis.
Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at Alison@SanTanSun.com
Chandler children’s book author Albert Monreal Quihuis just published the latest book in his Sofia and Pepe’s Adventure Series. Submitted photo
BASIS sophomore aces AP government, politics exam
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
When BASIS Chandler sophomore Yixue (Anna) Cheng puts her heart into something, the results are usually exceptional. The gifted student recently received a perfect score on the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam.
“I was pretty surprised,” she says. “I was pretty excited when I heard about it.”
The college-level AP exam is based on a five-point scale, with five points being equivalent to an A. Four million AP exams were taken in 2014 by high school juniors and seniors in the United States. Out of those 4 million students, only 285 students earned a perfect score.
Cheng was one of only seven students in the world to achieve a perfect score on the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam.
“I think it’s pretty wonderful,” she says. “There are probably a lot of other people that maybe missed one or two points.
Educators of the Year honored by Sí Se Puede
I think they know just as much as I do about government. I feel very honored to receive that recognition.”
Cheng says her teacher Tim Hirsch, who taught at BASIS Chandler last year, prepped her for the exam, which she took in May 2014.
“My government teacher was good. Thank you Mr. Hirsch,” she says. “He gave us a lot of material. He made it really relevant.”
Cheng says Hirsch provided information about current events that made it easy to learn and memorize information for the exam. She says they were learning about interesting things all the while preparing for the test.
“Just the whole learning experience was really helpful,” she says. “I felt pretty confident after that.”
Hirsch says one of the joys about teaching government is bringing current
The Sí Se Puede Foundation is honoring local educators for their commitment to students in Chandler at the 15th annual Educator of the Year Awards Recognition dinner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Wild Horse Pass Resort & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. The following individuals will be recognized for their contributions to their schools and community.
Educator’s Achievement Award: David
events into the classroom to put meat on the bones for the students. He says using current events helps students understand the difficult concepts in AP government.
The exam consisted of 60 multiplechoice questions and four short answers, which took about three hours to complete. Each section was worth 50 percent of the overall score. The essays were graded by four different members of the scoring teams.
“With multiple choice, there is a correct answer,” Hirsch says. “With an essay, there is a gray area that could go a certain way. She is so excellent in her writing (that she) convinced four different people on four different questions…it’s hard to believe.”
For Hirsch, Cheng receiving a perfect score on the exam is one of the higher honors he could receive.
“I felt honored to have played a part in it,” he says.
Cheng started attending BASIS Chandler, a tuition-free charter school, as a seventh-grade student.
“I think we have wonderful teachers,” she says. “Mr. Hirsch was a great teacher. They really care about you. There is a lot of human contact and connections. I am glad I picked BASIS.”
After receiving a perfect score, she says she is considering pursuing government or economics in college.
“I am really interested in economics and becoming a doctor,” Cheng says.
She has also considered going into vocal performance because her mother was a singer in China.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors, Spirituality and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.
Evans, Chandler Unified School District Governing Board Leadership Award: Dr. Linda Lujan, Chandler-Gilbert Community College Educators of the Year: Anne Bender, Chandler High School; Jennifer Duffy, Galveston Elementary School; Becky Henderson, San Marcos Elementary School; Elizabeth León, Galveston Elementary School, Debbie Limano, Willis Junior High School Chris Reuter, Power Ranch
Elementary School, Lisa Shore, Frye Elementary School; and Pamela Woodbury, Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The dinner benefits Sí Se Puede Foundation with proceeds assisting Chandler students who would not otherwise have the financial means to attend college. To receive copies of the award nomination forms or to purchase tickets, contact Alberto Esparza at (480) 310-2018.
FRIDAY, MARC H 27 | 4 :30- 9 :30 P.M. and SATURDA Y, MARC H 28 | NOON -9 :30 P.M.
Come and enjoy a spectacular weekend of great Jazz music in a variety of outdoor and indoor venues. We are featuring four great Blues bands on Friday evening. Our headliners will perform at 8 p.m. each night and they include – Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns on Friday and Sean Jones Quartet on Saturday. These are shows that shouldn’t be missed!
While you enjoy many of the free performances you can also visit the galleries, restaurants and shops that make Downtown Chandler a great place to visit. The downtown area has plenty of free parking available. And you may want to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor performances.
Y, APRI L 4 | 9 A.M.-NOON
Each year, the Easter Celebration in south Chandler provides some of the most enthusiastic Easter Egg Scrambles in the Valley for kids up to 9 years of age. In addition to the egg hunts there will be information booths, displays, Easter Bunny souvenir photos ($3), carnival games, crafts and interactive amusements. At the end of the event, there will be a Family Easter Basket giveaway.
call
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the Chandler City Council
Spring Reading Program returns to Chandler Public Library
The Chandler Public Library Spring Reading Program for children ages 4 to 12 continues through April 18. Young readers who complete five books at their reading level can earn a “Cover to Cover Club” reading certificate, along with a coupon for a free hamburger or cheeseburger from program partner In-N-Out Burger.
