Friday, March 25, 2011

April Events

Events
Apr. 4 Students and Staff return from Spring Break!
Apr. 4 School Council meeting 7:45 am Principal's Office
Apr. 5 Author Mark Teague here 9:15 am
Apr. 7 Gov. Board meeting 7 pm District Office
Apr. 8 Spring Fling! 4:00-7:00 pm DTES Playground
Apr. 11-15 AIMS
Apr. 13 PTO General meeting 7 pm DTES Library
Apr. 19 Early Release St. dismissed at 12:30 (no lunch)
Apr. 20 UPC meeting 10:15 am District Office
Apr. 21 Gov. Board meeting 7 pm District Office
Apr. 22 NO SCHOOL- Recess
Apr. 28 STAR Citizen Lunch with Mrs. Lee Mimi's Cafe
Apr. 29 Water Safety & Bike Safety Assemblies 9:15 & 10 am

Spring has Sprung/AIMS/Poetry/Fine Arts

I want to take the chance to wish each family a wonderful Spring Break! We will look for everyone on Monday, April 4th!

AIMS reminders: Grades 2-6 Dates~ April 10-15. To create the best testing environment as possible we will not be having K-6 parent helpers, K-6 volunteers during AIMS. We want to provide every child the opportunity to do their best with the least interruptions as possible. We also ask that you not make or to please reschedule appointments during the week of AIMS that would cause your student to come/go or arrive late. Our testing protocol takes all students into account for the best results.
Thank you for your understanding and support. Also, a good breakfast and restful night's sleep is always helpful when students need to be at their best!


Desert Trails Poetry Contest was hosted by our Reading Specialist, Mrs. Bier. This morning on live Morning Broadcast each grade level winner 1-5 read their winning poem to the entire school!
WINNERS: Wesley J. in 1st grade/ Matt M. in 2nd grade/ Jansen M. in 3rd grade/ Ashley P. in 4th grade/ Bryce H. in 5th grade!!! Each winner received a brand new journal and mechanical pencil to keep writing those winning poems! CONGRATULATIONS!

Desert Trail's Fine Arts program was highlighted last week at PVMall~ Band, Strings, Choir and Student Art work, all showcased the many talents our students have. Instructors- Mr. Stolper, Ms. Brooksby, Mrs. Linsley, and Ms. Parent are to be recognized for their hard work and dedication.
Thank you for a wonderful Fine Arts day at PVMall!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Parent Satisfaction Survey

All Parents: Please take our parent satisfaction survey! To access this survey, log into the Parent Portal. The link has been provided above. Select the survey link in your inbox at the bottom of the page. If you have not registered in the Parent Portal the link Sign Up is also posted above for you. The survey will be open for two weeks, March 11-25. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes.
THANK YOU!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

School Council Decision

Dear Parents,
I wanted to share a heart-felt thank you for your response to our parent survey sent out last Friday. We received 319 surveys! A thank you also goes out to Jen Mozilo, PTO President, and JoAnn Polk, PTO Officer, who sat with me for nearly 2 hours tabulating the results! Jeff Gaunt, Sarah Zsanto, Deb Levins, Sue Kinsler, and Pam Newton, our School Council members- THANK YOU for following the process and being a positive part of doing what is best for kids!!!
Also, a thank you to our Director of Assessment, Dr. Rob Allen, who digested our data and created graphs that could be accurately interpreted.

School Council met this morning and used the entire hour to understand, learn more, listen, give input, hear all sides, think through all possible scenarios, and come to a 100% consensus. Our goal was to make the best decision for ALL Desert Trails' students. Taking into consideration parent and staff input, School Council decided to reduce Computers to a .5 position, leaving intact all of our very special, Special Areas.
Although the decision did not come easily, as the Council members were well aware that a beloved staff member would not be returning to Desert Trails. At this time for the 2011-2012 school year our Special Areas will be:
P.E: Coach E. Computers: Mrs. Taub Library: Mrs. Taub Art: Ms. Parent Music: Mrs. Lindley
It is with a heavy heart that we will say good-bye to Mrs. Baldetti. New this year to Desert Trails, Mrs. Baldetti quickly found a home in the hearts of students, staff, and parents.

Monday, March 7, 2011

PV Showcase/New Gov. Board Members/Kinder Round-Up

Saturday, March 19 from 10 am to 6 pm at Paradise Valley Mall thousands of PV students ranging from elementary to high school level will showcase their talents during this day-long festival. Various art mediums including performances, visuals, theatre, dance and more....concert bands, string orchestras, choirs, jazz bands, theatre improvisation and dance troups will perform throughout the day! Every 20 minutes the look and feel will change as the students perform to entertain all PV students, families, and guests! This very special event is free!

Congratulations to Mrs. Nancy Case as she moves into the position of Governing Board President~Mrs. Julie Bacon is one of the new Governing Board Members~Mr. Mark Lane is also a new Governing Board Member. Dr. Skidmore and Mrs. Greenburg continue their positions as Governing Board Members. The Governing Board meets at the district office every first and third Thursday evening at 7 pm. Meetings are open to the public.

Kindergarten Round-Up started today!! We anxiously await our new students and are hosting a night on Tuesday, March 8 to show-off our wonderful Kinder Teachers, our fabulous Special Areas, the new Imagination Center and lots more! Send any incoming Kinder students our way for this special event. 5:00-7:00 pm

Reminder of March Events

3/4 Safety Meeting 8:00am
3/9 Change: School Council 8 am
3/7 Kindergarten Round-Up Starts!
3/8 Incoming K- Parent night 5-7pm
3/9 District Field Day
3/16 4th gr. Grand Canyon Parent Meeting 6:30pm
3/17 STAR Students go to lunch with Mrs. Lee
3/17 Gov. Board Meeting 7pm
3/19 DTES Strings Performance PV MALL 2:00pm
3/23 Strings Performance DTES 7pm
3/28-4/1 Spring Break- No School

Friday, March 4, 2011

ALERT- FLYER COMING HOME TODAY!

Parents, please be looking for a purple flyer coming home with your child today. This will be your opportunity to give input to a very important decision regarding Special Areas for the 2011-2012 school year. The purple flyer must be returned on Monday, March 7 and will be reviewed by School Council. I want to hear from you, so please take just a minute to fill the purple flyer out and get it right back into your child's backpack!!!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Technology/Spring/AIMS

In case you missed channel 10 last night, I have provided the link above that shows Desert Trails making a move into the future! Enjoy-

March Events
3/3 Gov. Board Meeting 7pm
3/4 Safety Meeting 8:00am
3/7 School Council 7:45am
3/7 Kindergarten Round-Up Starts!
3/8 Incoming K- Parent night 5-7pm
3/9 District Field Day
3/16 4th gr. Grand Canyon Parent Meeting 6:30pm
3/17 STAR Students go to lunch with Mrs. Lee
3/17 Gov. Board Meeting 7pm
3/19 DTES Strings Performance PV MALL 2:00pm
3/23 Strings Performance DTES 7pm
3/28-4/1 Spring Break- No School

AIMS dates this year are as follows: April 11 through April 18. PLEASE, do not make appointments for your child(ren) if at all possible during the testing days.
Planning now for a good breakfast, restful nights of sleep, and a good attitude will support your child(ren) to do their very best!!
Thank you for your help.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

D.T. in the News!

Channel 10 was here this morning filming in our new Imagination Center. Students from Mrs. Sanders & Mrs. Worsham's classrooms were busy at work with the ipads, mac books, flip cameras and also doing their Famous Americans in the green screen room.
The footage will be shown tonight at 5 & 6 PM on Channel 10! Hope you can catch it!!!