Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

This week I would like to highlight and say thank you to our compassionate and caring nurse! We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Jenny. Mrs. Jenny has created a space where students feel safe and comfortable getting the care they need when not feeling well. This year Mrs. Jenny added some amazing new touches to the nurse's office, once again going above and beyond! We couldn't be luckier to have them be the first ones you see each day at Mesquite Elementary!

Thank you to those families that have completed your Annual Update on Infinite Campus. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the online ‘Annual Update’ for your student(s). In order to ensure we can communicate with you regarding your student, or in case of an emergency, it is important that we have your up-to-date contact details. Even if there are no changes, we ask you to please complete to confirm the information we have is accurate for this school year. Please log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal and complete your student’s Annual Update today. For more details, visit gilbertschools.net/annualupdate.

One of the best ways to help your child to be most successful at school is to be involved as well as a family! Thank you to those who joined us for our first meeting! We encourage you to be a part by joining our PTSO at their second meeting on Thursday, September 11th in the Library at 3:15 p.m.! Please know you are welcome to bring your child(ren) to the meeting. More information about our PTSO can be found in the PTSO Section at the bottom of the weekly newsletters!

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

Our sixth grade team, Mrs. Cochell, Mrs. LeClaire, and Mrs. Schneider drew and announced our Character Ticket Winners this week with Mrs. Janine! Proud of these students for being respectful, responsible, and safe in so many ways!

Thank you so much to our amazing Kindergarten Bus Helpers: Max Ajiboye, Chander Nelson, and Isabella Repec! These students not only help their kindergarten siblings, but all of the kindergarteners that ride their bus. This important job helps Mrs. Schrenk and Ms.Uhlig ensure that all of the kindergarteners get on the correct bus safely. We appreciate you!

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! If you were interested in buying a school shirt and weren't able to buy one at Meet the Teacher Night, please see the link below to buy a shirt or other school apparel!

Each year we identify campus goals and one of our goals this year is focusing on continuing to develop a culture of learning. Mrs. Blanckaert designed an impressive bulletin board highlighting the action steps identified in the our goal! We hope you will take a minute to enjoy it in the main hallway next time you are on campus! Thank you Ms. Blanckaert for sharing your talents with us!

On August 20th from 8AM-3PM, Project Connect is hosting a resource event. They will have a variety of amazing resources! Such as food, medical services, community resources, clothing and hygiene items, haircuts, housing assistance, and more! You will need to arrive before 1PM if you are interested in participating in any services. For more information, here is the website, www.keystochangeaz.org. If you have any questions, please reach out to karina.nyberg@gilbertschools.net. Thank you!

• Students should be kept home from school if they have a fever of 100.4 or higher until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
• If your child is turning 12 soon, they need to have updated vaccinations including TDAP and Meningococcal (MCV4) prior to their birthdays. Please turn in updated records to the health office.
• Our closet could use donations of boy or girls size 2, size 3, size 4 tennis shoes.

Jenny Bartels, RN, BSN jenny.bartels@gilbertschools.net 480-813-1240, opt. 2

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board approved policies regarding student use of cell phones during the school day, to be implemented this upcoming school year, 2025/26.

The Why: Promote student learning and well-being by reducing distractions, improving focus, and enhancing overall student well-being during the school day.

Gilbert Public Schools supports dress standards that ignite a culture of learning and well-being. Students are expected to dress in a manner that is appropriate for the school day or for any school-sponsored event.

For more information on GPS Dress Code Expectations, click here.

Please see the links below for the Annual Notification to Parents Regarding Confidentiality of Student Education Records and School Directory Information and and Child Find Information. Special Education Governing Board policies are available for review at the school office and on the District website at this site.

Thank you to all who joined us at our PTSO Meeting on Thursday, August 7, 2025! Our second PTSO meeting will be on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. in the Library and we would love to have you join us!

Thank you to PTSO for organizing a fun evening at Peter Piper Pizza! Thank you to all who joined us at Peter Piper Pizza! Mesquite Elementary earned $1033.30 which will be put to good use this year! Thank you PTSO and Families!

Specially discounted tickets are available for all students, teachers, parents, and families! The Diamondbacks are pleased to offer these extra discounts, and a portion of each ticket purchased through your school's link will be donated back to our school! Please scan QR Code for more information or contact Heather Foti at mesquiteptso@gmail.com.

This year PTSO is starting a sponsorship program. This year there will be a silver, gold and platinum sponsorship levels! Thank you to Judd Orthodontics for our first Gold sponsor Judd Orthodontics! Additional information about sponsorships can be found on the PTSO website.

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!

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing 25/26 PTSO Executive Board. Your commitment to the students, staff, community, and campus is so truly appreciated! Thank you to those to support PTSO by attending events, donating items, and volunteering time.

25/26 PTSO Executive Board

• Kimberly Castro - President
• Stacy Nelson - Co-Vice President
• Amy Simon - Co-Vice President
• Allison Brumfield - Co-Secretary
• Heather Foti - Co-Secretary
• Mel Van Klavern - Treasurer

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.

