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HIGLEY UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Magazine
1st
Issue!
Spring 2019
WE ARE HIGLEY
1
Dear Higley community:
We have launched our new Higley publication as part of our communication
plan to better inform the entire Higley community about celebrations
and happenings throughout the District. In this edition, we’ve included
information about the arts, academics, and Community Education. We’ve
also included updated financial data for the 18-19 school year.
Higley is competing at a national and international level in academics,
athletics and the arts. Our students have post-secondary opportunities
to go anywhere in the world for university, college and career experiences.
Next year, both high schools will offer the AP Capstone diploma
program. The program allows students to learn and participate in college-level
research while preparing for the future.
Dr. Mike Thomason
Superintendent
We will soon celebrate the Class of 2019. To the more than 800 graduates
from Higley and Williams Field High Schools, congratulations!
Our students have earned more than $35 million in scholarship offers.
They’ve been accepted to the honors colleges at all our state universities,
as well as Cornell University, the Air Force Academy, University of
Nebraska, BYU, Colorado School of Mines, Regis University and many
more. We are very proud of all our graduating seniors.
Finally, I want to thank the outstanding Higley community for
supporting our schools.
Proud Partner of the Higley Unified School District
Past Contributions:
Ken Vandehei Student Scholarships: $215,000
Gail Stapleton Mini-Grants: $10,000+
Teacher of the Year Sponsor: $4,000+
Higley Achievement Foundation drives innovative education and instructional
leadership through scholarships and grants to support the students, staff and
programs of Higley Unified School District.
The foundation:
•Provides scholarships and grants to enhance academic achievement and success;
•Builds and fosters relationships with communities served by Higley;
•Supports special projects that enhance the quality of educational programs;
•Provides recognition of Higley staff, students, or members of the community for
outstanding service or contributions to Higley;
•Provides support and partnership with Higley parent and student organizations.
To learn more about the foundation, contact HAF at : hafinfo@higleyachieves.org
GROW
2
Higley district boasts most
winter guard teams in Arizona
By Quintin Bingham
In a large, open room, dance students at Cooley Middle School face a
wall of mirrors as they independently wave and swirl large flags in arcs
and figure eights. The group continues to practice as Pam Edgar, the
instructor, pulls out a large binder full of photos— looks up and smiles
— then points to a group of starry-eyed performers on the cover: “My
seniors this year. This is when they were in eighth grade.”
Edgar doubles as the color guard instructor for both of the Cooley
winter guard teams and both of the Williams Field High School teams,
all Gilbert campuses in Higley Unified School District. She also instructs
three of five elementary guard teams in the district, which make up
three of the eight elementary guard teams registered in all of Arizona.
The development of Higley’s youth teams has resulted in Higley accumulating
the most youth indoor performing arts teams in Arizona. In a
practice largely unique to the Higley Unified School District, students
are introduced to the “sport of the arts” at a young age— as early as the
fifth grade.
Natalie Guajardo, eighth grader at Cooley Middle School, is one such
student. She started performing in district color guard teams her fifth-
-grade year when she joined Gateway Pointe Elementary Color Guard.
24 Total Teams
5
2
4
7
Elementary Color Guards
Middle School Guards
3
Middle School Percussion
Marching Winds
High School Guards
High School Percussion
1
2
Elementary Trash Can Bands
Guajardo said she was nervous when she joined guard because she
was afraid to “drop the flag on my head.” Four years later, Guajardo
tosses quads with a wooden rifle for Cooley Colorguard Black.
Continued on Pg. 7
1
LEARN
3
Congratulations Class of 2019
Williams Field High School Higley High School
458 Graduates 431
T o p 1 %
Lia Dovris, 4.9
Dylan P. Franzen, 4.93
Jennifer Newcomb, 4.8
Jacob W. Good, 4.93
Andrew Bell, 4.76
Carter M. Garrett, 4.9
Payne Moses, 4.7
Caleb J. Gooch, 4.9
Samuel Johnson, 4.68
A
Arizona A-F Accountability
System, 2017-18
B
Bridges Elementary
Chaparral Elementary
Cortinal Elementary
Gateway Pointe Elementary
Higley Traditional Academy
Power Ranch Elementary
San Tan Elementary
Higley High
Williams Field High
Centennial Elementary
Coronado Elementary
Cooley Middle
Sossaman Middle
% of class with 4.0 or higher GPA (weighted)
18.78% 28.97%
Ethan Morgan
Student Spotlight
As an eighth-grade student at
Sossaman this year, Ethan took
the SAT test in December. He
received the highest score in
Higley – a 1540 out of a possible
1600. Way to go, Ethan!
*Based on data released by
the Arizona Department of
Education
Kindergarten Registration
– It’s not too late!
