Countryside News

There will be no school on Friday, April 26th for Spring Holiday.  Enjoy your families and stay safe!

We will see you on Monday, April 29th!

We have amazing volunteers that spend their free time assisting in classrooms and we appreciate each and every one of them.  Thank you so much to all of you for your time and kindness.  Happy Volunteers Week!

Sign up to be a Volunteer and join this amazing group of people!

We are excited to announce that Nicki Grubb and Felicia Lucero are Countryside's Dysart Heroes this year!

They were both nominated by their colleagues for their dedication to our little Coyotes and are very deserving of this honor.    Congratulations!

Arizona State testing starts this week for our 3rd and 4th graders.

Be sure that your student has plenty of rest, a healthy breakfast and arrives to school on time every day!

Join us for our Spring Carnival on Friday, April 19th from 6 - 8 pm.

Cake walks, temporary tattoos, face painting, food trucks and so much more!

Tickets are $2 per person and are only being sold in advance!  Please feel free to call the front office with any questions.

Parents were invited to join their preschoolers for a mini egg hunt and classroom crafts last Friday, March 29th!  There was lots of laughter and everyone had a great time!  Thank you to those parents who were able to come out!

Egg Hunt time!

Countryside Elementary School Principal Mrs. McNeese let students tape her to a wall for the afternoon as a fun reward for their love of reading in March. Students were rewarded for books read, reading minutes logged and bulletin board decorations. Students in Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Wertz and Mrs. Ames classes got to duct tape Principal McNeese to the wall. What a great way to celebrate literacy!

Friday, March 15th

A Day of fun, fitness and games!

Kinder, 1st, Phase:  9:10 am - 10:40 am

2nd, 3rd, 4th:  1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Don't Forget to bring a water bottle, wear a hat, wear sunscreen and appropriate shoes!!

The weather will most likely be warm so please dress accordingly!

Thank you to all of our guests this week!  Your time and support in teaching our Coyotes about the love of reading is appreciated!

Dr. Seuss Read Across America

Our 4th graders took a field trip to Arizona's State Capitol where they were able to take a guided tour to see the Historic Governor's Office, Arizona Veteran's Hall of Fame,  the Iron Rails display and so much more!

This was a fun and educational trip for all!

State Capitol

Monday, March 4th:  

Green Eggs and Ham

Dress in green from head to toe!

Tuesday, March 5th:

Oh, the Places You'll Go

Wear something that shows where you have been or where you would like to go!

Wednesday, March 6th:

Wacky Wednesday

Time to be wacky!  Mismatch, silly hair, silly clothing!

Thursday, March 7th:

The Cat in the Hat

Dress like the Cat in the Hat!  Wear red and white striped hats, a red bow tie, tails and ears!

Friday, March 8th:

The Sleep Book

Dress in school appropriate pajamas! (no slippers please!)

We hope you have a safe and restful Spring Break!

We will see you back at school on Monday, March 25th

Stay Connected and Don't Miss Out On Your 2023-2024 Yearbook!   Our deadline for ordering is February 28th so order yours now!

To Pre-order visit:  Buytheyearbook.com

Enter School ID # 715415

$25 each

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! 

Set up an eWallet for an easy digital way to fund your child's shopping! 

Scholastic eWallet

It's Spirit Week time!  Let's have fun!

Monday - Mismatch Day

Tuesday - Crazy Hair Day

Wednesday - Red Pink Day

Thursday - Disney Day

Friday - Pajama Day

You are invited to come early for your parent teacher conferences to view your child's masterpiece.

Our collaborative project for this year is "Countryside is where all the pieces come together"

Early Release will occur on February 8th and 9th for Parent Teacher Conferences.  

If you have not communicated with your child's teacher to schedule your conference, please reach out to them by email!

See you soon!

Picture Day will be on Wednesday, February 21st and order forms will be on their way to you soon!

The online ordering site will be open for those who wish to order online and the site will close by 9:00 am the morning of picture day.

Students must have a completed envelope or online order receipt to have an individual photo taken.

Dress your best and we will see you there!

Online Ordering

Wednesday, February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day Coyotes!  Wear your favorite Valentine's Day color!

In honor of President's Day there will be no school on February 19th.

