PINON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT #4 MARCH 20, 2014 SUPERNOTES Because we believe that all students can and will learn, and that all teachers can and will teach. March 20, 2014 School Board Members Michael Bahe, Board President Carmelita Redsteer, Board Vice-President Bessie Allen, Board Member Virgil Denny, Board Member Ramona Nalwood, Board Member Superintendent s Office Douglas Vaughan, Superintendent Tanya Begaye, Executive Secretary Reading Week News Joyce Kocourek reported that Pinon Elementary School (PES) had a very successful reading week, which was held from March 3 rd 7 th, 2014. Teachers, students and parents were all involved in making this a successful year. Mrs. Kocourek shared the following results: 36 balloons released with the Reader's Oath inside of each 83 people attended and read at last night s Reading Night. 185 books given away to parents and students. 1,131 pages read in 20 minutes (Read-A-Thon) Most PES teachers have read to different classes Almost all students wear hats on Hat Day. All Core Action Team members were actively involved in the weeklong activities. Thank you to all the participates of reading week and remember. Be awesome! Be a book nut! Dr. Seuss Pinon Unified School District #4 PO Box 839 Pinon, AZ 86510 Phone: (928) 725-3450 Fax: (928) 725-2123
Pinon Elementary Art Contest Winners Anti-Bullying Campaign NO Bullying Allowed on PUSD campus! 2
Pinon Accelerated Middle School & Pinon Elementary School Spelling Bee Winners Congratulations to all the students who participated in the spelling bee this year. Keep up the great work and thank you for representing Pinon Unified School District #4. Pinon Elementary School (PES) and Pinon Accelerated Middle School (PAMS) recently participated in the Navajo Nation Spelling Bee, which was held on PUSD #4 campus. PES and PAMS had over 80 participants sign up this year and they all did an outstanding job. The following students have earned their spot to compete in the Navajo Nation Spelling Bee on March 13, 2014 in St. Michaels, AZ. It was a tough competition but our students prevailed. 4 th Grade: Champion Latisah Mike Runner up Nigel James Runner up Dana Begay Alternate Evan Cambridge 7 th grade: Champion Nykesha Nez Runner up Lorizen Santos Alternate Shane Bainbridge 8 th grade: Champion Catherine Lopez Runner up Raquel Tom Alternate Mathea Padla Congratulations to all participants and thank you for representing Pinon Unified School District #4. Good luck at that Navajo Nation Spelling Bee!!! 5 th Grade: Champion Chenoa Begay 6 th grade: Champion Christina Tom 3
Andrea Charlie, PES Teacher - Our PES students, who are also members of the ATSA Native Club, traveled to Rock Point to compete against 12 to 16 schools from around the Navajo Nation. There are 7 categories, in a mix of summer dances and winter dances, during this time of seasonal change. Our Kindergarten to 3 rd grade Primary division came home with 4 trophies out of 5 categories that we entered. On the second day, our 4 th 5 th graders competed in the Intermediate division. They came home with 7 trophies, the longest Travel award, and the Overall High Point award. The kids performed phenomenally! Their practice definitely paid off and their behavior was commendable too. Thanks to our wonderful parent support, many followed on their own to help chaperone and assisted where needed. Special thank you also to Food service and transportation. And mostly to our chaperones, A Big BIG THANK YOU!! Thank you to the students for trying their best and being good sports even though a Travel Award and another 3rd Place Trophy was given to another school. Dr. Sethi PAMS Principal On Wednesday January 29, 2014, the PAMS Dine' Culture Club participated in the 41st Annual Tse Nitsaa Dez'aahi Song & Dance in Rock Point, AZ. We entered the Solo, Duet, Group, and Fire Dance Competition in the Secondary Division (Grades 7th 12th). There was quite a bit of talent from many different schools that came from across the reservation as well as neighboring Border States of Utah and New Mexico. In the end, my culture students won in 3 of the 4 categories we entered: 3rd in Group Singing [Raelencia Neztsosie, Raeanna Johnson, Ariel Bitsui, & Aliyah Joe] 2nd in Solo [Raelencia Neztsosie] 1st in the Fire Dance [Dancers: Raeanna Johnson & (Continued on page 5) PAMS Dine Culture Club Members 4
