24 MARCH 2021 By Cliff Summerhill In response to the ever-changing challenges that schools have faced for the past year, Desert View Learning Center in Paradise Valley came up with a unique way to safely teach in-person students. “When the pandemic hit, the teachers were the first to recognize how wonderful it would be to pivot instruction to a full outdoor model,” Taylor Nelson, interim director at Desert View, said. “With a great deal of dedication and teamwork, the teachers masterminded the plan, and the community helped bring their vision to life.” Nelson said the students at Desert View already had a learning curriculum that incorporated the school’s desert landscape, so the transition wasn’t drastic. To make the outdoor classroom a reality, teachers worked with the school’s task force to ensure all necessary safety protocols were in place. The school’s board agreed to the initiative, and they provided Desert View all the additional equipment needed for a safe learning environment. “We made a great effort to survey and communicate regularly with our families to understand how we could best meet the needs of the community,” Nelson said. “The staff, the board and the task force worked together to make sure all aspects of our new approach were funded and executed speedily.” The outdoor classroom spaces are filled with familiar classroom furniture like desks and chairs, but new items, such as large mats, cones, tents and whiteboards were added. They also added extra outdoor sinks and hand sanitizer dispensers around the campus. Every teacher is equipped with an iPad, tripod and voice amplifier that allows them to teach effectively – for students attending in-person and virtually. According to Nelson, the students, parents and staff believe the new environment is having a positive impact on students. “The kids are so happy they get to see their friends and teachers, even at a distance, and are quite happy to be able to have school in the fresh air, under blue skies, with the desert at their fingertips,” Nelson said. This new outdoor classroom is not without its challenges. The cold mornings, windy days and even the Valley’s recent “snow day” challenged the new learning environment. “Being in our ‘school without walls’ was tricky at first,” Nelson said. “The teachers have been so impressed with the students’ ability to adapt to their new environment, maintain focus outside, and block out the activities of the other classes.” The extra room and the view have proven to be an essential and necessary resource for the school. They plan on continuing the outdoor classrooms until the end of the year with an option to keep it after everything settles down. “We feel so fortunate that the hardship of COVID-19 was able to bring us the silver lining of creating this outdoor classroom model,” Nelson said. “Kids grow and learn so much when their surroundings inspire them.” Desert View takes the classroom outside Sarah Root and her first-grade class. A Día de los Muertos altar created by students at Desert View. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALEXIS LANE TUNE IN! Visit our podcast website: arcadiapodcast.com APPLE SPOTIFY YOUTUBE Hosted by: AWA R D W I N N I N G N E I G H BO R H O O D N E W S SI N C E 19 93 TUNE IN! TUNE IN! TUNE IN! TUNE IN! With special guest Marshall Shore, AZ’s Hip Historian.

25 MARCH 2021 By Mallory Gleich Passers-by around 48th St. and Indian School may have noticed a new sign at one of Arcadia’s namesake restaurants, Arcadia Tavern. The team behind the Tavern has been giving it a makeover – complete with a new but familiar name: Taberna de Arcadia. Last March, the Tavern was shut down due to the pandemic, which allowed co-owner Scott Hibler and his business partner, Korey Boals, to finalize a new partnership and the new eatery’s design elements. Construction began last summer. “We knew what Arcadia Tavern meant to the community, which is why we named it Arcadia Tavern in Spanish – Taberna de Arcadia,” Hibler said. John Dolan was head of the design and layout plan for Taberna. Dolan is the founder and partner at Porch Arcadia, Tempe and Gilbert, Bevvy Old Town and Bevvy Uptown. “John and his family live in Arcadia, so he aligned his vision and passion about the community and its growth with ours, which was something we all wanted. We knew he had the vision to pull off the new concept as well as bring it to life,” Hibler said. In addition to Taberna, the old restaurant side of Arcadia Tavern was converted into a new grab and go space called Little Señorita’s. “We are very excited about this concept as it will allow patrons the ease of grabbing ready-to-go food with or without getting out of their car,” Hibler said. They added a new roll-up door on the west side, facing a new patio and moved the bar to allow for more room. There’s a new layout, menu and color scheme, along with new tile, which “helped us create the new vision that we are very proud of,” Hibler said. The new patio connects with the original patio that runs along Indian School. “With that addition, we have one of, if not the largest, patios in Arcadia now. We kept the trees to include nature as our concept embraces Arizona and its trees/colors and citrus. We wanted to showcase our incredible views of Ca melba ck Mountain, and I feel we did that,” Hibler said. Taber na a nd Little Señoritas’ theme was created by Dolan and Taberna Chef Blaise Biller, with the inspired vision of becoming two side-by-side Arcadia establishments. Taberna will serve modern Arizona- themed smoked and vertical rotisserie “al pastor style” meats and vegetables. They wanted to build on a Porch favorite, Little Señorita’s tacos, with additional enhanced flavors. Taberna’s dine-in side will showcase more formal dining. “Think barbeque with smoked and rotisserie shaved meats with an Arizona twist. There will be a focus on wood flavors like citrus, pecan and mesquite,” Chef Biller said. “The meats will be rubbed and smoked in an on-site smoker. Our culinary approach will embrace two menus that will welcome the simplest, most honest ingredients available.” Chef Biller added that they will be seasonally driven, which will allow them to strengthen their bonds with surrounding purveyors, dairies, cheesemakers, breweries, ranchers, wineries and farmers. All tables will be socially distanced, and the restaurant will have acrylic barriers between booths as a start. Masks and temperature checks will be required. Paperless menu options will use a QR code, and Taberna will test staff per CDC guidelines. The restaurant plans to open in mid March. tabernadearcadia.com Arcadia staple kicking off spring season with a new concept Scott Hibler Arcadia Tavern is now Taberna de Arcadia and Little Señoritas. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCOTT HIBLER D O N AT E T O D AY: www.azpowerpaws.org/donate/arizona-tax-credit ARIZONA CHARITABLE TAX CREDIT (CQO 20717) REMOVE BARRIERS. EMPOWER PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE. Provide an assistance dog for a disabled child or adult. ARIZONA GIVES DAY April 6, 2021 debbiefrazelle.com Debbie@DebbieFrazelle.com