Asante News

Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful, restful Fall Break last week and enjoyed some extra quality time with your children. 

A big thank you to everyone who attended parent-teacher conferences. Your active partnership is crucial to your child’s learning and success. As we head into the new quarter, please remember how impactful it is to read with your child every day, even 15 minutes of reading together makes a huge difference in building vocabulary, comprehension, and a lifelong love for learning! 

Save the Date: Trunk or Treat!  

Mark your calendars for one of our favorite autumn events! 

Date: Friday, October 23rd 

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

Highlights: Trunk-or-treating, delicious local food trucks, and fun contests for the whole family! 

We can't wait to see your creative costumes and trunks. Thank you for your continued support and for making our school community so special!

As an Asante parent we want to make sure you are aware of the upcoming Dysart Election and how it could impact your student(s).  Prop 421 would fund the construction of a new elementary school and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area, if approved.

As you likely know, growth in the Asante area is rapid, and Asante Preparatory Academy has limited capacity. We already adjusted the grade levels (in 2024-2025) to serve Pre-k through fifth grade only and started busing 6-8th grade students to another school with capacity outside of the neighborhood. As the community grows, without another campus in the area, we may have to cut additional grade levels, adjust boundaries, and bus even more students to other schools until a new school can be built. We do have land in the area already, but still need the funds to construct a school.

Here are some additional FAQs that you may find helpful regarding how building and funding new schools works:

• Home builders and realtors told us that a school will be built in our neighborhood. Why hasn’t that happened? Home builders and realtors may know that we own certain properties, however that does not mean a school will necessarily be built on that site. While Dysart may own land in various locations, we work closely with our planning department and demographers to evaluate population projections, which allows us to plan for future needs at various sites. Home builders often donate elementary school land to school districts when developing a community, however, they are not responsible for constructing the school itself.  Therefore, even though we have land, funding is still needed to construct a new school - usually through state support or voter-approved bonds -  and the location would be dependent on population projections and growth patterns to ensure the location made the greatest impact.

• How do districts obtain land for school locations? Arizona law does not allow school districts to require developers to fund school construction.  Therefore, even though we have land for an elementary school, funding is still needed to construct the new school - usually through state support or voter-approved capital funding. Home builders do not typically donate enough land to build a high school, therefore districts need capital funding to purchase larger parcels of land for high schools.

• How does a district obtain Capital funding? District’s receive a very limited amount of Capital funds each year (~$13 million for Dysart), and it is needed for many things like building maintenance, equipment replacement, etc. It is not enough to pay for new school construction, so when a district has a need for funding that is greater than what is available, they must either work with the Arizona School Facilities Division (SFD) to request a portion of their limited budget provided by the state, or go to the voters through an election to request additional funding. Currently, an elementary school typically costs about $35 million to build, and a high school costs about $150 million to build.

• What is the history of bond elections in Dysart? It has been 20 years since a capital funding request was approved for Dysart. Voters rejected capital funding for Dysart in 2013, 2019, 2024, and again in 2025. The last bond, which was approved in 2006, will be completely phased out of the current tax rate by 2028.

• How are boundary changes and new school site decisions made? While Dysart may own land in various locations within district boundaries, we work closely with our planning department and demographers to evaluate population projections. This allows us to plan better for future needs, so that we know which areas within the district are expected to see growth or decline, and in turn, where it would make the most sense to build a new school, or change boundaries in order to better balance the expected enrollment numbers based on population density. Most recently, Dysart made boundary adjustments for the 24/25 school year to accommodate rapid growth in the northern part of the district around Asante.  This resulted in grade level and boundary changes that impacted three schools. Additional adjustments across the district will likely be necessary again if funds for construction of a new elementary school are not approved by voters, as the community continues to grow.
  

Drop off your ballot or vote by Election Day on November 3! Find a ballot drop box at Elections.Maricopa.gov and learn more at Dysart.org/Prop421.

If approved, it Proposition 421 fund: 

• New air conditioning systems to ensure a safe environment, and uninterrupted learning for students

• New fire panels to improve safety at all schools

• Construction of a new elementary school to address the rapid growth in the northwest part of our district.

• Land for a high school to ensure the district is prepared for future growth

• Renovation of aging facilities, to include construction of public restrooms for athletic facilities at our high schools, renovation of the aging auditorium at Dysart High School, the district’s original high school.

Looking for more details about the election and potential impacts? Check out these factual resource links available on our website and share with others:

• Dysart.org/Prop421

• Budget Video

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Fall Break is from October 12th to the 16th. Campus will be closed.  We hope you enjoy time with friends and family and look forward to seeing you on October 19th. 

