Dysart Middle News

There will be no school on Friday, April 26th. The office will also be closed and will reopen on Monday, April 29th at 7:15am. 

Enjoy your Spring Holiday Eagles!

Congratulations to Alexa Cervantes Reyna, Adam Campbell, and Daisha Jones for being selected as winners of the 2023-24 Dysart/City of El Mirage Essay Contest in the 5th-8th category. The students were recognized at last nights City Council Meeting and will again be honored next week at the Governing Board Meeting.  Each are 6th grade students in Ms. Warwick's English Language Arts Class. 

1st Place-Alexa Cervantes Reyna 

2nd Place-Adam Campbell 

3rd Place-Daisha Jones

State testing will be starting March 26th and will continue through April. Students should be present for all testing days in order to avoid make-up test sessions. They should also bring their Chromebooks charged each day as tests will be completed online. The testing schedule is as follows:

AzSci (5th and 8th grades only) March 26th-March 28th

AASA Writing (5th-8th grade) April 2nd

AASA Reading and Math (5th-8th grade) April 16th-April 19th

The DMS office will be closed on March 18th through March 22nd for Spring Break. Get out and enjoy the beautiful, spring weather. We will see you back on Monday, March 25th!

Come join our band, choir, dance, theatre, and art students this Saturday, March 9th at the Festival of Arts. The festival will be held at Valley Vista High School from 10am-3pm. There are going to be over 100 performances from every elementary and high school band, choir, theater, and dance program in Dysart along with a beautiful art showcase.  There will also be arts and crafts to participate in, chalk murals being created, over 50 vendor booths to shop, and tons of food trucks to snack at. It is free to attend, so please come spend your day celebrating and experiencing the arts with us and cheering on your classmates.

Grads Photography will be on campus on Thursday, February 29th for Spring Pictures. Families will be able to view and order pictures online at Grads Photography after pictures have been taken.

If you have any questions, you can call the school office at 623-876-7100 or contact Grads at 623-580-4723. 

We are always looking to grow and improve at Dysart Middle School; your feedback helps us to do that! Please complete the yearly parent survey, which should only take about 5 minutes of your time. The survey will close on Sunday, February 18th. Thank you for your continued support of our school!

English Parent Survey 

Spanish Parent Survey

Family conferences will be held February 5th-February 9th. If you have not scheduled a time to meet with teachers, please call 623-876-7100 or email your child's teacher. Also, students will be released at 1:00pm on Thursday, February 8th and Friday, February 9th.  

We can't wait to see to see all our Eagle Families!

All DMS students will be taking Benchmark Tests on January 30th and 31st. You can help your student(s) be successful by making sure that they arrive to school on time, have a healthy breakfast, and get a good night's sleep. Also, please do not schedule any appointments on these dates in which students need to leave early. Take your time and do your best Eagles!

Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday honoring the life and birthday of one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history? Although the holiday is observed annually on the third Monday of January, this year is extra special because the holiday falls on King's actual birthday, Jan. 15th.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. there will be no school on Monday, January 15th. The office will also be closed. Students will return on Tuesday, January 16th at 7:55am. 

On Friday, December 15th, students participated in our 1st Annual Reindeer Run. Students and staff were challenged to run or walk a half mile. The top 3 boys and girls of each grade level were awarded with a medal. You can see more pictures from this event on our Instagram and Facebook pages!

Dysart Middle School will release at 11:15am on Thursday, December 21st and Friday, December 22nd for final exams. 

There is also no school from December 25th to January 8th for Winter Break. The office will also be closed during this time. The office will reopen on Monday, January 8th, at 7:15am. School will resume for all students on Tuesday, January 9th. 

Have a safe winter break!

The Roving Chef was on campus today. Students got an opportunity to work directly with our District Chef to learn about food, food safety, and then follow a recipe to cook! DMS Eagles made delicious calzones for lunch today. What a great opportunity to learn culinary basics!

We recently celebrated year of service on the DMS campus. A special shout-out to Mrs. Heck who earned her 30 year pin. Thank you Mrs. Heck for being so special to the Dysart Middle campus; your unwavering dedication to the staff and students at DMS is commendable!

