Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

As we start the fourth quarter we wanted to thank you for all you do to help your child to be ready to learn and grow each day! Fourth quarter is an exciting time with the District Art Show, Evening of the Arts, musical performances, and more. It is also a time for students to show what they have learned all year through the AASA Testing opportunities. You can help your child to be prepared by keeping an eye on upcoming testing dates and making sure they have gotten a good night's rest the night before testing and eaten a healthy breakfast as well as arriving at school on time.

This week fifth grade completed the first part of AASA testing, the Science portion! On Tuesday, April 1st, third through sixth grade will be completing the AASA Writing Test. On Tuesday, April 8th and Thursday, April 10th, third through sixth grade will be completing the AASA Reading Sections. On Tuesday, April 15th and Wednesday, April 16th, third through sixth grade students will be completing the AASA Math Sections. Testing will begin first thing in the morning. We appreciate your help with making sure all students arrive on time ready to start working hard!

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 Student Council Leaders leading another success Lion's Den Assembly celebrating others for being respectful, responsible, and safe!

Mrs. Cochell shares that Grant is an incredible leader and a kind friend. He loves learning new things and extending our classroom learning at home, as well as sharing what he’s learned at home with us in the classroom, when it’s applicable. Grant is funny, but always respectful to both adults and his peers. He works well with anyone and helps those around them. He is also very artistic and creative, making exemplary work that I can share with the class. Finally, I just love how positive Grant is all the time. It’s hard not to be joyful in his presence.

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!

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 moves on to the district battle where they will compete against other Gilbert schools. Proud of our students who commit to Battle of the Books! Thank you Mrs. Sturdevant for leading this so well!

Mesquite sixth grader, Grant Lindsay, was nominated by his band teacher, Dr. Tracy Sanchez, to play trombone in the Arizona Sixth-Grade All-State Band. He was one of only thirteen trombone players chosen from the whole state! The festival took place at Mountain View High School in Mesa. Grant rehearsed with the band for about six hours and then performed for a full house on Saturday, March 1st. Mesquite celebrates Grant for this prestigious accomplishment! Thank you Dr. Sanchez for nominating and celebrating Grant's musical talents! Proud of Grant!

Free admission for students, staff, and immediate family on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at the Musical Instrument Museum. Scan the QR Code below to RSVP a spot for your family!

Thank you to Mrs. Pardy for hosting another successful Free Throw Competition. Thank you to those students who joined us to try out! Thank you those families who joined us the day of the Free Throw Competition! Proud of our students!

This year's yearbook is available to 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.

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.

• April 1 - 3rd - 6th Grade AASA Writing
• April 3 - First Grade Field trip to the Phoenix Zoo
• April 7 - District Art Show at Norwood Furniture from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• April 8 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Reading Part 1
• April 10 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Reading Part 2 and PTSO Meeting at 3:15 p.m. in the Library
• April 15 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Math Part 1
• April 16 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Math Part 2
• April 18 - Spring Holiday No School
• April 21 - PTSO Fundraiser Incentive - Lunch with Adult during regular grade level lunchtime
• April 22 - PreK - 4th Grade Field Day
• April 24 - 5th and 6th Grade Field Day at Gilbert High School and First Grade Musical at 6:00 p.m.
• May 1 - Kindergarten Open House from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Evening of the Arts from 5:00 pm. to 8:00 p.m.

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!

• April 1 - 3rd - 6th Grade AASA Writing
• April 8 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Reading Part 1
• April 10 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Reading Part 2
• April 15 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Math Part 1
• April 16 - 3rd-6th Grade AASA Math Part 2

You may have seen in the news that a child in Texas passed away due to a measles infection. While we hope that this was an isolated case, it is important to acknowledge that Measles is extremely contagious and that there is a possibility that this could impact our schools at some point. With Spring Break and subsequent travel we feel it is even more important to alert our families to this outbreak.

Therefore we would like to share some helpful and important information with our families. Typically the illness starts off with a fever, cough and runny nose. It is soon followed by a rash that typically starts at the head and soon covers the entire body. If measles does spread into our school community we will immediately begin working with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) and you will be notified. Any students who are not vaccinated will be identified and MCDPH will determine when they can safely return to school. Unvaccinated students may need to be out as long as 21 days and if more cases arise, it could be longer. If you have any questions regarding measles please reach out to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health at (602) 506-6767 or Maricopa County Department of Public Health

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.

Parent University will be holding a special workshop for 6th students and their adults on Tuesday, April 8t from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Greenfield Junior High. It is open to all 6th grade families.

This will be a center based workshop with 6 different stations. We will also be giving away swag from each junior high. The junior high social workers and staff will be leading the centers.

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!

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 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.

• Contractor crews continue work to conduct any needed potholing, and also install sewer stub outs for properties along the north and south side of Mesquite Street. This work is taking place in segments, currently between 31st Street and Val Vista Drive. Work at each property is expected to take a few days, and restoration will follow, as crews excavate down to the existing sewer pipeline to install a stub out to the residential property to accommodate potential future sewer connections.

• In addition, crews for Cox Communications continue their work on the east side of 29th Place, north of Mesquite Street, to relocate their facilities to accommodate the planned improvements.

Mesquite Street and 29th Place remain open for travel with a flagger activity in place, as needed, to shift traffic away from the work zone. 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