Families can pick up a reading log from any Chandler Public Library to enroll their children in the program, which began March 7.
The log is used to list the titles of each book that is read. After reading five books, a parent or guardian signs the reading log, returns it to one of Chandler’s four libraries, and the child receives their certificate and coupon. Each child may earn up to three certificates and coupons
during the program, while supplies last. Children too young to read may participate if an adult reads with them.
“The spring reading program can make a huge difference for children who are working on their proficiency in reading” says Chandler Library Manager Brenda Brown. “We want to help parents instill a love of reading in their children, and that starts with access to a variety of books at their reading level to build their confidence. Our library staff members are happy to guide parents to the right resources.”
For more information on the Spring Reading Program, call (480) 782-2800, visit www. chandlerlibrary.org, or drop by one of the four library locations.
Learn German this summer
The German School Phoenix is offering an eight-week summer session in German conversation at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2085 E. Southern Ave., Tempe.
Classes will be held 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays
June 13 to Aug. 8, with no class on Independence Day weekend. Registration is open. The $100 tuition is payable one week before class starts, $110 after that. For more information, call (928) 351-7338.
HARD WORKER
Francesca Martin, a fifth-grade student at Jacobson Elementary School, worked with counselor Sherri Beck to bring Buddy Benches to the school. The Buddy Bench is a place for students to go if they need someone to play with. If someone sees a student sitting at the Buddy Bench during recess, they are encouraged to go and ask the person to play. Francesca came to Beck with the idea at the beginning of the school year. Together they brainstormed ways to make this project a reality. Francesca drafted letters asking for the donation of the bench, took them to local home improvement stores, and spent time following up. The Home Depot in Chandler (at Chandler Boulevard and Alma School Road) donated two benches, along with all the paint and supplies. School officials appreciate Home Depot for helping Francesca with this project. Francesca worked very hard and school officials are very proud of her accomplishment.
Camp Fair AZ: Endless Summer (Opportunities)
BY KIMBERLY HOSEY
Summer will be upon us before we know it—which means the return of triple-digit temperatures to the Valley and kids out of school with nothing to do. Representatives from camps in Arizona, California and other states visited Chandler Preparatory Academy and Tesseract School in Phoenix last month during the 12th annual Camp Fair AZ, which gave parents and kids a taste of what summer could offer.
From petting animals to test driving robots, kids had plenty to do at the event—and their parents and caregivers went home with a wealth of information. Perhaps best of all, there was something to suit nearly every family or camper.
Need a summertime learning boost? Camps at facilities like Power Brain Training Center combine academics, psychology and just plain fun in their sessions, working on everything from social and emotional development to math drills and concentration. The best part is, kids barely realize they’re learning—really. As parents learned about Power Brain’s program, staff members ask kids to work on creative-sketching sheets and balancing balloons and peacock feathers—all exercises in focus.
Even class can be an adventure, with specialized summer camp classes in subjects like Spanish pre-kindergarten classes at the Maple Bear Tempe Learning Center or, for budding authors entering
third through 12th grades, creative writing in “rl txt” (“text speak” for “real text”), a summer camp put on by teachers at Arizona State University. Does your kid have a flair for the dramatic? Camps like Childsplay Academy, ASU’s Camp Broadway, Camp Kidz at the Chandler Center for the Arts, East Valley Children’s Theatre summer camps and Mesa Arts Center Arts Camps introduce students from novice and up to acting, dancing, singing, improvisation, puppetry and more. Most camps conclude with a student production. Camp Broadway even concludes with an opportunity to see the Broadway hit “The Phantom of the Opera” and meet the cast and crew. Children who are passionate about making music can learn the basics of music in camps ranging from classical to cool. Mesa Violin Studio’s String Quartet Camp offers master classes for ensembles, a rhythm course and a choir and orchestra camp. On the edgier side, kids can hit the stage and blast out Nirvana or Green Day hits as they craft a rockin’ stage presence at School of Rock camps in Ahwatukee and Gilbert.
Feeling crafty? Check out pottery painting and other creations at As You Wish, or explore arts classes offered by city programs like Chandler Parks and Recreation.
in California—emphasizing nature and camaraderie—with nary a tablet, video game or iPhone for weeks.
