Kingswood News

Our season 4 sports are underway. Basketball for boys and girls and our cheer squad have been working hard to get ready for games starting in April. The season will take place from April 3rd to May 5th. Playoffs will be held May 8th - 12th. 

If you would like to come out to support our teams please check out their schedules below. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 03/09/2023 

DYSART SCHOOLS - The Dysart Unified School District will host a College 101 Parent Night for parents interested in learning about the college acceptance and financial aid process on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Valley Vista High School, located at 15550 N. Parkview Place in Surprise, Arizona.   

"Dysart has a strong focus on preparing our students for college and career success,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Dean.  “We’re excited to offer College 101 Night as a way for our families to learn more about how to prepare for college.”  

The event will begin at 5:30 pm with college booths available to browse. Two informational sessions will be held at 6:30 pm and again at 7:00 pm where parents can choose to hear about a variety of topics. Participating parents will have the opportunity to learn about FAFSA, dual enrollment, athletics in college, honors colleges, military academies, saving for college, financial planning, and much more. Over thirty-five colleges will be in attendance along with military representatives to meet with parents and answer questions. Food trucks will also be on site during the event.

March 31st is the final day to order your student(s) 2022-23 Yearbook. Click below to purchase yours today!

Kids Heart Challenge is coming to our school starting March 27th! We have some exciting things planned this year to get us moving, helping others, and having fun. Get a head start by signing up today and helping your student choose a daily health challenge. Visit our school page by clicking the button below or download the Kids Heart Challenge app!

Congratulations to our Volleyball Team for winning their Championship Game on Thursday, March 9th. They worked hard and did a great job! #LevelUp

Kingswood participated in the Diamond Backs Attendance Matters Rewards Program in the month of February. Students with perfect attendance that month were recognized and given a certificate redeemable for a FREE ticket to a DBacks baseball game from April to July. Congratulations Knights!

Each year, the Dysart Hero Awards are presented to certified and classified staff, administrative employees, and district volunteers who have positively contributed to the Dysart Unified School District. This year we would like to congratulate Shelley Franklin, Student Support Tech, and Krista Rust, School Data Improvement Specialist, for receiving Hero Awards on behalf of Kingswood. A special ceremony will be held on April 20th at The Vista Center for the Arts to recognize our recipients, as well as other district recipients. 

Season 4 Tryouts will be held the week of March 6th.

Girls Basketball 

Thursday, March 9th and Friday, March 10th

3:30-4:30 pm

Boys Basketball

TBA

Cheer for Basketball

Tuesday, March 7th to Friday, March 10th

3:30-4:30 pm

Students must have a parent permission slip in order to tryout. Permission slips can be picked up in the front office before and after school and during lunch.

Students who have played a sport or participated in tryouts previously, this school year, DO NOT need a new permission slip.

Dysart Schools will host Kindergarten Showcase events on Tuesday, March 21 beginning at 5:30 p.m. so that families can learn more about the free, full-day program. The Showcase is a great opportunity for parents of future Kindergartners to tour the school, meet the teachers, and register your child.  Information on before and after school programs available through Dysart's Community Education Department will be available as well.   

Dysart schools are among the top-rated in the state of Arizona and provide a FREE, FULL-DAY Kindergarten program in a safe, caring environment. The Dysart kindergarten program follows Arizona state standards, and offers hands-on, real-life activities in the areas of Cognitive, Social, and Physical development. Parents can learn more about Dysart School’s Kindergarten program at Dysart.org/Kindergarten. 

Dysart schools offering full-day kindergarten include Asante Preparatory Academy, Canyon Ridge, Countryside, El Mirage, Freedom Traditional Academy, Kingswood, Luke, Marley Park, Mountain View, Rancho Gabriela, Riverview, Sunset Hills, Surprise Elementary, Thompson Ranch, West Point, and Western Peaks.  

Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is now open for Dysart Schools. Parents may register their child online at Dysart.org/Registration or visit their local school.  In order to register for school, parents must provide a birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residency.  To determine the school boundary for your residence, please visit www.dysart.org/boundaries. Open enrollment is available for parents who would like their child to attend a school other than their home school. Information on Open Enrollment is available at Dysart.org/OpenEnrollment.

The Dysart Festival of the Arts will take place at Valley Vista High School on Saturday, March 25th, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  There will be back-to-back performances on eight stages, including band,  choir, dance, and theatre troops!  There will also be over 60 art vendors, food trucks, and community partners!

