A Christmas story

This is a story about the people who educate kids in the Glendale Elementary School District. It come to us from American Music Teacher Leah Knoepfel. We’ll let her tell the story:

Evita Chavez, Leah Knoepfel and The Bike.

“So here's the story. A few weeks ago I was talking with Evita Chavez (the Extended Day coordinator for American School) and asked how she was. She was her normal chipper self, but seemed a little sad. She said, ‘I'm bummed because I had my biked locked up at GCC [Glendale Community College]. In between classes I came back and it was gone. Someone must have cut off the lock and stolen it.’

“Evita does not have a car and so she had been riding her bike to and from Glendale American in the early mornings, to GCC for classes afterward, and then back to Glendale American after school to do her job for Extended Day. She had been walking and getting rides after the incident. Never complaining about it. Just getting rides every once in a while from a coworker here and there.

“On Monday afternoon I sent out an email to the [American] staff members, asking if anyone had an extra bike lying around at home that they didn't need. [SECC Resource teacher] Chris Sanchez said, ‘What kind of a bike does she want? I'll buy it. Just ask her what kind she'd like and I will get it for her.’

“So I asked Evita what kind of bike she'd like and she said, ‘I had a beach cruiser bike which was nice because it had a basket and I could carry my groceries with it.’

“Later the same day, [fifth grade teacher] Tony Balthis called me that evening and said, ‘I'd like to go in on helping purchase the bike. I have a truck. I can pick it up from Walmart. Let's find out if anyone else would like to get Evita a new bike.’

“Wednesday morning, and after school got out, we brought the bike to Evita at her office. All that had helped participate in purchasing the bike, and a few that were just thrilled to see her have something that she could ride again, came to give the beach cruiser to her. Evita cried and gave all of us hugs. She then road it around the cafeteria and later told me that she'd called her entire family to tell them about it.”

“She said to us: ‘My bike was stolen a few weeks ago from GCC. Today my co-workers surprised me with a new beach cruiser! They really touched my heart. No one has ever done anything like this for me before. I was surprised to see so many of them pitch in to help me out. I'm forever grateful, thanks to all!!!’   Merry Christmas!”

Merry Christmas indeed.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season

As we enjoy the upcoming holidays, it is our fervent wish that each of you receives and returns the seasonal bounty of blessings and good tidings that make these days truly special. As you read this message, we are about to embark on the much-anticipated winter break. With the holiday season upon us, our attention naturally begins to turn to warm thoughts of spending time with family and friends, the bustle of holiday activities and the splendor and magic of the season of goodwill that surrounds us. However, it is also at this time of year that many of our children and families struggle with the same challenge that make this time of year so appealing for others. For this reason, it is important that we continue to draw on our collective qualities as a caring and compassionate school district and strive to support our students and families — as well as each other as friends and colleagues — as best we can.

As we start to prepare for the 2013 holidays, we also begin to turn our thoughts to the arrival of 2014. When we return to work and school in January, our lives will undoubtedly be no less hectic and busy than they were the previous year. It is for this reason that it is important to take a well-deserved rest this holiday season. But before we do, a few notes of thanks are in order.

First, to our staff we want to say thank you and express our appreciation for all you do for the children of the Glendale Elementary School District. You have shown that no matter what the situation or circumstance, all children can and will achieve in our classrooms. Whether you’re a teacher, principal, bus driver, food service worker, or one of the many other outstanding staff members who work in our District, your role is critical in providing a quality education to the students in our schools. Please, don’t ever forget that even the smallest acts make the biggest difference in the life of a child.

We also wish to thank our parents and community. Your continued support of GESD schools is truly an asset that will never be taken for granted. You have helped make our District a place where all students feel welcome and can be successful. All of our success starts with you.

Finally, we want to thank GESD students for their continued commitment to making education a priority. School can be hard, but the rewards that come from pursuing a quality education are endless. We encourage you to continue to attend school with the same excitement and determination that we have seen in classrooms across our District.

We believe the faces of our children best express the true meaning of the holiday season. They radiate with a sense of unbridled enthusiasm, untainted hope and unabashed joy for life the opportunities that await them. No matter what their circumstance or place in life, all children deserve to feel nurtured, accepted, valued, safe and loved. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote:

Between the dark and the daylight,

When the night is beginning to lower,

Comes a pause in the day’s occupations,

That is known as the children’s hour.

This holiday season, our hope is that every child will have at least one caring adult who understand and shares the joy that comes when family and friends celebrate this time of year as “the children’s hour.” To the students, parents, staff and friends of the Glendale Elementary School District, have a safe and joyous holiday season.

Joe Quintana                     Dr. Donna Lewis

Superintendent                  Asst. Supt. for Educational Services

Dr. Barbara Goodwin       Mike Barragan

Asst. Supt. for                   Executive Director for

Human Resources             Financial and Auxilary Services

Jim Cummings, APR

Director of Communications and

Parent and Community Engagement

Taking courses this spring? Don't forget to let HR know by Jan. 10

With the new semester approaching, some of you may be considering registering for coursework that will help you advance on the salarty schedule for the 2014-15 school year. Before you do, we want to remind you that new guidelines, agreed to in the IBN process, went into effect on July 1.