• August 26 - Picture Day
• August 27 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
• September 1 - Labor Day No School
• September 4 - Fall Fundraiser Kick Off
• September 10 - Site Council at 7:20 a.m.
• September 11 - PTSO Meeting in the Library 3:15 p.m.
• September 18-19 - Parent Teacher Conferences Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
• September 26 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
• October 29 - October 10 - Fall Break No School
• October 13 - Musical Theater Club Starts (Please see more detailed information below)

If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the online ‘Annual Update’ for your student(s). In order to ensure we can communicate with you regarding your student, or in case of an emergency, it is important that we have your up-to-date contact details. Even if there are no changes, we ask you to please complete to confirm the information we have is accurate for this school year. Please log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal and complete your student’s Annual Update today. For more details, visit gilbertschools.net/annualupdate.

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.

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

Directions for how to apply for Free and Reduced Lunches online in English can be found at this link and in Spanish can be found at this link. 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.

• If you will be dropping and picking your child up we ask that you review this information and share them with others who may be picking your child up.
• We kindly ask that only families with kindergartners drop off and pick up at the front of the school. All other families should use the 1st - 6th grade drop off and pick up area.
• We kindly ask that students be picked up in parent drop off and pick up as the front office can become quite busy and congested at the end of the day and this will help with that congestion.

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!

Mesquite Elementary is honored to have district OT/PT Screening facilities on our campus. This area is behind the blue privacy fencing you see when first driving on to campus. These facilities have their own entrance, which is on the east side of the parking lot entrance. We ask that you park in the parking lot closer to the school as these few spots directly in front of the annex are for these buildings. Thank you in advance for your help with this!

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 7:30am - 8:00am

Quarter 1 - Kindergarten-2nd grade
Quarter 2 - 3rd-6th grade
Quarter 3 - Kindergarten-2nd grade
Quarter 4 - 3rd-6th grade

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

Musical Theater will be back starting this October! Registration information will be shared once it is open and will be open until Wednesday, October 15th. This will allow students in 1st through 3rd grade to try the workshop before registering.

October 13 - 4th-6th Grade Workshop from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

October 14 - 4th-6th Grade Workshop from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm and Mandatory Parent Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Library

October 15 - 1st-3rd Grade Workshop from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

October 16 - Video Auditions due by 9:00 am and Musical Theater In Club Auditions from 3:00 pm until finished

October 20 - 4th-6th Grade First Rehearsal

October 22 - 1st-3rd Grade First Rehearsal

Rehearsal Schedule will be shared

January 16 - Performance at Gilbert High School at 6:30 pm

January 17 - Performance at Gilbert High School at 2:00 pm

Nominations for this year's 29th Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards are open until August 28th. Submit your nominations now to celebrate the contributions of GPS educators, support staff, and volunteers.

Provided below is current upcoming construction information based on the current schedule. Please remember schedules can be impacted by various factors, to include weather, materials scheduling and availability of resources, coordination with other projects or utilities, and neighborhood or school activities. A project description and exhibits from the public meeting are available on the project webpage.

• Crews continue work to trench and install water pipeline in the north side of Mesquite Street, east of Lindsay Road and moving in a westerly direction. This pipeline will ultimately need to connect into Lindsay Road.

• Tentatively scheduled to begin the week of August 4, pipeline installation will take place in Lindsay Road with lane restrictions in place to shift traffic away from the work activity. As this work moves toward the center of Lindsay Road, left turn restrictions will also be in place, in the interest of safety.

• Following work in Lindsay Road, pipeline crews will fall back to work from the previously installed pipeline near Mesquite Elementary School, and move in an easterly direction toward Val Vista Drive.

• Water pipeline installation is expected to take another 3-4 months and following that work, storm drain pipe installation can begin.

• Those impacted by planned water service disruptions as part of the waterline installation will be notified in advance via door hanger. Residential services, such as mail delivery and trash pick-up, should not be disrupted; however, please contact us if you experience issues.

• During the summer, crews will work weekdays and several Saturdays. Per the recently signed Senate Bill, SB1182, construction activities can begin as early as 5 a.m. each weekday and 7 a.m. on Saturdays, with concrete pouring permitted to take place at least one hour before these times, as needed.

Mesquite Street and 29th Place will remain open for travel with a flagger activity in place, as needed, to shift traffic away from the work zone. Pedestrian traffic may be shifted to the opposite side of the street, away from the work area, in the interest of safety. Access to residences and the school will be maintained.

Please maintain safe speeds and obey traffic and construction signage, as it is placed for your safety and the safety of travelers and construction crews. In addition, please do not disturb workers as they are given specific tasks, working within allowable rights-of-way or easements, which need to be completed to maintain the project schedule.

Thank you for your patience during this work.

Project Information: 480.898.4090 | www.gilbertaz.gov/cip