Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 214

Education -A JY. 1LVjVV -L JL 6 WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2002 THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC pate in lifelong physical activity. Charity golf classic The Paradise Valley Education Foundation will hold its seventh annual Charity Golf Classic 2002 on June 1 at Kier-land Golf Course, 15656 N. 66th Phoenix. Information: (602) 953-6280 or (480) 363-2761 or e-mail jcampbell westcor.com.

Proceeds will benefit children's programs in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. wot ii pi rnmmw tuvumiiim 1 ft. Vl'fc 4- I Tim KoorsThe Arizona Republic Agribusiness school students Brooke Meyer, 16, and Meagan Moehling, 15, get help from instructor Sherri Anderson. mands program is centered in Lyon, 'France. Host families are needed for three-week visits in June, July and August.

Informatiori: Brenda Smith at (602) 942-5842. Scholarships awarded Desert Foothills Theater in Cave Creek has given $500 scholarships to Noelle Dupont of Cave Creek and Margaret Robbins of Fountain Hills. The scholarships were awarded as part of its Youth Education Program. Dupont attends Foothills Academy, and Rob-bins attends New School for the Arts. Custodian honored Guy Rasmussen, head custodian at Indian Bend Elementary School, was named Classified Employee of the Month of April.

He has worked for the Paradise Valley Unified School District since 1998. BRIEFS Charter fund-raiser New School for the Arts, a charter school in Scottsdale, will hold a fund-raising garden party from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the home of Linda Brock Nelson in Paradise Valley. Information: (480) 947-3917. PV High reunion The Paradise Valley Class of 1972 is putting together a 30-year reunion for fall 2002.

Information: Ron Smith at (602) 493-6448, Ext. 1760, or Don Pleger at Host families needed A foreign-student exchange program is looking for families to host French students this summer. The Exchange Scholars Franco-Alle- Computer college set Scottsdale Community College offers a Summer Computer College for students ages 9 to 15 during June. Weeklong courses are offered in Computer Basics, Internet, Desktop Publishing', PowerPoint, Web Page Design, Programming with JavaScript and Multimedia on the Web Using Flash. Each four-day session is from 8:30 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Cost is $160. Information: (480) 423-6100 or (480) 423-6278. PE teacher honored Curt Jablin, North Canyon High School physical education teacher, has received the Southwest District High School Physical Educator of the Year award.

The award is given to outstanding teachers who motivate youth to partici- 3-month vacations fading at schools Arizona Agribusiness and Equine District: AAEC Inc. Address: 18401 N. 32nd Phoenix. Phone: (602) 787-6609. Principal: Jody Summerford.

Grades: 9-12. Year built: 1998. Enrollment: 60 (2001-02). Studentteacher ratio: 15:1. Teachers' education: Bachelor's degree: 20 percent.

Master's degree: 40 percent. Doctorate: 40 percent. Teachers' average experience: 3 years or less: 40 percent. 4-9 years: 20 percent. 10 years or more: 40 percent.

Student attendance rate: 99 percent. Promotion rate: 99 percent. Stanford 9 scores (2000-01): Freshman: Read 48. Math 54, Lang. 37..

Number of student violations: Drugs, weapons, serious violence, alcohol, 0. Per pupil expenditure: $5,900. Studentcomputer ratio: 1:1. Freereduced lunch: not provided. Student diversity: White, 94 percent; Black, 1 percent; Hispanic, 4 percent; Asian, 1 percent; Native American, less than 1 percent.

Highlights Awards: This year, one student placed second and another third in the Polly Rosenbaum Writing Contest. By Stephanie A. Miller The Arizona Republic Many Valley school districts are altering their academic calendars to meet varying needs of students and to address rapid growth. The changes reflect" a changing society. School years that began around Labor Day and ended around Memorial Day were based on the need for farm families to have their children working in the fields during the summer.

"We're in a society of change, and one calendar is not going to meet the needs of a changing and mobile society," said Perry Hill, superintendent of the Glendale Elementary School District. "Students are learning at a different rate. We need remediation, intercession, tutoring and time to individualize instruction for kids. We need time for professional development training, and we need time for professionals to meet together to develop effective planning. Trying to keep up with the nine-month, three-month calendar is just not go- AG CLASS PVCC hosts high school From Page 1 Schools," by the Humphrey Institute of the University of Minnesota.

