Lion Country News

Hello Canyon Valley Students and Families,

This past week, Grand Canyon University visited Canyon Valley and presented to our students about their trades certificate programs and how these programs may be a great fit for our students as they begin to think about that big question that comes after graduating from high school - "what next?"

Students learned about opportunities they have to earn professional certificates with employment pathways in the electrician, CNC machinist, semi-conductor, and construction career fields.

On Friday, we will host a career and digital citizenship focus day where students will learn digital citizenship skills, career preparation skills, and have the opportunity to interact with employers and education pathways at a mini college and career fair (open to students only).

This week wraps up the first semester of courses at Canyon Valley. The final exam schedule and information is below and information about the district's Intersession Grade Enhancement Program is below as well.

Thank you for your continued support of our students here at Canyon Valley.

Adam Strock

Principal

Canyon Valley School

• Finals this week (see schedule below) All classes should be attended, last chance to make-up work.
• Friday, September 26th: Career Fair and Digital Citizenship focus day at Canyon Valley. Student's Attendance counts.
• It's time to complete your Annual Update.
• Fall Intersession Grade Enhancement Program, October 6th-10th @ Gilbert High School (check your email)
• Make-up Picture Day, Tuesday, October 14, Link to purchase pictures.
• Sign up for district bus transportation with this link.
• Free & Reduced Lunches application and adding money to a lunch account
• Gilbert Public Schools- district Health Dashboard
• To stay up to date, please be sure to read District emails (link to all district emails here)
• Calendar for the 25-26 school year, 26-27 school year

As we prepare for finals next week, please review the following important information:

Finals Schedule

• Monday: Finals during Periods 1, 3, and 5 (normal regular day schedule).

• Tuesday: Finals during Periods 2 and 4 (normal regular day schedule).

Make-ups & Deadlines

• Wednesday & Thursday: Makeup testing and assignment completion. (normal regular Wednesday and Thursday schedule).

• No make-up exams will be administered after Thursday.

• All student work is due by Thursday after school.

• Students are expected to attend school all week, Monday through Friday.

• Friday: College and Career Day for student. (Early release schedule: 2:20pm).

The Intersession Grade Enhancement Program will be held at Gilbert High School during the second week of Fall Break (October 6-10).

Canyon Valley students are eligible to participate in the Intersession Grade Enhancement Program and receive a grade enhancement to a 60% passing grade if the student's grade is a minimum of 50% in the class. Students whose grades are less than 50% are not eligible to participate. Students who are eligible for the program have received information and an invitation to sign-up by email.

Students who successfully complete the intersession program will receive a grade enhancement in the class to a passing grade of 60% for the class for their semester grade.

This program is available on a first come, first served basis and is available for the following 1st semester classes:

English IA, IIA, IIIA, IVA

Algebra IA

Geometry A

Intermediate Algebra A

Biology A

Chemistry A

If you received an email invitation from us, please take some time to review your student's gradebook and register your student for the intersession program.

Per Gilbert Public School (GPS) Policy JHCA, all GPS schools are closed campuses. Students are to remain on campus during the school day, including lunch, unless they are signed out by a parent/guardian in person or have approved release time. Students found to have been off campus (including being in the parking lot) during school hours may be subject to a search by school personnel and face disciplinary consequences including suspension.

Canyon Valley does not accept food deliveries from delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or from restaurants. Students may purchase lunch from the school cafeteria or bring their own lunch from home. See the link below for information about cafeteria services.

NUTRITION SERVICES

Visit gilbertschools.net/meals for lunch account information and free/reduced meal applications.

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board approved policies regarding student use of cell phones during the school day to promote student learning and well-being by reducing distractions and improving focus during the school day. All elementary schools and some of our junior highs have already been operating ‘Away for the Day,’ and our high schools have been operating ‘No Cell Bell to Bell’ during the 2024/25 school year. The policy will simply formalize these approaches.

Away for the Day Grades K-8: Once the school day begins, cell phones and wireless communication devices must be turned off or set to silent and stored out of sight (for example, in a backpack) for the entire school day, unless instructed otherwise by a staff member for educational purposes. This restriction includes earbuds and headphones as well.

