Spring 2010 THUNDERGRAM Thunderbird High School Parent ...

[Pages:8]Spring

2010

THUNDERGRAM

Thunderbird HighPSacrehnot oNlewsletter

Counseling Center update for every grade level

Seniors: If you have not filed a FAFSA (Free

Application for Federal Student Aid), apply on-line for faster service . or pick up a hard copy of application in the counseling office.

Community college applications and testing should be completed. The counseling center has applications. The ASSET placement test is administered at the community college. For a sample review test, check out . edu/qm_asset/perception.dll?name=student Students should seek appropriate advisement and register for classes on the community college campus. Juniors:

Juniors interested in applying for admission to 4-year colleges or universities are advised to take the appropriate admissions test (ACT or SAT Reasoning test) in the late spring (March, May or June). Information is available in the counseling center or at the web site or . THS school code is 030312.

Those interested in applying to any of the military academies should begin the process now.

Student athletes should check out the NCAA Clearinghouse at . org/eligibilitycenter/common/

Apply for special summer programs if interested. Check out THS's web site for further information . . Sophomores and Freshmen:

Make sure the student is on track for graduation. Make up any course work, which may have been failed and adjust educational plan if needed. Honors Tuition Waiver- for ASU, U of A, and NAU 60 Thunderbird students qualified for this waiver last year. (One of the highest numbers in the state!) Full State University Tuition Waiver for 1 year following high school graduation for students who meet the following qualifications. Part 1 Students must complete all 16 Core Competency Courses by graduation with a B or better in each course. (16 Core Competency Courses: 4 units English; 4 units Math; 3 units Lab Science; 2 units Social Science; 2 units Foreign Language; and 1 unit Fine Arts.)

AND Part 2

Students must meet at least one of the

following academic requirements:

Option 1: Core GPA of a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale

Option 2: Class Rank: Student is in the top

5% of high school graduating class upon

graduation.

AND Part 3

Students must meet at least one of the

following assessment options:

Option 1: EXCEED Standards on all 3 of the

AIMS tests by the end of your junior year.

Option 2: EXCEED Standards on 2 of the

AIMS Test and MEET Standards on 1 of the

AIMS test. Additionally, they would need

to receive a minimum score of 3 on two

Advanced Placement tests.

Renewable for 4 years based upon

meeting university criteria.

Amount varies based upon tuition fees

charged by each university.

Visit



tuitionwaiver for answers to the most

frequently asked questions regarding this

scholarship opportunity.

***IMPORTANT*** The ABOR

scholarship is dependent upon state

funding.*** article submitted by Kim

Austin

Career Center offers support

The Career Center has been a busy place lately, with sophomores and juniors entering their classes for next year into the Bridges program. The Bridges website has a wealth of information about colleges and careers, and all students should be able to log on. Check it out! To access Bridges: portfolio name: guhsd_your student's ID number password: 00-00-1994 (your student's birthdate using DASHES)

Seniors and parents: another FAFSA (Free Application Federal Student Aid) night is planned for Monday, February 22 @ 6:30 in the media center computer lab.

A financial expert from ASU will answer questions and walk you through the FAFSA form online. Bring 2009 tax information, savings and investment information, social security numbers, PIN numbers (available at pin.), and driver's license numbers. For students to qualify for federal student aid, it is important to get this done as soon as possible. To access the FAFSA from home, visit fafsa..

The Career Center, open before school and during both lunch periods, is open to all. Students can research careers and schools, apply for admission, search for scholarships, and meet with representatives from the military, colleges, and technical/ vocational schools. Parents, please encourage your student to use this resource! article submitted by Barbara Blosser

Child Development Playschool

March 30 - April 29 Thunderbird High School 1750 W. Thunderbird Road

9 - 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

ages 3-5 cost: $10.00 for information? call 623-

915-8948

PTAHGEO2 UGHTSonTHUNDERBIRD FROM PRINCIPAL MATT BELDEN

Before moving into the new technology that has been added at THS, I would like to thank the parents, community, faculty and staff, and students for a great first semester. When you take the time to stop and think about all the accomplishments of our students, it takes your breathe away.

