Grizzly Gazette

Granite Mountain Upper Elementary School

1800 Williamson Valley Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305

Phone: 928-717-3253

Fax: 928-717-3284

prescottschools.com

Hello GMUES Families!

Dresscode Clarity

As the weather warms up, we are seeing an increase in dress code issues. Our dress code policy is added below. Please give it a review. We are trying to be as flexible as possible but we need your help. If your child or you are not quite sure if shorts or shirts are too short, it's probably best to choose something else to wear. Thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please let us know.

Accelerated Math Class Testing is next week:

We are excited to offer the opportunity for 5th and 6th grade students to be considered for the Accelerated Math Program for the 25-26 school year. In order for your child to be considered, they must first complete an assessment to qualify. The assessment will be based on the math standards for the next grade level. For example, if your child is currently in 5th grade, the accelerated math assessment will test their level of understanding on 6th grade math standards. If your child is in 6th grade, their assessment will test their knowledge of the 7th grade math standards.

Note: If your child is already in the 6th grade accelerated math class with Mrs. Kissinger, they will automatically take this assessment with her the week of April 29, no need to fill out this form.

To ensure your child is considered for the Accelerated Math Program, please complete the form below by April 25, 2025. We will begin accelerated math testing the week of April 29, 2025 through May 8, 2025.

https://forms.gle/FsigcafwgSpyL1vo7

Our 5th and final field trip for 5th graders is this week! Then, it's off to camp in a week!

5th Grade Watershed Program Week #5 this week:

• April 24th 9:00-2:00 ~ Littrell/Steinberg and Hendren/Lucas

  April 25th 9:00-2:00 ~ Helmken/Suggs and Worden/Oufnac and Pepe/Dickison

  Airport Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWTP)

  2800 Melville Rd, Prescott, AZ 86301

  …and…

  Watson Woods Riparian Preserve (WWRP)

  1626 Sundog Ranch Rd, Prescott, AZ 8630

• For all other information and items needed for the field trips, check out our website for this program

• https://sites.google.com/prescottschools.com/watershedprogram/home?authuser=0

Have a beautiful week,

Mrs. Hughes,

Principal

Hello 5th Grade Families!

We are SO excited to see your students (and many of you great volunteers!) next week at the James Family 4H Camp on Mingus Mountain. Here are some important reminders and resources:

1. The camp is located in the middle of Prescott National Forest, just off Highway 89 as you head towards Jerome from Prescott. HERE is a map with driving directions.
   
   
2. If you need to contact a student while they are at camp during school hours, please call GMUES (928) 717-3253. If you need to contact a student while they are at camp during out-of-school hours please call myself (507) 649-2164 or Camp Director Margaret Carroll (928) 710-6881.
   
   
3. More information, camp descriptions, and camp rules can be found at the GMUES Watershed Program Website Camp Page and at the U of A 4H Camp Website.
   
   
4. While at camp, all school rules apply. This includes the dress code. Please talk with your student about good behavior expectations & packing appropriate clothes to avoid any unwanted incidents while at camp.
   
   
5. HELP YOUR CHILD BE PREPARED & SUCCEED! Read this document that includes a packing list, meal/food information, and medical information! *We have lots of extra gerar/clothes/toiletries/bags/etc. for any kids that neerd them. They can contact teachers, myself or judy.stencel@prescottschools.com at the Family Resource Center.
   
   
6. If you're curious about the daily schedule/flow of the camp, please check out this simple student camp schedule. This will be included in your student's camp journal along with a camp map and station activity pages to complete throughout their time there.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions/concerns/updates. The best way to contact me currently is through your student's teacher or by texting my cell phone listed in the email signature and on the GMUES Watershed Program website.

Thank you so much!
Happy trails,

Ranger Ellen Bashor, PUSD Outdoor Learning Coordinator

Our next GMUES PTO Meeting will be held on Monday, April 28th at 3:30pm. We will meet in either the school library or the conference room in the office. We will discuss the upcoming 6th grade dance and staff appreciation week. Also, as we begin looking forward to the 2025-2026 school year, we are seeking parents who would like to fill any of our officer positions: president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Ideally, a 6th grade parent would serve as president and an incoming 5th grade parent would serve as vice president and could then step into the president role the following year.

Looking forward to seeing you then!

Jenna James

GMUES PTO

Click the link below for the flyer with all the info!!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MmT9jjKIJ7ckwRoF5-d9sLkovAcS2wIPO5C15Sv9kHo/edit?tab=t.0

The above link has all the information and link to the google form for registration!

• April 23 and 24: 5th grade field trips

• April 28th: 5th grade camp week

• May 5th: PD Day- ½ day for students

• May 5th: BOGO Book Fair all week:

• May 7th: Band and Orchestra Concert @ 5:30pm

• May 8th: Drama Production "Charlie/Chocolate Factory" @ 5:00 p.m.

