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