There will be no school November 20-24 for Thanksgiving Recess. The office will be closed during this time and will reopen on Monday, November 27th at 7:15a.m. 

Enjoy your time off and be safe Eagles!

Checkout the most recent issue of Community Connect which showcases Fashion Club at DMS. This club, facilitated by Mrs. Prewitt, began with very few students during the 2020-2021 school year, but now has grown both in student participation and community involvement with the newly formed partnership with the Quilters on Grand Sun City Club. 

There is no school from October 9th-October 13th for Fall Break. The office will also be closed and will reopen on Monday, October 16th at 7:45am. To enroll a student, please visit www.dysart.org/enroll. 

Enjoy your time off Eagles!

Please join us on Friday, October 27th from 4:30pm-6:30pm for our annual Fall Festival. We will have games, vendors, and food trucks; we will also have art displays, choir and band performances. This event is free and open to all DMS students, friends, and families. Students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian during the event. This is a cash only event and game tickets can be purchased at the door. 

Families can also bring a carved/decorated pumpkin to enter in the pumpkin contest.

We look forward to seeing all of our DMS friends and families on the 27th!

Family conferences will be held on October 2nd-October 6th at DMS. Parents should schedule a time to meet with their child's homeroom teacher. Students will be released early on Thursday, October 5th and Friday, October 6th at 1:00pm. 

Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions!

Dysart Schools invites you to join us for a Vaping 101 presentation on Wednesday, September 27 from 6:00-7:30pm at The Vista Center for the Arts (15660 N. Parkview Place, Surprise, AZ 85374).

Vaping is one of the largest behavioral issues we see in our schools today, especially among middle and high school students. This event will explore current facts and myths around vaping, and you’ll leave with effective solutions in protecting your student(s).  Anyone in the community is welcome to attend, and the presentation is appropriate for all ages, so parents can bring their school-aged children along to hear about vaping directly if they choose.  

We hope you can join us for this informational presentation.

Please join our Middle School and High School Choirs as they help represent Dysart Unified at our DUSD AZ Diamondback night! Our singers will be performing the National Anthem on the field at the game on Saturday, September 2nd, at 5:10pm. Tickets must be purchased online here in order to attend the performance. Proceeds will go to benefit our Dysart Choral programs. Please come to the game and support our singers!  

For more information, contact Hillary Bond at [email protected]

Please remember to complete the Annual Student Update through your parent portal. This update is important to ensure that we have up-to-date medical and contact information for your child in the event of an emergency. You are also able to adjust your communication preferences (phone, text, and/or email) to ensure you are getting the various message types in the way that you would like.  To complete this update please visit Dysart.org/ParentPortal or use the Campus Parent app.

Staff will be available in the Gym on July 19th from 12:00pm-6:00pm and July 20th from 9:00am-1:00pm for Chromebook distribution. Families will need to bring $25 exact cash or check for the device protection plan. 

PTO will also be accepting new members for only $5 as well on these dates. Any families who sign up, will also get $5 off the purchase of DMS Spirit Wear. 

You may contact the front office at 623-876-7100 if you have any additional questions. 

Click on the link below to view the recommended school supply lists for the 2023-2024 school year. The front office is always accepting donations of supplies throughout the year!

5th Grade Supply List 

6th Grade Supply List 

7th/8th Grade Supply List

Please join us for Meet the Teacher Night on Tuesday, August 1st from 5:00pm-6:30pm. This is great opportunity for students and families to meet the staff of DMS and to see all of our learning spaces for the 2023-2024 school year. We can't wait to see you!

Please take note of the summer office hours:

• June 5th through June 22nd the office will be open from 8:00am to 12:00pm for Summer Learning 
• June 26th through July 7th the office is closed 
• July 10th through July 20th the office will be open from 7:15am to 3:45pm 
• July 24th normal office hours resume
• The office is closed each Friday from June 2nd through July 21st

To register your student, please visit dysart.org/enroll or you may call 623-876-7151 for assistance.

