It seems that almost all the news is good when it comes to Patagonia schools.
At an information breakfast held in the cafeteria the day before school started, Superintendent/Principal Denise Blake started by pointing to the excellent AIMS (Arizona’s Instrument To Measure Standards) scores in math reading and science achieved by last year’s tenth grade. She cited the fact that PUHS (Patagonia Union High School) has the lowest dropout rate in Santa Cruz County, adding that, according to US News and World Report, PUHS ranks in the top 20 percent of the nation’s high schools. One hundred percent of the fourth grade passed the reading portion of AIMS testing, and they outperformed county and state averages in the science portion of the test. The one piece of bad news is that the elementary school’s overall grade slipped from a B to a C in state results. The high school maintained its B grade.
Looking ahead to this year, Blake reported that the Governing Board supported expanding the teaching staff so that there are now separate faculties for middle school and high school. For the first time in years, kindergarten through fifth grades will be on one campus. The Old Main school buildings will house only the Early Childhood Learning Center and the Patagonia Family Resource Center. This leaves a lot of empty buildings up on the hill, but most school staff are pleased to finally have all Patagonia’s schoolchildren in one place.
Superintendent Blake talked about the new social studies materials that will be part of the high school curriculum this year, noting that social studies is often given short shrift in most schools because there is no AIMS testing in the subject. She stressed the importance of a well-rounded education. In this vein, Blake announced there are also upgraded science materials for the elementary and middle schools.
The computer labs at the high school and elementary schools received funding in the amount of $250,000, and by October, Blake says, there should be a new phone system and expanded bandwidth for the schools.
Here’s another impressive number—2014 graduates were awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarships! Other numbers include a $5,000 grant from the Laura Bush Library and $140,000 worth of books donated by Mountain Empire Rotary.
In the sports department, last year’s teams had a great record, with middle school volleyball, basketball, and baseball teams winning regional championships, and the girls’ high school basketball team making it to the state tournament.
Blake noted that schools are more than grades and grants. She recognized all the community organizations that work with schoolchildren: the Patagonia Marshal’s Office, Red Mountain Foods, the Patagonia Museum, Borderlands, KPUP, the Patagonia Woman’s Club, and the Patagonia Arts Center.
She also made sure that everyone at the breakfast knew how much work the Facilities and Grounds Crew have done in the past few years, as evidenced by improved playing fields, paint, electronics upgrades, a fitness trail, and many other accomplishments that keep the school clean and safe.
New Faculty
Dean of Students Gerry Rhoades introduced the six new teachers.
Aracely Olivarria is not new to the staff, but this year she joins the middle school team and will teach sixth grade language arts and social studies to grades 6-8. She’s also the school nurse. Sara Vicary hails from Colorado and teaches first grade; LuAnn Beaton takes the helm at second grade. Matt Bentley, who came on as a replacement teacher last year, begins his first full year of teaching fourth and fifth grade math and science. Juli Runberg teaches science in the middle school and is computer lab coordinator for the high school. Charles Mitsak comes with a wealth of credentials and experience. He will teach biology, advanced biology, chemistry, and physics. And last, but not least, filling in with right brain learning is the K-12 art teacher, Elizabeth McCowin.
Blake was pleased to note that Patagonia has managed to hire well-qualified new staff. She said other schools in the area are scrambling to find experienced teachers, and she credits Patagonia’s small size with giving it the ability to move more quickly than larger bureaucracies when it comes to advertising and filling positions.
Student Journalism
The Patagonia Regional Times plans to work with young reporters at the high school this year. The school will not publish Logo Lingo but instead will have its journalism students write for us in a special school section. We look forward to working with Journee Hayes and her students. Look for their news and views in our next issue.
