WFES Newsletter
November 26th, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving
We have a lot to be thankful for at Wildfire this Thanksgiving. Thank you to all our students, staff, and families for continually making WFES an amazing school!
Book Fair Recap
Great work to Wildfire students and families for their support of the fall bookfair at Wildfire. This fall, All For Books donated $700 to the school and to students in need!
STEP IT UP! Day of Awesome!
On Friday, November 8th, WFES students and staff members participated in the Day of Awesome to celebrate the end of our school fundraiser STEP IT UP!. This year, we were able to raise over $34,000 dollars that will go towards student programs, materials, and resources that will help support the learning and growth of all students at Wildfire Elementary School.
We are extremely grateful to all our parents, students, and volunteers who's time, talents, and treasures have helped make this fundraiser a huge success!
School Letter Grades
On October 31, the Arizona Department of Education released A-F School Letter Grades based on data from the 2018-2019 school year. The system measures academic growth and proficiency in English Language Arts and math, proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, which are indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school. Other factors are also used to calculate school letter grades such as student attendance, Special Education student inclusion percentage (compared to state averages), and AIMS Science Test proficiency.
The A through F Accountability System is one tool to help schools identify areas for improvement, for parents to understand how their child’s school is performing, and for the state to determine how to better utilize resources for schools needing additional support.
For the 2018-2019 school year, WFES received a state accountability grade of “B”. Schools with a letter grade of “B” are labeled as high performing, with high performance in statewide assessments, significant student growth, and moving students to proficiency at a higher rate than the state average.
To read a letter from Mr. Schoonover and learn more about the Arizona school letter grade system click here.
Attendance Matters!
How is daily attendance calculated?
- Daily attendance of students is determined by the number of minutes a student is present at school during the day. To learn more about how daily attendance is calculated click here.
Did you Know...?- Daily attendance rates of students is one of the measures used in determining Wildfire's school letter grade.
- Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence. In the state of Arizona, any student missing more than 18 days of school is considered truant, regardless of if the absence is excused or unexcused.
- When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.
- Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Math Resources For Help At Home
Hour of Code
All Wildfire students in grades K-6 will be joining millions of students around the world in an Hour of Code during STEM, part of Computer Science Education Week beginning December 9th. This will be the 5th year our students have participated and is just one part of a full coding unit all students will participate in throughout the year.
Morning Student Drop-Off Update
PV District Policy states that all visitors on campus during school hours need to sign in at the front office and have a visible visitor badge (sticker) while on campus. We need all parents who drop-off students who would like to enter the secure gated area on the north end of the building as well as the east end along to bus lane to make sure to sign-in at the front office prior to entering or dropping off their student(s) at the entrance gates. Thank you for helping to ensure the safety of all Wildfire students and staff.
Early Bird Open Enrollment
If you know anyone who is interested in having their kindergarten* student(s) attend Wildfire Elementary School and be a part of our amazing kindergarten program for the 2020 - 2021 school year, please let them know our
Early Bird Open Enrollment deadline is December 2nd**. Encourage them to tour the school and turn in their open enrollment form today!
Enrollment Packet
Open Enrollment Application
* 1st - 6th Grade is closed for Open Enrollment for the 2020-2021 School Year
**Enrollment acceptance cannot be guaranteed after this date.
Goodwill Donation Drive Results
Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to our Goodwill Drive! WFES collected 4,700 pounds of donations, resulting in a donation of $470.00 to the school. Thanks to your donations, we were able to support Goodwill’s mission to fight unemployment by empowering individuals, strengthening families and building stronger communities.
WFES Staff Member of the Month!
The November teacher of the month is Ms. Abby Shoenhair. Ms. Shoenhair is the epitome of a team player, as she is always willing to go above and beyond to help students and her fellow staff members with whatever they need and she always puts others before herself. She works incredibly hard in her lessons and is excelling at teaching a new grade level. She always makes sure all her students feel welcomed and loved in her classroom. We are all so thankful we get to learn and work with Ms. Abby Shoenhair!
Did You Know...?
It takes roughly 15 seconds for students to cross the crosswalk before or after school. Please be sure to exercise patience awareness to help us ensure all students get some safely.
Calling all Junior Heros at WFES!
Our Junior Hero program is underway and we have already had multiple students complete their volunteer hours and help make a positive difference in their community. We are proud of all our Junior Heros and cannot wait for others to join the Junior Hero club!
Junior Hero is a non-profit 501(c)3 that makes it fun for students, parents, and teachers to serve their community and those around them. The program encourages students to think of their community and how they can best serve others.
How Can Your Student Become a Junior Hero?
1) Take the Junior Hero Pledge.
