SAGUARO HAPPENINGS

 
December 1, 2013
Saguaro Office

This newsletter is provided as a service by 
Saguaro SaberLinks

   

Capable Appropriate Trustworthy Supportive


CONGRATULATIONS, SABERCATS!

 

 
 
   
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: 

 

   
IMPORTANT DATES 
DECEMBER 18th-20th
Early Release:  Finals

DECEMBER 23rd-JANUARY 3rd
Winter Break
 
ATHLETICS SCHEDULES 

BOYS BASKETBALL
December 3, 4:00 pm, at Coronado
December 5: 4:00 pm, HOME vs. Williams Field
December 6: 4:00 pm, at Prescott 

GIRLS BASKETBALL
December 3: 4:00 pm, HOME vs. Coronado
December 4: 4:00 pm, at Ironwood

GIRLS SOCCER 
December 3: 4:00 pm, HOME vs. Seton Catholic
December 4: 4:00 pm, at Cortez
December 6: 4:00 pm, at Veritas Prep

WRESTLING
December 4: 4:00 pm, at Cortez

SAT and ACT TESTING INFORMATION 

Upcoming SAT Test Dates:
December 7, 2013
January 25, 2014
March 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014

Register for SAT tests online at www.collegeboard.com

Registration Deadlines are 4 to 5 weeks prior to the test date; register early to secure your spot!

  

Upcoming ACT Test Dates:
December 14, 2013
February 8, 2014
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014

Register for ACT tests online at www.actstudent.org 

Registration Deadlines are 4 to 5 weeks prior to the test date; register early to secure your spot!

 
EVENTS & INFORMATION:
 
 
SAGUARO SWEATSHIRTS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! 
PRE-ORDER NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 2ND!
Sabercats, it's time to order your Saguaro sweatshirts.  They are only $25.00 and will make great Holiday gifts!

 
 
 
SUPPORT SAGUARO ORCHESTRA:  GIVE THE GIFT OF HARKINS THEATRES MOVIE GIFT PACKS AND/OR CUPS! 
Saguaro Orchestra kicks off their annual holiday fundraiser this week.  Give the gift of movies, and support our award-winning orchestra as they prepare for their New York City trip and Carnegie performance!  These make great stocking stuffers, gifts for your employees or special service people in your life:
$5 Harkins Loyalty cup voucher:  redeem at the theater and enjoy $1.50 soft drink refills every time you go to Harkins Theatres through 2014!
$15 Gift Pack:  1 loyalty cup voucher (see above) + VIP ticket + a treat!
Order through any orchestra student or Mrs. Wright by December 13th.
 
CAROLERS FOR HIRE! 
Are you planning a holiday party this year?  Make it an extra special event by hiring students from Saguaro High School's award-winning Vocal Music Department to sing Christmas, Hanukkah and other holiday tunes to entertain your guests.  Groups of carolers hire out for $300 for up to one hour of singing. You may use your Arizona tax credit to pay for the carolers as well!    Contact  Mrs. GayLin Tutnick , SHS Vocal Music Instructor, at gtutnick@susd.org or 480-484-7158 to make arrangements.  
 
CONSTRUCTION NOTIFICATION   
Beginning the first week of December, crews will begin improvements at the water facility adjacent to the canal at the end of 82nd Street.  Construction vehicles will be driving through the neighborhood between 7:00 am-4:00 pm weekdays.  The schools will not be affected by the project, but will experience heavy equipment traveling up and down 82nd Street during school hours.  All speed limits will be followed, and vehicles will follow the Scottsdale zone ordinances.   
 
FOOTBALL BANQUETS   
Freshmen:  December 4 
JV:  December 5 
Varsity:  January 10 
The Varsity football team has a lot to celebrate, and the JV and Freshmen Football teams also had great seasons.  We will be celebrating their successes in early December at their perspective Football Banquets. The varsity banquet will be held in January.  Football Banquet information is available at
http://sabercatfootball.com/
 
 
SAGUARO CACTUS WANTED!   
The senior class is looking for anyone who has a big, healthy saguaro cactus in their possession that they wouldn't mind donating or selling.  We want to replace the one currently standing at the corner of Hayden and Sabercat Lane.  What a great way to become part of the Saguaro legacy; your cactus could represent our great school forever!  Please contact Jim Brown at ext. 5179 or at jbrown@susd.org.
 
