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25 years ago, in the basement of Monte Vista Elementa- ry School, one teacher and six families launched an inno- vative educational program that has evolved into what we know today as Desert Willow Family School. From that basement classroom, Gael Keyes’ vision of integrative learning—in which teachers, students, and parents par- ticipate equally in the learning process—has grown and found a home in its current state-of-the-art, eco-friend- ly facility. Today, Family School’s unique combination of classroom and home-based instruction provides both a curriculum and an educational philosophy to parents who want to actively participate in their children’s education.2

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YEARBOOK ART CONTEST ~25th Anniversary~ THE FAMILY SCHOOL Many thanks to the students for their overwhelming enthusiasm in submitting art pieces for the 2015-2016 school yearbook celebrating 25 years of Family School. CONGRATULATIONS TO HANNA HAWSON, 8TH GRADE, MS. CHANTEL’S CLASS, FOR WINNING THE YEARBOOK COVER ART CONTEST! 2nd Place Noa Ritter 8th Grade Ms. Chantel’s Class4

3rdPlace Kacie Carpenter 8th Grade Ms. Chantel’s Class 4th Place Jacob Wright 5th Grade Ms. Paula’s Class Honorable Mentions: Jaymi Allen, October Barnes, Lilly Borrego, Mateo Centenera, Essie Crozier, Zack Edwards, Caiden Elsaesser, Connor Giese, Cameron Hawson, Charlotte Hawson, Aislinn Hazdra, Dylan Hoffer, Finn Irvin, Elena Lopez, Alia MacFarlane, Callia Mannos,Hannah Mayhew, Calvin Morgan, Kyle Patton, Amber Paul, Steve Portillo Jr, Ben Pulliam, Rhea Richardson, Ryan Richardson, Devin Ritter, Kendall Ritter, Maren Ritter, Campbell Small, Brianna Spielman, Matthaeus Strassner, Blake Wilson, Jane Yarrington, & Rella Yarrington. 5

Connor Giese Ella Jones Amandeep Prasankumar Kinzie Pulliam Rhea Richardson Ryan Richardson SPELLING BEE Boy Scouts 216 Cub Scouts 442 Boy Scouts 444 Cub Scouts 774 AHG NM0325 Girl Scouts & Brownies 10459 SCOUTS6

Mina Amirkabirian October Barnes Tessa Cheshire Zackary Edwards Caiden Elsaesser Shelton Foust Faith Graham Jeffrey Hill Eliot Hunter Hannah Mayhew Steve Portillo Jr. Brianna Spielman Clarice Wilson Collette Wilson Jacob WrightMATH CLUB Caven Elsaesser Gabriel Higbie Ben Hogeland Elena Lopez Michael Lopez Cayden Mannos Zachary Ray Devin Ritter Kendall Ritter Noa Ritter Campbell SmallROBOTICS CLUB 7

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SQUARE DANCEFALL 2015 9

ART & COOKIES WINTER 201510

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Staff In Action12

Dr. Gael Keyes Veronica Salazar Carrell O’Neal Principal Secretary CustodianAurelio Sanchez Nicole Garcia Liv Baca-Hochhausler IT Technician Counselor Special Education John Goldfarb Maria Chavez SupportSpeech Language Pathologist Health Assistant Staff 13

Ms. Jenn Andes, Teacher Ms. Clara Sais, Teacher Ms. Jessica Orell, Teacher Ms. Jenn, Ms. Clara, & Ms. Jessica’s Class14

Kadiah Austin Peyton Preston YasseenDragone-Gutierrez Esrig Ferreyra Gallegos Hijazi Emily Colin Kody Ezra LewisMorgan Orell Patton Payne Rael Luka Jazlyn Anna Caleb LukasReuben Sample Shulenburger Stick Strassner Kate Isabella Adele KadySwanson Villegas Wilson Zamora 15

Ms. Laura’s Class Ms. Laura Encino Ms. Abby Laughlin Teacher Student Teacher16

Adam Corban Lydia Adora EvelynBurianek Bush Candelaria Cooper DoddsGrace Brayden Alethea Alexa DuncanDodds Einfalt Haas Haskins HawsonAdam Lilly Brooke Rowen JosiahOrell Paul Penick Terlesky VillegasIsabella Sophia Giles JaneVillescas Villescas Yarrington Yarrington 17

