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 IRHS News
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From the Nighthawk Parent Organization
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January 16, 2013
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Have you been to an IRHS graduation ceremony?.
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 Principal Szolowicz wants to hear about your experience at previous IRHS commencement proceedings. What worked well for you? What didn't? From info provided prior to the big day to leaving the ceremony (and anything in between or beyond!) please take a moment to highlight what you enjoyed and/or what you suggest be improved future graduations. If you would like to remain anonymous, please email NPO and we will forward your comments as a group. You may also email Principal Szolowicz directly.
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 Date Change
NPO's next presentation will be on 3/25 (instead of previously announced 2/11.) It will be on college financial planning. More info will be provided in March.
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Congratulations to the Boys Soccer team for winning their game against CDO last week!
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2nd Annual "Nic at Night" Fundraiser for CFF, 1/25
 On January 25th ninth grader Nic Stogner and his family are hosting an event at the Oro Valley Burger King to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. Nicolas, who is active in the IRHS Vanguard, has Cystic Fibrosis. Last year with the help of the Coronado community they raised $720 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). With the expanded support of IRHS families, they hope the 2nd annual "Nic at Night" will generate even more. To participate, please enjoy Burger King in Oro Valley next Friday, January 25th from 5-8pm and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to CFF. You can print this flyer.
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Golfers Desperately Needed for Upcoming Fundraiser, 2/1
The OV Cup Golf Tournament will be held Friday, February 1st. They are desperately in need of golfers to play in the tournament. This tournament serves as the largest fundraiser for Project Graduation so if they are unsuccessful it will negatively impact Project Graduation budgets.
Each year the organizers of this fundraiser strive to hold a quality event where the participants enjoy a challenging game of golf, the opportunity to win fabulous raffle and silent auction items, followed by a delicious meal at the Hilton-Tucson El Conquistador Golf Club all in support of Project Graduation. All funds raised from the tournament are equally shared by the three Amphitheater high schools to support their Project Graduation ceremonies.
If you know of any golfers, please forward this registration form ($150 per golfer and $600 per foursome), direct them to the OV Cup website where they can register online or contact Greg Fitzgerald. They are also still in need of raffle prizes and silent auction items, please contact Greg if you can donate any items.
Please help us to keep Graduation night safe for our graduating seniors and our community by supporting The Oro Valley Cup Golf Tournament. We can't do this without your help!
Thank you for your support.
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National Science Opportunity for Senior Students, 2/15 Deadline
 The National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) is a residential science education program that honors and challenges two graduating high school science students from each state. Scientists from across the nation present lectures and hands-on science seminars and linger to interact informally with student delegates. Delegates are challenged to explore new areas in the biological and physical sciences, art, and music with resident staff members. Opportunities are provided for delegates to present seminars covering their own areas of interest and research. A visit to Washington D.C. permits delegates to visit some of the nation's premier scientific, governmental, and cultural facilities. The NYSC experience includes overnight excursions into the Monongahela National Forest featuring backpacking, rock-climbing, caving, mountain biking, and kayaking opportunities. Application Deadline: February 15th.
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Principal's Corner:
IRHS Highlights from Last Week
 from the desk of Principal Szolowicz.
The first week of a new semester is always one of the busiest and this week proved no exception. Here's just a sampling of some of what happened this last week in our Nighthawk community: - Maggie Mang just won a scholarship from the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society for her essay describing how her work with the Veteran's Heritage Project impacted her high school experience.
- Club Green and Jim Ewing established a saltwater fish tank in the library. The project is in its beginning as the water composition levels out but we do expect fish soon!
- Liane Futch was awarded an ST4 STEM Fellowship for this semester. The fellowship is supported by a National Science Foundation grant and applies communications technologies to collaboratively learn and apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills.
- The football team continues to accrue honors including recognition by MaxPreps as one of the top 100 prep football programs in the United States.
- STUGO sponsored our winter pep assembly last week that showcased many IRHS programs including winter sports teams, the dance team and the new step team.
- The Site Council met and discussed items important to our community including school safety procedures, freshmen success, graduation, school-community relations and the athletic field.
- The Department Chairs also met and discussed similar topics including school safety, a new student of the month program, our professional learning early-outs for next Tuesday, January 15th and the rest of the semester.
- I've had numerous other meetings including with the head coaches, community members, student council, and the Amphitheater District's new Director of Community Relations, Mindy Blake. Many of you may know Mindy from her work as an anchor on KOLD news; we're thrilled to have her perspective and skills as part of the Amphitheater community.
- Additionally, I had the opportunity at several events this week to provide input into the hiring of a new education professor at the University of Arizona.
- Math and English teachers reviewed new Common Core based textbooks to begin the Amphitheater District's adoption of Common Core materials.
- Work continues on the 2013-14 Course Description book. A draft has been sent to all counselors and department chairs for review. We are close to publication.
Again, this list represents only fraction of the great teaching and learning and that is occurring daily at Ironwood Ridge High School. |
College Tip: Financial Aid - The FAFSA
by IRHS Counselor Dave Goldberg
Parents of college-bound seniors, this is for you.
FAFSA season coincides with tax season. Generally, when you have filed your federal income tax forms, you have the data necessary to transcribe to your FAFSA.
That is the simplest explanation ever.
No need to over complicate this story. The complications come into play when parents decide that they don't wish to co-sign for a loan or take out a parent PLUS loan or have the notion that they don't wish their children to take on debt to attend college. Those are personal decisions that don't affect the simplicity of the FAFSA.
