
π Staff Spotlight: Cara McCrary, Principal Secretary at Huachuca Mountain Elementary π
Let's take a moment to celebrate Mrs. McCrary, who has been an essential part of the Huachuca Mountain family for 11 years! π
Born and raised in Tennessee, Mrs. McCraryβs journey brought her across the globe with her husbandβs military career. Theyβve lived in Texas, spent 10 Β½ years in Germany, and finally made their way to Fort Huachuca. After her husbandβs retirement, Mrs. McCrary began working at Huachuca Mountain, where she has held multiple roles: PE paraprofessional, kindergarten paraprofessional, and office clerk at Village Meadows before becoming our amazing principal secretary for the past 5 years!
Mrs. McCraryβs love for Huachuca Mountain runs deep, as does her passion for supporting Principal Perez, families, and the staff who make this school such a special place. π«β€οΈ
Fun facts about Mrs. McCrary:
π΅ She loves music, especially Queen.
ποΈ She enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband, Dean.
βοΈ Her time in Germany left her with a love for travel, a deep appreciation for family-oriented cultures, and even a stint playing the clarinet in a German music band! πΆ
π¨βπ¦ She adores her two grown sons, who make her incredibly proud.
Mrs. McCraryβs dedication, kindness, and adventurous spirit make her a true treasure to our school community. Thank you, Mrs. McCrary, for all you do to keep Huachuca Mountain shining bright! π
#SVUSD
#StaffSpotlight
#HuachucaMountainFamily
#WeAreSVUSD
#EmpoweringYou


Our SVUSD app keeps getting better and better! Parents/guardians who have already created a Rooms account can now access new app features like chat and class streams via web and in the app.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3JcTPUs
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3OPpfSc


πβ¨ Christmas Fun Meets Childhood Delight! ππ
Join Buena Fine Arts Productions for their magical performance of The Day Before Christmas! Bring the whole family and experience the heartwarming tale of Santa and his helpers as they work to teach Jack Frost the true meaning of Christmas. πβοΈ
π
Dates:
Thursday, December 5th at 7pm
Friday, December 6th at 7pm
π Location: Klein Center
π Tickets: $7 at the door
β€οΈ Non-perishable food donations are welcome!
Donβt miss this festive event filled with holiday cheer and the magic of giving. See you there! π
πβ¨


ππ Game 2 of the State Championship Tonight! ππ
Get ready to cheer on your Buena Colt Football Team as they face Verrado in Game 2 of the State Championship tonight at 7:00 PM! Letβs pack the stands and show our Colt pride! ππ€
ποΈ Ticket Information:
All tickets must be purchased through GoFan β No cash option at the gate.
https://gofan.co/event/1984894?schoolId=AZ11954
No season passes will be accepted; only AIA passes are permitted.
π
Please note: These ticket guidelines are set by the AIA for championship events and apply to all participating schools.
Letβs support our Colts on their championship journey! π΄πͺ #GoColts #StateChampionship


ππ¦ Happy Thanksgiving from SVUSD! π¦π
Weβre so grateful for our amazing students, families, and staff. π We hope your holiday is filled with joy, gratitude, and quality time with loved ones.
We canβt wait to see our students back on Monday, December 2nd, refreshed and ready for learning!
π Reminder: All SVUSD offices will be closed from November 25th through November 29th.
Enjoy the break, and weβll see you soon! π #HappyThanksgiving #Gratitude #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict


