Community Safety

As we pursue our vision of helping all students reach our potential, getting students to and from school safely is an important concern.
The principals of the Paradise Valley Unified School District notify each other whenever there is a "stranger danger" alert at their schools. We can then determine if that danger is relevant to our community and send home the appropriate notice. I sent home a notice two weeks ago based on such a report from Horizon High School, and will continue to alert our parents when we have specific information to help keep our students safe.
Unfortunately, there have been many reports from other principals regarding "stranger danger" before and after school, and I have had a few concerns from parents about "suspicious" cars in their neighborhoods. While these incidents were not close enough to the Sandpiper community (or they lacked specific details involving our students) to warrant a "stranger danger" notice, they are a strong reminder that we need to continue to educate our students about paying attention to their surroundings and how to stay safe.
I have made announcements about how to be safe on their way to and from school, and I will continue to impress this message throughout the school year. I encourage all parents to have similar conversations with their children, and to continue to stay active in the community.

Observations from the Classrooms:

Congratulations to our student council officers! All of our students did a fantastic job on their speeches, and we are proud of everyone who ran for office. This years officers are Connor S. (president), Ameer S. (vice president), Kobe R. (secretary), and Makayla W. (treasurer). The group is already meeting to discuss ways to improve Sandpiper!

Mrs. Urlaub's 6th grade students have been enjoying their buddy opportunities with Mrs. Loerakker's 1st grade students. The 1st graders made book marks for their buddies, and today they shared in a Johnny Appleseed activity.

Sandpiper Citizens

I am excited to begin our new character education program next week. Each month will feature a different character trait, which will be discussed in the classroom and each week on the announcements. Students who receive a citizenship card will be posted on our beautiful character tree so everyone can see how much we've grown throughout the year. When you're on campus, take a moment to see it on the bulletin board just past the office.

At our kick-off assembly, I spoke with the students about doing great things in all aspects of their lives, and I was able to recognize students who had cut their hair for Locks of Love and those who had invested time into other charitable activities. I would like to continue this throughout the year, so if your student has done something "great" that exemplifies strong character and citizenship, send me the details in an email.

We have many extra-curricular opportunities available through our Community Education department, but some of those classes can be in danger of being canceled with low enrollment. We sent home a flier on Thursday with all of our offerings; please take a moment to look them over with your student so you can secure your spot.

Observations from the Classrooms

• Ms. Speight's challenge question for the week had me stumped: What is the only word in the English language that ends in 'mt'?

• Mrs. Loerakker's 1st grade students were learning how to write meaningful letters to their "Star Student" for the week. It was a great opportunity to practice writing as well as to learn how to recognize and appreciate the positive in their classmates.

• Mrs. Guckert has designated a "class greeter," who welcomes visitors and shares what the class is working on at the time. It has been a nice feeling to see students take on that responsibility.