Shadow Ridge News

On Saturday, September 16th, a team of Shadow Ridge students consisting of Wyatt Wilson, Travis Cain, Donovan Lerma, and Garet Jurrens competed in the ASU LEAPS Military Infrastructure Resiliency Design Competition.  The students were tasked with assessing the vulnerabilities of a military base and creating an emergency response plan for a threat such as a hurricane or a pandemic.  After creating their plan, they presented it to a panel of judges and awaited the results.  Their team was one of the top 3 finalists, and they each received a $2,000 scholarship to any educational institution that they choose to attend.

Congratulations to Luke Esh, Donovan Lerma, Troi Orton, and Wyatt Wilson for being selected Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition! We are proud of your accomplishments on the PSAT/NMSQT test!

The following students have been awarded National Recognition from the College Board.

• Alyssa Wong:  NRSTA
• Analyse Sosa:  NHRA
• Brayden Buchberger:  NRSTA
• Carolyn Austin:  NRSTA
• Danika Lynn Maves:  NRSTA
• Donovan Lerma:  NRSTA
• Elijah Curnutt:  NRSTA
• Garet Jurrens:  NRSTA
• Joseph Holm:  NHRA
• Kloey Garcia:  NHRA
• Kyriana Lynch:  NHRA
• Rylee Maki:  NRSTA
• Savannah Bowers:  NRSTA
• Travis Cain:  NRSTA

These students have earned this academic honor because of their GPA of 3.5 or higher and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and/or AP Exams.

Every Spirit Week, our staff and students show their Stallion Pride.  Thank you Stallion family for always bringing your school spirit.

Friday, August 25, 2023

Approximate Start Time:  6:45 pm - 10 pm 

Approximate Duration:  randomly during time span

This notice is to INFORM residents that a high school fireworks display will be held in your area on Friday, August 25, 2023 between approximately 6:45 pm - 10 pm.  The fireworks will be used randomly during the time span to celebrate the National Anthem, touchdowns, and the end of the game.

While your home is outside of the "safety fallout zone" designated by the regulations for having a fireworks display, we wanted to make you aware of the noise that could come from the area.  This celebration will contain beautiful fireworks which do make some noise, but this show will contain NO "titanium salutes."  These are the fireworks which only produce a flash of white light and a loud boom.

Please take any necessary precautions for your animals or persons who may be adversely affected.

This display will be conducted under the supervision of, and with a permit issued by, the City of Surprise Fire and Medical Department.

Join us for the Fall Play Audition Workshop this Wednesday, August 23 from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm in Ms. D's room 7108.  We will share audition tips, and get you ready to land your next lead role when auditions come!  Contact Ms. D with any questions.

• Friday, August 18, 2023
• 7 pm - 10 pm
• Tickets at the Door:  $15

Tickets are on sale during both lunches for $10.  Shadow Ridge H.S. students only.

The Annual Update can be accessed by logging into your Parent Portal and then clicking the menu and selecting "More" and then "Annual Update." If the Annual Update is not complete, your child will not be able to log into their chromebooks and access important materials.

School Photo/ID Day is Tuesday, August 8, 2023.  

Dress to Impress

Dress Code Applies

The Riot Yearbook for the 2023/2024 School Year is now officially on sale.

Shadow Is Back From Summer

• Monday:  Back from Home - wear your PJ's
• Tuesday:  Back from the Beach - dress beachy/tropical
• Wednesday:  Back from the Movies - dress as your favorite movie actor/character
• Thursday:  Back with my Friends - twin with a friend/squad
• Friday:  Back to School - wear your class colors 

Class colors are as follows:

• Freshmen - white
• Sophomores - gold
• Juniors - maroon
• Seniors - black

Dress code applies

SRHS Back to School Open House is Tuesday, August 15, 2023 from 5:30 pm - 7 pm.  Come meet your teachers and tour the campus.

• Assistance in purchasing yearbooks for the 23/24 SY in Room 5111
• Bookstore will be open
• School Counselors, Rio Salado Rep, West Mec liaisons, Military Reps, and City of Surprise will all be on campus
• Food Trucks

Camp Stallion allows students to meet peers, walk their schedule, purchase PE uniforms ($15), obtain locker rental ($5 per semester), & pick up Chromebooks. To pick up a Chromebook, please complete & bring the Chromebook form to Camp Stallion. If you would like to attend Camp Stallion, please Register.

Seniors to purchase parking permits from July 10 - July 13 from 8 am - 4:30 pm

Juniors to purchase parking permits from July 17 - July 20 from 8 am - 4:30 pm

Dysart programs welcome everyone in the community.  In order to participate, you do not have to be a student at a Dysart School.

Class of 2024 Seniors:  It is time for your Senior Portrait.  All Seniors must be photographed by Grads Photography for submission to the SRHS Yearbook.  Schedule your Senior session by visiting Grads Photography.

Office Hours:  Monday thru Friday from 7 am - 3:30 pm

The office will be closed to the public from June 23 - July 9.  The office will reopen on Monday, July 10.

We hope our students have a healthy, restful, and fun Summer so they come back refreshed and ready to learn for a new school year.  

Students' first day of school for the 2023/2024 School Year is Thursday, August 3, 2023.  Our students' school day starts at 7:15 am and ends at 2:15 pm.  We look forward to seeing you.

Congratulations to the Shadow Ridge High School Class of 2023!  We couldn't be more proud of all your accomplishments, and can't wait to see what you achieve in the future!  Check out the photo gallery and rewatch the ceremony below.

• Monday, May 22 Bell Schedule
• Tuesday, May 23 Bell Schedule
• Wednesday, May 24 Bell Schedule

The students were named Overall Grand Champions for all categories, winning the contest for the second year in a row.  Additionally, they received Fastest Lap with an average speed of 19.3mph, Most Laps with 6, and the Maker Division Championship.

Working with teachers and mentors, students spend nine months preparing for race day. Along the way, they apply physics, engineering, and energy concepts. They solve real-world problems, using mathematical, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Students work in teams and collaborate on ideas. They are challenged to translate their ideas into a working prototype, and along the way, they build leadership skills. 

