In This Issue

• Message from the Principal P1

• Monthly Events P1

• Math P2

• Electives P2

• Science P3

• Social Studies P3

• English P4

• SPED P4

• Counselor’s Corner P5

Message from the Principal Welcome to the first installment of our monthly Sundown Mountain Monthly Newsletter. As a faculty and

staff, we are excited to begin the 2017-18 school year with a balance of returning and new students to our

campus. It is our goal every year to provide our students with rich academic opportunities, to find success

and eventually earn their diploma in a supportive, safe and nurturing learning environment. We strive to pre-

pare our graduates to be career, college and life ready once leaving the Dysart Unified School District.

Sundown Mountain continues to implement the PBIS program (Positive Behaviors Interventions and

Support) as a vehicle to promote positive student academic and behavioral outcomes. In addition, we em-

phasize the 3 R’s as part of the PBIS program. The 3 R’s are Respect, Responsibilities and Readiness.

They are the guiding principles that each student and staff member adheres to each and every day. Last

year, Sundown Mountain was able to prepare and graduate over 120 seniors, a number we are proud and

strive to replicate for the 2017-18 school year.

In our efforts to continue to provide outstanding educational opportunities for our students, to prepare

them to be career ready, we are refining our site goals as a means to this end. Sundown Mountain will be

focusing on Personalized Learning, Digital Citizenship, and the Acquisition and Utilization of Resources

as our areas of focus.

In keeping with past practice of tapping into community talents and resources, Sundown Mountain is look-

ing for parent and community involvement in supporting and fostering our educational mission. Volunteering

is a great and simple way to get involved and make a powerful impact in a student’s life and serve the commu-

nity you reside in. If you have the time, have a special talent or expertise, we would be glad to have you be-

come part of our Sundown Mountain team. Please find additional information regarding volunteering in the

Dysart District website or call 623-876-7250.

Again, welcome back! We look forward to a very positive and successful year here at Sundown Mountain.

Sincerely,

Anthony Capuano

Principal

Sundown Mountain Newsletter September 2017

PBIS School

RESPECT

RESPONSIBILITY

READINESS

Ms. Miller

This has been a year of changes in my classroom and the students are adapting well. For the first time in my clas-ses, students are learning in an online environment. This has been an easy transition for many of the students be-cause technology is already so much a part of their lives. Some are struggling though and I am working hard to in-crease their level of comfort.

In Algebra we got off to a bit of a rough start due to some computer access issues, but we are now up and running. One big reason for this change is to better prepare students for the world they are in. It is important students be-come proficient and comfortable with the online environment. This will also better prepare students for the AZ Merit testing, which also happens to be online. Now students are going to be tested in the same environment as they are learning and the hope is that they will become more proficient and be able to show their true knowledge.

Financial Math has also gone all online. Students are doing very well and I am very proud of how hard they have been working in the classroom. Grades are also showing that they are learning well in this environment. It is also giv-ing me more time to work one on one with the students who are struggling with the material. So far, I am very pleased with student performance and hope it continues to be successful.

Mr. Brook It is a little more than a month since we started the year and we just passed the mid term. In Alge-

bra and Geometry, we were supposed to start the year with kind of online class but due to some tech-nical difficulties, we could not fully applied it. Starting the week of September 11th, we will definitely start.

So far in Algebra 3, we completed analyzing functions, graphing, domain, range, end behavior, characteristics and transfor-mations of functions, absolute value functions, equations and inequalities. We continued on solving quadratic equations using graphing, factoring, taking square roots. After looking on complex numbers, which are the main tools of solving some part of quadratic equations, we also applied completing the square and derive the quadratic formula. For the rest of September, we will work on quadratic relations, system of equations and more. In geometry, tools of geometry, segment length (distance), mid-point, angle measures and bisector, the four forms of transformations, multiple sequences of transformation were the first part we completed. Then we looked into lines and angles, parallel and perpendicular lines, their equations and proofs. As we slow-ly approach the end of the first quarter, I would like to emphasize that everybody should put the necessary effort and make sure that all the steps are followed, and all works are completed on time. If you have any questions or concerns, please, feel free to contact me.

Mrs. Gorosics

Science students have completed several labs to date and various hands

out the month.

a seeding that they must keep alive as part of their final assessment.

plant.

tigue.

Mrs. Fontes

Online elective classes are up and running! Students can log into ischool.agilixbuzz.com to work on their classes using their normal district

login. Tests and quizzes are password protected and must be taken at school. Students can work on their elective class at home by reading the

lessons, completing their note pages, answering text questions, and playing the quiz review game. 1st quarter electives need to be completed by

Wednesday, October 4th. If you have any questions about the elective courses, please contact Mrs. Fontes by email at shanin.fontes@dysart.org.

Mrs. England

We are at the halfway point of the quarter. If your

grades are not where you want them to be- there is still

time to pull up grades. Work will no longer be accepted

from August after next week. However- quizzes may still

be made up. You can come either before school or dur-

ing AE to make up quizzes- so long as you have the

notes from that week.

WORLD HISTORY classes are currently learning

about the Renaissance. We have looked at differences

between Medieval and Renaissance art and how this era

has contributed to today. Up next- The Reformation.

