THUNDERGRAM - Thunderbird High School

2016
SPRING
Parent Newsletter
Thunderbird is a proud member of
the Glendale Union High School
District
Thunderbird High School
THUNDERGRAM
NHS undergoes changes in selection process
Lisa Hamel
NHS Adviser
Big changes are happening with
Thunderbird NHS!
The newly-formed Thunderbird NHS
Faculty Council recently finished revising
our membership selection process. For the
2016-2017 school year, the following changes will be put in place:
• Scholarship: Any student with a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher will be eligible to
complete the membership selection process.
• Service: All membership candidates must
provide signed, written proof of at least 5
volunteer hours they have completed since
May 2015.
• Leadership & Character: All membership candidates will complete a membership packet that includes written responses
describing how they display these traits in
their own lives.
• Faculty Involvement: Faculty members
will complete an online evaluation form that
allows them to provide feedback on how
each candidate displays the qualities of service, leadership, and character.
• Faculty Council & Principal Involvement:
NHS national guidelines require that the
five members of the NHS Faculty Council
review all information and vote on each
candidate’s final membership status. All
decisions of the faculty council will be
reported to and ultimately approved by
our school principal, Jeannie Paparella.
• Adviser Involvement: The NHS adviser, Lisa Hamel, will oversee the entire
membership selection and voting process.
However, she is a non-voting, sixth member of the NHS Faculty Council.
We believe these changes will allow us
to better meet the national organization’s
selection guidelines, extend the opportunity of NHS membership to a wider
variety of truly deserving Thunderbird
students, and maintain the high standards
and rigor NHS is so well known for.
Additional information regarding membership selection, including due dates and
copies of membership forms, will be available on the Thunderbird website in the
near future.
Specific questions can be directed to
Lisa Hamel, the NHS adviser, at lisa.
hamel@guhsdaz.org. Any community
members with volunteer opportunities for current
NHS members are
also encouraged to
e-mail Ms. Hamel
with detailed information about their
service projects.
The National Honor
Society
and
the
National Junior Honor Society and NHS and NJHS
are duly registered trademarks of the National
Association of Secondary School Principals
(NASSP). Unauthorized copying or use of said
trademarks is strictly prohibited.
Graduation
May 23, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon University
3300 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix 85017
Tax Credit
The deadline for tax-credit donations is April 15, 2016, to make a
credit toward your 2015 taxes.
‘Slay the Stage’ dance recital coming in April
Michelle Condor
Dance Teacher
The music is being cut, the costumes are
being ordered, and the THS dancers rehearse daily for the upcoming Spring dance
recital, “SLAY THE STAGE!”
The April recital is our biggest performance and fundraiser for the Thunderbird
dance department. We have a cast of more
than 200 dancers that perform several numbers, adding up to more than thirty two
dances in all. While our performers entertain, our student technical and stage crew
are responsible for keeping the show running smoothly with several backstage duties
and more than 80 light cues and 65 sound
cues.
The show runs three nights on: April 21,
22 and 23. The curtain goes up at 7pm. Preticketed audience members are seated first
between 6:15pm & 6:30pm. There is no assigned seating. Tickets may be purchased
starting two weeks before the show in the
THS bookstore before school, after school
and during lunch. Tickets will also be sold
at the door. All tickets are $7.00 each. Audience
members that buy tickets at the door the night of
the shows will be seated after 6:30pm.
Please come see the dance recital and sup-
port all our wonderful and talented THS dancers showcased in this performance. You will be
treated to dances of all levels and many styles. We
hope to see you there!
Construction: Demolition begins spring
break for new cafeteria, will open in fall
Jeannie Paparella
and that the system is running
smoothly during this final phase
of construction.
If you have any additional
questions or concerns, please
do not hesitate to contact me
directly.
Principal
By now you have probably heard,
the original Thunderbird High
School cafeteria building is scheduled for demolition over spring
break 2016. We are excited at the
prospect of a beautiful new facility,
made possible by your generosity
in approving the Bond, due to be
open the first day of the 2016-2017
school year. Here is some important logistical information regarding food service and student traffic
flow for the 4th quarter.
