Read March’s issue of our school newsletter, Paw Prints.
Chef Kent Visits Cafeterias to Train Staff on Speed Scratch Cooking
The Life Time Foundation’s Chef Kent has been visiting Laveen schools to train child nutrition staff on preparing ramen bowls with chicken and oven-fried rice. They will conduct student taste tests and get feedback to determine if these items will make it onto our menu next school year.
Laveen’s Child Nutrition Department has partnered with the Life Time Foundation to support its mission to ensure all of our students receive nutritious meals to support academic excellence in a positive environment. Chef Kent periodically provides culinary training to staff to implement more speed-scratch cooking, work to reduce the amount of highly processed foods on our menus, and phase out foods that contain “ingredients of concern.”
Governing Board Clerk Michele Anderson joined in the lesson and was charged with preparing fresh ginger for the first culinary lesson.
Learn more: https://www.laveenschools.org/programs-services/child-nutrition/life-time-foundation/
Join our Team! Teacher Job Fair is February 29, 2024
The Laveen School District is hosting a job fair for teachers interested in joining our team. The job fair will be held on February 29, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Laveen Education Center, 5001 W. Dobbins. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with Laveen administrators including school principals.
Desert Meadows is an A+ School of Excellence
Both schools underwent a rigorous application process and two site visits where they had the opportunity to demonstrate the comprehensive school-wide programs that lead to their achievements.
The AEF awards the A+ School of Excellence® designation to schools that consistently share the following traits:
- Model quality and equity
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence
- Respond successfully to the changing environment of education
- Cultivate learning-centered, safe school environments
- Encourage innovative instruction by supporting teachers
- Actively address students’ social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs
- Demonstrate superior ability to go above and beyond the norm in providing services to children, families, and the local community
The A+ designation is valid for 3.5 years. With the addition of Desert Meadows and Paseo Pointe Dual Language Academy, Laveen now has four current A+ Schools of Excellence®! These schools join Laveen School (2022), and Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy (2020).
Trailside Point Performing Arts Academy (2014, 2018), Rogers Ranch STEM Academy (2019), and M.C. Cash School (2014, 2018) have all been recipients of this award previously.
Governing Board Welcomes Newest Member
The Office of the Maricopa County Superintendent has appointed Jennifer Goetzke to Laveen’s Governing Board. She fills the seat that was vacated last year.
Ms. Goetzke has lived in Laveen for 17 years and is a Laveen School District parent. She is an active volunteer at her daughter’s school and is a coach for the Girls on the Run club.
Ms. Goetzke works in the human resources field and holds a SHRM-CP certification. She is a State of Arizona employee, currently assigned to the Department of Economic Security as the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer.
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Enrollment for 2024-2025 Opens February 5
Enrollment for 2024-2025 school year begins February 5 . Visit our Registration page to enroll your child using our secure online parent portal or to access printable enrollment documents.
Parents/guardians will need to present the required documents listed below in person for verification prior to the start of school.
- Child’s original birth certificate
- Child’s immunization record
- Proof of Residence, such as utility receipt or lease agreement (refer to Arizona Residency Guidelines)
- Legal papers, if applicable for custody
- Withdrawal form and report card from previous school
- Photo identification for parent/guardian.
*Please note, Vista del Sur is an accelerated school and students must take an assessment prior to enrolling. Paseo Pointe is a dual language immersion (DLI) school. Students entering kindergarten – seventh grade must enroll in the DLI program (DLI will expand a grade level each year).
Desert Meadows Celebrates the Opening of its Coding Café
Desert Meadows School celebrated the official opening of its Coding Café.
The school transformed part of the library into a technology-based hub that will further the goals of the school’s computer coding signature program. The remodel was made possible through a $20,000 grant by local manufacturer, Vulcan Materials.
The new space includes room for instruction, robotics activities, and computer console areas for the class’s Apple and gaming computers. The space also features high-tech lighting and areas for students to collaborate in teams. Coding classes in Grades K-8 will take place in the new café as will the robotics and e-sports activities.
Families of technology students attended the celebration where students gave demonstrations of equipment such as drones, 3D printers, and robots.
Desert Meadows adopted Computer Coding as its signature program with all students being exposed to creative coding and computational thinking at varying levels.
Kids Club is Now Enrolling for Spring Break Camp
Laveen’s Kids Club is now enrolling for Spring Break Camp. Camp is open to children in Grades preschool-6 and will be held March 11-15 at Desert Meadows School. Visit our Day Camp webpage for details and to register.