If your child will be 5 years of age
by August 31, he/she qualifies for
kindergarten. Campuses are now
taking registration packets for the
2019/2020 school year. During the
summer, elementary packets may be
dropped off at the District Office.
Information can be found online at
www.husd.org/kru
Total Higley Teachers
656
43%
of our Teachers have
Master’s Degrees
We Love Our Teachers!
Years of Experience
- Less than 3 years: 155 24%
- 4 to 9 years: 226 34%
- 10 years or more: 275 42%
Back to School
4
Back to School – Classes begin July 22
Higley High Kingdom Days
July 9 1-6 p.m. Seniors and Juniors
July 10 1-6 p.m. Sophomores and Freshmen
July 15 8-12 p.m. Make-up day for all grades
Now
Williams Field Black Hawk Days
Enrolling!
July 11 1-6 p.m. Seniors and Juniors husd.org/
July 12 1-6 p.m. Sophomores and Freshmen enrollment
July 15 8-12 p.m. Make-up day for all grades
Middle School Open House
July 17th 4-7 p.m., Middle School Open House
Meet the Teacher
July 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m., all elementary schools
Curriculum Nights
July 29, Cooley Early Childhood Development Center
July 30, Sossaman Early Childhood Development Center
July 30 High Schools
July 31 Middle Schools
August 1 Elementary Schools
LEAD
Higley Spotlights
Board of Excellence
5
The Arizona School Boards Association
named the Higley Unified School District
Governing Board one of three finalists for the
2018 Lou Ella Kleinz Excellence in Governance
Award. It is the highest honor that can be
bestowed upon a full board in Arizona and
recognizes the group of volunteer adults who
provide the most outstanding leadership for
that year.
S i g n i n g D a y
W e l l n e s s W e e k
Higley Unified School District students continue
to make strides in academics and athletics, with
more than 30 student-athletes from Higley and
Williams Field High Schools signing letters of intent
to play sports at colleges and universities across
the United States.
E l e m e n t a r y O r c h e s t r a
Stop, breathe and exhale. Students, teachers and
staff took pause before finals to practice mindfullness
during Wellness Week. Activities included
the likes of yoga, meditation, chalk art and dance.
A whole year of giving back also means taking a
moment for yourself.
G i v i n g B a c k
More Higley elementary students are discovering
music with the addition of elementary orchestra
to the school day. Prior to this year, the option was
only available before school. Now, more than 200
students districtwide are participating, double previous
enrollment.
From collecting food for local food banks to toy
drives for children of local heroes, students and
staff across Higley gave of their time and talents
organizing dozens of service projects this year. Several
schools adopted families during the holiday
season, as well. Williams Field Black Hawks rallied
for their second “Wish Week,” collecting more than
$25,000 for Make A Wish, the most ever by an
Arizona school.
6
2019 Teacher of the Year
John Burke
Sossaman Middle School
Honorees
Amy Gossard, Bridges Elementary
Charisma Masa, Centennial Elementary
Marie Semodio, Chaparral Elementary
Wanting Wang, Coronado Elementary
Tanya Waddell, Cortina Elementary
Angelina Alameda, Gateway Pointe Elementary
Kimberly Sirbaugh, Higley Traditional Academy
Kimberley Farrell, Power Ranch Elementary
Brittany Trevino, San Tan Elementary
Mandy Gamboa, Cooley Middle School
Jani Rima, Higley High School
Tara Andrade, Williams Field High School
Rosemary Gonzalez, Preschools
Higley Unified School District held its 11th annual Teachers of the Year
celebration in April, recognizing the 14 honorees from Higley campuses.
The event culminated with Sossaman Middle School applied technology
and robotics teacher John Burke named as the 2019 Teacher of the Year.
7
Continued from pg. 2
Winter Guard Arizona 2019 championships had 147
teams registered for competition across all categories.
In the elementary percussion section, or
“trash-can band” section, seven out of eight teams
were from the Higley Unified School District. In the
scholastic elementary division, there were eight
elementary color guard teams -- five from Higley.
The district also produced the state’s first marching
winds group, North Side Winds. In total, the Higley
district had a staggering total of 24 teams, which
means more than 15 percent of registered WGAZ
teams were Higley.
Chesley Sharp, Higley High School band director,
said that the challenge and the social bonding that
comes with being on a competitive team keeps
students coming back, in spite of the large time
commitment.
“The kids are finding a niche that they enjoy. It
gives them a creative outlet,” Sharp said. “Even
though it is a pretty big team and a pretty big-time
commitment, it gives them something competitive
to do in music.”
Williams Field High School band director Bob Edgar,
Pam’s husband, helped launch the district’s winds
team, North Side Winds, and several of the district’s
trash-can bands.
