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Desert Willow Roadrunner Review April 12, 2023

Desert Willow Families,

We are finishing up our AASA testing this week. Although our state testing will be over, we are not finished with learning! There is still much that we want to accomplish before the final bell rings.

We are working on wrapping up our curriculum for the year and ensuring that all of our students have a strong foundation in the skills and concepts that we have been studying. We are also taking time to review important material and reinforce any areas where our students may need extra support. We want to ensure that all of our students leave our classroom feeling confident, capable, and prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

As always, we encourage parents to stay involved in their child's education and to support their continued learning at home. Whether through regular communication with teachers or by providing a quiet space for homework and study, your involvement is critical to your child's success.

We value your partnership and appreciate your support in helping us prepare our students for success. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support.

Roadrunner Ready,

Brandie Dunlap

End of year ABC Countdown

Join us with some fun end-of-year spirit days! We begin on Thursday, 4/13/23.

Turn in soon!

Dear Families,

If you have your child's teachers sign "Oh the Places You'll Go" as a keepsake gift to your child, we will be accepting these books from March 20th-April 20th. We want to allow your child's teacher the opportunity to write a meaningful message, which is very difficult to do the closer we get to the end of the school year. Thank you for your consideration and cooperation. You may coordinate with your teacher and/or drop the book off in the front office with your child's name and the teacher's name. Usually these books are kept in large manila envelopes.

Books will be available for parent pick up from the front office the week of April 24 - 28. It is up to the parent to pick up the books.

Thank you!

make a donation before you file your taxes!

You will receive every dollar back in the form of a tax credit up to $400 for families and $200 for individuals.

From and after June 30, 2019 through June 30, 2024, some items are Tax Credit eligible:

  • STEAM Learning
  • Sports and Clubs
  • Capital items (example: technology)
  • Programs in Need that allow our Site Council to determine where we most need to spend the money
  • Playground equipment, shade structures for playground

STUDENT ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES AT DESERT WILLOW

  • The safest way to pick up your child is the school bus or carline pick up.
  • It is very important NOT to cut in the lines, as your child(ren) will not be ready for pick up. Your specific number tells us to get your child(ren) ready for pick up.
  • Use marked crosswalks (Please do not wave students across the street)
  • Please stay in your car during dismissal.
  • Please do not park in the neighborhood and tell your child to walk to your car without supervision.
  • If your child is a “walker,” they should be walking directly to their house. We cannot reasonably supervise our neighborhood streets to ensure your child makes it home safely.
  • For the safety and security of all our students, we will not call students out of class between 3:00-3:30 pm.
  • All dismissal transportation changes need to be communicated to our office prior to 2:30 pm.

For our families utilizing drive up drop off an/or pick up, here are some helpful tips.

  • Line up single file.
  • Do not enter the front driveway until 8:40 AM or 3:25 PM.
  • Drive slowly and cautiously.
  • Our preschool students dismiss earlier than other classrooms and they are allowed to pull into the parking before 3:25pm. This allows our youngest students and our students requiring extra assistance time to safely get into their vehicles and exit campus.
  • At arrival -Thank you for dropping off only in the bus lane, not the parking lot. We greatly appreciate you helping us not have students cross the drop-off lane!
  • At dismissal - Show your car tag number to our staff member. Please have them visible in your car. Sometimes our staff is not able to see as high as your vehicle dashboard. Pull up to a colored cone. Stay in order.
  • Wait for your child. We will unload and load 10 cars at a time.
  • Please do not get out of the vehicle. One of our staff or Roadrunner Patrol will come and assist your child to the car.
  • We will only allow students to climb into cars on the passenger side of the vehicle.
  • If your child needs assistance buckling their car seat please pull forward and park in the parking lot so that you can assist your child and we can keep the car line moving. Staff and students do not buckle students.
  • Please do not pass other drivers unless directed to do so.
  • If your child is not ready at dismissal, we will ask you to park and we will bring them out when ready.

Please remember that to assist with the safety of our walkers and the efficiency of our car pick up option, the walkers will be dismissed a few minutes later, we are opening the gate by 3:35pm. As we all become more familiar with the procedures, the quicker every dismissal option will become. Thank you for your understanding and help with this.

