Research shows that taking time to be THANKFUL and focus on GRATITUDE can change a person emotional, physical and spiritual demeanor. Spending time focusing on what is GOOD and POSITIVE is aligned with our focus this week at school our SPOT ON Expectations focus all week was on having a positive attitude. We hope you can take time this holiday break to talk with your children about all the positive things they have going in their lives. Remember, gratitude for even the smallest things in life can bring about BIG POSITIVE IMPACT for all.

Here at LS we are incredibly grateful for our parent and community support. We know that partnerships with parents help us continue to pursue academic excellence by providing high-rigor curriculum, engaging teaching, and accountable assessments. We are also able to embed time for play, creativity and fun. As we enter Thanksgiving break, we wish everyone a time to pause and relax, and also prepare for the final 3-week push to Winter break when we return Monday, November 27th.

From our LS family to yours....

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving break!

--------------------

Interested in designing this year's Yearbook Cover?! 4th - 6th grade students can visit Mr. Yorke (6th grade) in room 203 to get the required paper. All designs are due to Mr. Yorke on Friday, December 1st to be considered. Best of luck! Can't wait to see our new design!

Be sure to see the "upcoming events" below to see what is happening this month, along with information about National Day of Giving, December Flagpole, and more including:

• National Day of Giving Canned Food Drive
  
• National Day of Grief Hat Day & Blue Spirit Day photos
• DVUSD hiring
  
• Dress Code Reminders
• Birthday Bucket & No Treats reminders
  
• Food & Nutrition updates, including lunch accounts
  
• School events, Friday half days + more
  

You can expect to receive an LS Friday Update each week to keep you informed with all campus events and happenings. Be sure to follow our facebook page, Instagram page, Twitter feed, and make sure you join our PTO and follow their page as well.

Billy's Place has also partnered with National Alliance for Grieving Children to provide a great resource for how parents, students, and individuals can support others (and themselves) during times of grief. Check out the full toolkit resource below.

For the past 2 years we have taken time to recognize the impact of grief and hope in partnership with Billy's Place. This year we will send home a butterfly with every child. You can work with your child to help add to our HOPE Mosaic Mural of Butterflies by decorating your own butterfly:

• In Memory of someone you said goodbye to,
• In Honor of someone who is grieving,
• In Support of grieving families everywhere.

When you finish your family butterfly, cut out and return to your child's homeroom teacher. Your butterfly message of love and honor and support will be added to the Mosaic Mural in the cafeteria as a symbol of transformation and illuminating HOPE. Thank you!

Thank you to all families who helped support LS at our Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers give-back night. You helped us earn 15% back for our school!

CLICK LINK HERE to see events & sign up!

CLICK LINK HERE to support our PTO and our amazing campus.

Below is a list of key dates.

NOVEMBER:

• November 17-- 2:00PM Release Friday - Teacher PLC Day
  
• November 18-- Turkey Trot & Toy Drive @ 8:15AM
• November 20-24-- NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Holiday Break
• November 28--LS Day of Giving (non-perishable food one-day drive)

DECEMBER

• December 1-- 2:00PM Release Friday - Teacher PLC Day
• December 1-- 8:45AM Flagpole Friday
• December 4-8 - Computer Science Education Spirit Week
• December 8-- 2:00PM Release Friday - Teacher Staff Development Day
• December 15 -- 12:05PM Half-Day Release
• December 18-Jan 2 -- Winter Break NO SCHOOL

While we still experience hot temperatures this fall, we wanted to remind students and parents about the district dress code requirements for students. As listed in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook reviewed at the beginning of each school year, "Shirts and tops may not expose bare midriffs, bare shoulders, nor be deeply or narrowly cut in the front, back, or under the arms. Halter tops, spaghetti straps, and strapless tops are not acceptable. Clothing that exposes undergarments will not be tolerated for males or females."

This is also important to note for "normal school activities" including PE, where students are moving in a variety of ways and still expected to keep midriffs from showing. Please work with your child to plan outfits accordingly so they are dressed appropriately for school and the variety of activities throughout the day and week.

Thank you so much for your support!

DVUSD has a birthday bucket order form that will be the only method of birthday treats for 23-24. You can fill out an application for a birthday bucket online and work with our Cafeteria Manger Mr. Joshua Singleton to arrange these birthday treats. The Birthday Bucket application is on the Food & Nutrition homepage. NOTE-- NO OTHER BIRTHDAY TREATS WILL BE ALLOWED IN CLASS. Non-food item toys can be provided (i.e. stickers, pencils, fidgets, etc) but all food will be returned to the family.

As a reminder, gates open at 8:30AM. School starts promptly at 8:45AM.

Also-- no students will be released after 3:15PM from the office. If you arrive to pick up your child early to avoid traffic lines you will have to wait until the Kinder release (3:20) or 1st-6th release (3:30) to get your child. This minimizes classroom disruptions and ensures students are completing their full day of learning.

Students arriving for breakfast must enter through the front office and cannot arrive before 8:15AM. They must sit in the cafeteria for the entire breakfast period until 8:30AM bell rings to transition to the classroom.

SPRING 2023-24 GIFTED TESTING

• REGISTRATION: October 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
  
  SPRING TESTING: January 22 - February 16, 2024
  Kindergarten: CogAT (paper/pencil)
  Grade 1: CogAT (online)
  Grade 2: *Universal Blanket Testing in Spring 2024 (CogAT, No need to register)
  Grades 3-8: CogAT (online)
  Grades 9+: CogAT (online)
  
  *FAMILIES MAY REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN ONLINE. ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE MADE ON OUR GIFTED WEBSITE. CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.

Now on air, Deer Valley Unified School District’s (DVUSD) Superintendent, Dr. Curtis Finch, hosts a bi-weekly podcast giving listeners an inside look at all things DVUSD! Listen to the latest episodes: dvusd.org/supescoop.

The DVUSD Community Education Department is hiring! Full and part time positions are available in our before and after programs as well as preschools.

Our Before & After Care program is required to follow DES guidelines for student-to-staff ratios. If we do not have enough employees, we cannot accept more students, impacting AM/PM care options for families.

If you are interested in working part-time (either AM, PM or BOTH), please contact Dina.Sands@dvusd.org or go to careers.dvusd.org to apply.

Food and Nutrition

For the 23-24 school year, the cafeteria will be charging for school meals, to apply for a free or reduced meal application visit https://secure.ezmealapp.com or stop by Legend Springs office for a paper application (though the online process is much quicker). See the complete information from DVUSD Food & Nutrition on their website at https://www.dvusd.org/Page/242.

In order to keep meal account balances topped off, you can drop off cash or check in the office (lunch mailbox), or use E-Z school pay which is free through September 7th. EZ School pay also has an app available to download and track your balance.

All 2:00PM release Fridays are reserved for staff development and Professional Learning Community work together for all DVUSD staff. These 90-minute early release days offer teachers and staff the time for collaboration and planning throughout the district in order to enhance the education offered district-wide and offer the best learning experience for our students. These early release days will occur most Fridays, with some exceptions. View the instructional calendar for more information. Visit the start and dismiss page to find out when your child’s school releases during those dates.

PreK-6 Elementary school in DVUSD. A+ School of Excellence. STEM, PE, Music & Art specials offered to EVERY STUDENT EVERY WEEK. Check out our website & follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on programs, events, staff info, curriculum and more.

Website: legendsprings.dvusd.org
Location: 21150 North Arrowhead Loop Road, Glendale, AZ, USA
Phone: 623-376-4500
Facebook: facebook.com/legendsprings
Twitter: @legendsprings