• Programs available for children ages 3 to 5. • No prior Spanish experience necessary. • Visit our website for registration information. Register before May 1, 2016 Page 50 April 2016 By Ian Kraft Nearly 1,000 female students attended the eighth annual Girls Have IT Day hosted by Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix. Held on March 4 as part of this year’s Arizona SciTech Festival, Girls Have IT Day promotes women’s involvement in science, infor mation technology, engineering, art and mathematics, also known as STEAM. During the event, the students participate in a fair consisting of hands-on STEAM activities like creating a spinning top out of washers, marbles, clay and toothpicks. The students also created fireworks in a jar, an experiment in which they used oil, warm water and food coloring to create a reaction that resembled a mini-explosion in the jar. Xavier senior and co-chair of the event, Sara Skornik, helped organize the day and said she took an immense amount of pride in seeing so many girls enjoy the activities. “My favorite part of the event, was when the girls were first walked out to the activities fair, “Skornik said, “It was truly inspirational to be able to look around and see all of our hard work finally pay off.” Catherine Alaimo is a sixth-grade student at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Scottsdale who participated in the event for the first time, and she said the day altered her view on the scientific fields. “Girls Have IT Day helped me expand my STEAM horizons,” Alaimo said. “I was never much of a math or science person, but Girls Have IT Day changed that for me.” To start each event, a guest speaker talks with the girls about possible futures in a STEAM field. This year, Xavier alumna and marine scientist Erin Ryan spoke to the girls about her personal success and encouraged them to never stop trying. Skornik called Ryan’s message to the girls an inspiration. “She exemplified what it means to keep working hard and always being your own cheerleader,” Skornik said. Skornik also said the event taught her about leadership and communication, calling the experience “truly irreplaceable.” Alaimo said she learned a lot, and recommends “IT Day” to all middle school girls in the Valley. “It is very important to me that organizations support girls who are involved in STEAM,” Alaimo said. “I hope that every girl [in the Valley] has a chance to experience what I experienced at Girls Have IT Day.” Skornik said she was able to learn from successful women in STEAM fields, and that was one of her favorite parts of the event. “Words cannot describe how much I have benefitted from seeing strong female leaders in careers with small female populations,” Skornik said. “It is seeing another woman doing what it is that I strive to do, that inspires me daily.” For more information on Girls Have IT Day, visit ghitday.org. Xavier College Prep holds eighth annual “Girls Have IT Day” Girls Have IT Day promotes women’s involvement in science, technology, engineering, art and math.

KACHINA Quality Dry Cleaning 602-955-5540 3926 E. Indian School Road Arcadia Family Owned & Operated Since 1959 Home & Office Pickup & Delivery Available salon SANDOVAL 3703 east indian school phoenix, az 85018 602.957.9910 www.salonsandoval.com CELEBRATE EARTH MONTH Help Protect Water Raffle Win $500 Aveda products and hair services Tickets $5 All proceeds benefit Clean Water as a Human Right Student haircuts 50% off With student ID Portion of the proceeds benefit Clean Water as a Human Right ©Aveda Corp. Page 51 April 2016 By Emily Balli Twenty fifth-graders from Tavan Elementary School got to show off their basketball skills at the third annual Tavan March Madness game at Arcadia High School. The game was held on March 4 in the AHS main gymnasium. It was a packed house with the entire AHS student body as well as the first- through fifth-graders from Tavan in attendance. Many Tavan parents and teachers also came to cheer on the students participating in the game. Ten girls and 10 boys were chosen to play after a tryout and academic evaluation. The students were divided into two teams – the Wildcats and the Sun Devils – that were made up of five girls and five boys. The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils with a score of 28-12. Tavan PE Coach Mike Naderer helped create the event three years ago when the school decided they wanted to create a basketball equivalent to the Tavan Turkey Bowl, a flag football game among fifth- graders on the AHS football field. Naderer said he practiced with the students for about three to four weeks to help them prepare for the big game. Naderer also works with many people at AHS to make the experience special for the fifth- graders. “Working with AHS has been a great experience. There are so many people that help us out – from the coaches, players and the great administration,” Naderer said. Shelly Rose, fifth-grade teacher at Tavan, said the game was well received by all. She also said that since students must be performing satisfactorily in school in order to participate, the game motivates the fifth- grade students to do well in their studies. Rose also said she believes the March Madness game is an opportunity for the students who participate to show off their hard work to their friends and families. “My favorite part as a teacher and fan is seeing students who feel like superstars with their friends and family watching,” Rose said. “It is a chance for the students to shine.” Stephen Danford, head boys basketball coach at AHS, said that March Madness is a great community event that brings elementary school students, high school students, parents and faculty together. Danford recruits some of the AHS varsity basketball players to help referee, coach and run the clock during the game and he said it’s a chance for the players and the fifth-graders to interact. Like many others, Danford enjoys and looks forward to the March Madness game and hopes it continues for years to come. “This is the third or fourth time we’ve done it and it just gets better every year,” Danford said. “I don’t anticipate it ever ending.” Tavan holds own annual “March Madness” game Ten girls and 10 boys were chosen to play in Tavan’s third “March Madness” game coached by Tavan P.E. coach Mike Naderer and Arcadia High School basketball coach Stephen Danford.