A few reminders from the local Phoenix Police Department to follow:

  • School zone speed limit of 15mph
  • Use marked crosswalks (please do not wave students across the street)
  • PCC 36-134 (stopping, standing, and parking regulations)
  • ARS 28-815 (blocking bike lanes)

Reminder that testing is for grades 3rd - 6th. Thank you for arranging appointments and trips around these dates.

  • 3rd-6th AASA: 4/11 - 4/13
  • Make ups

We know that testing can be a source of stress for some students, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to support your child during this time.

Here are some helpful tips that you may use at home:

  • Consistent attendance - absent students miss learning opportunities
  • Routine for homework, including studying and reading - homework is not just projects and worksheets
  • Rest - it's recommended that children between the ages of 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep a night
  • Breakfast - who doesn't love breakfast?
  • Positivity and support - you know how amazing your kids are, help them see it too!
  • Parent information from ADE Assessment Parent Guide / Assessment Parent Guide in Espanol
  • You may also review and/or practice test items with your 3rd - 6th grader from the ADE website here. Only 5th grade students will be taking the AzSCI assessment

Class Placements

All CCUSD elementary school parents will receive an email from their child’s homeroom teacher on July 27th after 5:00PM. Our teachers are excited to welcome you and your child to a great year!

Please know that calling/emailing to ask for specific placements to be made will not trump the countless factors already made in a student’s placement. Student placements are made every year by our teachers. They take into account academic leveling, grades, assessments, student relationships, behaviors, special needs, scheduling of student groups, and more. They truly do consider everything they can in making the proper placements. When all is said and done, teachers have created a complex matrix of students that makes teacher requests nearly impossible. When parents ask for students to be switched from one class to another, chances are that there are 10 different reasons that the initial placement was made and moving this one student would require shifting of many others. Thank you for your trust and understanding.

You may hear disappointment and even see tears from your child as they realize that their friends are all in a different class, they want a different teacher, or they are in class with a student they didn’t get along with in the past. School is about growth, and this includes growing emotionally and socially. Kids may be upset and want you to solve this problem for them, but this often comes at a big price. Kids learn that they will be rescued from difficult situations and will not have to face them head on. They will also feed off of your emotions and reactions. If you try to jump in and save them, they will see that the situation is too difficult for them to deal with. It is a great lesson for them to have to navigate these situations with the encouragement and support of their parents. No matter the disappointment, help your child face the year with optimism and a smile.

Here is a short article that may help: https://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/five-life-lessons-from-teacher-classroom-placement

Safety Spotlight

Reminder, if your child is dropped off prior to 8:40am, there is NO supervision. I understand how difficult schedules can be and I would like to offer you a possible solution. We have a before and after school care program, Roadrunner Club, that is located on our campus.

Here is the link to the CCUSD Education and Community Services (ECS). This link will give you more information, hours, and pricing.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our students safe and supervised.

Art News

Materials needed:

  • Empty cereal boxes

Roadrunner Happenings

Learning for Life - Loving to Learn

Aprender para la vida - Amar el aprender

Congratulation Jack for being our CCUSD Student of the Month!

Kindergarten Picture Day 4/20/23

Kindergarten Enrollment 2023-2024

Kindergarten enrollment is happening now, please click here to enroll your student.

EduKit Coming Soon!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR upcoming EVENTS

Every Friday - Roadrunner Spirit Day

4/11,4/13,4/14 STMS cheer clinic (see flyer below)

4/15 Rock the District

4/20 Kindergarten Graduation Picture Day

4/22 Roadrunner Roundup 5pm-8pm

4/28 5:30-7pm STMS 6th Grade Dance

5/18 Last Day of School Half Day Release at 12:30

Where In the World is Ricky Roadrunner?