There will be no school from March 13th - 17th for Spring Break. School will resume on Monday, March 20th. 

"Children are made on the laps of their parents" - Emilie Buchwald

Join us for our Family Reading Event, hosted by our 21st Century Community Learning Club (21st CCLC) and PTSA, on Tuesday, February  28th from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in the Kingswood Library. This fun family event will be a night of reading and learning how families can check out books to bring home. Books will be provided by our 21st CCLC and cookies and hot chocolate will be provided by PTSA. 

Be sure to stick around for our PTSA meeting which will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. New PTSA Memberships, $8 individually or $25 for a family for a year, will receive a FREE book to take home (1 per new membership). 

No RSVP needed, just show up!

Kids Heart Challenge is coming to our school starting February 27th! We have some exciting things planned this year to get us moving, helping others, and having fun. Get a head start by signing up today and helping your student choose a daily health challenge. Visit our school page by clicking the button below or download the Kids Heart Challenge app!

Grads Photography will be taking Spring Pictures and Class Pictures on Friday, February 17th so please be sure to send your student(s) looking their best!

Kingswood Elementary School will be closed on February 20th in observance of Presidents Day.  School resumes on February 21st.

Congratulations to Mr. Bryant, our 7th & 8th-grade Science teacher, who was presented with a Discovery Education Award by Toni Robinson, Statewide & Strategic Partnerships Manager,  for the use of the Daily Learning Platform for 132 days consecutively. 

Student Council is selling Valentine's Day Grams for $2 at soft start from February 6th to 10th. There is a limited supply so place your order today! Grams will be delivered on February 14th. 

We are excited to invite families to campus for Parent Teacher Conferences the week of February 6th. Please be on the lookout for your child's teacher(s) about conference schedules and meetings.

Important information for this week:

- Students will be dismissed early at 1:00 pm on Monday 2/6, Thursday 2/9, and Friday 2/10 to accommodate conference schedules. 

- There will be NO Preschool Classes on Thursday 2/9, and Friday 2/10.

- There will be NO 21st Century Afterschool Clubs Monday 2/6 through Friday 2/10.

- Knights at Daybreak (Open Library) will be open.

Due to Parent Teacher Conferences, we will dismiss students early on Monday 2/6, Thursday 2/9, and Friday 2/10 at 1:00 pm.

As a reminder, there will be NO 21st Century Afterschool Clubs Monday, February 6th through Friday, February 10th. Our Knights at Daybreak (Open Library) will be open this week. 

Our Scholastic Book Fair is back! Students will be able to shop during their special times from Tuesday, February 6th to Friday, February 10th. 

Kingswood Elementary will be participating in The Arizona Diamondback "Attendance Matters" rewards program. Attendance All-Stars, those who have perfect attendance for the month of February, will earn a complimentary ticket to a variety of games from April to July! When you miss school you miss out!

Student Council is sponsoring a canned food drive from January 23rd to February 3rd.  The class with the most cans collected from B Wing (Kindergarten to 3rd Grade) and C Wing (4th Grade to 8th Grade) will win a hot chocolate and donut party! 

Kingswood students were so excited to celebrate the 100th day of school on Monday, January 23rd.

Yearbooks are now on sale for $35! To purchase a yearbook for your child, simply click the link below. 

Our season 3 sports are underway. Flag football, girls' volleyball, and our cheer squad have been working hard to get ready for games at the end of the month. Our cross-country team continues to compete each Saturday and has had great success with bringing home individual medals. 

If you would like to come out and support us, be sure to check out our schedules below.

We will be celebrating our 2nd Quarter Honor Roll, Principals List, and Knights Code on January 19th. A special invitation for families to attend will be sent home with students who will receive an award. Congratulations!

6th Grade -12:20-12:50 pm

5th Grade - 1:00-1:30 pm

4th Grade -1:40-2:10 pm

7th & 8th Grade - 2:15-2:45 pm

We have a large number of families that have not completed the Annual Update on the Parent Portal. Parents must complete the Annual Student Update (includes EIS agreements) by January 31st.  Student accounts will be shut off on February 1st if not complete. This means no access to email, Schoology, etc. 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 or through the parent portal app. 

If you need assistance in setting up a Parent Portal account, please contact our Family Outreach Specialist, Mrs. Renee, at 623-876-7641. 