Teachers are excited about the new technology that is being introduced. This fall we installed 25 new interactive whiteboards (Smartboards) and projectors. At this time we are one room away from every core content teacher (Math, Science, Social Studies, and English) having a Smartboard. The one missing room is scheduled to be installed during the third quarter. There are 48 rooms on campus with a Smartboard that teachers are using to help engage students in learning.

We are also excited for teachers to

have the opportunity to go through a training course on the use of student response systems (clickers) and slates. After teachers complete the extensive training they will receive a classroom set of clickers and a slate. The clickers, slate, and Smartboard are used as a package to further engage students in the learning and to give teachers immediate feedback on how well students understand a concept.

The slate allows the teacher to use the computer from any point in the classroom. The teacher can write on the wireless slate with an electronic pen and have it displayed on the Smartboard. With just a Smartboard the teacher would have to do this from the front of the room, with a slate the teacher can be anywhere in the room!

The clickers are used by the students. The clicker looks like a small

TV remote control. The teacher brings a question up on the Smartboard and has the students answer it using the clicker. For example, a Math teacher writes the following question on the board, 20 + 20 = ?. In the past the students would work the problem on paper and the teacher would call on one student for the answer. Now, the students work the problem on paper, enter the answer into the clicker, push send, and the answers are sent to the teacher's computer. The teacher instantly knows which students have the correct answer. Think of this as though the students are text messaging the answer to the teacher's computer.

We believe that with the use of this technology students will be more actively engaged in learning, teachers will get more information about how well students understand a concept, and teachers will be able to correct errors much more quickly.

STUDENTS OTFHE MONTH

Congratulations

for August:

for Septmeber:

to the following students of the month. They were

Applied Tech Business ELL FACS

Seth Benson Gloria Leamons Silvia Morales Davi Booth

Andres Cervantes Athena Boggs Antonio Herrera Maribeth Santillan

nominated by

Foreign Languages Mayra Moreno

Itzel Prado

members of the

Language Arts

specific departments and selected for

Life Learners Math Naval Science

recognition by

Performing Arts

Jessica Franco Victoria Carpenter Tim Bailes Keely Kouts Thomas Gruetzemacher

Courtney Robertson Zach Hanna Erin Strohmeyer Tishae Rice Conner Byram

members of the

Physical Education Kirby Carlson

Samantha Buya

honors and awards Science

committee.

Social Studies Visual Arts

Julio Martinez Sergio Barrio Emily Pope

Ceasar Mesquita Payton Calderon Krystal Morgan

Outstanding Senior Award: (August) John Replogle, Kathryn Gonzales. (September) James Strohmeyer, Sophia Curran Chief Pride Award: (August) Anissa Fuentes, Michael Thompson, Jacob Segal, Arica Newcomb, Antwanet Korkes, Skylar Kimpland, Lionel Crafts, Chandler Young. (September) Payton Stafford, Hunter Van Atta, Josh Blankenship, Teanna Abel, Jennifer Jenkins, Coltan Joralman, Erin Guinnip, Brian Ballou Rotary Award: (August )Branden Kallet, (September) Dakota Knutson

THUNsDtaERfGf RAM

Principal: Matt Belden Editor: Demetria Graham Contributors: Department Chairs Administrative Staff

The Thundergram is an official publication of Thunderbird H.S. 1750 W. Thunderbird Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023 Call 623-915-8900 to place an article or to be added to the mailing list.

STUDENT

PAGE 3

SERVICES

FROM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CHRIS FRANCIS

Summer vacation is a time for rest and relaxation; for some students this includes summer school. Students who have to re-take classes can use the dates below to plan their summers accordingly.

There will be three summer programs offered by Thunderbird and the Glendale Union High School District.

THS students who are currently taking Alg 1 Semester 1 and/or Geometry 1 Semester 1 will be required to take Alg 1 Semester 2 and/or Geometry 1 Semester 2 in summer school. These classes will be from June 1 through June 30, Monday through Thursday (except Memorial Day). Classes are four hours per day. These math classes are free to the student.

