E
ighth-grader lauded
for quick action in fire
A Tucson eighth-grader is being commended by the Tucson Fire Department for his quick thinking when a blaze broke out at his home.
Alex Sanchez III was honored in front of his classmates Tuesday with the Citizen’s Award — days after a light bulb burst, starting at fire at his home in the early morning hours.
The Morgan Maxwell K-8 student woke his family and then grabbed a fire extinguisher to keep the blaze under control, allowing all to escape unscathed, a TUSD news release said.
“This is technically a bad situation,” said Tucson Fire Capt. Barrett Baker. “And yet, his reactions to it were so positive, so to be able to give him a pat on the back and tell him that we’re proud of him, it does give you a good feeling.”
Catalina Foothills teams
win Lego, other awards
The Catalina Foothills School District’s Lego robotics teams won several prizes at a state science, technology, engineering and math tournament.
The Local Legends Recharged team from Esperero Canyon Middle School received the Mechanical Design Award and won second in Robot Performance.
The team, made up of eighth- and ninth-graders, also won the Championship award in a Tucson tournament.
The BoxBots, whose members are fourth- and fifth-graders from Sunrise Drive Elementary School, won the Best Presentation Award for their skit demonstrating how to reuse shipping boxes. The team was the winner of the Robot Performance Award at the Tucson tournament.
Canyon View Elementary School’s Wraptors placed 30th out of 63 teams in the Robot Performance category. The fourth- and fifth-graders found ways to reduce waste by encouraging students to use reusable containers instead of disposable bags.
Sahuarita district leader
is state’s top superintendent
The leader of the Sahuarita Unified School District has been named the 2016 All Arizona Superintendent of the Year for large districts by the Arizona School Administrators.
Manuel Valenzuela, who has served as superintendent for five years, was recognized for his instructional leadership, financial management, short- and long-term planning, and his relationships with the Governing Board, the public and the community.
Valenzuela began his career in 1989 as a middle school science teacher in Marana. He joined the Sahuarita School District as assistant superintendent in July 2005 after nine years as an elementary school principal in the Flowing Wells School District.
Santa Clara kindergarteners
get surprise visit from elves
Santa Clara Elementary School kindergarteners had a surprise visit from the blue elves of BBVA Compass on Tuesday.
Volunteers dressed in blue shirts and Santa hats came to the school for Project Blue Elf, the bank’s outreach effort that reaches some 5,000 students across seven states.
BBVA Compass employees gave kindergarteners financial guidance by telling a story about a little boy named Sam, who needs to keep his money in a safe place.
The children helped identify the safest place for Sam to keep the money. They were later treated to cookies and presents.
TUSD wants your input
on condition of its facilities
The Tucson Unified School District is seeking feedback from the public on the condition of its facilities.
Community members are encouraged to participate in an online survey as part of TUSD’s efforts to develop a facilities master plan.
The plan will identify needs as well as funding sources needed to support them.
The district says it hopes that the plan will lead to a successful bond election in November.
To take the survey, go to tusd.typeform.com/to/KyaW8Q
