Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

Thank you to all of the Kindergarten families that joined us this week at Kinder Round Up. We enjoyed meeting the families

We look forward to seeing all Building Blocks, Preschool, and Kindergerten through 6th Grade students at Meet the Teacher Night on Friday, July 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Classroom supply lists can be found on the campus website and by using this link.

Class lists were made available on Infinite Campus on Wednesday, July 16th at 4:00 p.m. Please be sure to complete your Annual Update beginning in July so that we have the most up to date contact information and you are able to see who your child's teacher will be. More information about Infinite Campus can be found below.

While at Mesquite Elementary for Kindergarten Round Up or Meet the Teacher Night please make sure to thank our outstanding Custodial Staff who has worked extremely hard this summer getting ready for this year. We are grateful for Mr. Erickson, Mrs. Avila, Mrs. Carbajal Baez, and Mr. Gonzalez! Our front office staff, Ms. Mary and Mrs. Janine too have gone above and beyond getting ready for this year! Grateful for our amazing staff at Mesquite Elementary!

One of the best ways to help your child to be most successful at school is to be involved as well as a family! We encourage you to be a part by joining our PTSO! More information about our PTSO can be found in the PTSO Section at the bottom of the weekly newsletters!

Please remember the first day of school will be on Tuesday, July 22nd! We hope you have a fun and safe rest of the summer!

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

We look forward to seeing all Building Blocks, Preschool, and Kinder through 6th Grade students at Meet the Teacher Night on Friday, July 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Classroom supply lists can be found on the campus website and by using this link.

This year's classroom teachers currently are as follows:

• Advantage Preschool - Ms. Uhlig

• Building Blocks 3s - Ms. Chaco

• Building Blocks 4s - Ms. Myers

• Kindergarten - Ms. Acton, Mrs. Borger, & Mrs. Hernandez

• First Grade - Mrs. Homer, Ms. Lytle, & Mrs. Mendoza

• Second Grade - Ms. Bennett, Mrs. Flores, & Mrs. Pallozzi

• Third Grade - Mrs. Callahan, Ms. Long, & Ms. Vossler

• Fourth Grade - Ms. Kahldon, Ms. Kim, & Mrs. Prisbrey

• Fifth Grade - Ms. Eberhardt, Mrs. Welling, & Mrs. Schock

• Sixth Grade - Mrs. Cochell, Mrs. French, & Mrs. LeClaire

• ESAP - Ms. Lemire & Ms. Kurtz

• Gifted - Mrs. Amari

While at Mesquite Elementary for Kindergarten Round Up or Meet the Teacher Night please make sure to thank our outstanding Custodial Staff who has worked extremely hard this summer getting ready for this year. We are grateful for Mr. Erickson, Mrs. Avila, Mrs. Carbajal Baez, and Mr. Gonzalez! Our front office staff, Ms. Mary and Mrs. Janine too have gone above and beyond getting ready for this year! Grateful for our amazing staff at Mesquite Elementary!

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! P.T.S.O. will be selling shirts for this year at Meet the Teacher Night on Friday, July 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.!

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board approved policies regarding student use of cell phones during the school day, to be implemented this upcoming school year, 2025/26.

The Why: Promote student learning and well-being by reducing distractions, improving focus, and enhancing overall student well-being during the school day.

Gilbert Public Schools’ Governing Board has discussed a variety of options for student use of cell phones and wireless communication devices K-12. The new policy includes ‘Away for the Day’ for K-8 at our elementary and junior highs, and ‘No Cell Bell to Bell' for grades 9-12 at our high schools. Currently, all of our elementary schools and some of our junior highs are already operating ‘Away for the Day’ and our high schools have been operating ‘No Cell Bell to Bell’ this school year. The policy will formalize these approaches with resources provided for families, teachers, and staff to support our community with this initiative designed to promote learning through reduced distractions and increased focus.

Away for the Day K- 8 - Once the school day begins, cell phones and wireless communication devices must be turned off or set to silent and stored out of sight (for example, in a backpack) for the entire school day, unless instructed otherwise by a staff member for educational purposes.

No Cell Bell to Bell 9-12 - During instructional time, cell phones must be turned off or set to silent and stored out of sight (for example, in a backpack), unless instructed otherwise by a staff member for educational purposes.

If your child will have a cell phone or Smartwatch with them while at Mesquite Elementary they will need to have this signed Cell Phone/Smart Watch Statement of Understanding signed and returned. Please review this with your child prior to them bringing their device to school.

Relevant policies -

Policy 3-403 - Technology

• Technology - 3-403

• Technology - Acceptable Student Use - 3-403 A Form

Policy 5-305 - Student Code of Conduct

• Student Code of Conduct - 5-305

• Student Code of Conduct - Restrictions on Use of Wireless Communication Devices - 5-305.A

Please see the GPS Dress Code Expectations with the link below.

Arizona’s Move On When Reading (MOWR) legislation places great importance on the importance of the reading development process beginning in kindergarten. This ensures all students remain on track to be reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. For more information about this legislation and how it impacts students in GPS, please click on the buttons below.

Parents may request that their child be tested for gifted services once each calendar year. Please use this link for more information about gifted testing. Please note that the specific information and links for requesting testing have not yet been updated for the 25-26 school year.

Please see the links below for the Annual Notification to Parents Regarding Confidentiality of Student Education Records and School Directory Information and and Child Find Information. Special Education Governing Board policies are available for review at the school office and on the District website at this site.