πβ¨ SVUSD Teacher Feature of the Month: November - Mrs. Natalie Wise, Huachuca Mountain β¨π
Weβre thrilled to spotlight Mrs. Natalie Wise, an exceptional kindergarten teacher at Huachuca Mountain Elementary School. With six years of teaching experience, Mrs. Wise brings creativity, innovation, and a deep passion for early childhood education to her classroom daily.
Married to a retired military veteran, Mrs. Wise began her SVUSD journey as a kindergarten paraprofessional at PDS. Her familyβs military path took her from Fort Huachuca to Texas and Alaska, where she earned her degree and spent three years teaching kindergarten. While in Alaska, she embraced place-based education, using the local environment to enrich learningβa practice she now integrates with SVUSDβs new science curriculum! π±π»
Mrs. Wiseβs classroom is alive with hands-on learning and joy! From fishing for letters and sight words to math lessons with βTen Pigs in a Tub,β her students engage through play, movement, and creativity. Yoga brain breaks and midline-crossing exercises enhance coordination and build skills in reading, writing, and math. π§ββοΈπ
This year, Mrs. Wise introduced Huachuca Mountainβs Kindergarten Jumpstart Program, helping new students transition smoothly into school life. She also mentors new teachers, revitalized the school garden, and led the Balloons Over Broadway Parade. Inspired by the book of the same name, the event taught students about the Macyβs Thanksgiving Parade as they designed their own balloons for a Huachuca Mountain celebration. ππ¨
Outside the classroom, Mrs. Wise enjoys hiking, gardening, spending time with her husband and daughters, and working toward her yoga instructor certification. She also revived the district-wide Kindergarten PLC, fostering collaboration among teachers to enhance teaching and learning.
Currently pursuing National Board Certification, Mrs. Wise exemplifies lifelong learning and excellence in education. π
We are so grateful to have Mrs. Wise as part of our Huachuca Mountain family. Her dedication to students and the community is truly inspiring. π
#TeacherFeature #HuachucaMountainPride #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict


π¬β¨ Buena Film Festival Highlights! β¨π₯
The Buena Film Festival challenged our talented students to create an original short film in just 9 days! Starting on Friday, November 8th, teams received the prompt, "The Last Time," and worked tirelessly to complete their films by Sunday, November 17th.
ποΈ After submission, industry professionals evaluated the entries, selecting winners for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, as well as Best Pre-Production and Best Cinematography.
Last night, Wednesday, November 20th, we celebrated at the BHS Lecture Pod with a screening of all the films and an awards ceremony.
π Congratulations to our winners!
π₯ 3rd Place: Asher M. & Savannah H.
π₯ 2nd Place: Daniel R. & Isaiah R.
π₯ 1st Place: Reyn L. & Franklin Q.
A huge thank-you to all participants for your creativity and hard work in making this year's Buena Film Festival a success! ππ¬
#BuenaFilmFestival #StudentCreativity #LightsCameraAction #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict

π Staff Spotlight: Terri Neitring, Technology Instructional Paraprofessional at Huachuca Mountain Elementary π
Join us in celebrating, a dedicated member of the Sierra Vista Unified School District for 10 years! π
Mrs. Neitring began her career as an ESS paraprofessional at the middle school before taking a short break to focus on family. After her youngest daughter started kindergarten, she returned to work in ESS at PDS and later became a kindergarten paraprofessional. For the past two years, Mrs. Neitring has been part of the Huachuca Mountain team as the Technology Instructional Paraprofessionalβand sheβs making a big impact!
π‘ Mrs. Neitringβs passion for community support led her to co-found the Student Council at PDS, and now sheβs proudly leading Huachuca Mountainβs council into its second year with 34 students alongside Coach Mac. Together, theyβve taken on incredible projects like:
Placing flags on veterans' graves.
Supporting Santa on the West End.π
Participating in the Stocking Stuffers Program and Shop with a Cop.π
Mrs. Neitring also played a key role in establishing the PBIS store at Huachuca Mountain, which has been a huge success in promoting positive behavior among students.
πBorn in Hawaii, Mrs. Neitring moved to Sierra Vista at age 9 and even attended PDS herself! Now, as a proud mom of three, sheβs paying it forward by helping every student grow and thrive.
Thank you, Mrs. Neitring, for your creativity, leadership, and unwavering dedication to our school and community! π
#SVUSD
#StaffSpotlight
#HuachucaMountainFamily
#WeAreSVUSD
#EmpoweringYou
#SVUSDProudARatedDistrict


Our SVUSD app keeps getting better and better! Parents/guardians who have already created a Rooms account can now access new app features like chat and class streams via web and in the app.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3JcTPUs
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3OPpfSc


