Our library is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with this awesome display!
I know that it is an additional burden on families to keep kids home for what in a typical year would seem small (like a runny nose). This year is certainly not like a typical year. Thank you to the parents and families that are following the health protocols outlined by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. As a general reminder, students with even one symptom are asked to stay home for the entire isolation period unless cleared to return by our district nurse. Students who have been exposed to a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will be excluded from school for 14 calendar days. Your teachers are committed to working with you to ensure that your student does not fall behind during any absences from school.
~Staci Wiese, Principal
PBIS Drawing Winners
This week's PBIS Winners are:
- Kg: Savannah from Sra. Pacheco
- 1st: Ethan from Mrs. Sampanes
- 2nd: No cards to draw from :(
- 3rd: Carl from Mrs. Jahns
- 4th: No cards to draw from :(
- 5th: Liana from Mrs. Gazo
- 6th: Paige from Mrs. Frigard
Attendance Reminders
If your child will be late or absent, please call the attendance line at 480-575-2800 and leave a message or email Ms. Jill at jmachin@ccusd93.net. If your child arrives late they must be signed in at the front office by an adult.
Site Council Members Needed
Would you be interested in knowing more about what goes on here at DWES? Consider joining our Site Council. Meetings are held monthly and we are in need of some parents to join us. Please contact Ms. Trish at tverde@ccusd93.net for more information.
DWES Honor Society
5th and 6th grade students, do you like to volunteer in your community? Have you ever wanted to help others in your spare time? If so, join the DWES Honor Society! We are a group dedicated to helping others through volunteer work. We encourage each other and challenge ourselves to volunteer at least 15 hours each school year and complete the Superintendent's Challenge. It is good for your school, community and yourself!
If you are interested in being a part of this fantastic group, please fill out this application by October 16. For all of those who apply, an email will be sent with more information about the program.
Child Nutrition
Just a reminder that Child Nutrition has a new on-line payment system, Titan Family Connect. You can download the app on your phone or go to www.ccusd93.org and click on lunch menu under the popular links to find the desktop link. If you have any questions, please email squinn@ccusd93.net.
6th Grade SI Cooking Video
They're back! Our 6th grade SI chefs are at it again. Enjoy the latest recipe by clicking on the button below.
Virtual Art Show Coming!
At the online show, you can see your student's art from LAST SCHOOL YEAR. This is the art from last year's COVID-cancelled show, so you will find your child's art (if they finished it and turned it in) by clicking on their homeroom teacher's name from LAST YEAR.
The $26 listed under each child's art is the price if you wish to buy a frame for your child's art. The art belongs to them, and it will be returned to them, regardless of whether you order a frame.
When the show is over, Artomé will ship the art back to DWES, along with any artworks that are framed and I will distribute students' art back to them.
I hope you enjoy the show-the students' art looks GREAT-and thank you for all of your support!
Wave Learning Festival
Join Wave Learning Festival for curricular tutoring services, guest speak events, and "Tides" of month-long courses for an engaging and out-of-the-box learning experience! All offerings are free and online in an effort to make opportunities accessible to all during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Click here for more information.
Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation (CCUEF) Cookbook
CCUEF provides grants to teachers in the CCUSD school district. So far they gave given over $200K! They are currently working on a "Quarantine Cookbook" as a small fundraiser. If you would like to participate, please click here to submit a recipe.
Sonoran Arts League Fall Youth Art
Learn to create & explore ideas, techniques, and media on various subject matter! Click here for more information.
Do you wonder why your teen/tween is overemotional? It is more than just hormones - you can also blame the brain! This forum will help you understand your child's developing brain, behaviors, and emotions. Forum attendance is FREE. Please click here to RSVP and receive a Zoom invitation link by email before the forum, or contact Gina Durbin at gdurbin@ccusd93.net with any questions.
Pto Website
Please check the PTO website regularly to stay informed! Click the button below to go to the site.
KEY DATES
- 9/23/2020: Support the PTO - Become a Member Here!
- 9/25/2020: Team Spirit Night with Cactus Shadows - Filibertos
- 9/25/2020: Membership Drive Nintendo Switch Raffle - EXTENDED! (Must join by 9/24/20)
RECENT NEWS
STEP IT UP - We are off to a great start and the kids are all excited to help raise money for their school! If we raise $10,000 profit we will have PAJAMA DAY. If the school raised $20,000 in profit we will have PAJAMA DAY and OTTER POPS! The main goal of this fundraiser is to help raise money for:
- Technology and supplies for the school's new STEM lab
- Library and Kindergarten aides for next year
SPIRIT NIGHT TEAM EVENT 9/25 - Cactus Shadows invited us to join them at their Spirit Night and DWES takes home 20% of all the proceeds from both schools!!! Filibertos Mexican Food, Cave Creek Road and Lone Mountain, 6am - 11pm.
RETURN TO SCHOOL WISHLIST - These are items the school can use to help our teachers and children make a safe transition back to the classroom. Drop off in the front office.
MASKS - It is required your child bring three (3) masks to school each day and the PTO is selling DWES masks online. Click here and scroll to the bottom to view the masks.
DID YOU KNOW - funds raised this year actually help support the schools needs NEXT YEAR?! Join the PTO HERE.
PTO VOLUNTEER opportunities click here.
HOMEROOM PARENTS - The teachers need our support as well, to view all Homeroom Parent volunteer opportunities, click here.
YEARBOOKS - Yearbooks have shipped! They will be distributed soon.
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!
QUICK LINKS
Support the PTO Membership Drive here
See all fundraising opportunities here
PTO PROUD SPONSORS
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.
Kristina Wilson, MD, MPH, CAQSM - Medical Director, Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine and Sports Physical Therapy
Center for Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Phoenix Children's Hospital
p(602) 933-3033/f (602) 933-4311 www.phoenixchildrens.org kwilson@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 Andelson - dwessecretary@gmail.com
- PTO Website: http://desertwillowpto.org/
- 9/25/2020: PTO Nintendo Switch Drawing
- 9/25/2020: Team Spirit Event at Filiberto's!
- 9/28/2020: Fall Recess - No School
- 10/7/2020: Early Release @ 11:50 a.m.
- 10/15 & 10/16/2020: Early Release at 11:50 a.m. for Parent/Teacher conferences
- 10/19/2020: Fall Break - No School
- 10/20/2020: No School - Teacher PD
- 10/23/2020: Student Photos
- 11/4/2020: Early Release @ 11:50 a.m.
- 11/11/2020: Veteran's Day - No School
- 11/25 - 11/27/20: Thanksgiving Break - No School
- 12/8/2020: Photo Retakes
- 12/18/20: Early Release @ 11:50 a.m.
- 12/21/20 - 1/1/21: Winter Break - No School
Roadrunners are Respectful, Responsible, & Kind
At Desert Willow, we teach all of our students to be responsible, respectful, and kind. When we are at school, teachers find students showing their best responsible, respectful and kind behavior and give them Roadrunner tickets that can be entered in a weekly drawing. While we are learning at home, your teachers will still be looking for great Roadrunner behavior and can fill ou a digital Roadrunner ticket. Each Monday I will share the names of one student at each grade level who was responsible, respectful, or kind in our announcements. You will also be celebrated in our weekly newsletter and you may get a special piece of mail from Ricky Roadrunner.