“With the foundation really solid at the entry level,
and the continuity all the way through the grade
levels up to the high school, we are seeing it in our
numbers, in the bands as they continue to grow,”
Bob Edgar said. “The quality keeps getting better.”
Erigitta Tifft was the percussion section leader at
Higley High School this year and taught the Sossaman
Middle School percussion ensemble. During
Higley High School’s 2018 marching season, Tifft
marched with freshmen she taught just months
prior.
“Just seeing them grow from the summer between
eighth grade and freshman year, it’s crazy to see
how much they have grown— and through this year
as well— as musicians and as people.”
WGAZ 2019 Champions
Cooley Percussion Ensemble
Scholastic Concert Junior Division
Cooley Purple
Scholastic Junior High Division
Cooley Black
Scholastic Junior High A Division
Higley Silver
Scholastic Regional A Mirage Division
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
8
1614
963
521
Higley Unified School District’s Community Education
Department operates Kids Club, a before and after-school
program on all preschool and elementary school campuses.
In addition, Community Education organizes enrichment
and sports opportunities for students throughout the year
including school break camps, the Higley Youth Sports
League and vendor-offered programs. These opportunities
extend learning for students, encourages growth of relationships
and builds leadership at all ages.
“I love working at Kids Club because I can help the
kids gain social skills and I get to watch them grow
as individuals.”
-Mary Burke, Higley High junior, Kids Club student
worker.
Through the many offerings, as well as building and site
rentals, Community Education’s revenue enhances schools
throughout the district. The department employs more than
100 at various times during the year.
YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK
9
Overview
Spending by operational area
FY18 Auditor General Classroom Sitefund Report
Higley Unified School District greatly appreciates the
community support it receives. Volunteers, partnerships
and taxpayer approval of bond and override initiatives
are all essential to student learning and creating school
communities that address the wide variety of learning
needs in our community.
Each year the Auditor General uses district financial
information to issue a spending report. The graphic
to the right shows the FY18 report released in March
2019. Closer look at the information found the district’s
administration costs percentage should be 10.1, which
is a decrease from the previous year. The information
provided to the Auditor General included an insurance
pre-payment of $2.5 million that was coded to administration,
rather than all areas. With the change, the classroom
percentage would increase from the AG’s report
to 59.6 percent.
Overall, the Arizona Auditor General listed the district’s
overall financial stress as low, with no overspending and
compliant on financial and internal controls.
2013 Bond Expenditures
New School Construction
$18.9 million
Land $2.3 million
Transportation $3.9 million
Technology $11.5 million
Source: Arizona Auditor General Arizona School
District Spending FY18
Bonds and Our Schools
Bond and override approvals fill gaps created by
state budget shortfalls that create challenges for
schools to provide the education the community
desires for its students. Higley is thankful for
support from voters and will strive to use taxpayer
money efficiently and effectively in delivering
programs and services to students.
Higley Unified School District currently (FY19)
operates under a 15 percent M&O override approved
by voters in 2015. This provides the district a
budget 15 percent over the state Revenue Control
Limit for a set amount of time. Per state statute,
the override is fully in place for five years: FY17
(2016/17 school year), FY18 (2017/2018), FY19
(2018/19), FY20 (2019/2020) & FY21 (2020/21). At
that time, without voter-approved continuation,
the override funds will reduce by 1/3 a year for
two years until it is eliminated.
*As of March 2019
New Buildings $4.1 million
Maintenance and
Improvements $14.95
.million
In 2013, voters approved a $70 million bond measure.
To date, the district has spent $55.65 million
of those funds.
Learn More: www.husd.org/yourdollars
Gateway Pointe Elementary School
A+
Higley Unified School District’s Gateway Pointe Elementary
School in Gilbert is one of 52 schools that received the coveted
A+ School of Excellence award in 2019 from the Arizona
Educational Foundation (AEF).
“I am so proud of the work our teachers do, the commitment
of our students and the support of our families,” said Principal
Dr. Tim Fountain. “Together we have shown that our
students are capable of sustained growth and achievement
in a school that nurtures not only academic development,
but social and emotional health as well. We are grateful to
the Arizona Education Foundation for this recognition and for
creating the framework to help us assess how we can
continue to grow in the future.”
AEF has identified and honored exemplary pre-kindergarten through
12th grade public schools in Arizona since 1983.
Applicant schools are evaluated in the areas of student focus and support, school
culture, active teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership, community and parent
involvement, and assessment data.
10
Gateway Pointe earns Arizona Educational
Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence Award
Higley Unified School District
2935 S. Recker Road
Gilbert, AZ 85295
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The Higley Magazine is produced by the Public Relations Department.
Want to Advertise? Email public.relations@husd.org
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