Ashton Ranch News

We hope that all our Mustang families have a great summer! Stay safe and have fun!  

The 2023/2024 school year will start on August 3rd.  See you then!

Monday, May 22 ~ Early Release @ 1:00 (**Last day for 8th Grade Students)

Tuesday, May 23 ~ Half Day Release @ 11:15

Wednesday, May 24 ~ Half Day Release @ 11:15 (**Last day for 5th - 7th Grade Students)

Have a great summer!

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 STUCO Winners!

• Student Body President: Jesse Ramirez
• Student Body Vice-President: Zoie Janis
• Student Body Secretary: Adara Routt
• Student Body Treasurer: Randi Mueller
• Student Body Historian: Aubriana Rovner
• Student Body Public Relations: McKennan Yazzie
• 8th Grade President: Mackenzie Hansen
• 8th Grade Secretary: Jayden Holmes
• 8th Grade Treasurer: Maciah Jamison
• 7th Grade President: Chance Ratliff

We're so Mustang PROUD!

Hello Ashton Ranch Families,  

We would like to invite you to our second annual Color Wars Family Night on Friday, April 28th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Admission is free and we will have a DJ, food truck, arts and crafts, a gifted showcase, and information for parents on school and community involvement opportunities.  

Also be sure to visit our PTSA where you can purchase spirit gear and learn more about upcoming PTSA elections and how you can get involved with supporting academics, athletics, and the arts at Ashton Ranch.  

We can't wait to see you on Friday! 

Ashton Ranch Middle School will be closed on Friday, April 7th for Spring Holiday. School resumes on Monday, April 10th. 

State Testing Tips & Reminders:

• Students are required to bring their fully charged Chromebooks along with their charger cords.
• Students must be on time! Students who are tardy will not be allowed to enter their class, as classrooms cannot be interrupted once testing begins.
• Checking students out early is STRONGLY discouraged. Once a student begins their test, they MUST finish for the test to be valid.
• Students are permitted to bring their own headphones or earbuds on testing days. If they do not have headphones/earbuds that plug into a computer, a pair will be provided. Bluetooth headphones are not permitted.
• Please be sure students get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast!
• Happy Testing to all of our Mustangs!

Congratulations to Ashton Ranch's 2022-2023 Dysart Hero Award recipients, Jennifer Dawn & Kayla Trojanek. We are so proud to call you Mustangs! Thank you for always going above and beyond for ARMS!

Season 3 Sports: Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Girls' Soccer, Cheer 

• Boys' Basketball Try-Outs: Wednesday, Feb 22 & Thursday, Feb 23  3:15pm - 5:00pm
• Girls' Basketball Try-Outs: Wednesday, Feb 22, Thursday, Feb 23 & Friday, Feb 24  3:00pm - 4:30pm 
• Boys' Soccer Try-Outs: Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, March 1   3:15pm - 4:15pm 
• Girls' Soccer Try-Outs: Tuesday, Feb 21, Wednesday, Feb 22, Thursday, Feb 23 & Friday, Feb 24   3:15pm - 4:30pm
• Cheer Clinics:  Tuesday, Feb 21  3:00pm - 5:30pm
• Cheer Try-Outs: Friday, Feb 24  3:00pm - TBD 

The 22-23 Ashton Ranch Middle School Yearbook is now available for pre-order for the low price of $35 until February 10th. The price will increase to $40 on February 11th.

Step 1: Visit gradsyearbook.com

Step 2: Select shop online. Select your location (Surprise) and school (AshtonRanch)

Step 3: Follow the online instructions

Have you done your Annual Student Update in the Parent Portal?

If you do not complete the update by January 27, your student will no longer be able to log into their school computer, email, Schoology or other school systems beginning February 1, until the Annual Student Update is submitted.

Perform your Annual Student Update in 4 easy steps:

1. Log into Campus Parent App or your online Parent Portal Account at dysart.org/parentportal
2. Click on "Annual Student Update"
3. Click on "Start" for School Year 2022-2023 Annual Student Update (2nd option)
4. Click on "Register New/Update Existing Information" button to begin

It is not too late to support Ashton Ranch Middle School with a dollar for dollar state tax credit for 2022!

Ashton Ranch is raising money for new shade structures for our courtyard. Please consider supporting our efforts and donate to Ashton Ranch's undesignated tax credit fund.

What is a tax credit?

Arizona Law (ARS 43-1089.01) allows married couples filing jointly a tax credit of up to $400 and individual taxpayers a tax credit of up to $200 when they contribute to extra-curricular activities in public schools. This tax credit is available to all who reside in Arizona and have a tax liability at least equal to that of their donation. You do not have to be a parent of a child in a Dysart school to benefit from this law. Corporations are not eligible. Contributions are donated directly to the schools. This means your donations are used directly to support student activities of the Dysart school of your choice. Donations may be submitted through April 17, 2023.