Thank you for a fantastic first quarter of the school year! We are so proud of the progress our students have made and grateful for your ongoing support and partnership in making these past few months a success. Here are a few important announcements and updates as we head into the next few weeks: 

Our annual Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school next week! Students will have the opportunity to visit and shop with their classes during the school week. Important Note: Cashless Event Please note that this is a cashless book fair. Only credit/debit cards and Scholastic eWallet will be accepted. 

How to Set Up eWallet: Visit our school’s Scholastic Book Fair homepage: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/asantepreparatoryacademy

Click "Get Started" or "Set Up eWallet". 

Create an account (or sign in) and add funds so your student can shop cash-free during their class visit! 

Parents and families are welcome to come shop during the following dedicated family times (credit cards and eWallet accepted): Monday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM & 1:45 PM – 4:30 PM 

Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM & 3:45 PM – 6:30 PM 

Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM & 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM

Thursday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM & 1:45 PM – 4:30 PM 

Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM 

We are excited to meet with you for parent-teacher conferences this week! To accommodate our conference schedule, please take note of our early dismissal times: Early Dismissal at 1:45 PM: Monday, Thursday, and Friday.

Fall Break is just around the corner! School will be closed from October 12th through October 16th. We hope you and your family have a wonderful and restful break! 

Thank you again for your continued support and dedication to our school community. We look forward to seeing you at conferences and the Book Fair!

Picture Day is This Tuesday! 

Say cheese! School Picture Day is coming up this Tuesday. Make sure your child brings their best smile. You can easily pre-order photo packages online before Tuesday. The link is on our website!

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Next Week Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for next week, October 3-7. This is a wonderful opportunity to partner with your child's teacher, discuss their growth, and learn more about their daily educational experience. Please check your email or class communications to sign up for a conference time slot. Please Note the Adjusted Schedule: 1:45 PM Early Dismissal Days: Monday, Thursday, and Friday of conference week. Please ensure you have early pick-up plans arranged for these three days. 

Reading together at home is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s learning and development. Just 20 minutes of daily reading helps build vocabulary, boosts comprehension skills, and improves overall academic performance across all subjects. Whether you are reading aloud to them, taking turns with chapters, or having your child read independently, this dedicated time fosters a strong love for books and strengthens critical thinking. Making reading a cozy, fun part of your family’s daily routine sets your child up for lifelong success!

Get registered to vote by October 5 at Elections.Maricopa.gov and learn more at Dysart.org/Prop421.

If approved, Proposition 421 would fund: 

• New air conditioning systems to ensure a safe environment, and uninterrupted learning for students 
• New fire panels to improve safety at all schools 
• Construction of a new elementary school to address the rapid growth in the northwest part of our district. 
• Land for a high school to ensure the district is prepared for future growth 
• Renovation of aging facilities, to include construction of public restrooms for athletic facilities at our high schools, renovation of the aging auditorium at Dysart High School, the district’s original high school. 

Get ready for an exciting journey around the reading world! We are thrilled to invite all K-5 students and their families to our annual Literacy Night on Thursday, September 24th from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Pack your imagination as we "Stamp Your Way Through Stories" with engaging interactive stations, hands-on Make and Take activities, and fun freebies for every student! Explore our Surprise Library, step inside our special Book Rooms, and grab dinner or a snack from a great lineup of local Food Trucks. It’s going to be a memorable evening packed with adventure, learning, and family fun—mark your calendars! 

A massive THANK YOU to all of our incredible parents, families, staff, and community supporters who made this year’s Glow Run Fundraiser an overwhelming success! The energy on campus was electric, and our students had an absolute blast lighting up the track and cheering one another on. Thanks to your amazing support and generosity, the funds raised will directly enrich our school environment and student experience. Your contributions will fund: 

• Amazing Family Nights for our school community  
• Ranger Readers program  
• Golden Rangers  
•  New Playground Equipment 
• Field Trip Transportation Support 

Thank you for your continued partnership in making our school a vibrant, welcoming place for all our elementary students to learn and grow!

We are officially entering the final week of our Glow Run fundraiser, and thanks to your incredible support, we are getting closer every single day to our goal of $35,000! A huge thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and cheered on our students so far. We have one more week to make it count, and there is still plenty of time to donate, share your student’s page, earn prizes, and help individual classes and grades reach their rewards. 

The main event itself takes place this Friday, September 18, during specials. To get the best effect under the lights, make sure your student wears white or neon colors on Friday! We also have two hilarious school-wide challenges lined up if we hit our targets. If we reach our $35,000 goal, the top 10 overall fundraising students will get to transform Principal Dean into a Human S'more! If we go above and beyond and hit $40,000, Principal Dean will camp out on the roof for a whole school day. You can view our live standings, send out parent links, or make a contribution directly through the Glow Run Fundraiser Portal. 

Beyond the fundraiser, we want to extend a warm thank you to all the parents who have already signed up to help with our upcoming Book Fair. Your time and support mean the world to our staff and students. If you'd like to get more involved, please join us for our next PTO meeting this Tuesday at 4:15 PM in the Media Center. We will be sharing exciting updates about the Book Fair, our upcoming Trunk or Treat, and several other fun community events. 

