Luke News

Tomorrow is National Administrative Assistants Day!  We celebrate you, Bobbi-Sue, Jessica & Priscilla!!

This week is National Volunteer Appreciation Week!  We celebrate our Luke Jet Volunteers!!

Luke Elementary School is featured in the Spring Edition of the Community Connect Magazine.  Our students took the coveted front cover feature in the article highlighting Luke Elementary School as the first Purple Star Candidate School in Arizona.  Check out the article on page 10 that demonstrates our commitment to our military families and the resources offered at Luke Elementary School.

Best of Luck to our 3rd-8th Graders who will start state testing this week with AASA Writing on Wednesday!!  We believe in you - take your time, try your best and ROCK the TEST!

Both Girls and Boys Basketball has kicked off their season and are doing wonderfully!  Let's go Jets!

Our April PTSA Meeting is this Wednesday at 5:00pm in the Luke Library!!

Kindergarten & 8th Grade students will take promotion pictures on Thursday, April 4th!  Check parent square for tips!

This week is National Assistant Principal Week.  We are so thankful for Mrs. Miller and ALL she does to support our Jets and Jet Community!

Don't forget to wear your Purple on Wednesdays in April!  April is Month of the Military Child, or better known as "Purple Up".  Show your support by wearing purple on Wednesdays!

We are excited to see our Jets back on campus tomorrow!  We hope you had a wonderful break!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03/13/2024

DYSART SCHOOLS - Luke Elementary School is one of the top schools nominated for Best Public School in the Best of the Desert Community’s Choice Awards.  Luke’s selection was based on nominations from community members during the initial round in January. The voting round runs from March 13-27, and the community can vote once a day for their favorites among the top finalists in various categories at Community Choice voting site.  

Luke Elementary School is “A” rated by the state accountability letter grades. In October, 2023, Luke was named the first Purple Star Candidate School in the state of Arizona for their strong support of military families through numerous partnerships with Luke Air Force Base, their student transition program, designated staff point of contact, staff training, and dedicated web page resources for military students and families. In September of 2023 Principal Kara Sehr was named the Principal of the Month by Grand Canyon University, and in 2022-2023, Luke was named an APS/NAU STEM Focus School for the Future. 

About Luke Elementary School 

Luke Elementary School is a preschool through eighth grade school with over 500 students that is situated next door to Luke Air Force Base at 7300 North Dysart Road in Glendale, Arizona. It has served the community since 1958. Learn more at Dysart.org/Luke. 

About the Best of the Desert Community’s Choice Awards 

Each year, the Best of the Desert Community’s Choice Awards recognizes more than 660 businesses and organizations among more than 220 categories. The awards program starts with public nominations, and from the top nominees in each category, the voting round selects the finalists and winners.

Next week is Spring Break!  We hope our Jet Community enjoys a week off, see you back on Monday, March 25 at 8:40am!

Parents, be sure to check Parent Portal!  Quarter 3 Final Grades are available!

We hope you can join us for Literacy Night on Thursday, March 7th from 5:30pm - 7:00pm at Luke!

We also have Literacy Spirit Week!

Monday, March 4th - Wear Neon

Tuesday, March 5th - Jersey Day

Wednesday, March 6th - Hawaiian Day

Thursday, March 7th - Hallway Color Wars

Friday, March 8th - Pajama Day

Happy National School Breakfast week!  Be sure to have your child(ren) grab a delicious breakfast before school today!

Our Kindergarteners have been doing science experiments!  Last week, they put celery in colored water and made observations on the effects!

It's Read Across America Day!  Next week is our Annual Literacy Night!  Stop by Luke to check out the Candyland of Reading from 5:30pm - 7:00pm!  See you there!

We are so fortunate to have many Fine Arts Programs at Luke Elementary!  From Music Class to Choir Club to Art Club and Band - we will celebrate throughout March as part of Music in our schools Month!

Just a reminder that we do not have school on Monday, February 19, 2024 in observance of Presidents Day.

We hope you and your family can join us on Wednesday, February 14th for our Annual Family BBQ.

Just a reminder Jets will release at 1:45pm tomorrow and Friday for Parent/Teacher Conferences!!

We are so thankful for Site Council and the ability to support before and after school activities, clubs and sports at Luke!  Click here to donate to support through Tax Credit!

