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 IRHS News
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From the Nighthawk Parent Organization
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September 19, 2012
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Experience "The Movement," Monday
 Come and give your input! IRHS parents, students, staff, and administration are all invited to NPO's special event at 7pm on 9/24 in the IRHS Library Lecture Hall. This interactive evening supports "The Movement" that started growing at IRHS months ago to identify common priorities and suggestions for IRHS's growth. The information you contribute on Monday will be collected and added to the qualitative data already compiled from extensive interviews with staff. Parent and student perspectives -- yes, that means you and your student! -- are needed to offer a well-rounded synthesis of our community's insights and experiences.
right now.
P.S. Here is Principal Szolowicz description of and invitation be part of "The Movement" on Monday.
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 Swim Meet Tomorrow, Thur 9/20
IRHS
v.
Salpoint
This epic battle starts at 4pm @ Ft. Lowell Pool
(2900 N Craycroft)
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The Importance of the Upcoming PSAT Exam - 10/5 Deadline
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 From Principal Szolowicz - Invitation to Share Ideas with IRHS Leaders
 This past Monday, I again had the privilege of attending the NPO's monthly board meeting. The desire for parents to have an active voice and contribution to the Ironwood Ridge community came through clearly. There are many avenues for parents to become actively involved in the IRHS community. One such opportunity is the NPO event occurring this coming Monday evening. Faculty leaders, the administrative team and I are eager to hear your views on what makes IRHS great and what we need to focus on to move to the next level. The evening will begin with a brief presentation by faculty leaders regarding their work in collecting faculty and staff views on these issues. Subsequent small group discussions will provide you with an opportunity to share your insight and views as part of this "movement." We are also interested in hearing student views. As such, I'd like to personally invite you and your child to join us at the meeting this Monday evening, September 24th, 7:00 p.m. in the IRHS Library. Please RSVP for the event by completing "The Movement" RSVP here or emailing me at mszolowicz@amphi.com. I look forward to seeing you! |
College Tip of the Week - Secrets to Winning the Scholarship Game by IRHS Counselor Dave Goldberg
You want private donor aid. Let's start there.
Why? Because merit aid from colleges you've been admitted to is mostly beyond your control. Your GPA, class rank and SAT/ACT test scores at the end of your 6th term (junior year) are pretty much already established.
Yes, colleges will sometimes re-look at award amounts as newer SAT/ACT test scores roll in; however, that is oversimplifying the issue. You may bounce up 20 or 30 pts on the SAT or 2-3 pts on the ACT, but that may not be enough to move a scholarship coordinator to action.
Better to "like" the IRHS Scholarships & More Facebook page and seek out scholarship opportunities from private donors and corporate sources. Or, simply Google "scholarships" with a combination of your interests and then apply as you see fit.
Also, once you've been accepted to, say, U of A, you will have access to The Scholarship Universe, where 100s of private donor options exist. The challenge there though is that thousands of other students have access to the same award applications.
To win the scholarship game, you need to go for the esoteric as well as the broad. If you earn an $800 award, that amount may pale in comparison to a $10K situation, but that $800 award is your books for a year. If it's renewable, even better.
Finally, a nuanced idea is to have scholarships also go rain down on those not ranked among the top 30. Every year, the top 10 ranked seniors are awarded a huge percentage of the scholarship pool and those ranked 11-50 get a much smaller proportion.
Frankly the top 50 percent +/- of IRHS seniors should each win some sort of academic or community service-based scholarship. That's going to take 2-3 applications per week from all of you. Start now. Start today. Let's rip it this year.
Editor's FYI: - Tomorrow (Thursday 9/20) a representative from Grand Canyon University will be at IRHS from 11:30-1:30.
- On Monday 9/24 at 6pm Yale University is holding an information session at Joel D. Valdez Main Library.
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What was discussed....
 The Site Counsel Meeting on 9/10 addressed, among other topics, the following: national common core standards; "The Movement" at IRHS; scheduling issues; interest in honors-level classes, where the challenge level falls between standard and AP classes; our school receiving a State letter grade of "B" and what we need to do to improve. Some of the items addressed at the NPO Board Meeting on 9/17 were: supporting the counseling department when college representatives visit; next steps for our Academic Letter proposal; the focus of October's evening presentation; and ways to improve the below-average number of donations NPO has received to date. |
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Opportunities for Students
Travel Abroad
 IRHS students can travel to France, Italy, and London this summer. Fundraisers are in the planning stages and a parent meeting will be held soon. There will be a digital camera raffled off plus other special offers to those who sign up this month. If you'd like your student to be part of this once in a lifetime adventure, contact Leslie Anway (Rm A213, French teacher) or Lori Gipson (Rm A201, Social Studies teacher) for information.
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Even More Clubs
In addition to the variety of school clubs mentioned in previous newsletters, the school announcements recently gave information about the Baking Club, Club Green, Japanese Club, Tech Club and the new Photography Club.
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Requests for Our Students
Dark Blue Blazers Needed
Students of the IRHS AZ HOSA (Future Health Professionals) seek gently used navy dark blue blazers (men's and women's). Please search your closet for that blazer/jacket you haven't worn in years! Donations may be left at the front desk.
$400+ Item for Raffle
IRHS Project Graduation is in need of an auction item worth at least $400 to donate to the PG Extreme Car Show, one of the two major fundraisers for the safe-and-sober all-night graduation party held for our seniors. The raffle item could be jewelry, trips, sports or great car memorabilia, vacation packages, designer handbags, etc. Please use your contacts and let's come up with something fabulous!!!! For more information contact either Barbara Gephart (904-4397) or Sue Conto (975-5342). To participate, volunteer, sponsor or become a vendor for this event, go to www.pgxcarshow.com. |
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Reminders
Vote via Facebook - Chase Community Giving is donating money to non-profit organizations, and the Amphitheater Public School Foundation needs your Facebook Vote by Sept 19th.
Buy "Wicked" Tickets ($50 & $100 seats) to the 6pm performance on Sun 3/31/13 at Tucson Convention Center. All proceeds support IRHS Performing Arts students. Email Paul Stegall for info.
Get updates about Project Grad volunteer activities by joining their email list.
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Resources
Nighthawk Parent Organization welcomes anyone to submit ideas for this newsletter, school speakers, and NPO-sponsored events/projects. Please email us anytime with your information or your concerns.
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Contact Us
NPO IRHS
2475 West Naranja
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Donate
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