Burk Elementary Bobcat Bulletin

Hello Bobcat Families,

As we begin the third week of Quarter 3, we want to update you on the exciting developments happening at school to support your child’s learning. In December, students completed their middle-of-the-year assessments, and last week, our teachers took time to analyze the data from these assessments in order to plan for targeted instruction.

Starting this week, we have implemented a new intervention and enrichment model called “Walk to Read.” This model allows students to participate in a 30-minute daily session focused on specific skills and standards. Students are grouped by the areas they need more support with or, for some, by the areas where they need more of a challenge. These groups are fluid and will be adjusted regularly as students strengthen skills and demonstrate growth. Our goal is to ensure that every student receives the right level of instruction to succeed.

We are excited to see the progress that this model will help foster, and we appreciate your support as we work to provide the best educational experience possible for each child. Looking ahead, we will also be introducing a “Walk to Math” model next year, which will follow a similar approach to address individual math needs, as we continue to implement our new math curriculum.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education.

Warm regards,

Katrina Gruse

Principal

Regular school attendance is one of the biggest factors that can help your child succeed in life. Did you know that children who attend school every day or miss, at most, 1 day a month, are more likely to read on or above grade level? Plus regular attendance helps your child feel like an important part of their classroom community.

Burk is currently experiencing 24% chronic absenteeism. This means that 24% of Burk students are missing more than 10 days in the first 100 days of school. We are also averaging 19 tardies per day. By state law, tardy minutes add up to half day and eventually full day absences, as every minute in a student's learning matters.

We understand students get sick, and state law provides 9 days per semester and 18 days per school year for this reason. Students who are chronically absent, miss more than these allotted days. Please visit the GPS website for the calendar to plan family events or travel. By working together we can build good attendance habits.

I am a proud Wildcat! I graduated from University of Arizona with a bachelor's in Speech and Hearing and a master's degree in Deaf Education. I have been teaching students with hearing loss for 30 years and over 20 of those years here at BURK. I love being a part of children learning to communicate whether it is through sign language or listening and spoken language! I am a native Arizonan and grew up in Chandler. I have a son, Beau, and bonus daughter, Destinee, who both attend Highland High School. I love spending time with my family and friends:)

This past Saturday, January 18th, our First Lego League Robotics team went to the State Championship. 285 teams signed up to compete throughout the state. Of these 285, 72 teams qualified to advance to the State Championship. Burk placed 19th out of 72. We are so proud of Leah Johnson, Kellen Jaconelli, Madison Mateo, Hazel Johnson, Aubrie Fletchall, and Emery Wilson. Because of their hard work and support from Mr. Moore, they were able to finish strong!

The Burk Elementary Spelling Bee was on December 5, 2024. Congratulations to our Burk Spelling Bee Champion Graham Geohagan and Jaxx Cook our Runner-up! Graham will be competing in the District Spelling Bee at Campo Verde High School on January 23rd at 6 pm. We know you will make us proud!!!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! SAVE THE DATE for January 31st through February 7th and get ready to empower your reader with book choice. Start exploring together by clicking HERE #ScholasticBookFairs

We can't do it without you! Please consider volunteering to help at the Book Fair. The story starts with you! Sign up to volunteer HERE.

We want to welcome families for our Kindergarten Preview Nights on January 27th at 5:00 p.m. and April 24th at 6:00 p.m. These are opportunities for families with students who will be in kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year, who would like to know more about what a typical day in kindergarten looks like at Burk, engage in a school tour, and have questions answered. If you know a family who is looking for a great school for their child, please share this information.

If you are interested in having your student tested for giftedness, please use this link to request testing. For more information, you can review common characteristics of giftedness to see if testing might be appropriate for your child.

Once you submit a request, you will receive additional details about when your student will be tested in February.

Thank you for your interest and support! If you have any questions, please email Sarah Erhart at sarah.erhart@gilbertschools.net.

Please join us for our PTSO meeting on January 27th at 3:30 p.m. We are in need of more parents and grandparents to become involved in our Parent, Teacher, Student Organization. If you can't make it to meetings, but would like to become involved to support our Burk Community, please contact burkelementaryptso@gmail.com.

As a 6th grade parent, you will have the opportunity to place a dedication or shoutout in the yearbook. Include your favorite memories, some words of encouragement or even picture(s) of your child as they go off to junior high.

