Manzanita named Blue Ribbon School
Manzanita Elementary School has been named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School.
The honor was bestowed on more than 200 schools across the country. However, only three Arizona schools were selected, and of those, Manzanita was the only one in the Tucson area.
The award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' levels of achievement.
In the case of Manzanita, which is part of the Catalina Foothills School District, it is considered to be among the state's highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
The U.S. Department of Education will honor the schools at a recognition ceremony in November in Washington, D.C.
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To select National Blue Ribbon schools, the Department of Education requests nominations from the top education official in every state. Nominated schools must then submit an application for possible recognition.
Other Tucson schools that have received the Blue Ribbon designation in recent years include Ocotillo Elementary (2004), St. Cyril Catholic School (2004), Tucson Hebrew Academy (2005), University High School (2005), Presidio School (2007) and the Academy of Math and Science (2008).
Workshop to focus on study, organization
Middle and high school students are invited to participate in a study and organizational skills workshop put on by College Nannies & Tutors.
The workshop is broken up over three two-hour sessions, with the first one being held Saturday, followed by sessions on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6.
Many students perform well on tests but do not do well in their classes because they fail to learn study skills early and they are disorganized, said Chuck Nickel, managing director of College Nannies & Tutors of North Tucson.
There is a fee of $124.95, which covers the cost of the materials provided to students.
Students must reserve a space, as seating is limited. To register, call the College Nannies & Tutors at the Tucson Learning Center, 262-0177, or email cnickel@collegenannies.com
Registration closes Thursday by 3 p.m.
St. Gregory hosts homecoming Friday
St. Gregory College Preparatory School will welcome alumni, families and friends to its annual homecoming festivities Friday.
The homecoming, which is from 4 to 9 p.m., will feature sporting events, food, music and booths.
Middle school flag football kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by upper school volleyball in the El Mirador Gym at 5 and 6 p.m. The Soccer Hawks take to the field at 7 p.m.
The free event is being held on campus at 3231 N. Craycroft Road.
Sahuarita teacher earns recognition
A Sahuarita Intermediate School teacher was honored last month with the Teacher Excellence Award from Tucson Values Teachers.
Dave DeGroot, who teaches the fifth grade, was nominated by Julia Cummings - the parent of one of his students.
"Mr. DeGroot motivates and challenges his students," Cummings wrote in her nomination letter. "I strongly value him as an outstanding teacher!"
DeGroot has been with Sahuarita Intermediate for five years.
Winners of the Tucson Values Teachers award receive a $100 gift certificate from OfficeMax.
Tucson Values Teachers is a nonprofit organization that was formed to help recruit, retain and reward K-12 teachers in Southern Arizona.
Compiled by Alexis Huicochea. Contact Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
