As we wrap up another wonderful school year, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the exciting events of the past few weeks and express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and involvement.

We have had a fantastic couple of weeks filled with memorable moments and celebrations. Our Pre-K Promotion, Kindergarten Promotion, and 5th Grade Promotion ceremonies were joyful occasions, marking significant milestones for our students as they move on to the next stages of their educational journeys. Seeing the pride and happiness on the faces of our young graduates was truly inspiring.

Field Day was another highlight, providing our students with a day of outdoor fun, physical activity, and teamwork. The enthusiasm and sportsmanship displayed by our students were commendable, making it a day to remember for everyone involved.

As we head into summer, we want to extend our deepest thanks to all the parents and guardians who have contributed to making this year a success. Your support, whether through volunteering, attending events, or encouraging your children at home, has been invaluable. We are grateful for your partnership in fostering a positive and enriching learning environment for our students.

We wish you all a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to welcoming our students back in the fall for another fantastic year of learning and growth. School will resume on August 12, 2024 for grades 1-5

JUNE

• 10th- Last Day of School for Students - (1:20 Dismissal)
• 11th- Last Day of School for Staff

We wanted to inform you that we will not be having Sierra Kids Before-School Program on Monday June 10th

There will be major changes to the morning program at Desert Heights for the 24-25 school year. The City of Reno Sierra Kids Program will no longer serve Desert Heights Elementary due to focusing on other schools with higher enrollments. The Right at School Program (Early Adventures) will serve Desert Heights next year in the morning.

Kids in Early Adventures start the day their own way so everyone gets to class prepared for success. Every morning, the choices are: Homework Help, Right Moves Fitness, Inspiration Station, Team Projects, and Self-Directed. You can look at the website for pricing and discounts.

We will be selling out of our dippin' dots on Monday. The only flavors we have left are:

• Cookie Dough
• Banana Split

Next year we will be having some changes in staff due to retirement, resignations, and changes in grade level. We have also added and lost some staffing positions at our school. Below is more information:

• Added a fourth 3rd grade teaching allocation
• Added two Strategies (Autism) teaching positions/programs
• Added an additional Special Education Resource teaching position
• Added an English Language Learner teacher position
• Added Community in Schools Coordinator position
• Lost 3 Early Childhood teaching positions/programs
• Lost a Building Learning Facilitator position

STAFF LEAVING OR CHANGING GRADE LEVELS

• Ms. Daniels moving from Early Childhood to Kindergarten
• Ms. Carter moving from 4th Grade to 3rd Grade
• Ms. Archer moving from Resource to CLS
• Ms. Paulson moving from CLS to Strategies
• Ms. Morga moving to Clayton Middle School
• Ms. Troche moving to Desert Skies Middle School
• Ms. Cerda will be teaching Early Childhood Strategies at Corbett Elementary School.
• Ms. Ries will be teaching EC Special Education at Corbett Elementary School.

RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• Congratulations to Ms. Maddox for 3 decades in education. She will be retiring at the end of the school year.
• Congratulations to Ms. Caverhill who will be moving out of state. She will be resigning at the end of the school year.

• Congratulations to Ms. Leigon who will be moving out of state. She will be resigning at the end of the school year.
• Congratulations to Ms. Arevalo for getting a teaching position at a private school. She will be resigning from the district as the EL assistant at the end of the year.
• Congratulations to Karen DePrater, our office clerk for her 2nd retirement in education. She will be retiring at the end of the school year.

NEW TEACHER & STAFF HIRES

• Mary Parrish will be teaching 5th grade (ELA). She is coming from Lois Allen Elementary.
• Kendall Hendrix will be teaching 4th grade (Math). She is coming from Hunter Lake Elementary.
• Lisa Jasper will be teaching Special Education Resource. She is coming from High Desert Montessori.
• Hannah Diem was hired as our English Language teacher.
• Abigail Lawrence will be teaching Strategies. She will be moving from California.
• Rowan Kelsey will be teaching 5th grade. She will be moving from Arizona.
• Ashley McMillan will be teaching CLS. She is coming from El Paso Texas and the Philippines.
• Joanne Romero will be our Community in Schools Coordinator.
• Marie Camacho will be our new EL Assistant.
• Presilia Stevenson will be our new Clerical Aide.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is pleased to announce that as of today we are once again offering kids ages 12-17 a FREE fishing license (365-day license), while supplies last! Kids can get their license online at https://www.ndowlicensing.com/, by visiting an NDOW office, or anywhere else licenses are sold (sporting goods stores, Wal-Mart, etc.). Anyone younger than 12 years old does not need a license to legally fish in Nevada!

To help share this information with families throughout Nevada, we kindly ask you to please pass the attached flyer along to anyone who might be interested. It is a two-sided flyer, with information in both English and Spanish. NDOW is able to offer these licenses courtesy of the Nevada Youth License Fund, a 100% donation-driven program, dedicated to helping make it easier for kids to enjoy spending time outdoors in Nevada.

