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PHS adds tutoringThe Phoenix-Talent School District has partnered with Paper to provide unlimited access to trained tutors so every Phoenix High School student can ask questions, work through problems, and grow their confidence — at no cost to families. Paper is an online, on-demand tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need help with writing, there will always be experts available online to assist students one-on-one in all subject areas and in more than 4 languages. See Paper FAQs to learn more. Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather facilitate deeper learning by asking guiding questions and providing timely encouragement. | Bestselling author visits TMS A bestselling author who has written more than 20 critically-acclaimed novels for children and young adults paid a virtual visit to Talent Middle School in March to lead Mrs. Tringolo's creative writing class through a writing workshop. Ellen Potter, who has written books selected to appear on New York Public Library's Best 100 Books for Children list, joined Mrs. Tringolo's class via a Zoom link on Tuesday, March 14 to share some pointers on developing story ideas, creating interesting characters, ratcheting up tension in a scene and more. After speaking for about 40 minutes, Potter took some questions (many were asked) then gave the students a juicy writing prompt: a child visiting his great aunt's mansion approaches a door she is explicitly told to avoid...now what? The students were given five minutes to write a short story based on the prompt. When the time was up, Potter then invited students to read what they came up with to the class. Four students did so. Click here to see the video of Potter's guest appearance. | Future Chefs Challenge finalists announcedEight Phoenix-Talent School District students have been selected as finalists for the Future Chefs National Challenge by Sodexo and will go head-to-head in the Phoenix High Schook culinary arts class and cafeteria on Monday, April 10. The Future Chefs National Challenge is a fun competition designed to educate kids about healthy eating habits. To select its PTS finalists, Sodexo invited students in grades 3-5 to fill out and submit a recipe card that contained their dish of choice, its ingredients and how to prepare it. A distinguished panel then evaluated the recipe submissions and selected four finalists from Talent Elementary, two from Orchard Hill Elementary and two from Phoenix Elementary. Click here to watch the video of the finalists being announced. At the final, judging will be based on originality, taste, plate presentation, ease of preparation, healthy attributes and how kid-friendly the dish is. To ensure the students' safety, each group of competitors will have a kitchen staff member assigned to help them. A celebratory reception for families will be held following the competition at 4 p.m. at PHS and all finalists will receive a framed plaque, T-shirt and hat. |
PHS adds tutoring
The Phoenix-Talent School District has partnered with Paper to provide unlimited access to trained tutors so every Phoenix High School student can ask questions, work through problems, and grow their confidence — at no cost to families.
Paper is an online, on-demand tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need help with writing, there will always be experts available online to assist students one-on-one in all subject areas and in more than 4 languages. See Paper FAQs to learn more.
Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather facilitate deeper learning by asking guiding questions and providing timely encouragement.
Bestselling author visits TMS
Ellen Potter, who has written books selected to appear on New York Public Library's Best 100 Books for Children list, joined Mrs. Tringolo's class via a Zoom link on Tuesday, March 14 to share some pointers on developing story ideas, creating interesting characters, ratcheting up tension in a scene and more.
After speaking for about 40 minutes, Potter took some questions (many were asked) then gave the students a juicy writing prompt: a child visiting his great aunt's mansion approaches a door she is explicitly told to avoid...now what?
The students were given five minutes to write a short story based on the prompt. When the time was up, Potter then invited students to read what they came up with to the class. Four students did so.
Click here to see the video of Potter's guest appearance.
Future Chefs Challenge finalists announced
Eight Phoenix-Talent School District students have been selected as finalists for the Future Chefs National Challenge by Sodexo and will go head-to-head in the Phoenix High Schook culinary arts class and cafeteria on Monday, April 10.
The Future Chefs National Challenge is a fun competition designed to educate kids about healthy eating habits. To select its PTS finalists, Sodexo invited students in grades 3-5 to fill out and submit a recipe card that contained their dish of choice, its ingredients and how to prepare it. A distinguished panel then evaluated the recipe submissions and selected four finalists from Talent Elementary, two from Orchard Hill Elementary and two from Phoenix Elementary. Click here to watch the video of the finalists being announced.