Enjoy your long weekend and stay safe!

Donate to our Countryside Tax Credit account and help support our after school Fine Arts program, Athletics, campus needs and more!

Stop by the front office for assistance and decorate a heart with your family name for every donation!  Our school goal is $20 per family!

You can also donate online from home via the District website.  Donate now!

Parents, Students and Community Members!

Online orders accepted through January 31st so order yours today!

Online Orders

In honor of our 100th Day, Preschool learned how to count using "pepperonis" and 1st grade counted Cheerios!

100th Day fun

Can you believe it?!  The 100th Day of School!

Ask your kiddos what fun things they are doing in class this week!  You can also celebrate at home with a scavenger hunt to find 100 various items, such as pennies, pencils, crayons or candies!

It's  a brand new year!  Welcome back to all of our coyotes!  We hope you had an amazing Winter Break and you're ready for 2024!

There will be no school on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  

Preschoolers welcomed the Grinch to their annual Holiday festivities!  Preschool students were excited about the visit and took turns having their pictures taken!  Thank you to Officer Gaddis and Sargeant Jalbert for joining us!

Grinch Fun

Congratulations to our amazing team members for their time and dedication to our students and our community! 

Years of Service Recognition

Friday, December 15th

6 - 8 pm

Dancing, crafts, photo booth and so much more!

Tickets are $2 and on sale until December 8th.  Tickets must be pre-purchased; no tickets will be sold at the door! 

Please reach out to your child's teacher if you need an order form!

All school will be closed for Winter Break from December 25th through January 5th.

Enjoy time with family and friends and we will see you on Monday, January 8th!

Join us Wednesday, December 20th @ 6pm

Our coyotes will be singing a variety of Holiday songs for your entertainment!

"I am the Happiest Christmas Tree" by Kindergarten and Choir

"Feliz Navidad" by Kindergarten

"Here Comes Santa Claus" by First Grade

.....and so many more!

Countryside's PTSA is hosting a Penguin Patch Holiday Shop during the school day for your students to experience the joy of giving!

Students will have the opportunity to select gifts for their loved ones, wrap it up and have it ready for the holidays!    Money envelopes will be sent home for parents/guardians to send money back with their students so that they can shop.  (Every gift is inexpensive with kid-friendly pricing from .25 cents to $12.)

Countryside Elementary Early Release - Friday, December 22nd @ 12 pm

Happy Holidays!

Our Coyotes had an amazing time during our 10th Annual Turkey Trot!  Thank you to our Specials teachers for organizing this fun afternoon!

Turkey Trot

Our visiting officers love to spend time with our Coyotes at recess whether it's playing football or "working out"!   The students really look up to them as positive role models!

Officer Smith

The Surprise Libraries provided applications to Dysart students for parents to apply for them a library card.  This was a district wide event with over 1,500 cards being created for our Dysart students!  

Countryside Elementary received theirs last week!

Thank you ladies for making this such an easy process for our families!

Library Cards

Preschool ended October with a costume parade through the hallways and a pumpkin search!  

This was a fun time for our youngest coyotes!

Celebrate!

"We don't know them all, but we owe them all."

-Unknown

Thank you to all Veterans everywhere!

No School November 20th - 24th

Wishing you all a safe holiday spending time with family and friends!

We will see you back to school on Monday, November 27th.

Picture retake day is for those students who are new to the school, were absent on the original picture day, or for those whose parents just want retakes done!

Order forms will be given to teachers to pass out just before Thanksgiving Break, however, if you do not receive one, please call or stop by the front office and we will take care of you!

Countryside Elementary Veterans!

We would like to thank our Veterans with coffee and a donut on Thursday, November 9th, 8:00am - 8:45am, in the cafeteria.

Our Coyotes had a great time watching as Valley Vista's Stormcoming Parade visited Countryside.  The floats were amazing, the characters lots of fun and let's not forget the candy!

Thank you Valley Vista students for sharing your creativity!

Stormcoming

Packets are being sent home this week!  Shop to your heart's content in the Holiday Cheer catalog.  

All order forms are due back to the classroom by November 7th.  Orders will be delivered to Countryside's PTSA by December 13th - in time for the holidays!

