Hello, DSA Families!

Thank you to our PTO for organizing an amazing week for our teachers! They had delicious meals from SBC, Filibertos, Fat Freddy's Catering, Blu Burger, Pita Cafe, and Doughlicious.

Teachers were also surprised today with a basket of their favorite things. Thank you to all families who contributed.

We hope to see all of you on May 16th for our Celebration of DSA! Please see the flyer above for more details.

Please see the transportation section of this week's Dazzler. This section will include a document that will cover important changes for the 25-26 school year. Transportation will not have a table with bus routes at our welcome back events this summer. We want to encourage parents and guardians to download the stop finder app NOW so they can see their routes immediately and get any updates for next school year. A big part of route planning is making sure you provide the schools with the most up-to-date address. If you move or are planning on moving, please make sure you get your address updates as soon as possible!

Please check out the summer enrichment link and flyer below. We have a lot of events coming up, so please be sure to RSVP, respond, or reach out if you have questions!

Warmly,

Kelly Zywczyk

Principal, Desert Sun Academy

Teacher of the Year- Lisa Fisnot

Classified Staff Member of the Year- Teresa Colao

Community Member of the Year- Jen Bridwell

Happy Retirement to Lori Grier

Child Nutrition Staff Member of the Year- Jessika Steier

Christine Huguley- 25 years of Service

05/14- 5th Grade Celebration Breakfast and Early Release

05/13 - Kinder/Senior Exchange at CSHS, 5:30pm

05/16- CSHS Parade of Schools, Celebration of DSA

05/19 - 6th Grade Celebration Breakfast and Kinder Certificate Ceremony

05/21 - Howling Coyotes, 5th & 6th Grade Parade and Last Day of School

If your child has a fever, has thrown up, or has diarrhea they need to remain home. Students have to be fever free WITHOUT the assistance of medication for 24 hours before returning to school. Same with vomit or diarrhea, they need to be free of symptoms for 24 hours prior to returning to school

As a reminder - please do not send medicine in your child's backpack. If they are in need of any medicine or cough drops, etc. you must sign a medicine release form and medicine must be dropped off to the health office by a parent or guardian. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.

We will be offering 4 sessions for volunteer training this summer in hopes that we can take some of the work off of your plates in August/September. Please start communicating this information out to your families from now until the end of the school year. Here is the flyer and also the link to sign up for the summer trainings.

Summer Volunteer Sign Up link

"Thanks to a generous donation, CCUSD is thrilled to be able to partner with SmartSocial, an online platform that helps parents understand tech and social media to keep kids safe and successful online. SmartSocial hosts live online Q&A events that address different themes each month. You can watch these events live, or watch them after the fact when it fits your schedule! With over 400 online resources at your disposal, SmartSocial can help parents navigate the challenges associated with technology, including parental controls, screen time, online safety, and more. CCUSD parents can register with SmartSocial using this link: https://smartsocial.com/members?org=cavecreekunified

Your subscription is free when you register through CCUSD. We believe that this will be a valuable resource for our families and encourage you to register and see what they have to offer!"

Developed and Taught By Stanford and MIT Alumni and Graduate Students. See the link below.

Information for Voluntary Student Accident and Sickness Insurance plans for purchase including plans for athletics can be found at https://myers-stevens.com/enrollment/

Arizona 's tax law (ARS 43-1089.01) allows families a tax credit of up to $400 if they contribute to extracurricular activities in public schools. Individuals can give up to $200. Contributions that are made on or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month (April 15), following the close of the taxable year, may be applied to either the current or preceding taxable year and is considered to have been made the last day of that taxable year.

(Please see the picture below to show the simplicity of how it works)

Extracurricular activities are school-sponsored activities that may require enrolled students to pay a fee, including fees for:

• Extracurricular activities, such as field trips, student council and our amazing science lab!
• Character education programs.

From and after June 30, 2019 through June 30, 2024, these items are also Tax Credit eligible:

• Capital items (example: furniture, furnishings, athletic equipment, computer software, pupil & non pupil transportation vehicles & equipment, textbooks, instructional aids, library books)
• Student consumable health care supplies (example: tissues, hand wipes, bandages)
• Playground equipment, shade structures for playground equipment

A single individual or a head of household can use the tax credit for $200. A married couple filing a joint return can use the tax credit for $400. Tax credit donations made on or before April 15th may be applied to either the current or preceding tax year.

How to contribute in a few easy steps!

1. Write a personal check to the school of your choice
   (checks CANNOT be accepted from Partnerships, S Corporations, Regular Corporations, Trusts, Estates and LLCs)
2. Mail or deliver the check to the school with a completed tax credit form.
3. You will be provided with a receipt verifying your contribution.
4. You can claim your tax credit of up to $400.

Email: kzywczyk@ccusd93.net
Website: https://www.ccusd93.org/dsa
Phone: 480-575-2900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Desertsunacademy
Twitter: @CCUSD_93