Celebrating the
Extraordinary in
Every Child

AWARDS and DISTINCTIONS

Since opening in 1979, Sandpiper Elementary School of Scottsdale, Arizona began a proud tradition. Sandpiper has twice been named “Arizona A+ School” - (1992, 2003) and “National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence” – 1992, and has earned many other awards, including the following:

• Doodle for Google State Finalist-2008
• NFL Players Essay Contest: 1 of 6 winners in Maricopa County-2007
• Paradise Valley Poetry Contest: 1st place in district-2007
• Arizona Departemnt of Education Top Arizona Schools:
  "Excelling School" Award - 2005-2006
• Arizona Department of Education Top Arizona Schools:
  “Excelling School” Award – 2004–2005
• Arizona Educational Foundation: Arizona A+ School of Excellence – 2003
• Arizona Educational Foundation: Arizona A+ School of Excellence – 1992
• U.S. Dept of Education: U.S. Blue Ribbon School of Excellence – 1992
• Kennedy Center for the Arts:
  Arizona’s First Place School of Excellence in the Fine Arts – 2000
• Arizona Advisory Council on Environmental Education:
  MARE Ocean Study and JASON Projects grants totaling over $20,000 – 1999, 2000, 2001
• Arizona Art Education Association: Art Advocate Award for Principal – 2001
• Arizona Art Education Association: Arizona Elementary Art Teacher of the Year – 1999
• Teacher Venture Arizona:
  Morton J. Newell Award of Merit for integrated curriculum – 1997, 2000
• Arizona State University:
  Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Essay Contest 2nd Place Winner – 2001
• Arizona State Grade Chess Championship Tournament:
  1st Place Kindergarten Individual and Team, 1st Place Fifth Grade Individual and Team – 2002
• Jazz on the Mountainside Competition:
  Young Jazz earned Superior with Distinction rating – 2000, 2001
• Arizona Youth Duck Stamp Competition:
  Consecutive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Winners – 1994-2002
• Scripps/Stephen Birch Aquarium Paint with Wyland Contest:
  12 student winners – 2001

Sandpiper is proud of many more student and teacher awards. These listed above are indicative of our success in attracting support for our science curriculum, integrating fine arts in the curriculum, outstanding extracurricular activities and the overall high achievement of our entire school community.

Sandpiper is equally proud of an excellent record on standardized achievement tests and Arizona Instrument to Measure Success (AIMS). Our pattern of success ranks our school among the top schools in the State of Arizona.

Our school’s well-documented history of success continues to attract those who are drawn to a positive, successful school. Families and staff members arrive at Sandpiper as a matter of choice, rather than a coincidence of location and available job openings. Many families choose to live within our attendance area to take advantage of extraordinary opportunities for their children. Additionally, high achieving teachers are drawn to Sandpiper’s history of excellence and the challenge and vitality of this dynamic environment. Sandpiper staff members enjoy their educational community, making turnover low and openings rare. When openings do occur, Sandpiper’s principal, teachers and parents choose from a rich and broad pool of applicants.

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