Welcome Families of KC,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to a new school year at Archway Arete! I hope that everyone is enjoying summer and as eager as I am to get our kindergarten adventure underway. It is my goal that this year be filled with learning, laughing and growing. Our rich and warm school environment will foster your student’s sense of wonder, curiosity, and thirst for knowledge.
Please allow me to tell you a little more about myself, my name is Sydney Howard, and this is my sixth-year teaching kindergarten and fifth year at Archway Arete. I attended Grand Canyon University where I received my B.S. in Early Childhood Education. I am originally from Texas (Go Cowboys!) and have been in the valley for 12 years now. I have a two year old daughter, Harper, who is the light of my life! In my down time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, staying active with anything outside, going to church and pretending to cook.
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| Mr. Howard and my sweet Harper girl! |
In addition to myself, I would also like to introduce you to a very important person in our classroom, our TA and student teacher, Charissa McCormick, who will be with us everyday for the 1st quarter of school. Here's a little bit about Ms. McCormick:
"I have been lucky enough to be born and raised in Arizona. I will be completing my Student Teaching in Fall 2019 and graduating from GCU in December, with a degree in Elementary Education. I have a passion to nurture, teach and share my love of learning with others. I spent most of my undergraduate days tutoring University students in Mathematics and Spanish while also volunteering with inner-city kids. I look forward to taking all that I have learned in my program and applying it in the classroom! When I have free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and hanging out with my friends, family, and dog."
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| The beautiful Ms. McCormick! |
After Mrs. McCormick moves on to her next teaching adventure in Spain Mrs. Zavala will take over for the remainder of the school year. This will be her third year as an assistant in kindergarten. Here’s a little about Mrs. Zavala:
“My name is Leady Zavala and I was originally born in Bogota, Colombia. I have resided here in Arizona for the past 27 years and I am happy to call myself an Arizonian. I have a wonderful husband whom I’ve been married to for the past twelve years and two beautiful girls, who are in 7th and 6th grade here at Arete (so I understand the excitement and bit of nervousness that you may be feeling). I have been a part of Archway Arête for the past four years volunteering as a parent for one year and three years as a Teacher’s Assistant. I would love to say how happy I am to be a part of your child’s class; I can truly say that being part of a wonderful team at Archway Arête has been a blessing in my life. The emphasis on our educations philosophy to cultivate the hearts and minds of students through the pursuit of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness is greatly displayed in our scholars, and I am happy to be a part of it. Walking through this journey with our students brings me great joy!”
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| Mrs. Zavala and her husband with her two girls Leahady and Nevaeh. |
We look forward to meeting you very soon!
