Bob Pearce, MPS painter, is honored by Harry Beck, fire chief, at the Mesa Public Safety Foundation awards dinner.

Bob Pearce named Citizen of the Year

The Mesa Fire Department named Bob Pearce, MPS painter, one of three 2011 Mesa Citizens of the Year. Pearce was honored at this year's Mesa Public Safety Foundation awards dinner.

The Operations Division staff member and two other men rescued Danielle Jones, a wheelchair-bound woman, who had fallen into the canal on Broadway near Lindsay in May.

The foundation noted, "Luis Aponte, Ron Buskirk and Bob Pearce conducted the rescue. By the time fire officials arrived, Danielle was safely out of the water and in good condition. These men stopped, took action and saved Danielle’s life that day. They are true heroes."

Teachers to attend National Mars Conference, rover launch

Christine Day and Peggy Ostrander will attend the National Mars Educator Conference and the launch of the new Mars rover Curiosity in Florida this month. Ostrander and Day teach science at Brimhall Junior High. "We are very excited to be among the 75 teachers across the country who applied and were selected for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we're honored to represent Mesa!" Day said. Full story

Drop in at Ed Tech's open lab Nov. 7

Educational Technology trainers are on hand to help you during open labs. The next open lab is from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 7 at 546 N. Stapley Drive. Drop in with questions about Architeck, Grade Book, DataStore, Podcasting, SMART Board, Acuity, Mobi, SmartMath, LibGuides, MPS Connect and Clickers. Full story

Come to the Veterans Parade

Marching bands, Junior ROTC cadets, student councils and clubs will join community groups to honor our heroes on Veterans Day. The parade begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 11. The route is on Center from University to First Avenue.

Enjoy a Women's Air Force Band concert, and a helicopter and vehicle display at the end of the route beginning at 1 p.m. Full story 

Learn how to become a guardian

Do you have a disabled child who is reaching age 18? Tom Pickrell, MPS general counsel, will present a free workshop titled How to Become a Guardian. It's set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Student Services Center, 1025 N. Country Club Drive. To register, call Kay Boyer at (480) 472-0208. Full story

School events

Highland Arts presents 'Aladdin' at Stapley

Highland Arts Elementary will present its fall drama, "Aladdin," from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3 in the Stapley Junior High auditorium, 3250 E. Hermosa Vista Drive. Admission is $2. Everyone's welcome.

Lincoln to celebrate Take a Veteran to School Day

Lincoln Elementary will celebrate Take a Veteran to School Day on Nov. 10. Before the bell rings, veterans will be recognized at a breakfast prepared by the Lincoln staff. Then the guests will visit individual classrooms to read aloud and answer students' questions.

Sell your arts and crafts at Carson festival

Carson Junior High will host an Arts and Crafts Festival from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 19 at 525 N. Westwood. Everyone's invited to buy and sell. For information, download the flier, or call (480) 472-2920.

Reunion organizers seek 1972 Mesa High grads

Members of Mesa High's class of '72 are invited to their 40th reunion Sept. 22. Please contact Linda Guy at dandlguy@msn.com.

School highlights

More than 70 volunteers visited Johnson Elementary on Make a Difference Day. They brought rakes, shovels, blowers, plants and muscle power to make the campus clean and green. Future Eagle Scout McKay Huber coordinated the effort.

Red Mountain FFA earns national awards

Tyson Sorensen's Red Mountain High teams won awards at the National FFA Career Development Event in Indianapolis, Ind.

Agronomy won a team silver, an individual silver and three bronze emblems. Nursery landscape won a team bronze and four individual bronze emblems.

Environmental and natural resources received a team bronze, two individual silver and two individual bronze emblems.

Deuce Lutui and Big Red visit Lindbergh

Deuce Lutui, Arizona Cardinals player, and Big Red, the team's mascot, visited Lindbergh Elementary to read, dance and visit with students and staff. Lutui presented his team jersey to Barbara Carson, his first-grade teacher. Full story

Resources and reminders

Facebook | Employee of the Month nomination | Volunteer of the Month nomination

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