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Desert Willow Roadrunner Review August 31, 2022

Desert Willow Families,

Last week you received information on registering and updating information in our new student information system, PowerSchool. It is our goal to have everyone registered and the annual elements updated by September 1st to make sure that we have current and accurate information on all of our students. Please note that this process will need to be completed via a web browser, as the PowerSchool Parent Mobile app does NOT currently support this functionality. If you experience any difficulties with this process, please contact the Educational Technology Department for assistance, at (480) 575-2005.

We all know that it takes a village to raise a student. I couldn't be prouder to be working side-by-side with our dedicated staff, committed families, and giving community. I am looking for business, faith, and government leaders, along with parents and community members to join me in a partnership to support the vision and mission of DWES. In November, CCUSD, will be hosting a Schools Connect Café event where we will sit down and discuss the amazing characteristics of our schools and how we can all work in the same direction to support the schools- the students. This is an opportunity to discuss and make a positive impact on Desert Willow Elementary School and CCUSD. Please email me at bdunlap@ccusd93.net or complete this form if you are interested in joining this group. I look forward to collaborating with you!

You may hear your child talk about our scheduled lockdown drill today. Fire and lockdown drills will be practiced throughout the year.

Also, we have our first quarterly PTO meeting on September 7th at 7pm. If you would like to attend, then please email dwespresident@gmail.com to get a Zoom Invite link.

Roadrunner Ready, Brandie Baca-Dunlap

CCUSD Parent Portal

Please remember to update your information in PowerSchool by September 1st. Please note that this process will need to be completed via a web browser, as the PowerSchool Parent Mobile app does NOT currently support this functionality.

STATE ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

4th - 6th grade families: Please stop by the front office and pick up your child’s 2022 AASA scores. Thank you!

STUDENT ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES AT DESERT WILLOW

  • The safest way to pick up your child is the school bus or carline pick up.
  • 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 Maestra Bright is not able to see as high as your vehicle dashboard. Pull up to a colored dot. 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)

MEET OUR Kindergarten TEACHERS

DWES Chorus

Choir at the Diamondbacks Game

Come watch our amazing Roadrunner Choir sing at the Diamondbacks Game! You can sit near your friends if you purchase tickets through this link.

Choir families, be sure to purchase tickets for your singing Roadrunner and your family before they sell out!

Choir has started on Wednesday mornings at 7:55am in the music room.

ATTENDANCE REMINDER

If your child will be late or absent, please call the attendance line at 480-575-2800 and leave a message or email for Ms. Jennifer at jdennison@ccusd93.net. If your child arrives late they must be signed in at the front office by an adult. Students are late if they are not in their classrooms when the 9:00 AM bell rings.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR DWES EVENTS

UPCOMING DATES

8/24 - 2:00pm Dismissal

8/31- 2:00pm Dismissal

8/31- Rubio's Spirit Night

9/2 - Popcorn Friday

9/5 - No School for Labor Day

9/7 - 2:00pm Dismissal

9/7 - 7pm PTO First Quarterly meeting Email dwespresident@gmail.com to get added to the Zoom Invite.

9/9 - Patriot Day Celebration: Superintendent BBQ lunch

9/14 - 2:00pm Dismissal

9/20 - Picture Day- SMILE!

9/21 - 2:00pm Dismissal

9/26 No School - September Break

9/28 - 2:00pm Dismissal

9/29 - Half Day - Dismissal @ 12:30pm Parent Teacher Conferences

9/30 - Half Day - Dismissal @ 12:30pm Parent Teacher Conferences

Join us in celebrating Patriot's Day on September 9, 2022 during your child's lunch.
Please remember to add funds to your child's account prior to the BBQ here or send in cash or check. *No Cash Change if you pay on the day of the BBQ, all change will be deposited into your child's account.

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/

PTO OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT DWES

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 DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY 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

Introducing Parent Academy! This year CCUSD is excited to offer a series of professional speakers to inform parents about special topics that may impacct our young people and community. The first presentation is on Internet Safety and is presented by the Arizona Attorney General's office. People, including children, are spending more time online that ever before. Unfortunately, this is also true for criminals and predators that use the internet to exploit children and take advantage of the vulnerable.

Fortunately, there are steps both adults and youth can take to protect themselves. The Online Safety curriculum for K-12, is a valuable resource that includes information on cyber predators, cyber-bullying and other helpful online safety tips.

Please join us for this virtual session on September 7th at 6pm. Register by completing this online form or scan the QR code below, and a session link will be emailed to you the day of the presentation.

Please note that the registration links do not work, but we will be including working QR codes with each flyer. ~Thank you!

News around the district

ECS

ECS has some great classes coming to our campus this year! Check out their website!

CHEER CLINIC

CCUSD BUSINESS PARTNERS BREAKFAST

CAVE CREEK UNIFIED EDUCATION FOUNDATION

HELPFUL LINKS

CCUSD GOVERNING BOARD

REMEMBER TO VOTE- NOVEMBER 8, 2022

Created By
Brandie Baca-Dunlap
Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by dragonstock - "Woman holding earth front of blackboard" • enterlinedesign - "Choir Letterpress Concept on Dark Background" • No-longer-here - "calendar icons calendar icons" • geralt - "people google polaroid" • Rawpixel.com - "Diverse Hands Holding Word Vote Concept"