Donations sought
for ‘Hamilton’ tickets
Cholla High School students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Broadway bombshell “Hamilton” when it comes to Phoenix on Feb. 23, but they need the public’s help to pay for the trip.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute selected Cholla High as part of an initiative to donate 250,000 steeply discounted tickets to students from Title I schools over a five-year period.
Most students will be able to cover the $10 tickets, but the Tucson Unified School District is seeking donations through the Educational Enrichment Foundation to pay for those students who cannot afford the ticket. And, buses for the trip to Phoenix could cost between $4,000 and $6,500, depending on the number of tickets the school receives. The school is hoping to receive between 200 and 300 tickets.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute offers teachers resources to introduce the students to the people, events, and documents of the founding era.
Brenda Boehler, a social studies teacher at Cholla who applied for the tickets, said many Cholla students have never seen a play, and “Hamilton,” which has received rave reviews and become a sensation, brings American history to life through language and music to which the students can relate.
“Remember, Alexander Hamilton himself was once a disadvantaged youth — his ambition led him to become a war hero and Founding Father.
“We’re hoping some of that ambition might rub off on some of our students and inspire them to become their best version of themselves and aspire for political leadership.
“This musical, I think, was written for students like ours,” Boehler said in an email.
Donations can be made at eeftucson.org and earmark it for “Hamilton,” or by calling 325-8688.
Tanque Verde reaches
AP District Honor Ro
ll
Tanque Verde Unified School District was named an AP District Honor Roll recipient for increasing the number of students participating in AP courses and scoring well on the AP exam.
Tanque Verde Unified School District Superintendent Scott Hagerman said the award is recognition that the district’s hard work is paying off for its students.
“We continue to work diligently to ensure that our students are academically and personally successful,” Hagerman said.
Inclusion in the 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2015 to 2017, looking across 38 AP exams, including world language and culture.
Tanque Verde was among 447 districts across the U.S. and Canada selected for the list.
Enroll now for two
Pima at-risk programs
Two Pima County programs that help at-risk students graduate high school are accepting applications for entry into sessions starting in January.
Pima Vocational High School is accepting students ages 16-21 who want to earn their high school diploma.
The program session begins Monday, Jan. 8. Interested students must attend a two-day orientation on Jan. 4-5, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. each day, at 175 W. Irvington Road. Call 724-9402 to reserve a spot.
Pima County’s Las Artes Arts & Education Center is also accepting students for the GED program session that begins Wednesday, Jan. 3. The program pays students a weekly incentive to offset the cost of transportation, clothing and school supplies. A new student orientation for the session will be held Tuesday, Jan. 2, from 8 a.m. to noon at 23 W. 27th St. in South Tucson.
Young people ages 17-22 must complete an application and take a basic assessment to determine placement level before attending the Las Artes orientation. They can come to the school Monday through Thursday for that initial assessment, beginning at 8:15 a.m.