How do I receive my tax credit? PAY ONLINE NOW

You may choose from the following four categories - School May Designate, Athletics, Fine Arts, or Enrichment Programs. If you have no preference or would like to specifically support our efforts in purchasing shade structures, please choose the category School May Designate.

The students and staff of Ashton Ranch Middle School thank you for your support!

Do you have a student that will be starting 5th grade at Ashton Ranch Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year?

Come and join us for Future Fifth Grader Night at ARMS on Wednesday, January 18th from 5:30pm - 6:30pm. 

Learn about:

• Our Electives and Athletics
• Take a tour of our campus
• Hear from student speakers
• Meet our amazing Faculty & Staff
• And much more!

School will be releasing students at 11:15am on Monday, 12/19 & Tuesday, 12/20 for Finals.

There will be no school from December 21st through January 4th for Winter Break. Students return on Thursday, January 5, 2023. We hope that everyone has a joy-filled holiday season!

There will be no school November 21 - 25 for Thanksgiving Break. We hope that everyone enjoys their week off. Have a great Thanksgiving, filled with family, friends, food and football!

Season 2 Sports: Flag Football, Boys' Volleyball, Girls' Football, Cheer

• Flag Football Try-Outs: November 10  3:15pm - 4:15pm & November 15 (if needed) 3:15pm - 4:15pm
• Cheer Try-Outs: November 15  3:15pm - TBD
• Girls' Volleyball Try-Outs: November 15 & 16   3:15pm - 4:15pm
• Boys' Volleyball Try-Outs: November 17 & 18   3:15pm - 4:15pm

Good Luck Everyone!

There will be no school on Friday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.

Picture Re-Take Day is Friday, October 28, 2022.

To order your student's school portraits and have FREE shipping to your home, click the link below:  

 Dysart Unified School District invites parents and students to a Career and College Expo on Wednesday, October 26 from 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Dysart District Office, located at 15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise.  

The expo showcases Dysart's Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, West-MEC, colleges and universities, and military representatives so families can explore opportunities to pursue in and after high school. This is a great way for 5th through 11th grade students and their parents to get hands-on with all of the career pathway classes and programs offered at Dysart Schools. The event is free and open to the public. Details can be found at www.dysart.org/CTEexpo. 

Dysart Schools currently offer 17 CTE programs at four high schools (Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, Valley Vista High School, and Willow Canyon High School.) Program options include Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Digital Animation, Digital Photography, Education Professions, Engineering, Film and TV Production, Fire Science, Graphic Design, Laboratory Assisting, Law and Public Safety, Marketing, Nursing Services, Software and App Design, Sports Medicine, Stagecraft Design and Production and Technology Device Maintenance. Learn more at www.dysart.org/CTE. 

Ashton Ranch will have Early Release on Thursday, 10/6, & Friday, 10/7 due to Parent/Teacher Conferences.

No School the week of October 10 - October 14 for Fall Break. School resumes on Monday, October 17. Have a great time off!

Grads Photography will be at 

Ashton Ranch Middle School

on Friday, 9/23/22

for Fall Pictures.

You may PRE-ORDER your pictures by clicking on the button below.

My name is Ryan Moore and I will serve as the SRO at Ashton Ranch Middle School. I have been with the Surprise Police Department for 6 years as a Patrol Officer. I serve on our (CISM) Crisis Intervention Stress Management team and recently obtained my SRO certification through (NASRO) National Association for School Resource Officers.

I'm humbled by the opportunity to serve the Ashton Ranch Middle School family. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. I look forward to a safe and successful school year.

Safety Letter 22

Ashton Ranch had a successful first day of school!  We were so excited to welcome back our students and families for another great year.  Please continue to check our website and social media to learn more about all the great activities and events planned, as well as updates on our academic progress!  We hope you have a great year, and please reach out if you need anything to help make your student successful! 

Check out the photo gallery from the first day below!

ARMS Spirit Week

"Life At The Ranch"

August 8 - 12

R ~ Monday 8/8: Red Day

A ~ Tuesday, 8/9: Avenger Day (Super Hero Day)

N ~ Wednesday, 8/10: Neon Day

C ~ Thursday, 8/11: Country Western Day

H ~ Friday, 8/12: Home at The Ranch Day (Spirit Colors)

Welcome back Mustangs! Please see the Back to School Message from our Principal, Ms Parachini.

Ashton Ranch Middle School Optional Supply Lists

• 5th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 7th/8th ELA - Drysdale
• 7th/8th ELA - Wilson
• 7th/8th ELA - Payne
• 7th/8th Math - Calahan
• 7th/8th Math - Americo
• 7th/8th Science - Shelby
• 7th 8th Science - Lehrer
• 7th/8th Social Studies - Fischer
• Art - Welsch

If you don't see a supply list for a certain teacher, they might not have submitted a list for us to post. Below is the generic supply list for each grade level. Please note that each teacher might not require all the supplies on the list, and we don't want parents to waste money on supplies that won't be used. We strongly suggest that you wait until Meet The Teacher Night to verify with each teacher what supplies will be required in their class.

