SUNNYSLOPE HIGH SCHOOL | 35 WEST DUNLAP AVE. | Phoenix AZ, 85021 Community Newsletter

A Message From Our Athletic Director

Winter sports have come to a close with our Boys Basketball team making it to the Semi-Finals of the state tournament facing the very tough Paradise Val-ley team.

Spring sports are now underway! Our State Championship Baseball Team is hoping to make another run towards another state championship! All spring schedules can be found on the website at http://sunnyslope.guhsdaz.org, un-der athletics.

We look forward to a successful spring season for all of our teams!

GO VIKINGS!

Do you have a Parent Portal Login?

Now is the time to check your stu-dent’s grades! As the year passes by so quickly, students need to be en-couraged to keep up the good work. Parents matter, and your attention makes a difference to your stu-dent’s success! To login or sign up go to: https://mystudent.guhsdaz.org/

“Things turn out best

for the people who make

the best of the way

things turn out.”

-John Wooden-

SPRING 2013 ISSUE 3

GUHSD

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Hello, Viking Families! Well, it’s hard to believe another year is concluding; May will be here before we know it, and for our seniors, graduation is fast-approaching. In my 20 years’ experience I have come to know this: these 4 years are fast, pivotal, and packed full of phenomenal growth. As a team we have to help our students find their confidence, help them find their direction, and help them grow and gain as much experience as possible. With our support and guidance, they will be able to develop goals and aspirations that will lead them into an independent and fulfilling adult life. In this competitive world, career op-tions must be recognized and knowledge must be gained as young adults consider post-secondary educational possibilities and programs of study. With this in mind and as we move toward graduation, please continue to have those healthy, goal-centered conver-sations with your students frequently. Please continue to join them on our parent and student portals to monitor their progress. Stay in touch with their counselors and teachers and consider visits with academic counselors at those post-secondary institu-tions they may be considering. It’s never too soon to get online and explore their fu-tures with them. Get them excited about post-secondary opportunities, career options, and a fulfilling, independent, responsible adult life.

No matter the situation, as a team we must stay the course toward their brightest fu-ture.

I look forward to our continued work together. Thanks, Steve Ducey Sunnyslope High School

Submitted by: Michael Fenton, Math Teacher and Head Girls Softball Coach

Key Club Submitted by: Thomas Birk, Foreign Language Teacher

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The Sunnyslope Key Club has been very busy this past school year. They have fed the homeless several times in the month of February and March at the St. Vincent de Paul Chris Becker Dining Room. They also worked at Desert Mission Food Bank (pictured below) on several occasions this semester. In the month of Janu-ary, Key Club went to Reigning Grace Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona to receive ori-entation for rescuing horses. On Valentine’s Day, a group of students went to Madison Meadows Senior Center to give out Valentine’s Day cards and choco-lates to the residents. The Sunnyslope Key Club definitely goes out of their way to perform selfless acts of kindness in their com-munity. Thank you, Key Club!

2013 Sunnyslope Softball Roster Leslie Redondo

Emma Harding Natalie Costello Kim Csontos

Madison Younger LiAnn Ruth Mia Quintero

Mackenzy Barnfield Rylie Moga Mackenziw Knobbe Brittany Brahms

Justine Ridley Lizzie Hannah

Please come support the Sunnyslope Softball Team at their upcoming games:

4/15 Arcadia - Home 7:00 p.m. 4/18 Paradise Vly - Away 4:00 p.m. 4/19 Shadow Mtn. - Home 7:00 p.m.

The Viking First Robotics Team 3281 competed in the Phoenix Regionals on Thursday, March 21, Friday, March 22, and Saturday March 23 during spring break. The team has been working 6 days a week on this year’s robot and put in 147 hours of work over the last 6 weeks. Team members are: Christian Pulley, Christopher Tru-jillo, Dominique Frey, Sebastian Kastrul, Alec Arthur, and Shane Castle led by Dawit Abi, Presi-dent; Apollo Ascencio, Vice President; Lupe Cer-vantes, Secretary; Hector Nguyen, Treasurer; Dylan Castle, Member at Large and mentored by Nick Bonds, Engineering and Drafting teacher, Rodrigo Gomez and Doug Tatum, both former student members. We would also like to recog-nize our sponsors for their time, support and do-nations: Chanel Dudoit, Robert Miksovsky, Mi-chael Williams, Chad Kennedy of Devry Univer-sity, Slippery Pig Bike Shop, Mike Bode of Castle Steele and Rick Knisley of AzTech Educational Resources. This year’s contest is called “Ultimate Ascent.” The goal is to work with alliances of three teams to shoot and score as many Frisbees as possible into four levels of goals, then climb and hang from a 7.5’ tall pyramid structure. More infor-mation on First Robotics and this year’s contest can be found at www.usfirst.org and many videos can be found on You Tube.