The Solar Stallions team consisted of seven students: Mea Buffa, Jacob Hilton, Landon Holm, Colton Meyers, Alden Kowalewsky, Von Caparas, and Andrew Retzlaff.  They competed against 13 Arizona high schools.

The team prepared for the event the entire year by gathering the materials, planning the design, building and testing the go-kart powered entirely by energy produced by the sun.

“We had a great team this year that worked extremely hard. They made a kart that was lean and fast. It was very rewarding to see them accomplish their goals,” shared Shadow Ridge coach and Engineering teacher, Eric Bennett.

Engineering is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in the district that prepares students to enter the workforce with the academic and vocational skills needed to compete successfully in the job market

The event was sponsored by the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF). SARSEF focuses on engaging students through exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), in order to gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important for whatever career they choose. 

A s the sun rose early at Shadow Ridge High School in the fall of 2022, students had some big decisions to make - should I buy a large house or live in a one bedroom apartment? Do I have enough extra money to go out to eat this weekend?  Is that name-brand cereal that is two dollars more than the generic really worth it?  While these questions are crucial to adults, do students in high school really think about these things? 

Stephen MacKeller and Noah Axelson, both students at Shadow Ridge, would answer, “absolutely, they should!” to the question posed above. In coordination with the Arizona Council of Economic Education (ACEE), MacKellar and Axelson worked to implement the Financial Fitness in Action program at Shadow Ridge this past Fall.  

“A lot of students go into their daily lives after high school lacking budgeting skills and proper spending skills and we wanted to bring that education to our classmates,” said Axelson

“This program would help these students understand many of the real-world costs and help them budget for their adult life after high school,” said MacKeller.

More than 150 students from Business Marketing and Economics classes at Shadow Ridge High School participated in the Financial Fitness in Action event over the course of two hours this past November. ACEE supplied the materials along with industry volunteers to help facilitate the program.

Students participated in a fun, interactive, life-after high school simulation of saving, spending, and budgeting based on career choices and lifestyle decisions.  Based on the career, salary, and credit score assigned, students made decisions that affect their finances, such as renting an apartment on their own or having a roommate, buying or leasing a vehicle, purchasing phones and/or cable, and saving for their retirement. 

Stephen and Noah, who are Business and Marketing students and participate in the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), planned the event from start to finish. 

Business Marketing is a Career and Technical Education program within the Dysart Unified School District, which prepares students for employment in various sales, customer service, advertising and promotion, and first-line supervisory positions. Students are able to explore, understand, and apply marketing, management, and entrepreneurial principles. 

Both students saw the lack of knowledge in their fellow classmates when it comes to finances and planning and thought the event would be helpful to teach students about budgeting and saving.

“You see the common trope of a 16-year-old who gets a job and blows all their paycheck and then complains that they have no money,” shared Stephen.

The main goal of bringing the event to Shadow Ridge was to provide high school aged students with information on financial literacy in an accessible way. Additionally, Noah and Stephen needed a project subject to compete in the DECA state competition held in February 2023.

DECA is one of the many CTSOs available for CTE students. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and provides opportunities for state, national and international travel through internships, camps and leadership conferences.

Stephen did research on different curriculum throughout the state and found the ACEE opportunity. The Financial Fitness in Action was brought to the school previously but on a smaller scale through Zoom as the group was not hosting in-person events at time due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Stephen and Noah worked closely with their Business Marketing teacher, Mollie Fussell, and school administration to implement the event.  Both students served as project managers and took the extensive steps to bring Financial Literacy in Action to the Shadow Ridge High School campus.

MacKellar and Axelson held preliminary meetings with ACEE representatives to begin the planning process.  They planned out logistics for the event setup and reached out to teachers to allow class time for the event and requested that participation points be allocated by each teacher to ensure students were engaged during the event.  

“Stephen and Noah did a very great job in coordinating this event and took pride in doing it,” shared Michelle Bohon, Lead Counselor at Shadow Ridge High School.  Mrs. Bohon supported and encouraged them throughout the planning process and was a volunteer at the Housing table during the event. 

The day of the event began early as set up for the event needed to be completed prior to first hour students arriving during their scheduled time.  

Students were given a rubric that listed their occupation, income as well as family information.  Participants went to a series of decision-making stations led by community volunteers, industry leaders, teachers, and counselors where they discussed budget and guided students in planning for housing, healthcare, auto insurance, groceries, entertainment, and more.  As students spoke to volunteers at each station, they made financial decisions to complete their budgeting rubric.

One example of an occupational profile utilized for the event was a chef who earned $57,711 annually.  After the various budgeting components were filled out, a Wheel of Life station manned by Stephen and Noah threw a wrench in their money planning decisions.

Much like life, finances can be unpredictable. Students spun the wheel of life and were faced with surprise, real-life situations such as traffic tickets and car repairs that impacted their financial planning.  

“This step was important because it represented random mishaps that happen throughout life that you can’t really budget for but you have to be ready for,” said Stephen.

“Students that planned well and had savings leftover could budget for those incidents and others went back to previous stations to try to cut back on things like entertainment,” said Noah.

As students were completing the exercise, many were surprised at the actual cost of items and how much they do not know about financial planning.

“It was cool to see how happy my fellow students were when they were under budget, how shocked they were about how much they spent on life necessities, and the sacrifices they had to make as they were going through the process,” said Axelson.

The event also elicited funny responses: “I am never moving out of my parents house,” shared one participant and a freshman student at the Entertainment planning table said, “my kids are going to the fire station for a free, fun outing versus an expensive day at the movie theater.” 

“I definitely feel the seniors had a more optimistic attitude and were more engaged in the activity as they are on the cusp of making these important financial decisions as they get closer to buying a car or renting an apartment,” shared Stephen.

The response of the event was overwhelmingly positive as a survey was given prior to the event and an exit survey was administered after the completion of the event.  Data referenced that  91.7% of the students stated they “strongly agree” with the fact that they learned something from the program.

These data findings were included in Stephen and Noah’s project at the DECA Arizona State Career Development (SCDC) conference held at the Arizona Grand in February 2023. 

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“We submitted a 20-page paper based on the culminating project named Smart Money dictating the journey we took with this Financial Literacy event,” shared MacKeller.  “The competition also included a 15 minute presentation with visual displays in front of a judge.”

