Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:

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

September 16 - September 27 -
NEHS Banner Thunderbird Activity Bag Fundraiser - information will be sent home with your student

Monday, September 16 -
Canyon Ridge Boys Baseball and Girls Softball v Mountain View 
7:30 p.m. at Willow Canyon High School

Tuesday, September 17 -
Canyon Ridge US Constitution Day Event; 8:15 - 1:00 p.m. in the Media Center
Kona Ice Sales after School
Canyon Ridge PTA General Membership Meeting and Canyon Ridge University; 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center.  Topics include:

• Social Thinking
• Restorative Practice
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Wednesday, September 18 -
Fall Picture Day

Thursday, September 19 -
PTA Student Store after school

Friday,  September 20 -
Canyon Ridge Boys Baseball and Girls Softball v Ashton Ranch; 6:30 p.m. at Shadow Ridge High School (rescheduled from 8/28/19)

Other Upcoming Events Include:

Monday, September 23 -
Canyon Ridge Boys Baseball and Girls Softball v Cimarron Springs 
4:30 p.m. at Willow Canyon High School

Tuesday, September 24 -
Kona Ice Sales after School

Wednesday, September 25 -
Canyon Ridge Boys Baseball and Girls Softball v Cimarron Springs - HOME GAME
4:30 p.m. at Willow Canyon High School
Dysart Governing Board Meeting; 6:00 p.m. at District Office

Thursday, September 26 -
PTA Student Store after school
Canyon Ridge PTA Family Game Night; 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria.  See flyer sent home with your student for more information.

Friday, September 27 -
Baseball and Softball Playoffs; Round 1

Monday, September 30 - 
Baseball and Softball Playoffs; Round 2
PTA Panda Express Dine Out Night - 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., 16760 W Waddell Rd, Surprise, AZ 85388.  Please bring the flyer that was sent home with your child for your purchase to count toward PTA sales, or you can pull it up on your phone from the PTA Facebook page or weekly email blast.  If ordering on line, enter 270734 in the promo code box during online checkout.

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!

Our Donation Drive raised over $13,000 - WOW!  We did fall a little short of our goal, but we are so grateful for every 
single donation.

For the purpose of rewarding the kids for their participation, a deadline was necessary, but we will always GLADLY accept
donations, and when we hit that $25k goal, we’ll still have a popsicle party and Ms. Hoppe will be SLIMED!  Donations are
tax-deductible and by donating directly to us, 100% of your donations stay at Canyon Ridge!

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.  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.  

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

Preorders now through January 1st - $25.00 for softcover and $35.00 for hardcover
After January 1st through March 1st, prices increase to $30.00 for softcover and $40.00 for hardcover.

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.


 

For the tenth consecutive year, Andy Simoneschi, a first responder and survivor of the Twin Towers attacks in 2001, joined learners at Canyon Ridge School for a remembrance assembly on September 11, 2019. Students in grades fifth through eighth had the opportunity to hear Andy recount his experiences as an Emergency Medical Technician and ambulance driver at the World Trade Center site. Students also posed many thought provoking questions that they had prepared for this special event. 

“The best way to honor those lost on that day is to remember them,” Andy reflects. “The firefighters, police officers and port authority officials who died that day. They are the real heroes of the 9-11 attacks. I lost close friends; people that I was responsible for. Keeping their memory alive, and helping kids to realize the importance of living well, are the reasons I am here.”

The program was open to the public and attended by parents, community members, teachers and school administration. Dr. Quinn Kellis, Superintendent  and Ms. Christine Pritchard, Governing Board President represented district leadership. Representatives from Arizona Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) were also on hand to support our social studies programs and guest speaker.

“Students should always remember that on 9-11 we lost the twin towers but we did not lose our freedom,” stated Dennis Grau, VFW member and Vietnam War Hero. “The work and sacrifice of people like Nurse Andy is proof of that fact.”

Besides conveying his memories of that day eighteen years ago, Andy Simoneschi offered an inspiring message to our students regarding the value of family, education, and appreciation for our country. “Look around each day and say thank you to those in your family who love and take care of you. Do great things in life and understand what a gift it is to have that opportunity.”

The assembly culminated with a gift for Andy from the seventh grade team. A firefighter figurine, purchased with student donations, and many class generated thank you cards were provided by our learners. “We appreciate you, Andy and see you as a brave and important member of our team,” stated seventh grade learner Kelly Romero.

