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Our BRAGS! Honors, Awards and Special Programs |
• See ALL CUSD Brags • Choose a School or Brag Category • BRAG about your school! |
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
Jacobson Elementary came together as a school to recognize veteran heroes from near and far. All children made a special poppy which honors American veterans.
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
Fourth grade students in Mrs. Vanderah's class honor Native American Heritage Month at Jacobson. Fourth grade students completed a unit that highlighted two students bringing in family photos and artifacts from their very own Native American families, and sharing traditions from their tribe's culture. Then each student created a special project by researching a Native American Tribe and presenting the class with an overview of the tribe's customs. All students made a Native American skin written with traditional symbols and translated that story to English as well.
Chandler Unified School District (2023-2024) |
The Chandler Unified School District is embracing Native American Heritage Month by officially proclaiming the significance of this cultural celebration and adorning computer screensavers with inspiring artistic tributes. VIDEO: CUSD Indigenous Heritage Month 2023
Chandler Unified School District (2023-2024) |
In the week of November 6-10, 2023, the Chandler Unified School District joins schools across the United States in commemorating National School Psychology Week (NSPW). Chandler Unified School District employs more than 40 psychologists and two school psychologist interns who play a crucial role in the success and well-being of our students. National School Psychology Week serves to recognize the vital contributions of school psychologists and educators in nurturing the well-being and success of all students. The theme for this year is 'Let's Grow Together,' drawing inspiration from the significance of both individual and collective strengths in our personal growth and the growth of our school communities throughout all stages of life.
Chandler Unified School District (2023-2024) |
The CUSD Marching Band Showcase brought together all six high school marching bands Wednesday, November 1. Students demonstrated musical talents and months of hard work with CUSD's award-winning fine arts programs! #WeAreChandlerUnified VIDEO: CUSD Marching Band Showcase
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
Students at Jacobson study United Nations 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Project Based, authentic learning has taken over the JPG (Jacobson Gifted Program)! Learners in grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 studied the United Nations Global Goals, then wrote down their top three choices. Scholars were paired together based on their passion or interest level of the global goal. Partners or small teams then researched together to find out more about their assigned global goal, creating a final showcase project that was shared with the whole school. Besides researching, writing, and drawing, this project required learners to collaborate with each other and share their findings and ideas. Scholars also had to manage their time so that their posters were finished for presentations. Their overall work was impressive! PHOTO ALBUM: Students at Jacobson study United Nations 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
Clean Up Crew back in Action! The JETS are thankful for their leaders on campus! We are sending a big thank you to the FIRST lunch bunch clean up crews to help our school. Students from grade 3 and grade 4 worked HARD to clean up all three playgrounds, including the front kinder playground. Hooray for the Lunch Bunch Clean-up crew for helping our learning environments stay beautiful for learning and working. Our school would not be the same, without your dedication and hard work.
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
Lights, Camera, Action! Some of you might have seen a student news crew interviewing teachers and students. That's our school Recycling Crew who are making a video about WHY we recycle at Jacobson and how it helps the environment. Keep up the good work with recycling, everyone, and click to watch the video! VIDEO: Jacobson Recycles!
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag... Congratulations to ALL fourth-grade students for learning proper flag etiquette and WHY we have etiquette for the American flag. Fourth grade students are in charge of our two school flags -- both in the courtyard and on the school's front lawn. Students take on this leadership role after an intense training with our local high school. Recently student-leaders and teachers went through this training with the Hamilton ROTC, learning proper etiquette like how to handle, display and care for our American flag and state flag. Students also discuss how to show the flag and our nation reverence and pride through flag etiquette.
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
Jacobson is a one-to-one school! Every child in every classroom has access to a personal device in their classroom and those devices link to our new IFP (Interactive Flat Panel) screens in each classroom. We are grateful that CUSD supports every child at our amazing community school. Congratulations to Mrs. Gahn in sixth grade who welcomed Superintendent Frank Narducci and the CUSD marketing team to her classroom! Mrs. Gahn shared how the new IFPs are like a huge computer, and students are now using the graphics and new media in their classrooms! Some Jacobson sixth grade students even showed Superintendent Narducci how to use the new HUGE computer! #JETSflywithPRIDE PHOTO ALBUM: Jacobson is a one-to-one school!
