Gecko Gazette
Desert Sage Newsletter - August 2024
We are proud to celebrate our outstanding 5th grade Battle of the Books team, The Desert Readers—Nolan S., Eli W., and Enoch P.!
These students represented Desert Sage with excellence and determination at the District Battle of the Books event. Competing against teams of 5th and 6th graders from across the district, they earned an impressive 3rd place finish.
Way to go, Desert Readers! Your hard work and love of reading truly shine. 📚👏
New rules on electric powered bicycles (e-bikes) and scooters (e-scooters) in Glendale go into effect January 9, 2026. The ordinance, passed by the City Council in December, is intended to enhance rider safety and ensure responsible use of streets and sidewalks shared with pedestrians and vehicles.
E-bikes are categorized into three classes based on how they operate and their maximum speed.
- Class 1: Pedal-assist only (no throttle) with a top speed of 20 mph
- Class 2: Has pedals, a throttle and a top speed of 20 mph
- Class 3: Has pedals, a throttle and a top speed of 28 mph
Minimum age requirements apply to all riders:
- E-scooter riders must be at least 12 years old
- E-bike class 1 and 2 riders must be at least 14 years old
- E-bike class 3 riders must be at least 16 years old
All e-bikes and e-scooters operated at night must be equipped with a white front light, red rear light and reflectors. Riders must follow all traffic laws and ride responsibly. Reckless riding, traveling against traffic and intentionally lifting a wheel while moving are not allowed. Helmets are required for anyone under the age of 18.
The Glendale Police Department will begin enforcing the new ordinance January 9 and violations will result in fines starting at $50 and increasing to up to $500 for three violations within a 12-month period.
Our students have been working hard to demonstrate positive behavior through a school-wide challenge led by our grade-level teams before and after Spring Break. Each time a student showed positive choices, they earned raffle tickets—giving them a chance to be selected to participate in our upcoming Egg Drop Assemblies!
The more tickets earned, the greater the chance of being chosen. Raffle winners will be drawn this week, and selected students will take part in the Egg Drop Assemblies on April 17th.
To make this event a success, we are in need of materials for students to build their egg protection structures. We would greatly appreciate donations of items such as:
- Small boxes (including shoe boxes)
- Egg cartons
- Paper towel rolls
- Paper or plastic bags
- Packing materials
- Cotton balls
- Styrofoam/Packing peanuts/Bubble wrap
- Other safe, lightweight building materials
Donations can be dropped off at the Desert Sage front office.
Thank you for supporting our students and helping make this fun, engaging event possible!
- When: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Desert Sage Elementary School, cafeteria
Desert Sage is pleased to announce our in-person Kindergarten Graduation Celebration. Your child's celebration will occur on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. During the event, a brief photo slide show will be shown, mini-speeches by myself and the teachers, and then presentations of each child's graduation portfolio (certificate with cap and gown photo). There will be an opportunity to take pictures at the end of the celebration.
We are limiting the guests to 4 individuals per student to respect the need for social distancing. Also, please, no balloons of any kind, as we are a latex-free campus.
We look forward to celebrating the extraordinary work and learning your kindergartener has accomplished this year with you.
Desert Sage is pleased to announce our in-person 6th-grade Promotion Celebrations. The celebrations will include an awards assembly, where students receiving honors such as Principals List, Honor Roll, Super RAD Student, et cetera will be recognized. During the assembly, a brief photo slide show will be shown, the teachers and I will make mini-speeches, and the award certificates will be presented to the receiving students. There will be a brief opportunity to take pictures at the end of the assembly. Then, the traditional Desert Sage 6th grade Clap Out will take place on the last day of school. All 6th graders will walk the campus for their promotional parade and exit the building to a celebratory clap-out by staff, students, and guests.
We are limiting the guests to 4 individuals per student to respect the need for social distancing. Also, please, no balloons of any kind, as we are a latex-free campus.
We look forward to celebrating all the extraordinary work and learning your 6th grader has accomplished this year and wish them well as they are promoted to middle school.
