Refugee Students to Meet with State Leaders at Capitol

WHAT:

Nearly 50 refugee students speaking 20 different languages will take a tour of the state capitol on Thursday as part of the Phoenix Union High School District’s Summer Language Institute.

The refugee students will have lunch with House Democratic Leader David Lujan, Rep. Cloves Campbell, D-Phoenix (District 16) and Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix (District 16). Pizza is being donated by Peter Piper Pizza.

WHERE:

1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix

WHEN:

Thursday, June 24 at 9:00 a.m. (tour of the Capitol) and 11:00 a.m. (pizza lunch)

WHO:

Students from various Phoenix Union High Schools. Among the native languages spoken are Karenni, Chin, and Burmese (Myanmar); Karen (Myanmar, Thailand); Farsi (Iran, Afghanistan); Swahili (Eastern Africa); Kurundi (Burundi); Tigrinya (Eritrea, Ethiopia); French, Spanish, Nepali, Arabic, and Somali.

Phoenix Union has a refugee student enrollment of over 600 (April, 2010) representing 39 languages. Most of the refugee students attend Central or Alhambra High Schools.

CONTACT:

Renee Ryon, PUHSD Community Relations, (602) 764-1528
Dr. Michelle Delgado, PUHSD Language Acquisition (602) 764-1323

Source: Phoenix Union High School District

Phoenix Union High School District Truth in Taxation Hearing Scheduled for June 22

The Phoenix Union High School District will hold a Truth in Taxation hearing on Tuesday, June 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the Governing Board room at the District office, 4502 N. Central Ave. Below is the District’s notice, as required by state law:

In compliance with §15-905.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Phoenix Union High School District is notifying its property taxpayers of Phoenix Union High School District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over the current level to pay for increased expenditures in those areas where the Governing Board has the authority to increase property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. The Phoenix Union High School District is proposing an increase in its primary property tax levy of $ 201,250.

The amount proposed above will cause Phoenix Union High School District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $ 87.42 to $87.73

These amounts proposed are above the qualifying tax levies as prescribed by state law, if applicable. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.

All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the proposed tax increase scheduled to be held June 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Phoenix Union High School District – Board room, 4502 North Central Avenue, 1st floor, Phoenix, AZ 85012.

Source: Phoenix Union High School District
Contact: Craig Pletenik (602) 764-1530

Refugee Students Get More than English at Summer Language Institute

WHAT:

Learning language through a variety of experiences, 48 refugee students speaking 20 different languages are taking a crash course in American culture this summer at Phoenix Union. The students, all of whom have been in the United States less than six months and are the most basic English Language Learners, classified as Literacy, or Pre-Emergent, are experiencing their new language at a Peter Piper Pizza, a Diamondbacks game, the library, a TV station, the zoo, the Science Center and the State Capitol. The three-week summer school program, in its second year, is taught by five ELL teachers with the help of five Instructional Assistants. Thursday afternoon (June 10) the students got a taste of peanuts, Cracker Jacks and baseball at Chase Field.

WHERE:

Central High School (4525 N. Central) Rms. 908, 909, 910 and various locations

WHEN:

Monday through Friday, through June 25. 8:30 a.m.- 2:40 p.m.

WHO:

Students from various Phoenix Union High Schools. Among the native languages spoken are Karenni, Chin, and Burmese (Myanmar); Karen (Myanmar, Thailand); Farsi (Iran, Afghanistan); Swahili (Eastern Africa); Kurundi (Burundi); Tigrinya (Eritrea, Ethiopia); French, Spanish, Nepali, Arabic, and Somali.

Phoenix Union has a refugee student enrollment of over 600 (April, 2010) representing 39 languages. Most of the refugee students attend Central or Alhambra High Schools.

SCHEDULE:

June 15: Channel 12 Station Tour, Barr Library; June 16: Phoenix Zoo; June 17:
Pizza Dough Day at Central Cafeteria; June 18: Science Center; June 22: Channel 12, Barr Library; June 24: Arizona Capitol tour with Rep. David Lujan; June 25: Parent Morning and root beer floats. (CALL for exact times, locations)

CONTACT:

Renee Ryon, PUHSD Community Relations, (602) 764-1528
Dr. Michelle Delgado, PUHSD Language Acquisition (602) 764-1323

Source: Phoenix Union High School District