El Mirage News

El Mirage Elementary would like to wish all of our families a safe and happy Holiday Season! The school will be closed from Monday, December 23, 2024 through Monday, January 6, 2025. We look forward to seeing all of our Tigers back at school on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Did you know that you can support Dysart schools and receive a dollar-for-dollar state 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. You do not have to be a parent of a child in a Dysart school to benefit from this law. To learn more about Tax Credit donations please click the link below.

The Arizona Department of Education has awarded El Mirage Elementary School an "A" Rating! Between this, being named an A+ School of Excellence, and a 2023 Model School, we can't think of a better time to be a Tiger! Thanks to our amazing staff, students, and families for making El Mirage Elementary so special. We're accepting open enrollments right now for the next school year, come join our family! www.dysart.org/oe.

Thank you to all of the family and friends who joined us for our annual Thanksgiving Lunch on Tuesday, November 19. We had around 350 guests who came to enjoy a delicious lunch with our students. We appreciate all of the hard work done by Dysart Nutrition, the cafeteria staff, and our school staff. Happy Thanksgiving, Tigers!

The annual Turkey Trot took place on Wednesday, November 13 at El Mirage Elementary School. Students raced for tasty prizes. The top runners in each grade level were awarded turkeys, pies, cookies and Peter Piper gift certificates. Thank you to Ms. Schrader for organizing this fun event once again and thank you to all of the staff members who helped out and donated prizes and to our parent volunteers. Everyone had a great day!

El Mirage Elementary School just had the Color Fun Run put on by Moolah Fundraising. Students raised money for two weeks. On Monday, November 4, they finished the event by being able to run on the field while getting sprayed with color to celebrate their success. The funds that were raised will be used to give back to classrooms and for school beautification.

Once again, El Mirage Elementary has earned an "A" rating from the Arizona Department of Education. Our students and staff have been working hard and having fun. Way to go Tigers! Please click the link below to see more pictures from our recent Tiger Pride Assembly.

The Dysart community is scheduled to pay off the voter-approved 2006 bond in fiscal year 2028. If approved, the proposed 2024 bond would phase in over three years, so there is no expected tax rate increase associated with the proposed bond. The bond tax rate would actually drop to approximately half of the current rate beginning in 2029 due to the 2006 bond phasing out. 

The community is invited to learn more about the 2024 Dysart bond at Dysart.org/Bond2024, as well as detailed information on Dysart’s budgets and annual financial reports at Dysart.org/Budget.

Note: Tax rates are an estimate and are influenced by a variety of factors including Maricopa County assessed valuation fluctuations. The tax rates listed here are based on a revised estimate in July 2024.

Students and staff are having lots of fun at El Mirage this year. We have a Volleyball Club for our 3rd and 4th graders, which is led by our HSA Julie Black. Students are learning the basics of volleyball, getting in shape, and having fun. In addition, we have a staff team that competes against other staff teams in the district. Our team members have enjoyed bonding with each other during the season and improving their volleyball skills.

The Dysart Governing Board called for the November 5, 2024 bond election at the March 14 board meeting after a unanimous community committee recommendation. The bond program would be $127 million to fund safety and security improvements, school bus replacements, facility renovations at each site, construction of a new elementary school and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area. 

Based on the estimated average assessed home value within our district of $197,830, the average homeowner would pay $5.94 per month, for a total of $71.22 estimated per year.

The Dysart community is scheduled to pay off the voter-approved 2006 bond in fiscal year 2028. If approved, the proposed 2024 bond would phase in over three years, so there is no expected tax rate increase associated with the proposed bond. The bond tax rate would actually drop to approximately half of the current rate beginning in 2029 due to the 2006 bond phasing out.

The community is invited to learn more about the 2024 Dysart bond at Dysart.org/Bond2024, as well as detailed information on Dysart’s budgets and annual financial reports at Dysart.org/Budget.

Note: Tax rates are an estimate and are influenced by a variety of factors including Maricopa County assessed valuation fluctuations. The tax rates listed here are based on a revised estimate in July 2024.

On Wednesday, October 9, we had the Annual El Mirage Family BBQ. Family members joined their students for a BBQ lunch consisting of hamburgers and hotdogs. Thank you to Dysart Nutrition for preparing all of the delicious food. We are so grateful to all of our El Mirage families who were able to join us for this fun day.

Based on the estimated average assessed home value within our district of $197,830, the average homeowner would pay $5.94 per month, for a total of $71.22 estimated per year.

The Dysart community is scheduled to pay off the voter-approved 2006 bond in fiscal year 2028. If approved, the proposed 2024 bond would phase in over three years, so there is no expected tax rate increase associated with the proposed bond. The bond tax rate would actually drop to approximately half of the current rate beginning in 2029 due to the 2006 bond phasing out. Learn more at Dysart.org/Bond2024

Note: Tax rates are an estimate and are influenced by a variety of factors including Maricopa County assessed valuation fluctuations. The tax rates listed here are based on a revised estimate in July 2024.

