Mesquite Elementary

Dear Mesquite Elementary Families,

This week I would like to highlight and say thank you to our amazing front office staff! We are so fortunate to have Ms. Mary and Mrs. Janine leading the way each morning. In addition to all they do on a daily basis, they are always willing to go above and beyond to do whatever is needed to make our families feel welcome, students to feel appreciated, and staff to feel supported! They do all of this, juggling so many tasks, with a smile and kind word to share with others! We are grateful for the support Ms. Calvert offers as well throughout the day, not only in the office, but also in the cafeteria! We couldn't be luckier to have them be the first ones you see each day at Mesquite Elementary!

If you have not yet completed your Annual Update on Infinite Campus we ask that you please do so. This information on Infinite Campus allows us to communicate with you each week through campus messages. In addition to this, updated information allows us to reach you or emergency contacts for your child in the event of an emergency. Even if no information has changed, we still ask that you verify this by completing the Annual Update. Please see this message from Allen Cain, our Safety and Security Director for Gilbert Public Schools. Further directions can be found below.

Sincerely,

Wendy Norburg

Some of our students showing their Mesquite Pride and Olympic Spirit this week with Mrs. Pardy! 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! If you were interested in buying a school shirt and weren't able to buy one at Meet the Teacher Night, please see the link below to buy a shirt or other school apparel!

The Olympics were celebrated all week in P.E. P.E. started each day with the torch being brought in prior to the competitions, and an awards ceremony at the end. We are lucky to have a gold medal winning P.E. teacher in Mrs. Pardy! She truly goes above and beyond each day for all she does for our students, our campus, and others! Dr. McCord, our GPS Superintendent, was even spotted attending the Olympics on Tuesday!

As we did last year, we will again be implementing a "No Cell Bell to Bell" policy at Mesquite Elementary. The expectation is that while your child is on campus their cell phones are to be turned off and in their backpacks. 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.

We are incredibly grateful for our amazing PTSO and all they do for our campus, such as the purchase of new buckets and playground equipment for each grade level! We couldn't do all we do without them! We hope you will join us at the first meeting this year on Thursday, August 8th at 3:15 p.m. in the Library!

We hope you will join us on Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Peter Piper Pizza!

• 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.

• August 8 - PTSO Meeting in the Library 3:15 p.m.
• August 8 - Peter Piper Back to School Night 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• August 26 - Fall Pictures
• August 28 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am

• September 2 - Labor Day No School
• September 6 - Fall Fundraiser Kick Off
• September 12 - PTSO Meeting at 3:15 pm in the Library
• September 19-20 - Parent Teacher Conferences Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am
• September 27 - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 am

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.

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.

Just Serve is an organization that serves others in our community. Just Serve gathers snack, water, and clothing donations for our campus each year and a a few years ago Just Serve completed a day of service at Mesquite Elementary. This amazing day of service included many cleaning and improvement projects around campus including but not limited to painting the Wall Ball Wall on the intermediate playground and redoing the staff lounge. Each year they have Gilbert 9/11 Day of Service and if interested you are invited to be a part!

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board approved that in November 2024, voters living within Gilbert Public School boundaries will decide on a proposed 15% budget override continuation. This would be a continuation of the existing budget override approved by voters in November 2019 and in place since the 2020/21 school year. The existing override generates approximately $36 million annually to:

• ensure competitive salaries to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff in classrooms,
• maintain programmatic choices for students creating future ready graduates,
• maintain campus safety and security personnel and,
• maintain class sizes with allocation to class size reduction.

For more information please visit our website - www.gilbertschools.net/election