Summer of Learning

August 9, 2009  
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Science Teacher Birget Musheno

Birget Musheno, who teaches Biotechnology and Honors Biology

Advanced Studies/Independent Research in Science Science Club as well as a HOSA Club Sponsor Science teacher, has been requested to participate in Mesa High’s Biotech magnet program run by Xan Simonson.  It’s a grant program in which teachers train and actively learn. Although it is slated for its final year of the three year grant, Musheno is confident that being involved will bring several positive impacts to our campus that got the biotech ball rolling several years ago through the support and motivation of district supporters.

Click on the link below to view a video from Know99:

http://phoenix.gov/know99/99vidbiodesign.html

Dan Zavaleta, Industrial Tech Teacher

DV’s Atlantis Robotics team took 1^st place in the high school division of the National Underwater Robotics Challenge held at Chandler High School on June 12th, 13th, 14h. The event was sponsored by Arizona Promoters of Applied Science in Education.  Team members included ’09 graduate, Kelsy Booth, who is now studying electrical engineering at ASU; Dominic Chen, Senior, who plans to study computer/communication engineering; Nic Selby, sophomore, who plans a future in Engineering; and Elaine Rhoades, Senior, who wants to focus on the study of Aerospace Engineering. Click on the following link which shows the mission challenge, other schools that participated and just what this challenging program is about. www.H2Orobots.org

Ceramics Teacher – Mark Honaker

Mark Honaker, ceramics teacher, was approached by the Tempe Schools Credit Union to serve as a member on their Community Advisory Council relaying issues relating to education.  He was also selected by the American Cancer Society to serve on the Phoenix Region Advisory Council assisting our region’s many Relays and establishing policies for our Region. Honaker has have also begun work on the creation of a new group: The “I cared” (I Can Always Respond, Educate and Dedicate myself to the needs of others) a student coalition of service groups.

Latin Teacher – Sarah Palumbo

Latin teacher Sarah Palumbo had a busy summer as she rejoins the faculty full-time. She won a grant from the American Classical League (Ed Phinney Award) to attend the “American Classical League Institute”.  She enjoyed four days meeting of classicists from around the US. At the National Latin Convention Palumbo won the “Summa Cum Laude” award.  It is an award that is given to a teacher who is dedicated and has shown service to the National Junior Classical League. The Latin club headed by Palumbo won a $350 grant from the ETC (excellence through classics). It’s an organization that is sponsored by the American Classical League. It stresses Latin in the elementary grades (K-8). For the application, Palumbo wrote about the teaching the Thundertykes, Life Skills Kids, and the Middle School outreach.

Science teacher – Crystal Roller

As a scientist, Ms. Crystal Roller continues to make an impact both in and out of the classroom. This summer she aided in obtaining a grant from the USDA to be employed as a teacher intern researcher at the USDA Arid Land Agricultural Research Center in Maricopa, Arizona for eight weeks obtaining biotechnology experience working in the Microbial Ecology Lab. I conducted studies regarding reclaimed water quality under scientist Jeannie McLain. Two of the studies will be published next year with Roller as a co-author. She also took one week off to participate for the fourth year in CESIP (Communication in English-Science Inquiry Project), a professional development program funded in part by the National Science Foundation aimed at integrating literacy in the science classroom. Three other DV teachers were involved in this program as well: Michele Stanley, Birgit Musheno and Jennifer Summers. Michele Stanley and Roller also chaperoned the HOSA trip to the national competition in Nashville, Tennessee where our recent graduate Wenhao Shi won the 1st place prize in the nation ($1000 cash) for having the top score in the nation on the Kaiser Permanente Health Care Issues exam!

English Teacher – Laurie Wiesinger

Congratulations to English teacher Laurie Wiesinger who received a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant to attend a seminar on cartographic literacy at the Newberry Research Library in Chicago.  She participated in three weeks of research and lectures from internationally known cartographers.  Wiesinger joined 13 teachers and two librarians from all parts of the country. She described the event as, “… fascinating—and definitely reenergizing!”

Teacher /Coaches Doug Christofis and Leland Rodgers

Teacher/ Coaches Doug Christofis and Leland Rodgers were invited to be interns for the Oakland Raiders for Strength and Conditioning this summer. They were the only high school coaches that have ever been invited for such an honor in the history of the organization.  While Coach Christofis was unable to attend due to his commitment as the head coach of girls cross country, the Raiders were still very impressed with what our coaches are doing with our athletes not only in the weight room here at DV but also in regards to nutrition and hydration.

English / Special Ed Teacher Anita Welch

Focusing on character is how Mrs. Anita Welch, English / Special Education teacher spent time this summer at the University of San Diego at a conference on Character Development.  They offered an option of taking an on-line course which was an extension of the conference and I also completed that.  She plans to obtain a certification from USD specifically in Character Development next summer. USD is one just a handful of universities in the United States that offers classes in this area.   “The information was abundant and honestly the most useful and practical that I have ever gleaned from any seminar or conference I have attended,” Welch said.  “I was both excited and overwhelmed and not sure exactly what aspect I would introduce in my classroom.  I narrowed it down to following some ideas and philosophies from one presenter named Hal Urban, and his book called 20 Things Good Teachers Do.  I have started out the year incorporating Character Development into my classes and so far, so good.  I feel very strongly that this is something not only our students in Special Education need, but all students today. I am excited to continue learning about Character Development and Social-Emotional Learning and the concept of teaching the whole child, similar to doctors treating the whole patient.  I was surprised to learn that the state of California includes Character Development in its state standards!

Michelle Coro, Media Teacher

Media teacher Michelle Coro traveled across the country to develop strategies to bring back to her classroom to share with students. She attended Jostens Adviser University for a four-day conference in Orlando, Florida to address new ideas and strategies of advising student publications. During a six-day stint in Tucson, Coro attended Arizona’s Career and Technical Education Summer Conference where she focused on a certification course of Adobe Final Cut Pro editing software.  She also participated in an intense-three day training of grip and electrician’s duties on a video production set. The group assisted in the production of a commercial for the Arizona Department of Education scheduled to air on local television stations. Coro finished her summer with six editorial members of her yearbook staff attending a national Yearbook workshop at the University of San Diego. Students Roseanna Cruz-Kirgis and Dania LaScola won certificates in several categories for their photography during the productive workshop.

Shar Scott, Social Studies Teacher

Ms. Shar Scott was one the Freeman of the University  in which fifteen teachers selected from all over the country (Scott was the only teacher from Arizona) to participate in a month long study tour in China. The theme of the study tour was “China on the 60th Anniversary of the PRC (People’s Republic of China)”. The group visited Beijing, Anshun, Xian, Lijang, and Shanghai studying various aspects of China since Mao Zedong established the PRC. “It was absolutely fantastic and provided amazing information and experiences I will use in my Honors World History & Geography classes,” Scott said. This was an opportunity provided by the National Consortium for Teaching East Asia (NCTA), which is funded by the Freeman Foundaton, and run out of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Scott was also selected by them to go on a three week study tour of Japan in the summer of 2006, in which they studied the legacies of World War II and the American occupation after the war. It’s rare to be selected for two study tours by this organization, there are many more applicants than slots available for the study tours to East Asia so being able to participate in one is awesome. Scott said she was very grateful and excited for the opportunity to go to China this summer.

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