Ashley McMillan loves working with kids and people. After graduating from high school in the Philippines she was awarded a Shotoku study abroad semester in 1995. She then graduated from Assumption College with a major in early childhood education in 2000. In 2003 she became a special education teacher in El Paso, TX and worked with children in this role for nine years. She then became a reading specialist guiding teachers and developing a literacy program for her school.

In 2016 she returned to special education to complete her masters in educational administration at the University of Texas at El Paso. This allowed her in 2018 she became an assistant principal and help implement New Tech’s project based learning curriculum in her school. In 2022 she became an on-line mathematics tutor serving kids over a spectrum of ages and abilities. She now looks forward to coming back to the classroom at Dessert Heights Elementary.

Our theme this year is inspired by the book *We're All Wonders* by R.J. Palacio, which focuses on acceptance, kindness, and celebrating differences. The story encourages readers to look beyond appearances and appreciate the unique beauty within everyone. It fosters empathy and teaches the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, regardless of physical differences.

To uplift our staff, we're inviting everyone to submit a message on our Kindness Wonder Wall. These messages, whether about specific individuals or the school as a whole, will be displayed for all to see.

We hope you had a relaxing and refreshing spring break! We’re excited to see all our students back on campus, ready to learn and grow. School resumes on Monday, March 31st, and we can’t wait to hear about all your spring break adventures.

As we head into the final months of the school year, it’s more important than ever to prioritize attendance. Did you know that missing just 2 days a month can make it harder for students to keep up with their classmates? Consistent attendance builds strong learning habits and supports academic success. Let’s make every day count!

Also, a reminder that state testing will begin in a couple of weeks. Encourage your child to get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time to do their best.

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s finish this school year strong!

Go Coyotes!

Mr. Frydman, Principal

Desert Heights Elementary School is a uniform school, and we appreciate your support in ensuring all students adhere to our Standard Student Attire/Uniform Policy. Lately, we’ve noticed several students out of uniform, and we want to remind families of our expectations to maintain a safe and focused learning environment.

🔹 Uniform Guidelines:
✔ Shirts/Blouses: Navy blue, hunter green, grey or black with the approved Desert Heights logo (or plain).
✔ Pants/Shorts: Blue, black, or khaki jeans, slacks, shorts, leggings/jeggings (must be 85% black or khaki).
✔ Skirts/Skorts: Must be 85% black or khaki.
✔ Sweatshirts/Sweaters: Considered outerwear and must comply with the dress code.
✔ Outerwear: Jackets, coats, and zippered sweatshirts may be worn over the uniform.

📢 Spirit Days: On designated Spirit Days, students are not required to wear uniforms.

To help families, we have school logo t-shirts available for $6. If you need assistance with uniforms, please contact the front office. Thank you for helping us maintain a positive learning environment at Desert Heights! 🐾💙

Before the break, our Desert Heights Coyotes gave it their all on the soccer field! While the game didn’t end in our favor, we are incredibly proud of the hard work and determination shown by our team. A huge thank you to Coach Marie, Coach Todd, and Coach Helen for their dedication and leadership. And a special shoutout to Blanca for stepping up as referee — we appreciate you! Go Coyotes! 🐾⚽

📅 Practice Schedule:

✅ Monday: 3:30 - 4:30 PM
✅ Wednesday: 3:00 - 4:15 PM

🔥 Game Day:

🏆 Friday, 4/04 at 11:30 AM – Desert Heights vs. Alice Smith (Home Game!)

🔹 Online Registration is Open!

All families must complete online registration for the 2025-26 school year through Infinite Campus. This ensures your child’s information is up to date and helps with school planning. Registration is required each year for all students, whether returning or new to WCSD.

💡 Key Steps:
✅ Log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to register returning students.
✅ New to WCSD? Register online and bring birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of address to the school.
✅ Update emergency contact information to ensure school records are accurate.

📌 School of Choice
Families can apply to attend a school outside their zoned area through School of Choice. If space and staffing allow, requests are generally approved. Online Registration must be completed first to apply for School of Choice.

🔗 Need More Info?

• Online Registration & School of Choice details: [WCSD Website]
• Questions? Contact 775-333-6099 or schoolofchoice@washoeschools.net

Register today to secure your child’s spot for next school year! 🎉🐺💙

The 2025 Family Climate Survey is now open! This is your chance to share feedback about your child’s school and help us improve the climate and safety of all WCSD schools.

📌 How to Participate:

• Click on the button below to fill a survey out for Desert Heights Elementary
• If you have multiple children in WCSD, you can either complete a survey for each child’s school or submit just one.

🎟 Bonus! By participating, you’ll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors!

