August 2025

The first full month of the school year is off to an #extraordinary start! Check out a gallery of the first day photos from around the district at dvusd.org/firstday. There are many exciting things getting underway this month, including Fall Sports seasons, school events, and lots of learning! Read about some of the latest celebrations and important updates for the month in this latest Parent Update.

All DVUSD families are invited to attend Public University Night hosted at Mountain Ridge High School Wednesday, August 27!

This is your chance to hear from Arizona's three public universities as well as get your questions answered about the next chapter in your student's educational journey!

As a parent/guardian with a Canvas observer account, you can view course content, including assignment details, due dates, and announcements - for your child(ren).

By default, Canvas sends notifications via email for many course activities. You can customize notifications from Canvas.

• In Global Navigation, click the Account link, then click the Notifications link.

• On the Notification Settings page, you can manage how you receive notifications for your Canvas account and/or manage how you receive notifications for individual courses.

For additional details, here is the Canvas Guide "How do I manage my Canvas notification settings?" and a video walkthrough.

• Middle School Softball and Baseball Tryouts begin August 11. Games begin the week of September 8. To participate in any DVUSD athletic activity, the following information must be completed and turned in to the school's athletic department via Register My Athlete:

1. A certificate of completion for the online courses "Opioid Education: The Game You Can't Win" and "Brainbook" must be on file at the school. These courses must be completed prior to any participation, and need to be completed only once during the school year by the student-athlete.

2. A copy of the participant's birth certificate needs to be on file at the school.

3. Your child's annual physical evaluation. Parents must use the AIA Student Physical Forms for their student-athlete's physical.

4. Complete all other forms on the Register My Athlete website.

As part of an ongoing effort to build a more connected, caring campus, sixth grade Renaissance (gifted) students and their teachers at Las Brisas Elementary launched a simple but powerful movement called “Let’s Talk!"

On Wednesdays, students will be visible around campus—before school, after school wearing lanyards that say “Let’s Talk.” They will carry baskets of conversation starters and invite other students to engage in friendly, face-to-face conversations.

They’re choosing face-to-face connections over screens and learning to be more interested than interesting through asking questions, listening closely, and building real relationships. This activity is designed to help our students grow in confidence, practice listening skills, and foster genuine connections.

These young leaders are out in the community, proving that kindness, curiosity, and a little courage can make a big impact.

Summer may be over at DVUSD, but the beach courts are officially opening this week! Barry Goldwater High School athletics, community, students and staff cut the ribbon on their new sand volleyball courts ahead of DVUSD’s inaugural Boy’s Beach Volleyball season kicking off with tryouts this week. The new courts, including new courts at Boulder Creek High School, were made possible by the tenacity of student-athletes and voter-approved funding, including the DVUSD Bond & Override funds. Learn more about DVUSD athletics at DVUSD.org/athletics

Two athletes from DVUSD's Flag Football programs are making a name for themselves on the field this year!

Mountain Ridge High School's Cameron Mallioux and Sandra Day O'Connor High School's Becky Currence, were invited to play in the 2025 Arizona Cardinals Girls Flag All-Stars game on August 9! The team selected athletes from 27 different schools across Arizona and aims to showcase some of the best talent in the state.

Currence was also named MaxPreps' number 10 Player to watch in 2025 on their list of Top 100 players in the nation. She is the third all-time in state history for receiving yards and won gold at the Junior Flag Football Olympics this summer.

We're rolling into the second full week of the 2025-26 school year off the successes of the last school year, including everything from academics, athletics, arts, school, and staff celebrations! Check out our 2024-25 extraordinary achievements booklet at DVUSD.org/extraordinary.

For the season debut of Dr. Finch's Supe Scoop podcast, he introduces us to Dr. Janet Gilbert, a "new" principal who is back in the principal's office at Constitution Elementary School after a year of working for the district's PLC program.

After her introduction, go behind-the-scenes with Jeremy Bushong from the DVUSD facilities team
discussing how DVUSD keeps all of the classrooms cool and comfortable in these hot summer months. He shares the high-tech secrets and simple habits for making the school campus feel just right.

