King’s Ridge Preparatory Academy has changed in many different ways. We as students have changed to exceed in our academics this year. Students had a rough year last year, but I have noticed the teachers coming together and making learning fun. King’s Ridge has more activities and after school programs. Our after school programs are made so that students are not on the streets getting involved in negative influences, such as drugs and criminal activities.

Jessica Anguiano

Kings Ridge Preparatory

Academy has a new mascot for its athletic program: The Roadrunner. The roadrunner mascot was selected for its swiftness and agility. Roadrunners prefer sprinting to flying and can run as fast as 20 miles per hour. The roadrunner is a desert survivor and will not back down from its prey. It’s a bird that stands proud and mighty!

Greetings and best wishes for a fabulous New Year from the Riverside Elementary School District!

My name is Silverio Garcia Jr.; and as the recently hired parent and community liaison for the Riverside School District, I’d like to say "Welcome" to all the surrounding businesses and corporations within and outside the boundaries of Riverside District. I’d also like to say and express a warm welcome to our many parents and community members.

We at Riverside School District #2 have many plans and ongoing projects in motion to help take our education campuses to new levels of performance and accomplishments with our students and parents in the midst. We have many desires; however, we fully realize that we cannot operate as an island separated from our surrounding or next door neighboring businesses and / or corporation offices. We realize it takes a community and partnerships with our local businesses and corporations for us to truly succeed.

Some of the present projects that we have underway are the renovations of the Riverside Traditional school campus, which include the construction of a new Parent Center, new Pre-School classrooms and we are adding one more kindergarten classroom. We are also reconstructing the front offices of Riverside Traditional School and the administrative offices to better serve our parents, employees and our Special Education Department.

We want to say "thank you" to all our local area businesses/corporations for your sponsorship and involvement in the ACHIEVE magazine. We cannot fully express our gratitude and sincere appreciation for the business, corporation and the many companies’ involvement that will be helping our children and parents’ education on the Riverside School campuses. We cannot fully function and ACHIEVE all of our goals without our dedicated and committed corporate America sponsors. Great to have all of you onboard!

What is your background in education?

I’ve been in the education field for about 18 years with experience teaching K-12 grade. On completion of my Master’s in Education with an emphasis in education leadership, I began my administrative experience at Willis Junior High School in the Chandler Unified School District. I expanded on my administrative experiences in the Osborn School District at Solano Elementary. In 2005, I learned the Riverside School District was opening a middle school. I was hired as the vice principal for Kings Ridge the first year it opened. I consider Kings Ridge "my" school and am very proud to be back as the principal.

What does a quality education mean to your faculty, students and parents?

For my faculty, that means they’re engaged with the students 100 percent of the time and providing activities in which the students are engaged mentally in their education. We are providing that in the classroom, any way we can through technology and quality learning strategies.

Quality education for my students means we leave no child behind academically, financially or emotionally. I want Kings Ridge to be able to provide music and art classes, after school programs, an outstanding athletics program, community outreach programs and a quality education that will serve as the ground work for them to go to any college or university of their choice.

Kings Ridge offers equality for the community and parents by soliciting parent involvement, comments and suggestions. Our doors are always open and welcoming for all parents.

My goal this year is to expose the 8th grade students to all the educational opportunities afforded to them. The 8th grade team and I have brought in Phoenix Union High School District, Xavier, Brophy, and some of the charter schools in the surrounding area that provide quality education and "Best" practices to speak to the students about what their future could be if they choose.

I also want students to know they aren’t limited in their careers and their futures. We want to set high standards to encourage students to achieve scholastic success that paves the way for better career opportunities and lifestyle options. We don’t have eighth grade graduations; we have eighth-grade promotions. The term "graduation" means they have come to the end of their education. We want to promote them on to higher education. We want Riverside students to go to high school and then have aspirations to go to a university.

We know in order to improve our community, it will require the full participation of the community. There is a direct relationship between parent participation and the academic success of our students. I’m seeking input and suggestions to increase our parents’ involvement with their child’s education.

What improvements have you witnessed since you became principal at King’s Ridge?

In a word: RESPECT. The graffiti and vandalism in the school and the community were huge issues. Students felt unsafe to come to school. The conditions of the school and grounds were a shamble. There’s a presence and an expectation of students’ conduct and appearance this year. So, we’ve seen positive behavior changes and now we want to see improvements in the academic and community involvement realms.

Provide the requisite school supplies. Your child should have a few supplies organized in a place where the child can always find them, preferably a desk or other area in the house. Make sure you have the following supplies on hand: writing paper, construction paper, pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, a stapler, pens, tape, rubber bands, paper clips, scissors, construction paper, crayons, markers, glueand a dictionary.

Establish a routine. Set aside a specific time every day for your child to do homework — perhaps before or after dinner. Ask your child about his/her homework. When the check-in becomes routine, it’s easier to keep tabs on their general workflow, so you don’t end up facing a last-minute frenzy. Identify trouble areas. When you sit down with your child, ask him/her to show you the types of homework he/she is working on and to identify if he/she is having trouble in a specific subject. Once you identify problems, you can work together to find the resources you need to ensure he/she is doing well in his/her classes.

Create a positive environment. When kids have homework, TV and Wii, it’s essential to have a nice, quiet place for your child to complete his/her homework. Turn off the TV and Wii and designate a specific area of your house for studying: Try to choose a well-lit space, and keep this area free from clutter so there is plenty of room for books and papers.

Set up a study group. Kids are social creatures, and a peer group can become a powerful and positive incentive for studying. Consider starting a biweekly study group for your child and his/her classmates. If studying is fun, then your child is more likely to engage and learn.

