Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

As we wrap up AASA testing this week I would like to highlight our two campus testing coordinators. Ms. Guhy, our instructional coach, and Mrs. Pardy, our PE teacher, who work together to organize, support, and oversee AASA testing. This is no easy task and requires Ms. Guhy and Mrs. Pardy to be knowledgeable about testing procedures and policies as well as extremely organized to make sure testing runs smoothly. Mrs. Guhy and Mrs. Pardy have done this flawlessly this year and we are thankful for their leadership. In addition to this, I would like to thank all staff on our campus this week who truly went above and beyond to make sure testing ran smoothly in each classroom. This requires a great deal of preparation and hard work on the part of each staff member from paraprofessionals to monitor hallways to teachers preparing to administer AASA by covering up materials in their rooms, taking testing trainings, and more. The data gathered from standardized assessments allow us to reflect on our instruction and to develop targeted professional development opportunities for our campus!

I would also like to thank our families for working to make sure students were in attendance and on time each day! We truly appreciate families that communicated with us early on about students that would not be in attendance so that we can plan accordingly. Mesquite Families are the best!

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 students for celebrating and encouraging others!

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!

Hello Mesquite Families!

We are running very low on snacks! If you are able to, we would love any unopened snack items! Ideas include: cheez-its, gold fish, chewy bars, fruit snacks, veggie straws, crackers etc. It is also starting to get hot, so we would happily take any water bottle donations! Thank you so much!

-Your nurse and social worker :)

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

On Monday April 21st, parents are welcome to come have lunch with their students.

1. No food deliveries will be accepted.
2. No adult lunches will be sold from the cafeteria. Students may get their lunch from the cafeteria, adults must bring their own food.
3. Adults/Parents have to sign in and out in the front office.
4. If you have students with different lunch times, you may take them at the same time, but you MUST remain with them until their designated lunch period is over.

Grade Level Lunch Times

• 2nd Grade - 12:05-12:25
• 5th Grade - 12:10-12:30
• Kindergarten - 12:15-12:35
• 3rd Grade - 12:25-12:45
• 4th Grade - 12:30-12:50
• 1st Grade - 12:45-1:05
• 6th Grade - 12:50-1:10

We invite you to join us for Evening of the Arts on Thursday, May 1st from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

PTSO will be putting together raffle baskets by grade levels. We appreciate your generous donations to PTSO and/or the baskets if you are able to do so. Please find your child's grade level donation opportunity below.

• Preschool: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56262678-mesquite
• Kinder: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56266578-mesquite
• 1st grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56266731-mesquite
• 2nd grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56266905-mesquite
• 3rd grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267082-mesquite
• 4th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267415-mesquite
• 5th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267539-mesquite
• 6th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BABAA2FA20-56267844-mesquite

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.

The Site Council at Mesquite Elementary is an important part of our campus. It allows parents, students, and staff to meet throughout the year to discuss the mission and vision of Mesquite Elementary as well as continue to brainstorm how best to do this.

A big thank you to our Site Council Parent Members this year! Thank you to Mrs. Judd, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Simon, and Mr. Hutchins! We appreciate our teachers Ms. Blanckaert, Mrs. Sturdevant, Ms. Acton, Mrs. LeClaire, Ms. Eberhardt, and Ms. Guhy! We are grateful for our student representatives Camden, Haven, and Campbell as well! Their voice and input was invaluable this year!

If you are interested in being a part of Site Council as a Parent Member, please let us know as we will have one open position and would love to chat further about your interest or questions you might have!

• 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 pm to 5:00 pm and Evening of the Arts from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• May 2 - Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Arizona Museum of Natural History
• May 6 - Talent Show at 5:00 pm
• May 8 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Orchestra Concert at 6:00 pm and Fifth and Sixth Grade Band Concert at 7:15 p.m.
• May 9 - Kindergarten Mother's Day Activities at 8:30 am
• May 13 - Fourth Grade Musical at 6:00 pm
• May 15 - PTSO Meeting at 3:15 pm in the Library
• May 16 - Kindergarten Father's Day Activities at 8:30 am
• May 20 - Advantage Preschool End of Year Celebration (AM Class) at 9:30 am and (PM Class) at 12:45 pm
• May 21 - Building Blocks 4 Promotion at 9:00 am
• May 22 - Kindergarten Promotion at 9:00 am, Sixth Grade Clap Out at 11:15, Early Dismissal at 11:55 am, and Last Day of School

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.

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!

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. Mesquite would like to celebrate and honor any graduating seniors who attended Mesquite Elementary with a special clap out and reception. Please use this link to register and we look forward to seeing returning seniors there!