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2018-19 School Year
Open Enrollment Underway
The Scottsdale Unified School District began accepting Open Enrollment applications for the 2018-19 school year November 1. Applications received after the Phase 1 December 1 deadline will be dated, filed and considered only after students whose applications were submitted by the deadline have had an opportunity to enroll.
In-district parents/guardians wishing to send a student to a school other than the one in whose attendance area they reside may apply to do so through Open Enrollment. Likewise, out-of-district parents may apply through Open Enrollment to send their student to a SUSD school.
New to SUSD's online process this year is a system that allows parents to file an open enrollment application for multiple students in their family.
All public school districts in the state of Arizona are required to offer open enrollment as a means of promoting school choice. For complete information about SUSD Open Enrollment, click here.
As you well know, there are many, many reasons to choose SUSD for your students' education, from rigorous academic offerings and outstanding performing arts programs to award-winning robotics and athletics teams. Here are a few more.
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 SUSD Outstanding Educators
Congratulations to the first 29 SUSD teachers who have been named Outstanding Educators by Superintendent Birdwell and the SUSD Governing Board! The teachers have received surprise visits in their classrooms in recent weeks from Dr. Birdwell and members of the Cabinet. The teachers will be honored at the Governing Board's Nov. 14 meeting.
They are:
| Courtney Wilson |
Anasazi Elementary School |
| Jennifer Dukelow |
Arcadia High School |
| Angela Velazquez |
Chaparral High School |
| Dana Bair |
Cherokee Elementary School |
| Ashtyn Mead |
Cheyenne Traditional School |
| Paulina Watson |
Cochise Elementary School |
| Tami Carr |
Cocopah Middle School |
| Casey Kadavy |
Copper Ridge School |
| Janine Helton |
Coronado High School |
| Sarah Bauer |
Desert Canyon Elementary School |
| Sheri Burke |
Desert Canyon Middle School |
| Ryan Hill |
Desert Mountain High School |
| Angelyn Chasse |
Echo Canyon School |
| Linda Tardie |
Hohokam Elementary School |
| Courtney Wilson |
Hopi Elementary School |
| Traci Avalos |
Ingleside Middle School |
| Amy Smith |
Kiva Elementary School |
| Taylor Ruyffeleare |
Laguna Elementary School |
| Corey Muren |
Mohave Middle School |
| Robin Stieglitz |
Mountainside Middle School |
| Trish Simmons |
Navajo Elementary School |
| Ora Amsellem |
Pima Elementary School |
| Christina Bandelin |
Pueblo Elementary School |
| Megan Kraatz |
Redfield Elementary School |
| Marcy Cameron |
Saguaro High School |
| Allison Burns |
Sequoya Elementary School |
| Sharon Nelson |
Tavan Elementary School |
Amber Longo
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Tonalea K-8 School |
Michael Epstein
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Yavapai Elementary School
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Congratulations, Outstanding Teachers, from everyone at the District and, on their behalf, from all of the students and the colleagues you have inspired to do great things at SUSD!
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We're looking forward to greeting your littlest learners next fall as they head off to one of our 19 schools that offer full-day kindergarten!
Schools will host their own "Roundup" and post details of their individual events on their SUSD website
home page; however, all of the Roundups will occur during the same weeks. Click
here for details. Refer to the map for school contact information.
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Showcase 2017:
A Celebration of SUSD
Cocopah Middle School turned into a sea of SUSD school communities on Oct. 21 as it hosted the third annual SUSD Showcase. We hope you were able to be a part of the celebration! It was a wonderful gathering of students, families, teachers and principals. Student musical performances and works of art were on display and schools were able to highlight what makes them so great. In case you didn't know, we have some super-talented students and super-dedicated teachers and administrators!
Many thanks to Cocopah, Building Services, Community Ed, Kids Club, Nutrition, Transportation and the Warehouse for helping put the event together. A special thank you goes to Arcadia High School's CMAS program and its director, Richard Maxwell, for producing the stage performances and to the members of the Cocopah National Junior Honor Society, who were our Art House set-up/break-down helpers and all-around errand-runners.
We'd like to know what you think about Showcase so we can make it even better next year! Please click here to take a quick survey - you don't have to have attended Showcase to take part.
Thank you!
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IB Middle Years Parent Info Night 
The International Baccalaureate's Middle Years program is coming to Mountainside Middle School! Find out what that all means at a special Information Night for parents only coming up at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 30.
The MYP will be open to current and future Mountainside students, as well as, by open enrollment, to non-Mountainside students who reside in and out of SUSD. It will feed into the existing International Baccalaureate Pre-Diploma and Diploma programs housed next door at Desert Mountain High School. Questions? Contact Mountainside's MYP Coordinator Lois Sugar, (480) 484-5500, ext. 4151.
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 Math & Science Academy Info Night
SUSD's Math & Science Academy at Saguaro High School provides enhanced learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to academically motivated and dedicated students. The Academy graduates students who are fully qualified and highly motivated to purse STEM-oriented university degrees.
