AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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JULY 21, 2021
3 new leaders starting posts in Ahwatukee AFN NEWS STAFF
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ew leaders are taking the helm at three Ahwatukee schools this school year. Akimel A-al Middle School is welcoming new principal Shalini McCarthy to campus while St. John Bosco Catholic School students and staff will be led by new principal Jamie Bescak. At the same time, Tom Kandler begins his new job as Horizon Honors Secondary School assistant principal. Kyrene continues to grow its own, promoting current staff to open administrative positions. McCarthy’s educational career spans 12 years across a number of Valley school districts. Most recently, she served as an assistant principal of a PreK-8 school in
JAMIE BESCAK
SHALINI McCARTHY
TOM KANDLER
another Phoenix district. “It was during my time as an assistant principal that I found my passion for working with middle school students,”
McCarthy said. “I look forward to working alongside our dedicated staff and community to provide the best possible learning environ-
ment for our Akimel A-al students.” Prior to entering school leadership, Mc-
see LEADERS page 28
New Kyrene teachers hold in-person orientation AFN NEWS STAFF
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yrene School District hosted its annual Orientation for New Educators, or ONE, event in person this year at Aprende Middle School with limited attendance and plenty of space for social distancing. Events like ONE are key to Kyrene’s culture of support and mentorship for teachers, which has helped the district to remain fully staffed on teachers despite a statewide shortage. It was the first time since March 2020 that Kyrene hosted one of its premiere annual events in person instead of online. Each year new Kyrene teachers begin the year ahead of the veteran teachers so they can spend a week getting acclimated
to the district and their individual schools. The kickoff event was the first time that many Kyrene teachers had been under one roof, in one room, for more than 18 months. The more than 50 educators included those new to teaching, those with years of experience and a few, like new Kyrene Middle School science teacher Dan Schack, who are embarking on a second career. “I was formally an environmental scientist,” said Schack, who previously consult-
see TEACHERS page 29
New Kyrene teachers met in person this month for orientation. (Special to AFN)
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LEADERS from page 27
Carthy served as a classroom teacher and an instructional coach. She is an Arizona native, growing up in the East Valley and graduating from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in multilingual/ multicultural studies and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Elsewhere in Kyrene, school principals remain steady. At Kyrene de la Mirada in Chandler, Principal Michelle Anderson officially takes the helm this year. She is an experienced Kyrene leader with more than 20 years in education at every level, from elementary to collegiate. She replaces former Principal Nancy Branch, who retired last year but remained on to support a smooth transition and to hand over the reins of the Kyrene Aspiring Leaders Academy, which helps Kyrene School District to consistently promote from within.
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 21, 2021
Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes said, “Retention of leaders, teachers and support staff is more critical than ever as we address students’ academic and social-emotional needs in the wake of the pandemic and seek to drive student achievement forward in the new year.” The Kyrene Governing Board recently approved a retention stipend for employees who remain with the district through December, and a second stipend for those who remain through May. Bescak takes over the reins at St. John Bosco from Anita Petitti, who retired. Bescak praised her predecessor in a letter to parents, writing: “Her willingness to share her wisdom and experience with me during the summer has been a true blessing and her legacy will continue to guide me throughout the years. I am incredibly excited to begin our 2021-22 school year as your new principal and sincerely appreciate your continued support.”
