Hello there, Phantoms! “Grand Canyon School Day Follies” – 31 January 1931 (Emery Kolb, 4 th from left)

GCS Historical Overview:  1911: The first school at the Grand Canyon opened, one year before Statehood. Ralph and Niles Cameron loaned the use of a building they owned south of the present head of Bright Angel Trail. Locally it was known as Cameron's Green House. Miss Grace Miller was the first teacher and when she left after the spring term, Miss Hammil took over the rest of the term. Judge Layton, the county circuit judge, acted as school superintendent and recommended Miss Mayflower as the next teacher.  1913: W.W. Bass provided funds for lumber and labor to erect another school building that had a classroom and quarters for the teacher. Miss Minnie Webb from Payson, Arizona, who had taught several years in China, was the first teacher. The school year opened with 29 pupils.  1916: The county built the next school with county funds. This building still stands on the hill south of the Fred Harvey Garage. The school board chose this location because of the proximity to water and sewer lines. Grand Canyon Village's first permanent schoolhouse was bought by Bert Lauzon in 1917 and it was moved to his homestead where it stands today.  1920: A Parent Teachers Association was organized and through this organization a lot of improvements came about in the way of playground equipment and entertainment for the school and community.  1940: With the help of Senator Carl Hayden and other congressman and the Park Service, funds were secured for the present elementary school. It has been enlarged and improved over a period of time. Since 1940, the high school was built and many other additions and improvements have been made. - Hubert Lauzon, Grand Canyon Historical Society, November 1992

The GCS Courses of Study 100+ Years Ago:  “Sub-Normal” (K-8): Arithmetic, U.S. History, Civics, Geography, Grammar & Composition, Reading & Elocution, Spelling & Word Analysis, Penmanship  “First Year (9): Algebra, Bookkeeping & Commercial Law, Grammar & Composition, Elocution, Word Analysis, Zoology, Drawing, General History, Physical Geography & Geology  “Second Year” (10): Arithmetic, General History, Algebra, English History, Rhetoric & Composition, Physiology, Botany, Drawing  “Junior” (11): Algebra, U.S. History (Seminary), Grammatical Analysis, Physiology, Chemistry, Drawing, Geometry, Science of Government & Political Economics (Seminary), English Literature & Masterpieces, Pedagogy, Physics  “Senior” (12): Geometry, Practice Teaching, American Literature & Masterpieces, Advanced Psychology & Logic, School Law & School Economy, English Criticism, History of Education & Ethics, Methods in: Reading, Grammar, History, Geography, Mathematics, Nature Lessons, Orthography, Drawing & Penmanship

VISION: The exceptional, courageous heart of our learning community. MISSION: Provide relevant, rigorous, educational experiences in a safe, supportive environment that develops principled citizens.

The Phantoms Family:  25 certified staff  19 classified staff  3 administrators Our Community:  3,000 residents  30-40,000 daily guests  elk

Grand Canyon Demographics:  Year 2000 = 1,460 (income $19,700)  Year 2010 = 2,004 (income $31,928)  Year 2014 ~ 3,000 (income $48,320)  2013 poverty level: $11,670 first person, + $4,060 each additional person  Median resident age = 39.0 years  Median Arizona age = 37.1 years

SY Grade Level Enrollments:  Grade K = 12  Grade 1 = 29  Grade 2 = 22  Grade 3 = 21  Grade 4 = 24  Grade 5 = 27  Grade 6 = 17  Grade 7 = 19  Grade 8 = 24  Grade 9 = 18  Grade 10 = 19  Grade 11 = 20  Grade 12 = 19

Grades K-12 Enrollments:  = 280  = 294  = 312  = 320*  = 271** * 207 on free or reduced lunches ** As of 31 July 2014

Ethnicities:  Native American = 34.64%  White = 33.99%  Hispanic = 28.76%  African American = 1.96%  Asian = 0.65%

Phantoms Turnover:  student withdrawals = 81  staff turnover = 23 out of 53

Let’s face it, there are worse places to be…

(1910, Billy Bass, far left)

1903 President Roosevelt hands out diplomas to Grand Canyon School’s five high school graduates

1907: Grand Canyon School in a winter flood

1910: Hay ride near the school

1940s: Victory Garden behind the school

1946: Graduating Class

1955 Elementary students

We have our work cut out for us

Elementary AIMS Reading % Passing

Elementary AIMS Math % Passing

Elementary Totals

Secondary AIMS Reading % Passing

Secondary AIMS Math % Passing

Secondary Totals

ONE of our goals is to see test scores…

How will we do that?  Daily math skills, all grade levels  A+ diagnostic testing and comprehensive curriculum  MyMath and Pearson Reading systems  Beyond Textbooks RTI blocks for K-5  Study Skills and Learning Center remediations  Exceptional child services  FIT Kids support  Enhanced IEP interventions and services  Team teaching, collaboration, professional development  Daily walkthroughs and biannual teacher evaluations  Structured discipline program  Etc.!

We are ALREADY an A+ school district, we just have to PROVE it! “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” -Michaelangelo

We are the sculptors!

And we are ONE school, ONE team, ONE family!

 “Keep doing what you are doing!”  “I would like to offer that this school is really fun and the teachers are nice and friendly.”  “Teachers! Everybody is so nice and trying the best for kids to learn.”  “I appreciate that it is a small school and that my student has highly qualified teachers this year.”  “Teachers are working with the students. When they need help they are there for them even after or before school.”  “Everyone is very kind and helpful every time we visit or call the school.”  “Math teacher.”  “The staff works hard, is kind, and there is a willingness to improve things!”  “1 st grade teacher, Ms. Fuhrman, she’s great with parent/teacher communication.”  “The school is very open as where I can come in and be welcome by my child’s teacher.”  “The teachers seem genuinely interested in their students’ progress.”

Last year, our interim superintendent talked to the staff about establishing a “purposeful community,” which requires FOUR THINGS: 1. a clear vision for what the school could be like and promotion of a sense of staff cooperation and cohesion 2. high, concrete goals and expectation for all students to reach those goals 3. Involvement of teachers in decision-making and sharing leadership 4. Systematic celebration of staff accomplishments

How are we coming along?  VISION: The exceptional, courageous heart of our learning community.  GOAL: To prove ourselves to be an A+ District.  SHARED LEADERSHIP: District Steering Committee, Professional Learning Communities, et al  CELEBRATIONS: Show and Tell!

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” –The Duke