Rancho Gabriela News

The Dysart Unified School District Governing Board has placed Proposition 421 on the November 3, 2026 ballot to maintain safe, functional learning environments, and support continued growth. The estimated tax impact to the community is $3 per month, or $36 per year.* 

If approved, here are a few of the ways our schools and community needs will be supported:

• Replacement of aging air conditioning systems and fire panels
• Renovation of aging facilities
• Construction of a new elementary school
• Land for a high school
  

Get registered to vote in this mail-in only election by October 5 at Elections.Maricopa.gov and learn more at Dysart.org/Prop421.

*Based on an estimated $0.17 tax rate on an average assessed home value of $215,435. Assessed value is determined by the Maricopa County Assessor's Office to calculate property taxes, and is not the same as the market value that a home would sell for. Tax rates are an estimate and are influenced by a variety of factors including Maricopa County assessed valuation fluctuations.

Let's show our Patriot Spirit all week long in honor of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11!

Tuesday-Camo Day

Wednesday-Stars & Stripes

Thursday-Tie Dye Day-wear a tie or tye dye

Friday- Red, White & Blue and all Americana gear

Upcoming September Events 

9/7 Labor Day-No School 

9/8 7:40am Choir practice begins 

9/8-9/11 Patriots Spirit Week 

9/8 3:45 Kona Ice afterschool 

9/14  8am Grandparents Breakfast in the Cafeteria

9/14  4:30pm Cross Country Meet @ Sonoran Heights MS

Join us for a special morning filled with pancakes, smiles, laughter and memories that will last a lifetime! Our Grandparents Breakfast is on Monday, September 14th @ 8am in the RGES Cafeteria. We can't wait to see you there!

This is a special event for Rattler students and their grandparents only.

Choir Club is for 3rd & 4th grade students and will be held every Tuesday morning at 7:40am before school. There is a $10 club fee. For more information, email Mrs. Borges or pick up a Choir interest form from the front office. Choir begins September 8th.

• 8/31 8am Cross Country practice 
• 8/31 1:45pm Monday Early Release 
• 9/2 4pm PTSO meeting in the library-All parents welcome to attend 
• 9/3 8am STUCO Meeting 
• 9/7 Labor Day-No School 
• 9/8 8am Choir practice 
• 9/8 3:45 Kona Ice afterschool

Upcoming August Events 

8/24 1:45pm Monday Early Release 

8/25 Kona Ice afterschool 

8/26 Hungry Rattler all day @ Mod Pizza Prasada 

8/27 8am Site Council meeting-parents welcome to attend 

8/31 8am Cross Country practice

All 3rd & 4th grade students are invited to attend our Student Council informational meeting this Friday @ 8:00am.  The meeting will take place in Mrs. Longfellow's room and parents are welcoem to attend with students.

Upcoming August Events 

8/17 1:45pm Monday Early Release 

8/20 DIBELS testing for students 

8/21 4pm Cross Country Mandatory Parent Meeting 

8/24 1:45pm Monday Early Release 

8/25 Kona Ice afterschool 

8/26 Hungry Rattler all day @ Mod Pizza Prasada 

8/27 8am Site Council meeting-parents welcome to attend

Mark your calendars!! Cross Country season is coming up soon!! If your child is interested in cross country there will be an informational parent meeting Friday, August 21st at 4:00 in the library. Parents must ATTEND if their child would like to participate.  

As a reminder, ALL students who want to participate in Cross Country must be fully registered on AKTIVATE. Please register your student at registermyathlete.com. Additionally, there is a participation fee of $60 for the entire season. Get ready to run with Coach Holly (holly.leamaster@dysart.org) and Coach Meyer (ashley.meyer@dysart.org) , please reach out with any questions.   

This week's upcoming events 

8/10 1:45pm Monday Early Release 

8/10 1st Day of School for Preschool students  

8/12 4pm PTSO Meeting in the library-All families are welcome 

8/12 4:30pm Parent University in the library

Rattler Spirit store is now open. Order your Spirit shirts now. Also available are hats and bows.

Upcoming Back to School Events

8/3 School rosters posted to Parent Square & the Parent Portal 

8/4 5-7pm Meet the Teacher Night for Preschool-4th grade students 

8/6 1st Day of school for Kindergarten-4th grade students 

8/10 1st Day of School for Preschool students 

8/10 1:45pm Monday Early Release

With Mrs. Ashby moving up to become Rancho's new Principal, we are excited to have Mrs. Jackie Older as our new Assistant Principal! 

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Older to our Rancho family!

With 22 years of experience as a teacher, reading interventionist, instructional coach, and administrator, Mrs. Older is passionate about helping every student succeed. She believes every child deserves a champion and is committed to building strong relationships, setting high expectations, and a creating a positive school community. 

Mrs. Older is excited to partner with our students, families, and staff, and she's looking forward to an amazing year at Rancho Gabriela!