“The preparation for state is quite substantial and students are given class time to write, interview and practice verbal presentations,” shared Mrs. Fussell.  “We have this great program through DECA+ that includes sample role play events and the top three winners from the previous year so they can see the quality expected.”

Stephen and Noah had great success at the conference and earned second place at the state level for their Financial Literacy project and will compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference hosted in Orlando, Florida in April 2023. 

Along with Stephen and Noah’s efforts to bring this valuable event to Shadow Ridge, and their accolades at state, Financial Literacy in Action will serve as one of five components needed to qualify students at Shadow Ridge to earn the Arizona Seal of Personal Finance.  

The seal recognizes high school students who achieve a high level of proficiency in Personal Finance. The seal is placed upon the student’s diploma and noted on their transcript.  Students in Business Marketing classes can earn the additional four requirements for the seal in only two years.

Stephen and Noah were successful in meeting their goal as shared in their Smart Money paper submitted at state, “The goal of the project is to provide high school students at Shadow Ridge High School with knowledge on financial literacy that they will be able to use, and carry into their adult lives.” 

SRHS Stellar FX wins 1st place from Oceanside Sound Off Show Choir Competition.  They received Best Music and Best Show.  Alexandra Richardson received Best Soloist in Division and Nehemiah Williams received Best Performer.

Shadow Ridge High School Theatre program presents Grease, The Musical

• April 12, 2023 @ 7 pm
• April 13, 2023 @ 7 pm
• April 14, 2023 @ 7 pm

Valley Vista will be hosting Dysart Unified School's annual College 101 Night on Friday, March 31 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  We encourage you to join us for the College/University, Technical school, and Military informational fair at 5:30 pm and the informational sessions to follow.  This event is open to all students and their families.

Informational Session Topics:

• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Paying for College
• NCAA College Athletic eligibility
• Attending all Women's/Men's Colleges
• How to apply to a highly selective school
• Attending an Honors College
• Service Academics
• and More!

The Educators Rising students just returned from their State Conference.  Please congratulate the following students who have qualified to compete at Nationals in Orlando this summer.

11th grade students will be taking the ACT (American College Test) on April 4, 2023 during school.  The ACT measures what students have learned in High School.  Results are used for College Course Placement as well as Career Planning.

In partnership with the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage, students across the Dysart Unified School District were invited to participate in the My El Mirage and My Surprise Essay Contests in November of 2022.  Prompts were developed in partnership with each city to elicit responses that spoke about each city’s mission or vision.  

More than 200 students in grades 3-12 submitted their essays with schools choosing the top 128 district-wide.  The writings were evaluated based on understanding of city services/amenities, creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and proper grammar.

Winners from Surprise were selected in specific grade bands and were honored March 7 at the Surprise City Council meeting including: Cadence Fumia and Rose Vasquez from Countryside Elementary in the grade 3-4 division, Tatianna Pellegrino from Freedom Traditional School for 5-8th grade and Kaleb Delgado from Shadow Ridge High School who won for the high school division.  

Excerpts included below.

Cadence Fumia encourages people to live in Surprise: “My name is Cadence and I live in Surprise, Arizona. If you don’t, what the heck are you waiting for?”

Rose Vasquez expresses how she feels living in Surprise: “I am really happy I moved here because I have my family, a great school that I really like. I have some new friends, and it’s really clean, safe, and friendly.”

Tatianna Pellegrino shares this insight about Surprise: “Danish architect and urban design consultant, Jan Gehl once said, ‘A good city is like a good party–you stay for longer than you plan.’ Surprise isn’t just a good party; it's a great party.”  

Kaleb Delgado says: “[Surprise] carries nothing by surprises, and as a resident here, I am proud to be in such a beautiful community.” 

The City of El Mirage structured their essay winners a bit differently and awarded the top three students in grade 3-8: Esmeralda Olvera Martinez; 1st place, Lejla Tvrtkovic; 2nd place, and Kaleb Rodriquez; third place all from El Mirage Elementary School. High school recognitions include Nathaniel Cosio, and Andre Mena, both 11th grade students at Valley Vista High School.

The five students and their families were invited to attend the City of El Mirage Council meeting on March 7.  The students were recognized and received ribbons and certificates.

Esmeralda Olvera Martinez shares her reasons for loving her city: “So, do you want to know why El Mirage is special? Well, I’ll tell you. You’re going to love it.” She goes on to describe the schools, library, and festivals in El Mirage. 

Nathaniel Cosio shares the value of community: “In the El Mirage community, I feel like everyone knows each other and have fun just getting to live in the city.”

Student winners from both categories were recognized at the Dysart Unified School District Governing Board meeting on March 9th, 2023.

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leaders.

“It has been such a rewarding experience to partner with both the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage to honor our scholars and writers,” shared Edgerton. “The essays submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

We finished up our week leading into Spring Break with Spirit.  Everyone at SRHS wishes our students, families, and staff a safe and fun Spring Break.  We will see you back here on Monday, March 20, 2023.

Congratulations to all of our exceptional students who received an Academic Letter and/or Bar.  We are all so proud of each and every one of you.  

How do I receive an Academic Letter and/or Bar?

POM went to Anaheim to compete at the USA Spirit Nationals.  They moved on from Prelims to Finals for the first time ever and took home 1st Place at USA Spirit Nationals.

SRHS Architecture Club won 1st Place for the sixth time in a row at the 2023 NAHB Competition. Congratulations to Sebastian St. Germain, David Broach, Brooke Harrison, Ashton Buus, Emma Davis, and Mr. Buus.

The SRHS DECA Chapter celebrates many wins.  We are one of approximately 1,300 chapters internationally to earn Achievement or  Thrive Level through DECA's chapter campaign program.  They will now compete at the State Conference later this month.

Join us for a night of tranquil poetry on Wed, Jan 25 from 6pm - 8:30pm @ SRHS in the center of Campus. We will have 27 poetry & musical performances. For more information, please visit www.poetryoutloud.org.

Michael Festin is a Senior at SRHS and a competitive Fencer.  Earlier in the year, he received a rating for his Gold Medal at a local tournament at ASU.  Also, Michael recently won Gold in the USA Fencing, Arizona Division, Junior Olympic Qualifier.  In February, he will travel to Denver to compete in the USA Fencing Junior Olympic Championship.