Ms. Karli’s Class Ms. Karli Meagan Shipler Ellington Student Teacher Teacher18

Liam Abdiel Naomi Natalie MarkBarnes Bell Brane Brane CeccoSamuel Stace Zane Alicia-Marie DavidCrozier Davis Davis Foust Foust Alice Liberty Isaac Alia RachelGarcia Gaudette Hill MacFarlane Mayhew Brooke Jade Madeleine Sophia OwenMorenus Morenus Ray Ray SpielmanDarrin Julia Addison Lilly JaxonSymes Symes Woods Woods Wright 19

Ms. Keely Ms. Keely’s Class Mackey-Gonzales Teacher20

Coralyn Luciana Ezra Rowen SadieBrown Brown Carlston Foust FoustEmma Gianna Elise Kiril FinnGurule Gurule Hays Higbie IrvinJack Catherine Heather Thomas MaddalenaIrvin Lopez Mercer-Love Mercer-Love MierElla Samuel Aaron Jacob KatherineMier Parker Sais Sais Sais Ana Lucas Alexander Duncan BaileyShedden Shedden Smith Smith Walker 21

Ms. Clare’s Class Ms. Clare Cuellar Teacher22

Evan Laura Spencer Maizy NatalieBoyle Burianek Cunningham Galasso GalassoTamara Ella Aydyn Angelina Kacie Hijazi Jones Leeds Overdorf Patton Diego Sophie Ilaya Morgan RellaSantillanes Strassner Sylvester Waterman YarringtonAaliyah CalebYbarra Zamora 23

Ms. Jennifer Ms. Nazsoni Ms. Jennifer’s Class Salerno Otero Teacher Student Teacher24

Layla Micah Kyler Zoe ArloArdalan Bush Carpenter Christison HammackNoor Rayann Sophia Mina NicolasHijazi Hijazi Martinez Olson OlsonRikki Mackinzie Ryan Lucas DavidPayne Pulliam Richardson Sanchez ShadleCaitlyn Piper Jade Virginia Tiffany Small Terlesky Villegas Villegas Zhu 25

Ms. Shelly’s Class Ms. Shelly Johnson Teacher26

Kira Rowan Mia Tate SofiaBaum Baum Dragone-Gutierrez Elsaesser GuruleLiam Benjamin Ben Stella AidenHays Hill Hogeland Hudson Jones Amandeep Caitlin Zachary Maren LainPrasankumar Ray Ray Ritter Stewart 27

Ms. Paula’s Class Ms. Paula Burgett Teacher28

Kaysi Charlotte Essie Emily NathanAllen Carlston Crozier Dabling DablingCooper Liam Connor Eden Sunai Davis Foust Giese Gonzales GonzalesGwenyth Charlotte Aislinn Gabriel KylieGraham Hawson Hazdra Higbie HilyardDylan Nicholas Callia Hannah SaraHoffer Kaufman Mannos Mayhew ParkerKendall Brody Andre Andrew Jacob Ritter Scarborough Schwall Walker Wright 29

Ms. Adrianne’s Class Ms. Adrianne Lytle Teacher30

Lilly Tarek Hana Alyssa BrendanBorrego Candelaria Centenera Cunningham DoyleEthan Roci Yousef Keilee CalvinHartog Herrera Hijazi Leeds Morgan Cara Ethan Benson Oliver RheaOverdorf Overdorf Rael Reuben Richardson Olivia Not Pictured: Shadle Noah Way Skye MadisonRobergs Shadle 31

Ms. Gael’s Class Dr. Gael Keyes Teacher32

Daniel Emma Carolina Pierce JaredBoyle Boyle Centenera Christison FrederickSophie Elena Michael Kylie DallinKlein Lopez Lopez Phillips SymesCaleb Elijah LaurenTracey Tracey Tracey 33

