2012 THUNDERGRAM

Parent Newsletter

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Thunderbird High School

Honors Biology and AP Biology have been carrying out some very interesting experiments. These experiments would not have been possible without the help of generous Thunderbird parents. I would like to thank all of the parents who contributed the funding which allowed us to complete these labs. In Honors Biology, the students transferred Escherichia coli (a non-pathogenic strain DH5 alpha) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (also non-pathogenic) to an agar plate. An agar plate contains a gelatin substance with nutrients in it which allow for bacterial growth. The students learned the proper technique for handling and disposing of bacteria. They wore gloves, angled the lid to the plate, and used a micro pipette to transfer 100 microliters to the agar. The bacteria were spread around using a bactispreader. Any equipment that touched bacteria was disposed of in an autoclave bag. The students then placed three antibiotic discs on their agar plate. They placed their bacterial plates in an incubator for two days after which they looked at the area around the antibiotic disc to see if it killed the bacteria or not. The students analyzed the results by measuring the clear zone around each disc. They discovered that different antibiotics are used to treat different bacterial strains.

Honors and AP Biology labs cause bacteria to fluoresce In AP Biology, there are two labs that have caused quite the buzz. The first lab they completed was creating bacteria that would glow. Students did this by taking a plasmid (small circular piece of DNA) that contains a gene from a jellyfish. Yes, a jellyfish. This gene codes for a protein that will fluoresce. Their goal was to take 10 microliters (using a micro pipette) of the plasmid and mix it with bacteria. The students had a strict protocol to follow in order to allow the plasmid to go inside the bacteria. Then they took 100 microliters of their solution and placed it on an agar plate which was incubated for two days. They waited patiently, knowing that their grade depended on whether their colonies of bacteria would fluoresce. To the students’ relief, all but two groups were able to get glowing bacteria. The next lab they will be performing is a forensic lab. The students will be given crime scene DNA, DNA of suspect #1 and DNA of suspect #2. They will take 10 microliters of each DNA sample and place it in a well of the gel electrophoresis unit. The gel electrophoresis will separate DNA fragments based on size in each well. They will compare the fragment patterns to the crime scene pattern and determine which suspect is guilty. These are the same procedures used in professional forensics labs.

These lab experiments were only possible with the generous help from parents. Thank you.

New Club on Campus – Lab Tech AllianceThere is a new club on campus, The Lab Tech Alliance, sponsored by Renee Kaye. The purpose of the club is for the lab techs to come together to advance common goals and secure interests in science. The common goals are to learn how to prepare labs and work confidently in a lab environment. The common interest is to promote an advanced academic society in order to encourage the development of scientific skills. Any student interested in joining can apply by May 1st. The club holds weekly meetings every Monday. All members are required to perform 30 minutes of lab maintenance every week as well as 10 hours per semester setting up labs for any science teacher requesting their help. The equipment that lab techs will use includes microscopes, gel electrophoresis, micro pipettes, autoclave, bacterial cultures with plates, micro centrifuges, spectrophotometers, etc. The lab techs will also be required to perform 10 hours per semester of lab training which includes running through labs first before the teachers perform it with their classes. This allows the lab techs to learn the techniques required for the lab and also gives them an understanding of what needs to be included at individual stations and group stations. The Lab Tech Alliance Club is looking to buy more equipment, such as microscopes and spectrophotometers. If anyone can help the club through tax credit donations, it would be greatly appreciated.Article submitted by Renee Kaye

Photo captions: Left to right: Stacey Brockman and Amanda Marshal are using micro pipettes to combine a plasmid gene from a jelly fish with bacteria. The results of the lab fluorescing under a black light. Nikki Beaudoin and Frank Russo are placing antibiotic tablets on their agar plate. Frank Russo is examining the results of the lab.