US/AZ GOVERNMENT classes are currently

learning about political parties, interest groups and elec-

tions. We are determining our personal placement on

the political spectrum and exploring the platforms of the

Democrats and Republicans. Up next- The branches

of our Government.

Mrs. Gorosics

Science students have completed several labs to date and various hands-on activities. The labs will continue through-

out the month. Botany will be dissecting flowers and identifying the key parts. They will also will be growing

a seeding that they must keep alive as part of their final assessment. There is a classroom contest for the longest

plant. Anatomy will be looking at internal structures of bone. They will also be testing muscle reflexes and fa-

tigue. Their quarter will conclude with a discovery of the special senses.

Mrs. Wilfong’s Classroom News

September came quick and we are very busy in our

Economics classes. We discussed Demand, Supply

and Prices the foundations for our free enterprise sys-

tem.

Next is the Market and all the structures on how mar-

kets are created. We will also be exploring ways on

spending, saving and how our values impact our financ-

es. SMART money goals will be created and how to

decide on making better money choices.

AZ/US History 1, begins the second half of the

first quarter with the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson,

completing a Web Quest of Lewis and Clark, our sec-

ond war for independence in 1812 and working our way

through the 19 th century.

Mrs. Kuettel

The approach of the mid quarter and the Labor Day

weekend always brings an air of excitement. It’s important

to keep our energy channeled in the right direction be-

cause the holiday also marks the halfway point in the

course. Mid quarter grades will roll on September 5.

The English 1 class is rounding out our study of “The

American Identity” by writing a literary analysis essay.

Students are synthesizing our class readings to explore

the complex issue as to how our identity is formed both

collectively as a nation as well as individually.

The English 5 classes are in the final stages of analyzing

rhetorical strategies used in historical documents. After

completing an assessment on “Speech in Convention,”

students are developing an argumentative essay about

tools needed to preserve and maintain freedom. The writ-

ing has been compelling so far, as students take into ac-

count our historical issues related to “freedom” as well as

modern day dilemmas.

Mrs. Santacasa’s English Classes The English 3 courses have just completed their Narra-

tive writing assignment and will be moving on to Expository

text. They will learn about how to decipher between Ex-

pository text and Argumentative text and why it is im-

portant. The English 7 courses have finished Beowulf

and have moved on to poetry, both following the theme of

“What Makes a Hero.”

Both classes are adjusting to the new Pearson online cur-

riculum and they are doing a great job. They are getting

used to having text only on line and typing answers online

versus on paper. This is an important skill to learn before

they exit high school, as the future is headed towards tech-

nology only.

Mrs. Saeed

Welcome to Mrs. Saeed's British Literature class.

Seniors will explore the Anglo Saxon Time period,

construct and publish creative journals all while taking a

fun filled journey back in time forming conflict resolu-

tions. Students will meet our Epic hero Beowulf while

exploring poetic devices in the Epic tradition. They will

also concluding what virtues the hero embodies through

literary analysis. Students will participate in learning

about career choices, setting goals and visiting colleg-

es. By the end of this course you should be career and

college ready! I'm looking forward to having a great

year!

Mrs. Parish– SPED

Parent Workshops

This year, the ESS department is

excited to partner with Raising

Special Kids and The Special

Needs Project to offer three

parent workshops.

10/10/17 – Special Needs Project

– The ABC’s of Special Needs

Planning Made Easy

1/16/18 – Raising Special Kids –

IEP Training

3/27/18 – Raising Special Kids –

Positive Behavior Supports

Flyers for the trainings will be

available soon!

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year, I’m Ms. Jones School Counselor for Sundown Mountain Alter- native Education

Center. My office is located in the main hallway across from the nurse’s office. Students needing to meet with me please sched-

ule an appointment via email: tamika.jones@dysart.org.

When scheduling an appointment please include the following information:

First and Last Name Student ID Number

Home School Reason for appointment

Naviance: Naviance is a tool used to promote college and career readiness solutions that helps students identify and connect

their strengths to post-secondary planning for success. Students will be able to take career assessments, build resumes, look at

colleges based on their career of choice, and apply for colleges. It is imperative that you (students) take time to explore the pro-

gram, in order to understand the benefits of the program and how it works.

Students can log in using their username and password that have been assigned by the school district. (Username and pass-

words that are used to log on Chrome books)

College Fair: National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair

Greater Phoenix

October 22, 2017

8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Phoenix Convention Center

Register online: www.gotomyncf.com

Please see Ms. Jones for questions and registration assistance

School News

Dysart Students: Senior Graduation Presentation

Date: Monday, September 25, 2017

Location: Dysart High School’s Auditorium

Time: 3rd Period

Transportation: Not provided

Shadow Ridge High School

Senior T-Shirt order forms are located in Ms. Jones’ office. Order forms are due by September 15, 2017. Names will be

printed on t-shirts when you pre-order, cost $12.

Jostens’s Cap and Gown, and Announcements Packets are located in Ms. Jones’ office.

Shadow Ridge High School will be hosting days to order cap and gowns.

Family Order Night: Tuesday, September 12 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm in the school’s cafeteria

Ordering During Lunch: Tuesday, September 12

Wednesday September 13

Please see Ms. Jones to discuss your graduation date before making a cap and gown purchase.