East Valley school briefs: Higley sports camps begin Monday

Higley Unified School District Recreation Sports Camps begin Monday at several schools. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade can enroll. Camps include football, basketball, baseball and volleyball.

To register online, visit www.husd.org and click on “summer programs at husd.”

For information, call (480) 279-7415 or e-mail dlawrence@higleyhigh.husd.org.

Higley prep girls basketball program

Higley Unified School District female basketball players including incoming freshmen are invited to the Higley High School girls basketball summer program. The series includes free basketball clinics and open gym. Clinics and open gyms will be available from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until July 31 at Higley High’s main gym, 4068 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert.

The purpose of the clinics and open gyms is to develop fundamental skills and build team camaraderie for future success.

Clinics and open gyms will also prepare the girls basketball program for the upcoming season.

For information, call (480) 580-6824 or e-mail coachlauture@yahoo.com.

Queen Creek district offices closed

The Queen Creek Unified School District offices will be closed this week and July 6.

The district’s front office summer hours will continue July 7. Summer hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday.

Information: (480) 987-5935 or www.qcusd.org.

M&I Bank supply drives for schools

To help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for teachers, M&I Bank branches throughout metro Phoenix and northern Arizona are hosting supply drives during July for neighborhood schools.

Each branch has a school wish list. Some of the most frequently requested items include Kleenex, pencils and hand sanitizer.

Two Gilbert schools and two Queen Creek schools are among those that will benefit.

Coronado Elementary School will benefit from donations at the M&I Higley Village location, 3349 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert. Coronado is in the Higley Unified School District.

Greenfield Elementary School will receive donations from the M&I Williams Field bank, 1481 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert. Greenfield is in the Gilbert Unified School District.

Combs High School, which is in the J.O. Combs Unified School District, will benefit from donations at the Ironwood Crossing bank, 40773 Ironwood Road, Queen Creek.

Jack Barnes Elementary School, in the Queen Creek Unified School District, will receive donations from the M&I Bank at 21479 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek.

M&I Bank estimates that a teacher spends between $400 and $700 each year on classroom supplies. Teachers may buy writing and creative tools, motivational materials and audio/visual aids and books. As schools cut budgets this year, teachers may use personal resources even more.

For information, visit mibank.com.

Q.C. pool offering free swim Saturday

The Queen Creek Unified School District aquatic facility is offering free public swimming noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Queen Creek pool is at 20255 E. Chandler Heights Road, west of Ellsworth Road.

The district and EVO Swim School, which runs aquatic activities at the pool, decided to stop regular public swimming sessions at the pool because of a lack of interest. It wasn’t cost effective when only 25 to 30 swimmers showed up. If Saturday’s free public swim is popular, another free public swim day will be held before school starts.

Information: (480) 539-2660 or evoswimschool.com/queencreek.

EVIT surgical program accredited

The East Valley Institute of Technology, 1601 W. Main St., has earned accreditation for its surgical technology program from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. EVIT is one of five programs accredited for surgical technology in Arizona. EVIT's 10-month surgical technology program will have 12 graduates this month. A new class begins on Aug. 17. The class is designed for high school graduates who have strong math and science skills and have taken a class in medical terminology. For more information, contact Cliff Richeson in the continuing education department at (480) 461-4025.

Bogle Junior High hosting Bulldog Day

Chandler Unified School District's Bogle Junior High will host Bulldog Day from 8 a.m. to noon July 23. The event allows incoming students to pick up class schedules, find out about transportation, take campus tours, get school IDs, open lunch accounts, buy spirit wear and yearbooks and get walk-in athletic physicals. Classes resume in the district July 27. To view the back-to-school newsletter, visit www.boglebulldogs.com.

State gets $3.8M to train Indian teachers

Arizona is one of seven states selected to receive $3.8 million to provide training programs to recruit and graduate new American Indian teachers and school administrators. The grant award is part of the Office of Indian Education's Professional Development program, which trains qualified individuals to become teachers and administrators in Indian communities. The funds are going to Arizona State University in Tempe ($399,351); ASU West in Glendale ($383,566); and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff ($345,958).

Parents can bring kids to Child Find

Parents can bring their young children, infant to 5 years old, to the Apache Junction Child Find from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Apache Junction Multi-Generational Center, 1035 N. Idaho Road. The free event includes development, hearing, visual, cognitive, social and adaptive skills screenings. Parents may also receive child identification information from the police department and information on recreation activities. Any agencies or businesses interested in participating are urged to call Jamie Sullivan, Apache Junction facilities manager, at (480) 474-5241. For information on the event, call (480) 983-2181 or (480) 898-6549.

Apache Junction, Chandler and Mesa school briefs are compiled by education reporter Michelle Reese. Contact her at mreese@evtrib.com or (480) 898-6549. To submit an item for Gilbert and Queen Creek schools, e-mail the pertinent information to Hayley Ringle at hringle@evtrib.com.