When students return from
spring break there will be a fence
around the construction area,
which might impede the flow of
traffic between the gym and cafeteria breezeway. Students will need
to plan an alternate route when
traveling to or from the auditorium or practice gym. Also, the
grassy area and basketball courts
west of the gym will be off limits
to students at lunchtime during
construction as supervision will be
difficult. However, the new field
THS jazz bands
qualify for state
Coming Soon: PROM
north of building H will be open.
Additional tables and chairs will be
placed in various outdoor areas. In
the event of inclement weather, the
gymnasium will be available during both lunches.
Here is the answer to the most
important question: Where will
students get breakfast and lunch?
We have a plan, thoroughly vetted through all stakeholders involved in the process. There will
be three main access points. Pizza
will be served at the main gym
ticket booths. Hot food, including
chicken sandwiches and cheeseburgers will be served at the cu-
Kris Hutson
Director of Bands
THS JAZZ BANDS
On February 26 both of the Thunderbird
Jazz Bands qualified for the state jazz festival at the NAU Jazz Festival! Jazz 2 competed for the first time in many years and
received a rating of EXCELLENT. Jazz 1
came home with a SUPERIOR rating with
an outstanding soloist award going to senior Chris Clements. Congratulations to
both bands!
GUHSD HONOR JAZZ BAND
Many outstdanding Thunderbird band
members were named to the GUHSD District Honor Jazz Band. The band will be in
concert on April 14 at The Nash located
in downtown Phoenix. The concert is at
7pm and will be $5 for students and $10
for adults.Thos students are recognized on
the last page under “Students Recognized.”
Mr. Todd Ahern
took his Sensory
Integration students on a tour of
Chase Field, but
they first learned
how to used the
city bus and take
the light rail.
linary arts window and cold
foods such as salads and wraps
will be served at the student
store. At these three locations
students may use their student
accounts. There will also be
cash only snack carts in the
quad. For breakfast, limited
food items will be available at
the culinary arts window.
Students need to be prepared
for this transition phase when
they return to school on March
21st. Administrators will be on
hand, working together with
the Thunderbird community to
ensure student’s needs are met
PARENTS: The Prom is fast approaching. This year, however, we
want prom to have a meaning behind
it. For the 2016 Prom Dance we will be
raising money for research at Phoenix
Children’s Hospital. We will be accepting donations for this wonderful cause,
but we need your help. A small donation can go a long way in changing the
lives of children and young adults at
Phoenix Children’s.
If you want to make a donation,
please contact us at
melissa.zimmerman@guhsdaz.org.
Our Junior class is very excited to hear
back from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you may
also contact us. Thank you for making this year’s prom a success for not
only Thunderbird but for the patients at
Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Sincerely, THS Junior Class
Culinary, Fine Arts partner for event
Empty Bowl
3-D and art students created
beautiful bowls and culinary
students made delicious soup on
February 10 for the Empty Bowl
project. Proceeds from the project will be donated to feed the
hungry.
Art Show Opening
April 21st 5:30-7:00pm
Join us in the Media center to celebrate the wonderful artwork created
by 2-D, 3-D and photography students
this year.
Student enterprise earns gold
Austin Parish
DECA Adviser
The School-Based Enterprise at The school-based enterprise at ThunThunderbird High School of Phoe- derbird High School has operated for 2
nix, AZ was among 316 school- years and is to be commended for this
based enterprises in the United achievement.
States achieving Gold Level CertiA school-based enterprise (SBE) is an
fication this year and will be rec- entrepreneurial operation in a school
ognized at DECA’s International setting that provides goods and services
Career Development Conference to meet the needs of the market. SBEs
in Nashville, Tennessee. The stu- are managed and operated by students
dents who worked on the certifi- as hands-on learning laboratories that
cation were Kailey McMullen and integrate National Curriculum StanA.J. Horak, with the assistance of dards in Marketing, Finance, Hospitaltheir adviser Mr. Austin Parish. ity and Management.
Dawn Jacoby
Fine Arts
Lucy Lamont
Culinary Arts
THUNDERGRAM
staff
Principal:
Jeannie Paparella
Editor:
Carly Price,
English teacher
Contributors:
Department Chairs
Administrative Staff
Faculty
The Thundergram
is an official publication
of Thunderbird High
School.
