Arcadia News — award winning neighborhood news since 1993
May 2016
May 2016, page 51

salon SANDOVAL 3703 east indian school phoenix, az 85018 602.957.9910 www.salonsandoval.com celebrate mom MOTHER’S DAY IS MAY 8 Treat her to a $100 gift card and receive a $20 gift card for Aveda products from Salon Sandoval. It’s a wonderful way to make Mom’s Day! ©Aveda Corp. KACHINA Quality Dry Cleaning 602-955-5540 3926 E. Indian School Road Arcadia Family Owned & Operated Since 1959 Home & Office Pickup & Delivery Available Page 50 May 2016 By Ian Kraft Hopi Elementary School will usher in a new principal in the fall as Lori Colling retires after nine years of being the school’s leader. Colling graduated with an undergraduate degree in anthropology from Michigan State University before getting a master’s degree from Arizona State University. Colling said her studies put her in a position to be successful, but one of her greatest memories is of something that came afterward. “I received a scholarship from the English teacher’s union to study English literature at Oxford,” Colling said. “That was really one of the highlights of my life.” Upon arrival at Hopi Elementary, Colling said she noticed a lack of innovative technology and she wanted to upgrade the standard. “Since I have been here,” Colling said, “we’ve really developed our technology. I feel like we are one of the leaders in the state in terms of what we have accomplished on the technological front.” Colling said she has been able to provide each grade level with a cart full of iPads and two carts of Google Chromebooks. “We are just trying to prepare the kids for the 21st Century” Colling said. “We have a fabulous staff that is committed to the development of the kids here.” “I would say I am most proud of the culture we have created,” Colling added. “It is a culture of caring.” Although Colling said she is excited to begin her retirement, she did admit that she is less than excited about leaving the students. “We have the greatest kids here,” Colling said. “We have about 850 students, but… the relationships that I have made with these students and their families are going to be very hard to leave.” When asked why she chose to retire now, Colling uttered one word: “Family.” “I want to spend more time with my mother,” Colling continued. “Also, my grandchildren moved back to the Phoenix area and I am really excited to spend more time with them as well.” After a total of 30 years in education, Colling said she might consider substitute teaching from time to time. “It is going to be hard to go cold turkey after 30 years of doing what I love,” Colling said. Steve Tobias has worked as the assistant principal for two years and he said Colling’s influence on him was “unquantifiable.” “Lori’s primary focus has been the kids,” Tobias said. “From day one her passion has been working with children.” “She has been such a great role model for me because she is so driven and such a hard worker,” Tobias added. “She has an ability to bring an entire community together.” Tobias cited her intuition as one of the most effective components in her principality. “She can manage a situation firmly, yet do it in a gentle way,” Tobias said. “She has a balance about her judgment that is truly admirable… She is consistent.” Tobias said he has learned a lot from Colling over the past two years, but there was one message she impressed on him the most. “Enjoy the ride,” Tobias said. “She has instilled in me how important it is to work hard for the students and to enjoy the work that I do.” “Hopi will be losing a great leader of the community next year,” Tobias said. Principal leaves a lasting impression on Hopi community Hopi Principal Lori Colling is retiring after 30 years in education. PHOTO BY IAN KRAFT

Representing students of Arizona universities, community colleges and high schools, as well as other emerging Arizona artists since 1993. 480.946.5076 . artonegalleryinc.com 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale Representing students of Arizona universities, it ll d hi h h l ll 480.946.5076 . artonegall art ne gallery ARTWALK! THURSDAY NIGHTS SCOTTSDALEGALLERIES.COM elysium dream ii • jonathan peter • 52” x 42” x 1.5” • acrylic on canvas • 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 51 May 2016 By Mallory Gleich For the past 11 years, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with schools across the nation to bring them the Poetry Out Loud program. The program is designed to fit into an English Language Arts curriculum and lasts for two to three weeks. At the end of the program, there is a competition at state and national levels. During this period, students have the opportunity to research, memorize and perform poetry and have a chance to compete. The contest also helps students “master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.” Last month, 10 students from across Arizona gathered in downtown Phoenix’s PBS Studios to perform poetry for a live audience. One of those students was Edel Healy. For last month’s competition, she recited three poems: “Candles,” by Carl Dennis, “It Couldn’t Be Done,” by Edgar Albert Guest, and “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” by William Butler Yeats. Edel is 15 years old and attends Xavier College Preparatory. Before she moved to Arizona, Edel grew up in Ireland. She started reciting poetry at the age of 5. Edel moved to Arizona in 2010 and had her first brush with arts here in the states when she wrote a letter for a competition called Letters about Literature. “The premise was to write a letter to an author who left a lasting impression on you, and I was overjoyed to learn that my written letter took second prize in Arizona,” Edel said. After she took first, second and third prize in the county finals, Edel realized she had a deep love for reciting poems and storytelling. It was then that her brother, who attended Brophy College Preparatory, told Edel about Poetry Out Loud. Brophy was implementing the program at the time, and her brother had made it to the state finals in 2014. Edel decided to introduce the idea of Poetry Out Loud to Xavier and its students. “Going back to compete in poetry was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating,” Edel said. Edel won the school-wide competition and then advanced to regionals, where 20 other schools from across Arizona came to compete. “The competition was fierce, but I felt I was back where I belonged,” Edel said. That day, Edel was announced the outstanding winner of the competition. Out of 11,000 students, Edel was one of the top nine who would represent Arizona in the state finals. Edel says that while she is reciting poems, she likes to view them as a story rather than literary elements. She chooses poems that “speak to her personally” and that may speak to the audience she’s performing for. “The best part of competing is being with people who share the same love of poetry and poetry recitation as I do,” Edel said. “Poetry is fun, exhilarating, and I look forward to embracing every opportunity to express poetry.” The Poetry Out Loud competition aired on Friday, April 15 on Arizona PBS. Xavier student excels in statewide Poetry Out Loud competition Edel Healy