ALCBusinessELLEnglishFACSFine ArtsForeign LanguageMathNJROTCPerforming ArtsPhysical EducationScience Social Studies

Congratulations to the following students of the month. They were nominated by members of the specific departments and selected for recognition by members of the honors and awards committee.Outstanding Senior Award: (September) Seve De Respino, Haylee Poncy. (October) Andrew Hensley, Ann Souza. (November) Scott Beaudoin, Kristen Schoenike. Chief Pride Award: (September) Darius Ryan, Alexander Clarino, Jessica Franco, Bryant Pelt, Daniel Monday, Jacob Dalton, Jaist Hofer, Melyssa Collins, Adam Caskie, Jessie Ussery, Aaron Bird, Austin Vest, Bryce Rhodes, Mayra Martinez, Margaret Ives, Kevin Hill. (October) Anthony Castaneda, Isaac Barroso, Ceslie Schultz, Troy Custer, Derrick McCormack, Jada Shorty, Sabrina Brumley, Auburn Velasquez, Zoe Dennis, Tyler Yamada, Andrew Hill, Tristan Richard, Kevin Kallet, John Raynak, Payton Stafford, Faith Damwijk, Sirena Brooks, Matthew Zollinger, Tha-Ka Baw. Rotary Student of the Month: (September) Christian Johnson. (October) Carly Monson.

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

for September: Michelle PattonKenneth Gabel

Isabella De PastinoMorgan KerleyCasey ZimmermanLucas FornefeldMario GarciaAaron BirdJessica CichockiNickolas AckermanNadia AlinaghizadehHannah Combs

Principal: Matt BeldenEditor: Demetria GrahamContributors:Department ChairsAdministrative Staff

The Thundergram is an official publication of Thunderbird H.S.1750 W. Thunderbird Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023Call 623-915-8900 to place an article or to be added to the mailing list.

staffTHUNDERGRAMfor October:

Ryan GibbonsKornelia RopekAnahi FelixAngel RamirezDalton RichartSidney Gutierrez-WhitmireHumberto LugoJordan JonesAna GohnBailey EllingtonKassandra FossJose Rodriguez MunozMichael Veli

UPDATESACADEMICalso to the relationship between the presidency and Congress, the role of the Supreme Court, the influence of the influence groups, and the impact of the media. Many students will cast their first votes during this fall, and our goal is to ensure that they participate in the process thoughtfully.

Similarly, when seniors turn their attention to economics, contemporary events fuel thoughtful questions and discussions, as abstract concepts yield to cold realities. The economic environment at both the state and national levels sharpens student focus on economic principles that had heretofore been foreign and distant. Please continue to engage your daughter/son in meaningful conversation about the political and economic climates. Together, our sustained and collaborative efforts can ensure that students become enlightened and become active participants in democracy at the local, state, and national levels.Article submitted by Jonathan Parker

Foreign Language Department

We’re barely into the second semester, and the Foreign Language Department has already had some very exciting things happen with many more fun learning events planned. Spanish 1-2 classes have been working on making Family Trees as they are currently learning how to talk about their families. Spanish 3-4 classes completed a unit on clothing, rolled out the red-carpet, and demonstrated their knowledge in a wacky fashion show. AP Spanish and French classes will be taking a field trip to ASU on February 23, where they will be attending a Foreign Language Fair, learning new languages, sampling cuisines from around the world, and even participating in competitions against other schools to show off their amazing French and Spanish speaking skills! The Foreign Language department is also proud to announce that we have more than 25 students currently enrolled in the dual-enrollment program through GCC.Article submitted by Marisa Tofeelos

Social Studies Department

Over the course of the past few months, political and economic events have served as fertile ground for discussion topics for all levels of social studies classes. As history classes soon will examine the causes and consequences of the Great Depression, the economic crisis afflicting the state and the nation underscore the relevancy of the material. Students will examine the events of the 1920s and 1930s far more somberly than in years past.

But while these events help shape discussion in world and U.S. History classes, recent headlines act as a foundation for seniors taking government and economics. As students examine principles of American government, the upcoming 2012 election offers a spectacular backdrop for daily lessons, allowing teachers not only to turn student focus to the election process, but

Brian McCourtKimberly LinnRana ShakirTimothy FullertonCarlos Rodriguez-RiosRobinLi UberRachel NaftulinNadia AlinaghizadehJacob RebisZoe DennisElizabeth WrightRachel NaftulinDeborah Matei

for November:

ADMINISTRATION UPDATES The regular winter sports season has come to a close and there is much to be celebrated. Individual and team sports in-cluding; boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ basketball and wrestling enjoyed great success this past season. Girls’ soccer and boys’ and girls’ basketball all qualified for the state playoffs. Girls’ soc-cer and boys’ basketball fought hard, but were eliminated in the first round. As of

Wrestling wins state second consecutive yearFebruary 17, the girls’ basketball team is still fighting in the state tournament. As you may already know, our wres-tling team had an extremely successful season. The boys took home a second consecutive state championship! Thir-teen out of fourteen wrestlers quali-fied for the tournament. Matt Mai-nez brought home an individual state championship weighing it at 103lbs.

