TUCSON - As if his life was scripted, Sam Medina just got the green light on his dream to become a filmmaker... (read more)
Story: Catalina Foothills High School Media Program Produces Award Winning Director

FOUNTAIN HILLS - Many Arizonans choose to wile away retirement on golf courses, tennis courts or in other leisurely pursuits... (read more)
Story: Fountain Hills High School Research Club Making Gas Engine Green Thanks to Help of Local Retired Engineers

TEMPE - Neon and white shirts, pants, shoes and hair scrunchies glowed under black lights Saturday as 42 members of the Desert Vista High School Clay Club, known as Carpe Dirtum ("Seize the Clay"), fashioned bowls for the 9th annual Tempe Empty Bowls event held in mid-February... (read more)
Story: Desert Vista club set to make 600 bowls for good cause

PHOENIX - With gentle, tentative taps, third-grader Jamie Zack covered her spinach seeds with soil in anticipation of a sizeable plant by March that will help feed homeless Kyrene School District students and their families... (read more) 

Story: Students at Foothills school hope garden will feed homeless

Arizona PTA Accepting Applications for Local Unit Awards

Each year, the Arizona PTA convenes for its’ annual State convention. Local units and councils from around the state meet for workshops, general meetings, networking, and celebration of the people involved in PTA. One of the ways Arizona PTA celebrates is by offering Local Unit Awards to its membership.

Local Unit Awards allow PTA units to celebrate teachers, support staff, principals, and volunteers for all of the hard work and dedication given to the school and to the PTA. Local Unit Awards are available in the following categories: Local Unit of the Year, Outstanding Unit for Parent Involvement, Educator of the Year, Support Staff of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. 

Local PTA Units can apply for these awards via the Arizona PTA website at www.azpta.org with applications found in the Members Only section. Applications are due by March 22 with winners announced at the Arizona PTA Convention held June 4-6 at the Phoenix Wyndham Hotel. Details about the Arizona PTA Convention can also be found online at www.azpta.org .

Teachers Encouraged to Apply for SRP Education Grants for Math, Science, Technology and Social Studies

SRP is inviting teachers to apply for grants to enhance learning in the classroom in the areas of math, science, technology and social studies.

The SRP Classroom Connections program offers up to $175,000 in funding. The program consists of learning grants, which provide funding up to $5,000 per school for projects and programs that incorporate innovative teaching strategies in math and science and meet performance standards as dictated by Arizona Academic Standards.

Also included are social studies grants, which support the enrichment and enhancement of classroom instruction in the disciplines of history, geography, civics, government, and economics and meet performance standards as dictated by Arizona Academic Standards. Up to $2,000 is available per educator.

Public, private and nonprofit schools serving students in kindergarten through 12th grades in Metropolitan Phoenix, Pinal County, Gila County, Yavapai County, Page and St. Johns are eligible to compete for SRP Classroom Connections grants. SRP will accept applications for 2010-11 grants until March 31. Information: www.srpnet.com/grants .

 
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We are looking for impressive stories about how Arizona's teachers, students and schools are making a difference every day. Log onto www.azschoolsmakeadifference.org and submit your stories.