09/3/2014—BOARD MEETING

09/5/14 TOWN HALL ELECTIONS

09/17/14 BOARD MEETING

Sundown Mountain SUNDOWN MOUNTAIN STAFF EMPOWERS EVERY STUDENT BY

PROVIDING TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFE-LONG SUCCESS

It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Vaccines prevent disease in the people who receive them and protect those who come in contact with unvaccinated individuals.

For school the parent/guardian must present, at time of enrollment, documentation showing childhood series of immunizations.

Immunizations must be current and abide by the Arizona State Law regulating enrollment into the school. The immunization record for each vaccine dose must include the complete date and name of doctor or clinic. Arizona Law allows exemptions for religious, medical reason or personal beliefs.

If you have recently received a referral notice from the Dysart Learning Center Health Office that your child needs immunizations and have not provided proof of Immunizations you can go to The Maricopa County Department of Public health or your family doctor. The location of The Maricopa County Department of Public Health WEST OFFICE is

6666 W. Peoria Ave., #113, Glendale, AZ 85302(NE corner of 67th Ave. and Peoria). The phone number is 623-979-4895. The hours of the WEST Clinic is Monday, Wednesday, Thursday* and Friday 8:30AM to 5:30PM (Closed every Tuesday and the FIRST

THURSDAY MORNING of each Month.) Closed for lunch 12:30 to 1:30PM. Please bring a copy of any immunizations your child receives to the HEALTH OFFICE.

Please contact the Health Office at 623-523-8940 with any questions.

Thank You, Nurse Leisure

Several job opportunities are posted in my room. Please stop by before school or during Academic Enrichment to fill out an application or to receive tips on resumes and interviews. NAU presented this month to a group of over 40 students! We will be taking a field trip in early October to visit Northern Arizona University up north. We have several College and Career Presentations throughout the year. Upcoming presentations will be posted on our website and announced during Home Room. Town Hall elections took place August 25 through September 5th. All the candidates did a great job with posters, campaigning and speeches. The 2014/2015 Sundown Mountain Town Hall officers are: President-Jalon White, Vice President-Gabriel Arroyo, Historian-Kerosoma Nevile, Secretary-Sienna McCulley and Treasurer: Me’Chelle Weaterspoon. Congratulations! PBIS Corner Sundown students were very busy this first month being Respectful, Responsible and Ready! Over 300 Gotcha’s were handed out in August! Sundown Mountain hosted students and their families on Thursday August 21 at Peter Piper Pizza for our PBIS Family Information Workshop. This important workshop provided information about the school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support System(PBIS). Sundown Mountain Alternative Education Program is in its third year of implementing PBIS, which is a proven system-wide approach of reducing problem behaviors in the classroom and throughout the school. Students are working hard to keep their orange lanyards. An orange lanyard is earned by coming to school every day on time and receiving no grade lower than a “C” in all classes.

HEALTH OFFICE

2014/2015 School Year, Volume 2

Our mission at Sundown Mountain is to provide students with a high quality, safe and orderly educational alternative which honors diversity, promotes academic excellence, and builds relationships that connect home, school and community, leading to life-long success as productive citizens and responsible leaders.

by Ms. McVay

Register to VOTE! It’s FREE!

Mr. Grieshaber, Principal

Getting the most from our

Math Department This month in Botany/zoology the students will be growing plants using alternative environments. We began this project on September 3rd and will continue for the remainder of the quarter. I'm excited to see which plants grow the largest! The student with the tallest plant earns extra credit. Biology will be focused on the cell. We have already introduced the structures and will continue with focusing on cells and how materials move in and out of the cells as well as the growth and cycles.

When I think about the fact we have been in school five weeks already, I am amazed. Time is flying by and there is still so much to do. In Algebra 1, we are working on relations, functions, evaluating and graphing functions, and arithmetic sequencing (writing the pattern or function). Many students are working hard and appear motivated to passing their class. As their teacher, that makes a heart feel good. In Financial Math 1, we just finished up with budgeting and will now be moving onto Checking and Savings accounts, as well as investments. More than in past years, the real life discussions in this class are exciting and encouraging. Students are learning how to not make

all the mistakes we did with our money. The best way to a better future is to teach the next generation a better way. This semester I have already talked two students out of getting a “new” car with a car loan, essentially causing them to go into debt before even getting out of high school. Students ask the question,

“When am I ever going to use

this in real life?” What I love about this

class is I never hear that

question. However, I am asking myself the question, “Am I making a difference?” and because I have the opportunity to teach this class, the answer is a resounding yes! ~Ms. Miller

~Mr. Brook

~Mr. Fledderjohn

The World of Science By Mrs. Gorosics

Ms. Rasset Social Studies

Students broke down the major controversy surrounding the Civil War and major issues that still existed following the bloody battle. Also, taking the time to look at the impact of the Civil War on the race relations for the next 90 years within the United States of America, and wondering how far we have come as a country and how far we have yet to go. Examining recent events throughout history, challenging the role they play in the society around them of how is equality determined in society and how do morals and ethics shape our view of treatment of others?