When you get a chance, parents, jump onto www.fafsa.ed.gov to look over your duties in this matter. It is you who will fill out the series of forms in order to make this work. A university education is more expensive than ever. The costs for tuition, food, housing, books, fees and parking have risen significantly faster than the rate of inflation over the past 20 years. The numbers are eye-popping.
Further damaging the middle class's bottom line are the dearth of scholarships and institutional grant aid opportunities available as sympathies have swung to other populations as universities attempt to dislodge the historical hegemonic structure--see, Obama Scholars Program (ASU) and Arizona Assurance Scholars Program (UofA). Ultimately, in order to make this work for you with the least amount of pain, the scholarship searches will not cease and you likely will have to bite the bullet and take out a couple of loans. Minimizing "debt load at time of graduation" is the goal.
Never fear though. You need to realize that, for instance, with the UofA, the
Scholarship Universe opens up more broadly when your child has established a GPA at the UofA. In other words, more money is available to current UofA (or other college) students once they've proven their mettle at the university level.
Look for College Goal Sunday information sometime in February. That is a statewide weekend academy where financial aid professionals walk you through the FAFSA, if you need help and clarification. A myriad of questions always abound when you get down into the weeds, i.e. what if I have two kids in college? How does my child establish in-state residency? How do I unlock my 529 plan? And, can I lock in tuition by pre-paying? You will have many questions if you are to minimize expenses. Too bad Groupon can't help.
Okay, more later through the traditional modes of communication.
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Theatre Updates: 1 to Watch, 1 to Help With, 1 "Trip"
- Come see the IRHS Musical Class' production of Disney's "Aladdin Jr." this Thursday and Friday night at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. The show has all the fun and excitement of the full-length movie but for the stage! Tickets are only $3 for students and $4 for adults. Tickets will be sold at the door.
- If your student wants to be a part of the all school musical "Beauty and the Beast" you still have a chance. We still need male and female technicians to help build the set and we also need guys and girls to be a part of the village and castle scenes. Interested students should see Mr. Canalia in the drama room or email him.
- Theatre students going on the Disneyland trip: the trip price has been reduced to $274. If you paid the second fee in December you are all paid up. If you only paid the $50 deposit, $224 is due by next Friday January 25th.
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Senior Class Shirts ($15) and Dog Tags ($7) Now on Sale
Senior class shirts and dog tags are on sale now! Students can get them during lunches outside of the front office. Shirts are $15 and dog tags are $7. Or they can buy them together for $20! Most of the proceeds from dog tag sales will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
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Upcoming Athletic Tryouts - Girls Softball and Girls Tennis
 There will be a mandatory softball meeting tomorrow, Thursday January 17, at 3:50PM on the varsity softball field. This meeting is for all girls wanting to tryout for this upcoming season. Please bring extra clothes for conditioning that will be held afterwards.
There will be a Girls' Tennis organizational meeting on Wednesday January 23, in the Library Lecture room. The meeting will start after School at 3:35pm and should finish by 4:30pm. All girls Interested in playing on the team this spring should plan to Attend.
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Cheer On Your Nighthawks - Home Games This Week
 Thursday 1/17Girls Soccer vs Catalina Foothills 6:30Friday 1/18Boys B-Ball vs.Marana 7:30
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Colleges Visiting
Pima Community College, 11:30am
1/14, 1/28, 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25, 4/8, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20 Arizona State University, 8-9am 1/23, 3/26, 4/17 Grand Canyon University, 8-9am 1/23, 2/13, 3/13, 4/3, 5/1
University of Arizona, First Lunch
1/29, 2/27, 4/3 (8-9am)Military Visits MARINES - Sergeant Hamm, 8-9am 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/26, 4/2, 4/16, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 ARMY - Sergeant Morris, 11:30-1:30 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/28, 3/7, 3/14, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16
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Nighthawk Scholarship Bulletin
A revised Nighthawk Scholarship Bulletin has been posted by the Counseling Department. Here it is.
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Vocational Aptitude Battery, This Saturday 1/19
For students interested in career assessments, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is being offered this Saturday, January 19th, at 9 a.m., in the Career Center. Sign up with IRHS Counselor Dave Goldberg in the Guidance Office.
The test has morphed into something much larger than the simple "test to get into the military." Now, it's all grown up and tells students what they may be best at, what they have acumen for and what jobs they might best be suited for.
About three weeks after the exam, the mufti come out from the State of Arizona to interpret results for test takers. The military folks are surprisingly absent from the process, though some will be present Saturday for part of the morning.
All levels of students are welcome to take the ASVAB. We have capacity for about 50. This is good primer for the ACT and SAT as well. The exam is FREE!
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Reminders
Nets for Vets is1/18/13 at 7:30pm. Veterans interested in attending free should contact IRHS Veteran's Heritage Project at irhsazvhp@gmail.com. More info in 12/19 newsletter. PROJECT GRAD T-SHIRT LOGO CONTEST Design a "Light Up The Ridge" graphic for senior t-shirt. To enter, must be a senior. Winner receives a free Project Grad Ticket or $50 cash! Entries due 1/25. More info on this flyer. Academically Gifted - To refer your child for testing please complete this testing referral form. Submit the testing referral form to Cymry DeBoucher no later than 1/31/13. The form may be dropped off at the IRHS Front Desk. Summer Seminar at the United States Air Force Academy. For Juniors; 1/31/13 app deadline; here is the program's website and an overview. TUTORING @ IRHS: After-school tutoring resumes January 14th. Mon-Thurs 3:45-5:15. |
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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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 Archive of NPO Newsletters
Wanting information from a past issue of this newsletter? Here's a handy archive.
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