Meet the Teacher Night will be Monday, August 1, 2022 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. Class schedules will be available during this event. Come and meet your teachers and see what Ashton Ranch Middle School has to offer!

We can't wait to see everyone back for the first day of school on August 3! Make sure you mark your calendars for event and activity dates and keep an eye on our new website for important information as the start of school approaches.

Our Meet the Teacher night will be on August 1 from 4:30-6:00pm. Please join us to see the campus, meet your child's teachers, and get information on what to expect this year. 

Still need to enroll? There's still time to get your children enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year! Parents and guardians can complete the necessary registration information online at Dysart.org/enroll at any time.  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. For additional assistance with student registration, families are welcome to contact our front office.

Don't forget to make sure you have access to the Parent Portal to keep up with your child’s academic progress throughout the year! Sign up or access the site online at Dysart.org/parentportal or via the Campus Parent app. 

Dysart Schools have many opportunities for the community to assist schools in providing an amazing educational experience to each and every student. Volunteers help to enrich children’s learning opportunities, provide individual attention to children who need one-on-one assistance, promote a school-home-community partnership for quality education, provide staff members with more time to work with students, and assist staff members and support personnel with non-instructional tasks.

Where is Help Needed?

• Classroom and teacher support 
• One-on-one student assistance 
• Event help (preparations, setup, operations, tear-down)  
• Guest speakers (experts or retirees in various fields) 
• Front office assistance

How to Become a Volunteer:

1. Review the volunteer handbook and complete the volunteer application at Dysart.org/Volunteer 
2. Make an appointment for your volunteer orientation 
3. Coordinate your schedule through the school office 
4. Put on your volunteer badge and have fun!

Who Should Apply to Volunteer?

Anyone who cares about children and education is a potential volunteer. Parents, grandparents and community members 18 years of age or older who want to make a difference in the lives of children and support educators are encouraged to apply to become a volunteer with Dysart Unified School District. Volunteers are welcome in all of our schools and prior teaching experience is not necessary.

Learn more or apply here.

Dysart Nutrition Services ensures that students at all schools have fresh, wholesome and nutritious breakfast and lunch options to support their education and focus in class. Learn more about Nutrition Services at Dysart.org/Nutrition. Menus and nutritional information may be viewed at Dysart.Nutrislice.com.

Apply for Free and Reduced Meals

Beginning July 1, 2022 the USDA is returning to income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced meals. All families should complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application at SchoolCafe.com to help maintain school funding and make sure that qualified families receive this and other benefits. Only one application is required per family, and may be completed at SchoolCafe.com.

How to Add Meal Funds to an Account

Cash and checks are accepted for meal purchases, or families may utilize SchoolCafe.com to prepay for meals online, view their balances, or place restrictions on purchases. Online payments take 24 hours to post to student accounts.  

Meal Prices 

• Elementary Lunch $2.60, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• Elementary Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75  High School Lunch $2.85, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• High School Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75 

A la carte and snack items are available for purchase on each campus, and additional meals are available for an added charge. Parents are always welcome to dine with their child, but please be sure to call in advance and check-in at the school office. Adult meals may be purchased for $1.75 for breakfast or $3.50 for lunch. 

Dysart is the largest employer in both the cities of Surprise and El Mirage with over 2,700 employees. Dysart Schools offer highly competitive salaries, full benefits and an inviting school-year calendar with holidays and weekends off for most positions. 

With a wide-variety of positions ranging from groundskeeper, to mechanic, to office staff, and teachers, we’re always looking for great people to join our Dysart team!

Current High Need Areas: 

•  Bus Drivers and Aides
•  Childcare and Preschool Aides
•  Paraprofessionals
•  Behavioral Technicians 
•  Speech and Language Pathologists 
•  Special Education Teachers 
•  Math Teachers 
•  Science Teachers 
•  ASL Teachers 
•  Health Services Assistants 
•  Crossing Guards 
•  Maintenance Workers and Plant Managers 
•  Social Workers

Check out our current openings at Dysart.org/Careers and apply today!

The Parent Portal is a great tool to stay informed 24/7 about your child’s academic progress. Grades, attendance, assignments and more are viewable in real time online or via the app, Campus Parent. A single login allows parents with multiple students to access information for all of their children in one place. Learn more at Dysart.org/ParentPortal.

Update Your Communication Preferences and Contact Info

To make sure that we can keep you informed in emergency situations, please ensure that your contact information is current in the Parent Portal. You are also able to adjust your communication preferences (phone, text, and/or email) at Dysart.org/ParentPortal or on the Campus Parent app to ensure you are getting the various message types in the way that you would like. Remember that if you select more than one type of communication per category, you will receive the message multiple times via each of those avenues.