Students entering high school in the 2023-2024 academic year, and their parents, are invited to attend an incoming freshman meeting on Monday, December 5 to learn about high school expectations, unique programs, and the process for registration and class selection. These meetings are designed to provide incoming freshmen with an overview of the academic programs available at Dysart Unified School District’s four high schools and explain the process of registering for ninth-grade classes.    

Future Freshman Nights are scheduled as follows on Monday, December 5:     

Dysart High School - 5:30 PM at 11425 N. Dysart Road, El Mirage   

 Shadow Ridge High School - 6:00 PM at 10909 N. Perryville Road, Surprise  

 Valley Vista High School - 5:30 PM at 15550 N. Parkview Place, Surprise   

 Willow Canyon High School - 5:00 PM at 17901 W. Lundberg Street, Surprise   

 Students and parents will learn about high school classes, course selection, unique and career-related programs, core curriculum, and graduation requirements. Attending Future Freshman Night motivates eighth graders to remain focused on their true academic goal – completing high school and beyond.      

 Dysart offers four top-rated high schools to the community and is home to two top 50 high schools in Arizona. Three of our four high schools are “A” rated, and two out-rank all local counterparts. Visit Dysart.org to learn more about our high schools academics, arts and athletics. To view school locations and residential attendance boundaries, visit Dysart.org/Boundaries. 

The Riot Yearbook from Shadow Ridge High School had a successful day at the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association's Annual Convention and Award Ceremony. 

Their 2021/2022 Publication Element won 2nd place for General Excellence in a Yearbook Publication.

Individually they received Superior Awards for Theme Development, Student Life Spread, Index Design, and Graphic Design.  The Riot Yearbook also received Excellent Awards for Student Life Spread and Personality Profile.

In the Honorable Mention category, they were recognized for their Seniors Spread Design, Sports Spread Design, and Academic Spread Design.

November 29 - December 8

December 3

December 5

December 5 - December 9

• Monday, December 5:  Do you want to build a snowman (white out)
• Tuesday, December 6:  May all your sweaters be ugly & bright (ugly sweater day)
• Wednesday, December 7:  Let me take an #ELFIE (Holiday accessories)
• Thursday, December 8:  Polar Express (pajama day)
• Friday, December 9:  Santa Claus is coming to town (Seniors & Juniors dress as Santa.  Sophomores & Freshmen dress as elves.  Staff dress as reindeer)
• Friday, December 9:  Winter Sports Assembly

December 7

SRHS will have a Q & A with Mollie McElvain, artist on Jellystone, Batwheels, Sonic Prime, and Space Jam

Shadow Ridge High School is excited to announce that we have received an A-rating from the newly-released 2022 State of Arizona accountability labels. This letter grade provides us a glimpse into many areas of proficiency and growth for our school, including information about student achievement, college and career readiness, student growth, and other key areas of interest. We appreciate our hardworking students, staff and parents for their contributions in making our school an A-rated school! 

This is the first time the state has issued new labels since 2018-2019, due to House Bill’s 2910 and 2402, which temporarily paused the issuing of A-F letter grades.

About School Letter Grades: Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-241 requires the Arizona Department of Education, subject to final adoption by the State Board of Education, to develop an annual achievement profile for every public school in the state based on an A through F scale. The system measures year to year student academic growth, proficiency on English language arts, math and science, the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school and that high school students are ready to succeed in a career or higher education and high school graduation rates. 

 Dysart Unified School District invites parents and students to a Career and College Expo on Wednesday, October 26 from 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Dysart District Office, located at 15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise.  

The expo showcases Dysart's Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, West-MEC, colleges and universities, and military representatives so families can explore opportunities to pursue in and after high school. This is a great way for 5th through 11th grade students and their parents to get hands-on with all of the career pathway classes and programs offered at Dysart Schools. The event is free and open to the public. Details can be found at www.dysart.org/CTEexpo. 

Dysart Schools currently offer 17 CTE programs at four high schools (Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, Valley Vista High School, and Willow Canyon High School.) Program options include Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Digital Animation, Digital Photography, Education Professions, Engineering, Film and TV Production, Fire Science, Graphic Design, Laboratory Assisting, Law and Public Safety, Marketing, Nursing Services, Software and App Design, Sports Medicine, Stagecraft Design and Production and Technology Device Maintenance. Learn more at www.dysart.org/CTE. 

Shadows Haunted House Spirit Week

• Monday - Monster Mash:  Dress as your favorite Monster
• Tuesday - Trick or Treat Tuesday:  Dress as your Trick or Treat self
• Wednesday - Wicked Wednesday:  Dress as a Witch or Wizard
• Thursday - Thriller Thursday:  Dress as a Zombie
• Friday - Franken Friday:  Class Colors (Seniors: black, Juniors: orange, Sophomores: purple, Freshman: green)

Principal Cashatt made a grand entrance courtesy of Banner Air to deliver the game ball via helicopter. The Stallions put on a great effort in a tough 14-45 loss against Corona del Sol.  The spirit line cheered on a lively crowd of pink in the student section as the band and choir performed for the attendees.  

The Stallions play October 7 at Westview at 7:00pm.

SRHS student, Marissa Le'Levier has been named as a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Marissa is one of approx. 34,000 Commended Students throughout the Nation that are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Tests.

Spirit Week 2022:  Shadow Dances Through Time

Food Truck Night:  September 26, 2022 from 5pm to 7pm

Water Drive:  September 26, 2022 - October 21, 2022 in 3rd hour

Spirit Week, August 15 - August 19

Back to School Beach Bash Dance, August 20 7-10pm

We are excited for the first day back to school on Wednesday, August 3.  In order to make drop-off and pick-up as smooth as possible, please see the available maps.

P.E. Uniform Costs

• P.E. Uniform total cost is $15
• Uniforms are for purchase in the Bookstore

New 10th-12th Grader?

Join us from 11:30am - 1pm to pick up your Chromebook and walk the campus.  Please bring a printed and signed copy of the Chromebook form with you in order to take your Chromebook home with you on this day.  See above Chromebook Form links.