📅 Survey Open: February 10, 2025 – April 25, 2025
📊 Results Available: June 2025 on the school climate website

Your input makes a difference—thank you for helping us create a positive and supportive school environment! 💙🐺

The Desert Heights ELD newsletter provides updates on the school's English Language Development (EL) program. It highlights the roles of staff members Ms. Perez, Mrs. Diem, and Ms. Camacho, who support English learners using programs like Lexia English and Ellevation. The newsletter also celebrates students' efforts in completing the WIDA ACCESS English proficiency test and shares a classroom poem as a learning activity. Additionally, it offers practical tips for families to encourage language development at home through conversations about family, traditions, and play. Important reminders include a field trip to the science center on October 23rd and a library book return deadline on October 31st. The newsletter is bilingual, presented in both English and Spanish.

A big shoutout to the following classes for earning PAWS by consistently following the HOWL expectations and demonstrating outstanding behavior in their classrooms! These students have worked hard and earned some exciting reinforcements:

• Erickson: 180 Paws, Glow Party
• Neumann: 182 Paws, Glow Party
• Kincaid: 138 Paws, Class DJ
• Sinocruz: 201: Escape Room

School Wide PBIS

19 out of 21 classrooms have reached 50 Paws! When we all reach 50, we will have Fun Hat Day!!

Way to go, students! Keep up the amazing work and continue to show us how to HOWL! 🐾

The Dads of Great Students (D.O.G.S.) and Moms of Marvelous Students (M.O.M.S.) program is a volunteer initiative that encourages fathers and father figures and moms to spend time in their children's schools. The goal is to provide positive male/female role models, enhance school safety, and foster a supportive learning environment.

Key aspects of the program include:

• Volunteerism: Fathers and father figures volunteer their time to be present in their children's schools.
• Positive role models: They serve as positive examples for students, demonstrating the importance of education and community involvement.
• Enhanced safety: Their presence helps create a safer and more welcoming school environment.
• Community engagement: The program fosters stronger connections between families and schools.

By participating in the D.O.G.S. program, fathers can make a meaningful impact on their children's education and contribute to a positive school culture.

😅Every Friday is Dad Joke Friday.. On the announcements, I share some of my favorite appropriate dad jokes.

Here are the ones from Mr. Frydman on Friday, 02/28/25:

• Q: Why did the student eat his homework? A. Because his teacher told him it was a piece of cake!
• Q: Why do cows have hooves instead of feet? A. Because they lactose! 🐄😂
• Q: Why don’t eggs tell jokes? A. Because they might crack up! 🥚🤣

The Daily Learning Planner – Elementary School Edition (Spring 2025) is a resource designed to provide families with daily educational activities that promote learning at home. It includes simple, engaging tasks that support reading, writing, math, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Each day features a new activity, such as:

• Creative tasks (e.g., designing an advertisement for a favorite subject, drawing a white crayon picture revealed with watercolor).
• Math challenges (e.g., assigning monetary values to letters and finding the most valuable word, using flashcards at dinner for math facts).
• Reading and storytelling (e.g., pausing during read-alouds to predict the next event, asking a child to retell a story from memory).
• Science and exploration (e.g., identifying constellations at night, flying a kite, making music with glasses of water).
• Social and emotional learning (e.g., discussing perseverance, breaking down big tasks, talking about family goals and successes).
• Physical and outdoor activities (e.g., visiting a park and running like the March wind, playing tic-tac-toe, learning origami).

The planner encourages parent-child interaction with activities that make learning fun and accessible. It is part of Desert Heights Elementary School’s efforts to support student success under Principal David Frydman. Families are encouraged to try a new learning idea every day throughout March​.

he latest issue of Autism Parenting Magazine (Issue 177) covers a range of topics aimed at supporting families and individuals with autism. Some highlights include:

1. Advocacy and Acceptance: Articles like "Advocating for Your Autistic Child" by Jan Stewart and "Fostering Connection with Autism Awareness" by Danny L. McGuire focus on helping parents advocate for their children and promote autism awareness in communities.

2. Behavior Management: Leo Custodio provides insights in "Supporting Repetitive Behaviors: Tools That Work" to help parents understand and manage repetitive behaviors.

3. Communication: Mallory Griffith's article "Building Communication Through Core Words" offers strategies for parents to encourage communication development using core vocabulary.

4. Education: James Watts shares guidance in "Supporting Your Child with Autism at School" on how to collaborate with educators for optimal learning experiences.

5. Health and Nutrition: Vicky Finlayson discusses the importance of mindful eating and recognizing hunger cues in autistic children.

6. Life Stories and Success: The magazine features success stories like "Students and the Autism Quilt - Max" by Karen Kaplan, showcasing inspiring experiences from the autism community.

7. Special Topics: Additional articles explore apraxia, understanding autism spectrum levels, and navigating adulthood, including remote work options for autistic individuals.

This issue provides a well-rounded collection of resources and personal experiences designed to support families on their autism journey. Let me know if you'd like more information on any specific article!

David Frydman, Principal

Chrystal Thayer, Assistant Principal

Juana Maya, Admin. Secretary

13948 Mount Bismark Street, Reno, NV, USA

Phone: (775) 677-5444