State runners-up were Ryan Filipe and Fernando Carrasco, consola-tion champs were Isaiah Gomez and Jawuan Pugh.As we transition into the spring sports season we look forward to continued success with our boys’ and girls’ tennis, softball and base-ball teams as well as track. It’s a great time to be a Chief!Article submitted by Jason Latham

LISTSGOLF DONORThunderbird High SchoolChristo’s RistoranteChristina & Tim BrunnerCortney & Jeff SchroderCristie & Scott NaftulinCuts-R-Us - Jen Yee and Tracy FordDannelle HyattDebbie & Alan SloanDebbie & Gary ErbstoesserDillon’s Top of CentralDonovan’s Steak & Chop HouseDurant’sDynamic Chiropractic Center-Dr. Patti LehewEinstein Bros BagelsEl Bravo Mexican RestaurantEncompass Photography - Pamela DancilForest Highlands Golf ClubGerald George, Sr.Grand Canyon University - Christina WagnerGroomin Tyme - Joanna Allan and Grace MungerGwen & George GardnerHalf Moon Sports GrillInfiniti Nail and SpaInnofresh - Karen & Bruce KalletIt’s All In the Game - Bill StarkweatherJ’Adore Salon - Sharon Schwartz

Jamba Juice - Don SnyderJoey’s California BistroKathleen & Frank YbarraKelly & Bob BalzerKris & Ken Messana-GibsonKristi & Bob MillerLA FitnessLa Paloma Flower ShopLaura & Les Sherill Laurie BarnesLisa & Todd AmeisLong Realty/Camelback- Dave Dix and Melinda EslingerLori FastLori & Brad SchleierLowe’s Home ImprovementLuigi’s DeliMacayo’s Mexican Restaurant - Dana MintonMaria & Bill StarkweatherMarket Bistro - Jim FieldMassage EnvyMatthew DumasMiyoshi & Scott BondMoon Valley Animal Hospital - Lisa Hatfield, DVMMoon Valley Country Club - Kristin Hustead, Scott Klaff, Jon Perran, Mike Swanson and Sinclair Torrilhon

Please help thank these generous supporters of the Golf Tournament.

Ace Vending - Wade StooksAction Chiropractic - Jill RichAiello’s Restaurant-Myrah & Joe AielloAlexi’s GrillAlice ManciniAmbassador Fine Cigars-Vartan SeferianAMF Bowling - Jill ReeleAthleticutsArbonne - Rebecca JohnsonArrow Awards - Mike McNeilAunt Chilada’s Au Reve Salon - Nicole Artino, Wendy Kolesar and Joanne RelBally’s FitnessBiagio Nails and SpaBeauty Worx - Judy Burdette, Vanessa Linares, Crystal Mathis, Jill Shamburg, Patricia Wagner, Christine White and Samantha WirsigBertha’s Café Bugle Enterprises, LLC - Bugle Long Life TeeCapital GrilleCarrie LoweryCarter’s Clothing - Mike CarterCathy & Dean CichockiChief Parent Association of

March 19-23: Spring Break- No SchoolMarch 27: Speech Shoutfest 7pmMarch 29: Junior Parent Night Auditorium 6:30pm

April 26: Read Across Campus 6pm

Glendale Union High School District7650 N 43rd AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301

SuperintendentDr. Jennifer Johnson

Governing Board MembersIan Hugh, Governing Board PresidentPatty Kennedy, Clerk Rick FieldsVicki JohnsonPam Reicks

POSTAGE

EVENTSSprin

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12 UPCOMINGFeb. 23-25: School House Rocks Live 7pmFeb. 28: AIMS Writing 12pm releaseFeb. 29: AIMS Reading 12pm releaseFeb. 29: No EOP

February

MarchMarch 1-3: School House Rocks Live 7pmMarch 5-9: Spirit WeekMarch 9: Spring Sports AssemblyMarch 13: Band Concert 7pmMarch 16: End of Quarter 3

April

March cont’d