Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

This week I would like to highlight and say thank you to our incredibly talented first team. We are grateful for the foundation that Mrs. Homer, Ms. Lytle, and Mrs. Mendoza provide for our students as they continue to develop as readers! First grade is a year of great learning and growth. We are grateful for a team that truly invests in each other, especially with the new addition of Ms. Lytle to the team! We appreciate our first grade team!

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! This week our PTSO will start our Fall Fundraiser. These funds have been used to support our campus in many ways from classroom playground equipment to new Chromebook carts this summer! 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 and Fall Funderaiser can be found in the PTSO Section at the bottom of the weekly newsletters!

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

Thankful to our students who announced and celebrated our Character Ticket Winners this week with Mrs. Janine! Proud of these students for being respectful, responsible, and safe in so many ways!

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!

Read S'More Books at the upcoming Book Fair! The Book Fair will be held from September 17th to September 23rd. Students will be allowed to shop during their scheduled library class time. It will also be open during Parent-Teacher Conferences. See you there!

To set up an E-Wallet, preview the flyer, or shop online visit this link. If you would like to sign up to help at the book fair, please use the link.

There is an upcoming clothing swap event! This event is open to anyone in need. You do not have to bring anything to swap (if you do have clothing to donate, you can bring it). The event will be held on September 13th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at three different locations.

Student Council was able to visit the Arizona State Capital to learn with and work with other Student Councils around Arizona! What an exciting day! Thank you to our Student Council Student Leaders and Club Sponsors, Mrs. LeClaire, Ms. Long, and Ms. Eberhardt!

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.

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!

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

• Thursday, September 11
• Thursday, November 6
• Thursday, January 8
• Thursday, February 12
• Thursday, April 9
• Thursday, May 14

This year Mesquite's Fall Fundraiser will run from September 4th through September 18th.

Register online

• Visit: HTTP://APP.99PLEDGES.COM/FUND?EMSQUITEEL2025
• Click "Add Participant" to register your student(s) or scan the QR Code Below
• Earn donations - ask family and friends to donate directly on your page through September 18th.

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.

We will have our annual Halloween Book Parade on Friday, October 31st at 2:15 p.m. All students Kinder through 6th grade as well as Building Blocks will participate. Kinder teachers will be reaching out to families about their grade level plan. Students in grades 1st-6th, we ask that your child dress as their favorite book character and/or bring a book with a character similar to their costume. Costumes should not include masks and should be school appropriate. Parents are welcome to join us and will be lined up outside on the playground along the parade route. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

• September 4-18 - PTSO Fall Fundraiser
• 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)
• October 14 - District Choral Festival at 7:00 p.m.
• October 16 - Battle of the Books in the Library 1:30 p.m., GPS Parent University Garden - Growing Together: A Family and Garden Resource Fair 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• October 20 - 23 - Bring Your Parent to P.E. Week
• October 21 - Movers Club Starts (Please keep your eyes out for more detailed information coming soon)
• October 29 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
• October 30 - Sixth Grade Spooktacular Concert at 6:00 p.m.
• October 31 - Halloween Book Parade at 2:15 p.m.
• November 5 - Site Council Meeting at 7:20 a.m. in the Library
• November 6 - PTSO Meeting in the Library 3:15 p.m.
• November 11 - Veteran's Day No School
• November 12 - Third Grade Veteran's Day Concert at 6:00 p.m.
• November 14 - Fall Festival from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• November 18 - Picture Retakes
• November 25 - Turkey Trot During Specials
• November 26-28 Thanksgiving Holiday No School

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!

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 is now open and can be found using this link. Registration 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

We are excited to announce the relaunch of the Mesquite Garden! To make our garden dreams a reality, we need the support of our amazing community. If you would like to donate an item for our garden, please check out our wish list here.

Donations may be dropped off at the front office during school hours, no later than Tuesday, October 14, 2025. If you have questions or need to arrange an alternate donation drop-off time, please contact ashleymarie.fortune@gilbertschools.net.

Join us for our Garden & Family Resource Fair on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 4–6pm. Families will have the opportunity to work in the garden, enjoy fun garden themed activities, and connect with community resources.

Get ready for two weeks full of fun, friends, and adventure at our Fall Break Camp! Campers will enjoy exciting field trips to Top Golf, Big Air Trampoline Park, Main Event, and Fat Cats, plus plenty of active games, arts & crafts, and engaging enrichment projects. A special guest from the Spider-Verse will be visiting our Kindercampers on Friday, as well as exploring a fire truck with some of our finest first responders. There's something for every student.

Learn more and sign up before spots fill up!

Enrich your student's life with our diverse after school classes with our Enrichment Programs! We proudly offer over 20 engaging classes for elementary and junior high students, as well as family and adult classes designed to strengthen bonds and foster learning together. Our offerings include a wide variety of subjects, including financial literacy, Spanish learning, drawing, cooking, golf lessons, sports training, and dance, to name a few. These classes are designed to help discover passions, build essential life skills, and promote physical activity in a fun and supportive environment.

Sign up today and empower your family to become the best version of themselves!

Ready, Set, Grow! Preschool Parent Workshop

Gilbert Community Education Center (6915 E Guadalupe Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212)

September 10, 2025 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Learn practical, everyday strategies to help your 3-5 year old develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive at school and at home. | Register

Triple P-Raising Confident, Competent Children

Islands Elementary (245 S. McQueen Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85233)

September 16, 2025 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Learn six core building blocks for children to become confident and successful at school and beyond, including showing respect, being considerate, having good communication and social skills, having a healthy self-esteem, being a problem solver, and becoming independent. | Register

Triple P-Raising Resilient Children

Quartz Hill Elementary (3680 S. Quartz St., Gilbert, AZ 85297)

September 23, 2025 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Learn six core building blocks for children to manage their feelings and become resilient in dealing with life stress, including recognizing feelings, expressing feelings appropriately, building a positive outlook, developing coping skills, dealing with negative feelings, and dealing with a stressful event. | Register

For more information and to register, visit GilbertSchools.net/Families/Parent-University

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, currently working in an easterly direction from 31st Street toward Val Vista Drive. As this work crosses driveways or side streets, crews will coordinate with the respective residents related to access.

• Water pipeline installation is expected to take another 2-3 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 are working 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