DYSART SCHOOLS - 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. 

We are excited to have students back on campus starting Thursday, January 5, 2023. 

2022-2023 Notable Dates 

• August 3 - First Day for Students  
• September 5 - Labor Day October 6-7 - K-8 Parent/Teacher Conferences (½ days for K-8)  
• October 10-14 - Fall Break  
• November 11 - Veterans Day (Observed) 
• November 21-25 - Thanksgiving Recess 
• December 19-20 - High School/ Middle School Final Exams (½ days for high school/middle school)  
• December 20 - Early Release (½ days K-8)  
• December 21 - January 4 - Winter Break 
• January 5 - School Resumes   
• January 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day 
• February 9-10 - K-8 Parent/Teacher Conferences (½ days for K-8)  
• February 20 - Presidents Day 
• March 13-17 - Spring Break April 7 - Spring Holiday 
• May 22 - Graduation Day (½ day for HS)  
• May 23-24 - High School/ Middle School Final Exams (½ days for high school/middle school)  
• May 23 - Early Release (½ days K-8)  
• May 24 - Last Day for Students (½ day for K-8)  

Students are dismissed early every Monday to provide time for teacher professional development.

In observance of MLK Day Holiday, Kingswood Elementary School will be closed. 

Tryouts for Flag Football, Volleyball, and Cheer for 6th to 8th-grade students will take place the week of January 9th.

All students must report to the gym immediately after school and bring a parent permission slip to try out. Athletic Packets can be picked up in the office before and after school.

There is a $60 registration fee for those who make the teams, which must be paid in order to receive a uniform. 

Cheer will take place during Season 3 (flag football) and Season 4 (basketball), which will require 2 separate $60 fees for each season. 

Flag Football - January 10, 11 & 12th from 3:15 - 4:30 pm (Team roster will be announced on January 13th)

Volleyball - January 10, 11 & 12th from 3:15 - 4:30 pm (Team roster will be announced on January 13th)

Cheer - January 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13th from 3:45 - 4:45 pm (Team roster will be announced on January 16th)

Kingswood Elementary is currently seeking tax credit support for our school and programs.  Arizona Law (ARS 43-1089.01) allows married couples filing jointly a tax credit of up to $400 and individual taxpayers a tax credit of up to $200 when they contribute to extra-curricular activities in public schools. This tax credit is available to all who reside in Arizona and have a tax liability at least equal to that of their donation.  You do not have to be a parent of a child in a Dysart school to benefit from this law. Corporations are not eligible.  Contributions are donated directly to the schools.  This means your donations are used directly to support student activities of the Dysart school of your choice.   Donations may be submitted through April 15, 2023. 

To claim the tax credit, taxpayers must contribute to an extra-curricular activity for which the school district requires a fee or funds to operate the program.  Extra-curricular activities are optional, noncredit educational activities that are offered before, during or after school hours.  Examples include enrichment activities, athletic and music programs, and after-school clubs.  These programs depend on fees from students.

Some of our students had a special visit by Santa and the Ottawa University Spirit Squad. 

There will be no preschool classes on December 19th and 20th. Preschool classes will resume on January 5, 2023.

There will be NO school from December 21st to January 4, 2023, for Winter Break. School will resume on January 5, 2023. 

We hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Our Kids Korner Holiday Shopping Event will take place December 13-16th during school. Students will be able to shop for family and friends for the holidays. Most items range from $1 to $5.

Holiday Spirit Week 

Please join in the fun next week for our Holiday Spirit Week, which will take place December 12-16th. 

Monday, 12/12: T'was the Night of Polar Express - Wear PJs

Tuesday, 12/13: Tinsel Toes Tuesday - Wear your Christmas or Crazy Socks

Wednesday, 12/14: Winter Hat Wednesday - Wear a Santa Hat or Beanie

Thursday, 12/15: Grinch Day Thursday - Wear Grinch Colors or Grinch Clothing (NO MASKS)

Friday, 12/16: Flannel Friday - Wear Your Favorite Flannel 

December 19th and 20th are early release days, students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm. On these two days, our 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students will be taking finals. If a student is absent for a final, they will receive a zero until they take the final within the first 2 weeks in January.

Monday, December 12th from 5:30-7:00 pm

15150 W. Mondell Rd. Surprise, AZ 85374

Please enter the bus loop on the west side of the school

Below is a list of stops you will make on the Kingswood Polar Express.

