Get out your pencil and paper and take note of some of the latest news items from Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVSchools).

Shadow Mountain Athletic Director Named AIAAA 4A Conference Athletic Director of the Year
Ron Safcik, former athletic director at Shadow Mountain High School, has been named the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA) 4A Conference Athletic Director of the Year. The AIAAA gives this award to only one athletic director in each conference. “Being an athletic director has given me the opportunity to develop relationships with the Shadow Mountain community and other athletic administrators around the state,” says Safcik. The award came at a perfect time as Safcik just retired at the end of the school year after 25 years of service at PVSchools, 13 of which were as an athletic director.

Sunrise Middle DLC Students Advance to National History Day Competition
Sunrise Middle School’s Digital Learning Center (DLC) students have done it again. Three students (Ira Parsons, Audrey Haralson and Isabelle Ross) took first place at the Arizona National History Day competition and advanced to the National History Day competition in mid-June. “I am so proud of my students and the hard work and dedication all of these students exhibited in creating and presenting their projects and in their own learning and passion for continued growth,” says Rebekah West Keur, social studies teacher.

Horizon High School Wins Winter Guard State Championships
Horizon High School is adding another state championship to the list of accomplishments for the 2021-22 school year! At the Winter Guard Arizona State Championships, Horizon High School had two separate groups win their state championships. The Horizon Indoor Percussion Ensemble (HIPE) and Winter Guard teams both took home the prestigious state championship titles. “Both of our groups worked extremely hard over the season, and you can see that with their performances. Their determination to grow at every rehearsal was evident every day, and their passion for music is inspiring. I also cannot thank our assistant directors enough for helping create a great environment for all of our students,” says Kyle Hollerbach, band teacher.