Other ninth and tenth grade"core" classes will be offered in a traditional class setting at Moon Valley High School. These classes are Thinking Science, Biology, English 1-2, 3-4, and World History. There will be morning and afternoon sessions starting June 7 ending on July 15 (no school on Monday, July 5). Attendance is Monday through Thursday with times to be determined at a later date. There will be bus service available from Thunderbird to Moon Valley and back. There is a cost of $150 per class.

Lastly, the Glendale Union OnLine School will be offered for credit recovery for all "core" classes for 11th and12th grade students. There will be a computer support lab for students who want to come in and a testing center available at Moon

Valley. Dates and times will parallel the traditional school hours. On-line summer school is from May 3 through July 15 and there is a cost of $150 per class.

Sign up will be through the counseling office at a later date. I hope the above information will help in planning what I trust will be a great summer.

Important Dates to remember:

AIMS Writing Feb. 23 AIMS Reading Feb. 24

AIMS Math April 7 AIMS Science April 8

STUDENTS OTFHE MONTH

Congratulations

for October:

for November:

to the following students of the month. They were

Applied Tech Business ELL FACS

Irwin Hernandez-Gonza Will Banks Monica Tinoco Cuevas Kelli Hutchison

Austin Eslinger Susan Dwarka Ojeen Korkes Christopher Nguyen

nominated by

Foreign Languages Jamie Jaruvangsanti

Edgar Flores

members of the

Language Arts

specific departments and selected for

Life Learners Math Naval Science

recognition by

Performing Arts

Dominique Gomez Chris Phillips Aaron Rawley Matthew Mihajlovich Allie Bloomfield

Robin-Li Uber Mackenzie Polley Ariel Alcocer John Duong Katie Prutsman

members of the

Physical Education Bryan Cady

Kaylin Blake

honors and awards Science

committee.

Social Studies Visual Arts

Brandi Fatali Danielle Haefner Ryan Gattorna

Diaa Dawood Kevin Mitchell Melanie Cady

for December:

Ryan Brown

Maria Felix Pineda Daniela Demesa Lisa Coleman Claire Cambron Nicholas Miller Rachel Brunsman Julie Freeman Amber Bail Ethan Barrowclough Christine David Gustavo Reyes Tishae Rice

Outstanding Senior Award: (October) Karun Kiani, Hannah Corrigan. (November) Michael Barnowski, Breanne Demchik. (December) Timothy Bond, Anna Wisman. Chief Pride Award: (October) Kristyn Dewolf, Alan Oakley, Giovanna Azamar-Rivera, Bobby McCormick, Joey Montano, Cierra Walling, Cassie, Rodriguez, Ryan Siken. (November) Jessica Rodriquez, Justin Schwartz, Marybeth Schnur, Juan Jimenez, Helin Jako, Matthew Parker, Amy Desgeorges, Edgar Rios. (December) Erika Mavashev, Quinton Deatrick, Alicia Tan-Summers, Elijah Bradley, Chelsea Sumrall, Christopher DeMarco, Matt Mihajlovich, Macy Valdez. Rotary Award: (October) Taylor Sloan. (December) Andrew Pellestri.

PAGE 4academicENDEAVORS

Artwork wins merit

awards at local art

show

We are proud to announce that two Thunderbird students won Merit Awards at the Shemer "New Horizons" Art Show. Fifty schools are allowed to submit two pieces of artwork to represent their high school for this show. Both pieces of artwork won cash awards. Congratulations to Emily Pope for her piece titled "Dreams Do Come True" and to Saraloni Troupe for her piece titled "Vanity."

The District Art Show at Phoenix Art Museum is open to the public the month of February. Congratulations to the following students whose work was selected to represent Thunderbird High School at the District show. Emily Pope, Laura Mudd, Katie Letendre, Saraloni Troupe, Julie Ruminski, Marin Maras, Josey Perkins, Lindzy Salinas, Janelle Wilke article submitted by Dawn Jacoby

Who takes the AZELLA test?