Shadow Ridge High School Educators Rising students Halle Feltner and Rhys Davis recently participated in the Educators Rising National Leadership Conference held June 20-24 in Washington, DC. 

Each student qualified to attend the National Conference after competing at the State Leadership Conference held in Tucson this past spring. Halle Feltner placed second in STEM Lesson Planning and Delivery in which she designed, taught to third graders, and reflected on with the judging panel. 

“The National Educators Rising Conference was a great opportunity for students to compete with others from across the Nation,” said Andrea Haser, Shadow Ridge Educators Rising advisor. “They also connected with future educators and listened to great speakers at opening/closing and breakout sessions. The location of the conference in Washington D.C. also offered additional learning experiences as we toured parts of the nation's capital city.”

Educators Rising Arizona is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students participating in Education Professions that is dedicated to ensuring that the future is full of high quality educators starting in high school. Educators Rising Arizona provides students with the opportunities to take what they learn in their Early Childhood Education and Education Professions classes and apply them in relevant, scenario-based competitions at the annual State Leadership Conference. Educators Rising Arizona also offers professional development opportunities and practical applications for students who aspire to enter the teaching profession by providing them with engaging breakout sessions centered around best practices and leadership development.

Education Professions is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program offered at Shadow Ridge High School that prepares students for employment or post secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments.

Shadow Ridge High School will hold an Open House on Monday, August 8, 2022 from 5pm - 7pm.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the event.

We can't wait to see everyone back for the first day of school on August 3! Make sure you mark your calendars for event and activity dates and keep an eye on our new website for important information as the start of school approaches. 

Our Open House will be on August 8 from 5:30-7:00pm. Freshman Orientation will be August 2 beginning at 7:15am. Please join us to see the campus, meet your child's teachers, and get information on what to expect this year.  

Still need to enroll? There's still time to get your children enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year! Parents and guardians can complete the necessary registration information online at Dysart.org/enroll at any time.  Please note that in order to finalize registration the following documents will be required: government issued photo identification; birth certificate; proof of residency; and immunization records. For additional assistance with student registration, families are welcome to contact our front office. 

Don't forget to make sure you have access to the Parent Portal to keep up with your child’s academic progress throughout the year! Sign up or access the site online at Dysart.org/parentportal or via the Campus Parent app. 

Savannah Leone, a 2022 graduate from Shadow Ridge High School received the Youth Kindness Achievement Award from the Be Kind People Project.  

Recipients are chosen based on how their kindness and leadership skills have been demonstrated among their peers and celebrates young people who shine in their communities.

Savannah received the honor at a recent Be Kind People Project awards ceremony for an event she hosted at Shadow Ridge.

You Matter Week was a school-wide celebration throughout campus built on the idea that everyone matters and no one is alone.  The event brought all students together to show that everyone should be seen and be heard.  Student names were written on cards throughout the halls and student and staff hosted “Ted Talks” to share how they’ve grown in their journey in life.

Savannah was recognized at the May 25 Governing Board meeting and shared an excerpt below from her acceptance speech. 

“I live life embracing my strengths so that I can fulfill my individual purpose. I undoubtedly believe that my responsibility on this earth is to make a difference and change lives. I’ve made it my mission to make sure everyone feels loved and included and that they belong.” 

Throughout her high school career, Savannah participated in various activities including soccer, cheer, football, tennis, student council, best buddies program, lacrosse and dance.  Savannah will attend the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University to study sociology and criminology.   

The Be Kind People Project® (BKPP) is a public 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to providing students with comprehensive youth development programming that effectively uses a positive approach.

Dysart Schools have many opportunities for the community to assist schools in providing an amazing educational experience to each and every student. Volunteers help to enrich children’s learning opportunities, provide individual attention to children who need one-on-one assistance, promote a school-home-community partnership for quality education, provide staff members with more time to work with students, and assist staff members and support personnel with non-instructional tasks.

Where is Help Needed?

• Classroom and teacher support 
• One-on-one student assistance 
• Event help (preparations, setup, operations, tear-down)  
• Guest speakers (experts or retirees in various fields) 
• Front office assistance

How to Become a Volunteer:

1. Review the volunteer handbook and complete the volunteer application at Dysart.org/Volunteer 
2. Make an appointment for your volunteer orientation 
3. Coordinate your schedule through the school office 
4. Put on your volunteer badge and have fun!

Who Should Apply to Volunteer?

Anyone who cares about children and education is a potential volunteer. Parents, grandparents and community members 18 years of age or older who want to make a difference in the lives of children and support educators are encouraged to apply to become a volunteer with Dysart Unified School District. Volunteers are welcome in all of our schools and prior teaching experience is not necessary.

Learn more or apply here.

Dysart Nutrition Services ensures that students at all schools have fresh, wholesome and nutritious breakfast and lunch options to support their education and focus in class. Learn more about Nutrition Services at Dysart.org/Nutrition. Menus and nutritional information may be viewed at Dysart.Nutrislice.com.

Apply for Free and Reduced Meals

Beginning July 1, 2022 the USDA is returning to income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced meals. All families should complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application at SchoolCafe.com to help maintain school funding and make sure that qualified families receive this and other benefits. Only one application is required per family, and may be completed at SchoolCafe.com.

How to Add Meal Funds to an Account

Cash and checks are accepted for meal purchases, or families may utilize SchoolCafe.com to prepay for meals online, view their balances, or place restrictions on purchases. Online payments take 24 hours to post to student accounts.  

Meal Prices 

• Elementary Lunch $2.60, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• Elementary Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75  High School Lunch $2.85, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• High School Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75 

A la carte and snack items are available for purchase on each campus, and additional meals are available for an added charge. Parents are always welcome to dine with their child, but please be sure to call in advance and check-in at the school office. Adult meals may be purchased for $1.75 for breakfast or $3.50 for lunch. 

Dysart is the largest employer in both the cities of Surprise and El Mirage with over 2,700 employees. Dysart Schools offer highly competitive salaries, full benefits and an inviting school-year calendar with holidays and weekends off for most positions. 

With a wide-variety of positions ranging from groundskeeper, to mechanic, to office staff, and teachers, we’re always looking for great people to join our Dysart team!