1750 W. Thunderbird Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85023
Call 623-915-8900 to
place an article or to be
added to the mailing list.
COUNSELING
corner
S
ummer time offers students a great way to make
sure they’re on track for their
post-secondary plans!
Credit-recovery summer
school is offered in a variety of ways should students
need to catch up on credits in
order to graduate on time. Visit your counselor for options.
Enrichment-type summer
programs are also avail-
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able. See Ms. Kekic in the Career
Center or visit the Career Center’s website for options: http://
thunderbird.guhsdaz.org/academics/CareerCenter
eniors, now is the time to secure finances for your postsecondary school plans!
Filling out the FAFSA online can help get you grants
and loans at http://www.fafsa.
ed.gov/.
S
•
Lee Chandler, Wrestling Coach: The wrestling team experienced
some tremendous individual success at State,
sending 8 wrestlers and
coming home with two
state runner ups-Stephen Graham and Erik
Mickelson along with a
third in the state finish from Curtis Stevenson. The team
finished 8th overall in Division II.
Jenn Kekic, Cheer Coach: On February 20, Varsity Cheer
competed in the Cheer for a Charity Championship held
at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem. Girls basketball
players, along with Coach Megan Knowles, came out to
support Thunderbird Cheer, along with decorated signs to
cheer on the girls.
Need to know: Testing
Scholarships are still available online through THS’
website at http://thunderbird.
guhsdaz.org/academics/Career
Center and in the Career Center.
Also, if you have already
been awarded a scholarship,
let Ms. Kekic in the Career Center know so you can be included
in the Honors and Awards ceremony.
uniors, if you’re universitybound, this spring is the time
for you to take the SAT - ACT!
OTE- ALL JUNIORS are
taking the ACT on THS’
campus on April 19 for FREE!
You can use this testing oppor-
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Clubs on campus thriving
French Club
Leila Seggar, French Teacher: The French
Club visisted the Le Sans Souci French restaurant on Saturday February 20.
The students had fun, ate really yummy
food, and they enjoyed a taste of French cuisine and French dining in general.
AP Spanish
Marisa Eckerson,
Spanish
Teacher: On February 23, 2016,
Mrs. Eckerson, AP Spanish teacher, took all AP Spanish and French
students to the Language Fair held
at ASU’s Memorial Union Building on the Tempe Campus. Students competed against many area
high schools on topics ranging
from spontaneous conversation
to self-created plays. The group
composed of AP Spanish students
Madison Safa, Erik McGregor, Sean Tamboer, Anika Bowman, Hayley Nielson
and Mark Morrisey took 2nd place with their thought-provoking self-created
play about the current socioeconomic situation in the Dominican Republic.
Way to go, AP Foreign Language Chiefs!
Culture Club
Tiela Schurman
Assistant Principal, Student Services
Cindy McComish, ELL Teacher: The Culture
Club has started meeting. This club has been meeting regularly to research and learn about exciting,
new cultures. Many of the members are students
in the English Language Learners department at
Thunderbird and represent many different cultures
themselves.
MARCH 29
TESTING: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
AzMERIT Writing (all students enrolled in English 2,
English 4, English 6)
English 7-8 PBA (all seniors except those testing
AzMerit and AP Lit)
(NO CLASSES AFTER TESTING)
MARCH 30
TESTING: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
AzMERIT Reading (same students as AzMerit
Writing)
English 7-8 PBA (all seniors except those testing
AzMerit and AP Lit)
(NO CLASSES AFTER TESTING)
tunity as your official scores for
college applications.
Both tests are equally accepted as college entrance
exams, so if you want help deciding on whether to take the
SAT as well, stop by Counseling. There are only a few test
dates left for this year, so sign
up ASAP. Visit each test’s website to sign up:
SAT= www.sat.collegeboard.
org/register
ACT= www.actstudent.org
if you want to retest over the
summer
uestions? Call 623-9158915 with inquiries.
