THE COYOTE DEN

The excitement is building, and we are thrilled to welcome everyone back for another incredible year at Hassayampa Elementary! Our halls are coming back to life, classrooms are being prepared, and our staff is eagerly looking forward to welcoming students for the first day of school. Whether you are returning to our school or joining the Hassayampa family for the first time, we are so glad you are here.

This year, our school community will continue to Learn. Grow. HOWL. Together, we will challenge ourselves to learn something new every day, grow as students and leaders, and live out our HOWL expectations—Honor, Ownership, Work, and Leadership. These values guide everything we do and help make Hassayampa a place where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to succeed.

We are also excited to welcome several new members to our Coyote family!

Please join us in welcoming:

• Makayla Freese - Kindergarten;
• Elizabeth Gomez - Second Grade Teacher;
• Barbara Gill - Special Education Teacher;
• Amber Santee - Special Education Teacher;
• Alma Holt - Art Teacher;
• Gloria Rogers - Preschool Aide;
• Aspen Klenk - Paraprofessional;
• Gabrielle Conly - Paraprofessional.

We are especially excited to once again offer Art as part of our student experience. Our newest team members bring enthusiasm, talent, and a deep commitment to helping every child reach their full potential. Combined with our outstanding returning staff, we are beginning this school year stronger than ever and look forward to celebrating amazing student growth throughout the year.

As we prepare for the first day of school, we invite all families to join us for Open House. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child's teacher, visit the classroom, drop off school supplies, and reconnect with friends before the school year begins. We hope to see all of our families there as we kick off another exciting year together!

If you have not yet completed your enrollment verification through ParentVUE, please do so as soon as possible. Completing this process helps us ensure that we have accurate information and that your child is ready for the first day of school. Please remember that applications for Free & Reduced-Price Meals must be completed each school year, and information is available through the district website.

At Hassayampa, we believe that the strongest schools are built on strong partnerships with families. Our staff works each day to provide engaging instruction, meaningful learning experiences, and a positive school culture where every student is known, valued, and encouraged to do their best. We continually reflect on how we can improve because we believe our students deserve nothing less.

Parents and families are an essential part of that success. Your encouragement at home, communication with your child's teacher, and involvement in your child's education make a tremendous difference. Together, we can help every student build confidence, develop character, and achieve their goals.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are honored to be part of their educational journey and look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, and countless reasons to HOWL with pride.

Here's to an amazing school year!

Learn. Grow. HOWL!

Mrs. Carissa Hershkowitz
Principal, Hassayampa Elementary School

JULY

30 - Open House

AUGUST

3 - First Day of School

5 - Benchmark Testing Begins

18 - WUSD Governing Board Meeting

19 - PTA Meeting @ 4:45

26 - Parent Night Event

SEPTEMBER

2 - Principal’s Coffee @ 8:15 a.m.

2 - Site Council @ 3:30 p.m.

7 - No School – Labor Day

6-10 - Scholastic Book Fair

15 - WUSD Governing Board Meeting

16 - PTA Meeting

OCTOBER

7 - Picture Day

7 - Principal’s Coffee @ 8:15 a.m.

7 - Site Council @ 3:30 p.m.

8 - End of Quarter

12–15 - FALL BREAK

19–29 - P/T Conferences

19–22 - Character Counts Week

20 - WUSD Governing Board Meeting

21 - PTA Meeting

26–29- Red Ribbon Week

29 - Costume Walk

Communication between the home and school is essential for student success! We encourage all parents to reach out to their child’s teacher with questions and concerns as we strive for academic excellence.

Showing up every day sets students up for success—academically, socially, and emotionally. Here’s why it matters:

✅ Missed Lessons = Missed Opportunities
Even one day out can mean falling behind on key lessons, activities, and class discussions.

📈 School Today, Success Tomorrow
Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic progress—and opens doors to future opportunities.

💪 Resilience in Action
Being present every day builds habits of responsibility, perseverance, and grit.

👯 Stronger Friendships
Daily attendance helps students form strong social bonds and feel more connected at school.

🧠 Healthier Habits
A consistent routine supports mental and physical wellness—for kids and families.

Need support getting your child to school?
We’re here to help. If your child is hesitant to come to school, reach out to us for support.

Let’s make 2026–2027 a year of growth, connection, and daily learning—for every student, every day.

We are excited to share that Hassayampa Preschool has openings available for the 2026–2027 school year! Our preschool program provides young learners with a caring, engaging environment where they can build early academic skills, develop friendships, and begin their educational journey as part of the Coyote family.

