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During the recent meeting of the governing board, we honored our Bee Recognized Award recipients for the month of November 2023. Join us in extending our congratulations to Dr. Rogelio Longoria, who serves as a School Psychologist, Celina Cortez, a dedicated 2nd Grade Teacher at Amberlea Elementary School, and Angie Martinez, Title I Parent & Family Educator. Their invaluable contributions to our schools, district, and community are truly immeasurable!
We are thrilled to congratulate Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Cruz, who, on Thursday, October 26th, was honored at the K-12 Innovation Alliance Summit 2023. Dr. Cruz was awarded with the Innovation Alliance Education Impact Award by the K-12 Innovation Alliance. This prestigious accolade recognizes her exceptional leadership and relentless dedication to the district. Dr. Cruz, with her passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the Pendergast District, serves as a shining example of such impactful and transformative leadership.
During the recent meeting of the governing board, we honored our Bee Recognized Award recipients for the month of October 2023. Join us in extending our congratulations to Diane Ganser, who serves as a School Bus Driver, Rebecca Murillo, a dedicated 5th Grade Teacher at Sunset Ridge Elementary School, and Marlene Ramirez, a School Bus Attendant. Their invaluable contributions to our schools, district, and community are truly immeasurable!
Villa de Paz Elementary to receive facility upgrades.
Our amazing Pendergast staff and students from our STEAM & Chief Science Officers' Program get highlighted in the Arizona Parenting Back to School Guide.
To read the full story or to learn more about the STEAM & CSO Program at Pendergast District, please click on Keeping Science Fun By Claire LaBeaux (pages 23-26).
Villa de Paz Construction Project Set in Motion, Creating New Opportunities for Pendergast District Students
Pendergast Elementary School District (PESD) honored as District of Distinction for Use of Imagine Learning English Language (EL) Education.
Pendergast District has been recognized as a 2022-2023 District of Distinction for its exceptional use of Imagine Learning EL Education. The prestigious award was presented to only 301 schools or districts across the country out of over 21,000. The selection was based on the review of the program usage for the current school year, and Pendergast was chosen for meeting the rigorous usage standards required for a District of Distinction designation.
ParentSquare, the new communication platform, allows parents and guardians in the Pendergast District to receive all of their communications from the district, schools, classrooms and school activity groups in one unified app and service.
Upcoming Events
Sonoran Sky at a Glance
Sonoran Sky is a preschool - 8th grade school located in Glendale, AZ. We are a community of collaboration, commitment, connection, and celebration. Our mission is to provide the highest quality education to all students for future success. Sonoran Sky is a Dual Language Academy where instruction is focused on students becoming bilingual, biliterate, and culturally competent. We offer free full-day kindergarten, we have one-to-one technology for all students, and a Makerspace classroom that is used in science classes and for project-based learning. We pride ourselves in supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally. Our Motto at Sonoran Sky Elementary School is - Soar High, Sonoran Sky
Found on every campus throughout the Pendergast District, art classes are designed to build mastery in technique, composition/design, research, experimentation, and creative problem solving. Critical thinking, objective analysis of artwork, and the ability to communicate in the language of art will be developed. Students will be introduced to basic art techniques, which are the building blocks that will provide a solid foundation for future art lovers and artists.
Participating in sports at an early age offers several benefits that extend well beyond the physical aspects of regular exercise. Specifically, the social benefit of sports participation provides an unparalleled environment for hands-on learning and behavioral growth.
Here are the sports we currently offer throughout the Pendergast Elementary School District:
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Cheer
- Track & Field
- Flag Football
In the Pendergast District, you will find robotics, jewelry design, coding, architecture, and music production at every school throughout the Pendergast District. In FUSE, students choose what to work on and set the pace. This means they emerge engaged, excited, and eager for more. STEAM Challenges are designed to get harder as students progress. FUSE teaches students how to use real world technologies while exploring topics they already love. Since challenges are designed around student interests, there is something for everyone to get excited about.
As students learn, they naturally share their new discoveries. A new culture of learning emerges as students celebrate each other's successes and overcome any setbacks along the way.