It’s not too late to register your child for DVUSD Kindergarten! If your child will be five years old before September 1, 2025, register your student today for 2025-26 Kindergarten! The process is quick and completely online. Visit: dvusd.org/register to register today.

If your child is between the ages of 3-5 and not yet enrolled in Kindergarten, sign them up for DVUSD’s Big Kid Book Club! We will periodically send your child a free book in the mail along with activities and helpful advice for parents and guardians that will help them prepare to be a student at DVUSD!

Please be familiar with the guidelines regarding outdoor activity to keep our staff and students safe. www.dvusd.org/heat

Stay Cool

1. Limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours
   
2. Find your nearest cooling center for free access to air conditioning and water
3. Do not leave children or pets alone in a parked car. The temperature inside can rise quickly and become deadly

Stay Hydrated

1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day
2. Avoid alcohol and drinks with high caffeine or sugar
3. Check the guidelines for adequate hydration when doing moderate activities in the heat

Stay Informed

1. Look out for signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses
2. Check the weather forecast for temperature, humidity, and UV index
3. Learn more about NWS today's heat risk map
4. Check in regularly with friends, family, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to heat exhaustion or heat stroke

Be SunWise

1. Limit sun exposure with sunglasses, hats, and lightweight clothing
2. Use SPF 30+ sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays

The total cost of the override for homeowners is less than $20.67 per month on the average assessed home value. That's an average annual cost of $248.04.

If the override is not reauthorized, the District would not be able to maintain the current level of programs and services and would have to continue to make reductions. The district would have to reduce investments in district and school programs by an estimated $11 million in each of the next two years (for a total of approximately $22 million), following initial cuts of $11 million due to the override not being reauthorized by district residents in November 2024.

This means the possible end of student and family programs such as free full-day kindergarten, cuts to athletics and arts programs, and the inability to attract and retain highly-qualified employees.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Deer Valley will ask voters to reinstate the 15% Maintenance and Override Election and to authorize the sale of a parcel of land not usable by the district. For more information on the override and its importance, visit the DVUSD website elections and override pages.

The deadline to register to vote is October 6, 2025. This election will be an all-mail-in ballot. For more election information, go to the Arizona Secretary of State website.

Learn what the M&O Override funds on the Override FAQ page.

DVUSD cares about providing a positive and safe learning environment for our students and community. The 2024-2025 Arizona PBIS Coalition Awards recognize schools for successful implementation and outcomes with school-wide systems of Positive Behavior Interventions. This award recognizes the dedication of school staff and our community to uphold our school expectations every day. Together we are building a school culture that is more positive, proactive, and supportive for all our students so that they can be successful citizens and leaders of our nation.

Twelve DVUSD Schools were honored for their efforts in the area of PBIS:

Copper Creek Elementary (Level 2)

Diamond Canyon School (Level 2)

Las Brisas Elementary (Level 2)

Norterra Canyon School (Level 2)

Sandra Day O'Connor High School (Level 2)

Sonoran Foothills School (Level 2)

Terramar Academy of The Arts (Level 2)

Union Park School (Level 2)

Village Meadows Elementary (Level 2)

Desert Sage Elementary (Level 2)

Paseo Hills School (Level 3)

Stetson Hills School (Level 4)

Hurry - it is time to register for Before & After Care for the 2025-2026 school year. Many of our programs still have spots available. Go to dvusd.org/CommunityEd for site locations and rate information. To register: dvusd.arux.app

If you have a child who will be attending a DVUSD Community Education preschool, information can be found here: dvusd.org/preschool. If you have a child you would like to attend preschool and have not yet registered, please reach out to Traci Piccoli at Traci.Piccoli@dvusd.org or 623-376-3979. Space is available at a few of our locations - but are filling quickly!

Not sure what’s next after high school? ARIZONA@WORK can help you discover careers, internships, and training programs that fit your goals — at no cost to you.

Make sure to follow @DVUSD on Instagram, Facebook, X, and subscribe to the district's YouTube Channel (@deervalleyunified) to get the latest updates and check out what's going on around the district throughout the school year!