Back to School JULY12, 2023 WWW.AHWATUKEE.COM
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
Tempe Union superintendent welcomes
back families
colInnovation Center students will work students and their families, our educators laboratively in teams to assist community mentary – to develop a common calendar and staff, and the wider community. we look forbetween all three districts. ex- partners in solving issues and The district is poised for continued with you. The 23/24 school year will be the debut aca- ward to sharing their successes cellence in all areas including the calendar model. This past spring, a diverse group of Temear TUHSD Fami- of this Tri-District demic programming for all our schools, Union educators, administrators, staff, We believe that providing a consistent lies, extra-curricular activities in- pe in all three districts will our varied and community members participated I hope that you experience among the fine and performing arts and plan to develop the needs of our students and cluding repre- a revision of our strategic have all had the chance to best support our strong athletic programs, now next five years. the for roadmap a families. their months. via rest and relax over the past few this sented in various divisions. Students and families were involved Please make yourself familiar with Additionally, our Innovation Center We are looking forward to welcoming workshops, year’s calendar by visiting tempeunion.org which focus groups and community program will debut this school year, students back to our schools on Wednescollected feedback and clicking on “Calendars & Schedules” with authentic and we intentionally as day, July 19. to view and will provide our students from as many community stakeholders have and then “Student Calendars” problem/project solution-based learning As you may already know, we serves two download this school year’s calendar. that both engages them and also see MENDIVIL page 24 worked collaboratively for the past I am excited about the opportunities – years with our Tri-District partners to our the community. Ele- that each new school year brings Kyrene School District and Tempe BY DR. KEVIN MENDIVIL AFN Guest Writer
D
Kyrene’s future course emphasizes early
literacy
to Kyrene is the only district in the state also putting dollars that will fully cover the cost to work. The district is receive a grant teacher to receive a training making an additional for every K-5 Language Essentials for Teachinvestment in staffing license for and Spelling (LETRS). that will reduce target ers of Reading fulCompletion of the LETRS training class sizes for kinderrequirement for Argarten through third fills the coursework Endorsement and will grade, beginning this izona’s Literacy provide teachers with a deep underyear. and research processes the of standing Class size targets to read. are not a guarantee, behind learning but classrooms that for progress grow past the tar- Blueprint Kyrene began the strategic planning get range in Kyrene school year by enadditional process in the 2021-22 receive through focus groups staffing and support, gaging stakeholders underin- and visioning surveys, to better board developed this such as dedicated for stand the community’s aspirations Kyrene administrators and the governing the district’s ultimate goals structional assistants, “portrait of a Kyrene Kid” to illustrate to ensure all student Kyrene students. Focus on early literacy for each student. (Kyrene School District) Over 4,000 families and staff members needs are met and that students continue It’s a sweeping plan, but Kyrene Superin the survey and hundreds really strongly that we’ve got to participated felt “We starts all it says support. Toenjes intendent Laura students to to receive individual the more stakeholders, including get that right,” she said. “We’re going Additionally, Kyrene will be covering with literacy. Acknowledging gaps among go all in.” to earn a new state-manstudents nationwide, the superintendent page 27 than words be- cost for teachers LITERACY see more putting is Kyrene plant2028. by spoke in the June 27 meeting about It’s dated Literacy Endorsement hind its early literacy commitment. ing a flag around early literacy.
BY ERIN HELM AFN Guest Writer
K
yrene School District has a new roadmap for the next five years, and early literacy is front and center. The Kyrene Governing Board approved strathe final pieces of the District’s next tegic plan during a virtual, public meeting on June 27. Thrive! Ready for the Future out(Kyrene Strategic Plan 2023-2028) lines the Kyrene community’s collective vision for the future, the transformation vithat needs to happen to realize that sion, and specific goals to reach by 2028.
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Inside This Week
Survey ranks Phoenix 18th best city for recreation BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
W NEWS .................. 3 EV school official wants to defend Kyrene transgender ban.
www.ahwatukee.com
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
@AhwatukeeFN
hen it comes to a wide range of leisurely pursuits – from parks and playgrounds to restaurants and theaters – residents of Ahwatukee and the rest of Phoenix have it pretty good, according to a national survey released last week. Among the 100 largest cities in the nation,
Phoenix ranks 18th on a list of best cities for recreation compiled by the financial website wallethub.com. Among the seven Arizona cities included in the survey, the city holds third place – behind Scottsdale (No. 6 nationally) and Tucson (No. 12 nationally). But in terms of the total score wallethub. com assigned each of the 100 cities to arrive at the rankings, Phoenix did even better. Its total
score of 50.37 wasn’t all that far behind the top city in the nation for recreation – Las Vegas, Nevada, which garnered 61.43 points. And among the seven Arizona cities, Phoenix did even better with a 5-point spread behind Scottsdale and 1.22 points behind Tucson. Phoenix is well ahead of the least favorable city for recreation among the 100 eyeballed
see RECREATION page 14
Showing up on her doorstep, he inspired her book BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
COMMUNITY ...... 31 Ahwatukee designer rallies community to rescue's aid.
BUSINESS ......... 36 Couple marks 15 years owning water-ice store. BACK TO SCHOOL .................. 23 COMMUNITY ............................ 31 BUSINESS ................................36 OPINION ................................. 39 SPORTS ................................... 41 GETOUT ...................................43 CLASSIFIEDS ........................... 46
I
t all began on Sandra Marshall’s birthday in 2022. The Ahwatukee artist and author and her children were still grieving the passing of their pet of 13 years, a Chihuahua named Jojo. Yet when her daughter Lena asked if they could get another dog, Marshall shot back: “We will not be getting another dog unless one shows up on our doorstep with a tiny suitcase.” Little did she know. Three days later, March 18, 2022, a loud, deep and single bark outside their front door rattled Marshall. “Sitting like a stone statue was a giant dog who was scratched up and looking fully
sad and defeated. I was scared at first because he was just staring forward and not moving,” she said. “I thought for sure he had to be somebody’s lost dog.” Try as she might over the next few weeks, she couldn’t locate his owner – or an open space at an animal shelter. “I knew we weren’t keeping him so we just called him ‘big dog,’” Marshall explained. “I tried calling rescue groups to see if they could help and all of the shelters and rescues were full. “I was told if we brought him in, there was a good chance he would be put down. There was no way I would let that happen,” she said. Still Big Dog stayed, even though her family wasn’t ready
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to transition from a lapdog to a good-sized pitbull mix. Because he tended to be “rowdy,” Marshall had Big Dog neutered – which greatly improved his deportment and his acceptance in the Marshall household. “One day my daughter said, ‘He needs a name. I’m going to call him Theodore. He looks like a Theodore,’” Marshall said. “I still wouldn’t call him ‘Theodore’ because I didn’t want to get attached to him.”
see MARSHALL page 12 Ahwatukee artist Sandra Marshall’s new venture revolves around Theodore, a dog she and her family adopted after finding it on their front steps. (Courtesy Sandra Marshall)
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