Luke News

Good Luke to our 5th & 8th Grade students who will take the AzSCI (Arizona State Science Test) on March 28th - March 30th.  You got this!

It's hard to believe we are in the 4th Quarter already!  Our students and teachers are working hard during this final stretch - we are so proud of all of the hard work!

Attention current 4th-7th Grade Students,

Today Elective Preference Forms were sent home with you.  You need to complete this and bring it back to your homeroom teacher by Thursday, March 23, 2023.

• 5th Grade Elective Course Catalog
• 6th Grade Elective Course Catalog
• 7th Grade Elective Course Catalog
• 8th Grade Elective Course Catalog

We hope our Luke Jets have a wonderful Spring Break!  Reminder there is no school March 13th - March 17th.  We will see you back on March 20th for Quarter 4.

Our Boys and Girls Basketball kick off their season this month  - we can't wait to cheer you on!!

Luke Elementary will host Kinder Experience for incoming Kindergarteners for the 2023-2024 School Year July 17th - July 20th from 8am to 11am.  Sign your incoming Kindergartener up now.  

Navy and Pacific War Veteran Gil Nadeau visited Luke Elementary today and spoke to our 7th and 8th Graders.  What a memorable experience for our students and staff. 

We had a wonderful 1st Annual Luke Family BBQ and Valentine's Day!!

Miss Grand Canyon, Aly Uhren visited Luke in February for Science Class.  It was a great afternoon of STEM activities with our Kindergarten Jets!

Our Jet Cheerleaders kicked off their season at Luke's first home football game!  They sure have spirit!  Come check them out at all Home Football Games during Season 3!

Our Jets Volleyball Team is having a great start to their season!!  

Several 7th and 8th Graders attended Dysart's Gifted Conference where they explored different concepts with 7th and 8th Graders from across our Dysart.

We are excited to share the February 2023 Luke Parent Newsletter with our families!

Our team is planning an incredible Literacy Night.  Please save the date for Thursday, March 2nd from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

Our Boys Football Team kicks off their season on Tuesday, January 31st - Good Luck Luke Jets!

Luke Girls Volleyball kicks off their season on Monday, January 30th - best of luck Jets, we can't wait to cheer you on!

Please join us on Tuesday, February 14th for a Luke Family BBQ.  Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 31st.  

Lunch Times 

11:00am - 11:20am - 3rd & 4th Grade 

11:40am - 12:00pm - Kindergarten 

12:00pm - 12:20pm - 1st & 2nd Grade 

12:45pm - 1:05pm - 5th & 6th Grade 

1:05pm - 1:25pm - 7th & 8th Grade

Please ensure you have your State/ Government ID and arrive early as IDs will be checked and you will need to purchase your meal.

We will host our annual STEM Night on Thursday, January 26th, starting at 5:30pm.  Come check out all of the amazing STEM opportunities at Luke!

We celebrate our 100th day on January 23rd - it's gone by fast and we only have 80 days left before next year!  Check our Social Media @lukejets for pictures!

Happy New Year Luke Jets!  We are excited to welcome you to 2023!  It's sure to be filled with learning, growing and continuing to become one team with one mission!

Happy New Year!  Please review the January 2023 Luke Letter for updates and upcoming dates.  We look forward to a wonderful Spring of 2023.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Winter Break!  We look forward to seeing our Jets on Thursday, January 5th for 2023!!

Just a friendly reminder we will release at 1:45pm on Monday, December 19th and Tuesday, December 20th.  Winter Break is Wednesday, December 21st - Wednesday, January 4th.  Students return on Thursday, January 5th for 2023!

Our PTSA is hosting a Movie Night on Friday, December 9 at 5:30pm.  Dress warm, bring blankets and enjoy "The Grinch" with your family!

Please join us on Wednesday, December 7th for our Winter 6th-8th Grade Band Concert at Luke Elementary!  We are excited for their performance!

We are excited to share quite a few updates and upcoming events!  Please review the December 2022 Luke Letter.

Thank you for your continued support.  We are so thankful for our Luke Jet Community.  From our amazing PTSA sponsored Glow Run to to visiting for our Thanksgiving Luncheon, our community is the BEST!  

Our Veterans Day Celebration was a success.  We welcomed several service members, our band played incredible songs and we had the honor of listening to Senior Master Sergeant Bradley who spoke of the service of the military.  A big thank you to our military who are currently serving or have serviced.  

Please join us for our 2022 Luke Thanksgivign Luncheon.  Please RSVP by Friday, November 4, 2022.  

Lunch Times 

11:00am - 11:20am - 3rd & 4th Grade 

11:40am - 12:00pm - Kindergarten 

12:00pm - 12:20pm - 1st & 2nd Grade 

12:20pm - 12:40pm - 5th & 6th Grade 

12:45pm - 1:05pm - 7th & 8th Grade

We are excited to share our November 2022 Parent Newsletter with you!  

Luke 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. 

Congrats to all 2022 Luke Spellng Bee Participants!  It was a great event and we are so thankful for our parents who were able to help and support the Bee!  Congrats to Landon in 8th Grade, our Spelling Bee Champion and Luis in 7th Grade, our Runner Up!

We encourage parents to complete and return a Free and Reduced application each year in order to see if your student qualifies. Only one application is required per family. Applications can be completed at School Cafe. We also have paper copies in our front office.  

Sun City Elks Lodge #2559 visited our 3rd Graders and donated Student Dictionaries to each student. We are so thankful for their partnership and support!

 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. 

Each month, teachers recognize students who are showing SOAR expectations.  