She noted she is leading St. John Bosco at a momentous time: it’s marking its 20th anniversary this school year. The school also is designating its seventh and eighth grades as a junior high and will be having sixth graders alternate between two teachers. “This model allows for more instructional time for all students in each academic area,” Bescak told parents. Bescak, who had been St. John Bosco’s preschool director, attended Catholic schools for 15 years. “I feel as though Christ has brought me full circle – from student to teacher to preschool director to principal. It is truly a blessing to be a part of this Catholic preschool/elementary school/jr. high where I am able to share with our students the morals, values, and faith that I have received.” Saint John Bosco Catholic School is one of the newest Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix and has 22 classrooms, a stateof-the-art media room, music room, library,
science lab, and multiple sports complexes. Jennifer Vanderzyl is the new preschool director and ESP supervisor. She has been teaching fifth grade for the past three years and has also served on the School Accreditation Leadership Team for the past two years. She will continue as fifthgrade teacher in addition to her new administrative responsibilities. Kandler currently serves as our Horizon’s basketball coach and will continue to hold that position. He has over 22 years of educational experience as both a teacher and school administrator. He has worked at schools in Illinois and throughout Arizona. “My experience with Horizon Honors has been nothing but positive and I am extremely excited and humbled about the opportunity to join the community in a more significant position,” Kandler said. “I look forward to working with and for the students, staff, faculty, parents and stakeholders of Horizon Honors,” he added. ■
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TEACHERS from page 27
ed for the U.S. Department of Defense. “I am excited to use my prior experience to help students in my community here at home, and I know at Kyrene, I am being given the tools to make an impact in the lives of kids here.” Speakers at the ONE kickoff event included Governing Board President Kevin Walsh, board member Michelle Fahy and Superintendent Laura Toenjes. Nearly every speaker commented on how weird and wonderful it was to be together with teachers in person. “The second I walked through the door, I felt welcomed,” Schack said. “It was inspiring to be in a room full of both new teachers and seasoned veterans who truly care both about the children and the community we are entrusted with.” Schack and other new teachers were showered with gifts to help them equip
their classrooms and set students up for success. Those gifts are possible thanks to Kyrene’s many education partners, including (but not limited to) the Kyrene Foundation, the Kyrene Education Association, the Keller-Gibbs real estate team, the Ross Murray Team at Neighborhood Loans, Back to School Bounty, the Home Smart Christie Ellis Team and Landings Credit Union. “Once again, Kyrene is starting the school year fully staffed with teachers, despite a statewide teacher shortage plaguing Arizona,” district spokeswoman Erin Helm said. “Inclusive events like ONE, that get teachers off to a strong start, are key to Kyrene’s retention strategies, along with mentorship programs, competitive wages, culture of collaboration, community support and Kyrene’s reputation for excellence in education,” she added. ■
Kyrene providing free meals for all kids AFN NEWS STAFF
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yrene School District will continue to offer free meals to all students throughout the 202122 school year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded its free meal program through NEXT June 30. Through the program, all children age 18 and younger are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches, distributed by school districts. In Kyrene, students may receive free meals in person, at school or through curbside pickup at the Kyrene District Office, two days per week. Kyrene Digital Academy students and even children who are not enrolled in Kyrene schools, such as younger siblings, are eligible for free meals. Curbside pickup days are Monday and Thursday and include multiple days of meals.