- Awards Assembly
- When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Desert Sage Elementary School, cafeteria
- Social Distancing: Limit 4 guests per student
- Clap Out
- When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:50 a.m.
- Where: Desert Sage Elementary School, office
- Social Distancing: No limits for guests per student for the Clap-Out event
- Parking: Guests arriving for the clap-out must park on the school's neighboring streets. Parking will not be allowed in the school lot or the bus lane. Please be respectful of neighborhood driveways and no parking zones.
It’s springtime here, hope you are all enjoying the outside weather as much as we are. This month we are talking about many of this season’s favorite things: chicks, eggs, bunnies, bumblebees, plants, seeds, and flowers! We have a bunch of engaging and creative activities our students will be participating in, keep an eye on all the adorable crafts your child will bring home with them.
Save the Date for our Prek Party in the Park community event to celebrate the end of the year together, Friday May 8th from 9:00-10:30 at the purple park (Paseo Highlands Park).
First Grade is working to finish our year strong! This month we have our Field Day on April 2 (families are welcome to join us!) and we have our second Field Trip on April 30 to see a puppet show! Here’s a quick look at what else we’re doing this month:
Math: We are going to be exploring time and money this month! First grade will practice telling time to the hour and half hour on both analogue and digital clocks. We will also begin learning to identify and count coins!
Science: We are moving on to life cycles. Over the next several weeks we will be observing our caterpillars as they turn into a chrysalis and then into butterflies!
Reading: We are continuing to explore the different ways to identity and describe both the characters and settings of a story.
Writing: We will be creating a rough draft and publishing a personal narrative about a problem we solved with the help of someone special.
Social Studies: We are learning about wants and needs, as well as how people earn an income!
Happy April everyone!
April is a busy and exciting month in second grade as we focus on ending the year strong! We will kick things off with Field Day on April 2, followed by our school concert on April 8, and Science Night on April 15. In math, students will be learning about measuring and exploring geometry concepts. In science, we will be studying life cycles, and in social studies, we will begin learning about economics. In Mandarin, students will be learning about the present and past in the Level Learning curriculum. We are looking forward to a fun and engaging month of learning and special events!
This month, students will be taking the AASA state assessments! They have been working incredibly hard to prepare, and we are confident they will do an amazing job. Please help your child be ready by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and stay well hydrated each day.
In Reading, we will focus on informational texts, including text and graphic features, main idea, and various text structures.
In Writing, students will be working through a poetry unit, creating their own pieces such as acrostic, cinquain, couplets, synonym diamante, and haiku poems.
In Social Studies, we will continue our learning about the Great Depression and its impact on Arizona and various industries.
In Math, we will wrap up AASA testing and continue building skills with fractions, measurement, and plotting data on number lines.
In Science, we will explore topics such as flower pollination and the structures and functions of animals.
In Mandarin, students have completed the District Mandarin Speech Competition and are now preparing for the Mandarin Spelling Bee. We will also begin learning about narrative essay writing.
We had a wonderful time at Field Day last week! Please remember to send any photos to your teacher or upload them to the Google Drive shared by PTO.
As we approach the end of the school year, learning is still in full swing. Please continue to check your child’s grades regularly and help them stay on top of any missing assignments.
April is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month in our classrooms! Please take a moment to mark your calendars with these important dates:
AASA Testing (April 7 & 14): To help your child do their best, please ensure they get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Reminder: Students will need a pair of corded headphones for both testing days.
Field Day (Friday, April 10): We would love to see you there! Please send your child with a hat and a labeled water bottle so they stay cool and hydrated.
Family Science Night (April 15, 5:00–7:00 PM): Join us for a family favorite event filled with fun for everyone!
Final Field Trip (Thursday, April 23): Save the date! More details will be heading your way soon.
What We Are Learning:
Reading: We are preparing for the AASA test and exploring the world of "trickster stories"—the students are having a blast with these clever tales!
Writing: Our focus is on mastering grammar and crafting descriptive, engaging sentences.
Social Studies: We are traveling back in time to study the original 13 colonies and how they laid the foundation for the United States.