1. Admin - Happy Elves 

2. ESS/Pre-school - Frosty 

3. Kinder - Bells 

4. 1st Grade - Gnomes 

5. 2nd Grade - Snowman at Night 

6. 3rd Grade - Reindeer Food 

7. 4th Grade - Gingerbread Candy Lane 

8. Support Staff - Night Before Christmas 

9. 5th Grade - Stay Refreshed During the Holidays 

10. 6th Grade - Grinch Who Stole Christmas 

11. 7th Grade - Christmas Vacation 

12. 8th Grade - Christmas Vacation 

13. Interventionists - Holly Jolly & 21st CCLC After-School Program Goodie Stop 

14. Academic Specialists - Golden Ticket

Be sure to wave HI to Santa on the final stop!

Join us as students sing a few holiday songs that they have learned in Choir Class. Please see the performance schedule below. 

2nd Grade - 9:00 - 9:40 am

3rd Grade - 9:40 - 10:20 am

Kinder - 11:00 - 11:40 am

1st Grade - 1:00 - 1:40 am

Families of Kingswood Elementary had a fun evening at our 21st Century Community Learning Centers Family Game Night. Student Council helped serve families pizza dinner, which was hosted by our PTSA. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a huge success. Thank you families for attending!

School will be CLOSED during the Thanksgiving Recess which will take place November 21st to 25th. 

We would like to wish our Kingswood families a Happy Thanksgiving!

Kingswood created a special tribute to our Veterans on Thursday, November 10th to thank them for their service. 

We want to thank our teachers' Coach Sehr, Mr. Millican, Mr. Borden, Mr. Bryant, and Mrs. Covington for their service.  We would also like to thank the family members as well. 

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” Winston Churchill

We would like to thank all of our students who participated in our recent Spelling Bee, which went 15 rounds. 

Congratulations to Jax who will represent Kingswood at the Dysart Unified School District District Spelling Bee. 

Congratulations Charlotte for placing second, and Jimmy who came in third. Great Job Knights!

Do you have a student who likes to run? 

Good news... It's time for Cross Country! 

3rd-8th Grade students are welcome to join.

Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 - 4:00  starting on Tuesday, November 8th, and ending on Thursday, February 2nd. (No practice during school breaks.)  

Please make sure you have a ride home after practices at 4:00 or have permission to walk home.

Parent Meeting on Tuesday, November 8th at 4:00 in the library.  

Cross Country meets will be on Saturdays at Cimarron Springs.  Families will need to provide transportation to and from the meets.

3rd / 4th grade races are - 1 mile 

 5th / 6th grade races are - 1.5 miles 

 7th / 8th grade races are - 2 miles

Soccer season is underway. Our Kingswood athletes have been working hard for the past 2 weeks preparing for games.

The season will take place from October 31st to December 9th. Playoffs will be held December 12th - 16th. For a full list of games, please click here: 

We would like to congratulate our Team Captians Raeleigh, Natalie, Braiden, and Jeremiah.

On Wednesday, October 26th, APS representatives surprised Mrs. Richards, a fourth-grade teacher, with a Supply My Class Teacher Award.  APS awards Arizona Title 1 K-12 teachers $500 in order to purchase much-needed school supplies for their students. 

Congratulations Mrs. Richards!

 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. 

We were fortunate to have State Senator David Livingston come to Kingswood to explain his role at the Capitol. We were joined by Dysart Governing Board Member Traci Sawyer-Sinkbiel and Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Ken Hicks. Senator Livingston spoke about his time in politics, how a bill becomes a law and other fascinating tidbits on Capitol life. Did you know that you place legislative bills in a frog called the “Hopper” or that DPS can escort legislators to the Capitol if they are needed for an important meeting? This and so much more on life in government was introduced to our junior high. We will hopefully continue learning more about the legislative process this spring as the junior high is planning on touring the Capitol.

Kingswood Elementary celebrated our 4-8th grade students' academic achievements for the 1st Quarter in our recent Honors Assemblies. Students were presented by Admin with Honor Roll and the Principals List Awards, followed up by our Knights Code Awards presented by teachers for students who exhibit the characteristics of either being a Learner, Responsible, Respectful, or Safe. Family members, along with our mascot, Storm E. Knight, were there supporting students by cheering. Congratulations to our Knights. Keep up the good work!