A special award, in the form of a framed certificate and medal, was presented by Mike Fish, Arizona SAR Saguaro Chapter President. “This SAR award for heroism is presented to EMT Andy Simoneschi for his work on 9-11 and all his efforts to keep alive the memory of those we lost that day. His important and patriotic work with students demonstrates actions that are in the best tradition of the Founders of our nation.”

Photo Gallery

Parents, 

Canyon Ridge NEHS members will be holding its 4th annual Banner Thunderbird Activity Bag Drive beginning Monday, September 16 through Friday, September 27.  We ask that you include any of the following in a gallon-sized zip lock bag: 

small toys, coloring books, markers, crayons, puzzles, small books, crafts, play dough, etc. 

All items must be brand new as we cannot accept used items. 

These bags will be given to children ages 4-12 who are spending time in the hospital and cannot leave their rooms.  Please drop off bags with your child's homeroom teacher beginning September 16.  The winning classroom will receive an ice cream sandwich party!  

New This Year! 

Complete Your Annual Student Update Online.

Each year, school districts are required to verify student information. We are excited to announce that we now have an online version of our Annual Student Update available at ParentPortal.  

To ensure that we can communicate with families regarding their student, or in the case of an emergency, it is essential we have accurate and up-to-date contact information. The new online form allows you to confirm or update your contact information, address, student health and emergency contact information and preferences.

Additionally, the Annual Student Update allows parents to identify if they are in the military. Knowing where our military families attend school will assist the Dysart Unified School District in applying for Federal Impact Aid funding.

A Parent Portal account is needed to complete the Annual Student Update. In addition to being able to complete the Annual Student Update online, the Parent Portal can be a great tool for parents to stay informed 24/7 about their child’s academic progress. Grades, attendance, assignments, and more are viewable in real time online or via the app. Parents with multiple students in the district have a single login to access information for all of their children in one place. The Campus Parent app is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon. If you don’t already have an account, you may sign up for one at ParentPortal.

Please perform your Annual Student Update today in 3 easy steps:

• Log into your Parent Portal account at www.dysart.org/parentportal
• Click on "Annual Student Update"
• Click on the “Register New/Update Existing Information” button to begin

As you start shopping for your child's school supplies, please refer to the following suggested supplies information for each grade level:


Kindergarten Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

1st Grade student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

2nd Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

3rd Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

4th Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

5th Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

6th Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

7th Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]

8th Grade Student School Supply List 19-20 [PDF]




 

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

For the second year in a row, students at Canyon Ridge School worked in conjunction with members of Arizona Sons of the American Revolution (AZ SAR), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10695 in Sun City West, to promote the remembrance of Veterans in our community.

Seventh and Eighth grade students joined the Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) activity group on campus, formulated questions, wrote articles, and selected photos that told the story of a local American Veteran.  The VHP is an Arizona based organization dedicated to bringing students and Veterans together for the purposes of recording their experiences and expanding their understanding of history. By promoting a better understanding of the sacrifices and accomplishments of those who served, members of the VHP activity group at Canyon Ridge, had the unique opportunity to learn about American history from those who lived through it.

The multiple interviews and article drafts generated by students culminated in final drafts that appeared in the annual VHP publication, Since You Asked. By dedicating their time and skills to the promotion of Veteran’s experiences, the students of Canyon Ridge became published authors and had their work memorialized in print and by the Library of Congress.

Harvey Johnson and David Thompson, of the AZ SAR Saguaro Chapter, and Don Burnett of VFW Post 10695 in Sun City West, offered detailed accounts of their experiences in the Armed Forces and discussed the feelings and reactions related to the impact of combat experiences. In addition to the published articles, the recollections and wisdom of our Veterans, recorded as video interviews, will be immortalized by the national Veterans Oral History Project. “It is important to tell the stories of our Veterans. I want civilians to know what war is really like. We want to make sure that the message is shared for all to see and understand,” said Navy and Coast Guard Veteran Don Burnett.

An undertaking of this magnitude would not have been possible without the generous support of AZ SAR, VFW Post 10695 and the Canyon Ridge PTA. Financial donations, moral support, and all of the valuable input of our Veterans proved instrumental to the success of this patriotic endeavor. The students, teachers and leadership of Canyon Ridge School are looking forward to expanding their VHP efforts in the next academic year to come.