Next week will be the start of our state AZM2 testing for students in grades 3-6. For our third and fourth graders, this is the first time they have experienced state testing and students may feel a little nervous about participating in these assessments. I am confident that our students are prepared. They work hard every day and are some of the brightest kids I know. You can see the testing schedule here.
Here are a couple of simple things you can do to help your student feel prepared for testing days:
- Get a good night's sleep. Have a set bedtime routine and stick to it. Getting plenty of rest helps the brain and body be ready for a full day of school (this is good for any school day, not just testing days).
- Eat a nutritious breakfast. It's also a good idea to send a nutritious snack and plenty of water.
- Be sure to get to school on time. Students who arrive after a testing session has started will not be able to enter the classroom late and will be sent to an alternate location until testing has finished for the day. They will be able to complete their assessment on a make-up day.
Although we schedule testing sessions, the test is not timed. Students who are working hard can have as much time as they need to complete the assessment - as long as they are finished in one school day.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher.
~Staci Wiese, Principal
No school on Friday, April 2!
Kindergarten Registration 2021-22
It's not too late! If you or someone you know has a child who will be 5 before September 1, 2021, they are eligible to register for kindergarten. Packets are available in the front office and may be picked up any school day between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Hurry, spots are filling up fast! Registration packets are due back by May 1st. Items required for registration include: original birth certificate (we will make a copy), immunization record, parent identification and proof of residence (such as a utility bill).
It's Time to Make Your Tax Credit Donation
Did you know that you can make your tax credit donation online? Arizona's tax law (ARS 43-1089.01) allows families a tax credit of up to $400 and individuals can give up to $200. Contributions made on or before April 15, following the close of the taxable year, may be applied to either the current OR preceding taxable year and is considered to have been made the last day of that taxable year. Here's the link for more information.
Town of Carefree - Earth Day Event
Please mark your calendars and join us to celebrate Earth Day!
The Town of Carefree is hosting an Earth Day event on Saturday, April 24, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in the Carefree Desert Gardens in Carefree, AZ. Saturday’s family-friendly Earth Day Event will feature local Arizona organizations to help educate and empower our community to take better care of our Sonoran Desert, planet, and each other.
The event will be held outdoors with properly masked and distanced agencies at the Pavilion. The Desert Foothills Land Trust, Central Arizona Conservation Alliance, Rural Metro Fire, and Wild at Heart, to name a few, will be joining us. Come out to see and learn more about the birds, reptiles, and plants native to our area. Do not miss out on this fun, engaging, informational day!! Stay tuned on our social media platforms @townofcarefree and https://visitcarefree.com/ for updates and details.
VISIT THE PTO WEBSITE FOR ALL OF YOUR PTO INFORMATION
Like us on Facebook @DWESPTO
Like us on Instagram @ DWESPTO
KEY DATES
- 3/31/21: Purchase your yearbook by 4/2/21!
- 4/7/21: Spirit Night at Chipotle!
- 5/3/21 - 5/7/21: Teacher Appreciation Week
RECENT NEWS
Yearbook Order Deadline THIS Friday 4/2/21! The yearbook committee has been working hard all year to bring you an amazing book themed "A Year Like None Other", don't miss out and order yours today! Click here to order. Use yearbook ID code: 13226521.
Spirit Night at Chipotle, Wednesday 4/7/21 - Mark your calendars and gear up those taste buds! Wednesday, April 7th from 4:00 - 8:00 pm, enjoy Chipotle and our last Spirit Night Fundraiser of the school year! DWES will earn 33% of total sale. For all ONLINE orders, please make sure to use code: XZEQHTZ before checkout for us to receive credit. Chipotle is located at 5355 E. Carefree Hwy. in the Sprouts shopping center.
Teacher Appreciation Week - It's almost here! May 3rd - 7th we will show our teachers just how much we appreciate them! More information along with a sign up genius will be coming......
