Our Name's History

Katherine Van Buskirk

Our Song

The Van Buskirk Spirit Song

1. * lyrics by Virginia González
   

2. * music from Bear Down! Arizona by Jack K. Lee
   

Our BEAR Care Rules

Be here and be ready

Each person takes responsibility

Act safely

Respect self and others

Our Special Programs

     *  ABLE
     *  Academic Awards
     *  Adult Education Classes (Parenting, Computers)
     *  Balanced Literacy
     *  Basketball
     *  Black Stallion Literacy Project
     *  Boy Scouts
     *  Chess Club
     *  Community Builders Partnership
     *  Computer-Based Intervention Programs (Waterford
             & SuccessMaker)

     *  Dual Language Classes
     *  Dual Platform Computer Lab and 2 Mobile Computer
         Labs (C.O.W.s)
     *  Energy Patrol Club
     *  Full Day Kindergarten
    *  Gifted and Talented Education (G.A.T.E.)

     *  Girl Scouts
     *  Good News Club

     *  Grant Award Winners:          
             21st Century Grant (2010-2011)
             Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries
                  (2010-2011)
             McDonald’s Making Activities Count (2010-2011)

             Target Early Childhood Literacy (2009-2010,
                  2010-2011)
             Target Leadership (2009-2010)

     *  Honor Roll
     *  Jumprope Club

     *  Life Skills (Character Education)
     *  Mariachi
     *  Multicultural Activities
     *  Opening Minds through the Arts (O.M.A.) Model
     *  O.M.A. Gold School (woodwind trio, opera, dance,
             orchestra, band, recorders, violins)
     *  Optimist Club
     *  Parent and Child Education (P.A.C.E.)

     *  P.A.W.S. after school program
     *  P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports)

     *  Reading Seed
     *  R.I.F.  (Reading is Fundamental)
     *  School Council
     *  Student Academic Awards
     *  Student Council

     *  Student of the Month

     *  Summer School Tutoring

     *  TERC Math Investigations

Our Special Facilities

     *  Library

     *  Dual Platform Computer Lab

     *  Multipurpose Room
     *  Parent Room
    *  3 Playgrounds 
     *  Sensory Room

Our Special Services

   *  Clothing/Food Banks
   *  Full-Time Arts Integration Specialist
   *  Full-Time Community Representative
   *  Full-Time Counselor
   *  Full-Time Health Clerk
   *  Half-Time Learning Supports Coordinator

   *  Full-Time Librarian
   *  Full-Time Tutor Advisor
   *  Operation School Bell
   *  Vision/Dental Services

Our School Community Statistics  
    (2011-2012): 

     *  Pre K-5th grades
     *  6 dual language classrooms

     *  1 classroom for children with Autism
     *  410 students enrolled
            ●  White/Anglo:  4.1%
            ●  African American:  1.7 %

            ●  Hispanic:  89.3 %

            ●  Native American:  4.4 %
            ●  Asian American:  0.5 %
     *  95.03% student attendance record for the
          first quarter of the 2011-2012 school
          year