Congrats to 4th Grade for winning Awesome Attendance and to 5th Grade for winning Positively Punctual!  Our Incredible PTSA will provide both grade levels with popcorn!!

Luke Elementary is now on Parent Square!  Parents, check your inbox to join and stay updated!

Is your 3rd-8th Grade daughter interested in coding?  Ms. T will be hosting coding sessions during lunches on Wednesday.  If your daughter is interested in joining, have her let Ms. T know or email her at [email protected]

Our Girls Volleyball team has kicked off their season!  Best of Luck, Jets!

Our Jets Football Team has started their season!  Good Luck Jets!

Are you interested in Badminton?  Ms. Bell hosts a weekly Badminton Club on Fridays at 8:00am.  See Ms. Bell to join!

The month of February is Career & Technical Education Month.  We are proud to offer iExplore to all Kindergarten - 8th Grade students and are a STEM Identity School.  We are excited that we are able to inspire our Jets for their futures!

Spring Parent/TEacher Confernces are next week!  Please check your child's eBlast or parent email for more information to sign up!  

This week, we celebrated THREE Luke Staff who received their National Boards Candidacy Pennants!!  Congrats Ms. Haug, Ms. Harshman and Ms. Zavala.  We are so proud of YOU!

Our 3rd-8th Grade students will take the ELA and Math Bechmark 2 next week!  

Tuesday, January 30th - 3rd-8th Grade ELA Benchmark 2

Wednesday, January 21st - 6th-8th Grade Math Benchmark 2

Thursday, February 1st - 3rd - 5th Grade Math Benchmark 2

Next Tuesday, January 23rd is our 100th Day of School!!!  We are excited to see the results from this AMAZING year!

We hope you can join us for our Annual Valentine's Family BBQ.  RSVP by 2/2/2024 here!

Just a reminder we do not have school in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday, January 15th.  

On January 10, 2024, ALL of our 8th graders were at school!  Way to start off the year strong!

Parents please check out the January Luke Letter!

Welcome Back to School, Jets!  We are SO excited to see you all back and have a wonderful 2024!!

Our 6th-8th Grade Girls Volleyball Season starts tryouts this week!  See Coach Nicole Jones, 1st Grade Teacher, for more information!

6th-8th Grade Boys interested in trying out for the football team, see Coach Jones!  Tryouts are this week!

We hope our Jets have a lovely Winter Break!  

No School - Monday , December 25 - Monday, January 8th.  

See you back at Luke at 8:40am on Tuesday, January 9th!!

Students release at 12:00pm on Friday, December 22nd!! 

Please check out the December Luke Letter!

On Friday, December 1st, we hosted our first Deployment Luncheon with specials guests from Luke Air Force Base.  It was an amazing collaboration and provided an opportunity for our military-connected students to meet our Luke Air Force Base School Liaison!  Check out the photos here!  

Kindergarten went outside to observe the effects of wind using dry ice! The students were amazed at the fog they could create with their breath and watch the patterns of "wind!

December 2nd is National Special Education Day!  Thank you to our amazing Exceptional Services Department for ALL that you do for our school!

Please join our amazing PTSA for Movie Night on Friday, Deember 15th.  Movie will start right at 5:30pm!  Be sure to park in the South Parking Lot.  

Interested in volunteering at Luke!  Email Mrs. Sehr at [email protected] for more information on volunteering or working at Luke!

Happy Thanksgiving Jets, we are so thankful for YOU!

Thank you to our Jet Family & Community who are serving or have served.  No School tomorrow in observance of Veterans Day.

Our PTSA Turkey Trot is Friday, November 17th.  The PTSA Kickoff for fundraising is on Tuesday, November 7th.  Check out the link for more information!!  Parents, if you would like to attend your child’s turkey trot, you will need to park in the SOUTH parking lot and check in at the gate.  The gate will be opened for each grade level’s Turkey Trot and parents, guardians & visitors will be asked to sign in and out for each grade level.  

Our Boys and Girls Soccer Teams are off to a great start!  Check out the standards and results here!  

Our First Deployment Workshop is on Friday, December 1st, email Mrs. Sehr at [email protected] or use the link to RSVP for your child(ren) today!

Check out more information in the October Luke Letter!

We are so proud to announce that Luke Elementary School earned an “A” rating from the school accountability labels for the 2022-2023 school year! Luke is one of 18 schools in the district to receive the “A” rating.  

