Back to books: Yuma schools to start up again soon

Crane School District students will kick off the back-to-school season with their start on Tuesday morning, but teachers have been preparing since midJuly.

“It is a very busy time of year as our schools are working on providing orientation, induction and team building for returning and new teachers,” said Yuma County Schools Superintendent Tom Tyree. “It is a time of great anticipation as students, parents and staff look forward to the beginning of the school year.”

Other districts across the Desert Southwest will begin later in the week or the following (see list). Open houses and kick-off events are planned for this week.

One big change the Yuma Police Department wants to remind all drivers about is the new law regarding the speed limit in school zones.

YPD’s Sgt. Lori Franklin says drivers must heed the 15 mph speed limit from sign to sign, and not from sign to crosswalk.

High school students in the Yuma Union district will kick-off the 2017-2018 school year at Gila Ridge High School from 7:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Aug 1.

“We believe our students and teachers are setting standards of excellence regarding what ‘college and career ready’ means,” YUHSD Superintendent Toni Badone said. “Now, it’s time to take it to the next level in our relentless pursuit of becoming the best in our roles as staff members, teachers and administrators.”

The kick-off event is open to all employees and students in the district. District and campus offices

will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to allow employees to attend the kick-off, the theme of which is “Ready & Relentless” (#ReadyAndRelentless).

Tim S. Grover, who authored the book “Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable,” is the keynote speaker.

“We have much to celebrate about our signature culture work, ‘Ready Now

Yuma,’ and the new school year will only provide us an opportunity to continue building on that work,” Badone said.

There will be a whole new administration team at Yuma High, said Director of Community Engagement and Communications Eric Patten. Several of the previous administrators have taken on new roles at other campuses, and the district has two new assistant principals.

At District One, which starts Aug. 7, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Duane Sheppard noted the district is looking forward to “teaching each child every day meeting their individual needs. We are ONE Community Pursuing Excellence!”

District One will have a new principal at Pecan Grove Elementary School, Matthew Kaste. The school hosts five different community preschool programs, kinder through fifth grade, and the new MENTA program for autistic students. Woodard Junior High School will welcome Matt Buckley as the new assistant principal working alongside Principal Danny Acosta.

Sheppard said parents should look for an email, phone call or text from the district announcing each school’s Meet and Greet on Friday, Aug. 4. Parents can also call the school office for more information.

Parents in the Crane School District should note the district’s new bus card program. A child who is eligible to ride the bus but did not receive a card should call the district transportation office.

Tyree also encouraged parents to get involved with their child’s education.

“As we begin, I urge parents and community to be engaged in their children’s learning and to work closely with your children’s teachers and schools as we work together to provide them with a world class education,” he said. “As an educator and a grandfather with children in our public schools I appreciate the dedication our teachers provide every day.”