East Valley Academy and Crossroads

Pawsitive Peers Foundation school dog program 

Mesa Public Schools is piloting the Pawsitive Peers Foundation school dog program developed by North Shore Animal League America using the Mutt-i-grees® curriculum.  The district has partnered with Arizona Humane Society, Arizona Animal Welfare League, and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control to identify compatible shelter dogs for school staff to adopt and have trained. Participating MPS staff and their dogs (care teams) are certified by Pet Partners and are registered with the Therapy Animal Program.

The Mutt-i-grees® curriculum is written by Yale University and will be used to incorporate lessons on social and emotional learning, resiliency, empathy and the human-animal bond. Students may also interact directly with dogs for more individualized learning opportunities. Additionally, these dogs can serve as a trusted companion in the counseling, nurse or administrative offices for crisis intervention, behavioral de-escalation, or simply to address stress, anxiety and/or isolation. 

The pilot schools are East Valley Academy, Johnson Elementary, Kino Junior High, Mountain View High School, and Rhodes Junior High.

Pawsitive Peers Opt Out Form

Hello East Valley Academy/Crossroads parents,

We have enjoyed a successful school year, and we thank you for your continued support. I’d like to share with you some exciting changes in the 2019-20 school year that will better support students not only academically, but will also meet their social and emotional needs.

• Our FLEX program will be revitalized for students who thrive with a self-paced and individualized learning model, and require a schedule outside the typical school day. The FLEX program will continue to use GradPoint with the support of our outstanding, caring teachers.

• For students not in our FLEX program, we are moving away from the use of GradPoint, which is a computer-based curriculum. This will allow our highly qualified teaching staff to provide more relevant, rigorous and meaningful direct instruction to students.

• Both a full-time behavior interventionist and a full time social worker will be on campus. These additions will provide students a safe, supportive place to go when the stressors of life make it difficult to focus on academics, as well as an alternative to out-of-school suspensions. Additionally, this will help students build skills and resilience to better handle life’s challenges.

• Finally, we are thrilled to announce the addition of a dance program with a full-time teacher. Students will be instructed on beginning dance technique through hip hop dance fusion.

We look forward to another successful year at East Valley Academy and Crossroads. Our mission is to provide innovative educational opportunities, designed to meet the social, emotional and academic needs of our students to ensure their post-secondary readiness and success.

We recognize that change can be difficult. You’re invited to attend an informational session hosted by Principal Justine Pilar May 14, 3-4:30 p.m. If you’re unable to attend, feel free to reach out anytime at 480-472-9350.

Thank you for your support of East Valley Academy and Crossroads,

Dr. Justine Pilar

Principal

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Hola padres de East Valley Academy/Crossroads.

Hemos disfrutado de un año escolar exitoso y le agradecemos su apoyo. Visite nuestro sitio web para ver cambios interesantes en el año escolar 2019-20

• Nuestro programa FLEX se revitalizará para los estudiantes que prosperen con un modelo de aprendizaje individualizado y a su propio ritmo, y que requieran un horario fuera del día escolar típico. El programa FLEX continuará utilizando GradPoint con el apoyo de nuestros maestro’s sobresalientes y comprensivos.

• Para nuestros estudiantes que no asisten al programa de FLEX nos estamos alejando del uso de GradPoint, que es un currículo basado en computadora. Esto permitirá que nuestro personal docente altamente calificado proporcione una instrucción directa más relevante, rigurosa y significativa a los estudiantes.

• Tanto un intervencionista de comportamiento a tiempo completo como un trabajador social de tiempo completo estarán en el campus. Estas adiciones proporcionarán a los estudiantes un lugar seguro y de apoyo cuando los factores estresantes de la vida dificultan el enfoque académico, así como una alternativa a las suspensiones fuera de la escuela. Además, esto ayudará a los estudiantes a desarrollar habilidades y resistencia para manejar mejor los desafíos de la vida.

• Finalmente, estamos encantados de anunciar la adición de un programa de baile con un maestro de tiempo completo. Los estudiantes serán instruidos en la técnica de baile principiante a través de la fusión hip hop dance.

Esperamos otro año exitoso en East Valley Academy y Crossroads. Nuestra misión es proporcionar oportunidades educativas innovadoras, diseñadas para satisfacer las necesidades sociales, emocionales y académicas de nuestros estudiantes para asegurar su preparación y éxito después de la secundaria.

Reconocemos que el cambio puede ser difícil. Te invitamos a asistir a una sesión informativa organizada por la directora Justine Pilar, el 14 de mayo, de 3 a 4:30 p.m. Si no puede asistir, no dude en comunicarse en cualquier momento al 480-472-9350.

Gracias por su apoyo a East Valley Academy and Crossroads

Justine Pilar

Directora