SWAG will be selling Valentine Grams beginning on February 3rd, before school from 7:55 - 8:10 a.m. and after school from 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. in the crimson hallway.  The sale will run through February 7th.  Each gram is 50 cents and will have a small chocolate.

 

Dear Parents —
 
Our school has officially started Kids Heart Challenge with the American Heart Association. Through this jump-roping, cardio-pumping program, kids learn the importance of being heart-healthy while fundraising to help kids with special hearts. We are also challenging each student to improve their health and better their character by choosing to Move More, Be Kind, or Be Ready. Students can select their challenge by joining our online team or download the FREE Kids Heart Challenge app to get started. Just for taking the challenge, your child will earn the Kids Heart Challenge wristband!
 
And have you met the Heart Heroes yet? Each Heart Hero has a special message to keep our students’ hearts happy and healthy! Students can earn members of the Heart Heroes when they raise life-saving donations. When your student received their first online donation, they’ll Perrie and Knox!
 
We are so excited about our upcoming Kids Heart Challenge event! Not only are we building happy and healthier students, but our school will receive gift certificates for PE equipment based on how much we raise. We have set a school goal to raise $8,000 in life-saving donations! That is going to get us A LOT of PE equipment!!!
 
And here’s the best part…when we reach our fundraising goal, the students from the top fundraising class will get to slime Principal Hoppe and Coach Whalen! So let’s all take the Slime Challenge and help the American Heart Association fight heart disease and stroke by raising donations. Every gift, big or small, helps make a huge difference!
 
Thank you for helping our school and the American Heart Association save lives and help families like Alexa’s! Meet Alexa, (1 Minute Video) our Kids Heart Challenge student survivor!
 
Have a heart healthy day!
 
Sincerely,
Jill Hoppe
 

As a reminder, our school doors and gates open at 7:55 am for students to enter for class.   Our gates and other outside doors close at 8:10, the first bell.  From 8:10 to 8:15, all students must enter the building through our Main office.  At 8:15 am, the second bell, it is expected that all students will be in the classroom ready to learn.     Students who enter after 8:15 am will need to be signed in by a parent or guardian or they will receive an unexcused tardy.   Thank you for your help in getting our students to school on time every day!

Canyon Ridge Yearbooks for the 2019-2020 School Year are Now on Sale!

There is still time to order your yearbooks.  Prices have increased to $30.00 for softcover and $40.00 for hardcover and are on sale through March 1, 2020.

8th Grade Families may also purchase their dedications on line through March 1, 2020.

To order, please   Browse the Bookstore                                                          

All yearbooks must be purchased on line.  There will be no yearbook sales on campus.
 

On Friday, February 21, 2020 Mr. Dennis Grau, of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10695 in Sun City West, and a 2014 inductee to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, will be speaking to seventh grade Social Studies classes. His presentation, and the question and answer session that follows, will be 90 minutes in length and will focus on his experiences in the Vietnam War. His message to learners highlights the importance of patriotism, service, and ongoing international peace.

Members of the public are welcome to attend this special event which will take place, for Social Studies blocks one and two, at 9:00 am and for Social Studies blocks three and four, at 12:00 pm.  Please contact [email protected] at Canyon Ridge School, with any questions you may have regarding our program.
 

Hello Canyon Ridge community -

If you have a student in  Kindergarten through Eighth Grade that will be new to Canyon Ridge next school year, and you live within the Canyon Ridge school boundaries,  now is the time to start the enrollment process.   Please go on line to the Dysart Student Registration link and complete the on line registration form.   You will then be contacted by our school registrar who will help you complete the necessary paperwork.   If you have any questions, please contact our front office at 623-523-8450.

Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:

Please remember Every Monday is early release.  We release 1 p.m.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20 - No School 
Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 21 -
Kona Ice sales after school
Canyon Ridge Boys Basketball Game has been canceled and will be rescheduled
Canyon Ridge Girls Soccer v Ashton Ranch at Cimarron Springs Elementary - Home Game; 5:00 p.m.
Canyon Ridge PTA General Membership Meeting followed by Canyon University; 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center

Wednesday, January 22 -
Dysart Governing Board Meeting; 6:00 p.m. at District Office

Thursday, January 23 -
PTA Student Store after school
?Canyon Ridge Boys Basketball Game has been canceled and will be rescheduled
Canyon Ridge Girls Soccer v Ashton Ranch at Cimarron Springs Elementary - Home Game; 5:00 p.m.

Other Upcoming Events Include:

Monday, January 27 -
Canyon Ridge Boys Basketball v Western Peaks at Western Peaks Elementary - 6:00 p.m.
Canyon Ridge Girls Soccer v Western Peaks at Cimarron Springs Elementary - 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 28 -
Kona Ice sales after school
Canyon Ridge Talent Show; 6:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria

Wednesday, January 29 -
Canyon Ridge Boys Basketball v Western Peaks at Western Peaks Elementary - 6:00 p.m.- Home Game
Canyon Ridge Girls Soccer v Western Peaks at Cimarron Springs Elementary - 6:00 p.m.- Home Game

Thursday, January 30 -
Dysart District Spelling Bee - 10:00 a.m. at District Office
PTA Student Store after school

PTA Events -
Follow the PTA on Facebook for information about our events!
The PTA will host a student store after school every Thursday with snacks, cold water, and spirit wear! Come say hello!
Don’t forget to clip box tops AND download the app to scan receipts! Those add up for our school!
You can find digital links on our Facebook page, or drop off a check in the front office or at our next PTA meeting!