Hello All Rattler Families- 

To help keep our students healthy and comply with Arizona's new Healthy Schools Act, any treats shared or sold during the school day for birthdays or classroom celebrations cannot contain certain prohibited ingredients (including specific food dyes and additives).  

This includes treats from parents and school teachers/staff.  

Parents are still welcome to send lunch or snacks of their choosing for their own child. 

Shared treats are welcome as long as they meet state defined  guidelines.  

Thank you for helping us create a healthy and safe learning environment for all of our students!  We know this is a change and are here to help!     ***Watch for a list of approved snack ideas to make planning easier.*** 

Learn more at www.dysart.org/foodguidelines

Dear Rancho Gabriela Families, 

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! 

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer filled with opportunities to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories. We are so excited to welcome our students and families back to campus and can't wait to see our hallways filled with smiling faces once again. 

Whether you are returning to Rancho Gabriela or joining our school community for the first time, know that you are an important part of our family. At Rancho, we believe that every child can learn, grow, and thrive when they feel supported, challenged, and connected. 

As we reflect on last year, we have so much to celebrate. Our students made impressive academic gains and our positive school culture continued to grow thanks to the dedication of our staff, the perseverance of our students, and the unconditional support of our families. These accomplishments provide a strong foundation as we continue our commitment to student growth and success. 

This year's theme, Set the Goal, Reach the Peak, reminds us that every great accomplishment begins with a goal and is achieved through perseverance, teamwork, and determination. By partnering together—students, families, and staff—we will support one another, celebrate growth, and help every student reach their highest potential. 

After five wonderful years serving the Rancho Gabriela community as assistant principal, I am honored to welcome you back as your principal. I look forward to continuing our partnership with students, families, and staff as we work together to help every child succeed.  

Make sure to check out Rancho’s website throughout the school year for important up-to date information. We use Parent Square for weekly school news and daily teacher communication. Make sure to activate your Parent Square account today.

Welcome back, and here's to an incredible year of learning, growth, and success! 

Warmly, 

Alicia Ashby 

Principal 

Rancho Gabriela Elementary School.

Dysart Unified School District is accepting new PreK-12 student enrollment applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Parents and guardians can complete the necessary registration information online at Dysart.org/enroll at any time. Within the enrollment application, parents are able to select their home school, or request their child attend another school outside of their boundary school, including Freedom Traditional Academy, through Open Enrollment. Preschool enrollment options are also available on the main enrollment link above, as well as at GrowingMindsPreschool.org. Learn more at Dysart.org/Preschool.

For in-person enrollment assistance between June 8th and July 1st, families may visit the District Office Monday through Thursday at 15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise, Arizona from 8am-4:30pm.  All K-12 school offices will reopen for in person enrollment on Wednesday, July 8.

Please note that in order to finalize registration the following documents will be required: government issued photo identification; birth certificate; proof of residency; and immunization records. To keep up with their child’s academic progress, parents are encouraged to sign up for the Parent Portal at Dysart.org/parentportal or via the Campus Parent app, available as early as 24 hours after registration is finalized. To find out if your child is eligible for transportation, visit Dysart.org/Transportation.

Dysart Schools looks forward to serving the community by providing an outstanding preschool through high school experience for students. For additional assistance with student registration, families may contact their local school beginning July 8, call 623-876-7151, or email SISTeam@dysart.org.

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer!  

Here is some important information to help you get ready for the upcoming school year along with our Welcome letter: 

Important Dates 

Meet the Teacher Night for Preschool-4th grade students= August 4th from 5:00-6:30 PM 

1st Day of School for Kinder-4th grade= August 6th, Gates open @ 8:40am for parents to walk studnets to class on the 1st day only

1st Day of school for Preschool= August 10th

2026-2027 School Calendar K-4th

2026-2027 School Calendar Preschool

Office Information 

The front office will reopen starting July 8th and will be open from 8:00-4:00 Monday-Thursday.  During our office summer closure please register your student ONLINE. All summer registrations will be processed by our District office. Call 623-876-7000 for assistance.

Grade Level Supply Lists

Preschool

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

STC

STC2

ESS Resource

We look forward to seeing all of you soon and having an amazing 2026-2027 school year!

Grade Level Supply Lists 

Supply lists are determined by all teachers as a grade level.

Preschool 

Kindergarten 

1st Grade 

2nd Grade 

3rd Grade 

4th Grade 

STC 

STC2  

Resource

*Arizona law requires that public schools provide supplies required for academic success. This list represents optional, supplementary items, which you may supply, at your discretion. If you have questions, feel free to contact the school.

If your child will start Kindergarten at Rancho Gabriela in August, you can register now for FREE Kinder Experience in July. This is a terrific opportuntiy for your incoming Kindergarten student to familiarize themselves with our school, learn about their classroom, work with Kindergarten teachers and prepare for an easy transition to Kindergarten in August. 

Kinder Experience is from July 20th - 23rd from 8:00 am- 11:00 am daily. Don't miss this FREE opportunity!