The USDA program comes at zero cost to Kyrene School District. However, Kyrene meals continue to be the same high quality, nutritious meals the District has provided for years. “Our curbside meals are made fresh, from scratch,” says Grant Moss, general manager of Southwest Foodservice Excellence, which provides Kyrene meals. “Our goal is to fuel young minds and to always use fresh ingredients that taste delicious and provide the nutrients kids need in every bite.” Additional information about the free meals program can be found on the Kyrene website at kyrene.org/ foodservices. ■
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 21, 2021
Dr. Dwayne St. Jacques has COVID-19 isn’t the only decades of experience, care vaccine kids need this year AFN NEWS STAFF
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r. Dwayne St. Jacques of AZKidsDoc Pediatrics, a private solo-pediatric practice in Ahwatukee Foothills, has over 26 years of experience with 23 of them devoted to caring for children in Ahwatukee and nearby communities. The Kansas native, who was raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, attended the University of Arizona College of Medicine for his undergraduate and medical degrees and completed his pediatric residency at the University of Arizona. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. AZKidsDoc Pediatrics specializes in pediatric and adolescent medicine, offering health care services to newborns, infants, children, adolescents and young adults through college years. Besides newborn, well-check and same-day-sick exams, AZKids Doc Pediatrics also provides sports/ camp/school physical exams, immuniza-
tions, circumcisions, minor a m b u l a to r y procedures and behavioral consultations. St. Jacques said his practice “will continue to DR. DWAYNE ST. JACQUES bring the best possible healthcare service to its patients during this period of uncertainty. “Ease of access, prompt courteous service and responsiveness to our patients’ concerns will always be our primary goal,” he added. “While we believe the best place for children to receive medical care is at a pediatrician’s office, we offer telehealth services (sick exams and consultations) that can be done from the comfort and safety of your home.” Information: 480-783-8964. ■
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BY MELISSA BAKER, ROBERT OUIMETTE AND JENNIFER YOUNG Guest writers
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s families prepare to send their kids back to in-person classes, there might be one essential item parents still need to add to the back-toschool list – immunizations. Immunizations are shots that children and adults take to protect themselves and others against serious illnesses. Staying up to date on immunizations helps keep communities safe from an outbreak of a life-threatening disease. Unfortunately, millions of people fell behind their vaccination schedule during the last year, as they could not physically visit the doctor or they put off well-checks during the worst of the pandemic. Do you know the last time you or your children received their booster tetanus shot? Or if you and your loved ones are still protected against hepatitis? It is important to keep up to date with these
vaccines to receive the best protection against deadly viruses. If you are still unsure why vaccinations are so necessary, consider the 1.5 million people who die from vaccine-preventable diseases every year. According to the World Health Organization, around 86% of children around the world are vaccinated. These vaccinated people prevent anywhere from two to three million people from dying each year. If 90-95 percent of children were immunized against preventable diseases - millions of lives could be saved. Keeping up to date with your and your family’s vaccinations helps the population as a whole maintain herd immunity – a phenomenon that the world is attempting to reach to be protected against COVID-19. With teachers and kids heading back to the classrooms this fall, it has never been more important to take stock of your health and receive proper care.
see VACCINE page 32
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Pecos Center revs up with full programming AFN NEWS STAFF
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ic thent tion u a f o uca ori ed s s e t on
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he Pecos Community Center has returned to full operations providing youth and adult classes and programs Mondays- Saturdays. Low-cost new �itness classes will begin on July 22 along with the center’s long running karate, yoga, and Zumba programs. These summer classes are still open for registration: Burn and Tone, Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fit Camps on Wednesdays and Saturdays; karate juniors programs on Saturdays; youth piano classes at 6 p.m. Tuesdays; gentle yoga at 6 p.m. Tuesdays; and Zumba Gold at 9:15 a.m. Fridays. New youth basketball programs are also starting in August: Junior Suns Boys Basketball clinics, Junior Mercury Girls Basketball clinics; Junior Suns co-ed and boys leagues; Junior Mercury Girls leagues. Call 602-534-5252 for program information or see Phoenix.gov/parks. ■
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 21, 2021
Where Love Prepares Leaders Introducing Moon Child Academy Before and after school, transportation included Spots are limited so call to register.
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VACCINE from page 30
After more than a year of physically distant learning, teachers are cautiously excited and parents remain anxious about what to expect in the new school year. Among the many challenges the pandemic brought onto families with schoolage children, coming home with exposure to a potentially life-threatening disease should be the least of your worries this upcoming year. Do your part by checking in with your doctor to confirm you and your family are protected.
If you are unsure of your vaccine history, you can request a copy of your immunization records from your primary care doctor. Upon pulling up your records, they may have you schedule an appointment for a vaccine or booster shot. If you do not have a primary care physician or are unsure of your previous health history, there are many healthcare resources. Melissa Baker, Robert Ouimette and Jennifer Young are with Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s integrated healthcare centers. jfcsaz.org. ■
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 21, 2021