If you would like to shop online, go to store.zagfundraising.com

Enter Group ID:  CTY23 and register.

Once registered, you will be given a Seller ID that you can share with friends and family!

Our food drive will start October 30th and end on November 17th, in time for the holidays.  Boxes will be provided to each classroom for any donations that are collected and the grade level that collects the most canned goods each week will win a prize!

Week 1 - Otter pops

Week 2 - Popcorn party

Week 3 - Popsicles/Ice cream

Grand Prize Week - the classroom that collects the most canned goods overall!  10 minutes extra recess and Rice Krispy treats

As a reward for crushing the $15,000 Glow Run fundraising goal and raising $15,400, Countryside Elementary School Principal McNeese kissed Petunia the Pig. Petunia took a little coaxing with some tasty peaches and Cinnamon Toast Crunch to leave her cozy trailer. Petunia happily smiled for the camera as the students got to give her a pat on the head after the big smooch. A big thank you to all who helped to raise funds to support the school.

Past, Present and Future Coyotes joined us at Countryside for our Annual Reading Under the Stars!

Family, friends, food, fun, stars!  What more could you ask for?!

Reading Under the Stars

October 16 - October 20

Monday - Dress like your favorite character

Tuesday - Dress in your favorite sports attire

Wednesday - Dress like your favorite decade

Thursday - Dress like your favorite holiday

Friday - Wear purple!  Valley Vista Stormcoming!

Parent Teacher Conferences are held before and after school  Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have not scheduled a time!

Spend time with family and friends, visit a pumpkin patch, sleep in!

Wishing you a safe and relaxing Fall Break!  We will see you on Monday, October 16th

Just a reminder that this Thursday, October 5th and Friday, 6th are both Early Release days!

School Calendar

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming!

Set up an eWallet for an easy digital way to fund your child's shopping!

Scholastic Book Fair eWallet

Get ready to dress up and Smile!  Fall pictures are scheduled for Wednesday, October 4th!

Order envelopes will be sent home one week prior so be on the lookout for those!  Please complete the order form for your student(s) and return on picture day for them to hand to the photographers.  (Online orders will be accepted for four days following picture day)

Bring a blanket, flashlight and book, or stop by our Book Fair to purchase some new books!

Reading Under the Stars

October 4th

5:30 - 7PM

Guapo Tacos and Kona Ice will be on campus during our event for you to purchase from!

Never Forget...

"It was the worst day we have ever seen, but it brought out the best in all of us."

-Senator John Kerry

APS holds a annual contest called Supply My Class where they award 500 teachers with $500 gift cards for their classrooms. This year, Countryside Elementary has four winners; Hailey Cherwinksi, Shermeka Henry, Kara McBrayer, and David Montano. 

Congratulations!

Our Coyotes had an amazing time during our 2023 Glow Run!

We met our school-wide goal of $15,000 !  Mrs. McNeese and Mrs. Moon will be kissing a pig at our Coyote Cody Assembly on October 6th!

Glow Run

The district-wide attendance competition is up and going! 

Let's get 100% attendance at Countryside!

Monday, September 25th - Shades Day

     Attendance is so bright, you've got to wear your shades

Tuesday, September 26th - Hippie Day

     Be hip, stay all day, everyday

Wednesday, September 27th - Hat Day

     Head for success by arriving on time

Thursday, September 28th - Rainy Weather Day

     Come to school in rain or shine

Friday, September 29th - Rock n' Roll Day

     Thanks for rolling in on time everyday

Our Glow Run is just a couple days away!!! All students are encouraged to wear neon or white colors on Friday! 

Students will also receive free glow sticks and are encouraged to bring additional glow gear to school!

Countryside Glow Run

Are you ready for some Coyote fun?!

Monday 9/18 - Mismatch Day

Tuesday 9/19 - Teacher v Student

(dress like your teacher!)

Wednesday 9/2h- Crazy Hair Day

Thursday 9/21 - Twins/Triplet Day

Friday 9/22 - Pajama Day

*Please make sure you still follow school dress code, shoes must be worn on all days!

Our Glow Run donation drive kicks off today!!!   On September 8th, our students will be participating in a Glow Run!

Find your student's Glow Run page here and then type in your student's first name to search!

