Congratulations to our Teaching, Learning, and Assessing Director, Megan Padilla, for being recognized by Grand Canyon University as an outstanding educator in the state of Arizona! Mrs. Padilla's dedication, passion, and tireless efforts in shaping the minds of our youth and making a difference in the lives of our students are truly inspiring. Thank you for all that you do!

More information can be found on Dr. Paul's LinkedIn by clicking here.

We hope SCVUSD35 students and families will join us for our annual Back-to-School Blitz on Saturday, July 12, 2025! For any questions or concerns, please visit our website or contact Blitz Coordinator, Angie Lopez, at alopez@scv35.org/(520) 375-8261.

🌟Congratulations to San Cayetano Elementary's Ms.Maggie Lorta on being named Rio Rico Rotary's Staff of the Month, and Nathalia Guevara on being named their Student of the Month🌟

Ms. Lorta has demonstrated extreme dedication and hard work throughout her 16 years working at San Cayetano Elementary. She looks forward to greeting and assisting students and parents everyday! Nathalia has always lent a helping hand to her fellow classmates and has always encouraged them to do their best. As part of San Cayetano's National Honor Society and Student Council, there is no doubt that Nathalia is driven to help her community!

We hope you are able to join us for our annual STEAM night being held on Thursday, April 24 at Rio Rico High School! Come check out student projects and clubs and learn about resources in the world of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics!

Rio Rico High School's CTE program was recognized by the Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona's President, Jim Grieshaber. He visited rural school districts last month, including Rio Rico High School, and was able to see the skills of our CTE students first-hand!

Read the full story by visiting ACTEAZ's newsletter at this link.

photo credits: ACTEAZ

Ben’s Bells artists create a Be Kind mosaic on the school’s K-2 campus.

National Honor Society Award recipient, Jazzlyn Rehm, poses with her certificate after the school’s commencement.

Kindergarteners honor the contributions of Dr. Suess during Mountain View’s annual “Love of Reading Week.”

Kindergarteners honor Dr. Suess while 5th graders, Valentina Pineda and Navaeh Buelna sang, Edge of Great.

4th graders, Julieth Swanquist and Maria Jose Hurtado sang, Teeth. Later, artwork was unveiled. Nearly two dozen acts in all participated in the 2025 Mountain View’s Talent Show. See video attached below to view one of the acts!

RRHS Winter Guard took 1st place with a score of 70.920 and Indoor Percussion took 2nd place with a score of 76.45 at the WGAZ competition on March 15th at Mountain View High School in Tucson. The group contains primarily high school students but there are a couple of middle school students that were allowed to join as well. The Winter Guard group is coached by Kris Siros & Victoria Taft while the Indoor Percussion group is coached by Austin Siros & Carter Taft.

Representing the Winter Guard group at this competition was Syair Avance, Kimberly Corral Toledo, Camila Gaxiola, Hannah Hardwick, Alexis Jemino, Emily Medina, Raevin Mullen, Julian Orrantia, Daniella Osorio, Estevan Quintanar, and Santiago Valenzuela.

Representing the Indoor Percussion group at this competition was Pedro Arballo, Syair Avance, Raquel Carrillo, Layla Coppola, Aaden Duran, Erik Espino, Derek Espino, Cristobal Fontes, Luis-Fernando Ledezma, Scarlette Lerma, Alan Martinez, Mariajose Mendivil, Jaime Olivar, Daniela Orozco, Camila Pineda, Pablo Portillo, Andree Ramos, Jesus Rodriguez, and Santiago Valenzuela.

Congratulations to these amazing musicians!!

SCV35 parents and guardians, take advantage of this great opportunity! Learn more about cooking, nutrition, and recipes through these free classes starting on April 8! Register by scanning the QR code below, or by clicking here.

Congratulations to Luka Munguia from Calabasas School for winning Sodexo's 2025 Future Chefs competition! His fried chicken creation was one for the books, alongside second place winner Mattheo Basurto's chicken teriyaki dish, and third place winner Francisco Padilla's "Padilla Pesto Pasta".

All of our student chefs crafted amazing dishes that showcased their creativity and talents! 🥙🥗🥪 Thank you to our judges, School Board President Ms. Lourdes Vasquez, School Board Clerk Mr. Brad Beach, and School Board Member Mrs. Susan Faubion, and District 3 Supervisor Mr. John Fanning. Thank you to our Sodexo staff for hosting the event and making it special for our students! A big congratulations to all of our participants! SCV35 is so proud! Find below the participant names and their dishes. 🙌

Alexis Rojas (Calabasas School 2nd grade) - Calabasitas con queso

Luka Munguia (Calabasas School 4th grade) - Fried Chicken

Francisco Padilla (Calabasas School 4th grade) - Padilla Pesto Pasta

Rex Faley (Mountain View Elementary School 5th grade) - Chicken Bake with bacon

Mattheo Basurto (San Cayetano Elementary School 3rd grade) - Chicken teriyaki

Bellamy Cota (San Cayetano Elementary School 3rd grade) - Abuela’s Christmas tamales

Damian Felix Arias (Mountain View Elementary School 5th grade) - Clown crepes

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On March 6, fifth-grade students from San Cayetano Elementary School embarked on an exciting educational journey to the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. This field trip, made possible through free admission granted to Title 1 schools, provided students with a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on scientific exploration.