• May 14th-15th: 6th Grade Plaza Bowl Trip- Time TBD (day based upon homeroom teacher)

• May 14th: Choir Concert @ 6:00pm

• May 15th: 5th Grade Living History Museum @ 4:30pm

• May 16th: 6th Grade Dance @ 12:45pm - 3:00pm

• May 19th: 6th Grade Goldwater Lake Trip- Time TBD

• May 19th: 5th Grade Awards Assembly @ 8:40am

• May 20th: 5th Grade to Goldwater Lake

• May 20th: All 4th graders visit to GMUES @ 9:30am

• May 20th: 6th Grade Awards Assembly @ 1:45pm

• May 22nd: 3v3 Basketball Tournament & Dodgeball Tournament @ 8:30am

• May 22nd: Last day of school- ½ day noon dismissal

Dear Parent:

We are excited to let you know that we will be offering a Vaccines for Children Day

for PUSD students on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025. The Vaccines for Children Program is a

federal program that allows children who are uninsured, on AHCCCS or KidsCare, or who are

Native American or an Alaska Native to receive vaccines at no cost. This service is being

brought to us by Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center's Partners for Healthy

Students Mobile Kids Clinic.

We know that it is difficult to take time off work as well as trying to coordinate health

appointments with busy family schedules. We want to make this very easy for you and your

child to get caught up with their vaccines!

This service is available and an easy way to get your child up to date at no cost.

If you want your child to receive vaccines free of charge on July 29th, please:

● Call (928) 771-5123 to schedule your appointment

● Bring a copy of your child’s immunizations. A parent or legal guardian must

be present at the time of the appointment.

You will be given a copy of the vaccinations your child receives. Please take this to your doctor

to avoid over vaccination. All vaccinations given will be registered with the Arizona State

Immunization Information System.

If your child has private insurance, they do not qualify for the free vaccine program.

To have 95% of our children vaccinated in our schools is our goal! At this level, we can provide

the appropriate protection and prevention, and maintain a healthy school for everyone!

The "Vaccines for Children Day will be Tuesday, July 29th, 2025 at the Partners for

Healthy Students Mobile Clinic located at the Del E. Webb Building in Prescott Valley.

Please call for an appointment.

Sincerely,

Mai Nguyen, BSN, RN

School Nurse

Granite Mountain Upper Elementary School

928-541-2293

GRANITE MOUNTAIN UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Required Immunizations for 11 year olds

Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines are REQUIRED by AZ STATE LAW for school attendance when your student turns 11 years old. (NOT BEFORE THEIR 11th BIRTHDAY). Students may be excluded from school if they do not have the required 11 year old immunizations by 12 years old.

Please provide the school nurse with a future appointment date. As soon as your student receives the vaccines, please provide proof of updated vaccines by email, in person or FAX to the school nurse.

If your child turned 11 and you have already provided proof of 11 year old vaccines, please disregard this message.

Immunization Resources

Yavapai Community County Health Services: 928-771-3122

Partners for Healthy Students Mobile Clinic: 928-771-5123

Please contact Mai Nguyen,RN, School Nurse, at 928-541-2293 or by email at mai.nguyen@prescottschools.com for any questions. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Mai Nguyen, BSN, RN

School Nurse

Granite Mountain Upper Elementary School

928-541-2293

Fax: 928-717-3284

We have made the EZMeal application SUPER easy to find and fill out! We have so much important funding that comes from this money. Here are some other facts:

*School has NO access to your application information

*Even if you child never eats meals from school, YOU can still apply and help us with funding

*Qualifying for FREE or REDUCED is ALL FREE this year!

*You can do it on your phone and it only takes a second

*This could mean FREE Clubs for next year

*Math and Reading Interventionists are paid for with this funding

https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ApplicationScreen.aspx

Thank you for taking the time to apply. It takes only a second and makes such a difference.

As we embark on this next school year, we'd like to remind everyone about our dress code and cell phone policies. These policies are in place for every student's safety and in the spirit of protecting every minute of instruction and learning as possible. As always, if you have any questions, please call our office. These policies will be given to all families at schedule pick up and will be posted in this year's handbook.

As you do your back to school shopping for your student, please keep in mind our PUSD Dress Code:

Grades 5 and 6

Prescott Unified School District encourages students to take pride in their attire as it relates to the school setting. Students should dress in a manner that takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health, and welfare of themselves and others. A spirit of support and cooperation between parents and school personnel is needed to ensure that students come to school appropriately dressed in attire that does not pose health or safety hazards and is appropriate to the school environment.

The administration and staff reserve the right to employ administrative judgment in disallowing any clothing, accessories, jewelry, or other items which could include any trends or fads that are distracting to the educational process, atmosphere, climate, or that pose a safety issue.

