Fall is finally in the air!  Fall AIMS testing is completed and the results will be in at the end of the block.  We have completed volleyball season and now are looking forward to basketball, so please come out and support the Titans basketball program. Academically students in our vocational education programs are working on their block two required classes.  Our medical assisting students are enrolled in Anatomy and Physiology II and Communication for Professionals.  Students are now enrolled in our Child Development program and in conjunction with our program, we have officially opened Tiny Titans Daycare for any young parent who would like to return to school but can't afford the expense of daycare. Also, our students have supported worthwhile causes such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Walk for Peace by participating in the events. Additionally, Key Club is well underway with the election of officers.  Congratulations to president Mayra Rivera, vice-president Ashley Wong and secretary/treasurer Mele Kafoa.  Key Club members will be working with a local food bank to prepare boxes of food for the upcoming holiday season.  Finally, history students have enjoyed field trips to the Heard Museum, government students have enjoyed a tour of the court building down town and were able to observe court proceedings and our pharmacy technician students toured Mountain Vista Medical Center.  In conclusion, I would like to personally invite you and your family to our Thanksgiving Celebration November 22, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m.  We will have a Thanksgiving meal with home cooked desserts by the staff.  You and your family will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the TAHS family and enjoy this time of thanks.  Please come and share the evening with us.

Do you know young parents who would complete their education if daycare wasn't an issue?  Tempe Accelerated High School & Vocational Training Center is providing a great opportunity for any young parent who cannot afford the full expense of daycare but would love to get their high school diploma.  We are opening Tiny Titans Daycare October 31, 2011.  Young parents in our community can now complete their education while still having contact throughout the day with their child.  Additionally, these young parents can enroll in any of our four vocational education training programs.  We offer Child Development and encourage young parents to enroll in this program.  If you know anyone who can benefit from this program, please encourage them to enroll and take advantage of the opportunity to complete their education.

At Tempe Accelerated High School & Vocational Training Center Block One ended October 11 with final exams and some really fun-filled events.  We had Spirit Week.  Lunch was extended each day and we had an activity each day. Monday was School Spirit Day and we had a pep rally at lunch.  Students and staff wore TAHS attire. Tuesday was Pajama and Hat Day.  Students really enjoyed that day since regularly hats are to be removed when entering buildings.   That day there  were “get ready for school” relay races—brush you teeth, get dressed, put on your make up and say “Good morning Ms. Cook” to win.  Wednesday was Bib Day and, of course, pie eating contests.  There were a couple of teachers not feeling too well that afternoon after eating “way” too much pie!.  Wednesday was also Bring a Friend Day.  Students attended the first three classes together, there was a special lunch and fourth period students participated in educational games together as a team and the winning team received iPod shuffles.  All in all it was a great finale to Block One.

Fiesta night at Tempe Accelerated High School & Vocational Training Center was a huge success!  Students had a great time interacting with each other, competing with each other and enjoying interacting with the faculty outside the classroom.  Students ran the inflatable obstacle course and competed with classmates in the bungee run.  Fiesta night was filled with enthusiasm, music, food and good clean fun.  Staff and students participated in breaking of the piñatas, food eating contest and the most fun of all:  Ms. Cook, Ms. Meyer and Mrs. Short getting dunked repeatedly in the dunk tank!  Many thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the evening and to all the staff who made this a wonderful evening of fun.  If you were unable to attend, we all hope you make it a point to attend our next event and enjoy spending time with your students, family and staff of TAHS.

Tempe Accelerated High School and Vocational Training Center computer information systems program is an opportunity for students to gain relevant computer skills for today's markets in society. Students in this program are currently learning how to visually represent data incorporating Excel features into traditional powerpoints, and they are utilizing a new type of web-based presentation known as Prezi.  Behind the scenes we are developing academic partnerships with CIW, Comp Tia and Microsoft which will allow our students to gain certifications in their more specialized courses later in the year.  We are also looking into opportunities for the students in this program to participate in competitions to further their interests in the field of technology.  Further information will follow in weeks to come regarding these partnerships and competitions.

Tempe Accelerated High School and Vocational Training Center medical assistant and pharmacy technician training programs are off to a great start with a full class in Anatomy and Physiology I.  Our future medical assistants and pharmacy technicians are learning the intricacies of the nervous system and how different drugs affect neurotransmitters.  Our future medical assistants will be traveling to Tempe St. Luke's Hospital to visit one of their possible externship placements.  I am extremely proud of these hard working students, and I am looking forward to great things from them! 

The students in the Introduction to Computers class are manipulating spreadsheets and learning how to build conditional formatting, create formulas and analyze their data using different graphs and charts.  Additionally, students are creating powerpoints based on products they have developed and using a website that features a new type of powerpoint call Prezi.  Students who complete these two initial classes will be well equipped with relevant work skills that will benefit the students as well as the community in which they live.

You are cordially invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the new aspect of Tempe Accelerated High School: our Vocational Training Center.Thursday, July 28, 20116:00 - 7:00 pm.
Tempe Accelerated High School
5040 South Price Road
Tempe, Arizona 85282

Nick Nauroth, Jaime Pallares, Joshua Shiflett and Daniel Duarte ~ Tempe Accelerated High School and Vocational Training Center DeVry Senior Project Team.

I am very excited about my new role as school leader of Tempe Accelerated High School and Vocational Education Center. I am a graduate of Mississippi State University.  I hold a Bachelor's degree in sociology and a Master's in Spanish.  I am certified in TESOL and Corrections.  I began my career in education as an English and Spanish teacher in Mississippi in 2000. I moved to Arizona in 2005 and began my journey with Leona in August of 2005.  I taught English for one and half years before moving into the curriculum coach position.  I have also served as the test coordinator on campus.  In 2008 I became the assistant school leader.  I am currently working on a second Master's degree in Educational Leadership . I bring a wide variety of experiences to the table and On a more personal note,
 
I have one son who is 25 with a family of his own.  I have a wonderful daughter-in-law and a beautiful three and a half year old granddaughter.