Go here for a presentation that outlines the procedures you'll have to follow to assure that you'll be eligible for salary advancement. You can also download a form for pre-approval here. You will need to complete that form and return it to the human resources office no later than Jan. 10, 2014.

Sine's Jess Ledbetter takes the cake

Melvin E. Sine teacher Jess Ledbetter had a REALLY good Thanksgiving: the special education preschool teacher recently learned that she earned National Board Certification (NBCT) from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

National Board Certification is the most prestigious credential a teacher can earn. Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review.  National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers — and make them better. NBCTs have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 700 local school districts, including GESD, recognize NBCT as a mark of distinction.

Ledbetter is the fifth GESD teacher to earn her NBCT in the last three years. Last year, Bicentennial South teachers Qiana Harris and Catherine Ballentine, earned theirs, and two years ago Bicentennial South teachers Willis Carlson and Melanie Conger earned NBCT.

Bici North student selected as ELL Success Story by ADE

Julian Loffsner, an eighth-grade student from Bicentennial North, was chosen by the Arizona Department of Education as an ELL Success Story.

“Our selection committee was impressed with his dedication to English language acquisition, academics and personal growth,” said Alexandra Miller of the ADE’s Office of English Language Acquisition Services (OELAS) in an email to the Bici North administration announcing the honor. Loffsner will be honored at a luncheon on Dec. 12 during the OELAS state conference in Tucson.

Loffsner moved with his family to Arizona from Columbia in the Spring of 2012. In Columbia he took courses to learn English. “The basic stuff like vocabulary and verbs,” he said. His greatest challenge in learning English has been with pronunciation, where some letters are different than his native Spanish and where “sometimes one letter changes the entire pronunciation of the word.”

Last year, Loffsner was placed in a Structured English Immersion (SEI) class which specifically focused on grammar, reading, vocabulary, and listening and speaking. At every opportunity he asked teacher Barbara Hartley how to pronounce words, as well as their meanings. According to his teachers, Loffsner always carried a dictionary with him to class . . . including math.

The Bici North staff has described Loffsner as an eager, inquisitive learner, and his academic work shows it. In just two years he became proficient enough in English to move from ELL to general education classes; his AIMS scores are excellent (he exceeds expectations in math); and he has qualified for the gifted program.

"Julian's dedication to learning English made him stand our," said Bici North Assistant Principal Dr. Kristen Robertson. "In his second year ash an ELL student, he assumed a leadership role in class by assisting other students who were less proficient in English . . . He has demonstrated a sense of perseverance and intelligence through his classroom grades and standardized test scores. He is an eager learner who never stops asking questions in class. He is a role model for English language learners, not just in Arizona, but everywhere."

What we learned in school today: sharing

If you’re a coach who needs money for new equipment or uniforms, a robotics club looking for additional materials, the sponsor of a performing arts group that needs some extra funding, or just if you’re just looking for extra classroom supplies, the Arizona School Tax Credit is a great way to collect some extra funding.

So here's something you can do to help yourself; as we begin the end-of the-year push for tax credits for your schools, we need to ask you for a little help. Please share one of several tax credit postings on the District's Facebook page with those in your Facebook network. Our hope is to inspire some last-minute giving. Remember: every penny donated to the tax credit goes directly to the school for which it is targeted. The more the message is shared, the more donations that are likely to come in. Let's put the social into social media.

And don’t forget, you still have time to take advantage of the Tax Credit, too. GESD employees can make donations at their schools, or go online to make contributions before Dec. 31, and get a jump on next year’s taxes by donating through payroll deduction. You can earn a tax credit of up to $200 ($400 if you’re married and filed jointly) by participating in the program. Taking advantage of the payroll reduction option lets you make your contribution a little at a time. Employees who want to take advantage of the payroll deduction program will need to fill out a payroll deduction form and send it to payroll. Click here for more information on the tax credit program.

SmartSchools meetings set

The District will hold two SmartSchools Plus meetings for those employees who wish to consider enrolling in the program. The meetings are scheduled for Jan. 28 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m, and  Jan. 30 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m..  Both meetings will be held in Room 18 at the DO.

Upgrades will take down email, Internet over Winter Break

Here’s a good reason not to look at your email over Winter Break: you won’t be able to get to it.

On Jan. 2 – 3, 2014  an electrical project that will replace aging equipment will take place in the District Office. Because of that, power is expected to be out at the DO for a period of four to six hours. During this time period, email, internet and phones will not be available district-wide. All systems will be operational upon our return to work on Monday, Jan. 6. 

Calendar task force looking for volunteers

It’s the toughest job you’ll never love.

The District is beginning the process of developing calendars for the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years, and we are in need of teacher and classified employee volunteers. If you’re interested, please contact Director of Communications Jim Cummings directly.