PHOENIX COUNTRY CLUB SEVENTH STREET & THOMAS ROAD Page 16 May 2016 Teachers selected for the Arcadia News Teachers We Love Award receive an Arcadia News tote, a $125 gift certificate from Salon Sandoval, a $100 gift certificate for Postino winecafé and an invitation to an end-of-the-year luncheon for the year’s winners. By Amanda Goossen Leading the strings and orchestra program at Phoenix Country Day School is a responsibility Maurine Fleming doesn’t take lightly. “I wasn’t always a teacher,” said Fleming. “When I graduated college, everyone expected me to teach. But I wasn’t ready, I knew I needed to be ready to fully commit.” Fleming began playing saxophone and cello as a child. She grew up in Mesa, where she explains; there was a very supportive arts program. Fleming continued to play music, and eventually went on to ASU, while also studying in New York, at USC, and the Aspen Music School. Fleming graduated with a degree in performance and still regularly plays with the Phoenix Sy mphony and O p e r a . A s a freelance musician, Fleming is called on to play with acts arriving in Phoenix, some of the most memorable being with Rod Stewart, Smokey Robinson, Bob Hope, and her favorite of all time, George Burns. Fifteen years ago, however, Fleming finally decided it was time to settle down. She took a job in Tempe in the Kyrene School District and then, five years later, took the position as strings and orchestra teacher at PCDS. “I take my job very seriously,” said Fleming. “I know I’m making a commitment to the kids, to the parents and to entire families.” To PCDS student Evan Pittman, Ms. Fleming has made such an impact on his life that he was inspired to write a nomination for the Arcadia News Teachers We Love award. “Ms. Fleming is kind, caring, selfless, inclusive and a great listener,” said Evan. “She is always interested in getting feedback from the students in her class, but even more importantly, her classroom is a warm, safe place where students feel comfortable.” Evan, who began taking violin lessons at 6 years old, has played the national anthem at Arizona Diamondback’s games, the Veteran’s Day Parade, and regularly plays in nursing homes and with the St. Thomas the Apostle weekly Mass choir. With all his accomplishments, giving back to the community is incredibly important to him. “Evan suggested nominating Maurine Fleming. Having grown up in a military family environment, Evan has always been taught to follow through and execute on his ideas. He sat dow n at t he computer and wrote up a paragraph,” s a i d R e b e c c a Feaster, Evan’s mom. Feaster is thankful that her son has such a supportive, kind teacher in his life. “Ms. Fleming has become like a second mother to Evan,” said Feaster. “She is always there for him and all her students.” To Fleming, there is no other way to teach her students. “There is something special about being a music teacher,” said Fleming. “We don’t just get the kids for one year, we are blessed to have them for many years and we really get to be there as they grow up.” TEACHERS WE LOVE PCDS orchestra and strings teacher Maurine Fleming (back, center), with a few of her high school music students. Striking a chord with the kids

E A T E RY + n a n o B R E W E RY Thanks for your c ontinued fundra ising support Ingleside Middle School | 5402 E . Osborn Rd . | Phoenix , AZ Page 17 May 2016 By Lisa Weisenburger It would be impossible to list all the ways your mother showed you she loved you over the years. Impossible to remember every note she tucked in your lunch box, every homemade birthday cake or every perfectly paired set of clean socks in your drawer. Try to remember the Saturday nights she greeted you when you got home a few minutes after curfew and didn’t lose it. Do you remember when she broke the news to your dad about the fender bender before you had to tell him yourself, thus perhaps softening your father’s reaction? Not to mention the countless games of Crazy Eights she played with you, or the times she stayed up extra late to make the traditional green muffins for St. Patrick’s Day breakfast the next morning. Or how about the time she helped you build the best train track on the planet with every Thomas the Tank Engine train and piece of clickety clack track you owned? You can see how tough creating this list would be. To make showing your appreciation a little simpler, here is a much shorter list of 10 ways to surprise your mom and show your love for her on Mother’s Day. And moms, if you’re reading this, it’s totally OK to leave a copy of this article open on the kitchen counter. It’s also OK to cut it out and highlight it in neon orange, too! w Share your mom-ories – I recently saw the term “mom-ories.” While everyone has a new riff on an old word, this one is a favorite. Find time to conjure up some of your favorite “mom-ents” over the next several days. Then plan to share these special memories with mom on Mother’s Day while you reminisce and tell her how influential these were on who you are today. Enjoy your stroll down memory lane. w Make your bed ... before noon. Trust that mom will be truly surprised with this one. w Bring her coffee in bed – Just the way she likes it. Even if you have never seen her have coffee in bed, she will love this. w Cook – After all of the homemade meals mom has cooked for you, do not let her lift a finger. Make her a home-cooked meal or two on Mother’s Day. She will tell you she is OK with going out to brunch, or that she loves those certain croissants at the coffee shop, but you will shock her with a homemade breakfast or dinner. w Do the dishes – Don’t stop at washing the plates from dinner. Put the leftovers in the refrigerator and the last pot from the dish drainer back in its cupboard. Do the dishes until they’re all the way done. w Clean out your mom’s car – I know. This isn’t your love language, right? But your mom will never stop gushing over the fact that her car is free of straw wrappers, long lost homework pages, Goldfish crackers, smelly socks or extra cleats, and melted lip gloss. You could even vacuum it out. For real. w Gelato – Take her out for gelato. Or froyo, or DQ. She loves it. She frequently denies herself this treat. On Mother’s Day, indulge her sweet tooth! A box of chocolates works here too, but that may be a bit too cliché for your cool momma. w Call your mom – If you do not live in the same state as your mom, call her and don’t rush to get off the phone with her. w Send or bring your mom flowers – Moms are the most practical people around. Flowers are an extravagance for many. Do it! Cut them out of your yard if you have to. Mom will love these f lowers. Why is there nothing more heartfelt than sweet little hands picking the flower off a plant (even a weed), leaving all the stems and leaves behind and smiling cherubically up into your eyes with “I love you, mommy?” Those are mom-ents moms never forget. w Make your mom a card – The kind that is cut out of construction paper, glued with too much Elmer’s, sentimental sentiments erased and rewritten, a bit wrinkled, and sometimes soggy. That kind of card. If you go with store bought, that’s OK, but don’t let Hallmark do all the work. Take the time to personalize the message. Moms are amazing. Let her know how you feel. 10 best surprises for mom on Mother’s Day KIDS CORNER