Tucson Region

Tucsonans can make a kid's day at Ochoa

The Arizona Daily Star is focusing on Ochoa Elementary School as part of the national Make A Difference Day campaign. The goal is to give readers a glimpse into a school that could use a helping hand - as many Tucson-area schools need - and illustrate ways you can help. The school, near South Sixth Avenue and 22nd Street, straddles the line between South Tucson and Tucson. ● More than 97 percent of Ochoa students qualify for federal free and reduced lunch, compared with the Tucson Unified average of 67 percent. ● About 32 percent of Ochoa students are learning English as a second language, compared with a district average of 13 percent. ● Almost 55 percent of kids who started the school year in 2003 at Ochoa did not finish there, but were replaced by new students throughout the year. The district average was 37 percent mobility. We will be introducing you to the Ochoa Elementary third-grade class, a group of 40 students split into two classrooms taught by Sandie Pearse and Pat Casanova and illustrating ways you can help the school through the eyes of its students. The profiles are published Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Name: Angel Valenzuela Age: 9 Favorite thing about Ochoa Elementary: Laughing. Angel has a quick wit and can make a joke out of almost anything, leaving his friends and classmates with the giggles - two friends even called him King Giggles last week in school. Favorite food: Weenies. And pizza, too. Favorite book: "The Frog Principal" Favorite thing to learn: "To learn how to do times tables." Career goal: "I want to be a hero. I want to be a cop. And I want to be a veterinarian to help animals and dogs and puppies. And monkeys." What Ochoa needs: "We need more books. And karate lessons so if someone gets in a fight they can be OK. Or if there's a monster." Monsters aren't actually a problem at Ochoa. But the school always has a need for people willing to give their time to help kids exercise during recess and after school, said Principal Heidi Aranda.