The Arizona Department of Education has released a Move On When Reading video, which is available in both English and Spanish. This video provides a brief overview of the program and is a great tool to understand the requirements and services called for in the legislation. This law affects third grade students based on their AZ Merit reading scores. 
 

Meet the teacher night is Friday August 2, 2019 (4:30pm-6:00pm) and the first day of school is Tuesday, Aug 6, 2019.  Please be to school on time. Students can arrive on campus starting at 7:45am. This school year, backpacks will not be allowed for grades 4-8, as we our implementing AVID - focusing on organization and preparing students for their future.

Also, please be prepared to show ID when checking out a student or visiting campus. This is a district policy and it is our goal to reinforce this policy. 

We look forward to seeing you and wish you a great 2019/2020 school year!
 
 

El Mirage School Supply List

Arizona law requires that public schools provide the supplies required for academic success. All materials required for a student’s education will be provided by the Dysart Unified School District. This list represents optional, supplementary items which you may supply at your discretion. Please speak with your student’s teacher before purchasing all of the items, as each individual teacher may not use all the supplies listed below. Teachers may recommend additional student supplies during the year as supplemental supports for your child. If you have questions, please contact your school. 

Pre-K Supply List
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom: 
box of tissue (1)
baby wipes (2 boxes)
Clorox or Lysol disinfectant wipes (2 containers)
four pack of play-dough (1)
bottle of purell hand sanitizer (must be Purell brand per licensing) (1)
ream of white cardstock paper (1)
package of quart or gallon size Ziplock bags (1)
glue sticks (4)


Kindergarten Supply List
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom:
24 count box of crayons (2) 
three-prong plastic folders in various colors (2)
Dry-Erase markers (2)
pencils
scissors (1 pair)
glue sticks (4)
clorox or Lysol disinfectant wipes (2 containers)
 box of tissue (1)
We will always need the following throughout the school year:
white cardstock 
bottle of hand sanitizer 
package of quart or gallon size Ziplock bags 
Thank you, 
The Kindergarten teachers


First Grade Supply List
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom:
backpack (1)
headphones (1)
ream of white copy paper (1)
ream of white cardstock (1)
pencils (not mechanical)
Dry-Erase markers (2)
glue sticks (4)
box of tissue (1)
package of quart or gallon size Ziplock bags (1)
Clorox or Lysol disinfectant wipes (2 containers)
bottle of hand sanitizer (1)
24 count box of crayons (2) 
colored pencils (1 box)


Second Grade Supply List
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom: 
backpack (1) 
100-page black and white composition notebooks (2)
wide-ruled spiral notebooks (3)
24 count box of crayons (2) 
#2 pencils (1 box)
glue sticks (2)
red pens (2)
large pink erasers (2)
Dry-Erase markers (2)
ruler with inches and centimeters (1)
pencil box (1)
double pocket folders with prongs (4)
highlighters (2)
scissors (1)
We will always need the following throughout the school year:
pencils
Dry-Erase markers (2)
paper
tissues
markers
highlighters
Ziploc bags (quart or gallon size)
paper plates
Post-its
index cards


Third Grade Supply List
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom:
backpack (1) 
wide-ruled spiral notebooks (4)
packs of wide-ruled paper (2)
24 count box of crayons (2) 
#2 pencils ( 4 boxes)
glue sticks (2)
Blue or black pens (2)
large pink erasers (2)
Dry-Erase markers (2)
small whiteboard eraser
pencil bag with 3-rings to insert into a binder (1)
3 inch binder with clear pocket cover (1) 
package of 5 tab binder dividers with pockets
double pocket folders (2)
highlighters (2)
scissors (1)
We will always need the following throughout the school year:
Tissues
disinfectant wipes
Ziploc bags (quart size)


Fourth Grade Supply List
No Backpacks or Pencil Boxes
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom: 
3 inch white binder with clear cover (1) ****Highly Recommended
pencil bag with 3-rings to insert into a binder (1) ****Highly Recommended
package of 5 tab binder dividers with pockets (1) ****Highly Recommended
24 count box of crayons (1) 
#2 pencils (2 boxes)
colored pencils (1)
ruler
folders without prongs (3)
composition books (6)
3-hole punched wide-ruled notebook paper (2)
tissues
reams of white copy paper (2)
highlighters (3)


Fifth Grade Supply List
No Backpacks
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom:
4 inch binder (1)
pencil bag with 3-rings to insert into a binder (1) 
package of 5 tab binder dividers with pockets (1) 
highlighters (4)
#2 pencils (2 boxes)
colored pencils (1 package) (NO crayons or markers)
hand sanitizer (1)
Tissues (1)
pencil top erasers (1 package)
grid paper (1 package)
Index cards (1 package)
Dry-Erase markers (1 package)
packs of wide-ruled paper (2)



Sixth, Seventh, & Eighth Grade Supply List
No Backpacks
The following is a list of suggested supplies and items to your child’s classroom:
4 or 5 inch binder (1)
spiral notebooks (6)
packs of wide-ruled paper (4)
pencil bag with 3-rings to insert into a binder (1) 
package of 6 tab binder dividers with pockets (2) 
highlighters (4)
#2 pencils (12)
blue or black pens (2 packages)
Dry-Erase markers (1 package)
glue sticks (2)
Please remember that these supplies will not last the entire year. They also don’t need to bring all their pens/pencils the first day. They should bring extras as needed.