(Continued from page 4) Raelencia Neztsosie; Singers: Ira Spencer, Jeffery Elthie, Aliyah Joe, & Ariel Bitsui] Future Education Association (FEA) State Competition results by Pam Maynard Thank you to the parents for doing a wonderful job in raising your children and for all your support! I'd like to also thank Mrs. Charlie at PES for teaching students at the Elementary level and her continued support. Our students did an awesome job! I just could not wait to tell you the exciting news from our first day at the FEA State Conference at Grand Canyon University. Prior to the competition several students submitted papers and essays. Students who submitted assignments prior were recognized this morning. I am so proud to announce that three of our students placed for their writing skills. Shayne Begaye placed 3rd in Administration Careers against 10 other students who competed. Shayne completed a full day of shadowing and observations of our very own Mr. Slade Morgan. Sammi Boucher placed 3rd in Support Service Careers against 7 other students who competed. Sammi completed a series of shadowing and observations of our very own Paulita Clah. Jay-Dee Begay placed 1st in Support Service Careers against 7 other students who competed. Jay-Dee completed a full day shadowing and observation of the districts Speech Pathologist, Sharon Bennett. These students have qualified to attend the National FEA Competition and Conference in Minneapolis, MN in April! With the hard work of our students, science teachers and other teachers who have contributed to the success of our site based Science Fair, we proudly announce that our students engaged in making more than 150 science projects. Our teachers selected the best 71 projects to be judged by Mrs. Matthies, Mr. David Morgan, Mrs. Rae Thompson, Miesha Buckner, and Jared Wells. I thank them for sparing some time out of their busy schedule and assisting us in judging the projects. I know, in addition to the learning experience, our students get motivated when their projects are accomplished. This learning experience goes a long way in building the academically positive culture for our students. Our teachers have worked very hard for this achievement. I thank them for their commitment. Thanks, Jasvir Sethi, Principal, Pinon Accelerated Middle School 5
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Pinon High School JROTC cadets recently had a Bloody Alley test, which was conducted with the help of the various programs on PUSD #4 campus and with the collaboration of Pinon Health Clinic. Your squad is hike back from a winter survival camp out when you find a severely frostbitten and hypothermic individual what would you do? Your squad is returning to camp when you find another camper suffering from sunstroke or one of the squad falls over an embankment and breaks her leg. Your squad is there when a worker is attacked by a dog and severely bitten, what would you do? Those are the questions JROTC cadets where asked and had to actually perform in their hands on test called Blood Alley. JROTC training is built on the Hear, See, Do training model. JROTC Cadets are now in their Do training phase for first aid. They have finished the Hear (lecture and reading), See observe (watching demonstrations) phases. Now they must put those phases together and put them in to action. With the aid of Commander Lawerance (Pinon Clinic), Ms Moreno and some of the Drama students as victims and site aids the JROTC cadets were faced with realistic injuries and scenarios that they must work as a team to perform the first aid techniques they have learned. Each student must also take their turn as a leader of the group. As discussed later they found the difference between hearing and see phase and having to actually doing it under pressure is always the hardest. They will be going through 3 more days of Blood Alley this month (and a day of review after each) to bring their basic skills of first aid. Each day is designed to be more demanding and build on the previous event to strengthen the basic skills. Attached are some pictures of the cadets during there first Blood Alley. Submitted by: SFC Cook 7
PHS Wrestling has an Outstanding Season for Winter 2013/2014 Coach Craig Johnson reported that he had a very successful year in wrestling. Every year he sees his student athletics continue to improve and this year was no exception. The students competed against various schools that were scheduled during the winter season and Pinon always had students place in the top half of the competition. Coach Johnson is very proud of all the hard work and dedication his students shown this year. Congratulations on having a great season and thank you to all student athletics that participated in the winter sports. Keep up the great team effort. GO EAGLES!!!! SPRING SPORTS HERE WE GO!! PHS FFA members participated in the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) week and had a great time helping their fellow classmates learn more about FFA. Here at PUSD#4, FFA students had a fun filled week which included activities such as helping the students at the Elementary School create custom bookmarks (see picture above) and hosting a luncheon. The National FFA week is celebrated across the country and it is an opportunity for members to advocate for agricultural education and FFA. Thank you to all FFA members and to FFA Advisor Adelaida McLaughlin for all your hard work.