Hunter Hazelton, a senior at Betty Fairfax High School was named 2016 Arizona Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the state finals competition held on March 11, 2016 at the downtown Phoenix studios of Arizona PBS. As State Champion, Hazelton will represent Arizona at the 11^th annual Poetry Out Loud National Finals competition in Washington, D.C., in May.

A program of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is delivered in all 50 states and three territories through partnerships with the State Arts Agencies. The Arizona Poetry Out Loud program is managed and supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona.

This year, 49 schools and over 10,000 students across the state participated in the competition at the school level. 52 students advanced to compete at one of three regional competitions held in February. Ten students advanced from the regional competitions to compete in the state finals.

Hunter is the son of Fairfax’ campus technician specialist Chris Hazelton.

As the Arizona Poetry Out Loud state champion, Hazelton receives a $200 cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip for him and a chaperone to the national finals, to be held in Washington, D.C., May 2-4. Additionally, his school will receive $500 to purchase poetry books for its library.

Information provided by the Phoenix Union High School District.

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Distributed by the Phoenix Union High School District

News from BETTY FAIRFAX

Students earn spots in prestigious choirs
Hundreds of choir students from throughout Arizona competed Sept. 26 for a spot in the Arizona All-State Show and Jazz Choirs. When the auditions ended, two Betty Fairfax students  were among the 48 students  accepted into these very prestigious ensembles.   Christopher Joseph (tenor) and Michael Galaz (bass) will participate in a three-day festival in November. They will work with a world-renowned vocal director and choreographer, and the weekend will culminate with a performance for the community.

Betty Fairfax teacher shared Jerry Rice memorabilia
Thirty-five Betty H. Fairfax High School students attended the 2015 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair sponsored by the Phoenix College NAACP/Black Student Union Club on Sept. 23 at Phoenix College.   The keynote speaker was Pastor Renard D. Allen, Jr., who is a Morehouse Alumnus. Students learned about the significance and necessity of HBCUs in the U.S.   Fifteen HBCU schools were present.  Betty Fairfax teacher Sandra Jenkins represented Mississippi Valley State, her alma mater, and drew interest with a table filled with memorabilia and photos of NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, MVSU’s most famous alum.

Barrett chosen Cardinals MVP in the Classroom
Betty Fairfax reading teacher Catherine Barrett was selected as an “Arizona Cardinals MVP in the Classroom,” based on nominations the team received.  The Arizona Cardinals MVP in the Classroom is presented by the University of Phoenix.  Barrett received four tickets, four pre-game sideline passes, a parking pass, and was recognized at the October 4 Cardinals-Rams game.  She will also receive a $500 gift card and a Cardinals jersey.

News from CESAR CHAVEZ
Marching band competition season has officially begun.   The first marching competition of the year was Sept. 26 with the Cesar Chavez and North percussion students participating in the Arizona Percussive Arts Society festival, hosted by Cesar Chavez.   The Chavez percussionists received a rating of Excellent, and received Caption awards for Front Ensemble, Tenors, and Rack Percussion. The North percussion received a rating of Good and Caption awards for Snare, Tenor, and Bass Drums.

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