MAY 2010

For the most up-to-date information from Mr. Lee, please visit his blog at http://www.ppesprincipal.blogspot.com/.

INFORMATION...
Below is a link to Superintendent Lee's letter regarding the budget. http://cmweb.pvschools.net/siteweb/budget_march2010.html

SUMMER SCHOOL: Summer Soaring at the Peak~ Hurry, Classes are filling fast!
Join us at PPES for a summer of fun and academics. There are a variety of classes offered for all age groups and interest levels. Spend your summer becoming a better reader, writer, dancer, or scientist. Be a part of the Summer Soaring news team, become a Jr. Vet, or learn how to lead a ìDangerousî and ìDaringî life. Spend your time revving up with the some great sports activities, or learn the discipline of yoga. Whatever your interest, Summer Soaring at the Peak has a class for you. Visit http://comed.pvschools.net/ for a complete list of classes. Any questions? E-mail James Hicks at jhicks@pvschools.net

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION:
Kindergarten registration will continue through the end of the school year, but please register as soon as you are able. It would be helpful to know our student numbers as soon as possible.

OPEN ENROLLMENT: PPES will accept open enrollment for all grades (Kdg-6).

REPORT CARDS AND INFINITE CAMPUS: PVUSD is going through a major change in its student data management system. Our new system, called Infinite Campus, will prove to be a very powerful opportunity for you to monitor information regarding your child. Please click on the link below for step-by-step instructions on how to check your child's grades.

http://cmweb.pvschools.net/ppesweb/ICParentHelp

To view a sample copy of our new Report Card, please click the link below.

http://cmweb.pvschools.net/ppesweb/samplereportcard.pdf

NEWS FROM THE SPECIAL AREAS ...
MUSIC~ from Mrs. Zollars
Rehearsal days and Times: 4th grade students rehearse on Mondays before school from 8:00-8:40am. 5th and 6th grade students rehearse on Wednesdays before school from 8:00-8:40am.

PE~ from Mr. Mang
PE Calendars: Calendars can now be found online at: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/ppesweb. Just follow the links from departments and grade levels to special areas, to Mr. Mang's P.E. Department, and then to P.E. Calendar. Or you can just go to http://cmweb.pvschools.net/-gmang. P.E. Calendars are a fun and easy way for kids to be active. And don't forget, students who turn a calendar in are eligible to win gift cards to fun places!

ART~ from Mrs.Kohl Our creative students that worked so hard on their duck stamp designs have been honored again. The winners were announced on a.m. announcements three weeks ago. Many of the entries are on display outside the art room now. These will be taken down soon and another set displayed. The 1st-3rd and honorable mention winners from our school for the Arizona State Duck Design will be on display next week and their names will be posted on the art door. If your child was a winner for their design or conservation message, please look in their backpack because they have an invitation to the awards assembly at the Zoo on May 22nd at 9a.m. There will be a short speech, students receive their huge ribbons, usually a gift, and your family can enjoy the zoo for the day with the 2 free adult passes that your child receives. All children 12 and under are free. I have taken photos of numerous designs and hope to create our own PPES duck calendar for next year.
May 10th, on 9a.m. school announcements Olivia Raiff will be honored for having her design picked to be made into a real stamp. The Arizona Fish and Game department and Duck's Unlimited is now recognizing the elementary student's expertise and creating 500 stamps to be purchased for philatelists and duck hunters to purchase. Our before-school duck studio time and supplies this year, were primarily covered by a grant from the Raiff foundation. We will be hanging a picture in our school that includes a copy of Olivia's design, the real stamp and a picture of her with the Governor. This year's state winner was also from our school. Taylor Forbeck will have her design made into a stamp for this year. She will be interviewed on May 10th and recognized on May 22nd with the other state winners. Our students' hard work and expertise is being recognized. If you have been saving your child's design each year, you are able to view their incredible increase of knowledge of bird species shapes and patterns, and also see their artistic skills develop. Congratulations to all our students.
Two other students, Sam Teplitz and Jacob Metz entered a Forever Wildlife contest this year where they drew our state fish, which is the Apache trout, plus had to write a short essay. We will find out the results on May 11th.
All entries to the District Art Show are now on display in our school's office area. Congratulations to those students. The year is winding down, but 5th grade is working on clay heads and 6th grade is creating a metal repousse sculpture. Fourth is learning about Rousseau and how to create tints and shades in paint. Third grade is working on fish designs and second is finishing with Georgia Okeeffe and wonderful pastel flowers. First and kindergarten are busy with environments, insects and flowers. Watch out for huge ladybugs!

April 2010

For the most up-to-date information from Mr. Lee, please visit his blog at http://www.ppesprincipal.blogspot.com/.

INFORMATION...
A NOTE FROM MR. LEE:

Dear Parents,

I wanted to take a moment to share some critical information regarding the school and what you can expect as we get closer to summer. This will help you to understand and navigate a very unusual and uncertain spring time.

As I'm sure you are aware, there is an election forthcoming in May that will impact the budget's of Arizona's school districts for the 2010-2011 school year. Typically, PVUSD has already outlined a reasonably firm budget next year, and has staffed and funded accordingly. Because of the uncertainty regarding the outcome of the election, PVUSD is moving forward under both possible scenarios (failure or passage), so that it can be ready for the following year. In short, there is no way for PVUSD to wait until after the election before dealing with the myriad of staffing, supplying, and funding issues for 2010-2011.

Because of this, we are preparing for both possible outcomes. Obviously, the uncertainty regarding staffing will not allow me to assign teachers to grade levels, etc., with any confidence. In the coming weeks, we will have two staffing/assignment lists for 2010-2011, and we will need to wait to see which one goes "live." These list of assignments may include teacher movement to different grade levels or to different schools. I know that rumors spread and stories are told, but it will be important that we proceed with the understanding that nothing is definite, at this time.