DONATE TO SAGUARO HIGH SCHOOL
AND RECEIVE A STATE TAX CREDIT
Must be postmarked or received online by 12/31/13
Now is the time to make your tax credit contribution and help provide educational opportunities for Saguaro students. The State tax credit program provides you a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $200 for individual filers or $400 for married filers for contributions made to Saguaro.  You can claim the tax credit when filing your 2013 Arizona State Income Tax return.   (In effect, instead of paying Arizona that $200 or $400, you are donating it to Saguaro.)   
Your tax credit can be used for the following extracurricular activities, and you may earmark the funds for your child:
* Tutoring
* Field trips
* Enrichment programs
* Athletic programs
* If the program isn't listed on the Tax Credit form, please write in the program under other.
BE SURE TO SPECIFY SAGUARO, THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY TO WHICH YOU WISH TO DONATE, AND YOUR CHILD'S NAME IF YOUR CHILD IS PARTICIPATING IN THAT ACTIVITY.

Here is how to contribute to Saguaro High School:
1) Mail to Saguaro (must be postmarked by December 31, 2013).
Remember to include tax credit form. Specify Saguaro and the program you wish to support.  If you wish the donation to go directly to your child's participation in that activity, print your child's name on the form next to the designated program.
2)Donate online by December 31, 2013.
Who can participate:
·         Any State taxpayer - you, neighbors, relatives!
·         Local businesses by partnering with schools or communicating to employees to make a contribution and take their tax credit.
·         Corporations through matching employee contributions.

 
YEARBOOK INFORMATION
null

ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW
Yearbooks are on sale in the Bookstore now.  Order before Winter Break for the early-bird price of $70.  Prices will increase after Winter Break.

 
2013-2014 HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING GUIDE

 

 

COLLEGE PLANNING INFORMATION:

 

 
DECEMBER
COLLEGE PLANNER
Saguaro parents and students, welcome to our monthly College Planner section, which summarizes what you should be doing each month in every grade level in order to be on target as you plan for college.

Grade 9
Plan to study for final exams.  Push for a strong semester finish. 
 
Grade 10
Study for semester finals.  Compare your PSAT and PLAN resuls.  If your results are similar, consider which test format you prefer.  Design a course of action to improve your test scores.      
 
Grade 11
Study for finals.  Prep for SAT and/or ACT over Winter Break.  Register for spring SAT and ACT tests.  If applying to Barrett Honors, UC schools or for highly competitive scholarships, try to get the best test score possible in the spring of junior year to feel that you already have your best score in hand.  Retesting in the fall should only make a good thing better.

Grade 12 
Last SAT or ACT date with scores reported  in time for most colleges.  Make sure you have taken all standardized tests necessary for your selected schools.  You are at the end of the application process and moving into the financial aid/admission season.  Enjoy your winter break and prepare for the long wait for admission decisions.  Placement exams at state universities become available; take placement tests and sign up for orientation if appropriate.  

FOR COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR COLLEGE, INCLUDING MONTHLY PLANNERS FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL AND FINANCIAL PLANNING INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGE TESTING
See Calendar Section Above for Upcoming Testing Dates    

The SAT and ACT are broad based comprehensive tests used to evaluate college bound students. Today, each of these tests is equally accepted although some colleges require ACT testers to submit the optional essay and others do not.

In addition to the SAT and ACT, the College Board administers the SAT Subject Tests. These tests are subject specific (math, physics, chemistry etc.) and are offered on most SAT testing dates. Subject tests give you an opportunity to showcase your strengths in competitive admissions and may be used for course placement by some colleges. You cannot take the SAT and the SAT Subject Test on the same date. You may take up to 3 subject tests on the same testing date; each subject test is one hour in length.

You should take subject tests as close as possible to the completion of the subject matter covered while the material is fresh in your mind.  

