We had an incredible day of remembering September 11 at West Wing. Thank you to all of our teachers for planning activities. Thank you to all of our students for showing their patriotism by wearing red, white, and blue!

3rd Grade

West Wing School is in need of additional substitutes! Please consider signing up to be a sub at our incredible school. Our students and teachers need reliable child-loving people to fill in when one of us is out. If this is something you're interested in but would like more information about, please call our office at 623-376-5000. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you!

We are in need of donations for our wildly popular Mustang Store. Our students receive tickets when they deomonstrate our school-wide expectations, Respect, Compassion, and Integrity. Each month they have an opportunity to exchange their tickets for items at our Mustang Store. This year we have added some exciting "experience" items to our store. Students recently purchased time with their teacher to eat their lunch or a movie at end of the day.

We'd like to send a huge thank you to all of the teachers that chaperoned our first middle school dance this year! Thank you to Ms. Carpenter and our Student Council for sponsoring a fun dance! Everyone had a great time and danced all night!

On November 5, 2024, voters living within the DVUSD boundaries will have the opportunity to vote on two initiatives passed by the DVUSD governing board for public authorization:

• Special Bond Election in the amount of $325 million to fund safety, security, instructional resources, technology, building renewal, conservation, buses, and student growth through the year 2029.
• Continuation of the existing 15% maintenance and operation (M&O) override. The 2019 voter approved override will be entering the phase down period, and vital funds (approximately $33 million) will no longer be available after December 31, 2024.

Learn what this special bond would fund at our Bond FAQ page.

Learn what the M&O Override funds at our Override FAQ page.

We are excited to introduce a new way of reporting your child's absences. We have created a Google Form for your convenience. Please use this form anytime to let us know that your child will not be present at school. You can of course still call our attendance line if that is more convenient for you.

🍔 Please come and support our WW PTSA! 🍟

The motto for next week is: I am willing to introduce myself and get to know new people.

Introductions are often the starting foundations of relationships. Appearing confident and welcoming is sometimes even challenging for adults! Especially when we worry about what other people may be thinking about us.

It’s easy for students to get so nervous about what other people may think about them that they become too fearful to introduce themselves to other students.

Here are some easy tools you can teach your child that may help them overcome those nerves:

1. When you approach people, think, “How can I help?” When you keep your mind busy thinking, ‘How can I help?’, you don’t have time to think, ‘What do they think about me?’ Helping others can be as easy as saying hello, introducing them to friends, or sharing a smile. Being helpful is empowering!

2. If an awkward silence happens, Ask questions! After the initial introduction, there will often be a bout of silence; asking questions is a great way to break the ice. When your student asks someone what their favorite sport or activity is, they are showing an interest in the other person. Asking questions about the person’s favorite sports, movies, hobbies, or food is a great way to end awkward silences.

“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” -Winnie the Pooh

🛑FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF OR PICK UP IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT. PLEASE ONLY USE THE DESIGNATED PICK UP AND DROP OFF LOCATIONS.🚫

• We do not sign out kids 15 minutes before dismissal (3:15 is the cutoff).
• Phone messages are delivered to students at 2:30. If there is a pick-up change, please call our office before 2:30.
• For those who are interested in volunteering in classrooms and/or attending field trips, you will need to attend a one-time district volunteer training (class locations and times can be found at (www.dvusd.org). If you have already taken the training you must come in to the front office to update your information. Volunteers only need to attend the training once for the entire time their child attends a DVUSD school.

Please be sure to bring your ID into the office when you check-in. All volunteers and visitors are scanned in and a sticker is printed for you to wear while on campus. Please stop in the office to scan your badge when you depart campus. Volunteers, like all adults, are role models for children. Therefore volunteers are expected to demonstrate good character and ethical behavior. Please do not engage in any behavior or activity that may cause harm to themselves or others. In addition, physical contact is not encouraged and should be limited to brief encouraging behaviors such as a "high five" or handshake. Please take your lead from staff and dress appropriately for the job you are doing. Casual clothing is fine; However, be neat and professional. No Spaghetti straps, bare midriffs or backs, or negative t-shirts. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

We need a few more volunteers to help with the book fair!

We would love to have help with our book fair.

If you are available to sign up, we would really appreciate it!

Sign up here: https://url.dvusd.org/da3f782c

Parents/Family/friends can shop during these times:

Mon-Wed 8:00-8:30 and 3:30-4:30

Thursday 8:00-8:30 and 3:30-5:00

Friday 8:00-8:30 and 2:00-2:30

Monday, September 16th, 2024

• Day 2 For Specials
• 7:30-8:30 - Chess Emporium (Library)
• 8:00-4:30 - Book Fair (Library)
• 3:45-4:45 - Honor Choir (Choir Room)
• 3:45-4:30 - 5th/6th Band Conservatory Club (Band Room)

• Day 3 For Specials
• 7:30-8:30 - DayBreak Chorus (Chorus Room)
• 8:00-4:30 - Book Fair (Library)

Wednesday, September 18th,

• Day 4 For Specials
• 8:00-4:30 - Book Fair (Library)
• 3:30-4:30 - Young Rembrandts (Art Room)
• 3:45-4:30 - 7/8 Band Conservatory Club (Band Room)
  
• 3:45-5:00 - Softball Practice
  

• Day 5 For Specials
• 7:30-8:30 - DayBreak Chorus (Chorus Room)
• 8:00-5:00 - Book Fair (Library)
• 3:45-4:45 - PTSA Meeting (Science Lab)
• 3:45-4:30 - State & Honor Band (Band Room)
  
• 4:15 - Baseball - (WW @ Sierra Verde)
• 4:15 - Softball - (Sierra Verde @ WW)

• Day 6 For Specials
• 8:00-2:30 - Book Fair (Library)
• 2:00 Early Release

During our 2:00 pm dismissal time teachers meet in together and we call these Collaborative Team meetings. West Wing is a PLC school (Professional Learning Community). Our 90 minute early release days support planning for student learning, interventions, and targeted support. This time is invaluable to our teachers, and our students, as it gives critical time to our teacher teams to design skill-based instruction and assessments, review student progress data, and design supports and interventions. Learn more about what happens in PLC at DVUSD.org/PLC.

PreK-8

Mustangs: Learn, Grow, Succeed!

Proud Home of the Mustangs!

An A+ School of Excellence

"A" Rated by the Arizona Department of Education

Deer Valley Unified School District

Attendance Line 623-376-5090

Main: 623-376-5000