Paseo Pointe School is the recipient of the 2021 Golden Bell Promise Award for its Dual Language Spanish Immersion Program.

The prestigious Golden Bell recognizes educational initiatives that have a proven record of achieving excellence. It is awarded annually by the Arizona School Boards Association. The school will be formally recognized at a December statewide conference.

Paseo Pointe is the second Laveen school to receive this award. Laveen Elementary School was honored with the Golden Bell in 2018 for its Mindfulness program.

Longtime M.C. Cash principal, Ms. Lisa Sandomir passed away on Wednesday, October 27 as a result of injuries due to a car accident on Tuesday afternoon.

Ms. Sandomir has been the beloved principal of M.C. Cash for sixteen years, an amazingly gifted leader and caretaker of her students, staff, the Cash community, and her fellow administrators.  She has been recognized throughout the district and state, including receiving Arizona’s highest honor for principals as well as M.C. Cash being named as an A+ School of Excellence under her leadership.  She was known throughout the community for her love and devotion to providing a positive Kids at Hope learning environment for children.

To support our students and staff, our entire counseling and psychology teams will be on campus in the days ahead to provide support, including walk-in counseling.

District administration is in contact with Ms. Sandomir’s family and we will keep the community informed of services and other plans to honor her legacy.

Message from the Governing Board

“As Governing Board members, we want to express our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of Lisa Sandomir, Principal of M.C. Cash School.  For so many years we have watched her lead the Cash Community with excellence.  Her love and generosity will be carried forward in the thousands of people she impacted.

Thanks to all of our community members who have reached out to express their condolences.  We know that the Laveen community will do what it always does:  support each other in challenging times.

We encourage you to remember, celebrate, and honor Lisa’s memory as we move forward together.”

Mrs. Jill Barragan, President
Ms. Michele Anderson, Clerk
Dr. Ryan Senters, Member
Ms. Fern Ward, Member
Dr. Torrence Watkins, Member

Community Gathering Planned for November 3

A community gathering to honor the life and work of Ms. Sandomir will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the M.C. Cash School courtyard.

• Contribute to a mural
• Create Kids at Hope cards
• Add to the memorial fence

Refreshments will be provided. This is an open house event.

Flyer

Local News Outlets Spotlight Ms. Sandomir’s Legacy

Oct. 29 – Channels 3 and 5

Oct. 29 – 12 News

Nov. 1 – Univision

Nov. 3 – ABC15

Nov. 3 – 12 News

Nov. 3 – FOX10

Laveen’s Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy and Trailside Point Performing Arts Academy have been included in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best” elementary and middle school rankings.

Vista del Sur received a “Best” ranking in both the elementary and middle school categories while Trailside Point was recognized as a Best Middle School.

This recognition is based on the schools’ success in educating students from all socioeconomic backgrounds with the goal of preparing them for success in high school.

“Vista and Trailside’s impressive rankings speak to the commitment of the schools’ leadership, teachers, and staff to provide each and every student a quality education,” said Dr. Jeff Sprout, Laveen Superintendent. “Our families must also be commended for the level of support they provide to their children as well as their support of the schools’ educational programs.”

The rankings are based on students’ performance on the 2018-19 mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments and their results in the context of socioeconomic demographics, such as free or reduced-price lunch and underserved ethnicity groups.

U.S. News & World Report predicted math and reading achievement levels based on this data. The greater the actual results compared to the predicted results determined a school’s ranking.

Over 118,000 schools nationwide were included in the rankings. Vista del Sur was one of 5,300 K-8 schools to be included in both the elementary and middle school rankings.

In addition to being named a Best Elementary and Middle School, Vista was named one of the top ten schools in Arizona, being ranked as #6 among Arizona elementary schools and #8 among Arizona middle schools.

Vista del Sur is an accelerated school where all students work a grade level ahead in mathematics and English language arts. The school is a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and an Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence. It has historically received an “A” label from the Arizona Department of Education each year.

Trailside Point focuses on the performing arts. It has received the Arizona Educational Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence designation twice and it has received the Gold Achievement Award in Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS) each year since 2015.

Learn more at www.LaveenSchools.org.