The schools were chosen based on their ability to improve achievement and for their safe, nurturing environments. Students go to class Monday through Thursday but spend about the same amount of time in class as a typical high school. Fridays are reserved for riding and caring for horses, lab work and tutoring. The school uses an off-site equestrian facility, Ironwood Ranch, near Dynamite Boulevard and 42nd Street in Phoenix. A love for horses attracted Chris DiNieri, 16, to the school.

The former Barry Goldwater High School student hasn't decided on his career path yet, but it definitely involves horses. Proctor Downing said there is demand in other parts of the Valley for a school that combines agribusiness with a rigorous college-level program. School officials are discussing the possibility of expanding to Glendale Community College and Chandler-Gilbert Community College. "This whole thing is just a success story," she said. BRflun I l.lnstall Foil Completely Dismantle, Clean, Lubricate and Adjust Your Shaver OFFER GOOD THROUGH Wl02 With TWs Ad Only I Jilil, ing to do it." A traditional academic calendar still works for several Valley districts.

The Phoenix Union High, Deer Valley Unified, Scottsdale Unified and Peoria Unified districts maintain an August-to-June year. The Tempe Elementary district will have a traditional calendar for next school year, too. The Glendale Union High and Tempe Union High districts are under traditional calendars, but each has one high school that operates under a different calendar. Proponents of a traditional calendar say consistency is one reason they favor it, as well as the long summer break. "It doesn't vary from year to year.

You can schedule vacations and families can plan out their year," said Jim Cum-mings, spokesman for the Peoria Unified district. The summer break in a traditional calendar also gives teenage students more time to have a consistent work schedule and to participate in learning opportunities, such as in- 1 Mi i 30 PfW Send your news about upcoming events, school fund-raisers, student awards or school news to The Arizona Republic co Anne Ryman, 16277 Greenway-Hayden Loop, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, or fax it to (602) 444-6875. Information also may be e-mailed to anne.rymanarizona republic.com. Deadline is Thursday for the following Wednesday's education page. is the only school in the Glendale Union district that operates under a 9-2 calendar.

The calendar is also popular in the Glendale Elementary district, which adopted it for the new school year. Beginning this fall, all the Glendale Elementary district schools will use the 9-2 schedule, with the exception of Glendale American, which adopted a 9-3 calendar this year. Other school districts have year-round structures. Tempe High School is another Valley year-round school and the Dy-sart Unified School District also operates under the 9-3 schedule, which also has a few perks. "It gives everybody an opportunity for a much-needed break to come back renewed and refreshed," said Karyn Morse, community-relations coordinator for Dysart.

"The students and teachers love that three-week winter break." Reach the reporter at Stephanie or (602) 444-6928. NORELCO REMINGTON Shavef Batteiy Servkx Special OFFER GOOD THROUGH 51102 WrtMki il Old NWIO iMiifwor4 iter mirmft o)jfi toil IMttWllip'MMpM mm HUM mJI $38.98 iff Source: Arizona Department of Education, AAE. IJVC Camcorder Cleaning Special Oeavidailitafc.agtplblrilln. Frfy Utt al Iwdiaa 0FF9 0000 THROUGH 51 IO! VWi Tliii Only $4500 In Celebration of our 3rd Anniversary -We Want to Offer our Best Deal Ever! i OFF OFF showroom items all warehouse items ternships, that otherwise would not be available, Cum-mings said. For some school districts, such as Chandler Unified, alternative calendars are being used.

Under this format, also known as the 9-2 calendar, students are in school for nine weeks and break for two weeks. The schedule's flexibility is one of the attractive things about the concept, one school official said. "It's a teacher magnet. There's no question about it," said Terry Locke, the district's director of community relations. "We have teachers who want to come work for Chandler because either you can have a break after nine weeks of instruction, have the opportunity to take advantage of staff development or a chance to recharge you batteries." The modified calendar also helps student retention, because students don't have time to get distracted from academics during the shorter summer breaks, he said.

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