• October 7 - Last day to register to vote 
• October 9 - Early voting begins 
• October 25 - Deadline to request vote by mail 
• November 5 - Election Day

About the Bond

Dysart Schools has a $127 million bond initiative on the ballot to fund safety and security improvements, school bus replacements, facility renovations at each site, construction of a new elementary school and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area. 

Based on the estimated average assessed home value within our district of $197,830, the average homeowner would pay $5.94 per month, for a total of $71.22 estimated per year. 

The Dysart community is scheduled to pay off the voter-approved 2006 bond in fiscal year 2028. If approved, the proposed 2024 bond would phase in over three years, so there is no expected tax rate increase associated with the proposed bond. The bond tax rate would actually drop to approximately half of the current rate beginning in 2029 due to the 2006 bond phasing out. Learn more at Dysart.org/Bond2024 

Note: Tax rates are an estimate and are influenced by a variety of factors including Maricopa County assessed valuation fluctuations. The tax rates listed here are based on a revised estimate in July 2024.

Thank you to all of our Tiger families who came out for Family Math Night on September 26. Lots of fun was had by everyone. There were Math games, prizes, and lots of smiles. We love seeing our families having fun and learning together.

• School safety improvements 
• Replace Aging AC units 
• Roof Sealing and Repairs 
• Replace school buses over 15 years old 
• Construction of a new elementary school and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area 
• Facility renovations at each site 

If approved, the bond tax rate would drop to approximately half of the current rate beginning in 2029 due to the 2006 bond phasing out. Based on the estimated average assessed home value within our district of $197,830, the average homeowner would pay $5.94 per month, for a total of $71.22 estimated per year.  

Learn more at Dysart.org/Bond2024

Don't forget to RSVP for the El Mirage Family BBQ. It will take place on October 9 during your student's lunch time. You can RSVP through Parent Square by September 27. The cost is $4 per person (not including the student). We'd love for our Tiger families to join us.

The meeting is an opportunity for the community to learn facts and get questions answered about the November 5, 2024 Dysart bond election, which would include the construction of a new elementary school and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area, if it is approved. There will be a brief presentation of factual information relating to the bond by Dysart representatives, and then an opportunity for attendees to ask any questions they may have.  

 If you are unable to attend this meeting, additional meeting opportunities are available: 

•  Tuesday, September 24, 10:00am* - Hosted by City of Surprise District 2 at Grand Agua Fria Room (Sun City Grand), 17100 W. Clearview Blvd., Surprise AZ 85387 
•  Wednesday, September 25, 6:00pm*- Hosted by City of Surprise District 2 at Cimarron Springs Middle School, Media Center, 17032 W. Surprise Farms Loop S, Surprise, AZ 85388 
•  Friday, September 27, 10:00am* - Hosted by City of Surprise District 2 at AZ Traditions Ballroom, 17225 N. Citrus Rd., Surprise AZ 85374 
•  Monday, October 7, 10:00am - Hosted by PORA in the PORA Conference Room at 13815 W. Camino Del Sol, Sun City West, AZ 85375

The community is invited to learn more about the 2024 Dysart bond at Dysart.org/Bond2024, as well as detailed information on Dysart’s budgets and annual financial reports at Dysart.org/Budget.

We hope you are able to attend to learn more and get your questions answered.

*Please note that some meetings are combined with city council district meetings, so there may be items on the agenda prior to the start of the Dysart Bond Information Meeting.

Family Bingo Night was a big success on September 19. Preschool through 1st grade families joined us in the El Mirage cafeteria for a night of fun. Thank you to the Dysart Community Coalition for hosting the event and to all of the teachers and staff who helped out.

Congratulations to the students from Ms. Johannes's 4th grade class who leveled out in Xtra Math and got to enjoy ice cream students. Three students also excelled in IXL Math. Way to go Tigers!

This week we had our first Spirit Week of the school year. Monday was the "Crazy Sock Showdown". Tuesday ushered in the "Messy Hair. Don't Care." Wednesday roared with "Tiger Vibes" Tigers wore there orange and black. Thursday was "Brainy Hats Day". Friday beckoned the "Pajama Party". Thank to all of our Tiger students and staff who participated.

Congratulations to Ms. Ayala's kindergarten class. Ms. Ayala said, "We filled up our classroom Pom Pom jar for the first time and earned a donut party." The class gets to put a pom pom in the jar when Ms. Ayala sees them exhibiting positive behaviors. Way to Go, Tigers!

Ms. Rogers' first graders started off the school year with some awesome math centers. We love to see our Tigers having fun while learning. We can't wait to see them grow this year.

We welcomed our Tigers back to school on August 1, 2024. It was so exciting to see all of our amazing students again. We are looking forward to a great 2024/2025 school year. Tigers ROAR!

All of our students at El Mirage Elementary will be receiving free breakfast and lunch this school year. This is a great benefit to our students. Please remember it is still very important for all of our families to complete the alternate income survey. You can submit an alternate income survey at www.schoolcafe.com to take advantage of additional benefits.

The first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year is Thursday, August 1. We can't wait to see all of our students back on campus. This is going to be an amazing year!

Monday School Hours

• Gates open at 8:40 am.
• School begins at 9:00 am.
• School ends at 1:45 pm.

Tuesday - Friday School Hours

• Gates open at 8:40 am.
• School begins at 9:00 am.
• School ends at 3:45 pm.

Dysart Unified School District will host the annual Summer Feeding Program with free breakfast and lunch for children ages 18 and under from June 3 through June 27. Breakfast and lunch will be served Monday through Thursday at El Mirage Elementary School, which is located at 13500 N El Mirage Rd, El Mirage, AZ. Breakfast will be served from 8:00am through 9:00am and lunch will be served from 11:30am through 12:30pm. Per federal regualtions, all meals must be consumed on site in the cafeteria. Meals for adults over the age of 18 are $1.75 for breakfast and $3.50 for lunch.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Future Kindergarteners, please join us July 22 through July 25 from 8am to 11am for Kindergarten Experience. Your child will explore reading and math instruction while learning routines, procedures, and expectations needed for making friends and having a successful school experience. This will help with their transition into school and ease their anxiety as they begin a new schoo year! To register call 623-876-7200.

• Kindergarten Supply List
• 1st Grade Supply List
• 2nd Grade Supply List
• 3rd Grade Supply List
• 4th Grade Supply List

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

The summer office hours for El Mirage Elementary are listed below.

May 28 - June 3

8:00am to 4:30pm

June 4 - June 27

7:45am to 11:15am for Summer School

July 10 - July 31

8:00am to 4:30pm

August 1

First day of school.

The office will be closed on Fridays from May 31 to July 19. To register your student please go to Dysart.org/enroll. Beginning Tuesday, June 4 through Wednesday, July 3 call 623-876-7151 for assistance with registrations.

Please join us for Meet the Teacher Night on July 30, 2024, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Students and parents will be able to see the campus, meet their teachers and re-connect with friends and classmates. We can't wait to see you there.

Tiger Field Day was on April 25. It was a huge success. Students participated in a variety of activities outside, including some awesome water games. Everyone had a great time. Thank you to Ms.Schrader for organizing the event again this year and to all of the staff members who helped out. It was a great way to finish the year. Tigers ROAR!

Happy School Lunch Hero Day to our amazing cafeteria staff. We appreciate everything they do for our students everyday.

This week our fourth graders went to the Arizona Science Center and our third graders went to the Musical Instrument Museum. Everyone had a great time exploring and learning new things about science and music. Thank you to all of the teachers and chaperones for making sure everyone had fun and stayed safe.

The Tiger Family would like to thank our amazing volunteers who donate their time to helping the students and staff at El Mirage Elementary School. We greatly appreciate their dedication to helping us grow and learn. They are a huge part of our success. On Friday, April 19 we honored them with our annual volunteer breakfast. Thank you to Susan Fernald, Alexia Vargas, Richard Green, Mallorie Green, Pat Zajac, Diane Palucha and Nancy Wendel. We are so happy to have you as part of our family.

The STEM Club at El Mirage meets twice a week under the direction of Mr. Ryan Whittemore. Club members experiment and play with different design and engineering ideas. The club recently participated in the district-wide STEM competition. They competed in the 3rd through 5th grade category, and they participated in the popsicle bridge competition.

On April 4, our first grade Tigers went to the Wildlife World Zoo for their field trip. They had a great time learning about animals and their habitats. Thank you to the all of the parents who went as chaperones. They had a great time!

AASA Testing for 3rd and 4th grade will begin on April 3 and continue through April 18. 

Please make sure your student is at school on time and ready to work. We are so proud of our Tigers. They have been working hard all year. 

• Writing will be on April 3
• ORF will be on April 4 for 3rd grade only.
• Reading Part 1 will be on April 9.
• Reading Part 2 will be on April 11
• Math Part 1 will be on April 16
• Math Part 2 will be on April 18.

We are excited to announce that our Dysart Heroes for the 2023/2024 school year are our Social Worker, Kaytlin Wagner and our School Aide, Laura Jacobo. The Dysart Hero Awards are presented to staff who have made positive contributions to the Dysart Unified School District. Heroes are nominated by their peers and will receive awards at a ceremony in the Spring. Mrs. Wagner and Mrs. Jacobo have made many positive contributions to El Mirage Elementary School, and we are so grateful to have them as part of our Tiger family.

February 26 through March 1 was Read Across America Week. At El Mirage Elementary we celebrated with spirit days such as Crazy Hair Day, Pajama Day, Favorite Character Day, and Tiger Spirit Day. There were guest readers every day. We also had an awesome book fair. Our first graders also celebrated with Green Eggs and Ham. Thank you to all of our students, staff, and community members for participating.

To celebrate Read Across America Week, our annual Read-a-thon donation drive kicks off today!!! Over the next two weeks, our students will be reading a TON and having a blast! 

We are excited to announce that our school will be reapplying for the 21st Century grant. We currently are in year five of the grant and are hoping to renew for five more years to continue to fund our before and after school academic enrichment program.

Our Tigers who scored "Proficient" or "Highly Proficient" on their Reading and Math Benchmark tests were given super cool Tiger Medals. We are so proud of them! Tigers ROAR!

On February 15 the Arizona Sustainability Alliance in partnership with Microsoft planted 57 trees on our campus. Students received environmental lessons that tied into our science curriculum. The trees will provide shade during the hot months allowing our students to play outside, in line with our Health and Wellness signature program. We were able to replace some trees that have been lost on our campus over the years. These trees are a big improvement to our campus.  Thank you to the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, Microsoft, the El Mirage City Council and El Mirage Fire and Police for volunteering their time. We would also like to thank the ASU Walter Cronkite School for doing interviews and promoting the event and the Dysart Unified School District Cabinet and Governing Board for their support.

El Mirage Elementary would like to thank Jersey Mike's and the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters for visiting us on Tuesday, February 6. Jersey Mike's provided 500 sub sandwiches for students and staff. Our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders were treated to an amazing assembly by three of the Harlem Globetrotters. Our very own social worker, Kaitlyn Wagner, received the Great Assist Award in recognition of all she does for the students and staff here at El Mirage Elementary School. Thank you for an amazing day!

January was great! But we think February will be even better. Check out what's going on at El Mirage Elementary during the month of February.

• February 2 is Spring Picture Day
• February 6 the Harlem Globetrotters will be visiting. Tigers will join the Harlem Globetrotters in celebrating the Great Assist brought to you by Jersey Mike's subs as the presenting sponsor of the Harlem Globetrotters 2024 World Tour.
• February 8 and 9 Early Release for Parent/Teacher Conferences
• February 15 is Valentine Movie Night sponsored by Sundown and Stu Co (space is limited, reservations required)
• February 19 there is no school for President's Day
• February 22 is Bus Driver Appreciation Day
• February 23 is Pajama Reading Day
• February 26 - March 1 is the Scholastic Book Fair.
• February 27 we will have a BMX Assembly
• February 29 is Literacy Night from 5:00pm to 6:30pm

January 23 was the 100th day of school! El Mirage Tigers celebrated with a spirit week. 

• Monday was Decades Day! We dressed like we lived in the 70's and 80's.
• On Tuesday we dressed like we were 100 years old.
• Wednesday we wore our orange and black to show our Tiger Pride.
• On Thursday we wore 100 items.
• Friday was pajama day.

Thank you to all of our students and staff who helped us celebrate 100 days of school.

The 100th Day of School is Tuesday, January 23. Check out other events taking place during the month of January.

• January 15 - No School - Martin Luther King Day
• January 22 - January 26 - STUCO Spirit Week
• January 23 - 100th Day of School
• January 25 - Peter Piper Pizza Night, 12851 W Bell Rd, Surprise - 4:00pm to 8:00pm 
• January 26 - Pajama Reading Day
• January 29 - No Preschool
• January 31 - Site Council Meeting, El Mirage Elementary Library - 4:00 - 4:30

The Annual Color Run fundraiser took place at El Mirage Elementary from October 23 to November 7. Our top ten earners were awarded with a trip to Uptown Alley on December 8. Everyone had a great time.

Our Tiger Cheerleaders marched in the El Mirage Christmas Parade on December 8. They looked great and made us proud. Thank you to the coaches Ms. Kronstedt and Ms. Serafin.

Principal Rick Haney and Assistant Principal Amy Crow recognized top Benchmark performers last week. Students were given some awesome medals and some cool Tiger swag as a reward. We appreciate all of our Tigers working hard in the classroom and on their Benchmark tests.

El Mirage Elementary School was invited along with other El Mirage schools to the City's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall. Community members were able to see some of our amazing student's art work on display. Thank you to our art teacher, Mrs. Johnson, and all of our wonderful Tiger artists.

On Tuesday, November 14, El Mirage Elementary had our annual Thanksgiving lunch. It was so good to see families on campus again. We appreciate everyone who came out to enjoy lunch with us. Thank you to our amazing cafeteria staff and Dysart Nutrition Services for preparing and serving the meal. It was a big success!

Our school Fun Run Fundraiser ended on November 7, 2023. We were able to raise $12,402. Of that amount our school will be earning $6,321 to use towards school improvement projects. Our top grade level was Kindergarten followed closely by Preschool. Our top 10 student earners will be going to Uptown Alley with our administrators as their incentive!

The Tiger Cross Country Team is off to a great start. Coach Vickie Nolasco Lozano said the runners are pushing themselves to do their very best. At the meet on October 20, Ezekiel Torres won a 1st place medal. Congratulations to Ezekiel, Coach Vickie, and all of our Tiger runners!

The Sun City Elks came out on October 19 to deliver the gift of literacy to all of our 3rd graders. These dictionaries are personalized for each student. We practiced using them by discussing the word Benevolent, which is the key word for the Sun City Order of the Elks. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks.)

It was such an amazing morning on October 19! City of El Mirage Mayor Hermosillo, El Mirage Police Department, El Mirage Fire Department, and El Mirage City Court joined us on a walk to El Mirage Elementary School for the Safe Routes Walk to School Day. A huge thank you to all who joined us in promoting safety for our students and families. 

Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Rosas are inviting students to join the Kindness Crew. The Kindness Crew will spread acts of kindness around our school and our community. Students can talk to their teachers to get more information about how to join the Kindness Crew.

The Fiesta Bowl team along with their mascot Spirit paid a visit to Mrs. Reagan's classroom. They were promoting their new book Shine Bright Spirit and wrapping up their Wishes For Teachers campaign. The team brought activities to play with the students.

The week of September 25 to September 29 we are celebrating National School Attendance Month with a Spirit Week. We will be competing against Countryside Elementary this week to see which school has the best attendance. Today was Tiger Pride Day. Students and staff wore orange and black to show their Tiger Pride. When you miss school, you miss out!

• Monday is Tiger Pride Day
• Tuesday is Neon Day. Wear bright colors
• Wednesday is Wacky Tacky Day. Wear mismatched clothing.
• Thursday is Crazy Hair. Wear your hair in a crazy way.
• Friday is PJ Day. Wear your pajamas.

Judge Parascandola from El Mirage and his brother Judge Parascandola from Phoenix came out to celebrate Constitution Day with an assembly for our 4th graders. They did a presentation about our judicial system.

Thank you to all of our Tiger families who came out for Math Game Night on September 9. Students and their families had a great time learning and playing games with math. Our teachers worked hard to provide fun opportunities for our Tigers to use the math skills that they have learned in school. Math is Fun!

Congratulations to Mrs. Cherwinski's 2nd grade class and Mrs. Partridge's kindergarten class for winning the attendance competition at El Mirage for the month August. 

September is National School Attendance Month, and we're asking you to partner with us to prioritize daily school attendance for your students this month and throughout the school year. Academic achievement begins with attendance, so students need to be in class, on time, on task and ready to learn every day!

Tigers who exhibit great character and attendance can earn a family 4 pack to an upcoming ASU football game on September 16.

When you miss school, you miss out!

El Mirage has had some big changes this year. Mr. Rick Haney has moved into the position of Interim Principal. We would like to welcome Amy Crow as our Teacher on Special Assignment who will be acting as our Interim Assistant Principal. Please watch the attached video to learn a little more about Ms. Crow.

Teachers at El Mirage are always coming up with creative ways to help our Tigers learn their math facts. Check out these pictures of Tigers having fun with math. Please join us for Math Game Night on Thursday, September 7, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.

On August 10, we said goodbye to our principal, Stephanie Davis. She led us for 6 years, and in that time we accomplished great things. We are grateful for her commitment to our community, students, and staff. We celebrated her by having the whole school walk by her office. Many hugs, high fives, posters, and cards were given. Thank you, Ms. Davis, for all you have done. We look forward to seeing what your what you will accomplish in your next adventure. Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger.

We have had a great start to the 2023/2024 school year. It's great to see all of our Tiger's smiling facing back on campus. We are looking forward to another amazing school year.

Thank you to all of the parents and students who attended Meet the Teacher Night on August 1, 2023. It was a big success. Students received school supplies and were able to visit their classrooms and meet their teachers.

Our teachers are busy preparing their classrooms and schools for the first day on August 3. We just love all of the decorations our teachers use to create an inviting atmosphere for our students. Ms. Martinez, a new El Mirage Elementary School teacher and a Dysart alum, chose a space theme for her classroom. Ms. Carpenter has a wall of fame in her classroom, displaying all of the creative artwork, handwritten notes, and crafts she's received from her students over the past years. We can't wait to see our classrooms filled with students on August 3rd.

Kindergarten Experience took place July 17 through July 20. Our incoming kindergarteners explored reading and math while learning routines, procedures and expectations. This will help with their transition into school and ease their anxiety as they begin the new school year. Best of all they were able to meet their teachers and make new friends. Thank you to all of our students and teachers who participated.

• From June 5 through June 29 the office will be open from 8:00am to 12:00pm for Summer School.
• The office will be closed from June 30 through July 9.
• From July 10 through August 2 the office  will be open from 8:00am to 4:30 pm.
• The office will be closed on Fridays from June 2 through July 21.
• To register your student during summer break please go to Dysart.org/enroll. Call 623-876-7151 for assistance.

The new school year will be here before you know it. Click the link below to see the school supply lists for the 2023/2024 school year.

Please join us for Kindergarten Experience at El Mirage Elementary School. Your child will explore reading and math instruction while learning routines, procedures, and expectations needed for making friends and having a successful school experience. This will help with their transition into school and ease their anxiety as they begin a new school year. Kindergarten Experience will be July 17 through July 20, 2023 from 8am to 11am. The program will begin promptly at 8:00am. Please provide a snack and a water bottle for your child. Call 623-876-7220 or stop by the El Mirage Elementary School office to register if you have not already done so. Enrollment will not be accepted after July 13. We look forward to seeing your kindergartener there.

Please join us for Meet the Teacher Night at El Mirage Elementary School on Tuesday, August 1. This is great opportunity for students and parents to meet their teachers and see their new classrooms. We look forward to seeing you there!

The first day of school will be August 3, 2023. We can't wait to see all of our Tigers back on campus!

On Monday, May 22, our Tigers celebrated the end of a great school year during the final Tiger Pride Assembly. Thank you to all of our Tigers for making this an amazing year! We are proud of all of their accomplishments!

Congratulations to our Tiger Kindergarteners! They will be moving up to First Grade next year. On May18 and 19, they celebrated all of the amazing things they accomplished this year. Parents and family members enjoyed a slideshow and songs performed by the students. Thank you to the Kindergarten teachers for all of your hard work this year.

El Mirage Elementary School has been named an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF).  The A+ School of Excellence is a comprehensive school assessment program that celebrates outstanding schools and helps to identify, celebrate, and recognize educational excellence in PreK-12th grade schools throughout Arizona. AEF named thirty-six Arizona schools as 2022-2023 A+ Schools of Excellence.

Our "Early Risers" in fourth grade came to school early for several weeks to put in extra work before state testing. As a reward, they went to Uptown Alley. They all had a blast!

Congratulations to our Math Challenge Team! They won first place in the 3rd and 4th grade division at the District Math Challenge. Team member participated in a speed round, and two rounds that were focused on problem solving. The purpose of the event was to entice, engage and challenge students to solve math problems. Teams had to work together to strategize and complete the problems to the best of their ability. We are so proud of our Tigers!

Mark Maddox, the founder and executive director of He1p Foundation and former NFL player, donated 300 books to our second grade students. Every second grader received 2 books. They were so excited! Thank you Mr. Maddox!

On April 19, our third graders visited the Musical Instrument Museum. The MIM is the largest museum of its type in the world. They have a collection of over 15,000 musical instruments.

Second graders at El Mirage Elementary learned a dance called "Los Machetes". Music teacher, Emily Wilson, said It is a popular folk dance from the Jalisco region of Mexico. The dance tells the story of cutting down sugar cane during the harvest. It was created by Mexican farm workers who spent a great amount of time perfecting the use of the machete for harvesting. This song is a way for students to explore, discover and have awareness for various uses of music in their daily life, as well as explore different cultures and their traditions. In addition, students were learning how to interpret different challenges of the music, rehearse and perform.

El Mirage Elementary was congratulated for being recognized as a "Model School" and an "A+ School" at the Dysart Unified School District Governing Board on March 30th.

On Monday, March 27, we had our Tiger Pride Assembly for the third quarter. Congratulations to all of our Tigers for working hard!

Congratulations to our 2023 Dysart Heroes Stephanie Davis, Ben Bojorquez and Marissa Barber! Thank you for all you do for our students. We are proud of you!

In partnership with the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage, students across the Dysart Unified School District were invited to participate in the My El Mirage and My Surprise Essay Contests in November of 2022.  Prompts were developed in partnership with each city to elicit responses that spoke about each city’s mission or vision.  

More than 200 students in grades 3-12 submitted their essays with schools choosing the top 128 district-wide.  The writings were evaluated based on understanding of city services/amenities, creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and proper grammar.

Winners from Surprise were selected in specific grade bands and were honored March 7 at the Surprise City Council meeting including: Cadence Fumia and Rose Vasquez from Countryside Elementary in the grade 3-4 division, Tatianna Pellegrino from Freedom Traditional School for 5-8th grade and Kaleb Delgado from Shadow Ridge High School who won for the high school division.  

Excerpts included below.

Cadence Fumia encourages people to live in Surprise: “My name is Cadence and I live in Surprise, Arizona. If you don’t, what the heck are you waiting for?”

Rose Vasquez expresses how she feels living in Surprise: “I am really happy I moved here because I have my family, a great school that I really like. I have some new friends, and it’s really clean, safe, and friendly.”

Tatianna Pellegrino shares this insight about Surprise: “Danish architect and urban design consultant, Jan Gehl once said, ‘A good city is like a good party–you stay for longer than you plan.’ Surprise isn’t just a good party; it's a great party.”  

Kaleb Delgado says: “[Surprise] carries nothing by surprises, and as a resident here, I am proud to be in such a beautiful community.” 

The City of El Mirage structured their essay winners a bit differently and awarded the top three students in grade 3-8: Esmeralda Olvera Martinez; 1st place, Lejla Tvrtkovic; 2nd place, and Kaleb Rodriquez; third place all from El Mirage Elementary School. High school recognitions include Nathaniel Cosio, and Andre Mena, both 11th grade students at Valley Vista High School.

The five students and their families were invited to attend the City of El Mirage Council meeting on March 7.  The students were recognized and received ribbons and certificates.

Esmeralda Olvera Martinez shares her reasons for loving her city: “So, do you want to know why El Mirage is special? Well, I’ll tell you. You’re going to love it.” She goes on to describe the schools, library, and festivals in El Mirage. 

Nathaniel Cosio shares the value of community: “In the El Mirage community, I feel like everyone knows each other and have fun just getting to live in the city.”

Student winners from both categories were recognized at the Dysart Unified School District Governing Board meeting on March 9th, 2023.

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leaders.

“It has been such a rewarding experience to partner with both the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage to honor our scholars and writers,” shared Edgerton. “The essays submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

February 27 through March 3 was Read Across America week. At El Mirage Elementary we celebrated with spirit days, guest readers, and Family Literacy Night. Thank you to all of the special guests that came out and read to our Tigers!

Assistant Superintendents, Dr. Isiai and Dr. Croteau, visited a kindergarten math class on February 27.

El Mirage Elementary School is one of three Dysart schools that has been named A+ Schools of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF).  The A+ School of Excellence is a comprehensive school assessment program that celebrates outstanding schools and helps to identify, celebrate, and recognize educational excellence in PreK-12th grade schools throughout Arizona. AEF named thirty-six Arizona schools as 2022-2023 A+ Schools of Excellence. 

“In Dysart we strive to compete at the highest level, and I could not be more proud of these schools for this outstanding accomplishment,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Dean.  “Canyon Ridge, El Mirage Elementary, and Willow Canyon are clearly doing great things, which is reflective of the hard work that our staff does each and every day.”  

“The A+ School of Excellence Award is significant as it sends a message throughout communities that the local neighborhood public school down the street is an exceptional choice, brimming with opportunities for students to learn and grow, and for faculty and staff to thrive,” stated Kim Graham, AEF® Executive Director. “AEF was established to shine a spotlight on the great work of public schools and the hardworking educators and employees who devote themselves to serving students and families. The A+ School of Excellence Award is our way of honoring that incredible dedication.” 

A+ School of Excellence recipients are evaluated on many areas, including student focus and support, school culture, active teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership, community and parent involvement and assessment data. Selected schools must demonstrate high student academic achievement or growth over time, participate in site visits by state education leaders, and document in detail the school’s leadership and commitment to excellence, equity, and service. The application process is collaborative, and involves all stakeholders - students, staff, and the community. Winning schools receive $500 and a banner designating them as an A+ School of Excellence winner.

The Student Council at Sundown Mountain Alternative Program started a mentorship program with El Mirage Elementary School. This program provides the opportunity for Sundown Mountain students to develop their leadership skills, all while building positive relationships, encouraging, and bonding with EMES students.

On January 23 our Tigers were rewarded for all of there hard work at the PBIS/ Health and Wellness assembly. Congratulations to everyone! Way to go, Tigers!

El Mirage Elementary principal, Stephanie Davis, is applying to speak at the annual Model Schools Conference in Orlando, Florida. She is proud to be a Tiger and would like to share some of the many strategies that El Mirage has used with other instructional leaders.  

Monday January 23 was the 100th Day of School! Students and staff celebrated by dressing up as 100 year olds. They also participated in all kinds of math activities dealing with the number 100.

El Mirage Elementary School will be  participating in The Arizona Diamondback "Attendance Matters" rewards for  students program. Tigers who have 95% or better attendance for the months of February and March will earn a complimentary ticket to a variety of games from April to July! When you miss school you miss out!

The El Mirage Cross Country Team continues to improve every meet. Our Tiger runners are having a great season thanks to Coach Victoria Nolasco Lozano!

Some of our Tigers were treated with an extra special visit from Santa Claus today. They were so excited to see him. Thank you to Santa and his helpers!

The Surprise Firefighters Charities held their annual Aisles of Smiles event. Some of our El Mirage Tigers were chosen to go shopping with a firefighter. Thank you to the Surprise Fire-Medical Department for their generosity and support of our students and community this holiday season.

El Mirage Tigers participated in their first Cross Country meet on Saturday, December 3. Congratulations to 4th grader Yamileth Espinosa who received a medal for second place! The whole team and Coach Vickie Nolasco-Lozano did a great job. Way to go, Tigers!

Tuesday, November 29 was "Dress Like Your Future Career Day". We had future firemen, policemen, teachers, businessmen and women, and many more.

On November 10 two Army nurses and a Marine talked to our fourth grade Tigers about different jobs you can have in the military and about their own experiences in the military. We want to thank them for their service and for taking the time to share with our students.

On October 27 our first grade Tigers took a field trip across the street to the El Mirage Fire Station and the El Mirage Library. Thank you to the Firefighters and Librarians for letting us visit.

El Mirage Elementary School is excited to announce that we have received an A-rating from the newly-released 2022 State of Arizona accountability labels. This letter grade provides us a glimpse into many areas of proficiency and growth for our school, including information about student achievement, college and career readiness, student growth, and other key areas of interest. We appreciate our hardworking students, staff and parents for their contributions in making our school an A-rated school! 

This is the first time the state has issued new labels since 2018-2019, due to House Bill’s 2910 and 2402, which temporarily paused the issuing of A-F letter grades. It is important to note that this year the state used the same cut marks as they did in 2019 for K-8 schools, the last year they issued letter grades. However, this year's K-8 growth score is only based on growth percentile and does not include growth-to-target.

About School Letter Grades: Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-241 requires the Arizona Department of Education, subject to final adoption by the State Board of Education, to develop an annual achievement profile for every public school in the state based on an A through F scale. The system measures year to year student academic growth, proficiency on English language arts, math and science, the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school and that high school students are ready to succeed in a career or higher education and high school graduation rates. 

On October 24, El Mirage Tigers celebrated all of their achievements in our first PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) assembly of the year.

 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. 

The City of El Mirage Fire Department visited classrooms and conducted a fire safety assembly for all our Tigers. Please take a look. 

As part of our Health and Wellness Signature program, EMES participated in the Color Fun Run - Fundraiser. Our students and staff got tons of great exercise, and had a fantastic experience! Plus this was the most successful fundraiser thus far. Here are some of the amazing prizes our students earned: 

• If we reach our goal we will have a school-wide ice cream party!!!! 
  
• The top earners will get to water balloon the Principal and Assistant Principal!
• Mon-star" Wristband & Drawing Entry for Cool Prize!
• Monster Collectible Keychain!
  
• Fidget Mystery Box!
  
• 2 More Monster Keychains!
  
• Plush Monster Hat!
  
•  Monster Slap Cart Fidget Toy!
  
• Official Monster Lanyard!
  

The Dysart Farmer's Market came to our school on September 23. We were able to sample some fresh fruits and veggies like rainbow carrots, kiwi, watermelon radish, snap peas, and cantaloupe.

Mrs. Dayrit's third grade class won the attendance reward for August. They were rewarded with an ice cream party, and they got to throw water balloons at Assistant Principal, Mr. Haney.

The Valley of the Sun YMCA provided a Water Safety Assembly to all of our Tigers on September 13. They learned how to keep themselves and others safe around water. Thank you YMCA!

#SafetyAroundWater #WaterWatcher. valleyymca.org. srpnet.com/safety

Melissa Reagan from El Mirage Elementary had an exciting morning with the help of 3TV, Fiesta Bowl Charities, and Spirit the mascot. She was honored as a Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers grant recipient and received $2500 for her classroom.

Big shout out to Subaru Superstore of Surprise for your @adoptaclassroom donation to our school to help our students succed! #subaruloveslearning #tigerpride.

Subaru of Surprise believes that all students deserve an equal and fair opportunity at a quality education. Through our partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, Subaru and its retailers will have supported more that 300,000 students nationwide and are proud to be their largest corporate supporter.

Our Kindergarteners love it when Mrs. Davis teaches a Kindermusik lesson.  

Here's what's happening at El Mirage Elementary School.

• El Mirage in a Minute - Meet Amy Crow

El Mirage was excited to host four special visitors to our school on August 5: Governing Board President Christine Pritchard, Governing Board Member Traci Sawyer-Sinkbell, Dr. Jim Dean, and Dr. Shelley Isai. Thank you for visiting our classes!

Just a reminder that the universal free meal program that schools have been able to offer the last few years has ended. We ask that all families complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application for this school year, which helps maintain school funding and ensures that qualified families will continue to receive free or reduced priced meals. It is critical that all families complete the application at SchoolCafe.com.  Meals are always available for purchase. Parents can prepay for meals, a la carte or snack items, view their balances, or place restrictions on purchases to their child’s meal account at SchoolCafe.com. When students go through the meal line they simply need to provide their student ID at the register to process the transaction. Additional information on meal services can always be found at Dysart.org/Nutrition.

Our brand new kindergarteners had a blast at Kindergarten Experience July 11-July 13. They were able to see their classrooms, meet some of the teachers, and do a lot of fun activities. We are so excited to see them on August 3.

Remember our Meet the Teacher Night is Monday, August 1 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Meet the Teacher Night is on August 1 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at El Mirage Elementary School. We look forward to seeing you there.

• Kindergarten Supply List
• 1st Grade Supply List
• 2nd Grade Supply List
  
• 3rd Grade Supply List
  
• 4th Grade Supply List
  

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 4:00-6:00pm. 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.

The students at El Mirage Elementary School got a very special visit from the Arizona Cardinals Milk and Cookies Program this week. Big Red, the mascot, got the students energized and ready for reading. Big Red was joined by Cardinals alumni Mark Maddox and cheerleaders Emily and Zaryn who read a selection of books to students.  The students were awarded the special assembly for perfect attendance and leadership skills.  After the reading, students enjoyed a yummy snack of milk and cookies, an Arizona Cardinals backpack, and mini football.

The Cardinals, SRP, and Albertsons-Safeway have teamed up for 19 years on the Milk and Cookies program, which supports and promotes literacy throughout Valley elementary schools.

El Mirage Elementary School hosted athletes from Phoenix Rising soccer for an assembly to kick off their Health and Wellness signature program.

The Tigers welcomed the Phoenix Rising with a roaring clap-out through the halls of the school led by student ambassadors and the El Mirage mascot. Players, Joey Calistri and Ben Spencer and business representative, Kendall Barnes spoke to students about what it takes to be successful in professional sports, setting career goals, and the importance of having a growth mindset.  The athletes participated in a scrimmage game against boys and girls middle school players and demonstrated techniques during a penalty kick contest with students and staff. Students displayed their athletic talents and Principal, Stephanie Scott made an impressive goal.  

This presentation is the first of many opportunities provided through the Health and Wellness signature program. Through health and wellness experiences, college preparation, and physical fitness, students will achieve their full potential and learn life-long skills for success.  The purpose is to teach students about healthy habits, and to help them become well-rounded individuals, with healthy minds and bodies. Students are encouraged to increase physical activity by getting outside and playing, to eat healthy, be confident in their abilities, and not be afraid to fail and try again.