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 IRHS News
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From the Nighthawk Parent Organization
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April 17, 2013
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Our Classrooms Are in Need
Teachers and students need your donations to replenish the following classroom basics:
- Postage Stamps for English Department - postcard mailings to parents
- Kleenex
- Dry erase markers
- Hand sanitizer
- Color pencils
- Glue
- Tape - both scotch and masking tape
Please send a couple items in with your students. Items can be delivered to front office or given directly to teachers. Thanks!
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Its not to late.... If you haven't already, please take a moment to click here and complete the School Climate Survey and encourage your child to do so as well.
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 Representatives are needed for IRHS School Site Council -- both parent and community representative spots are open. Email NPO for more information.
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"Principal Szolowicz Presents..." - Next Monday April 22, 7pm
Principal Szolowicz Presents...
Monday April 22nd 7pm Library Lecture Hall
Common Core -- PARCC -- "Blended Learning" Programs -- Parent/Teacher Collaboration -- Freshman Success -- Accomplishments Made in the Spirit of "The Movement"
What's on IRHS administration's mind, and what's on yours? Next Monday at 7pm come to the Library Lecture Hall to become better informed with changes at IRHS, and then turn around and better inform administration about your perspective. Elections for next year's NPO Board will also take place at this presentation. Here is more info on the evening.
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Voting Next Monday, Nominate for Open NPO Board Positions
Are you able to give a few hours per month to support our IRHS community? Please consider joining the 2013-2014 NPO Board. No prior experience necessary. Our bylaws give an overview of the organization and positions. Here is a list of nominees to date. Elections will be held on Monday, April 22 at the NPO presentation "Principal Szolowicz presents..." Email NPO to request more info or to nominate either yourself or someone you know for any of the following open positions:
- School Site Council Representative
- Executive Officers
- Staff Appreciation/Hospitality Coordinator
- Registration/Volunteer Coordinator
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Thank You! Your NPO Donations at Work....

Thank you to all IRHS families for their generous donations to NPO this past year. Here is how we spent some of the funds we received.
- Teacher / Staff Appreciation Breakfast & Luncheons - $2,500
- Smart Board Purchase - Art Department - $3,800
- Science Department - $2,000 for purchase of electronic balances and science calculator sets (32 per set)
- PE Department - $500 for IPad for PE classroom training
- Library - $290 to pay for labor to upholster chairs in school library
- Modern Language Department - $225 for purchase of student Pre AP & AP study guides
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Student Program to Explore Service in Fire Department
The Golder Ranch Fire District is launching an Explorer Post for young men and women, 15-20 years old, who have an interest in the fire service. Successful applicants will begin their exploring experience with a two week academy scheduled to begin on June 3rd. Following the academy, Explorers will be required to attend a monthly class and drill day, tentatively scheduled to be the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00-9:30PM. As a Golder Ranch Fire District Explorer, you will have the opportunity to experience the same level of training as our fire service personnel and give back to your community. If you are interested in this unique opportunity or would like more information, please go to grfdaz.org or contact Captain Joshua Hurguy at 818-1017. The application period closes at 5:00PM on May 10th, 2013.
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Principal's Corner: Recent IRHS Highlight
by IRHS Principal Mike Szolowicz
The IRHS Site Council for 2013-2014 is starting to form. While the Nighthawk Parent Organization selects the parent representatives, I am looking for a community member to fill a vacant seat. Community representatives cannot currently have children attending Ironwood Ridge High School. If you or someone you know might be interested in being a Community Representative, please have them contact me at 696-4004 or mszolowicz@amphi.com.
The parent and student climate survey is still open. If you have not already done so, please take a few moments to complete the survey. Encourage your child to do the same. The survey is available on the IRHS website, click on "We Value Your Feedback!" or click here to take the survey.
At the Governing Board meeting this past Tuesday, the Board approved a resolution recognizing the contribution of our educational support personnel. The resolution can be read here. Our support staff makes invaluable contributions to our student's success; we appreciate your hard work!
Also at the Board meeting, new textbooks were approved for English Language Arts and Math. The new texts are aligned with the Common Core State Standards and will be used starting next year. The new texts also come with some cutting edge online support materials and services that will create additional student opportunities.
More locally at the "Ridge," a number of things have happened in our facilities about which I am very pleased:
- In response to student request, the parking stripes in the parking lots were repainted.
- Rafael, our maintenance support, and a plumber from the Amphitheater District's Facilities Support have now repaired most of the drinking fountains on campus. The remaining fountains, mostly in the lower level of the A building, are on schedule to be fixed.