The school accountability labels measure year to year student academic growth, proficiency on English language arts, math and science, the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school and that high school students are ready to succeed in a career or higher education and high school graduation rates.

Student Council is hosting a Student Council Food Drive!  Send cans in with your Jets, today!

We hope you are able to join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on Tuesday, November 14th.

RSVP by 11/3!

10:40am - 11:00am - 5th Grade 

10:50am - 11:10am - 4th Grade 

11:00am - 11:20am - 7th Grade 

11:20am - 11:40am - 8th Grade 

11:35am – 11:55am – 6th Grade 

11:45am - 12:05pm - Kindergarten 

12:00pm - 12:20pm - 3rd Grade 

12:20pm - 12:40pm - 2nd Grade 

12:40pm - 1:00pm - 1st Grade

Special Thanksgiving Menu:

Oven-Roasted Turkey

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Stuffing, Green Beans & Fresh-Baked Rolls

Scratch-Made Pumpkin Cake

Cost per person:

Free Student Meal - $0

Reduced Student Meal - $0

Paid Student Meal - $2.60

Non-Student Meal - $3.50

Cash or checks accepted for all visitors

Adults must show ID and check in at our gate.

Our Gym recently went through a redesign!!  It looks amazing!  

October 10th is Voter Registration Deadline - Don't forget to register!

Luke Elementary School was named the first Purple Star School Candidate in the state of Arizona for their strong support of military families.  

A Purple Star School Candidate designation indicates that a school is committed to supporting the unique needs for military-connected children by providing staff and programs to support students during their school transitions or deployment. Criteria to meet this designation include:  

• Designated staff point of contact for military students and families  
• A student transition program  
• Dedicated web page with resources for military families 
• Professional development for staff (70%) that helps familiarize and equip them to support the needs of military students  

The school and district have had numerous partnerships in place with Luke Air Force Base for many years due to the close proximity to the base and high number of military families served.  Luke Elementary School has a Student2Student Ambassador program, where students in 5th-8th Grade are enrolled in a leadership elective class designed to support any student transitioning into Luke Elementary.  Ambassadors connect with new students throughout their first few days of enrollment to help answer questions, connect students and families to resources and ensure the transition is smooth.   Monthly Military-Connected Luncheons will take place throughout the year, and in April, the Month of the Military Child will be recognized and celebrated throughout the school. While there has been strong staff support at the school previously, school staff received specific Purple Star School support training in September. Additionally, Luke Elementary had a soft launch of a special Deployment Room on campus in Spring of 2023. The new Deployment Room will be fully launched in November of 2023, and will provide a physical place at the school for students to go to when they need support before, during, or after a military deployment.  

 Luke Elementary is one of four schools that are part of a Purple Star School pilot program in partnership with Luke Air Force Base. Other districts that will also be designating a candidate school on or before Veterans Day include Agua Fria High School District, Litchfield Elementary District, and Great Hearts Arizona.   

About Luke Elementary School Luke Elementary School is an “A” rated school of over 500 preschool through eighth-grade students. Providing close access from the communities surrounding Luke Air Force Base, the school is located on Dysart Road, just North of Glendale Avenue with close access to the 101, 303 and Northern Parkway. 

We hope you and your families enjoy Fall Break!  No School Monday, October 9th - Friday, October 13th.  See you back on campus on Monday, October 16th.

Jets release at 1:45pm on Thursday, October 5th and Friday, October 6th.

Fall Break (No School) - October 9th - October 13th

Please take a moment to check out the October Luke Letter!

Our amazing PTSA is hosting a Book Fair this week!  Monday, October 2nd - Friday, October 6th.  The Book Fair will be open during school hours Monday - Wednesday, until 7:00pm on Thursday, October 5th and until 4:00pm on Friday, October 6th.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are next week!  Contact your child's teacher to set up a conference and stop by PTSA's Book Fair in the Library!

We will celebrate Sandra Day O'Conner Day - Civics Day on Monday, September 25th where all contents will focus on Civics Education!  Check out of social media for photos!

We will celebrate Constitution Day on Monday, September 18th.  Social Studies classes will focus on activities regarding our United States Constitution.  Check out our social media for photos!

Congrats to 5th Grade for having the top attendance for the last two weeks!  Who will win Awesome Attendance for the month of September??  