You do not have to reside in the Saguaro attendance area for your student to enroll in the Math & Science Academy!
Find out more about this rigorous SUSD academic program on Wednesday, November 15 in the Saguaro Library at 6 p.m. Or contact Daniel Milligan
at (480) 484-7106.
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DCMS 'Force' Awakened 
It has been said many a time that it takes a village to raise a child. At Desert Canyon Middle School (DCMS), we learned recently that a force of good deed-doers can be summoned on behalf of a would-be X-wing fighter pilot.
The idea to create the coolest Halloween costume ever for the wheelchair of 6th grader Jonathan Ferrell came from DCMS Security Officer Dennis Draper. Before it was over, the project enveloped art teacher Jill Weller, Success teacher Grant Kaufman, guidance counselor Nick Pasco, DCMS Assistant Principal Marilyn Engle, Desert Canyon Elementary Dean of Students Erik Hedrick, Facilities Coordinator Wade Watson, maintenance employees Richard Valdez and Mike Gable, art teacher Shelly Allende, language arts teacher Kelly O'Rourke, P.E. teacher Tom Scala, paraeducator Kim Edwards, aviation teacher Lynette Kampa and technology teacher Larry Bloom and, of course, Principal Dale Link. Now that's a village!
With the assistance of the local Dune Sea Garrison, a local Star Wars costuming club, Jonathan was presented with his one-of-a-kind X-wing costume at a school assembly on Oct. 27. He was reported to be over at least two of Tatooine's three moons!
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 Cocopah Social Studies Teacher Recognized 
Congratulations to Cocopah Middle School 7th grade social studies teacher Cheri Stegall, 2017 Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award recipient! The award is named after a long-time New York educator who influenced U.S. civics and law-related education and co-founded the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education.
Mrs. Stegall has been teaching at Cocopah since 2001 and very much fits the bill for the award: she is dedicated to the instruction of her students and, away from school, takes part in many professional organizations dedicated to social studies education, such as the Scottsdale Civil War Round Table and the Arizona Geographic Alliance. Thank you for doing SUSD proud, Mrs. Stegall!
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Coronado Students Seeing Their Future
The goal of the Coronado Success Initiative is to better prepare Coronado High School students for success: in school, in college, in the workplace, in life.
This past week, each Coronado grade took part in activities to get them thinking about their future:
- Freshmen visited EVIT, the East Valley Institute of Technology, which offers Career and Technical Education programs beyond those offered in SUSD
- Sophomores learned about degree options at Scottsdale Community College
- Juniors visited the Arizona State University (ASU) campus
- The senior class took part in Coronado's very first College Application Day, working at computers with advisors, filling out and submitting community college and state university applications. Application fees were waived, courtesy of the Arizona Commission for Post-secondary Education.
Principal Chris Gilmore says 70% of the senior class submitted at least one college application that day, and they're already seeing results: one student was accepted this week at Northern Arizona University and another learned that he may be eligible for a $10,000 Provost's Scholarship to attend ASU.
"Dons are learning that the future they want for themselves and that their families want for them is really possible, and we are absolutely committed to removing the barriers to get them there," said Gilmore.
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Echo Canyon Grows Learners ... and Vegetables
As part of its celebration of Childhood Nutrition Month in October, Echo Canyon School hosted 10 local chefs one evening, tasking them with creating sumptuous dishes based on produce grown and tended to by Echo Canyon students.
The Family Chef in the Garden event, made possible by a partnership with the James Beard Impact Committee and Slow Food Foudnation, was a big hit - and the food was mighty yummy, too!
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County Air Award for Navajo
Navajo Elementary School drove away (but in an environmentally responsible way!) with the People's Choice Trip Reduction Program (TRP) Best Bulletin Board Award at last week's annual Valley Metro recognition luncheon.
Maricopa County employers with more than 50 employees are required to submit plans to the county annually that describe their efforts to reduce the number of daily, single-person commutes around town in an effort to reduce polluting auto emissions. A bulletin board promoting the benefits of ride sharing, public transportation, alternate means of transportation and telecommuting are a staple of every plan, and Navajo's was judged to be the best! Mohave Middle School's TRP bulletin board was also a finalist this year.
Thank you, Navajo, for helping improve air quality in the Valley!
Pictured, from left to right in the right-hand photo, are Scottsdale City Councilwoman/Valley Metro RPTA Board Chair Suzanne Klapp, Navajo Elementary School Community Specialist/TRP Coordinator Fabiola Ordonez, Navajo Principal Matt Patzlaff, Mesa City Councilman/Valley Metro Rail Board Chair Chris Glover and Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith.
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Saguaro Robotics Alliance Takes 2nd
Saguaro High School's FRC Robotics team brought home a silver medal from the recent Sanghi Foundation FRC Arizona Robotics Championships. Competing in an alliance with Brophy College Prep and Tempe Prep Academy, the Sabercats survived eight qualification matches and three semifinal matches to make it to the finals of the event held October 21 at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena. Way to go, Cats! Teams from Chaparral and Desert Mountain competed admirably, as well.
