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

Rancho Gabriela 8th Grade Science Teacher Thomas Macarle created an interesting way for his students to learn the physics of flight.  The students first learned about the Wright Brothers, Leonardo da Vinci, Chuck Yeager, and Amelia Earhart.  Mr. Macarle then brought in a hang glider to demonstrate the forces acting on it.  Several students got into the cockpit and learned about how to control the hang glider by weight shifting.  A few brave souls even picked up the glider into the launch position and learned how to do a mock mountain launch.  The lesson was one of many hands-on experiences the students get in the class where the real world application of sciences helps illustrate how they work.

Mother Son Magic Show   3/8/19

5:30 Food Trucks will be on site for dinner options.

6:30 Magic Show begins and is only $7 per person at the door

Order your copy today for only $25.00.

Personalize the yearbook with your student's name on the front cover for an extra $3.

Special Dedications are new this year! Make a dedication for only $10.

Yearbooks can be purchased Online Only!

Order online at: Grads Photography (Select Surprise and Rancho Gabriela and follow the online instructions)
 

Here are three easy, great ways to support Rancho Gabriela and the community.
 
The first and easiest way is with Boxtops.  Clip and save your Boxtops off of food products and turn into the school. Each Boxtop is worth 10 cents and they certainly add up quickly.
 
Our Yankee Candle/Cookie Dough fundraiser is happening  now and raises money to support your child’s classroom.
 
Finally, Rancho Gabriela cares about our community and we are asking for your help donating canned goods and non-perishable food items to St. Mary’s food bank.  Our goal is to donate 1,000 cans by October 12th, just in time for the holidays.  The grade level with the most donated non-perishable food items will win an Ice Cream Party!
 
 

Meet the class pet, Red! This red-tailed boa constrictor is one three  pet snakes in Mr. Macarle's 8th grade science lab at Rancho Gabriela Elementary School.  Red is approximately 6.5 feet long and when mature will probably max out at 10-12 feet. The other two snakes in the classroom are royal or 'ball' pythons.  They will reach a  length of 5-6 feet long when fully grown.  Mr. Marcale uses the pet snakes to teach students about biology,  predator-prey relationships, along with empathy, and how to handle, care for, and show compassion to animals.

Photo Gallery


 

Registration is now open for Dysart Unified School District enrichment classes and activities for the 2018-2019 school year.  The youth and adult programs offer opportunities for learning, creativity, growth, and development outside of the traditional learning experience.  Current programs include the arts, chess, fencing, cheerleading, karate, soccer, and more. Students can attend any activity and do not need to be enrolled at the hosting school to participate.

Current classes are offered at the following locations:

•  ActivStars Cheer will be hosted at Rancho Gabriela and Canyon Ridge.
•  ActivStars Karate will be hosted at Mountain View, Kingswood, and Ashton Ranch.
•  ActivStars Soccer will be hosted at El Mirage and Mountain View
•  Chess Emporium will be offered at Canyon Ridge, Sonoran Heights, Sunset Hills, and Western Peaks.
•  Dysart Jazz Band will be offered at Marley Park.
•  Ewa Fencing will be offered at Canyon Ridge.
•  Heartsaver First Aid/CPR Training will be offered at Kingswood and Valley Vista.
•  KidStage theater class will be offered at Marley Park, Luke, Kingswood, Surprise, Canyon Ridge, and Dysart Elementary.
•  Play-Well TEKnologies Lego Class will be offered at Canyon Ridge and Sonoran Heights.
•  Sportball, a variety of sports with some with water play, will be offered at Ashton Ranch, Cimarron Springs, and Marley Park
•  Young Rembrandts will be offered at Ashton Ranch, Canyon Ridge, Cimarron Springs, Luke, Marley Park, Mountain View, Parkview, Rancho Gabriela,
     Sonoran Heights, Sunset Hills, and Western Peaks.

Signing up for a class is easier than ever with a convenient online registration process.  Costs for classes vary, but payments can be made through the online portal available on the enrichment website.

For further information, please contact Community Education and Enrichment at (623) 876-7056.
 

