Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

This week I would like to highlight and say thank you to our incredibly talented kindergarten team. We are grateful for the foundation that Ms. Acton, Mrs. Borger, and Mrs. Hernandez provide for our students as they transition from Building Blocks or Preschool to kindergarten and for those starting their first year of school! We appreciate our kindergarten team!

If you have not yet completed your Annual Update on Infinite Campus we ask that you please do so. This information on Infinite Campus allows us to communicate with you each week through campus messages. In addition to this, updated information allows us to reach you or emergency contacts for your child in the event of an emergency. Even if no information has changed, we still ask that you verify this by completing the Annual Update. Please see this message from Allen Cain, our Safety and Security Director for Gilbert Public Schools. Further directions can be found below.

Information about Free and Reduced Lunches can be found below as well. If you have questions or need help with this application please don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Karina, our social worker!

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

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!

Thankful for these Mountain Lions going above and beyond making a difference on our campus!

A huge thank you to All Pro for another great and smooth picture day! The success of picture day wouldn't be possible without the help of our amazing parent volunteers Mrs. Foti, Mrs. Brumfield, and Mrs. Castro who help throughout the day! Thank you to Ms. Lemire, Ms. Mary, and Mrs. Janine who help organize all as well!

Thank you to all who joined us at our first PTSO Meeting! PTSO shared information about committee and volunteer opportunities throughout the year! The greatest need at this time is for volunteers to help prepare for and volunteer at the Fall Festival on Friday, November 15, 2024. The next PTSO meeting will be on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 3:15 p.m. in the Library and we would love to have you join us!

Thank you to PTSO for providing snacks for our Professional Development Training led by Ms. Guhy, our instructional coach!

• 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.

• September 2 - Labor Day No School
• September 6 - Fall Fundraiser Kick Off
• September 12 - PTSO Meeting at 3:15 pm in the Library
• September 19-20 - Parent Teacher Conferences Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am
• September 27 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am

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.

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.

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 1 - Kindergarten-3rd grade

Quarter 2 - 4th-6th grade

Quarter 3 - Kindergarten-3rd grade

Quarter 4- 4th-6th grade

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

Mesquite Movers Run Club is created for students who love to run, Mesquite Movers encourages students to move, whether that is speed walking, jogging or running. We will train for monthly meets and keep your heart healthy! Students participate in weekly practices at Mesquite starting after fall break. Practices will be on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:30PM. Run Club meets will be in November, December, January and February at a junior high or high school. If this is something your child is interested in sign up using the following link https://gilbertschools.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/getcategory/program_id/14.

Just Serve is an organization that serves others in our community. Just Serve gathers snack, water, and clothing donations for our campus each year and a a few years ago Just Serve completed a day of service at Mesquite Elementary. This amazing day of service included many cleaning and improvement projects around campus including but not limited to painting the Wall Ball Wall on the intermediate playground and redoing the staff lounge. Each year they have Gilbert 9/11 Day of Service and if interested you are invited to be a part!

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board approved that in November 2024, voters living within Gilbert Public School boundaries will decide on a proposed 15% budget override continuation. This would be a continuation of the existing budget override approved by voters in November 2019 and in place since the 2020/21 school year. The existing override generates approximately $36 million annually to:

• ensure competitive salaries to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff in classrooms,
• maintain programmatic choices for students creating future ready graduates,
• maintain campus safety and security personnel and,
• maintain class sizes with allocation to class size reduction.

For more information please visit our website - www.gilbertschools.net/election