Did you know Luke Elementary has a state of the art Science Lab?  Our science teachers use the lab to make learning come to life!  

At Luke, all staff is committed to ensuring success for each and every Jet!  We believe each staff member plays a vital role in ensuring success for all!

Our Luke Cross Country Season kicks off this Saturday, September 23rd at 8:00am at Dysart Middle School!  Best of luck runners!

A huge congratulations goes out our own Luke Elementary Principal, Kara Sehr, who was recognized this past week as the Principal of the Month by Grand Canyon University for the entire state of Arizona! She was surprised in the gym by the entire school, district leadership, and GCU Staff, who came together to celebrate her tremendous accomplishments and leadership.

This week, we celebrate National Arts in Education Week.  Check out of social media - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - for more celebrations for the Arts at Luke!

On Monday, September 11th, please have your child wear Red, White & Blue as we recognize Patriot Day.  We will have a special announcement to remember the impact that September 11, 2001 had on our country.  Each Social Studies Class will spend time doing grade-level appropriate activities for Patriot Day.  Follow us @lukejets on Social Media for pictures of Patriot Day.  

Just a reminder to our Jets, we are closed on Monday, September 4th for Labor Day.  

Every week, we celebrate our Jets who have received a POSITIVE referral for showing SOAR expectations.  We are so proud of our Jets!

Today we had our SOAR Assembly and celebrated August Students of the Month, Amazing Attendance, Positively Punctual and our Employee of the Month, Ms. Amber.  We are so proud of our Jets!  

Please check out the September Luke Letter!

Last year, we worked to develop our updated Mission statement.  We are proud to announce we have adopted a vision statement too!  Check our Mission, Vision & Goals out!

Attention 8th Grade Parents & Guardians,

We have an 8th Grade Parent Meeting on Thursday, August 31st at 5:00pm in the Cafeteria.  We will be sharing important information for your 8th Grader!

Cross Country Tryouts are this Thursday after school!  Be sure to pick up a packet from Mrs. Reid if you are interested in attending!

Please save the date!!  

Parent University

Thursday, August 31, 2023

5:30pm or 6:00pm

Come discover how to help your child at home in Reading and Math! 

PTSA will be providing each family that attends dessert and a special gift!

We kick off Site Council tomorrow!  Get involved, check out our website here!

We are so thankful our Luke Preschool Students are back on campus!  Welcome back Jets!

Today we had our August Fire Drill.  Parents, check your inbox for an important note regarding School Safety.  We appreciate your partnership and support to ensure we are following all safety protocols!

What a great first two days!  We are so excited for the year.  Thank you to all of our Jets who made the first two days the very best!

Parents and Guardians,

Please check your inbox for important reminders for arrival and dismissal, or check out our arrival and dismissal procedures here.  

Just a reminder that Luke releases early on Mondays at 1:45pm.

Parents, please check your inbox for an important message about your child's attendance!  Your child's attendance matters - each and every day!

We welcomed our Luke staff back to campus today and kicked it off with a data review and an overview of our focus on collaboration and believing in ALL!  We are so excited for our students to return this week!!

Parents & Guardians, please check your inbox for the August Luke Letter or read it here. 

A big thank you to Operation Homefront and the Dollar Tree for partnering with us to provide school supplies for our Jets!

We can't wait to see our Jets soon!  Please check out our Optional School Supply page here!

What a great start to Kindergarten Experience we had this week!  We are so excited for school to start in just a few weeks, but were so thankful to have a few Jets on campus for Kindergarten Experience this week!!

We are so excited to announce that we have partnered with NAU and APS to develop our STEM Identity and be an APS STEM School of the Future!  A big thank you to our team who is leading the way and ensuring we are supporting students to be future ready!

Please be sure to check out the July Luke Letter for great information on progress and goals from last year, Meet the Teacher Night & more!

Attention Parents,

It's that time of year, please take a moment to complete the Annual Update.  

You can access the Annual Update by logging into your Parent Portal and then clicking "Annual Update" which is found in the left side of the screen.  If you need help with this, please call our office at 623-876-7300.  Annual Updates include your child(ren)'s Technology User Agreement.  If the Annual Update is not complete, your child will not be able to log into their chromebooks and access important materials.  Please do this as soon as possible.

