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Important Safety Reminders from the Superintendent
Dysart SafeDysart 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
Posted : 4/17 | Direct Link
State Testing Schedule
AzMERIT and AIMS testing start the Week of April 1st

DHS is getting ready to start spring testing. We are proud of the work the students have done this year and can't wait for them to demonstrate all they have learned. 


AzMERIT Testing Dates: 

April 3rd: AzMERIT Writing (all students in any 9th, 10th, or 11th grade English Course)

April 10th: AzMERIT Reading (all students in any 9th, 10th, or 11th grade English Course)

April 17th: AzMERIT Math (all students in any Algebra 1-2, Geometry, or Algebra 3-4 or their equivalents)  


Testing Schedule
7:15-10:30         Testing Session
10:30-11:00      Lunch
11:00-11:28 (28 min) 1st Period
11:33-12:01 (28 min) 2nd Period
12:06-12:36 (30min) 3rd Period 
12:41-1:09 (28 min) 4th/5th Period
1:14-1:42 (28 min) 6th Period
1:47-2:15 (28 min) 7th Period

April 3rd, 10th and 17th will be a late start day for seniors who are not testing. Any senior who is taking a course that is testing must report for testing. 

AIMS Science 
April 4th: All 9th graders in biology and any 10th graders who have not taken AIMS Science 
There will not be a modified schedule this day. Students will test from 7:15-10:30 then attend their classes. 

As an incentive for students to do well this year, the district has added a grade incentive for students who earn proficient (meets) and highly proficient (exceeds) on the exams. Students who earn a proficient will earn a 1 letter grade increase on their transcript for both semesters. Students who earn a highly proficient will earn an A on their transcript for both semesters.



 
Posted : 3/29 | Direct Link
HOSA Visits Midwestern University Health Science Career Day

Each year, Midwestern University in Glendale, offers two options for students in healthcare education programs to visit their campus and get hands-on experience of a variety of health professions programs offered by MWU.  This year, Dysart’s HOSA Chapter and Sports Medicine students were lucky enough to participate in their Annual Health Science Career Day, and got some of the best pictures of what those fields include. Our students attended an opening/welcome session given by current medical students.  They then got to travel to four workshops and learn and participate in hands-on skills within that career field. Starting in the physical therapy teaching clinic, our students learned more about testing reflexes, using orthotics and prosthetics, and walking with assistive devices, such as walkers and canes.  They then got to go to a Surgical Skills workshop that included putting on and removing personal protective equipment used in operating rooms, and learning how to do basic internal suturing techniques!

The second half of the day included time spent in their human cadaver lab.  Yes, that meant our DHS students were able to hold a human heart! They had an hour to touch and evaluate different organs from different species, comparing them, and looking for evidence of disease.  Our final session was optometry, and students got to evaluate each other to look for signs of color blindness, decreased visual acuity, and other conditions of the eye itself.

Overall, the day was extremely engaging, very educational, and mostly, so much fun!!!  Our students are already looking forward to returning next year. Thank you Midwestern University!



 
Posted : 3/5 | Direct Link
City Water Main Update
UPDATE: The city has temporarily fixed the main water line serving Dysart High School. Water service has been fully restored. The city will work on a permanent solution to fix the line this evening.

A city water main was broken, so most of the school does not have running water. However, some of the campus receives water from another water line, so there are functioning restrooms available near the football field, which will be available for students in the meantime. Classes will continue as usual. We will work closely with the city to continue evaluating the situation, and will keep you posted with updates if anything changes. Dysart Elementary School is on another water line and is not affected.

 
Posted : 1/23 | Direct Link
Dysart Road Closure
Dysart Road will be closed for Northbound traffic from Varney Road to Laurel Lane from January 22nd-January 25th. 

Access to campus will only be from the north entrance at the light on Dysart Road. 

See  the map linked below for details. 

Dysart Road Closure Map [PDF]
Posted : 1/17 | Direct Link
2019-2020 Course Selection
Current DHS 9th, 10th and 11th grade students are in the process of selecting courses for the 2019-2020 school year. 

Students have received their course selection sheets and should be bringing them home for parent signature.  They are due back to their math teacher by this Friday, January 18th.

Please use the presentations below to review the courses available to students in each grade level. 
 