Attendance Reminder -
The Attendance Line - 623-523-8453 - is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   If you know your child will be absent, please remember to call their absence in by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Please always contact the Attendance Line even if you have spoken with your child’s teacher.  Thank you.

Drop Off and Pick Up -
Our gates and doors for students open in the morning at 7:55 am.   Our teachers and staff members do not go on duty until 7:55 am. For your student’s safety, students should not be left unsupervised by you until 7:55 am.  If you have a student that is participating in a before school activity, our doors to the front office open at 7:15 am.
When releasing from school it is the expectation that all students are picked up within 15 minutes.   Our school office closes at 3:45 pm. Please make sure to inform the office if an unforeseen circumstance takes place and you are unable to pick up your student at the 3:00 pm release.

The parking lot in the back of the school is for STAFF only,  please refrain from dropping off or picking up in this area.

Traffic Safety -
The speed limit in the school zone is 15 mph.   For the safety of our students, parents and staff, we ask that you please adhere to this speed limit at all times.  
 

The students at Canyon Ridge School presented their annual program to honor Veterans on November 8, 2019. This Veterans Commemoration featured patriotic songs, band performances, student presentations of original art work and cards of gratitude, and guest speakers from the community at large. 

Over 1,100 people were in attendance, including staff and student body. The outdoor assembly also featured comments from our keynote speaker Dennis Grau; former Commander of VFW Post 10695 in Sun City West and 2014 inductee to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. “We live in a free country and enjoy your rights because of the service of the Veterans around you,” Grau mentioned as he motioned to the Veterans in the audience. “We are the home of the free because of the brave.”

Mr. Grau’s comments were echoed by Veteran Winnie Fritz; a U.S. Army combat nurse and winner of the Bronze Star for her service in Vietnam. “I am deeply moved to be here today and to experience this outpouring of love and respect for our Veterans. It is so important that a new generation understand the service of those who came before them.” Ms. Fritz was presented drawings and cards created by second and third grade learners. She will also be one of the Veterans that will be featured in writing by the Canyon Ridge chapter of the Veteran Heritage Project (VHP). 

The VHP builds bridges of understanding between students and Veterans by allowing those who served to tell their stories. Learners interview Veterans and create articles for publication in the acclaimed book, “Since You Asked.” Young authors will join their Veteran for a statewide book signing in April and a copy of the publication is displayed annually in the Library of Congress. The middle level learners of Canyon Ridge School are the only elementary grade representatives from the Northwest valley that will achieve publication in the volume. Their written works will highlight the accomplishments of Army Nurse Winnie Fritz, World War Two Army sniper, David Boyer and Navy Seabee Charles Hales. Mr. Hales is also a former president of the Saguaro Chapter of the Arizona SAR.

Among our honored guests were representatives from ten local patriotic community organizations. These groups all have long standing working relationships with Canyon Ridge School and included: Arizona Sons of the American Revolution, the Marine Corp League and the Arizona Daughters of the American Revolution. The Colors were presented and retrieved by the Arizona SAR Color Guard; under the command of Steve Monez. This organization has been instrumental to the success of multiple patriotic events on our campus; including United States Constitution and Patriot’s Day. Their contributions of time, resources and expertise continue to bring history alive for students.

The Veterans Commemoration assembly also featured a presentation of a $250 grant from the Veterans Commemorative Plaza Committee. Canyon Ridge was selected for this honor based on their two year partnership with the Cambridge program at Marley Park School, from 2013-2015. In that time both sites raised over $5,000 for the construction of the Surprise Veterans Commemorative Plaza. This monument honors all Veterans and contains brick pavers with the names and branch of service of hundreds of local Veterans.  Combined, our two Dysart schools remain the largest contributor to the memorial plaza. 

As a culmination to the Veterans Commemoration this year, VFW Post 10695 in Sun City West, performed a flag folding ceremony and presented this symbol to seventh grade Social Studies teacher Christopher Raso. He was cited for his many years of supporting Veterans and bringing patriotic learning opportunities the Canyon Ridge School. “I am deeply moved to receive our flag in this fashion,” Raso states. “The opportunity to bring real world experiences and expressions of patriotism to our students, have been the highlight of my career.”
Following the assembly guests were escorted through the Hall of Remembrance which consisted of over 120 photographs of Veterans from our community. Their years of service encompass all American conflicts from the First World War to the current War on Terror. All community guests and Veterans enjoyed a catered breakfast and had a chance to share their military experiences with each other at a reception sponsored by the Canyon Ridge Parent Teacher Association.

The 2019 Veterans Commemoration represents the tenth consecutive year that Canyon Ridge School has honored those who have served, or those currently in uniform. From it’s inception, the program has sought to educate learners regarding the importance of service and showing respect and appreciation for those who protect our freedom. The format of the assembly offered at Canyon Ridge has become the basis for assemblies that are now present at five schools in the Dysart Unified School District.

Dysart is excited to celebrate its 100th year of educating the community in the 2020-2021 school year. If you have a story or memory you would like to share with us to celebrate the upcoming centennial, or would like to volunteer to help, please let us know at Dysart Centennial

On November 8, 2019, Canyon Ridge hosted a Veterans Day Commemoration to celebrate our American Heroes.  The event included the presentation of colors, student performances, Veterans of Foreign Wars honored guest speaker, Dennis Grau, the Veterans Commemorative Plaza Award, along with a presentation of the American flag.  The event was followed by a reception and breakfast for our special guests.    Please enjoy the Video Presentation of this event.