Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

Each week we continue to celebrate students being respectful, responsible, and safe. This year we are incredibly proud of our sixth graders as they have led our campus well this year, from being a great example each day to running assemblies celebrating all students once a quarter and more! This week we were able to celebrate two of those sixth graders who each brought two friends to lunch when their Character Ticket raffle tickets were drawn. Each week Mrs. Janine draws names from the Character Ticket bucket and these students are celebrated. This started out with having staff members read the names drawn and has grown to having students help lead. Throughout the week, students will meet with Mrs. Janine to ask for their chance to help draw names and celebrate others. When a student's name is drawn their picture is added to the bulletin board in the main hallway and they have the opportunity to choose something from the prize cart. Items on the prize cart were donated by PTSO and Student Council. Students have the option to place a raffle ticket in the cart for a bigger prize if they don't want an item from the prize cart. Proud of these students for leading the way!

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is currently open! We will host a kindergarten open house on Thursday, May 1st from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. prior to Evening of the Arts which will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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. For more campus information, please visit GilbertSchools.net/LevelUp.

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

So proud of our students for celebrating and encouraging others!

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!

Mrs. Pardy shares that Zoey is AMAZING! I have loved watching her grow over her years at Mesquite. She has blossomed into an amazing human. She has a heart of gold. She always asks people how they are doing. If she notices someone isn’t doing well she will try and comfort them. She tries to include others that don’t always get included which is one of my favorite things about her. She’s always there with a smile and a hug. She was recently in our school play and she worked so hard to become the part of Olaf and WOW she did an amazing job!! The audience absolutely loved her. In PE she always tries her best at everything we do even if it’s not her favorite activity. She follows our school expectations of being respectful, being responsible and safe. She is a great role model to the younger students. She has her very own unique style and is always true to herself. Zoey, thank you for being a bright light in this world and keep being true to you. :)

Battle of the Books is a competitive reading club for 5th and 6th graders. Students read 12 books throughout the school year and compete in groups of three in a battle about details of the stories. After three battles, the winning team moved on to the district battle where they competed against other Gilbert schools. Proud of our students who commit to Battle of the Books! Thank you Mrs. Sturdevant for leading this so well!

We have our Spring Book Fair coming up from May 1st - 6th. If you are interested in volunteering, use this link to sign up. I am looking for people to help during class times and Night of the Arts. Thank you for helping to support our library!

Building Blocks through fourth grade had Field Day at Mesquite this week. Fifth and sixth grade had Field Day this week at Gilbert High School. Gilbert High School students helped at both Field Days this week and we appreciate their support! A big thank you to the many parents and volunteers who joined us to support Field Day, we couldn't do it without you! Thank you Mrs. Pardy for planning and running a fun day of fitness for all!

Hello Mesquite Families!

We are running very low on snacks! If you are able to, we would love any unopened snack items! Ideas include: cheez-its, gold fish, chewy bars, fruit snacks, veggie straws, crackers etc. It is also starting to get hot, so we would happily take any water bottle donations! Thank you so much!

-Your nurse and social worker :)

Thank you to all who joined us at our PTSO Meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2025! The next PTSO meeting will be on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. in the Library and we would love to have you join us!

Thank you to PTSO for sponsoring another Fun Run Fundraiser Incentive this week! We appreciate all the families that generously donated. Thank you to those families who were able to join for Picnic with Parents this week!

We invite you to join us for Evening of the Arts on Thursday, May 1st from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

PTSO will be putting together raffle baskets by grade levels. We appreciate your generous donations to PTSO and/or the baskets if you are able to do so. Please find your child's grade level donation opportunity below.

• Preschool: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56262678-mesquite
• Kinder: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56266578-mesquite
• 1st grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56266731-mesquite
• 2nd grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56266905-mesquite
• 3rd grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267082-mesquite
• 4th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267415-mesquite
• 5th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267539-mesquite
• 6th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267844-mesquite

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.

The Site Council at Mesquite Elementary is an important part of our campus. It allows parents, students, and staff to meet throughout the year to discuss the mission and vision of Mesquite Elementary as well as continue to brainstorm how best to do this.

A big thank you to our Site Council Parent Members this year! Thank you to Mrs. Judd, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Simon, and Mr. Hutchins! We appreciate our teachers Ms. Blanckaert, Mrs. Sturdevant, Ms. Acton, Mrs. LeClaire, Ms. Eberhardt, and Ms. Guhy! We are grateful for our student representatives Camden, Haven, and Campbell as well! Their voice and input was invaluable this year!

If you are interested in being a part of Site Council as a Parent Member, please let us know as we will have one open position and would love to chat further about your interest or questions you might have!

• May 1 - Kindergarten Open House from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Evening of the Arts from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• May 2 - Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Arizona Museum of Natural History
• May 6 - Talent Show at 5:00 pm
• May 8 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Orchestra Concert at 6:00 pm and Fifth and Sixth Grade Band Concert at 7:15 p.m.
• May 9 - Kindergarten Mother's Day Activities at 8:30 am
• May 13 - Fourth Grade Musical at 6:00 pm
• May 15 - PTSO Meeting at 3:15 pm in the Library
• May 16 - Kindergarten Father's Day Activities at 8:30 am
• May 19 - Sixth Grade Field Trip to Sunsplash
• May 20 - Advantage Preschool End of Year Celebration (AM Class) at 9:30 am and (PM Class) at 12:45 pm
• May 21 - Building Blocks 4 Promotion at 9:00 am
• May 22 - Kindergarten Promotion at 9:00 am, Sixth Grade Clap Out at 11:15, Early Dismissal at 11:55 am, and Last Day of School

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.

Please join us to learn more about kindergarten at Mesquite Elementary on Thursday, May 1st from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Gilbert Public Schools is proud to offer various summer camps and summer school opportunities. More information about programs and registration can be found here. Registration is currently open for all programs.

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 4- 4th-6th grade

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

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. Mesquite would like to celebrate and honor any graduating seniors who attended Mesquite Elementary with a special clap out and reception. Please use this link to register and we look forward to seeing returning seniors there!