The trip was organized by San Cayetano's dedicated fifth-grade teaching team, who recognized the immense value of experiential learning. "We saw this as a fantastic chance for our students to gain practical experience in science," said Mrs. Blair, one of the fifth-grade teachers. "It's one thing to read about scientific concepts in textbooks, but it's entirely different to see and interact with them in person."

The timing of the field trip was particularly advantageous, as it preceded the upcoming AZSci state assessment. Teachers believe that this immersive experience will help reinforce key scientific concepts and allow students to see in action the topics that have been covered in their classes.

Upon arrival at the Arizona Science Center, students were visibly excited to explore the museum's diverse exhibits. The center, known for its interactive displays, did not disappoint. Students marveled at the stunning exhibit on the human body, gaining insights into anatomy and physiology. They also engaged with displays on electricity, witnessing the power of currents and circuits firsthand.

One of the highlights was the science of weather exhibit, where students learned about various atmospheric phenomena and climate patterns. Additionally, a featured exhibit on poisons captivated the young learners, teaching them about toxicology in a safe and educational environment.

"I think that it was cool!" exclaimed Lennyx Hinojosa, a fifth-grader from San Cayetano. "I loved that there were a lot of things that you could play with, not just look."

As the students returned to San Cayetano Elementary, they carried with them not just memories of an exciting day out, but also a wealth of new knowledge and a renewed enthusiasm for science.

In March, Mountain View fourth and fifth graders got a good dose of Art History by engaging in simulations of famous artists. For example, students filled Sistine Chapel panels as they worked on their backs like Michelangelo; used a stippling technique in Impressionist style like Monet; and learned an original song about Picasso, Cubism and Modern Art.

“It was fun learning about great artists,” said 5th grader, Emma Delgado who enjoys writing and illustrating her own cartoons. “Did you know every new style was started because some artist got tired of doing things the way they had always been done?

“Art history means his story, the story of some famous person. I never heard of her-story, but Mary Cassatt was a famous artist too,” said Amileea Lopez.

Whether it’s his story or her story, art history can be a lot of fun to learn!

The Picasso Song ©

1. There was a man who hailed from Spain. Picasso was his name – oh.

1. He painted pictures red and blue. Picasso was his name – oh.

1. Funny faces with two views. Picasso was his name – oh.

1. Scary masks he made look new. Picasso was his name – oh.

1. Portraits flat he filled with hue. Picasso was his name – oh.

P I C A S S O (repeat 3x)

Picasso was his name – Oh!

Join First Things First for their 12th Annual Celebrate the Young Child event taking place at Calabasas School on Saturday, April 12 from 10am-1pm. During this event, families and caregivers can enjoy free, interactive activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and healthy food!

UniSource Energy Services (UES) has been empowering young minds through its “Bright Students” program, an interactive and fun educational initiative for 4th to 8th-grade students. Since its inception in 2006, the program has reached over 31,500 students across approximately 650 programs, fostering a deeper understanding of energy efficiency and electricity generation. This presentation is designed to engage and excite students about energy in an interactive and fun way.

An engaging 45 to 60-minute session delves into the intricacies of energy sources, electricity generation, and the significance of energy efficiency. Students learned about energy efficiency, natural resources, and electricity basics. Students experience how mechanics can be transformed into electrical energy in a bike generator demonstration. The presentation is an excellent example of hands-on STEM education, helping middle school students understand complex energy concepts through practical demonstrations and interactive learning. By showing energy transformation through a bike generator and discussing different types of resources.

All “Bright Students” program components align with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) standards, ensuring the content complements existing curricula. To support these activities, students receive an Energy Savings Kit, a practical toolkit that includes LED light bulbs, a low-flow showerhead, a faucet aerator, and an LED night light. These tools equip students and their families to implement energy-saving measures at home, bridging classroom learning with real-world application. Unisource Energy is likely helping students develop a more nuanced understanding of energy production, efficiency, and environmental considerations.

Congratulations to our Rio Rico High School theatre and stagecraft students and staff on their successful production of Sweeney Todd! Their tremendous efforts and dedication throughout the school year made the show successful and impactful among families and community members who attended the show. Click here to see just one of the many positive reviews left by attendees that truly demonstrates the influence of the show.

There is no doubt that our Hawk students, staff, and faculty involved with the production of Sweeney Todd worked tirelessly on this project. Congratulations to all involved! SCV35 cannot wait to see your continued success and vigor in the world of theatre!

Click here to see the actor's photos captured by Luna Yoder and edited by Anabelle Mendoza.