Please join us for our first 23-24' school year PTSA meeting!

Everyone welcome but we would love for you to become a member!

In observance of Labor Day, there will be no school on Monday, September 4th.

Enjoy your three day weekend, stay safe and we will see you back on Tuesday!

From August 14 - August 25 our Kinders will be having fun with Color Days!  During this time they will learn to identify colors, color words and tracking to read simple sentences with high frequency words.

Going forward here are the dates and color to wear:

Friday, August 18th - Orange

Monday, August 21st - Purple

Tuesday, August 22nd - Blue

Wednesday, August 23rd - Pink

Thursday, August 24th - Brown

Friday, August 25th - White

Color Days Pictures

Our Coyotes had an amazing time at our First Friday Assembly !  Great Music from DJ DonYo had everyone ready to show their school spirit.  Thank you for joining us!

We were honored to have Dr. Croteau, Superintendent, Dr. Isai, Assistant Superintendent, Jo Grant, Dysart Governing Board and Christine Pritchard, Dysart Governing Board join for our first assembly of the year!  We hope you enjoyed it!

First Friday Assembly Pics

Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 30th @ 4 pm.  We are looking for to having some fun creating our 23-24' yearbook!

Bring your amazing voice and join us this Thursday @ 4 pm for our first Choir Club meeting!

Permission slips will be available for students to take home for parents to sign.  Practices will be held every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 4 - 5 pm.  

Come join the Countryside PTSA for our first annual Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo breakfast starting at 9 am!

We are looking forward to seeing you!

The Surprise City staff and Surprise Firefighters Charities worked hard this summer to collect supplies and backpacks to give 15 bags each to 10 schools within our city!  Thank you to everyone for helping out our little Coyotes!

Join us on Tuesday, August 1st from 5 - 6:30 pm to meet your 23-24' teacher!  We look forward to seeing you!

As we prepare for a great school year, here are the optional school supply lists for each grade level.  Teachers work together as a grade level to determine the supplies needed throughout the school year.  Some supplies may be shared in the classroom and teachers will reach out at various times if anything needs to be replenished.

Dysart School District will supply every student with all academic supplies necessary for academic success. The items listed below represent optional items which you may purchase at your discretion. If you have any questions regarding the optional supply list, please contact the Countryside front office.

See you soon!

Kinder

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

Preschool

STC/PHASE/ESS

Join the Pack and enroll your little Coyotes!

Parents and guardians can now complete most of the enrollment process online!  

The following documents will be required by our office after staff returns on July 5th in order to complete enrollment:

*government-issued photo identification of parent/guardian

*birth certificate

*proof of residency - water or electric bill, lease or mortgage statement, etc.

*immunization records

Enrollment

Monday, July 10th - School offices reopen to the public.

Tuesday, August 1st - Meet the Teacher Night from 4:00-6:00pm. Doors will open at 3:45 pm and class lists will be posted.

Thursday, August 3rd - First Day of School!

Preschool - First Day of School is Monday, August 7th !

May 30th to June 1st (Closed on Fridays)

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, July 10th - July 21st (Closed on Fridays)

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

New Kinders will explore reading and math instruction while learning routines, procedures and expectations.  Come make some new friends!

Register through July!

Phone:  623-876-7800

Online:  dysart.org/Countryside

The last day of school will be Thursday, May 24th @ 12:00 pm

Enjoy your Summer Break and we will see you back on August 3rd!

Stay Safe!

We are very excited to welcome author, Justin Matott on Thursday, May 11th! Please join us from 5:00pm -6:00pm in our library for a family engagement evening to meet our author and receive a free, autographed book. 

Thank you Mrs. McNeese for all you do!

Thank you Ms. Courtney for taking care of all of us!  You are the best!

May 8 - 12th

Thank you to all of our teachers for their hard work and dedication to our little Coyotes!

PTSA is planning special events this week such as a coffee truck visit, snack day and Macayo's for lunch on Friday!

Show your appreciation and thank your child's teacher!

May 8 - 12th

3:45 - 4:45 pm

Information will be going home with students this week!

Wednesday, May 24th

9:30 - 10:30 am in the Multi-purpose Room

This is an exciting time for our Little Coyotes as they celebrate the end of the year!  1st Grade - Here We Come!