At the final, judging will be based on originality, taste, plate presentation, ease of preparation, healthy attributes and how kid-friendly the dish is.
To ensure the students' safety, each group of competitors will have a kitchen staff member assigned to help them.
A celebratory reception for families will be held following the competition at 4 p.m. at PHS and all finalists will receive a framed plaque, T-shirt and hat.
Family Focus
Currently, she's an officer on Phoenix-Talent School District's Migrant Education Parent Advisory Council, which among other things helps decide which classes and programs will be made available either after school or during the summer.
"I took the role," Maria said, "because I wanted to learn more about the education system and to help my children in their future academic ventures."
She added that it's a great way to support her fellow migrant parents that have experienced similar struggles.
"A big part of that," Maria said, "is seeing the Latinx community grow and witness their dream of their child succeed not only academically but professionally as well."
Besides their commitment to Migrant Ed, Maria and her husband Antonio (they've been married for 26 years) also volunteer at Phoenix High events in any way they can, including chaperoning and cooking for the marching band. Maria also contributes some of her remaining time to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
How does she find the time?
Maria said, "there is always time for your children's lives, especially when it comes to their education."
Stellar Student: Stephanie Rodriguez
Besides being an outstanding student and a third-degree black belt, Talent Middle School eighth-grader Stephanie Rodriguez has been hailed as the best office aide.
The youngest "Stellar Student" recipient so far, Stephanie plays volleyball for the Siskiyou travel team and practices Karate at America's Best Kids. She also received an iReady growth award recently in recognition of the improvement she showed in her second iReady diagnostic.
Stephanie took some time during spring break to answer a few questions.
What is your favorite school subject and why?
My favorite subject is math because it's something I can use in my everyday life and I like solving things and being helpful to others.
What is your favorite family tradition for a holiday or other special occasion and why?
My favorite family tradition is Easter because I always loved celebrating the innocence of my childhood and seeing how happy and excited kids get when getting eggs. It brings joy to my heart.
If you were in charge of the class schedule, what would you change?
If I were in charge of the schedule I would have it so we had certain classes on certain days instead of alternating days, and I would use Wednesdays for exploratories.
If you were a teacher and the kids in your class were not paying attention, what would you do?
If kids in my class weren’t paying attention I would try to make something fun and interactive but still teach them - maybe something competitive or a group project so they learn to have good sportsmanship and how to work in partners and communicate with others.
If you could spend a day with a character from a book, TV show or movie, who would you choose and why?
If I could spend a day with someone from a book It would be RUSS because he’s a very inspirational person who teaches a lot about life skills and how he deals with things and worked hard for what he wanted until he got it. He is a very funny person and I would ask so much about his life and music career.
Pride of PTS: Arica Casarotti
Arica Casarotti has been an educational resource coach for the past five years, the last three at Orchard Hill Elementary.
In an anonymous nomination form, one of Arica's colleagues described Arica as "the most incredible person I have worked with. She's so caring towards both the kids and her coworkers. She's very knowledgeable in her field and I'm lucky I get to work with her."
Here's what Arica had to say about her dream vacation, inspiration and ...Elvis.
What is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation would be to spend a month traveling around Europe, just immersing myself in all of the food and sights that each country has to offer.
What inspires you?
This question is a real stumper because I feel inspired by so many things. In short, I am inspired constantly by the people around me, my family, my students, and my coworkers.
What is a school sport or activity that you enjoy watching and why?
At the elementary level, I do not watch a lot of school sports but one of my favorite school activities to watch is recess! We have an accessible playground that ALL kids at our school are able to access and use daily no matter their mobility needs. I love seeing the joy they get out of a space that was intentionally created for all students to be able to play.
What is your first memory from school as a teacher?
My first memory as a teacher was sneaking into my classroom before the official school year had started and just really getting an opportunity to visualize and create what I wanted that space to be for my future students. I was able to spend a few days moving things in and creating a space that would support all of my student's goals. Even though it wasn't very exciting it was very meaningful to spend time planning and preparing for the students that would be arriving within a few short weeks.
What song do you know all the lyrics to?
Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley
Phoenix-Talent School District