First Robotics Goes For The Gold

Submitted by: Nicholas Bonds, Engineering and Drafting Teacher Submitted by: Andrew Page, Title I Pro-

gram Assistant and Varsity Girls Basket-ball Assistant Coach

Seniors Lizzie Hannah and Justine Rid-ley embody what it means to be student-athletes at Sunnyslope. They perform on the court, excel in the classroom, and lead with heart and courage. Lizzie Hannah is in the top 1% of her class, and in 2012, she also led the girls’ varsity basketball team to a winning record for the first time in a decade and helped secure a berth in the state playoffs while leading the team in scor-ing. The first in the gym and the last one out, Lizzie’s work ethic and determina-tion are unrivaled. Unfortunately, Lizzie underwent major knee surgery for an unthinkable third time in five years end-ing her chance to play her senior season. However, Lizzie chose to rise above her circumstances. She attended every practice and game knowing she would not play. She became another coach on the bench; she gave advice to team-mates. She encouraged those around her when she was the one who might have required encouraging the most. Not only is Justine Ridley a top student, but following the 2012 basketball playoff season, she was the only starter to return. She led her team in almost every statistical category on top of providing leadership to her younger teammates. She laughs and listens; she gives her fellow players a ride home after practice. She cares. Furthermore, Justine has been a four-year member of the varsity softball and the varsity bad-minton teams. Justine’s accomplish-ments have not come without serious adversity of her own. The summer after her freshmen year of high school, she lost her father to cancer. While the grieving process of losing a parent is ongoing, Justine achieved success in a way that could make any parent proud. Lizzie and Justine not only exemplify excellence as student-athletes, they have grown to become extraordinary people. They have learned life is not about what happens to them; they have learned life is about how they react to what happens to them.

The Sunnyslope Counseling Department is offering some suggestions for summer exploration that apply to all grade levels. Use these four steps to start charting a path to success! 1. Evaluate your transcript and selected future classes.

Do they meet your goals? Do you need to retake any classes for grade improvements, for scholarships or to pass?

2. List five universities or colleges you would like to attend. Go to each school website and write down important facts, like tuition costs, admission deadlines, and degree options. Take an online tour of each school on the school’s website. If possible, arrange for an actual in-person tour of the school. It is highly important to visit actual campuses and to get a feel for each location. Also, learn as much as you can about costs, living condi-tions, degree programs and entrance requirements.

3. Work on your resume! Start building an actual copy of your resume. You can go to www.Glendale.Bridges.com to work on your resume. Look for gaps (for example, lack of volunteer work).

4. Seek out opportunities! Visit the Career Center to look for summer programs, travel op-portunities, study opportunities, jobs, internships, and volunteer ide-as.

If you have any questions or would like summer school information, please see

your counselor. Enjoy your summer!

Sunnyslope F.E.A. Competition Submitted by: Sheila Novak, Education Professions Teacher

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SHS Future Educators Association State F.E.A. Competition Winners (1st and 2nd Place)

Application, Resume & Interview First Place

Erika Gamez

Meeting Protocol Second Place

Diana Bautista Leslie Ceniceros Brenda Vasquez

Jacob Thorne Erika Gamez

E-Portfolio First Place

Claudia Droge

FEA Moment Speaker

Leslie Ceniceros

Technology Video Lesson

Second Place Marylou Lescas

Guadalupe Rivera

Chapter of the Year Sunnyslope High School F.E.A.

This school year has been an eventful and rewarding one for the active members of the Education Professions class and Future Educators Association Chapter. To start the year of leadership training and competition, chapter officers attended a two day camp in Pres-cott, and all chapter members attended the Regional Conference at U of A in November and the State Conference at Grand Canyon University in March. Many students compet-ed and earned awards (see list of 1st and 2nd place winners) In addition, Erika Gamez was awarded the Student Achievement Award at the Master level and won a $500 scholar-ship. To finish off the school year, the chapter will work on teacher appreciation activi-ties, hold the end-of-the-year banquet and awards ceremony, welcome new members for next year’s chapter, and hold officer elections for ’13-‘14.

Graduation!

May 28, 2013

Ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon University 3300 W. Camelback Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85017

For more information about graduation, please visit out

website: sunnyslope.guhsdaz.org under

Quick Links.

Parents, Throughout the year we have had instances of tension related to stu-dents posting inappropriate com-ments on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Although social media sites serve a positive purpose in today’s society, issues arise from inappropriate or ques-tionable things on social media sites. There have been questions from parents related to a Sunnyslope High School Face-book page. I wanted to inform you that Sunnyslope High School does not have a district approved Facebook page. Any Facebook websites claiming to be connected to Sunnyslope High School are not approved by/affiliated with the Glendale Union High School District and Sunnyslope High School. I would ask that you speak with your son/daughter re-garding the appropriate use of so-cial media. If you have any ques-tions, please feel free to contact me at 623-915-8767. Thank you, Todd Nelson Sunnyslope HS Assistant Princi-

pal for Attendance & Discipline

GLENDALE UNION

JOIN TODAY! Visit

www.vikingparentclub.org

Join us for our next meeting: May 14th at 7:00 p.m. Sarah Stahlbush speaks on

The Adolescent Brain (part 3)!

Interested in participating in VPC as a member of our Executive Board or Committees?

We need you!

Contact Katherine.Nunn@guhsdaz.org today!

The Glendale Union High School District has been named the nation's Advanced Placement (AP) District of the Year by the College Board. GUHSD earned this award for being the na-tional leader in expanding AP courses and improving our AP Exam scores. From an elite list of 539 school districts across the nation, GUHSD was chosen as the AP District of the Year. From 2009 to 2012, GUHSD:

Increased student participation in AP by 15 percent annually; Increased the percentage of AP students earning a 3 or above on at least one AP Exam by 14 percent annually, with 51% of AP students scoring 3 or above in 2012; and increased the percentage of traditionally underserved mi-nority AP students earning 3 or above on at least one AP Exam by 21 percent annually, an increase of 142 stu-dents last year.

This national recognition affirms that GUHSD is helping more students learn at a higher level and ensures they are pre-pared for college and careers. For more information about Glendale Union’s Advanced Placement program visit www.guhsdaz.org.