4 SEPTEMBER 2026 I am Tofu ; I’m two years old and my favorite thing is my dad! I meow loudly when I hear my dad pull into the parking lot; I always know when it’s him. I love being on the patio and listening to the sounds of nature. I trade pets for treats! – Dylan G. Meet Bowie ! She is a 4-year-old mini golden doodle. She loves making new friends and chasing bunnies! She is very silly and her favorite thing is watching golf with her dad. – Lauren D. Buck has been in our family since June 2019. I was recovering from an accident; in the examination of my injuries a brain tumor was discovered. I thought that was the perfect time to ask my wife for a new puppy – how could she say no? I wanted to name him Tumor; to that she said no. Of the eight dogs I’ve had in our 50-year marriage, Buck is my wife’s favorite. He has this smile of excitement where he bares all of his teeth, it’s comical! – Rosie R. Bowie came to me via the Arizona Humane Society in 2019. His original name was Chandler. He’s a purebred Maltese. I visited the Sunnyslope campus after our chihuahua passed away and needed a hypoallergenic pet due to my husband’s allergies. They didn’t have one, so I went on a list in 2018 and Thanksgiving weekend 2019 they called about Bowie. He’s been the best thing to have by my side the past seven years! – Lisa S. EDITOR’S NOTE Season 8, episode 4 of Seinfeld , “The Little Kicks,” became famous for a particular scene in which Elaine decides to let loose at the company party – and her dance moves were more “kicks” than actual moves. Now, I’m not saying I’m that bad a dancer, but I’m closer to Elaine than I am PCDS student Jiya Birdi, who actually uses her dance skills for good. Jiya’s nonprofit, Dance4Dreams, hosts workshops for girls in underserved communities across the U.S. and India. One hundred percent of funds go toward supporting under-resourced schools. “What I love most is seeing the students come into class and light up,” Jiya said. “Knowing that their participation is also helping provide educational opportunities for children who may not have access to basic school supplies makes the experience meaningful.” Our September edition is for the students. We’ve got previews on volleyball and golf teams at area high schools; profiles on award- winning students; renovations at St. Thomas – have y’all driven past the new digs? The building at 24th and Campbell is massive and beautiful. Arcadians have made it clear they know how to work… and play! This year’s summer vacation photo spread is so fun – I noticed that a lot of families spent time under waterfalls, which is understandable seeing as Phoenix has, ya know… minimal natural water features. It has been such a pleasure watching our neighbors – especially the little ones – grow. We’re glad you’re back home with us! Have a wonderful September, and thank you for reading the Arcadia News, – Mallory Gleich UPCOMING THEMES: No one has better coverage in the areas of Arcadia, Biltmore and the Camelback Corridor. Promote your business to 45,000 loyal Arcadia News readers. For more: call/text 602-840-6379 or email ads@arcadianews.com .       Would you like to share your pet? Send a photo and a description (50 words max) of your pet to editor@arcadianews.com or text it to 602.840.6379 . Include your pet’s name and age, along with any fun facts about them you’d like to share. All animals are welcome! “In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” – Tom Bodett Christ Lutheran School Preschool - Grade 8 • www.clsphx.org LC-MS 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix | www.cclphoenix.org | (602) 955-4830 LOVE GROW SERVE IN-PERSON WORSHIP Traditional Worship 8:00am/10:45am Contemporary Worship 8:30am/10:30am Teaching Service 9:30am ONLINE WORSHIP Sunday @ 8:am/10:30am FB Live or CHRISTCHURCHPHX.ONLINE.CHURCH Burgers, Dogs, Burritos! Scrumptious Fish & Chips! Best Chicken Nuggets & Tenders! Fresh Breaded Onion Rings! Best Shrimp & Chips in the Valley! Drive Thru/Take-Out is Our Specialty! Let us do the cooking for you… Stop by any of our 8 convenient locations and surprise Mom with a night o!! 20% o! any order over $15.00! Offer expires 9/30/26. Valid with coupon only. Present coupon at time of purchase. May not be combined with any other offer. 1 coupon per person. Valid at all 8 locations. No cash value. Coupon cannot be reproduced. Phone orders taken till 10:00pm Monday thru Saturday. Closed Sundays. 602-840-0630 4121 N. 44th St., Phoenix Cash only. ATM on Patio. 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5 SEPTEMBER 2026 By Michael P. Murphy “Under One Roof” was the perfect name for St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic School’s jubilee capital campaign to upgrade and expand the campus on the very property where it has served the community since 1950. In September 2024, old classrooms came down and construction began on a new $28 million multi-level building on the north end of the campus. It will eventually be a place where the entire school, classrooms, offices, cafeteria, and more, will function literally – you guessed it – under one roof. New principal Katie Zeches shared her staff’s excitement as the first phase of the new building, administrative offices, and K-2 nd grade classrooms opened just in time to begin the new school year. “Everything had to be approved by the Diocese of Phoenix,” she said. “It was designed by Hamilton Architecture, and they did a beautiful job of making sure the building aligned well with the rest of the campus. It was important to Father Steve Kunkel that the building was not taller than the church tower.” To build on the footprint of the school’s longtime location, the construction crews had to take down a row of older second and third grade classrooms. Those students moved to modular structures while construction went ahead on the new building. Upgrades were minimal since the original structures were built in 1954, so there were plumbing and sewer issues to work around and other minor problems that can be typical of construction projects once digging started. Beyond that, the construction issues were few. When completed, the new building will eventually hold K-8 classrooms, but it’s the basement that Katie is most excited about. Downstairs will feature a cafeteria with a full kitchen, a stage for programs and presentations, an art room, and a STEM lab. “The teachers are really excited about the updated facilities, but also about the different opportunities students will be able to have in the new building,” Katie said. “We’ll have classrooms for students who will need a little extra support. Hopefully, they’ll look forward to all the opportunities students will receive from the new building.” As construction continued, there were certainly some growing pains for the families to deal with, such as losing much of the school’s parking while construction was underway, but when the new building is completed next year, the sacrifice will be well worth it. It will be like moving into a new home! With this new structure, Principal Zeches is looking forward to the future, but the school’s mission stays clear. “We’re excited to continue the amazing tradition of St. Thomas the Apostle in a new facility,” she said. If everything continues as it should, the modulars and rest of the old structures will be gone and all the St. Thomas the Apostle students will move to the completed building in the spring. There will be a celebration, and the school’s ministry of learning and community will, at last, gather under one roof. One campus, one mission, one school – under one roof St. Thomas the Apostle is transforming its campus with new classrooms, offices, dining, arts, STEM and student support. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE OPEN HOUSE NOV 8