Thank you again for making our school community so vibrant! Let’s make this final week one to remember!

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.

Reminder that there will be no school on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day. We hope everyone enjoys a safe, restful long weekend with family and friends! 

Our major PTO Fundraiser kicks off tomorrow and runs through September 19th. This annual drive is the primary way our PTO funds vital school programs, including field trip transportation, the Ranger Reader Program, the Golden Ranger Ticket Program, and key campus improvements. Even better, 10% of all proceeds go directly back to each grade level to support our classrooms! To make things even more exciting, Ms. Dean has agreed to a Glow Run Challenge: if we raise $30,000, students will get to turn her into a human s'more. If we reach our stretch goal of $35,000, Ms. Dean will become a human s'more and spend an entire day camping out on the school roof! 

Looking ahead, be sure to mark your calendars for Literacy Night: Passport to Adventure on Thursday, September 24th, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Bring the whole family out for an evening packed with delicious local food trucks, library visits, hands-on "make and take" activities, and interactive reading stations. 

Finally, we are gearing up for some of our favorite fall traditions and will need helping hands! Keep an eye out on ParentSquare next week for official volunteer sign-up links for our upcoming Trunk or Treat and the Fall Book Fair. 

Thank you for your incredible support in making our school community thrive!

As we head into September, we are focusing on the critical role daily attendance plays in your child's growth. Building strong habits early in elementary school sets the foundation for lifelong learning and success. 

Why September Matters: Missing just 2 to 4 days in September puts a student at high risk of falling behind for the rest of the year. The 10% 

Threshold: Missing just 2 days a month adds up to 18 days a year—that's 10% of the school year lost. This is considered "chronic absenteeism" and directly impacts academic growth. 

The Reading Connection: Research shows that children who are chronically absent in Kindergarten and 1st Grade are significantly less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd Grade. 

Every Day Counts: The academic impact of missing school is the same whether absences are excused or unexcused. Classrooms move fast, and lost learning time is hard to make up. 

Tips for Building Great Attendance Habits: 

Set a routine: Keep consistent bedtimes and morning routines to make start-of-day transitions smooth. 

Schedule around school: Try to plan medical appointments and family trips during school breaks or after hours whenever possible. 

Clubs: 

•  Attention 3rd-5th graders: We are starting our Sports Club on Tuesday, September 8th at 8am in the gym. We are taking the first 25 kids to sign up, so get your permission slip from the front office to get it signed and bring it back to the front office to turn in. We will be working on baseball skills for the first quarter.  
• Students who are interested in 4th and 5th grade who are interested in Student Council applications are in the front office and are due by September 2nd. 
• 3rd-5th graders interested in Cross Country please pick up a registration packet in the front office now. Practices will be before school, starting September 9th. Return interest forms to Lauren Kwiatkowski by Friday, September 4th.  
• Attention 4th and 5th graders who love to sing, Choir Club will be starting on Tuesday, September 15th. You may pick up an informational flyer and permission slip in the front office or in the Music room. Space is limited to 25 kids and permission slips are due by Tuesday, September 8. You may return them either to the front office or Mrs. Wilson.

There will be no school next Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. 

 We thank you so much for your continued partnership!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our first PTO meeting this past week! We have so many exciting events and activities planned for this school year, and we simply cannot do it without the support of this extraordinary group. 

Research consistently shows that when parents stay involved in their child’s education, students earn higher grades, build stronger social skills, and feel more confident in the classroom. One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to support your child is by reading together at home for just 20 minutes a day. Sharing stories builds vocabulary, strengthens comprehension, and fosters a lifelong love of learning. Whether you are reading aloud together, volunteering at PTO events, or checking in on daily schoolwork, your active presence directly drives your child's success. 

Please keep these important updates in mind for the coming week: 

Annual Student Updates: All annual updates must be completed in your Parent Portal. This ensures we have current emergency contact info and medical details for your child. It must be updated by Monday 8/31. 

Attendance Matters: Being in class every day builds strong habits and keeps learning on track. Please aim to have your student here on time each morning. 

End-of-Day Dismissal: We kindly ask that you avoid signing students out during the final 15 minutes of the school day. Classrooms are wrapping up key instruction and packing up, making it extremely difficult to pull students during this window. 

Thank you for partnering with us to make this a fantastic year for our students!

Welcome to another exciting school year! Strong parent involvement is at the heart of our vibrant school community. Research consistently shows that when parents are engaged in their child’s education, students perform better academically, build stronger social skills, and feel more supported. We invite you to stay connected and play an active role in your child's learning journey this year. Here are three important updates and opportunities to get involved: 

1. First PTO Meeting of the Year Please join us for our very first Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) meeting of the year this upcoming Tuesday at 4:15 PM in the media center. We hope to see you there as we discuss our goals and activities for the upcoming months! 

