Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

This week I would like to highlight Ms. Janine who makes sure we celebrate and honor our students making great choices each week by being respectful, responsible, and safe! Students can often be overheard throughout the week presenting their reasons as to why they want to help Ms. Janine draw names and read them on the intercom each week! Thank you Ms. Janine for making a difference! In addition to this, Ms. Barb and Ms. Mary look for ways to honor and celebrate our students with certificates and prizes! Student Council helped to fill our Character Cart this year too!

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is currently open! As you start thinking about junior highs for next year, please know that we feed into Greenfield Junior High School, South Valley Junior High School, and students have the option to apply to Gilbert Accelerated Middle School at Gilbert High School, Gilbert Classical Academy, and/or Gilbert, Talented, and Creative Program at Highland Junior High School.

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

Mesquite Mountain Lions, this year we would love to see your pride colors! We look forward to seeing our Mountain Lions wearing their favorite school shirt or school colors on Fridays this year!

So proud of all of our Spelling Bee Contestants! Gavin will be representing Mesquite Elementary in the District Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at Campo Verde. We also wanted to celebrate our runner up, Beckett, and our third place finisher, Ari. A special thank you to Mrs. Schneider and Mrs. Cochell who ran the Spelling Bee! Thank you to our amazing judges Mrs. Amari, Ms. Blanckaert, and Ms. Karina as well as the most talented announcer, Mr. Martins! Thank you to our TIE, Mr. Thuang who supported behind the scenes as well as Mr. William and Mr. Gonzalez who helped set up for the School Spelling Bee! It takes a team and we have some of the best at Mesquite! Thank you to those that took time to be with us on the morning of the Spelling Bee!

Thank you to all who joined us at our PTSO Meeting on Thursday, November 7, 2024! The next PTSO meeting will be on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. in the Library and we would love to have you join us!

A special thank you to our PTSO for organizing an amazing Staff Appreciation Week! Your generosity is so appreciated! Thank you to the families and many businesses that spoiled our staff this week! We would like to acknowledge:

• PTSO for donating and volunteering their time
• All families that generously donated and/or volunteered
• Prep and Pastry
• Texas Roadhouse
• Venezia's Pizza
• Alta Climbing
• Starbucks - Val Vista & Elliot Location

Thank you to those that follow the Mesquite Elementary PTSO Facebook page. PTSO has an Instagram account as well which can be found using this picture QR Code. Thank you for following along and sharing along the way!

• Amy Simon - President
• Stacy Nelson - Vice President
• Kimberly Castro - Secretary
• Mel Van Klaveren - Treasurer
• Heather Foti - Member At Large
• Allison Brumfield - Member At Large

Please check the PTSO website and join the Mesquite Elementary PTSO Facebook group for all the current information from PTSO. This is a great way to connect with other families.

• December 16-18 - Fifth Grade Science Camp
• December 17 - First Grade Field Trip to Herberger Theater
• December 18 - Preschool and Kindergarten Holiday Extravanganza 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
• December 20 - Jingle Jog at 7:15 am and Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am
• December 23-January 3 - Winter Break No School
• January 9 - Second Battle of the Books at 1:45 pm and PTSO Meeting at 3:15 pm in the Library
• January 15 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:45 am
• January 16 - Clubs/Panoramic Pictures
• January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr Day No School
• January 21 - Sixth Grade Level Up Days at Greenfield Junior High School and South Valley Junior High School
• January 22 - GPS Job Fair at Highland High School 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• January 24 - Winter Dance at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• January 31 - Fourth Grade Field Trip to Sonar Desert Museum and Reid Park Zoo

It is very important that all families complete the online ‘Annual Update’ to prepare for the new school year. The ‘Annual Update’ in Infinite Campus allows you to tell us of any updates to your contact information, address changes, and updates to emergency contacts. In order to ensure we can communicate with you regarding your student, or in case of emergency, it is essential that we have your up to date contact details. Please log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal and complete your student’s ‘Annual Update’ today. To access the IC portal visit www.gilbertschools.net/IC.

Download the GPS App

The GPS App includes a link to IC, as well as access to your student’s school calendar, meal information, bus routes, and other helpful information for parents and students. Visit www.gilbertschools.net/app for more information.

Preschool Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opened on December 2, 2024. For more information please visit gilbertschools.ce.eleyo.com.

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year is currently open. For more information please visit gilbertschools.net/enroll.

If you wish to add money to your child's account for this coming year, please use this link. The Free and Reduced Price Meal Online Application is available here as well!

Please use this link to complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Meal application. If you are interested in applying and have questions please don't hesitate to contact the front office or our social worker, Ms. Karina Nyberg.

Please remember students must have their Student ID Badge to ride the bus. All bus riders have had copies of their badges added to their backpacks, we ask that you make sure these stay on your child's backpack. Thank you!

By becoming a Friendship Club member at Mesquite Elementary, students learn to build awareness and create opportunities in which friendships can grow in a safe and accepting environment. At each club meeting, students will engage with peers before school for 30 minutes for structured fun and peer interaction. There are no costs to join this club.

Thursdays 7:30 am - 8:00am

Quarter 2 - 4th-6th grade

Quarter 3 - Kindergarten-3rd grade

Quarter 4- 4th-6th grade

Email Ms. Kelli at kelli.stark@gilbertschools.net to sign up!

• January 6 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 7 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 8 - Theater Rehearsal from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
• January 13 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 14 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 21 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 22 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 27 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 28 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• January 29 - Theater Rehearsal from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
• February 3 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• February 4 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• February 5 - Theater Rehearsal from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
• February 10 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
• February 11 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
• February 12 - Theater Rehearsal from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
• February 18 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• February 19 - Theater Rehearsal from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• February 20 - Theater Rehearsal from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• February 21 - Performance from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
• February 22 - Performance from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Thank you to those who signed up for Movers Club! Mrs. Pardy sent an email to all families registered! Mesquite. Practices will be on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:30PM. Run Club meets will be in November, December, January and February at a junior high or high school.

• December 17 - Movers Club at 3:00 pm
• January 7 - Movers Club at 3:00 pm
• January 14 - Movers Club at 3:00 pm
• January 15 - Movers Race at 4:30 pm at Greenfield Junior High (Always optional)
• January 21 - Movers Club at 3:00 pm
• January 28 - Movers Club at 3:00 pm
• February 4 - Movers Club at 3:00 pm
• February 5 - Movers Race at 4:30 pm at South Valley Junior High (Always optional)
• February 11 - Mesquite Race at 3:00 pm