No Cell Bell to Bell Grades 9-12: During instructional time, cell phones must be turned off or set to silent and stored out of sight (for example, in a backpack), unless instructed otherwise by a staff member for educational purposes. This restriction includes earbuds and headphones as well.

Please visit gilbertschools.net/families for more details.

Join us at our 2nd Annual GPS College and Career Fair!

Monday, October 20, 2025 | 6-8 PM

Gilbert High School

1101 E Elliot Rd

Gilbert, AZ 85234

Over 80 College & Industry Partners. Discover academic programs and career pathways. Learn about scholarships, Financial Aid, and application tips. Ask questions and get expert advice on your next steps.

The Gilbert Police Department is introducing a new public education initiative: Know Your Ride, a campaign designed to help residents understand the important differences between electric bicycles and electric motorcycles and the laws that apply to each.

As electric two-wheelers become more popular, so can the confusion about how they’re classified and regulated. While electric bicycles and electric motorcycles may look alike, they are treated very differently under Arizona law.

Voting is underway for the Best of the Best East Valley! Recognize your favorite businesses, organizations, people, and school district in Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa through noon Tuesday, Sept. 23! Thank you for your support -- you make us the Best of the Best!

Vote Now!

GPS is up for:

• Best Child Care Center - Question #98

• Best Public School/District - Question #100

• Best High School Teacher - Question #103

• Best Elementary School Teacher - Question #105

• Best Mascot - Question #108

Join Gilbert Public Schools at the 2025 Arizona Walk4Hearing on Saturday, November 1st, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona! This free, family-friendly event aims to raise awareness and support for the d/Deaf and hard of hearing community in Arizona. Free ice cream, refreshments, kids activities, bounce house, and more will be available.

When you sign up for the walk, register for the "Gilbert Public Schools" team! The cost of the walk is free. Donations are greatly appreciated. GPS is a Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Alliance organization and will receive 40% of the donations from the "Gilbert Public Schools" team. Register at Walk4Hearing.org/teams/GPS.

The GPS Family culture is an authentic, welcoming feeling that keeps staff, families, and students connected for life. Through personal stories, we see how the Gilbert Public Schools community is a place that, for many, is more than a school district - it's a place to call home. | Read More

While the students head home early on Wednesdays, our dedicated teachers and staff stay on campus for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). These essential professional development sessions help our educators grow and refine their skills, ensuring they're equipped to positively impact every classroom. | Read More

• Browse assignments by specific class or due date.
• Review attendance events in summary and detail form.
• Immediate access to grades as they are posted.
• Review schedule from anywhere, at any time.
• Receive notifications immediately on attendance and updates grades.

Download the mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store by searching for either Campus Student (for students) or Campus Parent (for parents). Learn more

Join the Gilbert Education Foundation's annual Power of One Campaign and make a lasting impact! Every fall, we ask for just $1 per student and employee to fund our Innovation Grants, student scholarships, STEM education, and enrichment programs that benefit EVERY STUDENT, EVERY EDUCATOR, and EVERY CAMPUS in Gilbert Public Schools. But we can't do it alone – we need your help!

Your donation not only transforms educational experiences but also gives your student's school a chance to win valuable prizes for supplies, equipment, and enrichment. Together, let's create educational magic and help our schools thrive.

Donate today and be the Power of One!

The Be SMART campaign was launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership in order to reduce child gun deaths. Whether you’re a gun owner, or you know someone who owns a gun, there is a role for everyone in the conversation around secure gun storage. Be SMART is a framework that parents, caretakers, and community leaders can follow to help keep their communities safe. Ultimately, you can help prevent kids from accessing firearms by storing them securely, and encouraging others to do the same.

Learn More about Be SMART Here

Don’t miss the kick off to Harvest in the Heritage District – with ¡Viva! A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage- September 26, 6:00 - 8:30 PM.

Come experience the energy and excitement of Gilbert's ¡Viva! A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage. This free event presented by Felix Construction takes place at the Water Tower Plaza on Friday, September 26 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. There are opportunities to volunteer as well!