The first day of the 2023-2024 school year will be on Thursday, August 3rd! School hours are from 8:15am-3:00pm. The gates will open at 7:55am. We are looking forward to a successful school year!

Dysart Schools is hosting a free Summer Feeding Program for breakfast and lunch from June 5 through June 29.  Children ages 18 and under may receive meals Monday-Thursday from 8-9am and 11:30am-12:30pm at El Mirage Elementary School (13500 North El Mirage Rd., El Mirage AZ 85335). Meals need to be consumed on site, per federal regulations.

Parents and guardians can register new students online at Dysart.org/Enroll at any time. For in-person K-8 enrollment assistance between June 5th and June 29th, families may visit the District Office (15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise). All K-12 school offices will reopen for in person enrollment on Monday, July 10.    

Dysart Middle School will be offering a free, in person Summer Learning Opportunity for all students in 5th - 8th grade.  The focus of Summer Learning is to review priority standards in Math and Reading from the current grade level, to prepare students for success during the 2023-2024 school year. Summer Learning will run for 3 weeks, June 5th-22nd, from 8:00am-11:00am.  Transportation is not available for Summer Learning. You can pickup a permission slip in the front office or from your child's teacher. For more information, please contact the Summer Learning Coordinator, Linda Heck, at [email protected].   

The DMS office will be closed on March 13th through March 17th for Spring Break. Get out and enjoy the beautiful, spring weather. We will see you back on Monday, March 20th!

All Arizona public school students in Grades 3-8 will take the grade level AASA assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. DMS students will be testing on April 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th. Please do not pick up students early on these dates and encourage students to be present and on time on all testing days. 

Yearbooks are currently on sale for only $25! The price will increase to $30 starting April 1st. Make sure that your student doesn’t miss out on this meaningful keepsake. It’s the only book that captures the year’s events, activities, friendships, experiences and memories from the 2022-2023 school year. Place your order for the yearbook at gradsyearbook.com and follow the steps below. 

Our STC PE class participated in the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament at Dysart High School and brought home a GOLD medal! Thank you to our Coaches: Coach Mo and Coach Leonard and our STC teachers and paraprofessionals for all their support during the tournament. Congratulations students on your win!

Do you have a 4th grader that will be attending DMS next year? Join us for Future Eagles Night on January 25th from 5:00pm-6:30pm. Students and their families will be able to check out classrooms and tour the campus. They can also meet staff and view a band and choir performance. We hope you can make this fun, family event!

Members of Dysart Unified School District’s Textbook Adoption Committee will evaluate textbooks for grades 4-6 English Language Arts (ELA) and high school Advanced Placement (AP) Economics. 

The materials will be made available for review online and will be on display November 14, 2022 through January 13, 2023 at Freedom Traditional Academy, 16066 N Parkview Place Surprise, Arizona 85374. 

Parents and community members are invited to view the materials before and after school, from 7:15-8:00 AM and 3:00-3:45 PM. The last evening dates will be on January 10, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  To view the materials online, visit Dysart.org/CurriculumReview.  

All Dysart curriculum is aligned to state standards and current legislative mandates. To learn more about Dysart’s curriculum and adoption process visit Dysart.org/Curriculum, or contact the Dysart Schools Educational Services Department at 623-876-7173 for more information. 

DMS will be closed for Winter Break beginning December 21, 2022-January 3, 2023. The school office will reopen on Wednesday, January 4th and students will return to school on Thursday, January 5th. We wish everyone a safe and happy break!

Join us for Choir and Band performances!

Choir: December 8, 2022 at 5:30pm in the DMS cafeteria.

Band: December 8, 2022 at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium. 

Please note that there is no school November 21st-November 25th for Thanksgiving Break. The office will be closed and will reopen on Monday, November 28th at 7:15am. We are so thankful for all our Eagle students, families, teachers and staff and wishes everyone a restful break!

Fall sport tryouts begin this week! See below for all sports that will be holding tryouts, with dates and coaches to see for more information!