Math: As we prepare for AASA testing, we have been spending time reviewing and reinforcing the skills students have learned so far this year, while also continuing our work in geometry.
In April, our 5th graders are engaged in exciting learning across all subjects! In Reading, students are analyzing point of view and identifying important details in texts. In Writing, they are creating research reports and delivering presentations. In Social Studies, students are exploring the Civil War and Reconstruction, while in Science they are learning about adaptations and the environment. In Math, the focus is on measurement, conversions, and classifying two-dimensional figures. In Mandarin, students are identifying the beginning and ending of stories and practicing the use of “zhèngzài,” “le,” and “yào qù/huì qù.”
We have some exciting events coming up on campus!
Field Day is just around the corner:
- 4th–6th Grade: Friday, April 10
Get ready for fun, games, and lots of school spirit!
General Music Concerts are also coming soon. Mrs. James is excited to showcase all the hard work your children have been doing:
- 2nd Grade: April 8
- 1st Grade: April 22
All concerts will begin at 5:00 PM, with students arriving no earlier than 4:45 PM.
In Art, students are diving into the vibrant and creative world of Pop Art. We look forward to seeing their colorful and imaginative projects!
Thank you for your continued support—we can’t wait to see you at these events!
4/6-4/10: Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
Wednesday, 4/8: 2nd grade Music Concert at 5:00 p.m.
- Friday, 4/10: 4th-6th grade Field Day
- Friday, 4/10: Dismissal at 3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, 4/14: AASA Reading/Math Part 2 Testing (3rd-6th grade)
- Wednesday, 4/15: Family Science Night 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, 4/17: Dismissal at 3:30 p.m.
- 4/20-2/24: Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week
- Monday, 4/20: Volunteer Appreciation Day
- Wednesday, 4/22: Earth Day
- Wednesday, 4/22: Bus Driver Appreciation Day
- Wednesday, 4/22: Office Appreciation Day
- Wednesday, 4/22: 1st grade Music Concert at 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, 4/23: Volunteer Training at 8:00 a.m.
- Thursday, 4/23: 4th grade Field Trip Desert Outdoor Center Lake Pleasant
- Friday, 4/24: Gecko Gathering 8:30 a.m.
- Friday, 4/24: Early release 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, 4/30: 1st grade Field Trip Great Arizona Puppet Theater
- Thursday, 4/30: Kindergarten Field Trip SDOHS Graduation Event
- Friday, 5/1: School Principals Day
- Friday, 5/1: School Lunch Hero Day
- Friday, 5/1: Early release 2:00 p.m.
- 5/4-5/8: Teacher Appreciation Week
- Tuesday, 5/5: Spring Chorus Concert 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, 5/6: Nurse Appreciation Day
- Wednesday, 5/6: Kona Ice Fundraiser
- Thursday, 5/7: 1st grade Naming Ceremony at 9:00 a.m.
- Thursday, 5/7: PTO Meeting Zoom 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, 5/7: Spring Band Concert 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, 5/8: Early release 2:00 p.m.
AZ School Tax Credit for Desert Sage
Your school tax credit donations can provide Desert Sage students with opportunities to after school and summer programs, field trips, music and athletic programs or any other extracurricular activity.
- The Arizona tax credit program (A.R.S. 43-1089.01) allows a tax credit of up to $200 for individuals and up to $400 for married couples, filing jointly, in support of extracurricular activities.
- The tax credit reduces your tax burden to the state of Arizona, dollar for dollar.
Make your tax credit donation to Desert Sage at: https://az-deervalley.intouchreceipting.com/.
Desert Sage Elementary
- Website: dvusd.org/desertsage
- Location: 4035 West Alameda Road, Glendale, AZ, USA
- Phone: (623) 445-4700
- Twitter: @DesertSageElem
- Instagram: dvusd_desertsage
- Facebook: DVUSD Desert Sage
School tours are available by appointment only on the first Friday of each month through June. Appointments can be scheduled between 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
To arrange a tour of Desert Sage, please email our School Secretary, Elisa Anderson, at elisa.anderson@dvusd.org.