Operation Homefront is sponsorting a back-to-school program on July 30th at the Glendale VFW.  Details and Registration can be found here.  Sign up today, spots are limited!

Save the Date for Meet the Teacher Night!  

Tuesday, August 1st at 5:00pm

All Luke Students who attend will receive free supplies!  

Can't wait to see you there!

Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Free Supplies:

Pencil Box

4 Pencils

Eraser

Pencil Sharpener

24 count crayons

Scissors

2 Glue Sticks

4th-8th Grade Free Supplies:

Pencil Pouch

4 Mechanical Pencils

Eraser

2 Highlighters

4 colored pens for writing (red, blue, green, black)

8 count markers

We are so excited to welcome Mrs. Cara Miller to our Jet Staff!  Mrs. Miller will serve as the Assistant Principal, read more about Mrs. Miller here.

At Luke, we love our community and partnerships!!  Whether you work full time, work from home or can help all day - we welcome you to join our incredible PTSA or Site Council.  Read more about both here.  Participation in both meetings can be in person or virtual, we just want you to join and hear about the great things happening at Luke, give us feedback and help us grow!

Luke's office hours for the summer are below, please note the office will be closed on Fridays from June 2nd - July 22nd. 

May 29 - Closed for Memorial Day

May 30-June 1 - 8:00am - 4:00pm

June 5-June 22nd - 8:00am - 12:00pm

June 26th-July 4th - Closed

July 5th-July 20th - 8:00am - 4:00pm

Our office will open back up for normal business hours 8:00am - 4:30pm on Monday, July 26th.  

Have a wonderful summer!

Mark your calendars now Jets!  Our first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year is Thursday, August 3rd.  Can't wait to welcome everyone back on campus!

We love volunteers at Luke!  Whether you'd like to read with a student, help us beautify our campus, join PTSA or help at an event - we welcome YOU!  Call our front office at 623-876-7300 or visit Get Involved for more information.  

Save the Date for Thursday, August 31st!  We will hold our first Luke Parent University where parents will come in to learn about curriculum, write goals for their child and learn strategies to support at home!  We can't wait to see you then!  

We hope our Jets have a great summer!  Thank you for a great school year, we are already looking forward to next year! Stay safe!

Mark your calendars - School Gets out at 12:00pn on Tuesday, May 23rd and Wednesday, May 24th.  Last Day of School is Wednesday, May 24th.

Ready for the 2023-2024 school year to start?  

Mark your calendar - Meet the Teacher Night is Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 5:00pm.  

Already preparing for next year?  Check out the optional school supplies here!

Please take a moment to watch this quick video and complete our parent survey.

What great fun we had at our 2023 Luke Field Day!  Thank you parents and volunteers for a great day!

We are so lucky to have such amazing teachers at Luke!  This week (May 1st - May 5th) is Teacher Appreciation.  Take a moment to thank you and appreciate your child's teacher - a simple email, a handwritten card or a phone call are great ways to show your appreciation!

Our Final Luke Letter for the 2022-2023 School Year was sent to inboxes this morning.  Please read through for a glimpse into what we are planning for next year and for important save the dates for May!! 

Our Military Kids are so special at Luke, we have been honoring them all month for Month of the Military Child.  We hosted a fun Purple Up Luncheon and had several special guests - Commander Colon De Hayes, Senior Master Sergeant Bradley and several other airman and Luke Military Families.  Each student received a special gift and all military kids were recognized.  Military Kids are heroes too, thank you to our Military Students and Families for your service!

Thank you to our amazing Luke Volunteers who support our Jets in a variety of ways.  We celebrated their dedication to our Jets with a breakfast as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Our 3rd-8th Graders will continue AASA State Testing this week!  Please be sure students get a great night of rest, eat a healthy breakfast and are on time for school!  Testing begins right away at 9:00am!

Tuesday, April 18th - 3rd & 4th Grade AASA Math Part 1 & 5th-8th Grade AASA ELA Part 1

Wednesday, April 19th - 5th-8th Grade AASA ELA Part 2

Thursday, April 20th - 3rd & 4th Grade AASA Math Part 2 & 5th-8th Grade AASA Math Part 1

Friday, April 21st - 5th-8th Grade AASA Math Part 2

April is Month of the Military Child.  Show your support by wearing Purple on Wednesday, April 19th, Friday, April 21st and Friday, April 28th!