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| SUSD Sports:
High School Student Athletes Deliver Championship Performances
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Photo courtesy of
Andy Morales, AZPreps365.com
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SUSD was well represented at several recent, season-ending state championship tournaments, bringing home the hardware in golf, swim and dive, and badminton!
- The Chaparral girls swim and dive team swam to its fourth consecutive Division II title last weekend at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, and it wasn't even close. The Firebirds won all three relay events and seven out of the nine individual events, led by freshman Ashley Strouse, who was named the meet's top swimmer. The diving title went to Chaparral's Mia Waters, who was named the meet's best diver. Wow!
- Not to be outdone, the Chaparral boys swim and dive team repeated as Division II champion, with sophomore Matthew Leblanc taking the 200 individual medley and the 100 breast stroke. He was named the boys' swimmer of the meet.
- Turning to the fairways, the Arcadia High School boys golf team shot a 3-under in the Division II state golf championship at OMNI Tucson National Oct. 23-24 to take the school's 10th state title. Tucker Clark tied for 3rd; Bobby Peirce and Gavin Aurilia also medaled in the competition.
- On the girl's side, senior Hannah May finished at 4 over par, good for 4th place, and combining with her teammates for a 4th place team finish.
- At that same tournament, Chaparral senior Kelly Su successfully defended her Division II state title, shooting 2-under par. With Aleks Mikalacki, Autumn Ellingson, Lindsey Billings and Lucy Bach, the Firebirds captured 3rd place.
- A week later, also at the Tucson courses, the Chaparral boys golf team of Mason Domecq, Jack Whisler, Preston Summerhays, Mason Nam and Nicky Kling combined in a nail-biter to fend off Brophy College Prep by one stroke for the school's seventh title.
- Last weekend, Chaparral junior Abi Archer rolled to a second consecutive Division II girls cross country state championship, shaving 29 seconds off her 2016 time.
- Finally, the top-ranked Chaparral girls duo of Jerikah Davis and Taylor Alphabet took the state Division II state badminton doubles championship, defeating the #2 team from Cactus.
Middle Grades Closing Out Fall Seasons
The girls soccer and boys basketball seasons end with the Middle School Sports Festival on Saturday, November 18. More than 800 students on 51 teams from the nine SUSD middle and K-8 schools will meet on pitches and courts at four locations around town.
- 7th grade boys basketball and all grades girls soccer - 7:30 a.m., Saguaro High School
- 6th grade boys basketball - 8 a.m., Coronado High School
- All grades softball - 8 a.m., Horizon Park, 15419-15469 N. 100th St.
- 8th grade boys basketball and all grades boys soccer - 7:30 a.m., Desert Mountain High School
Many thanks to ALL of our student athletes and their coaches for representing SUSD so well this fall!
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Scottsdale Unified School District values our partnerships with local business. Businesses now have the opportunity to support SUSD through the purchase of monthly advertising in SUSD newsletters that are distributed to the families of more than 23,000 SUSD students and more than 3,000 employees.
Additionally, SUSD offers several other opportunities for businesses to support the District through event sponsorships and school wish-list fulfillment.
Businesses interested in learning more about opportunities to support SUSD can contact the SUSD Communications Department at
[email protected]
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| Tax Credit Contributions Benefit SUSD Students |
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Tax Credit
Tax Credit contributions can be made anytime throughout the school year. Anyone who pays Arizona state income tax can give. Please click HERE to learn more about making a tax credit contribution to SUSD.
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Upcoming Events
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Veterans Day observed - No school
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November 14:
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SUSD Governing Board meeting, 5 p.m., Coronado High School, 7501 E. Virginia, Scottsdale
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Early Release - K-5 & K-8 Schools - Parent/Teacher Conferences
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November 15:
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SUSD Math and Science Academy Information Night, 6 - 7 p.m., Saguaro High School,
6250 N. 82nd St., Scottsdale
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Early Release - Middle Schools - Parent/Teacher Conferences
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November 18:
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Middle School Sports Festival
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November 30:
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IB Middle Years Program Information Night, 6 - 7 p.m., Mountainside Middle School, 11256 N. 128th St., Scottsdale
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CONNECT TO SCOTTSDALE STUDENTS AND STAFF
THROUGH OUR MONTHLY DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS!
Support your own business by supporting Scottsdale Schools.
We have two monthly newsletters with ad space available - one to the parents of our 23,000 students and one to our 3,000 employees. Every dollar you spend advertising with us goes back into promoting our amazing students and schools!
SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR EDUCATION BY BECOMING A SPONSOR!
Scottsdale Unified School District is always looking for new community partnerships. From sports to science and from fine arts to robotics, our school teams can always use more support. If you are looking for a way to help our students and promote your business at the same time, ask us about our sponsorship opportunities!
Contact our representative today at 480-484-6223 for more information.
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