For the past seven years, Ms. Arevalo has generously volunteered her time to coach the Desert Heights Soccer team. Under her guidance, our 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students have had the opportunity to compete against other elementary schools, creating lasting memories and experiences.

With Ms. Arevalo stepping down from her role, we are now looking for a new coach to take over this rewarding position.

The team practices in the spring, typically 2-3 times a week after school, with games held on Fridays at 11:30 AM, both home and away.

If you are interested in helping us continue this valuable and free opportunity for our students, please contact me directly at dfrydman@washoeschools.net. Your support would be greatly appreciated by our students and their families.

Welcome back, Desert Heights Coyotes! In today's DHESTV News segment, we dive into an essential PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) expectation: "Have Respect" during dismissal. Join our anchors Magali and her co-anchor as they explore what high respect looks like at the end of the school day. With live interviews from students sharing their own experiences and examples, you'll learn valuable tips on how to make dismissal a respectful and smooth process for everyone.

If you are ready to begin the registration process, we’ve outlined the steps below. If you want to learn more about all the educational opportunities, programs, and activities within WCSD, please scroll down.

• If you have a returning WCSD student and are familiar with our Infinite Campus Parent Portal, please proceed to the login page to continue. The process is the same if you have a new incoming student in the district.

• If you have an incoming kindergarten student or a student new to WCSD and do not have another student currently enrolled in a WCSD school, please begin online registration using this link for new students. Once you complete the online registration, bring the required documents - birth certificate, immunization record, and proof of address - to the school to finalize the registration process.

This IEP Tool Kit provides you with some basic tools to help you better advocate for your child. One page explains possible steps to take as you plan for an IEP meeting. Another page provides tips on organizing your child’s school-related papers. Two forms are provided: one to organize data about your child’s needs and strengths so you can sort what might be needed in the IEP document, and the other to take to the IEP meeting to keep track of the needs and questions you want to discuss at the meeting.

😅Every Friday is Dad Joke Friday.. On the announcements, I share some of my favorite appropriate dad jokes.

Here are the ones from Mr. Frydman on Friday, 5/31/24:

• Where do sheep go for summer vacation? The baa-hamas
  
• Why did the tootsie roll go to summer school? It wanted to be a Smartie
  
• Why did the echo get suspended on the last day of school? It kept answering back!!!
  

Thank you to the following Watch DOGS/MOMS who supported our teachers and students this week. It has been so helpful having extra adults in the school.

If you are interested in signing up for just one day, feel free to reach out to Irene Zaraco, FACE Liaison at izaraco@washoeschools.net.

We often receive calls from parents after challenging conversations with their children that end in frustration and anger. To help prevent these cycles of negativity, we want to share the First Rule of Love and Logic, which emphasizes avoiding anger, lectures, threats, and warnings in favor of calm and empathetic interactions.

Our brain operates with two main parts: the thinking brain (prefrontal cortex) and the emotional brain (limbic system). The success of our interactions depends on which part we use. Reacting from the emotional brain with anger can trigger defensiveness and rebellion in children, leading to more conflict. In contrast, responding with empathy from the thinking brain fosters genuine remorse and responsibility.

Here are some key differences between emotional and thinking responses:

• Anger (Emotional Brain): Creates resentment and rebellion, sends a message of being overwhelmed, and triggers defensive behavior.
• Empathy (Thinking Brain): Encourages genuine remorse and responsibility, shows confidence in handling situations calmly, and promotes responsible behavior even when unobserved.

Avoiding the habit of nagging and repetitive reminders is crucial. Instead, set limits and follow through calmly and quickly. Handling problems with empathy and reason allows children to reflect on their behaviors and learn from their decisions, promoting better long-term outcomes.

By adopting the Love and Logic approach, we can create a more positive and effective environment for our children to grow and thrive.

Desert Heights Elementary provides monthly Parents newsletters and activity calendars for families to use at home. These resources have helpful parenting tips, advice, and current hot topics important to families. The activity calendars provide fun family projects to increase the time spent as a family.

• Sierra Nevada Journey offers a summer camp with fun outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, and swimming. The camp is held at their Environmental Education Camp in Portola, CA. For more information, visit sierranevadajourneys.org/camp.

• Another summer outdoor camp opportunity by Great Basin Outdoor School is now open for enrollment. The camp is for students ages 6 – 12 and is held for six weeks, starting at the River School Farm from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To sign up, visit their website at www.greatbasin-os.org.

• KIDS University offers summer camps for children ages 7 – 14 at the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Starting the week of June 17, they will offer more than 20 different full-day and half-day weeklong camps. Most of the camps are STEAM-based and include art and sports. Registration is open at https://kidsuniversity.unr.edu.

• TMCC is offering soccer camps through the Mighty Lizards soccer program. The Lizards Youth Soccer Camp offers three summer sessions for youth ages 8 – 14. Learn more at www.tmcclizards.com.

David Frydman, Principal

Chrystal Spraggins, Assistant Principal

Juana Maya, Admin. Secretary

13948 Mount Bismark Street, Reno, NV, USA

Phone: (775) 677-5444

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