Incoming DHS 9th graders will select their courses with the DHS guidance counselors the Week of January 21st. 

Please use the presentation below to review the courses available to the incoming 9th grade students. 
 


 
Posted : 1/14 | Direct Link
DHS AVID Alumni panel speak to students
AVID Alumni panel speaks to studentsDysart High School held their second annual Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Alumni panel. At this event, former Dysart High School AVID graduates came to speak with current freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior Dysart High School students about their college experience and how AVID guided them to be successful.

The panel consisted of nine Dysart High School alumni from both the class of 2017 and 2018, representing eight different colleges including: University of Hawaii, Regis University, Embry Riddle University, University of New Mexico, Estrella Mountain Community College, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and Grand Canyon University.

The high school students prepared questions for the panel and heard how the alumni carried the tools they learned in AVID through their first years of college. “With AVID I learned how to hold myself to a higher standard academically,” said ASU student Jada Thurston.

AVID, an international program to increase student performance, is a four-year program for students who are capable of completing the most rigorous curriculum but are falling short of achieving their academic potential. The AVID elective provides academic instruction and support to prepare students for eligibility and success at a four-year college or university. AVID topics include: note-taking, study skills, test taking, time management, college exam preparation, critical reading skills, inquiry and collaboration. The AVID program is only offered to those students who meet specific criteria and who are selected through an application and interview process.
 
Posted : 12/14/2018 | Direct Link
DHS to host Tri-University for Seniors
Tri-University at DHSAttention Seniors! Dysart High School will host the Tri-University Fair on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Representatives from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona are coming together to ensure you and your family are well informed about the opportunities and resources available to you. Topics include college admissions, scholarships, financial aid, opportunities at each in state university.  Seniors from all Dysart Unified School District high schools are welcome to attend and explore. 
Posted : 9/13/2018 | Direct Link
Dysart HOSA hosts blood drive
United Blood Service team member helps individual donating blood.As part of the United Blood Service (USB) High School Challenge, the Dysart High School Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club hosted a blood drive on Friday, September 7.  This drive is one of four throughout the year which helps Arizona’s youngest blood donors make their mark on the community by supporting lifesaving blood donations.

Dysart HOSA takes this need seriously and has decided to host quarterly drives to support local hospital needs. The UBS High School Blood Drive Challenge emphasizes community service with a focus on lifesaving activities. Students develop leadership skills as they coordinate blood drives at their school.  Each school is assigned to one of eight divisions based on the school’s senior class size and geographic location and can earn awards based on the number of donations. In addition, students who serve on their blood drive committee can earn a $1,000 scholarship.  

HOSA has taken on this initiative since 2015 earning awards ranging from Silver to Platinum.  The students are well on their way to a successful year with 66 components collected in their first drive and a goal to win a division title this year. Additional drives held at Dysart High School  include:
 
  • November 3, 2018 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • January 25, 2019, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • April 19, 2019, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

HOSA is a student-led Career and Technical Student Organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary and collegiate students interested in a career in health care. HOSA helps build the confidence of students by providing opportunities and responsibilities that lead to realistic choices of careers and successful employment in the healthcare field.

United Blood Services is a nonprofit community blood center, providing blood and blood products for local area hospitals throughout the United States.
Posted : 9/10/2018 | Direct Link
Diamondbacks honor DHS teacher
Diamondbacks honor Dysart High TeacherDysart High School teacher, Ivory Carson, received the Diamondbacks Most Valuable Teacher (MVT) Award. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Papa John's are proud to support Arizona teachers through the MVT program. This recognition supports outstanding educators and provides an opportunity to showcase the states teachers and acknowledge their commitment to students.
 
Carson was nominated by fellow Dysart High School teacher,  Jose Pete Partida. "Mr. Carson has a commitment level to his students and Dysart High School that I have not often seen in other teachers," said Partida. "On most days he is the first one on campus, and the last one to leave. "
 
Mr. Carson received a $1,000 classroom grant, pizza party for his class, and recognition on the field at a Diamondbacks game this past summer.  He will be considered for the Teacher of the Year award this September, which includes a $5,000 classroom grant and on-field recognition.
 
Posted : 8/22/2018 | Direct Link
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