Join us for our Monster Mash & Goosebumps Goodies Family Event

Friday, October 28th

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Come in Costume - NO Masks Please

The Goosebumps & Goodies is where students can Trick or Treat in the gym.

The Monster Mash is our fun family dance which will be held in the cafeteria.

All Students MUST be accompanied by an adult.

PTSA and Student Council are teaming up to collect bags of candy for the 

Each day our students work hard to follow our Knights Code, which is to be Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and to be a Learner. When these behaviors are exhibited, they are rewarded with a Shield. At the end of each week, these shields are collected for a small prize, and at the end of each month, there is an opportunity for some to win a big prize.

We are so proud of our students for Leveling Up and following our Knights Code. Keep up the good work!

As our Baseball and Softball season comes to an end,  we would like to congratulate our teams for working hard at practice and playing even harder at the games. You have done a great job of Leveling Up. Way to Go Knights!

A huge thank you to our coaches, Coach Sehr and Coach Millican!

Fall Break will take place October 10-17th. We hope that our Kingswood Families have a fun and relaxing break and we will see our Knights back at school on Monday, October 17th.

Please join in the fun this week by showing your Drug-Free Spirit during our Red Ribbon Spirit Week!

Red Ribbon Campaign is the largest drug-abuse prevention campaign in the United States and our students here at Kingswood are proud to be drug-free, which is why our Spirit Week will take place October 24-28th.

Monday, 10/24: Ready to be Drug-Free? Wear red to kick off Red Ribbon Week!

Tuesday, 10/25: Team Up Against Drugs - Wear your favorite sports shirt or jersey

Wednesday, 10/26: I Hope to be Drug-Free - Show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing pink

Thursday, 10/27: Orange You Glad to be Drug Free? - Wear orange for Pumpkin Day

Friday, 10/28: Being Drug-Free is a Real Treat - Dress up as your favorite book character, NO MASKS!

The Scholastic Book Fair is here! 

Students can shop for books on Oct. 4 – 5 during specials time. 

Families shop on Thursday, October 6th from 1:30 - 6:00 pm in the library. 

Become a BOLDER, PROUDER, STRONGER Reader at the Scholastic Book Fair. 

SHOP ONLINE FROM OCT 3 – 16 TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL! 

Scholastic will give back 25% in rewards to our school when you shop online during the Fair. You can shop over 6,000 products — and all orders ship direct to your home (with free shipping on book-only orders over $25*)! 

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: 

This Wednesday, October 5th at 3:30 pm we will hold boys and girls soccer tryouts out at the main field, near the playground. 

It is mandatory that anyone interested in trying out bring a signed Parents Permission Slip with them. Students can pick these up at the front office. 

If your student is currently playing a sport, please have them collect their permission slips from their coach and bring them with them to tryouts.

A parent meeting will be scheduled once the team roster has been announced.

Games will begin in November! Go Knights! 

The Kingswood PTSA is bringing back the Scholastic Book Fair during the week of October 3-7th!  

Shop for books the week of October 3 - 7th with your class. 

Families can shop on Thursday, October 6th from 1:30 - 6:30 pm.  

Online shopping can be done from October 3-16th

Become a BOULDER, PROUDER, STRONG Reader at the Scholastic Book Fair. 

Mark your calendars for parent-teacher conferences which will be held the week of October 3rd.  Please be on the lookout for information from your child's teacher to schedule a time for your conference. We look forward to seeing you there so that together we can work towards your child's academic success. 

Please be advised that October 6th and October 7th are early dismissal days at 1:00 pm due to the conferences. 

The week of September 12th, Dysart Unified celebrated Arts in Education Week, which is one of the vital parts of our student's educational experience. Here at Kingswood, we have a variety of classes for our students such as band, choirs, and visual art.

For years, our Knight was nameless, so we asked our students to help us give him a name. Students first nominated a name, which was then narrowed down to a few for students to vote on. 

On Friday, September 16th we held Student Assemblies to reveal our Knights name. We were joined by District 3 Councilmember Patrick Duffy, who lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. We introduced our Student Council, who read a Constitutional Poem, and then the main attraction appeared and his name was revealed.

Drum Roll Please.... We would like to introduce you to Storm E. Knight. 

Our Kingswood Grandparents had a wonderful morning with their Knights during a special Grandparents Breakfast. Please check out the fun we had by clicking the button below. Happy Grandparents Day!