2. Annual Student Update Due Soon Please ensure you complete your Annual Student Update as soon as possible. Finishing this form is crucial so your student has access to the health office and other essential services at school. You can complete the update by visiting Dysart.org/ParentPortal or using the Campus Parent app. 

3. Ranger Reader Program Returns for 2026–2027! 

We are thrilled to bring back the Asante Reading Adventure Program for its third year! This year-long program rewards students with special titles and fun prizes as they read, collect points, and work their way up to becoming a Master Reader. 

How it works: 

Read a book. 

Fill out a Book Slip and have an adult sign it. 

Turn it in to earn points, move up adventure levels, and collect prizes! 

Grade-Level Guidelines: 

Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Books can be read independently or aloud with an adult. An adult can fill out and sign the Book Slip. 

2nd–5th Grade: Students read independently and fill out the Book Slip, which an adult signs before submission. 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make this a fantastic year for our students!

First, thank you so much for your cooperation, patience, and partnership during our first couple of days of school! It has been wonderful welcoming our students back, and we appreciate your help in making arrival and dismissal run so smoothly. We are so excited for our first House Color Day tomorrow! We encourage all our students to show their school spirit by wearing their house color. Moving forward, please encourage your child to wear their house color every Monday as well! 

Speaking of Mondays, please keep in mind that every Monday throughout the school year is an Early Release day with dismissal at 1:45 PM. Our first Early Release Monday will be Monday, August 10th, so please ensure your pick-up arrangements reflect this earlier time. 

We also ask that all families complete the Annual Student Update, which must be submitted every year. If you have not done so already, pleasevisit Dysart.org/ParentPortal or use the Campus Parent app. 

Additionally, per updated state health guidelines, any shared classroom snacks or group treats provided for school events can no longer contain 11 specific food additives or synthetic dyes (including Red 40, Yellow 5/6, Blue 1/2, Green 3, Red 3, titanium dioxide, BVO, potassium bromate, and propylparaben). Please note that this rule applies only to shared group treats and does not affect your child’s personal packed lunch or individual daily snack. For birthday and classroom celebrations, we strongly encourage fun non-food items like stickers, pencils, or bookmarks instead of edible treats! 

 Thank you again for your ongoing support.

Welcome to the start of a wonderful new school year! We are so excited to welcome our students back to campus. 

As we prepare for our first week, we want to share a few key details to ensure a smooth transition for everyone. Class placements will be available in the Parent Portal starting on Monday, August 3. You can log in then to find out who your child's teacher will be for the upcoming year. We hope you will join us for Meet the Teacher Night on Tuesday, August 4, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit the classroom, meet your teacher, and pick up important materials for the year. Additionally, representatives from our PTO, DEN Club, and lunch staff will be on-site throughout the evening to help answer any questions you might have. 

Our official first day of school will be Thursday, August 6. Please keep in mind that dismissal will take significantly longer during the first few days as students and staff get used to the new routines. We promise it will become much quicker once we get past those initial days, and we greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation. If you are picking your child up in the car line, please remember to display the name plate you receive at Meet the Teacher Night. 

Finally, please make sure to carefully review the Arrival and Dismissal procedures in our complete opening letter, which contains full details and policies for the start of the year. You can access the full list of opening information through the link provided in this email. LINK

 Enjoy the last few days of summer break, and we cannot wait to see you all on Tuesday evening! 

Thank you, 

Emily Dean

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: 

Important Dates

• Meet the Teacher, August 4th from 5:00-6:30 PM
• First Day of School, August 6th

Office Information

The front office will reopen starting July 8th and will be open from 8:00-4:30 on Monday-Thursday. 

Supplies and Other Information 

If you are looking for supply list information, you can find them linked here. 

Our opening school letter with all the information is linked here. 

We look forward to an amazing year!

We hope you have a wonderful summer break!  We look forward to seeing you when school starts on August 6th. 

As we come to the close of another wonderful school year, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership. 

Your involvement has made a meaningful difference in the success of our students and school community. We are incredibly proud of all our students for their hard work and growth this year. A very special congratulations goes out to our fifth graders, we are so proud of everything you have accomplished. We wish you all the best as you take this exciting next step into middle school. You will be missed! 

As you begin preparing for next year, please remember that school supply lists for returning students will be available on our school website. Please note that both Wednesday, May 20th and Thursday, May 21st will be early release days. Students will be dismissed at 12:00 PM on both days. 

Save the Dates for Next School Year 

Meet the Teacher: August 4th, 5:00–6:30 PM 

First Day of School: August 6th We hope you and your family have a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer. 

Thank you again for being such an important part of our school community, we look forward to welcoming many of you back in the fall!