• Cross Country, November 4th, Coach: Ms. Howard.
• Cheer Tryouts, Week of November 14th, Coach: Ms. Altamirano
• Flag Football, November 15th-17th, Coaches: Mr. Vasquez and Mr. Barajas
• Boys and Girls Volleyball, November 15th-17th, Coaches: Coach Mo and Coach Leonard

Good luck Eagles!

 Dysart Unified School District invites parents and students to a Career and College Expo on Wednesday, October 26 from 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Dysart District Office, located at 15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise.  

The expo showcases Dysart's Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, West-MEC, colleges and universities, and military representatives so families can explore opportunities to pursue in and after high school. This is a great way for 5th through 11th grade students and their parents to get hands-on with all of the career pathway classes and programs offered at Dysart Schools. The event is free and open to the public. Details can be found at www.dysart.org/CTEexpo. 

Dysart Schools currently offer 17 CTE programs at four high schools (Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, Valley Vista High School, and Willow Canyon High School.) Program options include Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Digital Animation, Digital Photography, Education Professions, Engineering, Film and TV Production, Fire Science, Graphic Design, Laboratory Assisting, Law and Public Safety, Marketing, Nursing Services, Software and App Design, Sports Medicine, Stagecraft Design and Production and Technology Device Maintenance. Learn more at www.dysart.org/CTE. 

Please join us for Family Conferences October 3rd-7th. This is a great time to meet with teachers to talk about how your student is doing in school and/or ask questions about the class or your child's progress. If you have not scheduled a time to meet with your student's teachers, please contact the school office. We look forward to seeing families on our campus!

There is no school on October 10th-14th for Fall Break. The office will be closed during this time. The office will reopen when school resumes on Monday, October 17th. Enjoy your time with friends and family! 

Please join us on October 21st from 4:30pm-6:30pm for our Fall Festival! This event will have game booths, vendors, food trucks, performances, and a carved/decorated pumpkin contest! This event is open to all DMS students, friends, and families! Can't wait to see you there!

Each month, our Sunshine Committee recognizes outstanding teachers and staff members who are making a positive impact at DMS. September's certified winners are Spanish Teacher, Mrs. Gutierrez and Science Teacher, Ms. Martinez, respectively. 

It’s Fall picture time at Dysart Middle School! Grads Photography will be on campus Thursday, September 15th for individual and fall team sports photos. Please make sure that your child is dressed and ready for this memory-making  opportunity. Pictures can be purchased online after September 15th. If you have any questions, please call Grads Photography at 623.580.4723. We look forward to seeing those smiling faces!

Please remember to update the Annual Student Update on the parent portal. Without this update we cannot administer any medications, Vaseline, bug bite cream, or other over-the-counter medications. This is also important as we want to have up-to-date medical information and contact information on your student in the event of an emergency. You can complete the Annual Student Update by accessing the Parent Portal via Dysart.org or through the parent portal app.

You will see a new face amongst students and staff! Officer Clay with the El Mirage Police Department will now be a daily fixture on our campus as a Student Resource Officer (SRO). Officer Clay's main role is to form positive relationships with the students. He will also be an educational source to students and be present for any safety issues. We hope having an SRO will also help to reduce inappropriate student behaviors, develop a positive relationship between youth and law enforcement, and promote positive attitudes regarding the role of police in society. Share a wave and a smile the next time you see Officer Clay! 

• 5th Grade Supply List
• 6th Grade Supply List
• 7th Grade Supply List
• 8th Grade Supply List

Join us Monday, August 1st from 5:30pm-7:00pm to visit the campus and meet teachers and staff. Feel free to park in the front or back parking lots, as both doors will be open for families. We are looking forward to seeing all of our Dysart Eagle students and families!

We can't wait to see everyone back for the first day of school on August 3! Make sure you mark your calendars for event and activity dates and keep an eye on our new website for important information as the start of school approaches.

Our Meet the Teacher night will be on August 1 from 5:30-7pm. Please join us to see the campus, meet your child's teachers, and get information on what to expect this year. 

Still need to enroll? There's still time to get your children enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year! Parents and guardians can complete the necessary registration information online at Dysart.org/enroll at any time.  Please note that in order to finalize registration the following documents will be required: government issued photo identification; birth certificate; proof of residency; and immunization records. For additional assistance with student registration, families are welcome to contact our front office.