π Calling All Sports Enthusiasts! π
Are you passionate about sports and ready to make a difference in the lives of young athletes? πβ½π₯ Weβre on the lookout for community members to support our Joyce Clark Middle School Coyotes as athletic coaches for Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Track, Baseball, and Softball starting in January!
This is a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge, help students grow, and witness the smiles and successes of our amazing athletes. πΎ Whether you're experienced in a specific sport or just love the game, your guidance can inspire our Coyotes to reach new heights! π
Interested and ready to make an impact? Check out the opportunities by following the link or visit our website! https://www.applitrack.com/SVUSD/onlineapp/ β¬οΈ
Apply Here! π Calling All Sports Enthusiasts! π
Are you passionate about sports and ready to make a difference in the lives of young athletes? πβ½π₯ Weβre on the lookout for community members to support our Joyce Clark Middle School Coyotes as athletic coaches for Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Track, Baseball, and Softball starting in January!
This is a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge, help students grow, and witness the smiles and successes of our amazing athletes. πΎ Whether you're experienced in a specific sport or just love the game, your guidance can inspire our Coyotes to reach new heights! π
Interested and ready to make an impact? Check out the opportunities by following the link or visit our website! β¬οΈ
Apply Here!
Join us in shaping the future of our young Coyotes! π #CoyotePride #SupportOurCoyotes #JCMSCoachesNeeded#EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict
Join us in shaping the future of our young Coyotes! π #CoyotePride #SupportOurCoyotes #JCMSCoachesNeeded #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict


Support Your Buena Colts This Friday Night! π
Come out and cheer on your Buena Colt Football Team as they take on the Casa Grande Cougars! The game kicks off at 7:00 PM, and weβd love to see the stands filled with Colt pride.
Important Ticket Information:
All tickets must be purchased through GoFan https://gofan.co/event/1984888 No cash option is available at the gate.
Please note that no season passes will be accepted; only AIA passes are permitted.
Purchasing tickets in advance will help reduce lines at the entrance, so we encourage you to buy your tickets early.
Thank you for your support! Letβs make this a fantastic game night for our Colts!
Go Colts!


πββοΈπββοΈ SVUSD Story: Congratulations to our Buena Swim Team and Mountain Bike Team on amazing State performances! π
Swim Team - State D2 Meet Results
Individual Results: Emmy K. - 100 Free: 29th Landon L. - 200 IM: 39th Spencer MD. - 100 Fly: 26th Oliver D. - 200 IM: 22nd & 500 Free: 14th
Boys Team Relays: 200 Medley Relay: 23rd - 200 Free Relay: 25th - 400 Free Relay: 19th
Girls Team Relays: 200 Medley Relay: 23rd - 200 Free Relay: 18th - 400 Free Relay: 22nd
π₯ Mountain Bike Team crushed it with an incredible season finish! They took 1st Place in the Southern D1 Conference and earned 2nd Place at State, competing against 14 teams from all over Arizona! π
π΄
Upcoming Games π Girls Flag Football hosts their first-ever playoff game tonight at 6 PM! π Tackle Football plays on Friday at 7 PM!
Letβs show our support! Go team! #ColtPride #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict






All SVUSD offices will be closed on Monday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans Day.
Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice! We honor you today and every day. #VeteransDay #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict



ππ The past couple of weeks have been an absolute blast across all SVUSD schools! Our incredible PTOs hosted festive fall carnivals at PDS and Carmichael, TC had an exciting PBIS Carnival, and HM Student Council held a fun-filled family dance. JCMS celebrated with their 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat, while character parades lit up campuses, Huachuca Mountain held a Fun Run, and Buena hosted an inspiring College Night! πππ
Weβre also so proud of the celebrations happening in our classrooms! Village Meadows, Carmichael, and Bella Vista held special events to honor student achievements across different categories. PDS 4th graders showcased their Hero Pumpkins, and T&Cβs 5th graders wowed us with their Volume Zoo research projects! π¨ππ
And last but not least, SVUSD is officially an A district! All six of our elementary schools received an A letter grade, and Buena received a B. Huge congratulations to our students, staff, PTOs, and volunteers who go above and beyond to make every moment special and memorable. Weβre so proud of all your achievements! ππ
#SVUSDProud #CommunityStrong #SVUSDFamily #AchievingExcellence #EmpoweringYou





π’ SVUSD Families β Reminder! π’
This Friday, November 8th is a half day for all SVUSD schools! Please see the release times:
Buena High School: 10:30 AM
Elementary Schools: 11:15 AM
Joyce Clark Middle School: 12:30 PM
There will also be no school on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. SVUSD extends our gratitude to all who have served our country!