Our Girls and Boys Basketball Seasons are underway and we are excited to cheer them on!  Our Cheerleading Team continues their 2nd season for the year - they have amazing JET SPIRIT!!

Just a reminder that we do not have school on Friday, April 7th for Spring Holiday.  See you back on campus on Monday, April 10th.  

We had our first Pep Assembly to cheer our 3rd - 8th Graders on for AASA State Testing!!  We unveiled several prizes for Effort Tickets during testing, our cheerleaders performed and we pumped one another up!!!  We believe in you Luke Jets - You Got This!

Good Luke to our 5th & 8th Grade students who will take the AzSCI (Arizona State Science Test) on March 28th - March 30th.  You got this!

It's hard to believe we are in the 4th Quarter already!  Our students and teachers are working hard during this final stretch - we are so proud of all of the hard work!

Attention current 4th-7th Grade Students,

Today Elective Preference Forms were sent home with you.  You need to complete this and bring it back to your homeroom teacher by Thursday, March 23, 2023.

• 5th Grade Elective Course Catalog
• 6th Grade Elective Course Catalog
• 7th Grade Elective Course Catalog
• 8th Grade Elective Course Catalog

We hope our Luke Jets have a wonderful Spring Break!  Reminder there is no school March 13th - March 17th.  We will see you back on March 20th for Quarter 4.

Our Boys and Girls Basketball kick off their season this month  - we can't wait to cheer you on!!

Luke Elementary will host Kinder Experience for incoming Kindergarteners for the 2023-2024 School Year July 17th - July 20th from 8am to 11am.  Sign your incoming Kindergartener up now.  

Navy and Pacific War Veteran Gil Nadeau visited Luke Elementary today and spoke to our 7th and 8th Graders.  What a memorable experience for our students and staff. 

We had a wonderful 1st Annual Luke Family BBQ and Valentine's Day!!

Miss Grand Canyon, Aly Uhren visited Luke in February for Science Class.  It was a great afternoon of STEM activities with our Kindergarten Jets!

Our Jet Cheerleaders kicked off their season at Luke's first home football game!  They sure have spirit!  Come check them out at all Home Football Games during Season 3!

Our Jets Volleyball Team is having a great start to their season!!  

Several 7th and 8th Graders attended Dysart's Gifted Conference where they explored different concepts with 7th and 8th Graders from across our Dysart.

We are excited to share the February 2023 Luke Parent Newsletter with our families!

Our team is planning an incredible Literacy Night.  Please save the date for Thursday, March 2nd from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

Our Boys Football Team kicks off their season on Tuesday, January 31st - Good Luck Luke Jets!

Luke Girls Volleyball kicks off their season on Monday, January 30th - best of luck Jets, we can't wait to cheer you on!

Please join us on Tuesday, February 14th for a Luke Family BBQ.  Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 31st.  

Lunch Times 

11:00am - 11:20am - 3rd & 4th Grade 

11:40am - 12:00pm - Kindergarten 

12:00pm - 12:20pm - 1st & 2nd Grade 

12:45pm - 1:05pm - 5th & 6th Grade 

1:05pm - 1:25pm - 7th & 8th Grade

Please ensure you have your State/ Government ID and arrive early as IDs will be checked and you will need to purchase your meal.

We will host our annual STEM Night on Thursday, January 26th, starting at 5:30pm.  Come check out all of the amazing STEM opportunities at Luke!

We celebrate our 100th day on January 23rd - it's gone by fast and we only have 80 days left before next year!  Check our Social Media @lukejets for pictures!

Happy New Year Luke Jets!  We are excited to welcome you to 2023!  It's sure to be filled with learning, growing and continuing to become one team with one mission!

Happy New Year!  Please review the January 2023 Luke Letter for updates and upcoming dates.  We look forward to a wonderful Spring of 2023.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Winter Break!  We look forward to seeing our Jets on Thursday, January 5th for 2023!!

Just a friendly reminder we will release at 1:45pm on Monday, December 19th and Tuesday, December 20th.  Winter Break is Wednesday, December 21st - Wednesday, January 4th.  Students return on Thursday, January 5th for 2023!

Our PTSA is hosting a Movie Night on Friday, December 9 at 5:30pm.  Dress warm, bring blankets and enjoy "The Grinch" with your family!

