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New school year begins at Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon students, principal excited about new changes

<br>Photo/Amy McBroom<br>
Pictured is the student body for the 2010, 2011 Grand Canyon Unified School District school year. According to school officials there are 276 students enrolled at Grand Canyon School for the 2010, 2011 season. Eighty-two students are enrolled at the high school, 45 at the middle school and 149 students enrolled in the grade school. There are 24 seniors.

<br>Photo/Amy McBroom<br> Pictured is the student body for the 2010, 2011 Grand Canyon Unified School District school year. According to school officials there are 276 students enrolled at Grand Canyon School for the 2010, 2011 season. Eighty-two students are enrolled at the high school, 45 at the middle school and 149 students enrolled in the grade school. There are 24 seniors.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Students at the Grand Canyon returned to school last week to find a few new faces in the teaching staff, as well as a new principal in Marc Cooper, who took over for Becky Crumbo. The first day of school, held Aug. 10, included a number of activities designed to acclimate students to the new changes at the school. Cooper presented a speech detailing a number of the alterations for the Grand Canyon Unified School District (GCUSD), including a switch to trimesters, a five-period day, new staff at the school and more.

"It was an incredible day. Sharyl Allen (GCUSD superintendent) kicked it off and talked about the expectations of the school and the students. She tells anecdotal stories about the praying hands and how that came about, how it relates to education and to people relating to one another and helping one another, recognizing each other and their values," Cooper said.

Other changes include a short 10-minute break for students in the morning, following first hour, that will allow students to grab a bite to eat in the multi-purpose room, Cooper said.

"It gives (students) a chance to talk to one another and just kind of settle in after the first hour. We have an advisory period at the end of the day, 35 minutes, which we will use for tutoring, we'll use it for homework, we'll use it when we do what are called 'circles' of the different grades, like sixth grade can only be there at one time," Cooper said.

The opening day program was organized by school staff Cynthia Granberg, Lori Rommel, Matt Yost, Brad Houston, and other contributors. Activities included group projects, snacks, skits and more. Individual students were also recognized for their accomplishments during the opening day events.

"We have eight new teachers, so they came up with an idea for musical chairs and Matt played the music and, of course, when the music stops that person didn't have a chair, so that person would come down to the mic and introduce themselves to the students, including me since I am new," Cooper said. "Instead of just standing up there and talking about yourself one right after the other, it was intermixed. We were dancing around the chairs. We had a really good time doing. I think the kids listened more, because there were breaks. The whole day was completely different than how it has ever been done here. I attribute that to the teaching staff for planning it. The student council and the senior class were very instrumental in helping to make this happen, organizing, coordinating, working with the teachers and with the students."

Introductions, for seniors and more, were also presented during the opening day ceremonies at Grand Canyon School.

There are 276 students enrolled at Grand Canyon School for 2010, 2011 school. Eighty-two students are enrolled at the high school, 45 at the middle school and 149 students enrolled in the grade school. There are 24 seniors at the school this year, Cooper said.

Justin Jarrell, 14, said he thought the first day of his freshman year at high school was an interesting one.

"Just how they set it up this year. It was a lot different. I like it," Jarrell said.

Shanaya Upshaw, 14, said she enjoyed the first day of her freshman year as well.

"We just came into high school and there's a big change. I think that was kind of cool for us instead of already being in high school and having all the changes already. I thought the first day was out of the ordinary. We didn't have to go to class, we just did activities with the other students within the high school, so we got to know pretty much everyone on the first day of class but not be in class, just doing activities with them about our IB learner profiles and everything," Upshaw said.


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