Get moving with sports camps; including gymnastics camps at Gold Medal Gym, swimming programs for all levels in the Sun Devil Aqua Sport Camp and Pitchfork Aquatics with ASU, and TopGolf’s Summer Academy, where kids 6 to 12 can learn the basics even if they’ve never touched a club.
Of course, not every camp is a break from technology. Some, like Scottsdalebased CodaKid, fully embrace it. Kids 6 to 14 learn the finer points of Java coding by creating mods for Minecraft (and in case you didn’t know, kids are kind of crazy about Minecraft). Many other camps emphasize technology and STEM education—like Camp Innovation at the Arizona Science Center, iD Tech at ASU and All Around Learning Center—with courses in engineering, game design, robotics and more.
Looking for an old-fashioned “camp” camp with cabins, trees, kayaks, archery and hiking? The Valley of The Sun YMCA runs both Sky-Y and Chauncey Ranch camps, full of outdoor adventure, natural sciences, team activities, confidence builders and more. Friendly Pines Camp—a fourth-generation institution— offers campfires, horseback riding, crafts, riflery, sports, water activities, a rope course and more in the tall pines of the Bradshaw Mountain area. If you’re looking for a splurge for an out-of-state camp, several organizations like Catalina Island Camps offer ocean adventures
Budding veterinarians or zoologists should enjoy the Phoenix Zoo’s Camp Zoo, which allows campers to create animal art and help zookeepers. Animal Tales Camp Ruffin’ It and Camp Vet, put on by the Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA, teach kids to care for a wide variety of animals. Camps with Bearizona and Audubon Arizona immerse kids in the world of wildlife.
Visit www.raisingarizonakids. com/camp-fair to learn more about these camps, as well as several other participating camps, which are linked to each camp’s or organization’s website for details, registration information and more.
Kimberly Hosey is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.
March 23: Teacher inservice/ workday-no school
April 3: Spring holiday/no school
Haley White Tigers
Keeping fit: Fifth-grade Tigers spent the day at the Halle Heart Children’s Museum learning about the importance of eating right and exercising daily. The grade level had been learning about the human body and its systems, so this was a great way to enhance their learning.
Happy Birthday: Fourth-grade Tigers visited the Phoenix Symphony on Feb. 18 to hear musical pieces that commemorated Arizona’s birthday. The fourth-grade social studies curriculum focuses completely on Arizona Studies.
Winners: Haley students, brothers Bennet and Barron Silsby, both won their age group division in the State Elks Free Throw Shooting Contest. The two boys competed in the Region 7 West Semi-finals in Las Vegas this past weekend against other students from California, Nevada and New Mexico. They placed third place in their divisions.
Drama Club: March 5 marked the grand finale of Haley Drama Club’s annual production. Haley partnered
with Perry High School students to help facilitate practices.
I Can Do it!: Second grader Reagan Arbelbide was recently awarded the 2014-2015 AzCEC “I Can Do It” award. Way to go Reagan!
—Stephanie Palomarez
Hancock Elementary School
Running Club News: Several members of the Running Club were selected to run in the Bogle Invitational Race on Wednesday, March 4. The Hancock girls came in third place as a team. Way to go Hancock and thank you Mrs. Gee. Team members included Loganne Stepp, Brittany Whitesides, Annika Buelt, Paige Allen, Sofi a Santos, Sophia Burt, Megan Wastchak, Taite Lockett and Isabella Mullen, along with Aiden Pickerel, Jaxson Mack, Cole Thomas, Robert Rangel and Christian Pickerel.
PTO Needs You: A few members of our PTO Board will be finishing out their service this year. If you are interested in joining the PTO, contact hancockpto@ gmail.com for more information about positions available and what is involved. Elections will be held at the April 6 general meeting.
Calendar
March 24: Students return to school April 3: Spring holiday; no school April 6: PTO meeting at Hancock April 24: Spring Fling Dance
—Amy Fricke
Thank you, Jennifer Traficano for coaching the team!
Running club news: The Tarwater Toros Running Club just finished an excellent season. The club started in November and just concluded with its final race on Feb. 19. The runners participated in 16 morning practices and three afternoon races at Snedigar Park. The Toro Team earned 115 out of 210 ribbons over three competitions. The 212 team members dedicated themselves to hard work and improving their running abilities. The season was a huge success, and we are looking forward to 2015-16 season.
Field trip: Kindergarteners will take a field trip to Butterfly Wonderland on Monday, Aril 13.
School cents: The program is offering double and triple points bonus opportunities on select stores and all eateries in March. Check out www. shoppingpartnership.com for details. Log all receipts or turn them into the office by March 31.
You’re Invited to Our Open House
You’re Invited to Our Open House
Come enjoy refreshments and activities for the kids.