Please join us on Wednesday, December 7th for our Winter 6th-8th Grade Band Concert at Luke Elementary!  We are excited for their performance!

We are excited to share quite a few updates and upcoming events!  Please review the December 2022 Luke Letter.

Thank you for your continued support.  We are so thankful for our Luke Jet Community.  From our amazing PTSA sponsored Glow Run to to visiting for our Thanksgiving Luncheon, our community is the BEST!  

Our Veterans Day Celebration was a success.  We welcomed several service members, our band played incredible songs and we had the honor of listening to Senior Master Sergeant Bradley who spoke of the service of the military.  A big thank you to our military who are currently serving or have serviced.  

Please join us for our 2022 Luke Thanksgivign Luncheon.  Please RSVP by Friday, November 4, 2022.  

Lunch Times 

11:00am - 11:20am - 3rd & 4th Grade 

11:40am - 12:00pm - Kindergarten 

12:00pm - 12:20pm - 1st & 2nd Grade 

12:20pm - 12:40pm - 5th & 6th Grade 

12:45pm - 1:05pm - 7th & 8th Grade

We are excited to share our November 2022 Parent Newsletter with you!  

Luke Elementary School is excited to announce that we have received an A-rating from the newly-released 2022 State of Arizona accountability labels. This letter grade provides us a glimpse into many areas of proficiency and growth for our school, including information about student achievement, college and career readiness, student growth, and other key areas of interest. We appreciate our hardworking students, staff and parents for their contributions in making our school an A-rated school! 

This is the first time the state has issued new labels since 2018-2019, due to House Bill’s 2910 and 2402, which temporarily paused the issuing of A-F letter grades. It is important to note that this year the state used the same cut marks as they did in 2019 for K-8 schools, the last year they issued letter grades. However, this year's K-8 growth score is only based on growth percentile and does not include growth-to-target.

About School Letter Grades: Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-241 requires the Arizona Department of Education, subject to final adoption by the State Board of Education, to develop an annual achievement profile for every public school in the state based on an A through F scale. The system measures year to year student academic growth, proficiency on English language arts, math and science, the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school and that high school students are ready to succeed in a career or higher education and high school graduation rates. 

Congrats to all 2022 Luke Spellng Bee Participants!  It was a great event and we are so thankful for our parents who were able to help and support the Bee!  Congrats to Landon in 8th Grade, our Spelling Bee Champion and Luis in 7th Grade, our Runner Up!

We encourage parents to complete and return a Free and Reduced application each year in order to see if your student qualifies. Only one application is required per family. Applications can be completed at School Cafe. We also have paper copies in our front office.  

Sun City Elks Lodge #2559 visited our 3rd Graders and donated Student Dictionaries to each student. We are so thankful for their partnership and support!

 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. 

Each month, teachers recognize students who are showing SOAR expectations.  

S - Safety

O - Ownership

A - A+ Attitude

R - Respect

In August, students who showed the expectation of safety were recognized; in September, Ownership.  Over Fall Break, we put up our SOAR Student of the Month Wall to share the students success.  Each month, the certificates change and new students are recognized.  We are so proud of their work!  

Last week, our PTSA hosted a Boo Bash at Peter Piper Pizza.  This week, we have our first Spirit Week!  

Monday - Happiness Day - Wear a shirt that mkes yourself or others happy

Tuesday - Team Spirit Day - Wear yoru favorite sports shirt, your team or college or Team Jets

Wednesday - Post-It Day - Grab a post-it and wirte a postive message to leave around school

Thursday - Twin/Triplet Day - Come dressed like a friend or two

Friday - Minions Day - Come derssed in yoru LUke Jet Blue and Yellow

On Monday, October 31, Student Council is sponsoring a dress up day!  Bring $1 to wear your favorite school safe costume (No blood, masks or weapons)

Volunteers from Luke Air Force Base Military Family Readiness Center spent the morning organizing books in our Media Cener last week.  The group sorted hundreds of books, and we would like to thank them for their support!  

Fall Break is October 10th - October 14th, School Resumes at 9:00am on Monday, October 17th.

We are so proud of our September Students of the Month who showed Ownership!  Ownership is one of our schoolwide SOAR expectations.  Great job Jets!

With one full week before Fall Break, we are excited to share the October 2022 Luke Letter.  Please read through as there are a lot of great family events coming up!!  Just a reminder we release at 1:45pm on Monday 10/3, Thursday, 10/6 and Frisday 10/7.  

