A proud member of the Glendale Union High School District

Sunnyslope High School 35 West Dunlap Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85021

http://sunnyslope.guhsdaz.org (623) 915-8760

Important Dates to Remember

Winter Recess - Dec. 23 - Jan. 3

Start of Semester 2 - Jan. 7

MLK Jr. Day - Jan. 20

Presidents’ Day - Feb. 17

December 2013

Sunnyslope’s very own march-ing band made it to the state com-petition this year after months of hard work and dedication. P3

Sunnyslope’s National Honor Society plans to open the Viking Writing Center with student tu-tors.

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Sunnyslope High School is proud to announce the Achievement Above All win-ners for the 2013-2014 school year.

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Sunnyslope Girls Volleyball compet-ed all season to make it to the State Playoffs. With their final game against Campo Verde, the girls took the night.

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The dynasty continues!

Sunnyslope Volleyball won the 2013 D-II State Champi-onship defeating top-seeded Campo Verde High School in straight sets, 25-23, 25-12, 25-8. The win marks the sixth state title in the last eight years for the Sunnyslope Volleyball program, all coming under head coach (and

Sunnyslope alumnus) Amber LeTarte. This year's team dominated the competition all season long led by seniors Allison Spencer and Jenny Thompson. Thompson was was one of only six players from the entire state to be named to the All-Arizona Team. The Vikings finished with an overall record of 37 wins and 7 losses, while tallying 16 wins and only 1 loss in power point games. Coach LeTarte's squad did not even drop a set during the 2013 State Tournament.

The success of Vikings Volleyball did not go unnoticed as the loud and raucous Green Team student section followed the squad throughout the season, at home and on the road, creating a close-knit community that has become a staple at Sunnyslope. Fur-thermore, Coach LeTarte along with her husband and assistant coach Brandon LeTar-te have built a family here from players, coaches, parents, and friends alike.

This culture and incredible team chemistry helped propel Sunnyslope Volleyball to the top. The Vikings consistently kept a poised and positive demeanor on and off the court; they truly enjoyed playing together. While the team is losing Spencer, Thomp-son, Piper Sperduti, and Evanne Gellert to graduation, the Vikings are returning juniors Kali Romley-Cass, Felicity Gesina, Sydney Miller, and Molly Flurey with super sophs Skylar Wine, Katie Oleksak, Emma Wright, Libby Flurey, Sarah Marinez, and Emily Spencer. The future remains brighter than ever for Slope Volleyball, and it's good to be a Viking! Congratulations ladies!

Success is a journey, not a destination.

-Ben Sweetland

A Message From Our Principal What a great first semester. Fall sports and performance activities went well across the board. Our student performers and athletes outdid themselves with many great events. Academically our teachers continue to work hard to prepare our students for their academic success and future challenges. We look forward to a great second semester and before you know it, graduation will be here. Continue to keep your student(s) focused and setting goals for their future. Look forward to seeing you at many of our second semester activities. -Steve Ducey

Counselor’s Corner In January, the Counseling Department begins the registration process for the 2014-2015 school year. For current freshmen, the counselors just met with all freshmen and their parents for an ECAP meeting and next year’s schedule. If your student would like to change any classes that he or she selected, please notify the student’s counselor as soon as possible. For current sophomores and juniors, the counselors will begin the information process and regis-tration in January. A counselor will go into each history class and give a registration presentation. At that time we will also give each student a copy of his or her transcript so both the student and the parent can make informed decisions about future classes. The topics will include a transcript review, graduation requirements, class selection, West Mec classes and registration procedures. We will then ask students to fill out their registration papers and return them to the counselors during a designated time in the following weeks. Just a reminder, for certain performance clas-ses, as well as honors and AP classes, the current teacher’s recommendation is required. We also require a parent signature to complete the process. For available class selections, look un-der the ‘Academics’ tab on the Sunnyslope website. Additional note: If your student is interested in a low cost career and technical training program, please look at the West Mec website for program information. Most programs start for next year’s juniors but some programs are also available for future seniors. Look at the ‘Program Information’ tab under each program at www.west-mec.org. Registration is due at the end of January so time is of the essence. They offer the following programs: Cosmetology, Aesthetician, Automotive collision, Automotive technology, Avionics, Aviation technology, CNC precision manufacturing, EMT, Fire Science, Medical assisting, Medium heavy diesel, HVAC (heating, refrigeration, air conditioning) Veterinary science, and Welding. If you have any questions about West Mec programs or any of our courses, please give us a call. As always, we enjoy working with you and your student!

Achievement Above All (AAA) Award Winners 2013 The AAA Award is a yearly recognition of a Sunnyslope High School faculty member, staff member, parent volunteer, stu-

dent, and student group. Voting is held on the previous categories, with a ceremony following at the Governing Board Meeting to recognize these winners achievements. Below are the winners for 2013. Congratulations!