2) Provide required service and log your hours on the provided form.
3) Get a signature from an adult upon completion.
4) Turn the completed sheet into your teacher or into the envelope on the Junior Hero board.
5) You will be recognized and receive a Junior Hero T-shirt and prize.
6) You are now a Junior Hero. Live up to the expectation!
Visit: https://www.juniorhero.org/ to learn more
Snowmen Giving Tree
Our Student Government / PTO is sponsoring a Snowman Giving Tree for students in our district that may need a little extra help for this holiday season. Please stop by the front office, grab a snowman off the tree, sign it out and shop for that child based on their requests.
• Items need to be wrapped or in a gift bag!
• Please label each individually wrapped gift with the tag #
• Deliver back to the school by Friday, December 13th.
This is a wonderful way to teach our children about helping others. Thank you for your support!
Any questions please contact Sara Gendreau - sara.schnepp@gmail.com
STEAM Program Supplies
As Wildfire Elementary School works towards its goal of implementing a world-class STEAM program, our teachers and students are in need of various supplies. We are always accepting donations for the following items:
Baggies (all sizes) - Balloons (all sizes) - Balls (bouncy, ping pong) - Batteries (all sizes) - Bowls/plates/cups (paper) - Bottle Caps - Bubble Wrap - Buttons - Cardboard Tubes (all kinds) - Clay - Clothes Pins - Coffee Filters - Coffee Stirrers - Corks - Cotton Balls - Cupcake Liners - Dental Floss - Egg Cartons - Felt - Foil - Marbles - Marshmallows - Paper Towels - Pipe Cleaners - Plastic Wrap - Playdough - Popsicle Sticks - Q-Tips - Rubber Bands - Sand Paper - Sponges (new only) - Straws - Tape (all types) - Toothpicks - Twine/String - Velcro - Wax Paper - Yarn
Chipotle Family Night Out
Chipotle at Desert Ridge
Tuesday, Dec 10th , 2019
5pm-9pm
Must show our flyer or mention Wildfire Elementary
Tag your photos #WildfireFamilyNightOut and send to yearbook@wildfirepto.org for a chance to win a Chipotle Gift Card. Last months winner is Gary Achtziger! Congrats!
Take the time off from cooking and stop by Chipotle to pick up a meal any time between 5pm and 9pm on December 10th. All items dine in/ take out go towards benefiting Wildfire Elementary School. Feel free to stop in before enjoying the Strings concert.
School Hours Reminder
School Hours
Kindergarten - 6th Grade: 8:45 AM - 3:15 PM
PreK: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Students are allowed on school grounds at 8:15 AM. There is no supervision prior to that time. Student's in 1st through 6th-grade report to the main playground area and Kindergarten students to the Kindergarten playground.
Student are not permitted in the building prior to 8:45 AM, unless permission has been given by the school administration or classroom teacher.
Students arriving after 8:45 AM must be checked in by a parent in the front school office.
Dismissal time for 2nd - 6th grade is 3:15 PM and Kindergarten and 1st grade is 3:10 PM. We ask that parents make every effort to pick their student up on time.
Attendance Information
Wildfire Elementary School classes start at 8:45 AM. Any student arriving after 8:50 AM will be considered tardy for class.
Please report any student absence to our attendance line: (602) 449-4301. A message can be left on the attendance line 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Please make every effort to have your student(s) to school on time and limit unnecessary absences.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Thanksgiving Break: November 27th - 29th
- LEGO Robotics Club Meeting: December 2nd at 3:15 PM
- Early Release Day: December 3rd
- PTO Pizza in the Park: December 3rd at 12:30 PM at Aviano Park
- 6th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times: December 4th
- Chorus Concert: December 4th at 7:00 PM
- Band Concert: December 9th at 6:30 PM
- Yearbook Club Meeting: December 10th at 7:45 AM
- Chipotle Family Night Out: December 10th from 5:00 - 9:00 PM at Desert Ridge Location
- Strings Concert: December 10th at 6:30 PM
- 2nd Grade Field Trip to Pioneer Village: December 13th
- 3rd Grade Field Trip to the MIM: December 16th
- WFES Spelling Bee: December 16th at 9:00 AM
- 1st Grade Field Trip to Ella Enchanted: December 19th
- 2nd Grade Westward Ho Program: December 19th from 9:00 - 11:00 AM
- End of the 1st Semester/2nd Quarter: December 20th
- Winter Break: December 23rd - January 3rd, 2020
- Classes Resume: January 6th, 2020
Wildfire Elementary School Firebirds
The mission of Wildfire Elementary School is to lead students to high achievement and individual excellence in a collaborative learning environment