Jacobson Elementary (2023-2024) |
All Jacobson scholars use thinking maps or mind maps to help organize their thoughts and ideas. Thinking maps reduce anxiety by providing visual patterns for thinking and working with complex ideas. The maps are used in grades kindergarten through six and offer opportunities to learn through collaboration and create solutions to difficult questions, so kids understand complex ideas. Most of all thinking maps help our students organize their thoughts and help develop good writers! PHOTO ALBUM: Thinking Maps
Hamilton High (2023-2024) |
Hamilton High School has the largest enrollment of international student in the district. Recently the students attended a welcome lunch in the HHS Career Center. In addition to being treated to some great food, the students met many of the important staff members available to help them throughout the year. Students in the picture have traveled across the globe to come to school in Chandler. Countries represented are: Brazil, France, Vietnam, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Austria and Japan.
Rice Elementary (2022-2023) |
What a fantastic day for our fifth-grade students! Chef Tess led an incredible cooking session, immersing our students in the art of preparing a healthy dish and emphasizing the significance of nourishing their bodies with wholesome food. The engagement and enthusiasm were truly remarkable, making it a memorable and enjoyable learning experience. She taught 5th-graders how to make a caprese pasta salad with pesto at the Growing Chef event. Thank you, Chef Tess, for your expertise and for inspiring our students to embrace healthy eating habits!
Rice Elementary (2022-2023) |
Check out our amazing 3rd grade students who just finished reading, One Plastic Bag! This inspiring true story tells the tale of a woman in Gambia who finds a unique way to recycle plastic bags and help her community with their pollution problem. Our students were so inspired that they decided to take on a recycling project of their own, turning plastic bags into beautiful bracelets. This is a wonderful connection to our school's overarching theme of sustainability!
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
Nacho' Average Staff Meeting! Congratulations to Mrs. Nicol and Mrs. Vanderah, the 2023 winners of the annual 'Nacho' Average Staff Meeting' at Jacobson. The whole JETS squad played hard, but only two were left standing and a fun time was held by all. Happy Spring Break everyone!
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
We had a BLAST at Jacobson's annual Space Explorer's Rocket launch. More than 300 rockets took off from our field and students learned basic aerospace engineering in the process. Thank you to Northrop Gruman engineers who worked with students during lunch over the last four months. And thanks to the Arizona Association of Rocketry for helping to announce and set off all those rockets! That's one small step for students, one giant leap for Jacobson. PHOTO ALBUM: Space Explorers Rocket Launch
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
Celebrate good times, come on! Third grade was in a celebrating spirit this week! All third graders took a huge field trip south of Tucson. They visited the National Saguaro Forest and spent the afternoon at a very special award-winning museum - the Arizona Desert Sonoran museum. Students spent the day on a scavenger hunt, studying animals and desert vegetation, and spent the whole day discovering all things Arizona! What a great way to end the quarter.
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
Jacobson JETS buddies love to work together! Third graders and kinder buddies create illustrations and connections about how to work together at school. Students learn to value others input and own team decisions! They are excited to present their ideas to their buddy combo class.
Chandler Traditional Academy - Independence Campus (2022-2023) |
CTA Independence families had a blast at the Math and Science Night. There were math games throughout the school run by National Honor Society high school students, vendors, food trucks as well as science fair boards and projects displayed in the hallways. Families were invited to walk around looking at the projects and played games with their children.
Tarwater Elementary (2022-2023) |
On February 3, Tarwater hosted its Annual Lunar New Year Festival! Games, performances, cultural activities, and more were showcased to the Toro community. Photo Album: Tarwater Lunar New Year Celebration
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
The Jacobson Elementary "Space Explorers" club was recently feature in the Santan Sun News. Check out the story online here (pages 38-39).