TESTING: APRIL 6
TESTING: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
AzMerit Math (all students
enrolled in Algebra 1, Geometry,
Algebra 2)
(NO CLASSES AFTER TESTING)
TESTING: APRIL 19
TESTING: 8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Freshmen (link crew)/PE CRT
Sophomores (AIMS Science)/Civics Exam/
AP World History Review
ACT TESTING (all juniors 8:00 – 12:00 –
juniors leave campus after testing)
(NO CLASSES AFTER TESTING)
Glendale Union High School District
7650 N 43rd Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85301
MR. BRIAN CAPISTRAN, SUPERINTENDENT
GOVERNING BOARD
DON DEBUSK, PRESIDENT
SUE MALAND, CLERK
PATTY KENNEDY, MEMBER
VICKI JOHNSON, MEMBER
PAM REICKS, MEMBER
THUNDERBIRD HIGH SCHOOL
1750 W. THUNDERBIRD RD
PHOENIX, AZ 85023
623-915-8900
Thunderbird.guhsdaz.org
PRINCIPAL JEANNIE PAPARELLA
SPRING
2016
The Glendale Union High School District does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
El Glendale Union High School District no discrimina a raza, color,
nacionalidad, genero, edad, o habilidad diferenciada.
Parent Newsletter
Thunderbird is a
proud member of
the Glendale Union
High School
District
ACT, SAT prep courses offered
Eric Casper
Math Teacher
Thunderbird High School is offering a preparation course to help your student
reach his/her potential on the SAT and ACT. The cost of the course is $75, which
includes the lessons as well as preparation materials your student can take home
with them for further practice. The $75 is eligible for the extra-curricular tax
credit, which is a dollar for dollar reduction of your Arizona state income tax liability. There are 3 options for these 12 hour courses. The classes will be held in
Room M217, in the Media Center, at Thunderbird High School.
Option 1: ACT (All Juniors will be taking the ACT test on April 19)
Part 1: Saturday, April 2, from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch on your own 11noon)
Part 2: Saturday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch on your own 11noon)
Option 2: SAT (primarily for students taking the SAT in May)
Part 1: Saturday, April 23, from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch on your own 11noon)
Part 2: Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch on your own 11noon)
Option 3: SAT (primarily for students taking the SAT in June)
Part 1: Friday, May 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (the first day after finals)
Part 2: Tuesday, May 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Part 3: Wednesday, June 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Students Recognized
Each month, teachers
nominate students who
showed exemplary behavior and outstanding effort
from each department.
Here are the winning
students from September
and October with the department that nominated
them. Congratulations to
all!
ALC
Nov.: Giovanni Rios
Dec.: Samantha Alvarez
Eric Smith
Kris Hutson
Honors & Awards Chair
Director of Bands
PE
Nov.: Lucas Rabb
Dec.: Edwin Vasquez
Performing Arts
November: Cami Benton
December: Gillian Ruby
ROTC
Nov.: Nicole Thomson
Science
Nov.: Nikolas Cammiso
CTE
Dec.: Alexander Sneider
Nov.: Karina Vega Medina Social Studies
Dec.: Hannah Rose
Nov.: Riely Koenig
ELL
Dec.: Ashley Little
Dec.: Daniela Dawood
Visual Arts
Foreign Language
Nov.: Julia Starzinski
Nov.: Brynn Smith
Dec.: Julissa Hernandez
December ROTARY
Montalvo
Justice Felton
November
Language Arts
Outstanding Seniors
Nov.: Cleo Andaya
Male: Erik McGregor
Dec.: Madeline Maiorella
Female: Allie Valenzuela
December
Math
Outstanding
Seniors
Nov.: Hunter Paulus
Male: Zane Ferrin
Dec.: Cleo Andaya
Female: Madison Safa
GUHSD
HONOR BAND
MEMBERS
Roscoe Gillum
2nd Alto Sax
Stephen Graham
1st Tenor Sax
Sierra Ulloa
2nd Tenor Sax
Stephen
Strohmeyer
Bari Sax
Erik Struckmeyer
1st Trumpet
Kaylee Taylor
2nd Trumpet
Juliana Williams
3rd Trumpet
Erik Tovar
4th Trumpet
Chris Clements
1st Trombone
AJ Billings
2nd Trombone
Ralph Smith IV
Bass Trombone
Brendan
Christensen
Electric Guitar
Myles Damon
Vibes/Percussion