Current High Need Areas: 

•  Bus Drivers and Aides
•  Childcare and Preschool Aides
•  Paraprofessionals
•  Behavioral Technicians 
•  Speech and Language Pathologists 
•  Special Education Teachers 
•  Math Teachers 
•  Science Teachers 
•  ASL Teachers 
•  Health Services Assistants 
•  Crossing Guards 
•  Maintenance Workers and Plant Managers 
•  Social Workers

Check out our current openings at Dysart.org/Careers and apply today!

The Parent Portal is a great tool to stay informed 24/7 about your child’s academic progress. Grades, attendance, assignments and more are viewable in real time online or via the app, Campus Parent. A single login allows parents with multiple students to access information for all of their children in one place. Learn more at Dysart.org/ParentPortal.

Update Your Communication Preferences and Contact Info

To make sure that we can keep you informed in emergency situations, please ensure that your contact information is current in the Parent Portal. You are also able to adjust your communication preferences (phone, text, and/or email) at Dysart.org/ParentPortal or on the Campus Parent app to ensure you are getting the various message types in the way that you would like. Remember that if you select more than one type of communication per category, you will receive the message multiple times via each of those avenues.

It was a busy season for Career and Technical Education (CTE)  students throughout the district who competed at state and international level in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and SkillsUSA state conferences, and the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) International Career Development Conference.

The FCCLA State Leadership Conference was held on March 28-30, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona.  The competition allows students to compete in over 30 different events, meet the current State Executive Council and State Officer Candidates, qualify for the National Leadership Conference in San Diego, and network with members across Arizona.  

Valley Vista High School students received the following recognitions: Olivia Black earned a gold medal and a perfect score in Chicken Fabrication, Megan Gatz and Sierra Painter both won silver in Culinary Arts, and Joselyn Villegas won bronze in Food Innovations.

FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life - planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication - all necessary within the home and workplace. FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members.

The FBLA State Leadership conference was held on April 4-6 in Tucson, Arizona. The event gives students the opportunity to advance to the national conference, compete in a variety of competitions, participate in workshops, and run for state office for FBLA. 

Dysart High School students Jared Wilson, Ryan Maisano, Bryan Naiuli, Damien Cordero, and Devonte Reed placed in the top five for Parliamentary Procedures. Valley High School students Lilly Smith and Raven Cardosi placed second in 3D Animation.

FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

Students from all four district high schools competed in the SkillsUSA State Competition hosted April 19-20, 2022 in Phoenix.  This event is the premier showcase for Arizona’s trade, technology and service high school and college students. This annual championship features over 75 skills and leadership competitions that determine who will represent Arizona at the national SkillsUSA Championships.  

Gage Fuentes from Dysart High School earned the Silver medal in Auto Tech Basic.  Several students from Shadow Ridge High School earned medals including Jordyn Jones who earned a gold medal in T-Shirt Design and a Silver medal in Advertising Design.  Alysa Horton received a gold medal for Stage Coach Interview Skills.  Zachary Hampton and  Joseph Holm earned second Place Web Development & Design.  Jacob Bacome and Brian Bucsi won gold in 3D Visualization, and Tyler Winter and Tyler Cain won a bronze medal in Additive Manufacturing.  Willow Canyon High School students Allison Kotzbauer, Eli Hernandez, and Morgan West won gold in Career Pathways Showcase: Arts and Communication and the club was named a gold Chapter of Excellence.

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development by building and reinforcing self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service (including health) occupations.

Students from Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, and Willow Canyon High School competed in the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) on April 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.  The event allows students to compete with more than 10,000 DECA students from across the country.  Students participated in the Emerging Leaders Series in order to attain 21st Century Skills in the areas of collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity.  Students also network with hundreds of representatives in the college and career exhibits as they plan for their future.

Shadow Ridge High School student Jamie Springer was a top ten finalist in Project Management Community Awareness event, and Noah Axelson, Lily McDaniel, Kloey Garcia earned 6th place in the Virtual Business Restaurant. 

Irene Silva, Bethanie Lopez-Draeger and Servando Lopez from Dysart High School won a gold medal in the Small Business Enterprise Food Operations Competition.  Dysart High students Lorenzo Roman and Dawn Jones took fourth place in the Business Law and Ethics Competition. 

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship.  DECA is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

Shadow Ridge High School engineering students won top honors in the Racing the Sun  solar-powered go-kart competition hosted on April 23 at Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson.  Racing the Sun is an engineering program that challenges high school students to design, build, and race solar-powered go-karts. 

The students were named Grand Champions in the Maker category for winning the contest and race with honors for Oral Presentation and Coach of the Year for Eric Bennett, Engineering and Physics Teacher at Shadow Ridge High School.  

Working with teachers and mentors, students spend nine months preparing for race day. Along the way, they apply physics, engineering, and energy. They solve real-world problems, using mathematical, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Students work in teams and collaborate on ideas. They are challenged to translate their ideas into a working prototype, and along the way, they build leadership skills. A total of ten schools competed in the competition this year.

The Solar Stallions team consisted of nine students: Tyler Winter, Kris Castro, Kevin Marquez, Isaac Kendall, Parker Sniezek, Jaden Saggar, Bradley Blue, Ryan San Andres, all of whom are seniors this year. The team prepared for the event the entire year by gathering the materials, planning the design, building and testing the go-kart powered entirely by energy produced by the sun.

“Mr. Bennett and his students should be exceptionally proud of themselves for winning this competition and I am extremely proud! The program has excelled from struggling to put together materials to having one of the best cars in the competition this year. These students definitely exude the spirit of being Stallion Strong,” shared Michael Hawkins, Shadow Ridge High School Principal.

The event was sponsored by the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF). SARSEF focuses on engaging students through exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), in order to gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important for whatever career they choose.

Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) students from Dysart High School, Willow Canyon High School, and Shadow Ridge High School competed in the HOSA State Leadership Conference held in Tucson March 30 - April 1. 

HOSA is a student-led organization that seeks to empower students to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. The HOSA State Leadership conference provides students the opportunity to use the skills they have learned in their Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses and apply them to a competitive events program. 

Students had the opportunity to compete in multiple different events, participate in workshops, and network with current healthcare professionals as well as other students from across the state. 

