Sonoran Heights News

December Events:

• DUSD Job Fair 12/4 @ 3:00pm - 6:30pm
• PTA Desert Farm Lights 12/6 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm
• PTA Meeting 12/7 @ 6:30pm
• Early Release 12/21 & 12/22 at 11:15pm
• Winter Break 12/25 - 1/8. School resumes Jan 9th!

There will be no school the week of November 20th! School will resume on Monday, November 27th. We hope you have a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving break. Please take this time to enjoy family and friends and to remember all we are thankful for. We are thankful for all of our Hawks!

In observance of Veterans Day, there will be no school on Friday, November 10th. School will resume at normal time on Monday the 13th. We hope you have a wonderful three day weekend. Thank you Veterans!

We are so proud to announce that Sonoran Heights Elementary School earned an “A” rating from the school accountability labels for the 2022-2023 school year! Sonoran Heights  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.

Vets, please join us for breakfast on Thursday, November 9th at 7:30AM! A traditional breakfast will be served of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, country potatoes, coffee & water. After breakfast please join us in our Parade of Vets through the hallways with our students paying tribute!

• Monday 10/23 - Crazy hair day!
• Tuesday 10/24 - Favorite team jersey or t-shirt!
• Wednesday 10/25 - Wear camouflage clothes and/or hats!
• Thursday 10/26 - Wear your favorite superhero gear!
• Friday 10/27 - Show your pride and wear your SHMS gear!

Principals are among the hardest working, yet often least recognized individuals in education. Principals set the academic tone for their schools, and it is their vision, dedication, and determination that provide the mobilizing force for achieving student success. 

Thank you, Mr. Hamman, for all you do for SHMS!!!

Socktober is a wonderful annual event that was founded by Kid President in 2013. The event runs throughout the month of October and aims to encourage people to donate socks to those in need. The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is one of the organizations that sponsor this event. NJHS is a group that recognizes outstanding middle school students who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. 

Members of NJHS are required to participate in community service projects, and Socktober is one of the events that they organize. Many people take socks for granted and don't realize how important they are for those who are homeless or living in poverty. Socks can provide warmth, comfort, and protection for people who spend most of their time on their feet. By donating socks to those in need, we can make a huge difference in their lives. 

So, if you want to make a positive impact in your community, consider donating socks to Socktober. You can reach out to your local NJHS chapter here at SHMS (room 136). Remember, even a small donation can go a long way in making someone's day a little bit brighter.

SHMS is selling yearbooks for the 23/24 school year! Yearbooks can be ordered ONLINE ONLY. You may order them HERE!

Click HERE to recognize someone! We believe it is important to celebrate the amazing work our staff does and want to invite students, parents and community members to have an opportunity to celebrate with us! 

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.