PVUSD receives City of Phoenix grant of over $3 million for small specialty high school Horizon High School makes Newsweek's list of top high schools in America PVUSD English teachers support letter-writing campaign to AZ military troops in the Middle East Around the district
	Father's Day, Sunday June 15

PVUSD receives City of Phoenix grant of over $3 million for small specialty high school

The Phoenix City Council approved a specialty high school grant of over $3 million (from the 2006 Capital Improvement Program Bond funding) for the Paradise Valley Unified School District to develop a small specialty high school.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said, “The educational opportunities provided by (this grant) will build a stronger, more educated workforce that will help Phoenix continue to build its knowledge economy.”

The PVUSD will establish the Center for Rigor Relevance and Relationships in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST).  It will be a separate, small specialty school in its own building on the Paradise Valley High School campus. CREST will be developed in conjunction with West-MEC (Western Maricopa Education Center District) and will focus on nursing, biotechnology and engineering. The nursing and biotechnology courses will focus on developing lab skills that have been cited as a deficiency area by the Battelle study. Partnerships will be established or enhanced with Honeywell, Jet Products, Mayo Clinic and Paradise Valley Hospital.

Horizon High School joins Pinnacle and North Canyon on Newsweek Magazine's list of top high schools in America

Horizon High School has made Newsweek magazine's list of the 2008 Best High Schools in America. Horizon, ranked as the number five public high school in Arizona, joins Pinnacle High School, ranked as the number one, and North Canyon High School, ranked number four, each making the list for offering students academically rigorous courses and administering Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate exams. Newsweek magazine writes, "AP and IB participation are indicators of a school's effort to get students to excel and prepare for college."   Read more

Around the district

Anna Wijatyk, a junior in the IB program at North Canyon High School, has been accepted to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine during the summer. She was nominated by her counselor Ralph Vallecoursa for her academic excellence, leadership potential and interest in a career in medicine. She will join students from across the United States to interact with renowned physicians and health experts from the medical community.

Several PVUSD designees were honored recently at the annual Arizona PTA Convention held in the town of Carefree in May. Greg Londot, sixth-grade science teacher from Hidden Hills Elementary School, was named the 2008 Arizona PTA Educator of the Year.

Eagle Ridge Elementary School PTSA was named the 2008 Arizona PTA Local Unit of the Year. The Eagle Ridge PTSA conducted a number of events and projects, such as: a Katrina Fund Drive; a Walk-to-School Day; and a community Health and Safety Fair, that secured them this award. Also at the convention, Hidden Hills Elementary School parent Carole Parks was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award, and Hidden Hills's cafeteria manager Tonya Talbott won the Support Staff of the Year award. Tonya was recognized for the exceptional work she does in her school community for children and families. 

In addition, Kristine Ferguson of Eagle Ridge was given the Support Staff of the Year Honorable Mention award. Mrs. Ferguson serves her school not only as para-educator but also as the PTSA President.

Horizon High School senior named 2008 AZ Republic Phoenix Softball Player of the Year

Horizon High School's Katelyn Boyd went through only two softball games this year without a hit and set eight single-season marks this season with a batting average of .690 and a slugging percentage of 1.393. The shortstop was named The Republic's Phoenix Softball Player of the Year and a member of the All-City Softball Team. Her coach is Blaize Gatti. Also on the All-City Team are Krista Rosiewicz and Annie Lockwood from Paradise Valley High School, and Becca Tikey from Horizon.

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