As the journalism and yearbook teacher at Kings Ridge Preparatory Academy, I am excited for students to have an outlet to express their writing in

Achieve Magazine. This new opportunity is a great way for students to develop their writing and listening skills. Journalism engages Riverside School District students in a variety of ways.

• Journalism shines a light on what’s going on in the lives of our students, families and communities.

• Journalism documents life, building a greater knowledge for people to grab a hold of and become more educated.

• Journalism connects our schools in the Riverside District with the public.

• Journalism helps provide a record of culture as well as an appreciation for each culture within our school district and community.

• Journalism captures people, events and ideas in action through photographs and video sources. Kings Ridge’s Yearbook/Journalism Club meets twice a week. In the upcoming publications, the community will have an opportunity to hear from these students through Achieve Magazine

Basketball:

20 girls’ basketball jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

20 girls’ basketball bottoms (royal blue/white)(varied sizes: s-l)

20 boys’ basketball jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

20 boys’ basketball bottoms (royal blue/white)(varied sizes: s-xl)

10 boys’ basketballs

10 women’s size basketballs

20 women’s shooter shirts (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

20 women’s breakaway warm-up pants (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

20 boys’ shooter shirts (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

20 boys’ breakaway warm-up pants (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

2 basketball score books

Spring:

Baseball:

25 baseball jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

25 baseball jersey pants (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

25 pairs of royal blue socks (varied sizes: s-l)

8 ASA certified bats (varied weights 17-20) (varied sizes 29-32)

60 baseballs with bucket

2 baseball catchers’ sets (catcher’s mask, chest protector, leg guard) age 9-12

2 large equipment bags

1 hanging bat bag

1 set tie down base sets

1 set throw down bases

1 4"-6" portable baseball mound

2 baseball score books

Softball:

25 softball jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

25 softball jersey pants (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

25 pairs of royal blue socks (varied sizes: s-l)

8 ASA certified bats (varied weights 20-24)(varied sizes 30-34)

60 12" softballs with bucket

2 fastpitch catchers’ sets (catcher’s mask, chest protector, leg guard) age 9-12

2 large equipment bags

1 hanging bat bag

1 tie down base sets

1 throw down base set

1 fastpitch pitching rubber

2 fastpitch score books

Fall

Volleyball:

15 volleyball jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

15 volleyball jersey shorts (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

1 volleyball cart

10 volleyballs

2 volleyball score books

Girls’ Soccer:

25 girls’ soccer jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

25 girls’ jersey shorts (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-l)

2 girls’ goalie shirts (green) (small/medium)

10 soccer balls

1 ball bag

3 sets of goal keeper gloves (varied sizes s-l)

Boys’ Soccer

25 boys’ soccer jersey tops (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

25 soccer jersey shorts (royal blue/white) (varied sizes: s-xl)

2 boys’ goalie shirts (green) (medium/large)

10 soccer balls

1 ball bag

3 sets of goal keeper gloves (varied sizes m-xl)

Make sure you count! 

The 2010 Census is here, and our students need your help! Every year, communities like ours are under-represented in the census leading to less money and resources to help our community. This year, we cannot allow that to happen!

The census will determine how much money goes into your schools, your parks, and human services. When we are under-represented, it means that we don’t get the amount of money we deserve for the services we need the most.

This year, do your part to improve our community. Fill out your census form, and turn it back in. None of the information that is collected will be used against you, only to help the community we all love and enjoy.

Remember, in 2010 make sure you count! Fill out the census!

Here is a wish list of items the art room needs.

Kiln shelf supports 1.5’’x1.5’’x6’’

Kiln shelf supports 1.5’’x1.5’’x10’’

Kiln shelf supports 1.5’’x1.3’’x3’’

6 25lb boxes Moist White Clay

6 boxes Ross Art Paste

2 sets classroom glaze brushes

2 ream 9x12 white drawing paper

1 ream 9x12 newsprint

20 bottles black India ink

12 black sharpies

2 packs 12x18 watercolor paper

30 pink erasers

3 boxes #2 pencils

1 class pack glazes

1 Xacto electric industrial size pencil sharpener

3 large bottles rubber cement

Mobile Tote Tray Storage Cabinet for artroom – Nasco Products

15 boxes Stikki Clips

10 cork strip bulletin bars for hallways

500 3’’x4’’ unmounted battleship gray linoleum sheets for printmaking

3 Speedball oil-based block ink starter set – 6 37 cc tubes

40 inking plate/bench hooks for carving linoleum

1000 sheets 9’’x12’’ tagboard

8 plastic spray bottles

Mr. Sketch School Pack of washable Markers

Variety pack Crayola brand dry erase markers

30 x 30 papercutter

What was your inspiration for being a part of the Riverside School Board?

My inspiration for being a part of the Riverside School Board is one into which I put a lot of thought and consideration. I feel it is my responsibility as a community member and educator to make sure that Riverside prepares our current and future generations of students for an ever-changing world that is becoming more demanding each day.

What is your goal for the school district by the end of this school year?

My goal for Riverside School District by the end of this school year is to see re-organization, create a better learning environment and create a culture where teachers seek tools that they need to accomplish their goal of student achievement. These measures will give Riverside a new life.

What is your goal for the district in five years?

In five years I’d like Riverside to be a performing plus school and see students develop critical thinking skills, integrity and resourcefulness so that each student takes responsibility for strengthening his or her academic abilities. Riverside will be a place where faculty and staff encourage each student to learn to appreciate a curriculum, supported by technology that prepares them for high school and beyond.