Page 12 January 2011 SAT, ACT tests demand preparation from students By Julia Swem The key to taking the SAT or ACT college entrance exams is to fi gure out students individual strengths and prepare accordingly. Ellie Vogel, the owner of Chyten Tutor and Test Preparation in Scottsdale, said the questions on each test are very different and students think differently. One test may be better to take than the other. “Every kid is their own universe,” Vogel said. “The key is fi guring out what makes sense.” Experts advise that parents have their children take a diagnostic test to determine which test they might be better at taking. The ACT tends to be more black and white, and the SAT is set up more like a puzzle. Vogel said that a student who is better in English, writing and reading may opt to take the SAT because two thirds of the test is devoted to grammar and reading, including an essay. A student more comfortable in math and science, however, may want to choose the ACT because 50 percent of the test is math and science. (The SAT does not have a science section. The ACT’s math section is also more advanced than the SAT’s, and the ACT’s essay does not count toward the fi nal score.) Lynn Bradway, an Arcadia mother of two college students and an Arcadia High School junior, said having a child go to a tutor or take a preparation class may be a good idea depending on the student’s personality. “If you are lucky and your child is highly unusual, you may be able to get them the book and just let them go,” Bradway said. “But that is usually not the case.” Christian Andreen, a senior at Xavier College Preparatory, said going to a tutor was helpful. She said she had a 140 point jump in her reading score. “It also forced me to sit down and study,” Continued on page 14 Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center 7th graders Graham Byron, Cassie Stewart, Riley Rodarte and Mary Sloan-Beger celebrate Coming Home to ANLC. ANLC party celebrates 20th anniversary By Shine Salt The Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center celebrated its 20 th anniversary with a reunion of 200 students, neighbors and teachers – past and present – in November. Amanda Wagner-Barber, who attended ANLC from kindergarten through eighth grade, said she had not been back to the school since she left so “thought it was a good time to see how the school looks.” Helen Panza, the parent of four former ANLC students, also was on hand. “I have such fond memories of ANLC, I just wanted to come back and see all of the teachers and kids that my kids had and grew up with,” Panza said. “I’m surprised to see how big some of the (students) got then when I remember.” “I came to see all the friends, and I feel like ANLC is the place where I have family, and just to be able to see one another again,” said Blanca Ruiz-Moreno, a former student and mother of one. Nola Enge, a former kindergarten- through-second-grade teacher at ANLC, came to the event to see her former students and because her two children went there. “Some of them when I left were 5 years old and are now well into their 20s, so it’s fun to see how they’ve changed and to catch up with them,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see old friends. ANLC is such a rich community and the people really connect with each others’ lives, as well as their education.” Many of the people attending the event agreed it was nice to see old friends and to be welcomed back to a school they remember from their childhood. “I think it’s a testimony to the parents and faculty that a school even has an event like this because you’ll see high school reunions, but this is part of what makes this school exceptional over the years,” said Duane Sheldon, a former superintendent. “The fact that it’s really just more than a school, but an extended family, that’s what I get a sense of being here at the event.” ANLC staff members said they didn’t expect so many people to attend the anniversary celebration, which they’ve been working on since last summer. “I think the event turned out really well, we weren’t sure how many people we’d be getting,” said Charles Grislier, ANLC principal. “We thought there’d be at least 100, but for a huge outcome, we raised and passed our goal and we’re pleased in how many people wanted to come back and see all their ANLC friends from years past.” Principals join efforts for students By Micaela Encinas Principals from fi ve Arcadia schools within the Scottsdale Uni fi ed School District have come to improve student achievement with the philosophy that they are better together than apart. The Arcadia Complex consists of principals Anne-Marie Woolsey of Arcadia High School, Margaret Serna of Tavan Elementary School, Tanya Beckwith of Ingleside Middle School, Charles Grisier of the Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center, and Lori Colling of Hopi Elementary School. “We want to get better than what we already are,” Woolsey said. “We want to develop programs, communicate student achievement and help each other.” Interaction between the schools includes students and staff visiting other schools. For instance, students from Arcadia High School tutor students from Hopi and Tavan elementary schools. Future Titan Night encouraged the complex to come together to cheer on the football and basketball teams. Cheerleaders in the fi rst-through-sixth-grade were down on the fi eld with the Arcadia High School cheer team. The complex has even adopted a principal for a day program in which a principal from one school substitutes at another and goes into classrooms, meets the teachers and students, and observes the teaching and learning. “You don’t know each other’s schools until you’re there,” Woolsey said. As a complex, a week was devoted to the importance of reading during Arcadia Reads week. Then there’s Titan Town, a complex for teachers and students. The cultural diversity within the town was celebrated with sensitivity training. Prevention of social problems such as alcohol, drugs, and cyber bullying, were discussed with parents. Agora is an event celebrating the community. The event is described as a modi fi ed Scottsdale Art show with singers, dancers, Continued on page 23

Page 13 January 2011 Dr. Jackie Doris Slow, steady wins battle with weight By Jackie Doris, M.D. In the New Year, all those holiday cookies, candies and cakes no longer seem like such a great idea. A person who is average weight typically will gain 1 to 2 pounds during the holidays. Someone who is overweight typically gains about 5 pounds over the holidays. If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, start by calculating your body mass index or BMI. A normal BMI is between18.5 to 24.9. Up to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 and above is obese. You can fi nd an online BMI calculator at nhlbisupport.com/bmi. Or you can multiply your height in inches by your height in inches, or inches squared. Divide your weight in pounds by height in inches squared. Multiply the total by 703. You also can check your waist circumference. Don’t breath out, just relax and measure at the top of your hip bone. For a man, a normal waist circumference is 40 inches and for women, 35 inches. You may have tried other diets over the years only to gain the weight back and may be overwhelmed about beginning again. Despite what late-night television pitches say, no quick fi x exists for long- term results. In multiple studies – including one that followed 6,000 people for six years – this is how people were able to lose weight and keep it off: 1) Eating a high- fi ber, low-fat diet of about 1,200 calories a day to lose weight. At 1,200 calories a day, most people will lose weight. A balanced high- fi ber diet makes you feel less hungry and helps you maintain blood sugar levels. 2) Adding regular physical activity to daily routines. Walking 30 minutes a day is a good start, Continued on page 15 Guidance and Solutions to Help Meet Your Financial Goals From left to right: Catherine Allison Private Banker Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Inge Patton Client Associate Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC David Esparza Trust Fiduciary Specialist Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. David Jazo Financial Advisor Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC 5151 N 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018 (602) 955-1081 Barry Grossman Investment Manager, CFA® Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Kristy DeBuhr Financial Planner, CFP ® Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Janice Ashby Regional Insurance Specialist, ChFC®, CLU® Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC Wells Fargo Private Bank provides financial services and products through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and its affiliates. Deposit and loan products offered through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Brokerage Services available through Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker-dealer and separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Insurance products are available through Insurance subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company and underwritten by non-affiliated Insurance Companies. Not available in all states. © 2010 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.