- Work has begun on the football field, note that the stadium is closed for the next few months while this work continues and as the new sod takes root.
- In other activities, the Fashion Design and Merchandising classes are producing their annual Fashion Show next Friday, April 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.
- All of our spring sports continue to do well.
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College Tip: How to Select a Major
by IRHS Counselor Dave Goldberg
There is a lot of New York attitude out there, a lot of Jack Webb's just the facts, Ma'am.
So, in the spirit of objectivity, though dated to 2010 census data, here are your best bet majors.
This data come from Georgetown University's Center for Education and the Workforce. I take the data with a grain of salt though because employment depends on connectivity as well and there is no gauge that accurately measures the power of the slip of the grip. Also, the data reflect a 0.0% unemployment rate for some majors. That's impossible.
Two other items strike me as difficult as well. First, the salaries don't match Tucson or Arizona. U.S. Census and Occupational Outlook Handbook average salaries are always reported 30%-40% higher than Arizona's. Second, the fancy-dancy digs our state universities have built up over the years are better in so many ways than what you may actually be working in when you graduate. Everyone seems to paint a very rosy picture.
Having just been over on UofA's campus and again seeing the luxurious pools, spas, housing arrangements, eating establishments, gyms, working hotspots, tanning beds, talking washing machines etc. there is no correlation to the real world. That could be why UofA students persist in walking into traffic with a seemingly impermeable and invisible shield to protect them from truck bumpers.
So, select your major carefully and remember you can usually punt and create your own major if you are so inclined. Not all cookie-cutter platforms fit those who dance to the beat of their own drum.
Finally, innovative universities allow you to combo-plate majors with minors with specializations, certifications or focuses. Consider creating an array or flourish that says to a prospective employer that you thought about this stuff. These days, you may customize your education in much the same you order an automobile.
None of this is over-the-top confusing but putting it all together in order to graduate in four years is your primary challenge when you start adding complexity to the mix. This stuff is the fun part anyway. Just make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew.
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Fashion Show, April 19th 7pm
The Four Seasons Fashion Show will be held this Friday April 19th at 7pm in the auditorium. Tickets will be sold at both lunches. General seating is $5, V.I.P. seating is $10, and Platinum on stage seating is $15. The only tickets being sold at the door will be general seating. Don't miss this annual event.
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Does you student like showing her Ironwood spirit? There will be Cheerleading tryouts for the 2013-14 JV and Varsity
squads on April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd in the small gym.
Anyone interested in trying out should pick up an information
packet and IRHS athletic packet in the athletic office. Students must have a current physical to try out.
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IRHS Career Center
Colleges Visiting
Pima Community College, 11:30am
4/22, 5/6, 5/20 Grand Canyon University, 5/1, 8-9am Military Visits MARINES - Sergeant Hamm, 8-9am 4/30, 5/7, 5/14 ARMY - Sergeant Morris, 11:30-1:30 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16
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Scholarships and internships are listed in the
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Varsity Home Games This Week
Wednesday Boys Tennis vs. Catalina Foothills 3:30
Volleyball vs.Flowing Wells 6:00
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Reminders
Owe a balance for your student's AP TEST? It is due in the bookstore by this Friday, April 19th at 3:45. IRHS presents "The Great Gatsby" on April 20th at 1pm in the IRHS auditorium. Tickets may be purchased from a drama student for $5.00. Glitz and Encore Show Choirs auditions will be April 24th and 25th, with dance training on April 22nd and 23rd; sign-up sheets on the choir room door. Contact Ms. Irwin if you have questions. Pima Community College is hosting their grand High School New Student Orientation on Friday, April 26th from 1-3pm at the lovely Northwest Campus. Contact 206-2200 or StudentLifeNWC@pima.edu.
IRHS Senior Honors Night 2013 is Monday, May 13 at 6PM in the IRHS Fine Arts Auditorium.
Project Graduation Tickets are on sale: pick up an envelope in the front office or download the forms (on right-side bar of linked page). Ticket price is only $65.00. Questions? call ticket sales chair Susan Davis at 797- 4695.
Volunteer needs for IRHS Proj Grad: Click here to see volunteer needs and sign up for your desires role; volunteer coordinator contact is Kersten Kremer (343-8317). Additional, help is needed for: decorations/build sets;contact Kathy Odenkirk (401-2858). Phone/visit stores to gather food donations/supplies; contact Mary Watson (531-9528).
Summer school registration is taking place. Click here for info.
IRHS Girls Basketball club is hosting a summer basketball camp for grades 3-8. Here is a flyer with more info.
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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
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NPO IRHS
2475 West Naranja
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