Click HERE form more information including the order form.

Today our sixth-grade students had the opportunity to visit Mesquite Junior High during the school day to experience the campus and learn more about what Junior High has to offer.

If you are considering a different junior high in GPS, there are Family Preview Nights, which are a perfect opportunity to visit our Junior High campuses and learn all about the different courses and electives offered while touring the campus. Please click on the links below for information about each of our Junior High Family Preview Nights.

• Greenfield Junior High - February 3rd, 6:00 - 7:30pm

• South Valley Junior High - February 6th, 6:00 - 7:30pm

• Mesquite Junior High - February 6th, 6:00 - 7:30pm

• Highland Junior High - February 7th 6:00 - 7:30 pm

• Desert Ridge Junior High - February 8th, 6:00 - 7:30pm

• Gilbert Classical Academy - February 12th, 6:00 - 7:30pm

• Gilbert Accelerated Middle School - February 13th, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Please check your students' lunch balance HERE and pay any overdue balance as soon as possible. If you have questions regarding your students' lunch account/balance, please contact our Cafeteria Manager, Iris Grey.

If you are picking up your student(s) from the front office before the end of the school day, you must do so before 2:40pm on regular days, 1:40pm on early release days and 11:40am on half days. Beginning at 2:40pm each day, students are moving within the hallways to their pickup locations.

Yearbooks can be ordered online at www.buytheyearbook.com or paid by cash or check made payable to Burk Elementary. Yearbooks are $25 each. If you have questions, please contact Amand Dunham at amanda.dunham@gilbertschools.net.

Beginning today, any student who does not have their Student ID Badge when getting on the bus to return home from campus at the end of the day, will not be able to ride the bus. Students will be sent to the front office and be pick up by an approved parent or guardian.

Please continue to work with your students to ensure they bring their ID badge with them to school every day.

Throughout this school year, we are looking to supplement student learning with educational field trips, along with other fun activities to build community at Burk. We are always looking for ways to support these events and activities financially. Tax credits are a way that can help support Burk. If you would like more information or to make a donation, please go to https://www.gilbertschools.net/families/tax-credit-contributions. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the front office.

Complete the short meal application today to support school funding and ensure qualifying students receive benefits including:

• P-EBT Benefits

• School Funding: Maintains funding for student programs and services.

• Academic Tests: Reduced registration fees for AP, SAT, and/or ACTs.

• Athletics: Free or discounted fees to participate in most sports.

• College Application Fees: Discounted rates on fees associated with applying for college.

• Internet Access: Eligible for discounted rates on internet services.

• School Meals: Free or reduced prices on delicious & nutritious meals.

• Summer School, and more!

Complete online application today - https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new

Link to the GPS video https://youtu.be/iYrFyXT5xoA?list=TLGG7SFnXQ8xuoMxNTA4MjAyNA

Nutrition Services page - gilbertschools.net/nutritionservices

January 21 - PTSO sponsored McDonald's Night Fundraiser

January 22 - Early Release 1:55 p.m.

January 27 - Kindergarten Preview Night 5:00 p.m.

January 28 - 6th Grade Orchestra Festival @ Mesquite Jr. High 4:45 p.m.

January 29 - Early Release 1:55 p.m.

January 31 - Spring Bookfair Begins

February 5 - Early Release 1:55 p.m.

February 6 - 1st Grade Music Performance 5:30 p.m.

February 7 - Family Valentine's Dance @ 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Confidentiality, Special Education Policy Location, and Child Find Information

Please see the link below for the Annual Notification to Parents Regarding Confidentiality of Student Education Records and School Directory Information, Link to Special Education Policies, and Child Find Information.

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.

NFL Girls Flag Football - Gilbert Youth Athletics

Are you a girl in 3rd-8th grade interested in flag football? Join us for NFL Girls Flag Football at Mesquite High School on Thursday evenings!

• Team building and development of fundamentals
• Fine-tune your skills in a fun and supportive environment
• 7 games and a tournament to showcase your talent

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of the action!

Click HERE for more information or to register.

For more information contact Dan (dan.haasch@gilbertschools.net)

Phone: 480-926-3816

Email: burkinfo@gilbertschools.net
Website: gilbertschools.net/burk
Location: 545 N Burk St, Gilbert AZ 85234
Facebook: Burk Elementary PTSO