This week our 3rd-8th Grade Students will take the ELA Benchmark on Tuesday, September 27th and the Math Benchmark on Thursday, September 29th.  It's important to get a good night of rest the night before testing, eat a healthy breakfast and be on time.  Show your work and all that you have learned this quarter.  Good luck Jets!

Fall Pictures at Luke are Friday, September 23, 2022!  Use the link for easy ordering!

Save the Date - Thursday, September 22nd is our Curriculum Night.  Teachers will be sharing more information about reading, math, science and social studies, and include tips and tricks for helping your child at home!  We will have two sessions, one starting at 5:30pm and the second starting at 6:00pm.  We look forward to seeing you there!

It's hard to believe we are halfway through the 1st Quarter!  It has been incredible to watch our students learn and grow.  We are excited to share the September 2022 Luke Letter with our Families and our Community.  We look forward to continuing strong partnerships!

A big Luke Jet THANK YOU to the husband of the late Junie B. Jones who donated tickets to see the Junie B. Jones performance at Theater Works in Peoria.  A few 3rd graders took our first Field Trip of the Year to see the performance!  

Dear Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Parents and Families,

An important letter regarding Move on When Reading is posted below for your review.  Teachers will review the information with parents on Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.  

2022-2023 Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Move on When Reading Letter

2022-2023 Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Move on When Reading Spanish

Luke Elementary School has partnered with Luke Air Force Base to create pictures, cards and letters to add to care packages that will be sent to Military Men and Women deployed throughout our world.  We love opportunities to create and expand partnerships in our community.  Thank you to our Military Men and Women for their service.  

We are excited to kick off our 2022-2023 Sports Season with Softball and Baseball.  Tryouts for both teams will be held on August 16, 2022 from 4:00pm - 5:00pm.  Mr. Scott will be coaching baseball and Ms. Smith will be coaching softball.  All games are on our Luke Website Calendar.  We look forward to a great season - Let's Go Jets!

Our first week at Luke was an incredible success and ended with many students sporting Luke Jet Spirit Gear.  We love to see all of the BLUE and YELLOW on Fridays.  We would also like to thank our parents for your patience during parent pick up and our incredible PTSA for supporting PBIS with Jet Tags!  We are looking forward to an incredible year!

Luke Elementary is thrilled to welcome back our teachers, students and parents to the 2022-2023 school year.  As we get started, all pictures will be linked to the Welcome Back Gallery.  We look forward to an incredible year as we work toward achieving our goals as one team with one mission!  

Luke Elementary is sharing the Parent Right to Know Letter with our parents and community.  

What an incredible partnership we have with our Department of Defense and Luke Air Force Base.  Teachers from Luke and several other schools spent a day exploring STEM, learning strategies to deepen student understanding and mastery while supporting our students to become future ready.  

Looking for Optional School Supply lists?  We have them all ready for you, check them out here.  We are so excited to see all of our Jets very soon!!  

Luke's "Meet the Teacher Night" is on Monday, August 1st from 5:00pm - 6:30pm.  We look forward to welcoming all of our Jets on campus.  Meet teachers, administration, connect with PTSA and more!  

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 5:00-6:30pm. 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.

Luke Elementary School iExplore Teacher, Christina Tormollan, recently got a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in a Cessna 172Nxi aircraft for a discovery flight with the United States Air Force (USAF) Civil Air Patrol as part of the Aerospace Education Member Program.  

“It allowed me to see my school from a different perspective,” said Tormollan.  “This state is no longer just a desert but rather an oasis of opportunities!”

Tormollan flew with Major Ron Marks, a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol since 1989, who also flies as a professional pilot for FedEx.  They traveled at around 150 miles per hour at an altitude between 1,500 and 3,000 feet above the Northwest Valley.

The purpose of the Aerospace Education Member Program is to provide teachers with these opportunities so they can share it with their students and get them interested in aviation and aerospace.   Luke Elementary School will tie aeronautical opportunities into their iExplore program through a partnership with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the Civil Air Patrol.  They will provide opportunities for students to be involved in drone technology as well as robotics and coding.  Tormollan and Luke Elementary hope these partnerships for the students will help them transition to high school with the district’s Career and Technical Education programs such as Network Technology, Engineering, and Coding.