π Buena DECA Shines in Round 1 of the DECA Competition! π
Over 5,000 students competed across eight categories, and Buena DECA made an impressive impact, securing top spots and an invitation to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC)! Highlights:
Fashion: Robert and George took 1st and 3rd place in Arizona.
Restaurant: Ethan and Jorge claimed 1st and 3rd, with Buena taking 8 of the top 10 spots.
Hotel Management: Jason and Jan won 1st place; Derek took 2nd.
Sports & Entertainment: Buena claimed 5 of Arizonaβs top 10 spots.
Accounting: Jason and Ava won 1st and 3rd.
Entrepreneurship: Gabe placed 3rd, with Buena securing 7 of the top 10 spots.
Special shoutout to Adam and Nathan for earning 1st and 2nd place nationally in Entrepreneurship! Adam will represent Buena in Orlando for the national finals and a $1,000 grand prize!
Way to go, Buena DECA! ππ



π Happy Halloween, SVUSD families and community! We loved seeing all the amazing costumes today! Have a fun, safe night! π»π§‘ #SVUSD





ππ SVUSD Families, join us tonight for an exciting lineup of fall fun across town! Our incredible PTOs, CTE, and Title I teams have been busy preparing these fantastic events:
π Carmichael - Fall Festival, 4 PM - 6 PM
π Pueblo Del Sol - Fall Festival 4 PM - 6 PM
π JCMS - Trunk or Treat 4:30 PM - 6 PM
π Buena - College Fair, packed with valuable info for juniors and seniors 5 PM - 7 PM
Come out, connect, and enjoy the festivities with us! SVUSD is here to empower you and celebrate the season together. See you tonight! π¬π» #SVUSD #FallFun #EmpoweringYou





π The Huachuca Mountain PTO has been hard at work these past few weeks, gearing up for their 2nd Annual Fun Run happening Friday, November 1st! πββοΈπ With a fundraising goal to support students and teachers, they're partnering with MyBooster.comβand you can help too! Every contribution brings the PTO closer to their goal, and students get to earn fun prizes along the way while tracking where donations come from around the country. Letβs rally together to make this a huge success for Huachuca Mountain! π’ Tonightβs Challenge: The Class with the Most New Donations TONIGHT will earn a PJ/Hat Day!! π #HMPTO #FunRun #SupportOurSchool #EmpoweringYou


π Bella Vista Elementary Celebrates Mrs. Alma Marzan as Octoberβs SVUSD Teacher Feature of the Month! π
"Mrs. Marzan has quickly become a beloved member of the Bella Vista community," shares Principal Brenda Bland. Since joining us this year as a K-6 Exceptional Student Services Resource Teacher, Mrs. Marzan has inspired students and staff alike with her dedication, warmth, and passion.
Originally from Bautista, Philippines, Mrs. Marzan has over 18 years of experience in education and a deep commitment to special education inspired by her eldest son. Now, she brings that dedication to Bella Vista, where her nurturing presence has enriched her studentsβ learning and lives. π
Beyond teaching, Mrs. Marzan shares her culture with usβbringing traditional dishes like lumpia to school events! Her generosity, positivity, and kindness have made her a cherished figure within our community.
In every way, Mrs. Marzan exemplifies SVUSDβs values: We Care, We Empower, and We Achieve Excellence Together. ππ Read more about her journey and impact here: svusd68.org/article/1845624
π Bella Vista Elementary Celebrates Mrs. Alma Marzan as Octoberβs SVUSD Teacher Feature of the Month! π
"Mrs. Marzan has quickly become a beloved member of the Bella Vista community," shares Principal Brenda Bland. Since joining us this year as a K-6 Exceptional Student Services Resource Teacher, Mrs. Marzan has inspired students and staff alike with her dedication, warmth, and passion.
Originally from Bautista, Philippines, Mrs. Marzan has over 18 years of experience in education and a deep commitment to special education inspired by her eldest son. Now, she brings that dedication to Bella Vista, where her nurturing presence has enriched her studentsβ learning and lives. π
Beyond teaching, Mrs. Marzan shares her culture with usβbringing traditional dishes like lumpia to school events! Her generosity, positivity, and kindness have made her a cherished figure within our community.
In every way, Mrs. Marzan exemplifies SVUSDβs values: We Care, We Empower, and We Achieve Excellence Together. ππ Read more about her journey and impact here: svusd68.org/article/1845624