Thursday, October 2 | 6:30-8:30pm

Grab a blanket or your favorite lawn chair and join us this Fall for live music during our FREE Concerts in the Park presented by Lifetime Home Remodeling. Our concert series showcases some of the Valley’s best bands performing a variety of music genres. Enjoy some tasty takeout from one of the many Gilbert restaurants and enjoy the tunes! First up – Midnight Ride! | Read More

Please find below campus specific information for our senior students who are planning to participate in senior activities and graduation with their home high school campus.

Campo Verde High School - Coming Soon!

Desert Ridge High School

Gilbert High School - Coming Soon!

Highland High School

Mesquite High School

To enhance safety measures that protect our students, staff, families, and the broader community, we continue to add to our wide range of safety and security tools, processes, and strategies. At the end of last school year, we implemented the use of weapons detectors at all of our high school campuses, and for the new school year, we will also be implementing a clear bag policy for athletic and other large events on our high school campuses.

Additionally, at Canyon Valley we will continue to utilize security cameras in all common areas and classrooms as well as the use of vape sensors in all bathrooms.

If your student is attending a GPS high school for a school event (i.e. sports, carnivals, etc.), please visit gilbertschools.net/safety for more information about expectations and processes.

Students are expected to wear their student ID badges at all times. Students were provided with their badge and lanyard during the first few weeks of school.

• Please work with your students to ensure they bring their ID badge with them to school every day.
• Bus riders will use the barcode on their ID badge to get on and off the bus once they have received their ID badge from the school.
• Students use the barcode on their ID badges to access sign-in into class for attendance, nutrition services (cafeteria), the library, and the bookstore.
• Junior High and High School teachers will now be using ID badges to take attendance each period. Students are required to wear their ID badge in a visible location that can easily be scanned on their way into each classroom.
• Replacement badges are $1 for a paper copy and $5 for a permanent copy. Landyards and badge holders are $1 each.

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.

As we begin the new school year, please review the updated bell schedule for 2025-2026 below. This bell schedule is significantly different than last year to accommodate state requirements for instructional minutes for each course each quarter.

Canyon Valley is excited to share that, over the summer, we added food services to our facility and will be serving lunch daily on campus. Students will have the choice between a hot lunch or cold lunch with a bi-weekly rotating menu (see below). With the addition of a cafeteria and served lunch this does mean a couple of logistical changes for Canyon Valley students:

1. Food deliveries (i.e. DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.) will no longer be accepted and will be turned away. Lunch is a busy time for our front office and organizing and delivering student food orders is not something our office staff can manage during that time.

2. All students have a student lunch account. You can apply for free and reduced lunches and or add funds to your student's account by credit card through the LinQ app or by bringing in a check or cash to the front office at the beginning of the school day. Credit cards and Apple pay, etc. are not accepted to purchase lunch. Instructions for adding funds to your student's LinQ meal account can be found below.

3. Canyon Valley will remain a closed-campus. Students are not permitted to leave campus during the instructional day unless they have an early release on their schedule and are finished with their academics for the day. Students who leave campus are subject to disciplinary action including the search of both their personal belongings and their vehicle.

Every student has a lunch account, it is up to the parent to add funds to the lunch account or to complete the free and reduced application. If you would like to add money to your child's lunch account you can do so one of two ways: Adding funds via the LinQ Connect App, or by bringing in cash or a check to the office. If you would like to add money via the app you will create an account (you will need your child's student id number). By creating an account you can choose to be notified when your child is low on funds and you have the ability to see which days they purchased a meal.

Apply for free & reduce meals

To check your student's balance go online to www.gilbertschools.net/meals

If your child needs to utilize district transportation please complete this Google Form in order for them to be registered.

Does your student ride the bus? if so, be sure to download the "Here Comes the Bus" App. This app will notify you when the bus is arriving, when your child has scanned on the bus and when they scan off the bus. ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR STUDENT ID'S TO SCAN TO GET ON THE BUS.

Have you created your parent portal account? If not click here for directions on how to. The parent portal gives you access to your child's grades and attendance, as well as teacher contact information. Click here for directions on how to download the Infinite Campus Parent Portal app to your smart phone.

Purchase Tickets in Advance!

Email: canyonvalleyinfo@gilbertschools.net
Website: https://canyonvalleyhigh.gilbertschools.net/
Location: 7007 E Guadalupe Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212
Phone: 480.507.0519