Underserved high school students in eight Tucson-area schools will receive additional support to prepare for college through a $3.4 million, three-year grant from the Helios Education Foundation.
Tucson high schools Catalina, Cholla, Desert View, Pueblo, Santa Rita and Sunnyside were among the 30 recipients statewide. Cienega in Vail and Sahuarita High School also were among the statewide selections.
The three-year grant will support the Education Forward Arizona’s College Knowing & Going (CKG) program, an effort to foster college-going school cultures and provide resources, including FAFSA workshops, scholarship events and personalized admissions initiatives.
The CKG program focuses on collaboration between administrators, counselors, teachers, families and community members to ensure students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, graduate ready to pursue higher education, according to a Helios Foundation news release.
Language immersion programs focus of sessions
Catalina Foothills School District is hosting information sessions for its 2025-26 school year language immersion programs. Interested families with students in second through fifth grades are invited.
An informational meeting for the district’s Spanish immersion program at Ventana Vista Elementary School is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday. To learn more or register, visit the school’s website: vves.cfsd16.org.
Families interested in enrolling their students in the district’s Chinese immersion program are invited to an informational meeting at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Sunrise Drive Elementary School. To learn more about the district’s Chinese immersion program, visit Sunrise Drive’s website: sdes.cfsd16.org.
For both programs, students must meet language proficiency requirements for enrollment.
Pima JTED campus, instructor lauded
Pima JTED’s Bridges Campus, as well as JTED instructor David Fuller, have each been recognized by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association.
The campus was named a STEM School of Excellence by the organization for the second consecutive year.
David Fuller, the school’s 3D Animation and Game Design instructor, was honored with the group’s teacher excellence award.
Kindergarten information events set
Families with kindergarten-age children are invited to join the Catalina Foothills School District for a series of interactive “Show & Tell” events designed to introduce families to the district’s programs.
These sessions offer an opportunity to learn more about CFSD’s free half-day kindergarten program as well as the optional, fee-based Kindergarten Plus (K+) program.
Children will have the chance to participate in classroom activities led by one of the district’s kindergarten teachers, allowing them to experience a day in the life of a kindergartener.
Sessions will begin at 2 p.m. at Canyon View Elementary (Jan. 27), Manzanita Elementary
(Jan. 29), Sunrise Drive Elementary (Jan. 16) and Ventana Vista Elementary (Jan. 14).
For more information, or to reserve a spot at Show & Tell, contact the school directly or go to the district website: cfsd16.org.
