Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

This week I would like to highlight and say thank you to one of our parents, Ashleymarie Fortune. Ashley is a former social worker in the district and is currently over Gilbert Public Schools Parent University.

Parent University offers free workshops for parents and community members on a variety of topics impacting children and parenting in today's world. Workshops are presented by community partners and district staff, and are held both in person and virtually. Topics vary. Do you have an idea or request for a Parent University workshop? Reach out to Ashley at parentuniversity@gilbertschools.net. To learn more about Parent University offerings, check out the website and event calendar at https://www.gilbertschools.net/families/parent-university, and follow us on Instagram @gpsparentuniv. Hope to see you at a future Parent University event!

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is currently open! We will host two kindergarten open house events on Tuesday, March 4th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 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 information about upcoming Level Up days or campus information, please visit GilbertSchools.net/LevelUp.

We are looking forward and hope to see you at Mesquite Musical Theater Club's performance of Frozen, Jr. on Friday, February 21st at 6:30 p.m. or Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Gilbert High School! So proud of all of our performers and thankful for our Club Sponsors and Volunteers!

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

Thankful for campus helpers!

So proud of our student leaders helping to draw names and celebrate others for being respectful, responsible, and safe!

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!

Love of Reading Week is just around the corner, March 3rd through the 7th. We look forward to you joining us on celebrating this week!

• Monday, March 3rd - "Books Brighten Our World!" Wear Tie-Die or Bright Colors
• Tuesday, March 4th - "Reading Takes us Places!" Dress like a tourist or wear Hawaiian Shirts
• Wednesday, March 5th - "Reading is Fun!" Wear a crazy outfit or crazy hair
• Thursday, March 6th - "Reading Jogs the Mind!" Dress in workout clothes
• Friday, March 7th - "Cozy up with a Good Book!" Wear your pajamas

This year's yearbook is available for the pre-order price of $25.00 until Friday, March 7, 2025. After that the yearbook will be available for order for the price of $30.00 until Friday, April 11, 2025 Please use this link or the QR Code below to order your yearbook. For questions please email mesquiteptso@gmail.com.

• Mesquite's biggest fundraiser of the year starts tomorrow, Friday, February 21st! Our annual Fun Run helps us raise money to put back into our school community and this year we are Revving our Engines to raise $30K for new Chromebook carts in all of the classrooms.
• We will begin accepting donations throughout the next two weeks and will have information about lap prizes, school incentives and nightly challenges coming home in a print packet with your students.
• Thank you for all your help in supporting our PTSO and making this such a fun event for our students!

Most adult size Mesquite school shirts are still available. They are for sale for $20.00 each. If interested please contact Mesquite PTSO at mesquiteptso.com.

Thank you to all who joined us at our PTSO Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025! The next PTSO meeting will be on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. in the Library and we would love to have you join us!

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.

• February 26 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am
• March 3 - PTSO Chipotle Spirit Night
• March 4 - Spring Pictures and Kindergarten Open House from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• March 6 - PTSO Fun Run Fundraiser
• March 7 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am
• March 10 - March 21 - Spring Break No School

Spring Testing will be here before we know it. Just as each school day is important we ask that in order to help testing run smoothly please avoid scheduling any appointments on the days listed below. Testing will begin promptly each testing day listed below. We appreciate your help with making sure your child is on time and in attendance each testing day!

• March 25 - 5th Grade AASA Science Part 1 & 2
• March 26 - 5th Grade AASA Science Part 3
• April 1 - 3rd - 6th Grade Writing
• April 8 - 3rd-6th Grade Reading Part 1
• April 10 - 3rd-6th Grade Reading Part 2
• April 15 - 3rd-6th Grade Math Part 1
• April 16 - 3rd-6th Grade Math Part 2

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 Tuesday, March 4th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 1st from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thank you to those who attended South Valley and Greenfield Junior Preview Nights! If you missed them - don't worry - we would love to schedule a tour with you or answer any questions you might have. If you joined us and have not yet enrolled with us, please give our office a call or email us, we are here to help! Visit southvalleyjunior.gilbertschools.net or greenfieldjunior.gilbertschools.net to contact us and learn more. We look forward to welcoming you to Junior High.

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 3 - Kindergarten-3rd grade

Quarter 4- 4th-6th grade

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

Mesquite Elementary Theater Club is proud to present Frozen Jr. on Friday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 p.m.

• February 21 - Performance from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Gilbert High School
• February 22 - Performance from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Gilbert High School

This year's Parent University Community Resource Fair will be part of the Healthy Connections Expo taking place on Saturday, February 22nd 9am-12pm at Campo Verde High School.

We're very excited about this event- it will include the GPS Run for Fun, demonstrations from VIK, preschool, enrichment classes, youth sports, 7 different food trucks, about 30 different community resources, and raffle prizes every 15 mins (including $200 off a month of preschool tuition & 2 free enrichment classes). We will also have a fire truck and recycling truck on display.

To learn more, there is a website for the event:

https://sites.google.com/gilbertschools.net/gps-healthy-connections-expo/home

Community Education invites you to join them for an overnight camping adventure at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve on April 4th and 5th! Explore one of Gilbert's most popular attractions featuring stunning landscapes, and create lasting memories with your family. Registration deadline is March 27, 2025.