In the Pendergast District, you will find robotics, jewelry design, coding, architecture, and music production at every school throughout the Pendergast District. In FUSE, students choose what to work on and set the pace. This means they emerge engaged, excited, and eager for more. STEAM Challenges are designed to get harder as students progress. FUSE teaches students how to use real world technologies while exploring topics they already love. Since challenges are designed around student interests, there is something for everyone to get excited about.
As students learn, they naturally share their new discoveries. A new culture of learning emerges as students celebrate each other's successes and overcome any setbacks along the way.
Competitive gaming has set the world ablaze! The Pendergast Elementary School District is excited to announce the Pendergast eSports League, which aims to captivate students' passion for video games through organized competition in a safe and secure environment at every school throughout the Pendergast District.
eSports is a form of competition using video games. In most cases, eSports are organized multiplayer video game competitions between competitors, which can take place individually or as teams. eSports are more than just video games; it is community, engagement, and relationship building.
As the eSports industry continues to grow, we are beginning to see an increase in eSports teams as an extracurricular activity in schools. Because eSports revolves around some of the video games that students play at home, many families struggle to understand how this extracurricular activity is beneficial to a student’s education.
Recent studies show that eSports can help a student’s well being, improve their reading skills, help develop problem solving skills, improve their social connections, and will even enhance their imagination and creativity. Furthermore, eSports promotes teamwork and cooperation with others and shows students the importance of community. Giving students early exposure to all facets of the eSports world can spark interest and help prepare them for future opportunities in graphic design, coding, leadership, video production, and even art direction.
Competitive gaming has set the world ablaze! The Pendergast Elementary School District is excited to announce the Pendergast eSports League, which aims to captivate students' passion for video games through organized competition in a safe and secure environment at every school throughout the Pendergast District.
eSports is a form of competition using video games. In most cases, eSports are organized multiplayer video game competitions between competitors, which can take place individually or as teams. eSports are more than just video games; it is community, engagement, and relationship building.
As the eSports industry continues to grow, we are beginning to see an increase in eSports teams as an extracurricular activity in schools. Because eSports revolves around some of the video games that students play at home, many families struggle to understand how this extracurricular activity is beneficial to a student’s education.
Recent studies show that eSports can help a student’s well being, improve their reading skills, help develop problem solving skills, improve their social connections, and will even enhance their imagination and creativity. Furthermore, eSports promotes teamwork and cooperation with others and shows students the importance of community. Giving students early exposure to all facets of the eSports world can spark interest and help prepare them for future opportunities in graphic design, coding, leadership, video production, and even art direction.
The term dual language refers to a program that provides content instruction to students in both English and Spanish. At Sonoran Sky Elementary School, Dual Language teachers construct a program rich in bi-literacy, language acquisition, and high academic standards in a 50/50 delivery model where students receive half day instruction in English and half day instruction in Spanish. The Dual Language Academy provides students with ample exposure to the two languages, one language at a time, allowing them to progress and attain academic excellence in both languages while gaining an appreciation for another culture and developing mastery of grade-level content standards.
Message from the Principal
Mrs. McGee and I are excited as your leaders to bring our annual theme to life with you at our school this year. The school team is ready to work on the growth of all Sonoran Sky World Languages and Cultures Academy learners in partnership with families, staff and the community.
A very special part of our academy is the focus on strong English reading skills for all, world languages and cultures exploration with specialization in learning Spanish to celebrate and honor multilingualism. At our school, language is an opportunity--not a barrier! It is with these skills that we aspire to ensure the future success of Sonoran Sky comets.
We cannot do this work alone and I am proud to announce this year the role that our PTA will play in reaching our goals for every child. Special thanks to PTA and family volunteers for stepping up to help grow our school community and touch the lives of every family through its future work this year. Stay tuned for meeting dates, events, and volunteer opportunities through ParentSquare.
NEW this year in the area of instruction is the addition of music instruction under the direction of Mr. Christopher DeFusco, experienced general and performance music teacher. We are happy about his arrival and can't wait to experience enrichment through this offering!