Chandler Traditional Academy - Freedom Campus (2022-2023) |
Principal Christina Lucas-Sheffield and Dean Melissa Anderson were turned into an ice cream sundae by CTA Freedom students! Families that participated in PTO's checkathon got to vote and participate in this fundraising reward.
Santan Elementary (2022-2023) |
Family, friends, and fun! The Santan Elementary School Pumpkin Fest Carnival was a huge success.
Tarwater Elementary (2022-2023) |
The inaugural meeting of Tarwater's Genius Hour was held this month. Project Managers - Travis Nguyen and Elise Bohn (pictured) are fourth graders helping facilitate the project process for the second grade teams. They will also get an opportunity to work on a project of their own. Students work on their projects at school in a self-directed manner within clear project process framework. Teams recommend and vote for a topic to explore, hone in on a question, and decide how they would like to present their learning. This is part of the empowering skill practice Genius Hour targets. They are nurturing self-motivated learners and self-directed problem solvers. Genius Hour has also provided opportunity for second grade teachers Cindy Bickley, Janell Ochs, Sophia Limjoco, and fourth grade teacher Regina Rahberger to collaborate. They hope to expand the program in the coming semester.
Casteel High (2022-2023) |
In honor of Veterans Day, Chandler Unified School District's Dr. Camille Casteel High School (CCHS) hosted its second Veterans Living Library on November 9, 2022. A "living library" is a chance for guests to meet experts on certain topics, in this case veterans. Attendees could then "check out" their experiences and stories. Casteel's media assistant Christine Williamson Diaz, an original CCHS staff member since the school opened in 2015, introduced the concept to Casteel for the first time in 2021. With her connections to friends, Casteel staff members, and Sun Lakes Rotary, she gathered 12 veterans to share their stories. She wanted to bring new ways for students to learn in a school library setting while sticking to a library's foundation of primary resources, research, and discovery. Read more about Casteel High School's living library and meet three veterans.
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
JETS WORK HARD... PLAY HARD! Hooray for new recess equipment! Our students work hard in the classroom and need time to run and play and socialize together. Beautiful updated playgrounds with new equipment get our kiddos excited.
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
Jets are making the earth a better place! Thank you to our Jets sixth grade leadership crew. Mrs. Banas and class collect paper to recycle each week. Our recycling crew has filled up an entire dumpster which totals over 400 pounds of paper recycling! The city of Chandler picks up our school's recycling every two weeks.
Santan Elementary (2022-2023) |
Kindergartners in Mrs. Reuss' class took a visit to our health assistant, Mrs. Wingate! They learned where her office is, landmarks they see on the way, and asked her about helping our school and community. She even had time to answer some questions!
Basha Elementary (2022-2023) |
A huge shout out to Hamilton High Air Force Junior ROTC for coming to Basha Elementary and training the new flag corps students. They did an excellent job explaining flag etiquette, and our Basha Bobcats are ready to begin their flag corps duty.
Riggs Elementary (2022-2023) |
Riggs first graders Zander Wong and Ever Weems are new authors. The books they created were bar coded and added to the school library by the librarian, Kim Reininga. The librarian offers this opportunity to everyone at the school and these two worked hard to create books to share. Now their friends can check out their books to read!
Riggs Elementary (2022-2023) |
Riggs fifth grade students participated in a science lab based on balanced and unbalanced forces. The challenge was for the students to successfully run all three cogs simultaneously down the track to get from point A to point B in under 30 seconds. The students were under the direction of a classmate to direct their decision making. Students had to consider size, track lengths, and angles amongst other things.
Basha Elementary (2022-2023) |
What a turn out! Basha Elementary PTO held its first event of the year -- Family Bingo Night. Basha families and staff had a great time!
Riggs Elementary (2022-2023) |
Riggs kindergarten had presentations to learn about different jobs in our community.
Jacobson Elementary (2022-2023) |
Jets Fly with pride! Thank you to our amazing Jacobson Elementary PTO! Each one of our students received a special Jacobson Jets sticker to kick off the school year. Our fantastic kiddos are proud of their community school!