Thank you to all who joined us at our PTSO Meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025! Our first PTSO meteing next year will be on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 3:15 p.m. in the Library and we would love to have you join us!

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!

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing 25/26 PTSO Executive Board. Your commitment to the students, staff, community, and campus is so truly appreciated! Thank you to those to support PTSO by attending events, donating items, and volunteering time.

25/26 PTSO Executive Board

• Kimberly Castro - President
• Stacy Nelson - Co-Vice President
• Amy Simon - Co-Vice President
• Allison Brumfield - Co-Secretary
• Heather Foti - Co-Secretary
• Mel Van Klavern - Treasurer

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.

• July 18 - Meet the Teacher Night 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• July 22 - First Day of School
• August 6 - Site Council at 7:20 a.m.
• August 7 - PTSO Meeting in the Library 3:15 p.m. and Peter Piper Back to School Night 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• August 26 - Picture Day
• August 27 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
• September 1 - Labor Day No School
• September 4 - Fall Fundraiser Kick Off
• September 10 - Site Council at 7:20 a.m.
• September 11 - PTSO Meeting in the Library 3:15 p.m.
• September 18-19 - Parent Teacher Conferences Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 a.m.

If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the online ‘Annual Update’ for your student(s). In order to ensure we can communicate with you regarding your student, or in case of an emergency, it is important that we have your up-to-date contact details. Even if there are no changes, we ask you to please complete to confirm the information we have is accurate for this school year. Please log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal and complete your student’s Annual Update today. For more details, visit gilbertschools.net/annualupdate.

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.

Join Mesa Prevention Alliance Coalition for free backpacks, school supplies, laptops, haircuts, and

many more community resources! Open to students K-12th grade while supplies last.

Date: July 26, 2025

Time: 8am - 11am

Location: 830 E. 2 Ave. Mesa, AZ 85204

In order to be eligible for a free laptop, please register by July 13th, use the link below: compudopt.org/computergiveaway. *Selected participants will receive a text invite to receive a laptop at this event

Thank you to our local sponsors!

If you wish to add money to your child's account, please use this link. The Free and Reduced Price Meal Online Application is available here as well!

Directions for how to apply for Free and Reduced Lunches online in English can be found at this link and in Spanish can be found at this link. 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.

• If you will be dropping and picking your child up we ask that you review this information and share them with others who may be picking your child up.
• We kindly ask that only families with kindergartners drop off and pick up at the front of the school. All other families should use the 1st - 6th grade drop off and pick up area.
• We kindly ask that students be picked up in parent drop off and pick up as the front office can become quite busy and congested at the end of the day and this will help with that congestion.

• If your child will be riding the bus, please check this district website for information.
• We recommend you download the Here Comes the Bus app if your child will be riding the bus. Information about this can be found on the district website.
• Kindergarten bus riders will receive a green, orange, red, or pink wristband that correlates with their bus number and color. We ask that you have your child keep this wristband on for the first week as an extra way to ensure they are getting on the correct bus each day.
• Please make sure your child has their ID or the ID tag placed by the campus on your child's backpack each day. Students will be required to have their IDs to ride the buses each day.

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!

Mesquite Elementary is honored to have district OT/PT Screening facilities on our campus. This area is behind the blue privacy fencing you see when first driving on to campus. These facilities have their own entrance, which is on the east side of the parking lot entrance. We ask that you park in the parking lot closer to the school as these few spots directly in front of the annex are for these buildings. Thank you in advance for your help with this!

Mesquite St & 29th Pl (ST1620/ST2117) Improvement Projects

PROJECT UPDATE

Provided below is current upcoming construction information based on the current schedule. Please remember schedules can be impacted by various factors, to include weather, materials scheduling and availability of resources, coordination with other projects or utilities, and neighborhood or school activities. A project description and exhibits from the public meeting are available on the project webpage.

• Scheduled for Monday, June 23, crews will begin grading activities to prepare for concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk along the north side of Mesquite Street near Mesquite Elementary School. This work is being conducted during the school's summer break to minimize the impact to school activities. Primary work on the north side of Mesquite Street, near the school, is expected to be complete prior to the school session resuming in July.

• Scheduled to begin Monday, June 23, waterline crews will begin trenching for waterline installation on the north side of Mesquite Street, near Lindsay Road adjacent to Victory Tabernacle Church, moving in an easterly direction along the north side of Mesquite Street. Those impacted by planned water service disruptions will be notified in advance. Residential services should not be disrupted; however, please contact us if you experience issues.

• During the summer, crews will work weekdays and several Saturdays. Per the recently signed Senate Bill, SB1182, construction activities can begin as early as 5 a.m. each weekday and 7 a.m. on Saturdays, with concrete pouring permitted to take place at least one hour before these times, as needed.

Mesquite Street and 29th Place will remain open for travel with a flagger activity in place, as needed, to shift traffic away from the work zone. Pedestrian traffic may be shifted to the opposite side of the street, away from the work area, in the interest of safety. Access to residences and the school will be maintained.

Please maintain safe speeds and obey traffic and construction signage, as it is placed for your safety and the safety of travelers and construction crews. In addition, please do not disturb workers as they are given specific tasks, working within allowable rights-of-way or easements, which need to be completed to maintain the project schedule.

Thank you for your patience during this work.

Project Information: 480.898.4090 | www.gilbertaz.gov/cip