During registration, if a parent or student marks a box that says a language other than English is spoken as the primary language, then the student is required by the state to take the AZELLA (Arizona English Language Learner Assessment). This test is used to determine if the student has a language deficiency or if he or she needs ELL classes to bring their English up to the level of other students in the same grade level. If a student tests Basic or Intermediate, they are placed in four hours of ELL classes. These students will be reassessed with the AZELLA once a year until they test Proficient. If the student tests Proficient, they are placed in mainstream classes. Even if the student tests proficient, they will be required to take the AZELLA for two more years as mandated by the state. While this may seem excessive, it makes sure that we are doing everything possible to help every student on campus to succeed. This year, all ELL students will be taking the AZELLA test March 8-12. It is important that your student is in class that week and does their best to show all of the English they have acquired. Please stress the importance of this test. If a student remains in the ELL program for two years or more, it can seriously affect their ability to graduate in four years. If you have any questions about the AZELLA testing procedure, please contact Angela Schneider at extension 7229. article submitted by Angela Schneider

DECA earns more than 85 medals Thunderbird DECA again repeated a blockbuster performance at the Western Area DECA competition in early January. Thunderbird triumphantly returned with over 85 medals and many students placed in the top 3 in their events. Our DECA chapter is also very proud to have five 30 page research papers completed in time for our state conference. These reports involve students conducting marketing research, promotion, and management topics to solve real issues on campus or in the community. We wish these students the best as they move to compete at state in March.

This year's state conference will be held in Phoenix at the newly renovated Phoenix Convention Center. Over 2000 students will complete in over 25 events for a chance to earn the right to compete at the International Career Development Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky. article submitted by Brian Davis

FACS students showcase their skills

Students in classes in the Family & Consumer Sciences department are preparing to showcase skills in competitions this spring. Several of the Culinary Arts students are competing in February in C-CAP scholarship competitions. These students are judged on knife skills, safety and sanitation skills and food preparation skills as they compete for scholarships to post-secondary culinary programs and a culinary summer program. Other Culinary Arts students are competing in March at the FCCLA spring conference. These students prepare a three course meal. Their goal is to work toward gold medals. The FACS Internship students will also compete in the FCCLA spring conference. They will compete in events which showcase their workplace skills. Good luck to all these students! article submitted by Joanne Michael

Top Photo: Emily Pope next to her digital photograph "Dreams do come true" at Shemer. Bottom Photo: Saraloni Troupe in front of "Vanity" charcoal drawing at Shemer.

academicENDEAVOPAGRE5 S

Current economy helps students learn about 1920s and 1930s

Over the course of the past few months, political and economic events have served as fertile ground for discussion topics for all levels of social studies classes. As history classes soon will examine the causes and consequences of the Great Depression, the economic crisis afflicting the state and the nation underscore the relevancy of the material. Students will examine the events of the 1920s and 1930s far more somberly than in years past.

But while these events help shape discussion in world and U.S. History classes, recent headlines act as a foundation for seniors

taking government and economics. As students examine principles of American government, the upcoming 2010 election offers a spectacular backdrop for daily lessons, allowing teachers not only to turn student focus to the election process, but also to the relationship between the presidency and Congress, the role of the Supreme Court, the influence of the interest groups, and the impact of the media. Many students cast their first votes during this past semester, and our goal is to ensure that they participate in the process thoughtfully.

Similarly, when seniors turn their attention to economics, contemporary events fuel thoughtful questions and discussions, as abstract concepts yield to cold realities. The economic environment at both the state and national levels sharpen student focus on economic principles that had heretofore been foreign and distant. Please continue to engage your daughter/son in meaningful conversation about the political and economic climates. Together, our sustained and collaborative efforts can ensure that students become enlightened and become active participants in democracy at the local, state, and national levels. article submitted by Jonathan Parker

Applied Tech department updates PE learns about muscles

Applied Technology is still going strong. First year Cabinetmaking students are working on their PBA (performance based assessment) projects. The second year Cabinetmaking students are working on an assortment of projects, ranging from bookshelves to kitchen tables. Drafting students are busy. The first year students are preparing and honing their skills for the PBA. Second year students survived the drawings of bolts and threads. Third year students are working on the plans for their dream homes.

