Topock Elementary School

Greetings from the Superintendent:

School is off to an amazing start as we welcomed our students back on August 3rd with a tremendous flag raising ceremony on behalf of several members of our local VFW and the Women’s Auxiliary. This is a tradition that started when the school opened in 1991, and we appreciate the wonderful support our school and students receive from the members of the VFW. Pastor Chris and Head Teacher Mr. Barney encouraged our students to take pride in their school and community and put forth their best effort to be successful students. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Student Council President 8th Grader Adam Doiron, and the National Anthem was performed by 6th Grader Allyson York and 8th Grader Raven Carpenter. Our VFW members would be pleased to know that I have had recent correspondence with former Topock Students Zach Julander, who is currently serving in the US Air Force, Bryce Collie, who is currently serving in the US Army, and Josh Eldridge, who is home on leave from the Navy. Topock School is proud of its men and women who choose to serve and protect our great country. We thank these three young men for their commitment to our Nation and to the American way of life.
 Our Pre-School program has begun its second year with the outstanding leadership of Mrs. Haver at the helm, with the assistance of Mrs. Woodruff and Ms. Shelly. We have the most treasured early-childhood program ever! This program is already showing tremendous progress for our students as they leave Pre-School and are extremely well versed and academically prepared for Kindergarten. Our Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Massey, is naturally one of the biggest fans of the program as well as our preschool parents who see first hand the tremendous intellectual growth and socialization of their youngster in the school environment.
On August 18th our school was honored in Scottsdale at the Rodel Foundations headquarters for our 4th grade students’ success with the Macro-Math program. Mrs. Breaux’s class had 83% of its students meet or exceed the state standards. Of all the Mac-Ro schools, these were some of the highest scores in the state! Ninety one percent met or exceeded the reading and writing standards. We are very proud of these students and their teacher, and we look forward to their continued academic success!
The state has released the AIMS scores to the public, and once again Topock students performed splendidly. We are exceptionally proud of our students and teachers as our students scores were quite good overall and our school was endowed with a “Performing Plus” label. One of our goals this year will be to try and attain the next level which is “Highly Performing.” Bear in mind that 9 years ago Topock School was a “Failing” School, yet we have had 8 straight successful years of either Performing or Performing Plus labels. The Federal Government has determined that Topock School has earned Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the 8th straight year as well. Twenty two of our students from grades three through eighth “exceeded” the state standards and will receive laptop computers to use at school this year. The laptops are being funded by generous donations from PG&E and the Legacy Foundation. Way to go Topock staff and students! We are proud of you!
Topock School has been approached by Mohave Community College to offer after school courses for our students under the “College for Kids” program. The program will begin after Labor Day. We are pleased to partner with MCC to expand opportunities and offer enrichment activities for our students.
We are also inviting fathers to participate in their children’s education in a program entitled DADS (Dedicated Active Dads in Schools). DADS will meet one Friday per month starting after Labor Day. They will be able to participate in the school environment and cover a gamut of areas from helping on recess duty or volunteering in the library to contributing a special skill or trade to improve our school or help our students. There are no requirements except a willingness to help out and a little time with your child at their school. Contact Mr. Barney with any questions you may have. A letter will be sent home to all parents with dates and other information.
If you have not had an opportunity to do so take a look at our website www.topockazschool.com. It’s a great website packed with information, and we thank Mrs. James for keeping it updated and making it a great site!
Sadly, we bid farewell to our longtime friend and Topock teacher, Betty Payne. Ms. Payne passed away August 31st, one day prior to her 59th birthday. Betty worked at Topock School for 8 years as a Special Education. and Math Teacher.  Ms. Payne was an amazing Math Teacher who brought unprecedented enthusiasm to double-digit multiplication and fractions! She passionately shared her love of Mathematics to our staff and children in the most creative and effective ways. Her enthusiasm and tremendous sense of humor were contagious! Throughout the years she took care of many Topock students both emotionally and financially. To know Betty is to know a compassionate advocate for children. It was not uncommon for a Teddy bear to find its way into the backpack of a reluctant kindergartner struggling with the first days of school and missing her mom, or for funds to magically appear enabling an economically disadvantaged student to take the trip of a lifetime to Catalina Island with classmates, or for a shiny pair of dress shoes, a tie and a starched shirt to mysteriously find their way   to the home of a disadvantaged teenager worried about his appearance at his 8th graduation dance. Betty particularly played the role of parent, mentor, counselor and life coach to our young women of Topock, taking them to her house in Lake Havasu to share her passion for cooking and to enjoy time around the swimming pool with other teachers. She was a role model utilizing life skills endeavors and instilling in her students a sense of empowerment and teamwork. She even would go so far as to pay for students’ sports attire, band equipment, or graduation hairdos and dresses. Betty showed her love for working with youth at every opportunity. For several years she devoted time outside of the school day as the 8th Grade class sponsor, and she headed up promotional ceremonies for her students that have created memories that will last parents, staff and students a lifetime. Ms. Payne had a tremendous gift in establishing rapport with families and children from all walks. She was a special lady, who was a motherly figure for many of our younger teachers and students, but she especially did so for me…and I’m a better educator, parent, and human being for having known her. Thank You! Ms. Payne for your love of Topock School and all of those you have graced by sharing in your kindness. We are all better knowing you will be our Guardian from on High as you once were from the school house.