Coyote Pride - Week of 09/01/25

This year, we’re inspired by Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg, which teaches that mistakes and surprises can spark creativity, learning, and connection. To celebrate, we’ve created a Beautiful Oops Kindness Wall where students, staff, and families can share notes about moments when someone turned a challenge into something positive or showed kindness and creativity. These uplifting messages will be proudly displayed for all to enjoy.

Hello Desert Heights Families,

We have some exciting news to share about morning arrival! Beginning next week, teachers will no longer line students up outside in the mornings. Instead, doors around the school will open at 9:15 AM, and students can head straight to their classrooms. This will give students extra time for breakfast as well as a calm start to the school day with important learning tasks.

Dismissal remains the same—teachers will continue to meet families outside at their lineup dots.

This past week, I had the opportunity to visit classrooms and see our Coyotes in action:

• In Mr. McMillan’s class, students explored constants and variables during science.

• In Ms. Gonzalez’s kindergarten class, students practiced tracing and writing their names while also counting objects to 5.

• In Ms. Sinocruz’s class, students learned about earth’s rotation and discovered how shadows move and change shape.

We also conducted a fire drill on Friday. Our students and teachers did a fantastic job demonstrating their understanding of safety procedures.

Thank you, families, for your continued support in helping make Desert Heights such a strong and caring community. Please remember there is no school on Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend with your families!

Starting immediately, students may enter the building at 9:15 AM and go directly to their classrooms. Teachers will no longer line up students outside in the morning. Afternoon dismissal remains the same.

• Staff will be at the main entrance, B-Hall, C-Hall, and D-Hall doors to welcome students.

• Kindergarten students will continue to line up in the kindergarten area until 9:30 AM (no change).

• Parents/guardians may still walk their student to the correct grade-level door.

This is the same procedure we use during inclement weather or 2-hour delays.

Student Entry Locations

• Parent Drop-Off & Walkers:

  • 1st & 2nd Grade – B-Hall

  • 3rd Grade – C-Hall

  • 4th & 5th Grade – D-Hall

• Bus Riders:

  • Kindergarten – Escorted to kindergarten area

  • 1st–3rd Grade – Main Entrance

  • 4th & 5th Grade – D-Hall

• Grades 1–5: We’ll conduct friendly uniform checks this week. Families were given a two-week grace period to get uniforms in place.

• Kindergarten: Uniforms are required starting Monday, September 02.

• Need an accommodation? If your child has sensory or other special needs, please contact me or your child’s teacher—we’re happy to work with you.

Where to get uniforms

• School T-shirts (with logo): Available in the main office for $6 (sold at cost).

• Back to School Experience (Tue, Aug 26, 5:00 PM): Kate’s Logos will be on site with sweatshirts, collared shirts, and more.

Outerwear reminder

• Jackets, sweatshirts, and hoodies don’t need to meet dress code outside or in transit, but should be taken off inside.

• If outerwear is kept on in class, it must comply with the dress code.

We’re launching our family engagement team for the year: WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads of Great Students) and M.O.M.S. (Moms of Marvelous Students). This nationally recognized program brings caring adults onto campus as positive role models and extra eyes and ears—helping reduce bullying, enhance safety, and keep the focus on learning.

What volunteers do:

• Greet students, visit classrooms, read with kids, and support recess/lunch

• Show that school matters by being present and helpful

🍕 Pizza Kickoff: Wednesday, September 3rd, 5:30–6:30 PM.

Please RSVP below to learn more and sign up for a volunteer day. All guardians and caregivers are welcome!

Here is the updated the School/Family Handbook that contains important information about our school. Please take some time to read it over. We will update it throughout the year but this should give you some basic information about our school.

Right at School’s Early Adventures™ program is now available at our school! 🏫

🕖 Time: 7:00 AM – Start of school
💲 Cost: $186/month for 5 days/week (see attachment for discount)
(Flexible pricing for fewer days available!)

✨ What’s Included?
✅ Fun fitness games & team projects
✅ Crafts, reading, and more
✅ Homework help from RAS staff
✅ Flexible drop-off times
✅ Financial assistance available!

📲 Register now: RAS.fun/register

Let’s learn, play, and grow—together! 🌟

In this Desert Heights Coyotes PBIS News segment, students highlight what it means to Own Your Actions and Choices on the playground. From keeping hands to yourself, to freezing when the whistle blows, and remembering to bring belongings inside, our Coyotes show how to demonstrate responsibility every day. After watching, talk with your classmates about how you can own your actions and choices at school! 🐾

• Back-to-School Routines: Encourages families to set consistent routines for school success, including preparing the night before, regular bedtimes, structured mornings, homework time, and calendar use.

• Motivation Matters: Focus on building intrinsic motivation (curiosity, self-talk, positive feedback) rather than relying solely on rewards.

• Screen Time Balance: Recommends creating a family media plan to set rules for device use, content, timing, and consequences.

• Family-School Partnerships: Stresses trust, communication, and teamwork between parents and teachers to support learning.

• Reading Aloud: Provides tips to make daily read-alouds engaging and beneficial for literacy growth.

• Attendance: Highlights the importance of consistent school attendance for academic and social success.

• Downtime & Balance: Warns against overscheduling children; stresses the need for unstructured play and enough sleep.

• Social Confidence: Offers strategies for parents to help shy children make friends (role-play, playdates, strengths-based activities).

• Homework Support: Suggests ways parents can review, encourage, and positively reinforce homework habits.

• Going Beyond Minimum Work: Encourages students to put in extra effort for deeper learning and skills such as organization, responsibility, perseverance, and time management.

💡 Building Skills for Independence

This month’s focus is on helping children develop the skills they need for self-sufficiency—both now and in the future. Articles cover practical strategies for building communication, managing big emotions, fostering friendships, developing daily living skills, exploring housing and work options, and using special interests as learning tools.

The message is clear: start early, encourage independence, and provide opportunities for your child to build confidence in their abilities. Every step toward self-reliance is a step toward a brighter, more empowered future.

David Frydman, Principal

Chrystal Thayer, Assistant Principal

Juana Maya, Admin. Secretary

13948 Mount Bismark Street, Reno, NV, USA

Phone: (775) 677-5444