More concrete and aside from hearing stories about possible staffing changes, the most pronounced effect of this process will be our inhibited ability to work with class lists for next year. As always, I will try and find an avenue for experience-based input, however, it is very possible that class lists will not be available until the summer or fall. Although I like to get assignments to families on the final report card, it just may not be feasible this year. But, we will do our best!

In closing, the purpose of this post is to encourage the understanding that many stories are likely to be heard and scenarios presented, however, we do not yet know which of those outcomes will come to fruition. I urge everyone to "hang in there," while we go through these very unusual times. Fortunately, I can say with complete confidence that strong instruction will continue through the reminder of the year, regardless of the "backdrop."

As always, I will keep you posted as news arises. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

-Mike

Below is a link to Superintendent Lee's letter regarding the budget. http://cmweb.pvschools.net/siteweb/budget_march2010.html

AIMS TESTING: AIMS testing begins April 13 and continues through April 20 for grades 3-6. Stanford 10 testing for second grade is held on April 14 and 15. Please make every effort to ensure that your child is on time and in school during our testing weeks. For students who arrive after a testing session has begun, he/she will not be allowed into the classroom until the conclusion of that testing session, and will be scheduled to make up the test at a later date. Getting to bed early and providing nutritious meals and snacks for your child helps to boost brain power! Although some days are allotted for make-up testing, the window to perform make up tests is severely reduced this year. In addition, for some children, the anxiety of testing in an unfamiliar room, with an unfamiliar adult and students can be unnerving. We are excited for our students to demonstrate what they have learned this year!

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION:
Kindergarten registration will continue through the end of the school year, but please register as soon as you are able. It would be helpful to know our student numbers as soon as possible.

OPEN ENROLLMENT: PPES will accept open enrollment for all grades (Kdg-6).

REPORT CARDS AND INFINITE CAMPUS: PVUSD is going through a major change in its student data management system. Our new system, called Infinite Campus, will prove to be a very powerful opportunity for you to monitor information regarding your child. Please click on the link below for step-by-step instructions on how to check your child's grades.

http://cmweb.pvschools.net/ppesweb/ICParentHelp

To view a sample copy of our new Report Card, please click the link below.

http://cmweb.pvschools.net/ppesweb/samplereportcard.pdf

NEWS FROM THE SPECIAL AREAS ...
ART~ from Mrs. Kohl
Arabian Horse Show: Exciting news from the PPES art room. All entries from the Arabian horse show on display will be taken down next week and returned to students. Art work that was on display at the District art show will then be on display in the office.

Taylor Forbeck was chosen as the state winner from grades K-6 to have her duck stamp design made into a real stamp this year. Arizona Fish and Game prints 6,too stamps each year to be purchased by hunters and philatelists. Since last year, 500 of those are a student's design. Olivia Raiff, from our school was last year's winner. Her stamp design was sold out in two months. Her family granted our school a large sum in order to pay for this year's before-school studio time, supplies and art that displays Olivia's duck design, original stamp, plus a picture of her with Governor Brewer. Taylor will also have this same opportunity.

Thirty eight students were winners in the 2010-2011 Arizona Federal Junior Duck Stamp contest. In group K-3, 1st place, Avery Stauffacher and 3rd place, Lindsay Dahl plus 12 Honorable Mentions. Samantha Rhodes won for her conservation message of "Our earth is a terrible thing to waste" and Makai Scott for "Don't be a quack put your stuff in the trash".
In group 4-6, Sydney Collins and Taylor Forbeck with a 1st place, Kiana Clarke, Brandon Kwon and Emma Merdovic in 2nd place, and 3rd place was Giavanna Devito, Ashley Harlan and Bianca Vianson. Twelve students received Honorable Mention. Conservation Message winners were Colton Kennedy "Preserve today what you want for tomorrow" and Brian Lu for "Be fond of the pond".

Upcoming events would include a possible Duck Stamp Design calendar for next year and viewing of designs on PPES web site. Congratulations to all students for their hard work. Many other designs will be on display outside the art room next week.

MUSIC~ from Mrs. Zollars
PPES CHOIR CONCERT: There will be a choir concert on May 11th at 7:00pm. in the multi-purpose room. Annie, Wicked, Hairspray, and Grease, just to name a few…

Please join the choir as they perform “Broadway Our Way”. We are sure you will recognize many of these songs, and you may even want to sing along. Take a trip back with us as we perform some musical highlights of Broadway Theater. Bring the whole family!!

Rehearsal days and Times: 4th grade students rehearse on Mondays before school from 8:00-8:40am. 5th and 6th grade students rehearse on Wednesdays before school from 8:00-8:40am.

PE~ from Mr. Mang
District Field Day: On Tuesday, March 16, select students in grades 4-6 competed in the annual Paradise Valley District Field Day at Horizon High School. Once again, Pinnacle Peak students faired very well against other schools in our district. Events included the 75 Yard Dash, 600 Yard Run, High Jump, Long Jump, and Relays. Most importantly, the representatives from Pinnacle Peak had a fun day in this competition. Congratulations to all students who competed.

PE Calendars: Calendars can now be found online at: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/ppesweb. Just follow the links from departments and grade levels to special areas, to Mr. Mang's P.E. Department, and then to P.E. Calendar. Or you can just go to http://cmweb.pvschools.net/-gmang. P.E. Calendars are a fun and easy way for kids to be active. And don't forget, students who turn a calendar in are eligible to win gift cards to fun places!