Congratulations to the following students for their achievements in their respective events. 

Willow Canyon student Alyssa Morris placed second in Medical Terminology, Tyrah Davis placed fifth in Prepared Speaking, Kenna Moore placed fifth in Medical Law & Ethics, Hailey Amos placed fourth in Nursing Assisting, Kristin Anderson placed third in Human Growth & Development, and Melody Holland, Kenna Moore, Lauren Buseman, Elizabeth Wood and McKenna Moreno placed top eight in the Anatomage Competition. In addition, Kennedy Wilson and Isabella Buoscio qualified for the International Leadership Conference for their performance in the Healthcare Issues event. 

Dysart High School student Lindy Pottle placed first in Medical Reading, Maeve Shapera, Charity Sumner, Amaya Menjivar, Denice Calderon, Alyssa Blandford, and Alicia Parra placed first in MRC Partnership, Eden Mussleman, Sarah Weller, Victoria Mather, and Dora Mazariego placed third in Medical Innovations, Shayne Vasquez and Makenzie Maloof placed fourth in Medical Innovations, Abbigail Kizer and Ruben Jimenez placed fifth in Health Education, and Lane Vazquez Luna placed fifth in Epidemiology. Additionally, Marisol Trejo, Alejandro Arevalo and Briana Torres received the Barbara James Service Award, and Lane Vazquez Luna and Lindy Pottle were the recipients of HOSA scholarships in the amounts of $500 and $2,000. Overall, Dysart High School had 17 students qualify to compete in the International Conference.

The HOSA International Leadership Conference will take place on June 22-25, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

HOSA is a student-led Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) specifically for students enrolled in CTE programs. The mission of HOSA is to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary and collegiate students interested in a career in health care. 

Congratulations to the Shadow Ridge High School Educators Rising students who participated at the Educators Rising State Leadership conference hosted in Tucson March 28-30th. 

Ten Shadow Ridge students attended the event and competed in a variety of competitions related to teaching. Halle Feltner took third place in Lesson Planning and Delivery with her 5E STEM Lesson. Rhys Davis also placed in the top ten for Researching Non-Traditional Teaching Careers. Both have earned a place in the National competition this June in Washington D.C. 

Educators Rising Arizona is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students participating in Education Professions that is dedicated to ensuring that the future is full of high quality educators starting in high school. Educators Rising Arizona provides students with the opportunities to take what they learn in their Early Childhood Education and Education Professions classes and apply them in relevant, scenario-based competitions at the annual State Leadership Conference. Educators Rising Arizona also offers professional development opportunities and practical applications for students who aspire to enter the teaching profession by providing them with engaging breakout sessions centered around best practices and leadership development. 

Education Professions is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program offered at Shadow Ridge High School that prepares students for employment or post secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments.

On April 10, Shadow Ridge High School Junior Jake Railey did something extraordinary.  During the annual Nike Chandler Rotary Track and Field Invitational, he threw the javelin 190’11’, marking the third longest throw in the meet’s 80 year history.  Because competing against himself is something he’s used this year, being ranked first in the state of Arizona by a wide margin, Jake threw the javelin an astounding 194’11” in last weekend’s meet, earning him the ranking of 8th in the nation.     

“I try not to focus on it too much,” Jake says of the national ranking.  “I try not to let it get to my head.”

Javelin wasn’t a sport he ever thought we would compete at, and it wasn’t till high school that he even gave it a shot.  

“Ever since I was a kid I always had an arm,” he shared.  “I played baseball as a kid and always threw football with my Dad.  I’d make him go the way down to the end of the street and I would throw it to him.  He’d have to walk back to get close to me to get it back,” he says with a chuckle.

Jake tried out for football his freshman year, but it just wasn’t for him.  He was looking for something else to get involved in, and someone recommended track and field and javelin.

“I thought, I’ll try it. So I came out and threw javelin and broke the school record on my first throw.  So I decided to stick with it,” he said with a laugh.

He placed seven in the state championships that first year, and unfortunately because of COVID didn’t get to compete last year.  This year, Jake won every meet he’s competed in and has the competition beat by a wide margin so far.  He is instead setting personal goals to help keep himself motivated.  He wants to break the 200’ barrier this season.      

After learning about his surprise talent for javelin, Jake plans to take it as far as he can, and that includes college.  He hopes to compete while obtaining his degree in Business or Meteorology.  

Students in the Education Professions program at Shadow Ridge High School recently competed in the Educators Rising State Leadership Conference, which was held virtually this year. The conference aims to bring together students with an interest in the education profession, and challenge them with individual and team events. 

Shadow Ridge student Alexis Moore received third place in the Lesson Plan Design and Delivery: STEM individual event. In addition, Alexis Moore, Samantha Kostiw, and Christian Franco received second place in the Researching Learning Challenges team event. 

Educators Rising is a national network that helps develop aspiring teachers by providing passionate young people with authentic opportunities to experience teaching, sustain their interest in the education profession, and help them cultivate the skills they need to be successful educators. 

The Education Professions program at Shadow Ridge High School is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that prepares students for employment or post secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments. 

For more information about CTE programs in the district, please visit dysart.org/CTE.

Kiersten Baker, a junior at Shadow Ridge High School was selected as a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders.  The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country interested in these careers, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

Kiersten's nomination was signed by Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Science Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Shadow Ridge High School based on her academic achievement, leadership potential, and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

During the two-day Congress, Kiersten will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research; be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school; witness stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; be inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

The Academy offers free services and programs to students who want to become physicians or go into medical science. Services offered by the program include online social networks through which future doctors and medical scientists can communicate; opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by physicians and medical students; and communications for parents and students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance.

Kiersten is currently taking Honors Algebra 3/4, Advanced Placement Chemistry, Dual Enrollment English, Advanced Dance, Honors History and is a third year Engineering student.  She is also active in dance, dedicating 20 plus hours a week dancing competitively, and serves as a teacher’s assistant with her dance company.

Kiersten holds a 4.308 GPA and is considering Arizona State University, University of New Mexico and Texas A&M for college with Chemical or Biomedical Engineering as a major. The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists was founded on the belief that we must identify prospective medical talent at the earliest possible age and help these students acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of this vital career and to identify, encourage and mentor students who wish to devote their lives to the service of humanity as physicians and medical scientists.