Our Knights were so excited to wear their favorite NFL gear to kick off the football season! Check out our social media to see more photos.

Each year the Dysart School District and Kingswood Elementary provide important information pertaining to Move on When Reading.  This letter is posted below and will be sent home with all students in Kindergarten through Third Grade.

2022-2023 MOWR Parent Letter - English

2022-2023 MOWR Parent Letter -Spanish

Join us on Friday, September 9th for our Grandparents Breakfast from 7:30 to 8:00 am in the Cafeteria. We will be serving up scrabbled eggs, turkey sausage, and toast. The cost is $2.60 per person (please bring exact change). We look forward to seeing you there!

Maintaining a safe learning environment is one of Dysart's highest priorities. Our schools and district plan and practice various responses to emergency situations through regularly-scheduled practice drills. This letter will inform you of some of the procedures we will follow to protect our students during an emergency.  

What happens during an emergency? 

School administrators, along with support from district office and city/county agencies, will evaluate the incident and initiate the appropriate response to either evacuate outside or away from buildings, or secure the campus in lockdown, modified lockdown, or shelter in place. School personnel work closely with public safety officials during emergencies.  

 Students may be kept on campus. 

In the event of a hazard or other immediate danger to health and safety outside of the school, public safety officials may direct the school to keep students on campus, even after school hours, until it is safe enough for the all-clear signal to be given.  

 • If such an emergency occurs, the school will begin a controlled release, dismissal or reunification process, in which students will be released only to an adult who has been identified as a parent, guardian or emergency contact.  

 • The school district is prepared to provide food, water and the medications listed on your child's Medication Administration Release form to your child if we are directed to hold students on campus.  

 Students may be relocated off campus. 

An emergency situation may require students to be evacuated to a location different from their home school. Our district high schools will serve as relocation sites for all K-8 schools. Updated information sent by telephone auto dialer, email and text messaging will apprise parents of the reunification site details.  

 What to do if your child is kept on campus during an emergency:  

 1.To keep phone lines free for emergency use, PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL. We understand and respect your concern for your child, yet it is essential that the telephone system be available for emergency communications. Additionally, if our school is in lockdown, staff members will NOT be available to answer the phone as they will be working to protect your children from any threats. During an emergency situation, the district will keep parents informed and updated via phone, email, and/or text messages, depending on your selected preferences in the Parent Portal.  

 2. Do not come to the school unless instructed to do so. We realize how difficult it will be for you to keep your distance from the school, but this will be crucial to keep the surrounding streets and parking lot clear for emergency vehicles.  

 3. If you speak with or text your child on a cell phone, please remind them of the importance of following the directions of their teachers and public safety officials. We are proud that Dysart is a safe environment, and we are doing everything possible to keep it that way.  We appreciate your cooperation and support.

We appreciate your cooperation and support.

Mantener un entorno de aprendizaje seguro es una de las máximas prioridades del Distrito Dysart. Nuestras escuelas y el Distrito planifican y practican diversas respuestas a situaciones de emergencia a través de simulacros de práctica programados regularmente. Esta carta tiene el propósito de informarles a ustedes sobre algunos de los procedimientos que seguiremos a fin de proteger a nuestros estudiantes durante una emergencia.  

 ¿Qué sucede durante una emergencia? 

Los administradores escolares, junto con el apoyo de la Oficina del Distrito y las agencias del Gobierno Municipal/Condado, evaluarán el incidente e iniciarán la respuesta apropiada para evacuar hacia el exterior ó lejos de los edificios escolares, ó asegurar el plantel escolar con un procedimiento denominado "lockdown" (cierre del plantel escolar por motivos de seguridad ó con otro procedimiento denominado "modified lockdown" (versión modificada para el cierre del plantel escolar) y otro procedimiento denominado "shelter in place" (refugio dentro del plantel escolar). El personal escolar trabaja en estrecha colaboración con los oficiales de seguridad pública durante las emergencias.  

 Los estudiantes pueden permanecer en el plantel escolar. 

En caso de que se presente un riesgo u otro peligro inmediato para la salud y la seguridad fuera de la escuela, los oficiales de seguridad pública pueden dar instrucciones al personal escolar para mantener a los estudiantes en el plantel escolar, incluso después del horario de clases, hasta que sea lo suficientemente seguro como para que se dé la señal de que la alerta ha terminado.  