S - Safety

O - Ownership

A - A+ Attitude

R - Respect

In August, students who showed the expectation of safety were recognized; in September, Ownership.  Over Fall Break, we put up our SOAR Student of the Month Wall to share the students success.  Each month, the certificates change and new students are recognized.  We are so proud of their work!  

Last week, our PTSA hosted a Boo Bash at Peter Piper Pizza.  This week, we have our first Spirit Week!  

Monday - Happiness Day - Wear a shirt that mkes yourself or others happy

Tuesday - Team Spirit Day - Wear yoru favorite sports shirt, your team or college or Team Jets

Wednesday - Post-It Day - Grab a post-it and wirte a postive message to leave around school

Thursday - Twin/Triplet Day - Come dressed like a friend or two

Friday - Minions Day - Come derssed in yoru LUke Jet Blue and Yellow

On Monday, October 31, Student Council is sponsoring a dress up day!  Bring $1 to wear your favorite school safe costume (No blood, masks or weapons)

Volunteers from Luke Air Force Base Military Family Readiness Center spent the morning organizing books in our Media Cener last week.  The group sorted hundreds of books, and we would like to thank them for their support!  

Fall Break is October 10th - October 14th, School Resumes at 9:00am on Monday, October 17th.

We are so proud of our September Students of the Month who showed Ownership!  Ownership is one of our schoolwide SOAR expectations.  Great job Jets!

With one full week before Fall Break, we are excited to share the October 2022 Luke Letter.  Please read through as there are a lot of great family events coming up!!  Just a reminder we release at 1:45pm on Monday 10/3, Thursday, 10/6 and Frisday 10/7.  

This week our 3rd-8th Grade Students will take the ELA Benchmark on Tuesday, September 27th and the Math Benchmark on Thursday, September 29th.  It's important to get a good night of rest the night before testing, eat a healthy breakfast and be on time.  Show your work and all that you have learned this quarter.  Good luck Jets!

Fall Pictures at Luke are Friday, September 23, 2022!  Use the link for easy ordering!

Save the Date - Thursday, September 22nd is our Curriculum Night.  Teachers will be sharing more information about reading, math, science and social studies, and include tips and tricks for helping your child at home!  We will have two sessions, one starting at 5:30pm and the second starting at 6:00pm.  We look forward to seeing you there!

It's hard to believe we are halfway through the 1st Quarter!  It has been incredible to watch our students learn and grow.  We are excited to share the September 2022 Luke Letter with our Families and our Community.  We look forward to continuing strong partnerships!

A big Luke Jet THANK YOU to the husband of the late Junie B. Jones who donated tickets to see the Junie B. Jones performance at Theater Works in Peoria.  A few 3rd graders took our first Field Trip of the Year to see the performance!  

Dear Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Parents and Families,

An important letter regarding Move on When Reading is posted below for your review.  Teachers will review the information with parents on Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.  

2022-2023 Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Move on When Reading Letter

2022-2023 Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Move on When Reading Spanish

Luke Elementary School has partnered with Luke Air Force Base to create pictures, cards and letters to add to care packages that will be sent to Military Men and Women deployed throughout our world.  We love opportunities to create and expand partnerships in our community.  Thank you to our Military Men and Women for their service.  

We are excited to kick off our 2022-2023 Sports Season with Softball and Baseball.  Tryouts for both teams will be held on August 16, 2022 from 4:00pm - 5:00pm.  Mr. Scott will be coaching baseball and Ms. Smith will be coaching softball.  All games are on our Luke Website Calendar.  We look forward to a great season - Let's Go Jets!

Our first week at Luke was an incredible success and ended with many students sporting Luke Jet Spirit Gear.  We love to see all of the BLUE and YELLOW on Fridays.  We would also like to thank our parents for your patience during parent pick up and our incredible PTSA for supporting PBIS with Jet Tags!  We are looking forward to an incredible year!

Luke Elementary is thrilled to welcome back our teachers, students and parents to the 2022-2023 school year.  As we get started, all pictures will be linked to the Welcome Back Gallery.  We look forward to an incredible year as we work toward achieving our goals as one team with one mission!  

Luke Elementary is sharing the Parent Right to Know Letter with our parents and community.  

What an incredible partnership we have with our Department of Defense and Luke Air Force Base.  Teachers from Luke and several other schools spent a day exploring STEM, learning strategies to deepen student understanding and mastery while supporting our students to become future ready.  

Looking for Optional School Supply lists?  We have them all ready for you, check them out here.  We are so excited to see all of our Jets very soon!!  

Luke's "Meet the Teacher Night" is on Monday, August 1st from 5:00pm - 6:30pm.  We look forward to welcoming all of our Jets on campus.  Meet teachers, administration, connect with PTSA and more!  

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 5:00-6:30pm. 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.

Luke Elementary School iExplore Teacher, Christina Tormollan, recently got a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in a Cessna 172Nxi aircraft for a discovery flight with the United States Air Force (USAF) Civil Air Patrol as part of the Aerospace Education Member Program.  

“It allowed me to see my school from a different perspective,” said Tormollan.  “This state is no longer just a desert but rather an oasis of opportunities!”

Tormollan flew with Major Ron Marks, a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol since 1989, who also flies as a professional pilot for FedEx.  They traveled at around 150 miles per hour at an altitude between 1,500 and 3,000 feet above the Northwest Valley.

The purpose of the Aerospace Education Member Program is to provide teachers with these opportunities so they can share it with their students and get them interested in aviation and aerospace.   Luke Elementary School will tie aeronautical opportunities into their iExplore program through a partnership with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the Civil Air Patrol.  They will provide opportunities for students to be involved in drone technology as well as robotics and coding.  Tormollan and Luke Elementary hope these partnerships for the students will help them transition to high school with the district’s Career and Technical Education programs such as Network Technology, Engineering, and Coding.