Beautification Club planted Snapdragons in their outdoor planter to add color to Countryside's breezeway!

Let the Games Begin!

Thursday, April 27th:

Pre-K, 3rd - 4th grade

9:10 am - 10:40 am

Friday, April 28th

Kinder, 1st - 2nd grade

9:10 am - 10:40 am

Don't forget.....bring a water bottle with your name on it, wear a hat, dress for warm weather, wear sunscreen and wear appropriate shoes!

Parents who plan to attend must sign in at the field entrance!

Thank you to all Volunteers in the District!  We appreciate everything you do!

Enjoy your extra day off!

Thank you Mrs. Moon for all you do for our Coyotes and their families!

Dorian Photographers will be here on April 12th to take Kinder Cap and Gown pictures!

Please join us!

Tuesday, April 18th @ 6 pm

The Vista Art Center

Please join us on Monday, May 22nd @ 5:30pm in the Countryside Media Center.

The final meeting will include our elections for the next school year!

Please join us on Monday, May 22nd @ 5:30pm in the Countryside Media Center.

The final meeting will include our elections for the next school year!

Monday - Sports Gear Day

Tuesday - Teacher vs Student (teachers dress as students and vice versa)

Wednesday - Disney Day

Thursday - Super Hero Day

Friday - Pajama Day

Your child will explore reading and math instruction while learning routines, procedures, and expectations needed for making friends and having a successful school experience.  This will help with the transition into school and ease their anxiety as they begin a new school

year!

Kinder Experience (click to register)

or

Register by phone @  623-876-7815

Who knew Science could be so fun!! Our friend, Albert, came to visit in Preschool. We learned that all living things have different skin and different ways of eating. Albert has cold rough skin and eats by catching food with his sticky tongue. Also, did you know Albert can see two different things in opposite directions at one time? Preschool can tell you all about it!

Thank you for joining us for our Kinder Showcase!  We hope you and your future Coyotes had fun!

Kinder Showcase

The Dysart Hero Squad visited us last week to celebrate Mrs. Judd and Mrs. Hayden. Congratulations!!

In partnership with the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage, students across the Dysart Unified School District were invited to participate in the My El Mirage and My Surprise Essay Contests in November of 2022.  Prompts were developed in partnership with each city to elicit responses that spoke about each city’s mission or vision.  

More than 200 students in grades 3-12 submitted their essays with schools choosing the top 128 district-wide.  The writings were evaluated based on understanding of city services/amenities, creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and proper grammar.

Winners from Surprise were selected in specific grade bands and were honored March 7 at the Surprise City Council meeting including: Cadence Fumia and Rose Vasquez from Countryside Elementary in the grade 3-4 division, Tatianna Pellegrino from Freedom Traditional School for 5-8th grade and Kaleb Delgado from Shadow Ridge High School who won for the high school division.  

Excerpts included below.

Cadence Fumia encourages people to live in Surprise: “My name is Cadence and I live in Surprise, Arizona. If you don’t, what the heck are you waiting for?”

Rose Vasquez expresses how she feels living in Surprise: “I am really happy I moved here because I have my family, a great school that I really like. I have some new friends, and it’s really clean, safe, and friendly.”

Tatianna Pellegrino shares this insight about Surprise: “Danish architect and urban design consultant, Jan Gehl once said, ‘A good city is like a good party–you stay for longer than you plan.’ Surprise isn’t just a good party; it's a great party.”  

Kaleb Delgado says: “[Surprise] carries nothing by surprises, and as a resident here, I am proud to be in such a beautiful community.” 

The City of El Mirage structured their essay winners a bit differently and awarded the top three students in grade 3-8: Esmeralda Olvera Martinez; 1st place, Lejla Tvrtkovic; 2nd place, and Kaleb Rodriquez; third place all from El Mirage Elementary School. High school recognitions include Nathaniel Cosio, and Andre Mena, both 11th grade students at Valley Vista High School.

The five students and their families were invited to attend the City of El Mirage Council meeting on March 7.  The students were recognized and received ribbons and certificates.

Esmeralda Olvera Martinez shares her reasons for loving her city: “So, do you want to know why El Mirage is special? Well, I’ll tell you. You’re going to love it.” She goes on to describe the schools, library, and festivals in El Mirage. 