 • Si ocurre una emergencia de este tipo, el personal escolar comenzará un proceso de salida o de reunificación controlada, en el que a los estudiantes se les permitirá salir solamente si son acompañados de un adulto que haya sido identificado(a) como uno de sus padres, tutor ó contacto en caso de emergencia.  

 • El Distrito Escolar está preparado para proveer alimentos, agua y los medicamentos enumerados en el formulario de Autorización para la Administración de Medicamentos de su hijo(a) si se nos indica que debemos retener a los estudiantes en el plantel escolar.  

 Las estudiantes pueden ser reubicados fuera del plantel escolar. 

Una situación de emergencia puede requerir que los estudiantes sean evacuados a una ubicación diferente de su escuela de base. Las escuelas preparatorias de nuestro Distrito servirán como lugares de reubicación para todas las escuelas del Kínder-8vo grado. La información actualizada que se envía a través del sistema "telephone auto dialer"  (sistema de marcación automatizada de llamadas telefónicas), correo electrónico y mensajes de texto notificará a los padres de familia sobre los detalles del lugar de la reunificación.  

Qué hacer si su hijo(a) permanece en el plantel escolar durante una emergencia:  

 1. Para mantener las líneas telefónicas libres para su uso durante una emergencia, POR FAVOR NO LLAMEN POR TELÉFONO A LA ESCUELA. Nosotros entendemos y respetamos la preocupación de ustedes por su hijo(a), sin embargo es esencial que el sistema telefónico esté disponible para las comunicaciones durante una emergencia. Además, si nuestra escuela está bajo el procedimiento "lockdown", los miembros del personal NO estarán disponibles para contestar el teléfono, ya que estarán trabajando para proteger a sus hijos de cualquier amenaza. Durante una situación de emergencia, el Distrito mantendrá a los padres de familia informados y actualizados por vía telefónica, correo electrónico y/ó mensajes de texto, según sus preferencias seleccionadas en el Portal de los Padres de Familia (Parent Portal).  

 2. Por favor les pedimos que no acudan a la escuela a menos que se les indique. Nosotros comprendemos lo difícil que será para ustedes mantenerse a distancia de la escuela, sin embargo esto será crucial para mantener las calles y el estacionamiento de los alrededores despejados para los vehículos de emergencia.  

 3. Si ustedes hablan su hijo(a) ó le envían mensajes de texto a través de un teléfono celular, por favor recuérdenle la importancia de seguir las indicaciones de sus maestros y los oficiales de seguridad pública. Estamos muy orgullosos de tener un entorno seguro en Dysart y además estamos haciendo todo lo posible para mantenerlo de esa manera.  

Agradecemos su cooperación y apoyo.

We have a large number of families that have not completed the Annual 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 or through the parent portal app.

If you need assistance in setting up a Parent Portal account, please contact our Family Outreach Specialist, Mrs. Renee, at 623-876-7641. 

Please have your Knights look their best for School Picture Day on September 2nd.  More information will follow. 

We are seeking diverse and passionate educators and support staff that exercise a love for learning. The following positions are open at Kingswood. 

Music Teacher

22/23 SY School Aide/OCR

SPED Paraprofessional - Specialized STC (K-8)

SPED Paraprofessional - Resource (K-8)

Student Support Technician

If you are interested in joining our team, please contact us at 623-876-7600.

Just a reminder that the universal free meal program that schools have been able to offer the last few years has ended. We ask that all families complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application for this school year, which helps maintain school funding and ensures that qualified families will continue to receive free or reduced priced meals. It is critical that all families complete the application at SchoolCafe.com.  Meals are always available for purchase. Parents can prepay for meals, a la carte or snack items, view their balances, or place restrictions on purchases to their child’s meal account at SchoolCafe.com. When students go through the meal line they simply need to provide their student ID at the register to process the transaction. Additional information on meal services can always be found at Dysart.org/Nutrition.

Congratulations to our Knights. Baseball and Softball games will start soon. Below is the complete schedule. Please come out and support these teams.