The Sunnyslope High School Counseling Department invites you to:

Free Financial Aid Night

Thursday, January 19th, 7:00 PM

Viking Conference Room

Your search for financial benefits, schol-arships, and grants should begin with a

FAFSA Application. An expert will answer your financial aid questions and walk you

through the application process. Bring your tax return information or your W2s, records of income (regular, as well as

child support, AFDC/TANF, Social Securi-ty, Veteran’s Benefits, etc.) and asset

data (cash, savings, investments). For free profitable information, be in the Viking Conference Room at 7:00 PM, Thursday, January 19th. Your student may obtain more information from the

Career Center or any counselor. Please come. Your budget will thank you!

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Faculty Member Jason Coury

Staff Member Annie Hestand

Student Michael Humphrey

Parent Volunteer Scott Holcomb

Student Group Football Team

Fine and Performing Arts

The Fine and Performing Arts students put on their annual Fall Assembly the week before Thanksgiving break. The theme of the assembly was Restart-Reconnect, a technology focused message about ge ng teenagers to focus more on the real and pre-sent rela onships in their life rather than living out their lives behind a com-puter screen. The script and assembly was com-pletely created by the Fine and Performing Arts stu-dents. The classes that were represented in the assembly were Theater, Choir, Band, Dance, Pho-tography, 3D Design, and sculpture.

Sunnyslope Marching Band Has Successful Year The Sunnyslope Viking Pride Band has had an AMAZING year thus far! We completed one of our most hard working and rewarding marching sea-sons learning and performing our show from the musical ‘West Side Story’. The show, which is based on Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, in-cluded a theatrical representation of the gang fight between the Jets and the Sharks, and de-picted the death of Tony, the protagonist who rep-resented Romeo on the field while the band played the final notes of the closing number.

Our students reached the highest levels ever earning an ‘Excellent’ rating at both the ASU Band day AND the Division II Arizona State Marching Band Festival at Hamilton High School. In addition, the band performed in the Veterans’ Day Parade down Central Avenue and was placed in the top three bands in that event as well. On top of all this, the band has over 25 students performing in the GUHSD Honor Band and our Orchestra has 5 members performing with the GUHSD Honor Orchestra. Please consider coming and seeing our upcoming second semester concerts on March 13th and May 20th, both at 7 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium. Admission is free.

We want to thank the SHS Band Boosters and Sunnyslope AAA Volunteer of the year Mr. Scott Holcomb for their continued support in making everything possible for our students and program. Also, The John C. Lincoln Heath Network for their ongoing support of the Viking Band through their John C. Lincoln Gives grants covering large purchases like an equipment trailer and new drum major podiums. The band program is always looking for Tax Credit donations to support our growing program, and the growing need to raise more than $15,000 each year to run our excelling group. Any donation can be made through the Sunnyslope book store and you can get more information by contacting the band director Mr. LaRusch at Andrew.Larusch@guhsdaz.org.

NHS - Viking Writing Center Sunnyslope High School and NHS are excit-ed to announce plans for a Viking Writing Cen-ter. The Viking Writing Center (VWC) will be open several afternoons each week and will be facilitated by trained peer tutors. Many peer tutors observe that the work they do as tutors is not just meaningful and worthy; it actually helps them in their own academic pursuits. Peer tu-toring also counts toward service hours, as well as work experience on a resume. The writing center will focus on a one-on-one setting, ad-dressing student’s individual needs, and experimentation and practice in their writ-ing. Tutors will offer feedback, review material, and listen to the writers, helping them develop a unique perspective. Sunnyslope is proud to have an organiza-tion such as this on campus.

Winter Sports

Please come support

our winter sports and

student-athletes:

Girls/Boys Basketball

Girls/Boys Soccer

Wrestling

Please visit our website

for all winter sports

calendars: www.sunnyslope.guhsdaz.org

Go Vikings!

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GLENDALE UNION

The Glendale Union High School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

El Glendale Union High School District no discrimina a raza, color, nacionalidad,

género, edad, o habilidad diferenciada.

YEARBOOKS & SENIOR ADS

Buy your yearbook at the bookstore for $60

SENIORS - Pay for and reserve ad space at the BOOKSTORE

Full Page (8x10) - $250

Half Page (8x5) - $125

Quarter Page (4x5) - $70

Eighth Page (4x2.5) - $35

The Deadline for the Senior Ad Payment is

DECEMBER 15th

The Deadline for turning in ad text/

pictures is

JANUARY 15th

Purchase the space for your senior personal ad in the yearbook as soon as possible. Every year, the space for

ads is sold out, so don’t delay.

Space is limited!

Reserve your space now, and then you’ll have plenty of time to get your

ad design together.

Submitting the ad is easy!

You can submit a fully designed digi-tal ad (.jpg format, 300 dpi) OR you

can send in hard copies of your pic-tures and text.

Digital ads can be sent in on disk or emailed to Mrs. Hutchison:

dmhutchi@guhsdaz.org

Sunnyslope Quick News