Category: Schools

Categories
Community Engagement Health Outdoor recreation Schools Things to Do

Return to Recess Spring Season

Fountain Hills Community Services is striving to get youth back outside and away from their screens! After a hugely successful run the past two years, Return to Recess is returning for the Spring 2023 season.! The Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties is proud to sponsor this youth program.

Recess

Return to Recess was recognized by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association as one of 2021’s “Outstanding Youth Recreation Programs in Arizona” for the creativity and originality of its concept.

Fountain Hills HS Beach Volleyball Team

A local specialist teaches the kids the foundations of a new sport each week. Skateboarding, pickleball, beach volleyball, soccer, and e-Sports are just a few examples. Every week’s recess experience is entirely unique.  A big thank you to the local Fountain Hills Clubs and HS Teams for sharing your skills with the young athletes.

New last season the Scottsdale United Lacrosse Club ? Participants learned how to scoop, pass, cradle, and shoot on goal while having fun!

recess
Youth Sports Lacrosse

Caleb Dassinger with Brilliant Victory Skateboards introduced and taught the participants the basics of skateboarding.

recess
Return to Recess Skateboarding

Don’t miss out and get signed up today! Spring season starts soon. February 14th and ending April 4th. Meeting every Tuesday afternoon from 4:00pm – 5:30pm. Ages 8-14. Each participant receives a Return to Recess T-Shirt.

The Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties, who sponsored the event, provided pizzas for the young athletes at the end-of-the-season party. For more information on Fountain Hills youth, activities CLICK HERE.

Categories
Community Engagement Non-profit Organizations Schools

Fountain Hills Coalition Essay Contest

Students at Fountain Hills High School are given one elective assignment this month, an essay contest. This is not your normal assignment, but it will net someone a $1,000 check.

The Fountain Hills Drug Prevention Coalition has scheduled its 11th annual essay competition, which will conclude on Thursday, March 9, 2023 with an awards luncheon.

Essay contest writing

Entry forms and contest rules are available in all FHHS English classrooms, the front office, and the Fountain Hills Library.

The essay contest officially kicks off Monday, Jan. 2, with a deadline of Friday, Feb. 3.

Prizes for this year’s essay contest include $1,000 for first place, $300 for second place and $100 for third.

Fourteen other students will win $50 as honorable mentions.

Interested students are encouraged to write an essay of 750 words or less on one of the following.

Essay Prompts:

1. Think about your generation and the future. What concerns you most about your generation, and what do you believe can be done about those concerns? Or conversely, what stands out positively about your generation? Are you excited or nervous about the future? You can only choose one side to write about.

2. When you think about social media, and its impact on your generation, what do you think your generation may be in the process of losing? Or what is it gaining? Pick a position and discuss if the benefits outweigh the costs or vice versa.

3. Identify a fictional character from a book, movie, anime or online show/series with whom you can connect and write about that connection and how that character has affected your life or the way you think.

2022 Fountain Hills Drug Prevention Coalition essay contest winners

Contest and award funding was donated by the title sponsor, Verne C. Johnson Family Foundation, along with business sponsors Sami Fine Jewelry, Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties, Dan Kuchan CPA, Martinson Team at Homeowners Financial Group USA, Fountain Hills Law Firm (Tait Elkie) and Stop & Go Driver Training.

For more information on the coalition, visit fhcoalition.org.

Categories
Community Engagement Health Outdoor recreation Schools Things to Do Uncategorized

FH Kids Are Returning to Recess!

Youth Sports Volleyball

Fountain Hills Community Services is getting kids off those screens and back outside! Return to Recess is back for the Fall 2022 season, after a super successful performance in 2021! The Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties is proud to sponsor this youth program.

Return to Recess was recognized by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association as one of 2021’s “Outstanding Youth Recreation Programs in Arizona” for the creativity and originality of its concept.

Youth Sports Volleyball
Return to Recess and Fountain Hills HS Beach Volleyball Team

Every week, a local expert shows the kids the fundamentals of a different sport. From pickleball to beach volleyball to soccer to E-Sports. Every week is a completely different Recess Experience. A big thank you to the local Fountain Hills Clubs and HS teams for sharing your skills with the young athletes.

New this season the Scottsdale United Lacrosse Club 🥍 Participants learned how to scoop, pass, cradle, and shoot on goal while having fun!

Youth Sport Lacrosse
Youth Sports Lacrosse

Caleb Dassinger with Brilliant Victory Skateboards introduced and taught the participants the basics of skateboarding.

Skateboarding
Return to Recess Skateboarding

The Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties, who sponsored the event, provided pizzas for the young athletes at the end-of-the-season party. For more information on Fountain Hills youth, activities CLICK HERE

Categories
Local Events Schools Things to Do

Back to School Bash: IT’S ON!

Back to School Bash
Bring the entire family to Back to School Bash 2022, Friday August 26, 2022 6-8 pm
Back to School Bash August 26, 2022
Bring the Kids down to this FREE End of Summer Event: Saturday August 26; 6-8 pm

Sonoran Lifestyle Team, The Town of Fountain Hills and lots of local kiddos will be celebrating the end of summer with a free Fountain Hills Back to School Bash event!

There will be inflatable water slides, a dunk tank, inflatable games, yard games, food trucks, a DJ, MCSO and Fire Department vehicles and more!