Baseball Game Schedule:

• August 30th 5:00 pm - Kingswood vs Thompson Ranch @ Dysart High School 
• September 1st 6:30 pm - Surprise vs Kingswood @ Valley Vista High School
  
• September 6th 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs Luke @ Dysart High School
• September 9th 5:00 pm - Freedom vs Kingswood @ Dysart High School
  
• September 13th 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs West Point @ Dysart High School
• September 15 5:00 pm - Kingswood vs Luke @ Dysart High School
  
• September 20th 6:30 pm - Asante vs Kingswood @ Valley Vista High School
• September 22nd 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs Surprise @ Valley Vista High School
  
• September 27th 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs Riverview @ Dysart High School
• September 29th 6:30 pm - Asante vs Kingswood @ Dysart High School
  

Softball Game Schedule:

• August 30th 5:00 pm - Kingswood vs Thompson Ranch @ Dysart High School
• September 1st 6:30 pm - Surprise vs Kingswood @ Valley Vista High School
• September 6th 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs Luke @ Dysart High School
  
• September 9th 5:00 pm - Freedom vs Kingswood @ Dysart High School
• September 13th 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs West Point @ Dysart High School
  
• September 15 5:00 pm - Kingswood vs Luke @ Dysart High School
• September 20th 6:30 pm - Asante vs Kingswood @ Valley Vista High School
  
• September 22nd 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs Surprise @ Valley Vista High School
• September 27th 6:30 pm - Kingswood vs Riverview @ Dysart High School
  
• September 29th 6:30 pm - Asante vs Kingswood @ Dysart High School

Playoff schedule will be made available soon!

We are excited to share our newly designed Level Up Knights spirit wear which will be printed on a purple t-shirt, hoodie or zip up sweatshirt. Get yours today by clicking here. Friday, August 12th is the last day to place your order. 

Kingswood had a successful first day of school!  We were so excited to welcome back our students and families for another great year.  Please continue to check our website and social media to learn more about all the great activities and events planned, as well as updates on our academic progress!  We hope you have a great year, and please reach out if you need anything to help make your student successful!

Check out the photo gallery for some images from around the school!

Mark your calendars for Meet The Teacher Night on August 1st 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00pm.  Your child's teacher will be reaching out to you prior to August 1st with more information, including classroom supply lists.  We encourage you to follow us on our social media for more school happenings. We look forward to seeing everyone! 

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 5:30-7:00pm. 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.

Preschool students at Kingswood Elementary School got a very special treat and presentation from Dysart Nutrition Services Department.  Students participated in a mystery basket activity and explored unique fruits and vegetables and learned about the importance of eating a balanced diet.  

Exotic fruits and vegetables were presented including papaya, pomelos, coconut, Chinese long beans, and lemongrass.  Students explored the smell, texture and color of the various items and learned about the nutritional benefits of eating a varied diet.  The preschoolers were treated to a fresh and healthy smoothie and listened to the book “Sneaky Spinach” by Alexis Schultze.  

The Nutrition Services Department supports student education through fresh, wholesome food, a strong focus on nutrition and believes well-nourished students are better prepared to receive the instruction of the school day. The USDA has approved the extension of our Summer Meal Service through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. All children 18 and younger can receive free breakfast and lunch at any Dysart school. Menus and nutritional information can be found at Dysart.Nutrislice.com and curbside meal pick up locations can be viewed at www.dysart.org/meals.

Kingswood Elementary School has been awarded a Merit Achievement Award by the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports of Arizona (PBISaz). The PBISaz Achievement Award recognizes schools for successful implementation and outcomes with School-Wide Systems of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). Award criteria required high scores on national fidelity and integrity assessments, and measurable student outcome data. 

PBIS is a whole school three-tier approach to decreasing disruptive behaviors and increasing student success. This approach focuses on proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors through school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support, in an effort to create a more positive school environment. 

Kingswood has been on the PBIS journey for the past four years, seeking to create a culture that is positive and focused on improvement and accountability for all students and staff. With the implementation of school-wide expectations, “The Knight’s Code”, the school seeks to accomplish this by encouraging students to be respectful, responsible, safe, and a learner. Through the PBIS journey, Kingswood continues to strive for a more positive, proactive, and supportive school culture for all students, so that they can be successful citizens and leaders of our nation. 

Kingswood Principal Mr. St. Germain, and Assistant Principal Ms. Romero, were joined by Dysart Superintendent Dr. Kellis to receive the award at the PBISaz Award Breakfast on November 7, 2019 in Phoenix. 

PBISaz is the official statewide PBIS organization of Arizona, and is an affiliate of the National PBIS center. PBIS is dedicated to improving the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of schools, while also improving social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups.