Hawk Happenings
May 11, 2021
Principal's Message
I can’t believe we are in our final few days of the school year- and what a year it has been! Our amazing teachers will be spending these last few days working hard on end-of-year events and activities that will ensure we finish the year on a high note. Make sure you are checking those teacher updates and looking through backpacks so you don’t miss anything. Speaking of amazing teachers, Teacher Appreciation week was phenomenal. Our community is always so great at recognizing teachers’ contributions during this week. Thank you so much for that amazing show of support! Our staff truly appreciates all you do!
As we head into summer, we are already beginning preparations for next school year. In the fall, we will have several duty aide and paraprofessional positions available which are posted on the district website. If you are a parent who is looking to work just a few hours a day, or even full time, and you want to make an important contribution to our community, please call me to discuss these positions. Our support staff are very important to our campus!
May Calendar
- 5/12 Staff vs 6th Grade Satellite Ball
- 5/12 United Parent Council Meeting
- 5/13 Governing Board Meeting @ 7 PM
- 5/19 Early Release "WIN"sday
- 5/19 6th Grade Clap Out
- 5/20 Last Day of School - Early Release
- 5/20 6th grade Promotion Parade
*PVConnect students will return supplies the last week of school. Teachers will communicate specifics and details.
Campus News
Note from the Health Office
Here are a few actionable items:
- For those of you whose children have either daily medications here in the health office, or PRN medications such as asthma inhalers or epi pens, your child will be coming home with a letter this week. The letter asks ask if you wish to come pick up the medications, or if you want us to dispose of them. If you choose to pick them up, we ask that they get picked up by the end of the last day of school, Thursday May 20.
- For those who have children with daily medications, we are asking that they get picked up on Tuesday, May 18, as that will be the last day they are given this school year, since Wednesday and Thursday are half days.
-Nurse Tara
Testing
Congratulations for nearly completing our mandated state testing of Arizona’s Statewide Achievement Assessment (AzM2) for Reading, Writing, and Math. Our teachers worked hard to help students perform their best, and we are proud of our students for taking the test seriously. Official scores for your child’s test will be available when we return to school in August.
EduKits
Go to www.edukitinc.com by June 15, 2021
for best pricing and free shipping to the school.
Desert Trails Elementary offers the EduKit program as a convenient option for busy families to order school supplies for the 2021-2022 year. EduKits include the supplies approved by our school
Your student's order will be delivered by the Welcome Back Social, the day before school starts.
Extended ordering is available June 16 - July 14 for an additional fee and will be delivered to your home shortly before school begins.
Questions? Contact Michelle Abrams michelle.r.abrams@gmail.com. Order today at www.edukitinc.com.
Staffing Updates
Additions- We have several new additions to our Desert Trails family next year. They come to us with extensive teaching experience and enthusiasm. Please join me in welcoming them!
Jackie Tilburt - 3/4th Self-Contained Gifted
Jessica Quinn - 3rd grade- new to PV
Kirsten Pedersen - LFI- new to PV
Eryn Frank - Gifted Specialist - from district's Professional Development Department
Cate Walter - Nurse
Movement-
STEM - Mrs. Magid will be moving from 2nd grade
Instructional Coach - Mrs. Schrecker will be moving into this role from Resource
Goodbyes
Sadly, Mrs. Layne will be leaving us as she embarks on her new role as a K-2 Intervention Coach. Mrs. Cox is on the Leadership Cadre at the new school, and Mrs. Spetrini will be joining that staff as well. A huge congratulations to Mrs. Pfliederer, as she sails into retirement after her many years of service to public education. We wish them all well in their new adventures!
Amazing Teacher Awards
Each month, a local teacher will be recognized in print and digital. PLUS, they will be entered into a monthly national prize award of $5,000 for them and $5,000 for their school!
Extended Learning Opportunities
Summer
Desert Trails will be hosting Community Education Summer School during the month of June. ESSER grant funds will be able to provide these classes at no cost to students who were enrolled in our schools during the 2020-21 school year. This applies only to our classes and does not include our Mascot camp. These classes can fill up quickly, so early registration is encouraged. You can find the catalog of courses on the Community Education department website: https://www.pvschools.net/community-education/summer-programs
We are still working on plans for any additional opportunities that we will offer in the month of July.
United Parent Council
UPC now has a YouTube Channel! Check out the UPC Library of past program videos!
"Old" News (but still valuable!)
Learning Modality Reminders
To help minimize the disruption of learning for all students in all of the classrooms, we feel it is important to remind families of the following guidelines regarding absences:
- In-person students will be assigned to PVConnect for COVID exposure or illness. At-home materials may not be readily available for these absences, as teachers need advance notice to make take-home materials available. We are asking parents/guardians to allow the teacher 2 days to provide all the needed learning materials. You will be contacted by the teacher, or the office, when the materials are ready to be picked up. Students may only join the virtual classroom when they have all of the necessary learning materials provided by the teacher.
- In-person students who are absent for reasons other than COVID exposure or illness may be able to access the online classroom when then absence is scheduled in advance with the teacher and school administration. In these instances, we are also asking parents/guardians to allow the teacher 2 days to provide the needed learning materials and only join the virtual classroom when they have all of the teacher provided materials.
- Please understand that the PVConnect model is not in place to allow students to still be attending school while on vacations, long weekends, at doctor's appointments, sports tournaments, etc. If a student who normally attends in-person learning needs to be absent from school for any reason, the teachers can help them get caught up as they would during any normal school year. This will help minimize the disruption of learning to all students in the class.
Social & Emotional Learning at Desert Trails
Social emotional learning is a priority at Desert Trails. Please click here for more information.
Digital Support for Parents and Students
DTES PTO
DTES Reopening Playbook
About Desert Trails
Location: 4315 East Cashman Drive, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: 602-449-4100