Dear Blackhawk Families,

As fall approaches and we begin to enjoy cooler weather, we are excited for the many opportunities ahead to learn, connect, and celebrate together as a Blackhawk community. This season brings so many wonderful moments for our students, staff, and families, and we look forward to creating meaningful experiences throughout the school year.

At Desert Mountain, we are always looking for ways to help every student reach their full potential. This summer, our teachers dedicated time to creating quick, standards based assessments that measure student mastery of the most essential learning standards. Students complete these assessments each month, allowing us to regularly monitor progress, celebrate growth, and identify areas where additional support may be needed.

These assessments are much more than a score. They provide meaningful information that helps guide instruction and ensure every student is making progress. After each assessment, I meet individually with every teacher to review the results, celebrate student successes, identify areas for growth, and plan next steps together. These collaborative conversations help us provide targeted instruction and maximize learning opportunities for every student.

I am also excited to invite you to our very first Student Showcase on Wednesday, November 19, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This special evening will celebrate the amazing learning happening across our campus. Families can enjoy food trucks, explore student work from every classroom and program, watch performances by our talented music students, and admire beautiful student created luminaries displayed throughout the school. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to proudly share their learning, creativity, and accomplishments with the people who support them most.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to provide the very best for our students. We are grateful for the trust you place in our staff each day and for the important role our families play in making Desert Mountain such a special place. We look forward to a fall filled with cooler days, growth, memorable experiences, and continued success for all of our Blackhawks!

With Blackhawk pride,

Jessica Brunk, Principal

"It's a great day to be a Blackhawk!"

🌟 Beyond the Bell 🔔✨ Enriching Student Experiences Through After School Clubs

We are excited to continue creating new opportunities for our Blackhawks beyond the school day! This year, we introduced after school clubs as a way to enrich student experiences on our campus, provide opportunities for students to explore new interests, build connections with peers, and continue learning in fun and engaging ways.

Our K–2 Kindness Club has already reached capacity, but several of our other clubs still have openings available. We encourage families to take a look at the available options and consider signing your student up for an experience that sparks their interests and helps them continue to grow.

Permission slips are available through this link and can be printed and sent back to school, or families may pick up a copy in the front office. We are excited to see our students participating in these new opportunities and making even more memories as part of our DMS community!

🍎✨ Nominate an Outstanding Educator! 🌟 Silver Apple Award Nominations Are Open

The Silver Apple Award is a regional recognition program sponsored by Arizona's Family (KTVK/KPHO) and Desert Financial Credit Union that honors outstanding K-12 teachers. It is open through March 12th.

Award Details

Prizes: Winning teachers receive a physical Silver Apple trophy and a $1,000 check to use for classroom projects or materials.
Feature: Honorees are surprised in their classrooms and highlighted in special broadcasts on Arizona's Family.
Nominations: Students, parents, and colleagues can submit a nomination explaining why a teacher makes a difference. You can learn more or submit a candidate via the Arizona's Family Nomination Form.

🎖️Honoring Those Who Served 🦅 Save the Date for Our Veterans Day Parade!

We invite our Blackhawk families to join us as we honor and celebrate the brave men and women who have served our country. Our annual Veterans Day Parade is a special tradition at DMS where students and staff come together to show their appreciation and gratitude for our veterans.

Please mark your calendars for Friday, November 13th at 8:20 AM. We look forward to welcoming our families and community members as we celebrate the heroes who have made sacrifices to protect our freedoms. As we get closer, we will ask for RSVP's for our veterans so that we may honor them.

🧹Celebrating Our Custodial Heroes! National Custodial Workers Recognition Day

Friday, October 2nd is National Custodial Workers Recognition Day, and we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank our incredible DMS custodial team! Our custodians do so much more than keep our campus clean and safe. They help create a welcoming environment where our students and staff can learn, grow, and thrive each day.

Their hard work, dedication, and attention to detail often happen behind the scenes, but their impact is seen and felt throughout our entire campus. Please join us in showing appreciation to our custodial team for all they do to support our Blackhawk community. We are grateful for their commitment and the important role they play in making DMS a special place to be!

📚 Parent Teacher Conferences 📚

Parent Teacher Conferences are right around the corner! We look forward to this important opportunity for families and teachers to connect, celebrate student growth, discuss progress, and work together to support each student’s continued success.

Conferences will take place during the week of October 5th. This is a wonderful time to strengthen the partnership between home and school and ensure we are working together to help every Blackhawk thrive. Teachers are beginning to schedule conferences now, so please reach out to your child's teacher if you have not received an invitation yet.

Please note that we will have half-day releases on Thursday, October 8th and Friday, October 9th, with students dismissed at 11:35 AM. We appreciate your support and partnership as we make time for these meaningful conversations about your child’s learning and growth.

🍂 Enjoy the Season!

Fall Break will be Monday, October 12th through Friday, October 16th. There will be no school during this time, and classes will resume on Monday, October 19th.

We hope our students and families enjoy the cooler weather, make special memories, and take time to relax. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another great week of learning at DMS!

🌯 Dine Out and Support DMS! 💙 Chipotle Fundraiser Night

Please join us at Chipotle on Dove Valley on Tuesday, November 18th, from 4:00–8:00 PM. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will directly support DMS and help provide additional opportunities and resources for our students. Our Chipotle Fundraiser Night is a great opportunity to enjoy a meal with family and friends while giving back to our Blackhawk community.

🍎 Early Release Fridays: 📊💡PLC's Data to Action!

At DMS, our Friday early release time provides a valuable opportunity for teachers to engage in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) focused on improving student learning and growth. These dedicated collaboration times allow teachers to analyze student data, reflect on instruction, and develop plans to meet the individual needs of our learners.

This week, teachers are reviewing our essential standards assessments and using the results to create targeted small group plans for reteaching and continued support. By identifying areas of strength and opportunities for growth, teachers are able to provide instruction that is responsive to what students need most.

Our K–4 teachers participate in PLCs with their grade level teams, working together to plan, collaborate, and support student success. Our 5th–8th grade teachers participate in Multi School Collaborative Teams (MSCT), partnering with teachers across the district within their content areas to analyze data, share best practices, and strengthen instruction.

We are proud of the intentional work our teachers do behind the scenes each week to ensure every Blackhawk has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive!