Dysart Middle News

Dysart Middle School will be offering a free, in person Summer Learning Opportunity for all students in 5th - 8th grade.  The focus of Summer Learning is to review priority standards in Math and Reading from the current grade level, to prepare students for success during the 2023-2024 school year. Summer Learning will run for 3 weeks, June 5th-22nd, from 8:00am-11:00am.  Transportation is not available for Summer Learning. You can pickup a permission slip in the front office or from your child's teacher. For more information, please contact the Summer Learning Coordinator, Linda Heck, at linda.heck@dysart.org.   

The DMS office will be closed on March 13th through March 17th for Spring Break. Get out and enjoy the beautiful, spring weather. We will see you back on Monday, March 20th!

All Arizona public school students in Grades 3-8 will take the grade level AASA assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. DMS students will be testing on April 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th. Please do not pick up students early on these dates and encourage students to be present and on time on all testing days. 

Yearbooks are currently on sale for only $25! The price will increase to $30 starting April 1st. Make sure that your student doesn’t miss out on this meaningful keepsake. It’s the only book that captures the year’s events, activities, friendships, experiences and memories from the 2022-2023 school year. Place your order for the yearbook at gradsyearbook.com and follow the steps below. 

Our STC PE class participated in the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament at Dysart High School and brought home a GOLD medal! Thank you to our Coaches: Coach Mo and Coach Leonard and our STC teachers and paraprofessionals for all their support during the tournament. Congratulations students on your win!

Do you have a 4th grader that will be attending DMS next year? Join us for Future Eagles Night on January 25th from 5:00pm-6:30pm. Students and their families will be able to check out classrooms and tour the campus. They can also meet staff and view a band and choir performance. We hope you can make this fun, family event!

Members of Dysart Unified School District’s Textbook Adoption Committee will evaluate textbooks for grades 4-6 English Language Arts (ELA) and high school Advanced Placement (AP) Economics. 

The materials will be made available for review online and will be on display November 14, 2022 through January 13, 2023 at Freedom Traditional Academy, 16066 N Parkview Place Surprise, Arizona 85374. 

Parents and community members are invited to view the materials before and after school, from 7:15-8:00 AM and 3:00-3:45 PM. The last evening dates will be on January 10, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  To view the materials online, visit Dysart.org/CurriculumReview.  

All Dysart curriculum is aligned to state standards and current legislative mandates. To learn more about Dysart’s curriculum and adoption process visit Dysart.org/Curriculum, or contact the Dysart Schools Educational Services Department at 623-876-7173 for more information. 

DMS will be closed for Winter Break beginning December 21, 2022-January 3, 2023. The school office will reopen on Wednesday, January 4th and students will return to school on Thursday, January 5th. We wish everyone a safe and happy break!

Join us for Choir and Band performances!

Choir: December 8, 2022 at 5:30pm in the DMS cafeteria.

Band: December 8, 2022 at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium. 

Please note that there is no school November 21st-November 25th for Thanksgiving Break. The office will be closed and will reopen on Monday, November 28th at 7:15am. We are so thankful for all our Eagle students, families, teachers and staff and wishes everyone a restful break!

Fall sport tryouts begin this week! See below for all sports that will be holding tryouts, with dates and coaches to see for more information!

• Cross Country, November 4th, Coach: Ms. Howard.
• Cheer Tryouts, Week of November 14th, Coach: Ms. Altamirano
• Flag Football, November 15th-17th, Coaches: Mr. Vasquez and Mr. Barajas
• Boys and Girls Volleyball, November 15th-17th, Coaches: Coach Mo and Coach Leonard

Good luck Eagles!

 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. 

Please join us for Family Conferences October 3rd-7th. This is a great time to meet with teachers to talk about how your student is doing in school and/or ask questions about the class or your child's progress. If you have not scheduled a time to meet with your student's teachers, please contact the school office. We look forward to seeing families on our campus!

There is no school on October 10th-14th for Fall Break. The office will be closed during this time. The office will reopen when school resumes on Monday, October 17th. Enjoy your time with friends and family! 

Please join us on October 21st from 4:30pm-6:30pm for our Fall Festival! This event will have game booths, vendors, food trucks, performances, and a carved/decorated pumpkin contest! This event is open to all DMS students, friends, and families! Can't wait to see you there!

Each month, our Sunshine Committee recognizes outstanding teachers and staff members who are making a positive impact at DMS. September's certified winners are Spanish Teacher, Mrs. Gutierrez and Science Teacher, Ms. Martinez, respectively. 

It’s Fall picture time at Dysart Middle School! Grads Photography will be on campus Thursday, September 15th for individual and fall team sports photos. Please make sure that your child is dressed and ready for this memory-making  opportunity. Pictures can be purchased online after September 15th. If you have any questions, please call Grads Photography at 623.580.4723. We look forward to seeing those smiling faces!

Please remember to update the Annual Student Update on the parent portal. Without this update we cannot administer any medications, Vaseline, bug bite cream, or other over-the-counter medications. This is also important as we want to have up-to-date medical information and contact information on your student in the event of an emergency. You can complete the Annual Student Update by accessing the Parent Portal via Dysart.org or through the parent portal app.

You will see a new face amongst students and staff! Officer Clay with the El Mirage Police Department will now be a daily fixture on our campus as a Student Resource Officer (SRO). Officer Clay's main role is to form positive relationships with the students. He will also be an educational source to students and be present for any safety issues. We hope having an SRO will also help to reduce inappropriate student behaviors, develop a positive relationship between youth and law enforcement, and promote positive attitudes regarding the role of police in society. Share a wave and a smile the next time you see Officer Clay! 

• 5th Grade Supply List
• 6th Grade Supply List
• 7th Grade Supply List
• 8th Grade Supply List

Join us Monday, August 1st from 5:30pm-7:00pm to visit the campus and meet teachers and staff. Feel free to park in the front or back parking lots, as both doors will be open for families. We are looking forward to seeing all of our Dysart Eagle students and families!

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 5:30-7pm. 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.