Chandler Traditional Academy - Freedom Campus (2022-2023) |
Sixth grade students at CTA Freedom in Lori Woodman's class have been learning about ancient civilizations. They learned about cuneiform, the first known writing system. Then, they used cuneiform symbols to write messages on salt dough tablets.
San Marcos Elementary (2022-2023) |
Paige Godrich's 5th Grade class created "scratch art" to create excitement around the new school year and to encourage relationship building in her classroom.
San Marcos Elementary (2022-2023) |
San Marcos 2nd graders in Kristie Moreno, Amanda Russo, and Liz Lucky's classrooms read First Day Jitters to ease their first week nerves. The second grade team has been hard at work building positive classroom culture and relationships.
San Marcos Elementary (2022-2023) |
San Marcos kindergarten teachers (Courtney Geil, Tonee Lopez, and Emilee Taylor) welcomed our new students to campus. We can't wait to watch this bright group or students learn and grow this year!
Chandler Traditional Academy - Independence Campus (2022-2023) |
Intel surprised CTA Independence student Lavin Bhat with a laptop and a schoolwide ice cream party! Lavin was the winner of Intel's "Name the Crane" contest. The largest crane in the world came to Intel and was given the name "Skyreacher." Thank you, Arizona's Family, for sharing Lavin's story. Watch on YouTube!
Chandler High (2021-2022) |
The 2022 Senior Sunset was a special "last" for the Class of 2022. Seniors enjoyed live music, played games, ate, and watched the sun set on their senior year. Congratulations and good luck to the Chandler High School Class of 2022!
Basha Elementary (2021-2022) |
Beautiful night for some music! Basha Elementary fifth and sixth grade band serenaded families in the park. Thank you, Madison Freeman, for your hard work with the students. They were outstanding!
Casteel High (2021-2022) |
All eighth-grade students at Casteel had a day where they worked with senior economics students and volunteers from Fidelity and Charles Schwab at managing their own budgets and seeing the actual cost of living and decision making that adults have to do. This provided students with a new perspective on real-life financial management and helped prepare them for a future of independence and financial responsibility.
Conley Elementary (2021-2022) |
Conley Elementary held a "preschool prom" during the school day. The kids were very excited to dress up and get ready for prom.
Jacobson Elementary (2021-2022) |
No matter what the age, growing a living plant from seed to blooming flower is an interesting and exciting learning experience. The students in Kim Christ's K-6 ELD classes at Jacobson Elementary planted sunflower seeds and Zinnias using recycled milk, juice and water containers. Here we GROW!
Jacobson Elementary (2021-2022) |
The Kids Express Team at Jacobson flies with PRIDE! The team plays outside with our littlest Jets and does a weekly craft!
San Marcos Elementary (2021-2022) |
San Marcos partnered with Read on Chandler to host a "Make Way for Books" story school celebration on Friday. Make Way for Books Family Education and Literacy is a two-generation approach where children and families learn together through ongoing sessions. Pictured: Jenny Volpe, CEO of Make Way for Books.
Chandler High (2021-2022) |
Shannon Moxley celebrates with her senior English class as they finish up The Little Prince. Getting ready for the home stretch of their senior year.
Chandler High (2021-2022) |
Student Council's freshman class hosted its annual Chandler's Got Talent variety show to showcase Chandler's best and brightest to a packed house and cheering audience. From musicians to poets, the show proved that Chandler has talent. Congratulations to Natalia Scott and Olivia Gibbons for taking home the grand prize which consisted of over $100 worth of prizes donated from local businesses. PHOTO ALBUM: Chandler's Got Talent
Chandler High (2021-2022) |
The Chandler High Car Show was a great time for students and community members. Thanks to the Auto Club and Van Why, Automotive teacher and club sponsor, for hosting a terrific event, and thanks to everyone who came out to support the club. PHOTO ALBUM: Chandler High Car Show
Chandler Traditional Academy - Liberty Campus (2021-2022) |
CTA Liberty second graders have fun learning one of the district's Enhanced Mathematics Counting Collections. Lessons are utilized to help students understanding the concept of multiplication, division, and equal groups. PHOTO ALBUM: Enhanced Math Counting Collections