Next year we are beginning a new signature program at El Mirage Elementary School - The Health and Wellness Academy. This program is intended to increase the amount of physical activities our students have before, during, and after school. We will add more sports, teach nutrition, expose them to health and sports-related careers, and integrate healthy lifestyles throughout learning in the school.

The purpose of our Health & Wellness Academy is to teach students about life-long healthy habits, and to help them become well-rounded individuals, with healthy minds and bodies. In an age of technology, we aim to increase their physical activity by encouraging them to get outside and play, to eat healthy, be confident in their abilities, and not be afraid to fail and try again.

You will notice that a committee of staff members, students, parents, and community members worked together to create this program, as well as the new vision and mission for the school. 

Vision: To empower our students, staff, and community to build strong, healthy minds and bodies.

Mission: El Mirage Elementary School is dedicated to the healthy mind and body of each student. We recognize the importance of academically preparing our students for college and careers, while teaching the skills necessary to become well-rounded, healthy individuals. Through health and wellness experiences, college preparation, and physical fitness, students will achieve their full potential and learn life-long skills for success.
 

Our 8th grade promotion ceremonies will be live-streamed this year, thanks to the help of our IT, CTE, and Communications/PR departments and high schools.

The ceremonies will be live-streamed on the Facebook site of the high school where your ceremony will take place.  The El Mirage Elementary School 8th grade promotion will take place on May 20th at 11:30 a.m. at Dysart High School. Here are the links to each high school Facebook account:

Willow Canyon: www.facebook.com/WillowCanyonHighSchool/
Valley Vista: www.facebook.com/ValleyVistaHS/
Dysart: www.facebook.com/DysartHighSchool
Shadow Ridge: www.facebook.com/ShadowRidgeHS

On the day of promotions, once the live stream is running, you can share it on your own Facebook account, or other social media accounts.
 

2018-2019  8th Grade Promotion Information
Date  
May 21, 2018
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location  
Dysart High School

Ticket Information
Order forms were handed out by the eighth grade teachers. Please contact Mr. Vasquez at [email protected] if you need more. 
 

---

2018-2019  Kindergarten Promotion Information
Date  
May 20, 2018
5:00-6:00 p.m. 

Location  
El Mirage Elementary School
Cafeteria

Ticket Information
TBD

The first full week in May is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank a teacher or other Dysart staff member in a meaningful way by making a donation to the Dysart Education Foundation in their honor! Your tax deductible donation will enrich the lives of teachers and students within the district in the form of teacher mini-grants and student scholarships administered by the Dysart Education Foundation.

Dysart Education Foundation will personalize a certificate including your name and personal message (optional) for each staff member you select and deliver it to them during National Teacher Appreciation Week. Please complete your request and donation by April 30th to ensure your thank-you is delivered on time!

Complete the online form and make your donation by going to: www.defweb.org/thankateacher

Dysart Parents and Guardians,

As we near the end of the school year, I am writing to ask you to partner with us to keep our Dysart students and campuses safe and secure. Historically, as students eagerly anticipate the approach of summer, the number of school threats increases. Dysart is hoping to stem this issue with your help.

As a fellow community member, I ask you to please:

1. Have a discussion with your child(ren) about the importance of immediately sharing information that could be considered threatening to our community with a responsible adult. This could be a parent, teacher or school staff member.
2. Make it clear to your child(ren) that online threats and rumors should not be forwarded or shared, because doing so impedes police investigations.
3. Discuss with your child(ren) the seriousness of making threats toward schools, and remind them that there are a number of charges that can be filed against students – including felony offenses.

If you become aware of an immediate threat, please call 911.  Otherwise, call law enforcement non-emergency lines to report potential threats towards our schools or the community in Surprise (623-222-4000), El Mirage (623-933-1341) or Maricopa County (602-876-1602).

Another option for reporting school safety issues or concerns is through our Safe Schools Hotline (623-876-7009) or online via Dysart Safe Report at Dysart.org/SafeReport. Additional information, resources, and school safety tips can be found on our website at Dysart.org/Safety.

Dysart is proud of our relationships with local law enforcement agencies, and works collaboratively with them to ensure the safety of our students and staff.  We all have a responsibility to be vigilant and should strive to prioritize the well-being of our community. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our campuses are always a safe place for our students.

Respectfully,

Quinn R. Kellis, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Dysart Unified School District

Next week AZMerit testing begins. Grades 3-8 students will take the writing test on Tuesday, April 2nd and grades 4 and 8 will take the science test on Friday, April 5th. The following week the reading tests are Tuesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 11th. During the week of April 15th, the math tests are Tuesday, April 16th and Thursday, April 18th. The rest of the days in between will be make-up testing. Please make every effort to have your child here on testing days. Also, encourage them to get good sleep, eat a good breakfast, take their time on the test, and do their best.

El Mirage Elementary School will be applying for the The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant for the 2019/2020 school year.   This is an after school tutoring program that focuses on maintaining a strong commitment to improving math, reading/language arts/literacy, and science. The program offers a variety of classes and activities outside of the instructional day that help students become proficient and connect with learning through a more engaging and personal environment. The program also provides enrichment opportunities such as art, music, physical education, mentoring, technology education, as well as nutrition and health education.