March is Women’s History Month, and the 2016 theme, as stated in the title of this feature, is dedicated to honoring women in public service and government. This month typically features events and efforts to recognize and focus on the contributions of women and their “consistently overlooked and undervalued” roles in national and world history. The inroads and work of women in government and activism is sometimes missed and outright ignored, especially when their attention is focused on achieving actionable goals rather than recognition.

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February 29 is Leap Day.

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This week, February 8 – 12, 2016, schools and libraries all over the country are celebrating Love of Reading week. We are having special readers—city officials, police officers, servicemen and women, librarians, curators, parents, athletes, and other community members—come in to share their favorite books with students. For more information, check our newsletter and calendar of events.

Literacy and literacy education remain at the forefront of parent and teacher concerns. In our increasingly digital world, literacy is an indispensable commodity. Being able to read and write fluently is vital to participation and success in the current state of our world. Between text, email, and the time we all spend online, much of the information we consume is in print, so strong reading skills are a must for success today and in the future.

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We believe that high-quality early childhood education is essential for a strong academic foundation that advocates lifelong learning.

Full-day kindergarten programs:

• allow youngsters to develop strong academic, social, and emotional skills
• produce better reading and math skills than half-day programs
• yield students with higher retention and lower dropout rates throughout their academic careers

That’s why we offer FREE all-day kindergarten, plus free before- and after-school care.

Learn More About Free Full-Day Kindergarten

People love to celebrate … everything. On January 18, Thesaurus Day is a celebration of the power of words. This date is the birthdate of Peter Mark Roget, who is best known for creating Roget’s Thesaurus. His name is so synonymous with this type of reference book that the publisher trademarked it. The original version of his Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases, Classified, and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas was published in 1852 and contained 15,000 words; it has grown with each subsequent version. Roget’s was also the first book of this type that arranged synonymies in topical order, and it is this feature that many credit with the success of his thesaurus over others.

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Did you know that you can use tax credits to support your child’s education?

Arizona Tax Law ARS 43-1089.01 allows Arizona taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $200 per individual taxpayer or $400 per household if you contribute to an Arizona K-12 public or charter school. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income tax you owe the state of Arizona. Contributions must be made toward extracurricular activities or character education programs.

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Students at Tucson charter school, La Paloma Academy, learn about and are encouraged to embody the Six Pillars of Character:

• Trustworthiness: able to be relied on as honest or truthful
• Respect: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements; due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others
• Responsibility: the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something; the opportunity or ability to act independently and make decisions without authorization; a thing that one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation; a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of
• Fairness: impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination
• Caring: (adj.) displaying kindness and concern for others; (n.) the work or practice of looking after those unable to care for themselves, especially sick and elderly people
• Citizenship: the character of an individual viewed as a member of society; behavior in terms of the duties, obligations, and functions of a citizen*

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Most parents today are well-aware of the studies showing that children lose knowledge and skills over long breaks from school. The holidays are a time of fun and relaxation for most, but, with a little planning, you might just be able to halt the loss of some of those skills and engage your children in inspiring ways.

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Winter Break is right around the corner and the science fair is coming up just as quickly. Getting a jump start on those science fair projects, or at least preparing for the event, could be a fantastic way to keep kids engaged and stimulated during the lulls in holiday cheer.

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Mars regained the world’s attention this fall, with recent news of the discovery of liquid water on the planet and a new blockbuster film set on Earth’s nearest neighbor, The Martian. This is a timely moment to focus on Red Planet Day, November 28.

Celebrate the fourth planet from our solar system’s sun with our series of blogs discussing general information about Mars, some of the more than 40 space missions humans have launched to study the planet, a section on the future of Mars and plans for manned missions to the planet, and concluding with links to fiction and non-fiction on Mars.

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La Paloma Academy South is pleased to announce our Holiday Business Expo & Craft Fair on Friday, December 11, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Local businesses will showcase their crafts during our holiday “Cookies with Santa” event, offering students, parents, and guardians the perfect opportunity to pick out some distinctive holiday gifts.

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Just a reminder that students at La Paloma Academy, your Tucson charter school, have Veterans Day off. Locally, there are a few mid-week opportunities available if you’re looking for a special way to spend the day with family or honor the spirit of the day.

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