Ms. England Social Studies

Mrs. England would like to remind

students and parents to monitor grades using the parent portal!

US/AZ Government classes are currently discovering where they fall on the political spectrum. We are researching where

the two major parties fall on the political spectrum and determining which party they more closely align with. Next up- Interest

Groups and Voting!

World History 1 classes are currently learning about the Renaissance, Reformation and the Age of

Exploration. Students are completing research pro-jects about a figure from this time period. Next up- The Age of Revolutions! World History 2 classes are currently learning about World War I and the Russian Revolution. Students are learning about the effects the Treaty of Versailles

had on the countries of Europe and the world. Next up- World War II!

“Coming together is a

beginning. Keeping

together is progress.

Working together is

success.” –Henry Ford.

Ms. M

iller

SENIORS: You need to contact Grads Photography if you would like to do senior portraits and have your picture in the yearbook. Please check your home school websites. Make sure you read the important information that is posted on your high school bulletin board which is located near the restrooms. ACT & SAT dates are posted. If you are on free/reduced lunch you may qualify for a fee waiver. See Ms. Bohon for more details. ECAP's (Education Career Action Plan) are necessary for graduation. Ms. Bohon will be meeting with students during AE to create and complete your ECAP. Please see Ms. Bohon for more information.

All high school students are now being offered the opportunity to prepare for their upcoming ACT or PSAT/SAT exams. Student’s home schools have been awarded a $30 discount per student for an online, interactive ZAPS strategy-focused test prep class through Doorway to College. To learn more about these upcoming classes and to receive your $30 off coupon code, please visit Sundown Moun-tain’s website, College and Career Ready tab. If you have any questions, please email or call the num-ber on the brochure and their live customer service will be able to assist you.

Ms. Bohon

Have you ever watched a movie and thought to yourself, “That was nothing like the book!” Students in my English 7 course have read and dissected Beowulf and the literary techniques that make it a classic, and are now watching clips of the battle scenes in the movie version. To their surprise, even though they enjoy the visual interpretation of the Epic poem, they don’t like how the story was changed. This is good ammunition for them to write their compare and contrast essay, which they will be starting this week. English 3 have just finished reading several short stories and analyzing the techniques of what makes a good story. They have practiced writing a narrative using the techniques and are now moving on the Expository text. Soon, they will be choosing a topic of their choice to write about explaining the negative effects. After putting so much of their voice into their writing, they are going to have to pull back now and write with a more formal voice.

In English 1 and English 5, we are forging ahead, on track with our schedule at the midway point of the quarter. In

English 1, we have worked with narrative poetry and are now moving on to the realm of science fiction. Students are

discovering the element of satire, recognizing that “fiction” literature can relate to insightful social commentary as

much as it does to entertainment value. In English 5, we have studied historical literature through the Colonial Period,

making connections to our own personal history by creating a heritage poem. We are now moving into the

Revolutionary period where we will examine not only key historical documents that have provided the framework for

our nation but also the rhetorical techniques used by forefathers to drive key decisions that have shaped American

history. When we complete this study, students will be ready to apply these rhetorical devices to develop their own

arguments in our writing benchmark.

My Senior English students are beginning to understand the historical context and cultural influences of the Anglo-Saxon

time period. Students are comparing and contrasting the effects of the Black Plague and its relevancy to the Ebola virus

that we are facing today. We are incorporating current events within our daily discussions of modern day heroes as it

relates to the Epic Beowulf in addition to societal influences and religion. Students are finding that our curriculum of

British Literature is both enriching and inspirational!

College and Career Ready is one of our resounding goals for

Seniors as they begin to develop a Plan for their futures by

listening to guest speakers and attending college presentations.

What's your Plan?

Ms. Santacasa

Ms. Kuettel

Ms. Saeed