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FUSD Newsletter
MARCH 2024
![FUSD Newsletter MARCH 2024](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/a85d/thumb-63db94b0768ef9baa79177dbf35d18ee.png)
A PDF version is available
FUSD Superintendent Michael Penca
Resilience
Throughout this school year, I am highlighting and sharing with our community the ways both students and staff of the Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) are cultivating the conditions for our District’s Profile of a Learner skills — Critical Thinking, Communication, Empathy, Initiative, and Resilience to flourish and prepare our students to be global citizens.
READ MORE, click HERE
Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School receives A+ School of Excellence Award
Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School was recently honored as one of 37 Arizona public schools that earned the Arizona Education Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence Award.
According to the Arizona Education Foundation (AEF), the award is a way to identify, celebrate, and recognize educational excellence in schools throughout Arizona. It is also the highest state-level award given to public schools and is often a stepping stone for schools seeking National Blue Ribbon status.
Principal Ellen Herman made the announcement to the Flagstaff Unified School District’s governing board on March 26, 2024.
“Among the 37 schools [awarded] this year, ranging from elementary to high school, Kinsey stands out as a prime example of educational excellence, embodying a number of characteristics for a public school,” said Herman. “This recognition isn’t just a badge of honor. It’s a testament to Kinsey’s unwavering commitment to its profound impact on the lives of its students and community.”
Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School will celebrate the achievement at 9:30 a.m. on May 16, 2024, unveiling their A+ School of Excellence banner. A follow-up article will be published in May.
2024 Special Olympics Cheerleading Competition at Sinagua Middle School
Special Olympics Arizona held a Cheerleading Competition in the Sinagua Middle School auditorium on February 6, 2024. Current FUSD students and alumni had a blast learning and performing cheers and dance routines.
VIEW MORE photos HERE
What is the FUSD Foundation? What do they do?
The Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation, better known as the FUSD Foundation, was established in 2005 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences of FUSD students with the help and support of alumni and community resources.
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Photos, top: Amy Dries, woods teacher at Sinagua Middle School, poses with some of her students in her wood shop class on February 15, 2024. Bottom: Sara Owen, preschool coordinator at FUSD, poses with Annette Pranke, preschool teacher at DeMiguel Elementary School, on February 21, 2024.
Student of the Year Jai McCabe poses with his award and certificate with Renda Fisk, president of STEM City Flagstaff.
McCabe wins Student of the Year at STEMMY Awards Ceremony
Flagstaff Unified School District was well represented once again at this year’s STEMMY Awards Ceremony, which was held on March 7, 2024, at the Coconino Center for the Arts.
Coconino High School freshman Jai McCabe won Student of the Year, and the Coconino High School CocoNuts Robotics Team won Community Partner of the Year.
Eugene Ellsworth Bowers and Tawni Slade, both 11th graders from Coconino High School, were also finalists for Student of the Year, along with McCabe.
According to STEM City, who hosted the awards ceremony, each year, the STEMMY Awards recognize outstanding students, teachers, organizations, and businesses whose contributions have made a significant impact on their community
VIEW MORE photos HERE
CocoNuts Robotics Team named 2024 STEM Community Partner of the Year, win FIRST Impact Award
The CocoNuts Robotics Team of Coconino High School continues its winning ways, garnering yet another recognition, this time as the 2024 STEM Community Partner of the Year. The CocoNuts were honored during the STEMMY Awards Ceremony held on March 7, 2024, at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff.
READ MORE, click HERE
MorningRain Honani dribbles down the basketball court during one of her games in the 2023-2024 Basketbal Season at Flagstaff High School. (Photo by Karl Mullings)
MorningRain Honani, Grand Canyon Region Player of the Year, named to 4A All-Conference First Team
Flagstaff High School Senior MorningRain Honani was recently named the Grand Canyon Region Player of the Year at the conclusion of the regular season of her illustrious high school basketball career.
READ MORE, click HERE
Undefeated season for Sinagua Girls’ Basketball team
Congratulations to the Sinagua Middle School Girls’ Varsity Basketball team for going undefeated this season!
VIEW MORE photos, click HERE.
Spencer Boatner
Spencer Boatner, a Poetry Out Loud finalist
Coconino High School Senior Spencer Boatner was the only Flagstaff representative who competed with eight other high schoolers from across the state in the 2024 Poetry Out Loud state finals held on March 2, 2024, at Northern Arizona University.
READ MORE, click HERE
Eydis Robison, a kindergartener in Ms. Turner’s class, uses her Apple iPad for a classroom scavenger hunt assignment on March 25, 2024, at Thomas Elementary School. She had to create a video on her iPad of all the number 20s she could find.
Thomas Elementary School has the highest number of Apple Teacher Recognition
Photos, top: The wooden art mosaic displayed on the wall of Killip Elementary School. Bottom, L-R: Teacher Myralyn McCabe, 3rd Grader Oscar Osuna Navarro, 5th Grader Axel Rodarte Rodriguez, and Dr. John Killip.
Wooden art mosaic presented to Killip Elementary School
“Hero of the Week” game at Kinsey during Black History Month
Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School celebrated Black heroes from the past and present by hosting a mystery “Hero of the Week” game during Black History Month. Each day on their morning show, a student announced one clue about the Black hero of the week. Around the school, QR codes were posted for students to scan and submit their guesses on who the hero of the week was. At the end of each week, all students who guessed the correct Black hero were entered into a random name picker, and the winning student received a prize and a shout-out on the announcements!
Last week’s winner was 5th Grader Da’Mare Tsosie, who correctly guessed the Tuskegee Airmen. Great job, Da’Mare!
Stargazing at DeMiguel Elementary School
DeMiguel Elementary School hosted its Star Party at the Walker Observatory on January 26, 2024.
READ MORE, click HERE
Photo, L-R: Judith Romero, Renda Fisk, and Heather Zeigler
Renda Fisk receives “Making IT Happen Award”
Renda Fisk, the coordinator of Learning, Technology, and Innovation at Flagstaff Unified School District, received the Arizona Technology in Education Association (AzTEA) and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) “Making IT Happen Award” on February 23, 2024.
READ MORE, click HERE
FHS, CHS Varsity Girls’ Soccer rivalry game
Flagstaff High School and Coconino High School Varsity Girls’ Soccer teams had a rivalry game at Coconino High School on Thursday, February 1, 2024, as they neared the end of their regular season.
VIEW MORE photos, click HERE.
Staff Highlights: Elizabeth Stradling, Patricia Harris, and Bailee Shupe
Elizabeth Stradling, FUSD bus driver
Elizabeth Stradling is a first-year bus driver and is completing her first full year of driving for the Flagstaff Unified School District. She helps to transport special needs students to and from school daily. She has been with the school district for 10 years, mainly as a bus aid.
READ MORE, click HERE
FUSD celebrates National School Breakfast Week
Flagstaff Unified School District celebrated National School Breakfast Week during the week of March 4-8, 2024. The designation celebrates the importance of ensuring every child has access to a nutritious breakfast at school to fuel them for success.
Flagstaff Unified School District social workers. Pictured, L-R: Nan Shoaff, Cindy McCollum, Vanessa Billegas, and Elyse Moreno.
National School Social Workers Week
National School Social Workers Week was celebrated during the week of March 3-9, 2024. It is a week to honor school social workers and highlight the important work they do to meet students’ social, emotional, physical, and environmental needs. Learn more at www.sswaa.org/school-social-work-week.
Thank you, FUSD Social Workers!
FLAGSTAFF UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
3285 East Sparrow Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
(928) 527-6000 | www.fusd1.org