Join us for the all-ages event at Four Peaks Park on Friday, August 26 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Categories
About Fountain Hills Around Arizona Community Engagement Culture Desert Plants and Wildlife Local Businesses Local Events Outdoor recreation Real Estate Schools The Verdes Things to Do Yard and Garden

Summer 2022’s Desert Vibe Magazine Is Here!

The second quarterly issue of Desert Vibe magazine is finally here, and it’s full of must-see information about local events, listings, and market information!

Here are some of the things you’ll see in the summer Vibe:

This Desert Vibe, as with the previous, is being released in an online-only format, with interactive links to everything you’ll need! To read the full Desert Vibe magazine, go to DesertVibe.com/Magazine.

Categories
About Fountain Hills Faces of Fountain Hills Schools

FHUSD Begins School August 9th!

School’s back for the fall! Fountain Hills Unified School District (FHUSD) is bringing the kids back to school starting Tuesday, August 9th for the 2022-23 school year.

This year will be the first year featuring the return of Dr. Cain Jagodzinski! After serving as principal of Fountain Hills High School from 2016 through 2020, “Doctor J” will now be assuming the role of superintendent of FHUSD.

As usual, the school year will begin on a Tuesday, this year on August 9th. The first day of school is usually a half-day for students, so make sure the kids have a ride home.

To earn more about what to expect for the 2022-23 school year in Fountain Hills, go to fhusd.org.

Categories
Schools

FHHS Swim Team’s 2021 Season Well Underway

The Fountain Hills High School Swim Team is now well into their Fall 2021 season, and things seem to be going swimmingly! On September 25th, the team had their first big statewide meet of the school year, down at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Coach Patti Schultz, who has been in charge of the FHHS Swim Team throughout its four years of existence, is very proud of her swimmers’ results. Here are a few highlights from their recent Invitational meet at the University of Arizona pool on September 25th, where over 620 swimmers competed.  

U of A Meet Details

Grace Clark timed 2:39.28 in the 200 Individual Medley, placing 16th overall and getting the team a point. Gunnar Wise swam a provisional state time of 1:09.05 in the Boys 100 Breaststroke. Elizabeth Franzone swam a perfectly-split 100 Free Relay with a time of 1:14.84. The FHHS girls won the Girls 200 Free Relay with a time of 2:06.98, and got to pick a lucky duck from the prize pond! The boys made a state-qualifying time of 1:49.09 in the Boys 200 Free Relay. Overall, the members of the team experienced new personal records and made great strides toward future victories.

“The swimmers did amazing,” Coach Schultz said of the meet. They traveled to Sedona on September 30th and have a few more meets this semester. With this, Schultz and the team are working to do even better in the upcoming competitions, with “starts and turns being a focus on practice this week.” The team is looking forward to the rest of the year, and the swimmers are hoping to improve their performances every day.

“The Falcons showed they can start strong and finish strong… We are Falcon strong!”

Categories
Schools

Education Choices for Fountain Hills

Education
Education

Thanks to increasing numbers of people getting vaccinated and the pandemic hopefully moving toward our rearview mirror, schools across Maricopa County are gearing up for resuming school as usual this Fall. No matter your age or educational needs, Fountain Hills residents have many options.

McDOWELL MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY

Our elementary school serves students in grades Pre-K through Third. Small class sizes allow teachers to give personalized attention. The art-infused curriculum encourages the joy of discovery while gaining academic mastery without fear of failure.

FOUNTAIN HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL

Students in grades 4-8 are offered a challenging academic environment along with well-rounded opportunities like clubs and team-building activities for developing leadership skills.

FOUNTAIN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

FHHS was awarded “Best High School” by U.S. News & World Report for three years. It is also an A+ School of Excellence. Academic opportunities include STEM programs, an AP Capstone program, 25 extracurricular clubs, Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, and the option to attend EVIT.

BASIS SCOTTSDALE CHARTER SCHOOL

One of the top charter schools in the United States is just a mile west of Fountain Hills. Students in grades 4-12 receive a rigorous academic education. BASIS Scottsdale boasts a 100% participation rate in Advanced Placement courses.

EAST VALLEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

EVIT provides job-ready training for high school students. Their hands-on learning environment can lead to dual enrollment credits through Mesa Community College, industry certifications, and internships to make them competitive in the global workforce. These programs are tuition-free.

MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

One of the largest in the U.S., the Maricopa Community College System has transfer agreements with public and private colleges and universities for a seamless transition to four-year institutions. Some four-year degrees are now offered entirely at the Community Colleges.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Rated #1 in the U.S. for Innovation and Top 10 in the U.S. for First-Year Experience by U.S. News & World Report. Students have access to nationally and internationally ranked programs that prepare next-generation innovators to thrive while advancing pioneering research, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

GCU is a private, faith-based university. In addition to full-time campus life, they also offer a substantial online curriculum for part-time and graduate students. There are options for four-credit courses and fast-track programs to help you graduate faster and enter the workforce sooner with less debt.

SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS

If you have a student with special educational needs, there are numerous options. Arizona requires every public school to provide for the educational requirements of special needs students. Some public schools use the expertise and resources of nearby private schools and cover the tuition. Or parents can make their own choice. Our online Education Guide gives a list of options for various needs.

Visit our online guide at SunPropertiesAZ.com/SchoolsReport.