If you or someone you know is looking for a high-quality preschool experience, we would love to welcome you to Hassayampa!

For more information about our preschool program, please visit the Hassayampa Elementary website or contact the Hassayampa office to begin the enrollment process.

We can't wait to welcome our youngest Coyotes! Learn. Grow. HOWL.

At Hassayampa, we believe that great readers become great learners—and every page turned helps our students grow! Each year, our students set ambitious reading goals, challenge themselves to read more, and celebrate their accomplishments along the way.

We are proud to recognize last year's members of our Million Word Club, an incredible achievement that reflects dedication, perseverance, and a true love of reading!

Congratulations to these outstanding readers for reaching this impressive milestone.

Now it's time for this year's 3rd-5th grade students to accept the challenge! Will we have new members join the Million Word Club? Will someone set a new school record? We can't wait to see our Coyotes Learn, Grow, and HOWL through the power of reading this year!

Strong math fact fluency is one of the greatest gifts we can give our students. When children know their basic math facts automatically, they are better prepared to tackle more challenging math concepts with confidence and success. These skills truly last a lifetime!

At Hassayampa, students will practice math facts every day in the classroom, and we encourage families to make math fact practice part of your child's daily homework routine. Just a few minutes each day can make a tremendous difference!

🚲 The Hassayampa Bike Giveaway!

To celebrate hard work and perseverance, students will have the opportunity to earn entries into our annual Hassayampa Bike Giveaway!

Students will be assessed on grade-level math fact fluency four times throughout the school year—in October, December, March, and May. Each time a student meets their grade-level benchmark, they will earn an entry into our end-of-year bike drawing. The more benchmarks they meet, the more chances they have to win!

Congratulations to our 2026 Bike Giveaway Winners:

• Adriella Blattner - Kindergarten
• Joan Ruiz - 2nd Grade
• Blake McDaniel - 4th Grade
• Evolet Chavez - 4th Grade

We can't wait to celebrate this year's mathematicians! With consistent practice at school and home, every student has the opportunity to grow their skills—and maybe even ride home on a brand-new bike. Learn. Grow. HOWL.

Do you want to be more involved with the school? Do you want to have input, monitor and help to review the school's ongoing improvement plan? Then Site Council is where you want to be.

We are currently seeking new members for the 2026-27 school year. We ask that you be able to make a two-year commitment to the Council.

The positions we are filling: one Hassayampa parent/guardian

Please complete the Site Council application and email it to Mrs. Hershkowitz at cahershkowitz@wusd9.org if you are interested in joining our team!

If you aren't ready to commit, but would like to attend a meeting to see what it is all about, you are welcome to join us! Our first meeting is Wednesday, September 2.

We would LOVE to have you as a volunteer this year! The services of volunteers are utilized in school to accomplish the following objectives:

• Assist teachers and support personnel with non-instructional tasks

• Provide teachers with more time to work with students

• Enrich the curriculum and students’ learning opportunities

• Promote a school-home community partnership for quality education

At Hassayampa, there are many ways volunteers can help. Volunteers can be:

• Library assistants (shelve books) This is a high need item.

• Classroom helpers

• Clerical aides

• Field trip chaperones

• Event coordinators

• Campus supervision (cafeteria or playground)
  

Who can volunteer: Anyone who cares about children and education is a potential volunteer. Prior teaching experience is not necessary. Anyone who has satisfactorily completed the necessary application, screening, and training can volunteer.

How do I volunteer?

• Complete the volunteer packet - copies are available if you are not able to print the application.

• Submit the application to the school office for principal’s approval

• Once approved, the school's volunteer coordinator will contact you for an appointment to complete the volunteer process.

Education is full of acronyms. So, what is PBIS? PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Two years ago, our data showed that we were losing instructional time due to disruptive behaviors. Hassayampa teachers came together to create a plan with the vision of increasing instructional time. We will achieve this goal by providing clear expectations for all students to use in all areas of their school environment. The expectations will be taught, practiced, enforced, retaught, and celebrated. The Coyote Way includes the acronym HOWL which stands for Honor, Ownership, Work, and Leadership. Under each of these headings are specific behavior expectations. All Hassayampa staff will be teaching these expectations the first day of school and throughout the school year. Students who are caught meeting expectations will earn tickets which can be redeemed for special rewards. We will have a special shout out to students during morning announcements and during our quarterly assemblies. During the year, we will continue to review our discipline data to determine our progress.

Email: cahershkowitz@wusd9.org
Website: hes.wickenburgschools.org
Location: 195 East Coconino Street, Wickenburg, AZ, USA
Phone: 928-684-6750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HassayampaElementary