Mustang News
January 2024
Welcome Back, Mustangs!
School Resumes Monday, January 8th
We are looking forward to an amazing semester ahead!
Attendance Matters! Miss a Day, Miss a Lot!
We understand that illness happens and sick students need to stay home. Every family experiences this from time to time. When absences account for ten percent of the school days (18 days of our 180 day school year) it considered chronic truancy.
Attendance is crucial for elementary students as it plays a significant role in their overall academic and personal development including:
- Social and Emotional Development: Attendance in elementary school provides children with the opportunity to develop social skills and form meaningful relationships with peers. Regular interaction with classmates fosters teamwork, cooperation, empathy, and communication skills, which are crucial for their social and emotional growth.
Establishing Routine and Discipline: Attending school regularly helps children establish a routine and develop discipline from an early age. By adhering to a consistent schedule and being present in school, students learn important life skills such as time management, responsibility, and commitment.
Active Participation: Active participation in classroom activities and discussions enhances students' understanding of concepts and allows them to contribute to the learning environment. Regular attendance ensures that students have the chance to actively engage in various educational experiences, such as group work and projects, which further enhance their learning and personal growth.
Attendance Prizes
All students who are enrolled in any AJUSD School are automatically enrolled in the Attendance Award Drawing on day one of the school year. To remain in the program, a student must have fewer than 18 days of unexcused absence at the end of the school year. At the end of the school year, all students with fewer than 18 absences will be entered to win $1,000. The drawing will be held during the AJHS Graduation Ceremony on May 23, 2024 and you do not need to be present to win. A separate drawing will be held for all students who have had perfect attendance for the 2023-2024 school year. The winner of this drawing will also receive $1,000.
DVES Staffing Update
Mrs. Mary Kate Robertson has retired and we are welcoming a new resource teacher to DVES. Ms. Carol Temple is a compassionate teacher who brings a wealth of experience working with students. She has a passion for helping students with a variety of needs. She will be joining the Mustangs on Monday to set up her classroom with support for 3rd through 5th graders starting Wednesday. We are so fortunate to have Ms. Temple on campus so quickly to ensure that all students get the services they need to be successful.
We are also excited to bring on a new Librarian! Christina Owens has over 10 years of experience teaching. She also had an opportunity to teach in Thailand. Ms. Owens is passionate about literature and has a goal to get kids to like reading and find books that they would be interested in reading. Library specials will resume as soon as possible and until Ms. Owens is on board students will have some lessons in the library with our Social Worker and Behavioral Interventionist.
Upcoming Events
Battle of the Books January 11 at 9AM
MLK Holiday January 15 No School
School Site Council January 16 3:30-4:30PM
Tutoring Resumes January 16 3:00-4:00PM Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays
Pastries with Parents January 19 7:30-8:30AM
Kindergarten Round Up January 25 5:00- 7:00PM
Mustang Pride Assembly January 31 8:45AM K-2 / 9:15AM 3-5
5th grade Parent Night February 7 at DVES
Junior High Tour Field Trip February 8
PTO Family Valentine Dance February 9 5:00-7:00PM
School Site Council February 13 3:30-4:30PM
President's Day Holiday February 19 No School
Group Picture Day February 21
Mustang Pride Assembly February 28 8:45AM K-2 / 9:15AM 3-5
Book Fair March 4-8
Read Across America Week March 4-8
Parent Conferences March 7 & 8 starting at 1:00PM
Annual Book Parade March 8 12:30PM
Spring Break March 11- 22
Spring Intersession Classes March 11-14 8:00-11:00AM
Spring Holiday March 29
Testing Season
There are a variety of tests that students will take in the next several months. Testing is not anything to worry about and should be seen as an opportunity to "show what you know". Teachers and administrators use the data from student assessments to help us make instructional decisions to serve the class as well as individual students. All of these tests are untimed so students can take the full school day to do their very best. We will be practicing the types of questions that are asked to ensure that students are adequately prepared for test days. It is just like athletes going to practice to build up their skills in the weeks leading up to a big game.
January 24 - Science benchmark Grade 5
March 4 & 6 - ELA and Math benchmark Grades 3-5
March 5 - NAEP Test Grade 4
March 26 & 27 - AZSCI Test Grade 5
April 2&3 AASA Writing Test Grades 3-5
April 8&9 AASA Math Test Grades 3-5
April 15 & 16 AASA ELA Test Grades 3-5
Reminders from the Office
AJUSD App: Download the AJUSD app and use the magic code from your child's teacher to stay connected with current events. How to vIdeo
Nurse Michael: Donations of clothing for our loaner closet are always appreciated. Gently used bottoms and tops in all sizes as well as new in package underwear help our health office have a change of clothes for students who have an accident or emergency. Thanks for supporting the health office!
Student drop off: There is no supervision on campus prior to 8:05AM so early drop offs are not permitted. Teachers and staff will open gates at 8:05 and will supervise students at that time.
Tardy: School starts promptly at 8:25am. ALL students arriving late to school must be accompanied by a parent and signed in at the Front Office.
Student Absences: Parents/Legal Guardians must contact the Front Office within 24hrs of their child's absence. Voicemail is available to leave a message regarding absences if calling after office hours or no answer. Please leave your name, child's name, date, reason for absence and teacher. Absences may also be entered through ParentVUE.
Picking Up Students: Please have your I.D. ready when picking up your child(ren). Only parents and legal guardians can pick up students. In the event of emergency, please contact the school to notify of any other arrangements. Emergency contacts are for school staff use and will be contacted if we are unable to reach a parent/guardian.
End of Day Dismissal: Instructional time is bell to bell- 8:25am - 3:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 8:25am - 1:00pm on Wednesdays. To limit interruptions, we do not allow early pick up during the last hour of the school day unless it is an emergency or proof of doctor/dentist appointment.
Transportation Changes: Any changes to transportation must be communicated to the front office by calling 480-677-7510 by 2:00pm on regular school days or 12:00pm on Wednesdays.
Special Days: As a school, we recognize student birthdays through daily announcements. Please check with your child's teacher prior to their birthday if you would like to request to bring something special in to share with the class. All food/beverage items must be pre-packaged from a store. We cannot accept deliveries for students from outside vendors. If the food/beverage items have been scheduled with your child's teacher, we will email the teacher when the items are brought in.
Lost and Found: Jackets, water bottles, and other items piled up this winter. Remind your student to stop by the cafeteria and check the Lost and Found area. Labeling your student's belongings helps finding misplaced items.
DVES PTO - Parent Teacher Organization
The DVES PTO is a small but dedicated group of parents who have worked hard this year to support our teachers and students. Upcoming events include the Family Valentine's Dance and the DVES Spring Carnival. The PTO would love to have your help too! There is an easy way to stay connected with the most current information about DVES PTO Join the Facebook Page!
Desert Vista Elementary School
Phone - 480-677-7510
Registrar - Mallory Blackwood
Receptionist -Nicole LoRusso
Psychologist - Daniel Albert
Nurse - Michael Barrett
Principal- Heather Preston Heather.Preston@goaj.org