Nathaniel Cosio shares the value of community: “In the El Mirage community, I feel like everyone knows each other and have fun just getting to live in the city.”

Student winners from both categories were recognized at the Dysart Unified School District Governing Board meeting on March 9th, 2023.

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leaders.

“It has been such a rewarding experience to partner with both the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage to honor our scholars and writers,” shared Edgerton. “The essays submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

Our 1st graders had an amazing time at the Wildlife World Zoo!

Enjoy your Spring Break and we will see you back on Monday, March 20th!

Countryside will be hosting more than 100 guest readers this week to include Surprise City Council members, Ottawa baseball/football players, Surprise firefighters, Surprise Policy Academy Recruits and more!

Please join us on March 21st beginning at 5:30 pm to learn about our free, full-day program.  This is a great opportunity to tour Countryside, meet our amazing Kinder teachers and enroll your child!

You may also register online at Dysart.org/Registration.

The festival will take place at Valley Vista High School, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Back-to-back performances on eight stages, to include band,  choir, dance and theatre troops!  There will also be over 60 arts vendors, food trucks and community partners!

Dysart Festival of the Arts

February 17th and February 21st - 23rd

Students will be visiting the Book Fair with their classmates and parents are welcome each day after school from 3:45 - 4:45 pm.

There will be No School on Monday, February 20th, in honor of President's Day!

Monday, February 27th

Green Eggs and Ham - Dress Like A Chef!

Tuesday, February 28th

Oh, The Places You'll Go - Wear something that shows where you would like to go or where you have been

Wednesday, March 1st

Wacky Wednesday - Time to be wacky!

Thursday, March 2nd

The Cat in the Hat - Dress like the Cat in the Hat, wear a red and white striped hat, a red bow tie, tails and ears!

Friday, March 3rd

What Pet Should I Get? - Dress as your favorite animal or pet

Come join us with your family for workshops, food trucks, student presentations, and great literacy fun!

Waffle Love and Guapo Tacos have confirmed they will join us! 

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on February 9th and 10th.  Students will be released at 1:45pm both days.

Be kind to one another !

Personality and Class Group Pictures

Students new to Countryside will have their pictures taken for our yearbook, as well as any individual pictures that are pre-purchased.

Order forms will be sent home the week before picture day.

** Please Note: Only students with an order will be photographed individually. Parents online orders must be placed prior to 9:00 AM on picture day. Parents can use the flyers/forms they receive or purchase online at www.dorianstudio.com.

Kinder, 1st and 2nd grade students were able to participate in a free hands-on, interactive program targeting important risk areas including fire and home safety, drowning prevention, helmet safety, healthy eating choices, pedestrian safety, car safety, poison, etc.

Tuesday, February 7th @ 6 pm

Do you want to know how to become a member?  Or what we are planning for the remainder of the year?  Join us to find out!

2022-23 Yearbooks on Sale NOW for only $20!  Get yours before they are gone!

Purchase by 3/2/23 at:

buytheyearbook.com

School code: 708887

Where:  Ashton Ranch Elementary, 14898 W Acoma Dr., Surprise, AZ 85379

When:  Wednesday, January 18th

Time:  5:30 - 6:30 PM

Take a Tour of our Campus

Learn about our Electives and Athletics

Hear from Student Speakers

Meet our Faculty & Staff

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 16th, there will be no school.

Countryside Families!

It has never been easier to support your child's school. Do you shop at Frys?  Did you know you can support Countryside while doing so?! 

Here's how you can support our school while you shop:

1. Go to your Rewards Page in the menu options of the Fry's App

2. Click on COMMUNITY REWARDS

3. Search Countryside Elementary PTSA  

4. Hit Enroll

Help support your PTSA while shopping for your family! Thank you for your support. 

1:45 pm -  - Monday, December 19th and Tuesday, December 20th

We will see you back on January 5th, 2023

Be safe and enjoy your Break!

Date:  Wednesday, December 14th

Where:  The Vista Art Center

Time:  6 pm

Please join us as our Coyotes sing Frosty the Snowman, Feliz Navidad and other traditional holiday songs!