In Engineering Sciences students are working with the VEX robots in varying degrees of difficulty. The robots for first year students are the basic robots; they are learning how to program and build. The advanced students have worked with electronics, track vehicles and are now working on robots for an assembly line. The robots are an excellent way for the students to learn the principles of physics and apply them without realizing what they are learning about until you remind them.

At this point, we are also preparing for the state tests for CTE (Career and Technical Education) courses. On top of that we have several students lined up for the SkillsUSA Regional and state competitions. It's a busy time of the year.

Myself, I'm preparing for retirement the end of the school year. This has been a great second career after retiring from the Army. It has been a pleasure to have your children for the last fifteen years. article submitted by Larry Cary

The Physical Education classes are focusing on muscular strength and endurance this semester. All P.E. 1-2 classes are learning how to use all of the equipment in the fitness center on campus. Emphasis is placed on ten major muscle groups, the function of these muscles and the equipment that will work these muscles. Students are learning how to lift to strengthen and tone, as well as the type of lifting used to build muscle bulk. They will learn how to develop a plan based on their goals and apply the principles of fitness such as progression, overload and specificity.

Along with working in the fitness center once or twice a week, the P.E. classes continue to participate in lifetime sports.

After a successful year of physical education their freshman year, a student may choose Advanced P.E. or Systematic Conditioning as an elective in their next three years at Thunderbird. Staying active is good for the mind as well as the body. Article submitted by Karen Horine

PAGE 6

STAYING CONNECTED

FROM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL KRIS WILLIS

Like usual the athletic programs here at Thunderbird continue to go non-stop. It seems like a sport just begins and before you know it, it's time for playoffs. As the Winter sports season comes to a close, please take a moment to congratulate the athletes and coaches for a GREAT showing. Our boys' soccer team made it to the state playoffs, as did both boys' and girls' basketball, and many wrestlers qualified for the state tournament as well. Spring sports are just getting underway, and we expect to have approximately 300 student athletes participating. Be sure to check out the Thunderbird website for schedules and come out and support the athletes.

As always we have had many activities going on at Thunderbird. Our Performing Arts Department did an awesome job with the Performing Arts Assembly and Future Freshman

night, STUGO has put on three fabulous assemblies for our students, and DECA did a wonderful job with our first ever Mr. Thunderbird Contest. Theatre is gearing up for the upcoming production of Clue, ROTC is preparing for their annual Military Inspection, and yearbook continues to work late into the night preparing this year's yearbook just to name a few!

If you haven't been on campus lately, please stop by to see the additional awnings and tables that were purchased by the Chiefs' Parent Association with the proceeds from this year's golf tournament. I would also like to thank all of those who were involved in the annual Sarah Burke Benefit Basketball Night. We raised $3000 to go toward scholarships for seniors.

DISCIPLINEANADTTENDANCE

FROM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JON VREEKEN

It's a fact that students who attend school regularly learn more and are more successful in school than students who do not. Parents and guardians who make good school attendance a priority are also helping their children learn to accept responsibility--an important lesson for a successful life.

Good attendance habits are also important because students who miss school miss out on carefully planned sequences of instruction. They miss out on active learning experiences, classroom participation, and the opportunity to ask questions. Students who are frequently absent are more likely to fall behind, and therefore are more likely to become frustrated with the whole concept of school. This can lead to a variety of negative outcomes.

Fortunately, there are steps that parents and guardians can take to avoid the effects of poor attendance habits. First, let your child know that attending school every day is an expectation. Explain that, just as you have a career, it is a student's career to go to school and prepare for the future. Second, set a time for doing homework each evening, and a time for going to bed. Unfinished homework, late nights on the computer, and too little sleep are common reasons why parents hear the words "I

don't feel good" on school mornings. And finally, use the Parent Portal to monitor your child's progress and attendance. If you have not logged on before, you may set up your portal account by visiting our website at thunderbird. and clicking Parent Portal on the lower left under Quick Links.