Dress for Success. Our objective is to promote personal safety and hygiene, to encourage positive behavior and respect for self and others, to promote positive peer images, and to show respect for family and community expectations.

This dress code is in effect during school hours and during all school events. Exceptions to portions of the dress code may be allowed during designated school spirit days or other events at the discretion of the administration.

School regulations PROHIBIT student dress or grooming practices that:

• Present a hazard to the health or safety of the student or to others in the school. This would include:

• Dangling or large hoop earrings.

• Articles of clothing or jewelry which may cause damage, maintenance problems, or present any safety concerns or school disruptions (ie chains, spikes, etc).

• Nails that are filed in pointed shapes (coffin nails, stiletto nails). Nail length needs to be appropriate to the school environment and setting

• May disrupt and/or interfere with school work, create disorder, or prohibit the ability of a staff member to effectively deliver the educational program. This would include:

• Skirts and shorts that are shorter than fingertip length. Bottom of the skirt/shorts must be at your fingertips when your arms are at your side.

• Shirts including crop top, belly or 1/2 shirts that do not reach the waistband when seated. (Midriff/torso must be covered at all times)

• Clothing that is offensive or inappropriately revealing, such as transparent clothing, straps more narrow than a credit card, low cut shirts, and pajamas/flannel pants/onesies. No athletic clothing (leggings, sweatpants) that skin can be seen through

(Straps more narrow than credit card must be covered at all times)

(Pajamas/Flannel Pants/Onesies are meant to sleep in, not go to school in)

• Exposed underwear, such as bras and boxer shorts/briefs or anything resembling underwear, such as bralettes, sports bras, tube tops, etc.

• Pants/shorts that are not worn or secured at the waistline.

• Pants/shorts that have rips or holes higher than mid-thigh (Holes must be below your fingertips when your arms are at your side).

• Headgear may ONLY be worn during recess outside, such as caps, beanies, hoodies, headbands with ears, horns, accessories, etc., with the exception of religious headgear.

• Body piercings which cause damage, maintenance problems, or present any safety concerns or school disruptions (ie chains, spikes, etc).

• Students are not allowed to draw or write on themselves, others, or clothing.

• Make-up, hair color, hair styles must not potentially disrupt the educational environment including but not limited to lipstick, eyeshadow/eyeliner, etc. (natural-looking mascara is acceptable).

• Costumes are only allowed to be worn as allowed on spirit days.

• Clothing that has wording or images that are not school-appropriate.

• Cause excessive wear or damage to school property. This would include:

• Shoes with heelys (rollers), cleats, or studs.

• Prevent students from achieving their educational objectives.

• Clothing and/or accessories that are gang style or represent membership in a gang.

• Clothing and/or accessories that have statements, pictures, or symbols that represent prejudice, obscenity, vulgarity, sex, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

PUSD Cell Phone Policy

Why do we have rules around cell phones?

Cell phones are valuable and important communication devices in today’s world. Prescott Unified School District schools are committed to an academic environment where students are engaged in their learning, actively participating, and building academic endurance. However, use of cell phones during the instructional day severely impedes and distracts from the learning process.

For more information:

• https://districtadministration.com/cellphone-policy-difficult-call-school-district-leaders/

Cell Phones/Smart Watches/Headphones/Electronic Devices/Toys

If parents allow their children to carry a cell phone or wear a smart watch for emergency purposes while walking home or at the bus stop, it must remain off and in the student’s backpack while at school. If it is heard or seen, it will be held at the office until the end of the day. On the second violation, parents/guardians will have to pick up the cell phone. If a parent/guardian needs to get in touch with their student during the school day, please contact the front office.

Headphones (airpods, bluetooth headphones, etc.) of any kind are not permitted for use on campus at any time.

Electronic devices such as iPods, iPads, MP3 players, gaming systems, etc. are not allowed at school or on field trips.

PLEASE READ WITH YOUR STUDENT

Specific to Granite Mountain Upper Elementary School

In addition to the above, cell phones are only allowed for use after the student has reached their pick up spot by the gym, by Abia Judd or the bus waiting area and the student is not participating in afterschool programs.

If any cell phone/device is heard or seen, it will be held at the office until the end of the day. On the second violation, parents/guardians will have to sign the Unauthorized Item form for the student to pick up the cell phone/device the next school day. On the third violation, the parents/guardians will need to pick up the cell phone/device from the front office. Any violation afterward will result in further disciplinary consequences and a cell phone/device contract.

Students may not take pictures/videos of other students or staff members with their cell phones or any other device. It is a violation of the privacy rights of individuals and it is against the law.

Thank you for your cooperation in making sure all students have an enjoyable and safe experience at school.

Have a great week!