Come enjoy refreshments and activities for the kids.
Come enjoy refreshments and activities for the kids.
Learn about how bilingual education works at our school.
Learn about how bilingual education works at our school.
Open House
Open House
Bring your friends and family! You’re Invited to Our Open House
Meet the teachers, and explore our bilingual classrooms.
Learn about how bilingual education works at our school. Meet the teachers, and explore our bilingual classrooms.
Meet the teachers, and explore our bilingual classrooms.
Saturday, March 28th, 9-11 a.m.
Saturday, March 28th, 9-11 a.m.
Open House
Open enrollment for 2015/2016 School Year as long as spots are available: 18 months - 4th grade
Saturday, March 28th, 9-11 a.m.
Open enrollment for 2015/2016 School Year as long as spots are available: 18 months - 4th grade
Visit us at casadelnino.co or follow us on You’re Invited to Our Open House
Casa del Niño Bilingual Montessori School 2625 W. Queen Creek Road, Suite 6 Chandler, AZ 85248 • 480-963-2550
Open enrollment for 2015/2016 School Year as long as spots are available: 18 months - 4th grade
Casa del Niño Bilingual Montessori School 2625 W. Queen Creek Road, Suite 6 Chandler, AZ 85248 • 480-963-2550
Casa del Niño Bilingual Montessori School 2625 W. Queen Creek Road, Suite 6 Chandler, AZ 85248 • 480-963-2550
Bring your friends and family!
Visit us at casadelnino.co or follow us on
(480) 963-2550 • director@casadelnino.co
2625 W. Queen Creek Road, Suite 6 • Chandler, AZ 85248
(480) 963-2550 • director@casadelnino.co
(480) 963-2550 • director@casadelnino.co
2625 W. Queen Creek Road, Suite 6 • Chandler, AZ 85248
Some of the members of the Tarwater Toros are, from left, William Alwin, Richie Dexter, Sam Lidel, Aaron Anderson, Tyler Chung and Brendan Lipinski. Subitted photo
Tarwater Toros
Free SAT, ACT practice Test at Tutor House Register now for Puppetland Adventures summer camp
High school juniors and seniors are invited to take a free SAT or ACT practice test on Saturday, April 11, at Tutor House Tutoring Services. Testing is from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a welcome and registration from 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Students should bring a calculator to the session. Taking the practice test is a way for students to find strengths and weaknesses in a low-pressure environment. Participants will become familiar with the test format, question types, timing and content administered on these college entrance exams. Test results and analysis are given by email. Separately scheduled conferences are available.
This free practice test is offered in addition to Tutor House’s regular SAT and ACT prep programs. Tutor House is a family-owned and -operated learning center helping students reach their full
potential by providing an individualized approach to education. The tutoring process begins with a skills assessment that will identify students’ academic strengths and weaknesses; test results are then reviewed with parents, and a program is designed to address the student’s individual needs.
A wide range of one-on-one and small group tutoring for students in grades kindergarten through 12 grade is available, including tutoring in reading, math, writing, study skills, algebra, geometry, calculus, chemistry, physics, biology, SAT/ ACT prep and more.
Sign up at www.TutorHouseAZ.com on the homepage to reserve a seat. For more information, call (480) 857.1222 or email Tutoring@TutorhouseAZ.com. Tutor House is located at 1256 W. Chandler Blvd., Ste. F, Chandler,.224
FUNnecting LLC, a promotional event company based in Phoenix, has announced a new summer camp program to introduce boys and girls ages 5-11 to the art of puppeteering.
Puppetland Adventures will introduce children to the magical world of puppetry beginning Monday, June 1, at Makutu’s Island at 6919 W. Ray Rd., in Chandler.
Full-day camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and half-day camps from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekly.
Rates range from $150 to $250 and family discounts are available. Meals are not included. Space is limited. For more information or to register, visit www. funnecting.com or call (480) 344-3740.
According to Petra Hansen, co-owner of FUNnecting, “Puppetland Adventures is designed to spark the imaginations of
children by introducing them to puppetry, including building their own puppet, and by writing scripts and stories. These camps let boys and girls explore the world of fantasy and have fun while they learn.”
Founded in 2012, FUNnecting provides entertainment and networking events throughout Phoenix. Puppetland Adventures was inspired by a theatrical series of puppetry shows it holds regularly in Mexico that is being introduced to Arizona. The shows are available for schools and parties with customized storylines. The educational puppet productions for schools include programs discussing childhood obesity among other timely topics. For more information on Puppetland Adventures, or to schedule an event, visit www.FUNnecting.com, call (480) 344-3740 or email FUNnecting@live.com.