Most parents are already familiar with Thunderbird's attendance policy, but as teachers say, a quick review never hurts. Here are some basics: we offer a 24-hour attendance hotline where absences may be reported, 623-915-8901 for English, 623-915-8913 para espanol. Only calls from custodial parents or guardians are accepted (Sorry, students. Ms. Bullis, Ms. Meza, and Ms. Rich are excellent at detecting parental impersonations!). Parents must call the day of absence. If no call is received, the auto-dialer will begin calling the home number that evening. If no call from a parent/guardian is received within 48 hours of the first day of absence, the absence converts to a truancy. Regarding tardies, the only acceptable excuses are medical, dental, or legal; parent phone calls will not excuse the tardy. And finally, for a complete source of information about the Attendance and Tardy Policy, please visit our website by clicking Attendance under the Contact Us tab, or consult the THS Student Handbook.

CHIEFPAARSESNOTCIATIOPAGNE 7

ATTENTION Thunderbird High School parents, friends, and local businesses! Join the 2010 Grad Night Committee in providing a drug/alcohol free party and safe place for

Seniors to celebrate with their friends. Place: Cracker Jax Family Fun & Sports Park - Scottsdale

Date: Tuesday, May 25th Time: 9:00pm to 3:00am Transportation: Via BUS ONLY Our goal is to have ALL graduates attend. Ticket scholarships will be available.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Ticket sales will cover facility costs. Corporate and individual donations of merchandise, cash, and time will guarantee that we have entertainment and prizes for ALL graduates. Don't forget about the Arizona State Public School Tax Credit program. This allows you to donate a maximum of $400 per year to any school activity and for you to get a direct tax credit on your Arizona State Income taxes. Fill out the tax credit form send it with a check payable to THS - 2010 Grad Night to help fund the party. Contact Brandy Tucker nursebrandy@ 602 /570 8026 or Jacque Rice ricelounge@ 602/694 4856 with any Grad Night questions.

MAIL YOUR DONATION TODAY!

Cash Donation: $________________________

Check no. _____________________________

Amount: $_____________________________

Please make checks payable to: THS-2010 Grad Night

Mail checks to: Thunderbird High School

% 2010 Grad Night

1750 W Thunderbird Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85023

Please consider donating merchandise to use as a game or raffle prize. Merchandise description: _________________________________________________________________ Donated by (Company Name)______________________________________________________________ Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ City:_____________________________ State: _____________________ Zip Code:______________________

Contact Debbie Sloan debbiesloan@ 602 /793-1176 with merchandise donations.

Spring

2010

UPCOEVMEINNGTS

February

Feb 5- Progress Reports Posted Feb 8- First day of Spring Sports Feb 9- District Art Show: Phoenix Art Museum 5-7pm; CPA Drug Dangers Presentation 7pm in Auditorium Feb 15- President's Day; No School Feb 17- AAA Award Presentation Board Meeting Feb 22- FAFSA Night 6:30pm Feb 23- AIMS Writing; English 2 PBA Feb 24- AIMS Reading; English 2 PBA No EOP Feb 25- Theatre show "Clue" 7pm Feb 26- Theatre show "Clue" 7pm

February and March

Feb 27- Theatre show "Clue" 7pm March 4- Theatre show "Clue" 7pm March 5- Blood Drive; Theatre show "Clue" 7pm March 6- Theatre show "Clue" 7pm; Skills USA Regionals March 10- CPA Drug Dangers Presentation 7pm Auditorium March 12- Spring Sports Assembly; End of Quarter 3 March 15-19- Spring Break

THUNDERBIRD HIGH SCHOOL 1750 W. Thunderbird Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023

GOVERNING BOARD Kevin Clayborn, President Donna Stout, Clerk Ian Hugh, Member Vicki Johnson, Member Pam Reicks, Member

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Dr. Jennifer Johnson

Published by Thunderbird High School Phone: (623) 915-8900

GUHSD is strongly committed to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, nation of origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its programs or activities.

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