Ms. Trish Ann’s Class Ms. Trish Ann Teasdale Teacher34

Mina October Mikai Tessa ReedAmirkabiriaan Barnes Baty Cheshire DavisThalia Shelton Diego Faith JonathanEstrada Foust Garcia Graham HillJeffrey Eliot Jordan Cayden Dallas Hill Hunter Long-Holderried Mannos Racette Kelsey Mason Nicolas Brianna GalenSanchez Sanchez Shedden Spielman SpielmanMatthaeus Clarice ColletteStrassner Wilson Wilson 35

Ms. Chantel Ms. Chantel’s Class Stuckman Teacher36

Jaymi Adren Kacie Mateo ZackaryAllen Baty Carpenter Centenera Edwards Caiden Caven Isaiah Niles CameronElsaesser Elsaesser Ferreyra Free HawsonHanna Kyle Amber Steve BenjaminHawson Patton Paul Portillo, Jr Pulliam Jacob Devin Noa Campbell BlakeRacette Ritter Ritter Small Wilson 37

“Unless “The power of “Keep looking soneone like one man doesn’t up. That’s the you cares a amount to much. secret of life.” whole awful But with whatever lot, nothing little strength I’m -Snoopy is going to capable of...I’ll get better. It’s “I’m lovin’ it.” do everything -McDonalds humanly possible not.” to protect the -Dr. Suess people I love, and in turn they’ll protect the ones they love. It seems like the least we tiny humans can do for each other.” -Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood) Kacie Carpenter Mateo Centenera Hanna Hawson Devin Ritter Future Photographer Future Airline Pilot Future Attorney Future Performing/Media Arts “A difficult time can be “Your work is more readily going to fill a endured if we large part of retain the con- your life, and the viction that only way to be our existence truly satisfied is holds a pur- to do what you pose - a cause believe is great to pursue, work. And the a person to only way to do love, a goal to great work is to love what you do. achieve.” If you haven’t -John Maxwell found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” -Steve Jobs Mason Sanchez Nicolas Shedden Galen Spielman Collette Wilson Future Electrical Engineer Future Theoretical Physicist Desert Willow Family School - Class of 2016 - 8th Graders38

“Life is a book and “A plane can’t fly Caven Elsaesser there are a thousand if it doesn’t have support, just like new pages I have not yet read.” learners.” -Cassandra Clare, Zackary Edwards Clockwork Princess Future Pilot Jaymi AllenFuture Author“Life is not measured by the “DON’T GIVE UP! Sophie Kleinnumber of breaths we take, There’s no shame in falling down! True but by the moments that take our breath away.” shame is to not stand up again!” Isaiah Ferreyra Future Software Designer Cameron Hawson Future Mech. Engineer/Field BiologistKyle Patton “What would you say if a “All my life I’d man walked in here with had one dream: to no shirt and I hired him? achieve my many He must have had on goals.” some really nice pants.” -Homer Simpson -Pursuit of Happiness Benjamin Pulliam Steve Portillo Jr. Future Cartoonist & Animator Future Doctor“Carpe diem. It’s Latin “The past does “We are as indestructible for ‘seize the day.’” not exist to as we believe ourselves to be.” Jacob Racette remind us that the -John Green Future Cartoon Creator future cannot be changed. It exists to remind us what the future can be.” -Hagoromo Otsutsuki Noa Ritter Campbell Small Future Engineer Future Lawyer, Psychologist, Artist 39





Family School Just an extraordinary school One would not have guessed it would come so far How it could have gotten here without the families, Nobody can comprehend Can it possibly have been 25 years? Everyone is grateful for the wonderful education No other school could compare Anyone would consider themselves lucky to have this opportunity WORDS A truly wonderful experience CONTEST WINNER: Lovely teachers push the students In every way, this school surpasses the rest JAYMI ALLEN Grades work together 8TH GRADE How anyone could find fault is a mystery Truly a life-changing timeCHANTEL’S CLASS Some have left While others have remained I have learned so much This truly incredible school Cannot be compared However much gratitude could be expressed, it cannot cover the thanks that this school deserves Designed & Created by: by Meredith Schwall