For details on the SAT Subject tests, click here. 

Look at the colleges you plan to apply to for specific testing requirements, some schools only require one of the general tests (SAT or ACT), others would like both SAT and ACT and may encourage serious applicants to submit subject tests. A strong test score is always a positive!

When you sign up for testing you will be offered various testing locations, sign up early to give yourself the most convenient options in test location.

FREE ONLINE TEST PREP HELP FOR SAT and ACT! 

Saguaro students, we are pleased to let you know that Kaplan has given up the following promotional codes for you to access online help:
 
Visit www.kaptest.com/kas

Click on one of the "On-Demand" choices, and use these codes at check-out instead of payment:

SAT On Demand Prep:  KAS2013SAT

ACT On Demand Prep:  KAS2013ACT

 

NAVIANCE COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING RESOURCE
 
Naviance is a college and career planning resource that is available to students in SUSD beginning in the 6th grade. This year, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) began implementing Naviance at the Middle Level. It has been used in the high schools for the past three years. 
 
This program is a great tool that will help students plan their educational path including their Educational Career and Action Plan (ECAP). Starting in 6th grade, students can complete inventories that will help define their strengths and interests. Within Naviance, your student will begin to participate in activities such as Goal Setting, Career Exploration, Course Planning, and High School Readiness. The following is a brief list of resources and activities used at each of the high school grade levels and how you as a parent can reinforce and build on these activities at home. 
 
Freshman Program 
*       Create and enter a 4 year plan of study. 
*       Complete Personality Type Inventory. 
Parent Tips for Freshman: 
Discuss the 4 year plan of study your child is developing through Naviance and help your child break down goals into actionable, manageable chunks. Discuss the results of the personality type inventory and how it relates to your child's 4 year plan of study. If the results of the inventory don't correspond to the plan you may want to consider adjusting it accordingly. 
 
Sophomore Program: 
*       Complete Career Interest Profiler 
*       Save five careers to your favorites 
 
Junior Program: 
*       Complete College Search 
*       Choose 5 colleges "you are interested in" 
*       Complete Game Plan Survey 
*       Complete Resume (Junior or Senior year) 
 
Senior Programs (Students will choose one program): 
*       University Bound 
*       Community College/Technical School 
*       Military 
*       Workforce 
 
Example: University Bound: 
*       Move colleges from "I'm interested in" to "Colleges I'm applying to" 
*       Complete Scholarship Search (apply for at least one scholarship) 
*       Request transcripts 
*      Update resume if needed 
*       Complete FAFSA application in January/February 
*       Complete Senior Survey 
 
Parent Tip for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors: 
You should meet with your student's counselor (the sooner the better) and work with them to reinforce the goals and action steps your child is developing through Naviance.  
 
 
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS
Parchment is the secure and easy way to manage your transcript credentials online.  To order your transcripts, visit http://www.parchment.com/
 

SAGUARO ATHLETICS BOOSTERS 

 

SAGUARO BASEBALL DIAMOND CLUB BOOSTERS:

Back-to-Back State Champions:  2010 & 2011  

SAGUARO BASEBALL WEBSITE

DIAMOND CLUB WEB PAGE       

Diamond Club Meeting 

December 10, 6:30 pm, Media Center  

 

SAGUARO SOFTBALL:

SAGUARO SABERCAT SOFTBALL WEBSITE  

 

"ABOVE THE RIM" BASKETBALL BOOSTERS:

SAGUARO BASKETBALL WEBSITE

 

SAGUARO SABERCATS GIRLS BASKETBALL:
2013 Division II State Champions

SAGUARO GIRLS BASKETBALL WEBSITE  

Advertising Opportunity in 2013-14 Program.
Contact Kitty Rarrick @ karaz5@cox.net for cost.

SAGUARO CROSS COUNTRY:

http://www.saguaroxc.com/

 

SAGUARO VOLLEYBALL BOOSTERS:
Volleyball Parent Volunteers needed!  
Contact Donna Douglas at 480-209-0663 or Denise Wedepohl at 602-930-5954 to help support our team.

