Education Notes: Sunnyside considers calendar changes

The Sunnyside Unified School District is considering a change to the calendar for the upcoming school year that would shorten summer vacation from nine weeks to six.

Because the number of instructional days — 180 — would remain the same, the remaining days would be scattered into extra weeks off for fall and spring breaks.

The district is seeking public input on the modified year-round schedule, posting an online survey at http://www.susd12.org//district/news/balanced-school-calendar

The school year would begin on July 23 and wrap up later than most Tucson-area schools on June 3. The calendar includes two-week fall and spring breaks, a three-day Thanksgiving recess and the traditional two-week winter recess.

The “balanced” proposal is an effort to offer more learning opportunities.

“As the district considers the importance of making sure every student is successful in today’s world and tomorrow’s world, it makes sense to organize the school day, the school year and the work that educators do around the individual learning needs of kids, and that is ultimately what the balanced calendar does,” a news release stated.

TUSD urged to keep
its existing calendar

After being asked for feedback on TUSD’s calendar for the upcoming school year, thousands spoke in favor of the existing schedule.

The Tucson Unified School District sought public opinion on three options and received responses from more than 9,000 people through an online survey.

Of those, about 61 percent were in favor of carrying forward the current calendar, which includes a starting date of Aug. 6, weeklong fall and spring breaks, and a two-day Thanksgiving recess. Classes would conclude on May 25.

Other options presented included a shortened fall break, a week off for Thanksgiving and a later starting date.

The calendar will go before the Governing Board for approval on Tuesday.

Vail raises $11,000

to aid military families

The Vail School District raised more than $11,000 for the Fisher House to help military members and their families.

The Arizona Fisher House will provide housing to military and veterans’ families while their loved one is receiving medical care.

The effort needs to raise $3 million to start construction next year.

Vail students, staffers and community members held a $1 fundraising drive to honor a veteran or service member. Schools also sold paper American flags or offered other creative ways to raise money.

The Office of Air & Marine will deliver an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol by helicopter to the top winning schools today — Esmond Station School and Andrada Polytechnic High School.

Future kindergartners’,

1st-graders’ open house

St. Michael’s School is hosting an open house for prospective kindergarten and first-grade families.

The open house events will be Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

St. Michael’s, 602 N. Wilmot Road, is an accredited Episcopal school.

For more information, call Director of Admissions Jim Franks at 722-8478.

Sunnyside teacher
of physical ed honored

A Sunnyside Unified School District educator has been named Arizona Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Kristel Milligan, who teaches P.E. at Sierra 2-8, was recognized by the Arizona Health and Physical Education Association.

The association works to support evidence-informed school physical education and community based physical activity programs that foster healthy, active and physically literate youths.