Come join us on Friday, December 16th @ 2 pm for Kinder Christmas Sing-A-Long!

No School December 21st - January 4th, 2023

Monday, December 19th and Tuesday, December 20th are both Early Release Days!

Where:  Ashton Ranch Elementary

Date(s):  Saturdays starting 12/3/2022

Doors open at 7 am and the Meet starts at 8 am

Monday 11/14 - Triplet Day

Tuesday 11/15 - Career Day

Wednesday 11/16 - Class Colors

Thursday 11/17 - 90's Day

Friday 11/18 - Superheroes Day

Complete your application online today!

Free Reduced Lunch Application

Hello families! We have officially launched our Glow Run Donation Drive! From now until November 10th your student’s goal is to find sponsors for the Glow Run. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to help fund school beautification projects, field trips and more!  Information has been sent home with more details!

In observance of Veteran's Day school will be closed.

Get ready to look your best!  Club advisors will let members know what time their group picture will be taken.  New students and student retakes will be taken as well.  Please send your original packet back with your student if you are requesting a retake.

We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Break!  Stay safe!

Congratulations to our school winners and Congratulations to Alexandra who will attend the District Spelling Bee!

More...

 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. 

Packets are being sent home this week!  Shop to your heart's content in the Holiday Cheer catalog.  All order forms are due back to the classroom by November 7th.  Orders will be delivered to Countryside's PTSA by December 13th - in time for the holidays! 

If you would like to shop online, go to store.zagfundraising.com

Enter Group ID:  CTY23 and register.  Once registered, you will be given a Seller ID that you can share with friends and family!

 Thank you to the Friends of Surprise Libraries for the couches and the chairs you provided to our preschool program. The kids love to read and they were very excited to have a special and comfortable place to sit and read.    

Ms. Emily Winnie

Our Dramatic Play area was transformed into an Optometrist's Office.  The students checked in by writing their name and age, then circling their eye problem in preparation for their eye test!  More...

Marvelous Math students working hard in Rogers' Royal Kingdom!  More...

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1st grade students were pushing cars on a flat and high surface and tracking their findings.  They discovered that If the car went down the ramp, it went faster and if they also pushed harder, the car would go farther.

More...

"Every Pound Recycled Supports the Countryside Elementary PTSA" 

The recycle bin is located near the soccer fields when you first drive in.

Thursday, October 27th from 4 - 8pm

Peter Piper Pizza - 12851 W Bell Rd, Surprise

15% of all food, beverage and funpass game credit sales benefit Countryside!

Thank you to the Friends of the Surprise Libraries for their donation of some amazing book sets!

Chronicles of Narnia, The Judy Moody Most Moodtastic set, The Boxcar Children and many more!

Valley Vista's Annual Storm Coming Parade visited Countryside Elementary.  The floats were amazing and our Coyotes loved the candy that was thrown to them!  Click here for more pictures!

Please be sure to call our Attendance Line @ 623-876-7803 to excuse your child when you know they will be absent or late!  

Come and join us on 9/26 - 9/30.

No school between October 10-14.

Monday 10/3 - Mismatch Day

Tuesday 10/4 - Dress to Impress

Wednesday 10/5 - Disney Day

Thursday 10/6 - Tye Dye Day

Friday 10/7 - Pajama Day

*Please make sure you still follow school dress code, shoes must be worn on all days.

Get ready! Fall pictures are on Oct 4th!

Buy your Yearbook today!

Cost:  $20 @ buytheyearbook.com

School ID:  708887

Order your Countryside Spirit shirt by October 7th.

https://stores.inksoft.com/COU000

Our Coyotes loved the First Friday Assembly for September!  Lots of fun for all!

Students showed their patriotism by creating red, white and blue remembrance ribbons.

Join Us for our Reading Under the Stars night!  Bring a blanket, flashlight, and a book or stop by the Book Fair to purchase a new book!  Dungan Dogs food truck will be on campus during this event!

Countryside 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!

View Photos from the first day!

Greetings Countryside Parents and Students! We'd like to invite you to read our first back to school letter to our community. Please CLICK HERE. 

Check back for school supply lists

Join us for our Meet the Teacher night!

Monday, August 1st from 5pm - 6:30pm

Optional school supply lists

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.