SAGUARO LACROSS CLUB:   

SAGUARO LACROSS CLUB WEBSITE

 

  

ATHLETIC PACKET: 

Saguaro students wishing to participate in athletics must complete the Saguaro High School Athletic Packet and return it to Saguaro prior to tryouts.  This packet includes consent forms and athletic physical form.  Please note that you must include a copy of the student's birth certificate and proof of health insurance coverage.  
CLICK HERE FOR ATHLETIC PACKET

 

 

SAGUARO CLUBS AND GROUPS:

 

FRIENDS OF SAGUARO ORCHESTRA  

FOSO Website

December 3:  FOSO Meeting, 7:00 pm

 

 

If your Saguaro club or group would like to list an event in an upcoming Saguaro Happenings, please send the information to Laura Jones at happenings@saberlinks.org.
 
SABERLINKS PTO:
 
2013-2014 SABERLINKS PTO OFFICERS:
The following is the 2013-14 slate of PTO Officers:
President:  Matt Bitter
Co-Vice Presidents:  Mary Shangraw & Lisa Greguska
Secretary:  Mimosa Bitter
Treasurer:  Cheryl White
If anyone is interested in being a part of the PTO for the 2013-14 school year, please contact Matt Bitter at matthewbitter@gmail.com.
 
PTO COMMITTEE CHAIRS STILL NEEDED!
In order to serve our Saguaro community, we rely on our wonderful volunteer Committee Chairs.  We are still looking for parents to fill the following Committee Chair positions:   Hospitality and Copy Room. If you are interested in volunteering your time and talent, please contact Mary Shangraw at mary@shangraw.com.
 
SUPPORT SAGUARO WITH YOUR FRY'S VIP CARD
This year, our Fry's shopping program is being implemented differently:  In order for our PTO to earn this free money, you must enroll online.  Please go to www.FrysCommunityRewards.com to enroll today!  Saguaro PTO's code is 80628. Click here for detailed instructions.
 

JOIN SABERLINKS PTO

We welcome your membership - we appreciate the strong parent involvement in our Saguaro community. 

 

There are two ways to join:

1) Complete the membership form and mail to the school:   

PARENT PTO Membership Form 

STAFF PTO Membership Form 

 2) Join online:   

ONLINE PTO Membership Form

  

 
 

SUSD AND COMMUNITY NEWS: 

 

SUSD  

For District announcements, click here: SUSD ANNOUNCEMENTS 

CHECK OUT THE ALL-NEW DIGITAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK!

 
"ASK SUSD" FACEBOOK PAGE
Scottsdale Unified School District has launched the new "Ask SUSD" Facebook page and invites you to "like" the page. On this page, you will find up-to-the minute information and facts about what's going on throughout the District. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about important SUSD topics.  Click below to link to SUSD's Facebook page or follow SUSD on Twitter.
Like us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

 
SUSD eLEARNING
Are you interested in taking classes online? Are you self-motivated? Do you want to get ahead?  eLearning online classes can be taken as part of your regular class schedule at school during the day, or as an extra class after school.  Ask your counselor if taking an eLearning class is right for you. 
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 
 

SCOTTSDALE PARENT COUNCIL   

2013-14 General Meeting Schedule   

Dec 11, 2013 - Supai MS
Jan 22, 2014 - Ingleside MS
Feb 26, 2014 - Ed Center
Mar 26, 2014 - Ed Center
Apr 23, 2014 - Ed Center
May 14, 2014 - Ed Center
 
SCHOOL INFORMATION:
 
6250 N. 82nd St
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Office: 480-484-7100
 
 
 OFFICE HOURS:
 7:00-3:30 
  
QUICK LINKS:
 




 

SAGUARO PTO MEMBERSHIP FORM FOR PARENTS


 

ONLINE PTO MEMBERSHIP & PROJECT GRADUATION CONTRIBUTIONS

 

PROJECT GRADUATION WEB PAGE

 

 
 
 
Go Sabercats!

SAGUARO SABERLINKS

The Parent-Teacher Organization of Saguaro High School

Visit our website:  Saguaro SaberLinks PTO