Help Wanted - The PTO Executive Board is retiring at the end of the school year. We are making room for a new board with fresh ideas and a willingness to make a difference in the 2021/22 school year. Please view the sign up genius here!
Yearbook Photos - There's still time to submit photos of your student doing new hobbies, scout activities, volunteering, sports and photos of new pets during quarantine. Please submit them to: dwesyearbook2@gmail.com.
QUICK LINKS
See all fundraising opportunities
FUNDRAISING
Shop for everyday supplies while helping earn money for DWES! Here's how.....
Fry's Community Rewards Program- If you shop at Fry's Food Grocery Store, please link up your Fry's V.I.P. card to Desert Willow or enter organization number WM786. Fry's Community Rewards Program will automatically donate to DWES on your behalf from your purchases! Here is a link to Fry's Community Rewards Program to link your card.
Amazon Smile - is a simple and automatic way for you to support DWES every time you shop at amazon.com, at no cost to you with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to DWES. Select Desert Willow PTO as the charitable organization and every eligible purchase you make on Amazon Smile will result in a donation to our school Here is a link to shop!
Tuft & Needle - Need a new mattress? Buy one the easy way - online and with FREE shipping! Tuft & Needle has partnered with our school and will donate 25% back to DWES on every purchase. You can order through Tuft & Needle Gives Back or on the Tuft & Needle website and enter Desert Willow Elementary School, it's as easy as that!
Click here to see ALL of the unique and easy ways you can immediately help raise funds for DWES while you shop!
PTO PROUD SPONSORS
M2 Enterprise is a home remodel construction company specializing in bathroom remodels, custom showers, kitchen remodels, flooring, mudrooms, and more. Owned and operated by Mark DiGianfilippo, M2 Enterprise serves Cave Creek, North Scottsdale, North Phoenix, and Paradise Valley. M2 is licensed, bonded, and insured and offers free consultations. ROC #311513 #312046. www.m2az.com 480-256-8165 Follow us on Instagram at @m2enterpiseaz
Thank you to the Guseman Family: Thad, Lauren, Henry and Leo!
Complete Eye Care - Comprehensive eye exams and high quality vision care for the whole family. 33717 N Scottsdale Rd, #110, Scottsdale, AZ 85266. 480-488-7007. www.completeeyecareaz.com.
Young athletes' bodies are works in progress. Their care requires a different approach. Phoenix Children's Sports Medicine has nationally recognized sports medicine physicians and physical therapists who collaborate with athletic trainers, coaches, and families to offer a full range of care that gets young athletes back to the sports they love, all while lowering the risk of re-injury.
Center for Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Phoenix Children's Hospital
p(602) 933-3033/f (602) 933-4311 www.phoenixchildrens.org
IN PROGRESS
Ricky Roadrunner Resale Shop - If you have children moving on to middle school or have outgrown their spirit wear items, we are collecting DWES Spirit Wear that have been gently used in the front office.
- Co-Presidents: Valerie Handley and Lori Mathesius - dwespresident@gmail.com
- Vice-President: Sandy Lacy - dwesvp@gmail.com
- Treasurer: Virginia Sierra - dwestreasurer@gmail.com
- Secretary: Melissa Adelson - dwessecretary@gmail.com
- 4/2/21: Spring Recess - No School
- 4/5/21 - 4/16/21: AZM2 testing
- 4/7/21: Early Release @ 11:50 a.m.
- 4/28/21: Early Release @ 11:50 a.m.
- 5/20/21: Early Release @ 11:50 a.m. - Last Day of School!
Roadrunners are Respectful, Responsible, & Kind
This month, our school wide theme is empathy. We’ll be reminding students to have empathy, identify their own and others’ feelings, notice and respect the same and different feelings, and show compassion. When students can identify, understand, and respond in a caring way to how someone else is feeling, it helps create a positive and accepting school climate.
You can extend this idea at home by talking about your own feelings and modeling empathy for others.
Credits:
Created with an image by Alexas_Fotos - "easter easter eggs funny"