Don't forget to make sure you have access to the Parent Portal to keep up with your child’s academic progress throughout the year! Sign up or access the site online at Dysart.org/parentportal or via the Campus Parent app. 

Dysart Schools have many opportunities for the community to assist schools in providing an amazing educational experience to each and every student. Volunteers help to enrich children’s learning opportunities, provide individual attention to children who need one-on-one assistance, promote a school-home-community partnership for quality education, provide staff members with more time to work with students, and assist staff members and support personnel with non-instructional tasks.

Where is Help Needed?

• Classroom and teacher support 
• One-on-one student assistance 
• Event help (preparations, setup, operations, tear-down)  
• Guest speakers (experts or retirees in various fields) 
• Front office assistance

How to Become a Volunteer:

1. Review the volunteer handbook and complete the volunteer application at Dysart.org/Volunteer 
2. Make an appointment for your volunteer orientation 
3. Coordinate your schedule through the school office 
4. Put on your volunteer badge and have fun!

Who Should Apply to Volunteer?

Anyone who cares about children and education is a potential volunteer. Parents, grandparents and community members 18 years of age or older who want to make a difference in the lives of children and support educators are encouraged to apply to become a volunteer with Dysart Unified School District. Volunteers are welcome in all of our schools and prior teaching experience is not necessary.

Learn more or apply here.

Dysart Nutrition Services ensures that students at all schools have fresh, wholesome and nutritious breakfast and lunch options to support their education and focus in class. Learn more about Nutrition Services at Dysart.org/Nutrition. Menus and nutritional information may be viewed at Dysart.Nutrislice.com.

Apply for Free and Reduced Meals

Beginning July 1, 2022 the USDA is returning to income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced meals. All families should complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application at SchoolCafe.com to help maintain school funding and make sure that qualified families receive this and other benefits. Only one application is required per family, and may be completed at SchoolCafe.com.

How to Add Meal Funds to an Account

Cash and checks are accepted for meal purchases, or families may utilize SchoolCafe.com to prepay for meals online, view their balances, or place restrictions on purchases. Online payments take 24 hours to post to student accounts.  

Meal Prices 

• Elementary Lunch $2.60, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• Elementary Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75  High School Lunch $2.85, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• High School Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75 

A la carte and snack items are available for purchase on each campus, and additional meals are available for an added charge. Parents are always welcome to dine with their child, but please be sure to call in advance and check-in at the school office. Adult meals may be purchased for $1.75 for breakfast or $3.50 for lunch. 

Dysart is the largest employer in both the cities of Surprise and El Mirage with over 2,700 employees. Dysart Schools offer highly competitive salaries, full benefits and an inviting school-year calendar with holidays and weekends off for most positions. 

With a wide-variety of positions ranging from groundskeeper, to mechanic, to office staff, and teachers, we’re always looking for great people to join our Dysart team!

Current High Need Areas: 

•  Bus Drivers and Aides
•  Childcare and Preschool Aides
•  Paraprofessionals
•  Behavioral Technicians 
•  Speech and Language Pathologists 
•  Special Education Teachers 
•  Math Teachers 
•  Science Teachers 
•  ASL Teachers 
•  Health Services Assistants 
•  Crossing Guards 
•  Maintenance Workers and Plant Managers 
•  Social Workers

Check out our current openings at Dysart.org/Careers and apply today!

The Parent Portal is a great tool to stay informed 24/7 about your child’s academic progress. Grades, attendance, assignments and more are viewable in real time online or via the app, Campus Parent. A single login allows parents with multiple students to access information for all of their children in one place. Learn more at Dysart.org/ParentPortal.

Update Your Communication Preferences and Contact Info

To make sure that we can keep you informed in emergency situations, please ensure that your contact information is current in the Parent Portal. You are also able to adjust your communication preferences (phone, text, and/or email) at Dysart.org/ParentPortal or on the Campus Parent app to ensure you are getting the various message types in the way that you would like. Remember that if you select more than one type of communication per category, you will receive the message multiple times via each of those avenues.