Check us out on:

Facebook & Instagram @RGESRattlers

Dysart Unified School District and ESI Educational Services, Inc. will host a substitute teacher job fair on Tuesday, July 10 from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Valley Vista High School located at 15550 N. Parkview Place in Surprise, Arizona.  The event allows interested candidates to learn about exciting placement opportunities, daily and long term positions, available benefits, flexible schedules, and more.

Candidates interested in additional information can call or text (480) 269-8314 to speak directly to ESI team members focused on placing individuals in rewarding substitute positions throughout Arizona.

Students, parents, teachers, and principals from across the Dysart Unified School joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10695 in Sun City West during the ninth annual VFW Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy essay writing awards program.  The honored guests joined our Veterans for a pizza party and recognition ceremony to announce the contest winners with certificates of merit and gift card prizes. In all, 54 awards were presented to learners from 18 schools in the Dysart Unified School District.

Canyon Ridge School seventh grade student, Brandon Nevers, was selected as the first place winner overall for the Patriot’s Pen contest. His essay will now advance to the next level of competition and will be considered by the 12 VFW posts in the Phoenix District Three area. Willow Canyon High School student, Robert Cerillo was selected as the overall winner for the Voice of Democracy contest. The event also included the presentation of the 2018 VFW Teacher of the Year Award (K-5) to Mrs. Carla Bennett, a second grade educator at Canyon Ridge School, who was chosen for her outstanding performance for developing and enriching activities for students. The 2018 VFW Teacher of the Year Award (6-8) was presented to Ms. Kristin Cox of Kingswood Elementary School for ongoing dedication to students.

“These student and teacher awards are all about the future,” states VFW Post 10695 Commander and Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame inductee, Dennis Grau, “To demonstrate to children that patriotism is important in their lives and to show appreciation for the teachers who show them the way.”

Below are the top three winners for each school in the two essay categories:

2017 Patriot's Pen Essay First, Second, & Third Place Winners

Ashton Ranch Elementary School
                 Brooke Wilkins
                 Megan Gatz
                 Elizabeth Jensen

Canyon Ridge School
                 Brandon Nevers
                 Parker Sorensen
                 Kohen Hill

Cimarron Springs Elementary School
                 Alyssa Robichaud
                 Kameryn Davis
                 Luciana Bazata

Countryside Elementary School
                  Allison Skinner
                  Isabel Martinez
                 Jasmyn Wilson

Dysart Elementary School 
                 Jaiden Stokes
                 Alexa Lucero
                 Mary LaFay

Kingswood Elementary School  
                  Evan Kolami
                  Jasmine Gulei
                  Jenelle McCoy

Luke Elementary School 
                 Oliver Crosby
                 Mia Gaffney
                 Ryan McHugh-Layou & Vy Truong

Marley Park Elementary School
                Courtney Bird
                Jason Nivens
                Kiersten Baker

Mountain View School 
                 Andrew Hageman
                 Adrianna Williams
                 Analiese Rodriguez

Parkview Elementary School 
                 Mathews Esrra
                 Amber Baird
                 Vladimir Wade

Rancho Gabriela Elementary School 
                  Hannah Gulczynski
                  Janae Lopez
                  Danielle Lemoine

Sunset Hills Elementary School 
                 Maia Whitt
                 Kaitlynn Bowman
                 Abigail Tremblay

Surprise Elementary School 
                 Nicole Napolitano
                 James Buffington
                 Lyrica Mann

Thompson Ranch Elementary School
                 Azuriah Irby
                 Christian Ramos
                 Delilah Aguero

Patriot's Pen Essay Overall Winners

Brandon Nevers,  Canyon Ridge School
Nicole Napolitano, Surprise Elementary School
Jaiden Stokes, Dysart Elementary School

2017 Voice of Democracy Essay First, Second, & Third Place Winners

Dysart  High School
                 Taylor McCormick
                 Ren Dickson
                 Maria Parra

Willow Canyon High School
                 Roberto Cerrillo
                 Abigail Nevers
                 Kai Sanford
 
Voice of Democracy Essay Overall Winners

              Roberto Cerrillo, Willow Canyon High School
              Abigail Nevers, Willow Canyon High School
              Kai Sanford, Willow Canyon High School