Congratulations to Shadow Ridge High School football athlete Zach Sutton. Zach was honored with the Ed Doherty Medallions award by the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC).  Zach was one of six players recognized for outstanding play during their respective games on Friday, Nov. 13.

Sutton posted a key performance in the Stallions 18-13 win over Mountain Ridge High School in week seven. He caught seven passes for 147 yards,  scored three touchdowns, and tallied seven tackles and an interception on defense.  

"Zach's effort both on and off the field this year has been admirable to say the least,” said Sean Hegarty, Shadow Ridge High School Football coach.  He currently has a cumulative 4.079 grade point average and has been spectacular on the field.  Zach is currently ranked first in 6A with twelve receiving touchdowns, number two for receiving yards, and is among the leaders in all other receiving categories.  We are very proud of Zach and all of his accomplishments throughout his time at Shadow Ridge High School."

 “The performances during Week 7 prove Arizona high school football is extremely rich with talent, drive and commitment. The performances delivered by the individual athletes during region play showed everyone that you cannot have a meaningful conversation about high school football in America today without including Arizona in the conversation,” said Rob Yowell, Selection Committee Chair, in a release. “These six young men join the ranks of the 2020 Ed Doherty Award Nominees and show why football in Arizona is on the rise.”  

By earning Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions, students will be honored at the Ed Doherty Award event on January 9, 2021 where one athlete will become the recipient of the Ed Doherty Award. 

The City of Surprise Public Works Department presented to Shadow Ridge High School Engineering students this past week.  The presentation included information about the city’s Municipal Engineering Department, case studies, and tour of the Master Planned Community of Marley Park. The field trip concluded with a tour of the Water Management South Plant.

Kristin Tytler, Assistant Director and City Engineer for the City of Surprise and representatives from the engineering department shared the real world challenges they face while designing a master planned community, the structure of the Surprise Public Works and Water Resource Management and the coordination it takes between departments and staff when planning.

Students were then given real world scenarios posed by city engineers to take back to the classroom to solve and submit back as proposals for a practical application.

Engineering is one of the many Career and Technical Education opportunities offered at Shadow Ridge High School.  Students in this field of study will explore careers in technology, industry and engineering. Students will explore entry, semi professional and professional levels of careers through hands-on projects in the area of engineering. They will also participate in class activities and projects and hear speakers in the areas of engineering technology and industrial careers.

Wendy Klarkowski, Shadow Ridge High School, School Resource Officer (SRO) was honored with the Difference Maker Award at the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Conference hosted at Grand Canyon University on January 21st .  Officer Klarkowski was recognized for her invaluable impact on youth in the City of Surprise and surrounding communities.  

Klarkowski became the Shadow Ridge High School SRO in 2012. Since that time she has been impacting the lives of the youth in the City of Surprise and around the entire Valley. In 2018, Officer Klarkowski partnered with her fellow SRO’s to create a juvenile diversion program in the City of Surprise. This program is intended to keep low-level juvenile offenders out of the criminal justice system, but still hold them accountable for their offenses. In 2018, following the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Conference, Officer Klarkowski partnered with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to educate youth and parents around the Valley about the dangers associated with Vaping. Officer Klarkowski attended safety events throughout the Valley, including an Escape the Vape event at Valley Vista High School, putting her vaping device display out for all attendees to see and educating  them regarding the inherent risks and dangers of vaping. Since then, Officer Klarkowski has attended national and state conferences to educate her law enforcement partners about the dangers and trends associated with youth vaping.  

“We are deeply grateful to you, Officer Klarkowski, for all you are doing to Speak Up, Stand Up and Save Lives,” said a spokesperson from the event.

More than 3,500 Valley youth including students from Dysart, Shadow Ridge, Valley Vista and Willow Canyon high schools, came together for the fourth year in a row at the "Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life” event to empower youth.  

Shadow Ridge High School Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) students recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for the DECA Ultimate Power Trip Conference. This conference gives students across the country the opportunity to expand their leadership skills, network, gain knowledge in college and career readiness, and compete in events. Cole Callister, finished in first place in his role-play event with a score of 99%.

Along with attending the conference, students had the chance to visit and tour Washington, D.C. historical landmarks such as the White House, the Washington Monument, the United States Capitol, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

In addition to attending the DECA Power Trip Conference, students also recently participated in the DECA 2019-2020 Virtual Business Challenge (VBC). This competitive event tasks students with completing rigorous online simulations in an effort to challenge their skills in the areas of accounting, fashion, hotel management, personal finance, restaurant management, retail management, and sports marketing. Shadow Ridge students Brody Fussell, Shane Rath, and Ryan McDaniel, ranked in the top two in the Western Region for the team VBC Restaurant event, and have qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) taking place in the Spring, in Nashville, Tennessee. 

DECA is one of many Career and Technical Education opportunities at Shadow Ridge and is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills. DECA provides recognition and leadership activities directly related to attainment of specific occupational and leadership skills.

The Shadow Ridge High School Architecture Program was awarded a $2,500 STEM grant by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation School Challenge program, funded by Chase Bank.  The charitable grants have helped schools from across the state with innovative programs such as vocational activities for special education students, digital sculpting for animation art classes, community gardens, after school fitness classes, and much more. Through the School Challenge program, the D-backs have provided more than 200 schools with grants for an overall monetary commitment of more than $950,000 since the program launched in 2012.

The grant will be used to purchase TrackerPro software including head movement tracking cameras and headsets that will allow all students, including those with special needs, the ability to design and draw architectural floor plans, foundation plans, exterior elevations, and related drawings with movements of their head and eyes. These special tracking cameras utilize a small metallic dot attached to glasses, a hat, or a person's forehead to move the cursor on the computer monitor to access drawings commands. This technology will now afford students with physical challenges to pursue a career in architectural design drafting.

The Architecture Program at Shadow Ridge High School includes the Drafting and Design Technologies classes, which are designed to prepare students to apply technical skills via computer assisted design and drafting to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional engineering designs. This program is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities which allows students to achieve academic excellence through authentic, hands-on, career focused learning.