JOIN AND SUPPORT THE DWES PTO

By joining the PTO you will have a say in future PTO elections and vote on important items to enhance your student’s educational journey at DWES. Register to join on the PTO Website: https://desertwillowpto.org/

DWES PTO POSITION 2023-2024

Please see the link below if your are interested in being part of Desert Willow PTO Executive Board! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49A5A82EA46-ptopositions1

Roadrunner Roundup

This year we are thrilled to announce that DWES Roadrunner Roundup is BACK!! This will be the biggest event of the year! It is a Spring Carnival for families of all ages to enjoy. Imagine... all of the carnival fun with games, food, bounce houses and so much more! We look forward to seeing you there on April 22nd!

All tickets purchased ahead of time will be recorded digitally. Please use the order number on your emailed receipt of purchase or give the last name of the person who purchased the tickets to enter.

Purchase tickets here: https://desertwillowpto.org/collections/dwes-store

Volunteer SignUpGenius:

We love our volunteers! Here is our link for an opportunity to serve one more time this school year.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49A5A82EA46-roadrunner1

Auction SignUpGenius

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49A5A82EA46-roadrunner2

PTO OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT DWES

Fry's Community Rewards Program- If you shop at Fry's Food Grocery Store, please link up your Fry's V.I.P. card to Desert Willow or enter organization number WM786. Fry's Community Rewards Program will automatically donate to DWES on your behalf from your purchases! Here is a link to Fry's Community Rewards Program to link your card.

Amazon Smile - Shop on Amazon? Support DWES every time you shop at no cost to you! Select Desert Willow PTO as the charitable organization and every eligible purchase you make on Amazon Smile will result in a donation to our school. Here is a link to shop!

Tuft & Needle - Need a new mattress? Buy one the easy way - online and with FREE shipping! Tuft & Needle has partnered with our school and will donate 25% back to DWES on every purchase. Order through Tuft & Needle Gives Back or on the Tuft & Needle website and enter Desert Willow Elementary School, it's as easy as that!

Click here to see ALL of the unique and easy ways you can immediately help raise funds for DWES while you shop!

PTO SPONSORS

Nina Bella Photography is a local Cave Creek photographer specializing in families, milestones, and newborns. I am passionate about my work and having happy clients who truly treasure what I can do for them.
The Craftsman specializes in traditional, comfort food dishes with a global twist.
M2 Enterprise is a home remodel construction company specializing in bathroom remodels, custom showers, kitchen remodels, flooring, mudrooms, & more. Owned and operated by Mark DiGianfilippo, M2 Enterprise serves Cave Creek, North Scottsdale, North Phoenix, and Paradise Valley. M2 is licensed, bonded, & insured. ROC #311513 #312046. Free consultations. 480-256-8165. Follow us on Instagram at @m2enterpiseaz
Complete Eye Care - Comprehensive eye exams and high quality vision care for the whole family. 33717 N Scottsdale Rd, #110, Scottsdale, AZ 85266. 480-488-7007.

Thank you Christofferson and Legge families

FOLLOW DWES on Social Media

We love to share all of the great things happening at our school site. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

DWES on Facebook

DWES on Instagram

counselor's corner

Parent Academy

Parent Academy Spring Presentations: Please join us virtually for a series of speakers to inform our parent community about special topics related to today’s youth. To register and see our spring line-up, please visit our website: https://www.ccusd93.org/Page/13691

News around the district

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Grades 3rd - 6th

Parents have the opportunity to view the curriculum before the classes, and can also attend the parent presentation to meet the presenters and ask additional questions. https://cavecreek.ce.eleyo.com/search?q=let%27s+&redirected_yet=true

ECS

Preschool's Monthly Newsletter

HELPFUL LINKS

CCUSD GOVERNING BOARD

CCUSD School Board Members:

Created By
Brandie Baca-Dunlap
Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by dragonstock - "Woman holding earth front of blackboard" • Africa Studio - "Word tax on wooden blocks with stacked coins. Financial concept." • WavebreakmediaMicro - "Teacher giving lesson to her students" • Nelos - "Children Hands Building Colorful Word Safety. Blue Sky As Background" • Pixel-Shot - "Many different pencils on color background" • No-longer-here - "calendar icons calendar icons" • geralt - "people google polaroid" • Rawpixel.com - "Diverse Hands Holding Word Vote Concept"