Connect, Create, Care
GPS Family Newsletter | September 18, 2024
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Honoring the Legacy of Governing Board President Sheila Uggetti
Governing Board President and GPS leader Sheila Uggetti passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024, leaving a powerful legacy in the district and public education as a whole. On Tuesday, September 17th employees across the district wore green for Sheila, representing her favorite holiday, St.Patrick’s Day, and an opportunity to honor a true friend who was an inspiration to so many, in education and life.
Sheila spent over 50 years serving her local community in public education, 40 of those years as an employee of Gilbert Public Schools. She was a teacher of Special Education and regular education for 17 years. She also served as an Interim HR Director at the beginning of the phenomenal growth in Gilbert and for 21 years she was the Principal of Gilbert Elementary School. In 2010 Sheila moved back to her hometown of Douglas, Arizona, where she served as Superintendent of Douglas School District until her retirement in 2015. During the 2015-2016 school year, she worked with ASU mentoring principals and serving as a substitute principal for GPS. Sheila received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education and Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from ASU. She also spent 8 years as an adjunct professor for NAU. Sheila was first elected to the Gilbert School District Governing Board in 2016 and was appointed in 2020 when there were only three candidates for three seats. For the 2024/25 school year, Sheila was serving in the role of Governing Board President.
“Sheila committed her entire life to public education. To say she was a champion for students, educators and families would be an understatement. Her impact on our community was tremendous and her ability to listen and care for people was unmatched. She was a true hero in every sense of the word.” Superintendent, Dr. McCord | Read More
Message from the Superintendent
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Gilbert GOLD
Gilbert Gold celebrates everything that makes Gilbert Public Schools such a special place to be. Gold stories highlight the many accomplishments of our students, employees and community.
Partnerships for Progress: Gilbert High Hosts School Connect Cafe
Gilbert High brought together its feeder schools and 20 local businesses to spark relationships that can help students receive the best educational experience possible at the 3rd GPS School Connect Cafe | Read More
Visionary Violinist: Lindsey Stirling Inspires Mesquite High Orchestra and Dance
Mesquite High's Orchestra and Dance team were invited to see Lindsey Stirling's concert at the Footprint Center, getting a unique opportunity to see firsthand how their education can make an impact on their lives post-graduation. | Read More
News
Steve McDowell Inducted to AIAAA Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Gilbert Public Schools Athletic Director Steve McDowell on being inducted in the AIAAA (Arizona Interscholastics Athletic Administrators Association) Hall of Fame.
Mr. Steve McDowell leads the district in athletics, supporting all athletic programs, including four seasons at our Junior Highs, and three seasons at our high schools, and our Athletic Directors on all of our secondary campuses. Gilbert Public Schools students are the winners of many state championships annually, in a wide range of different sports.
The AIAAA Hall of Fame is organized as a means of recognizing interscholastic athletic administrators, promoting the vocation of athletic administration and preserving the heritage of the profession. This honor is the highest an athletic administrator can receive from the AIAAA for his/her contributions and accomplishments at the local and state level. Further, this award sets a standard for athletic administrators to emulate. | Read More
GEF Power of One
The top three schools that raise the most receive:
- $1,000 - First Place
- $750 - Second Place
- $500 - Third Place
Vote for Best of East Valley
Voting is underway for the Best of the Best East Valley! Recognize your favorite businesses, organizations, people, and school district in Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa through noon Tuesday, Sept. 24! Thank you for your support, you make us the Best of the Best!
Resources
Annual Update - Please Help Us Reach Our Goal By Fall Break
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the online ‘Annual Update’ for your student(s).
In order to ensure we can communicate with you regarding your student, or in case of emergency, it is essential that we have your up to date contact details. Even if there are no changes it is necessary to complete the annual update every year. Please watch the video to learn why.
To complete simply log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal and complete your student’s ‘Annual Update’ today.
Thank you for your help as we aim to have these completed by Fall Break.
Important Information for School Bus Riders
Thank you for all of your efforts to ensure your child wears their student ID badge. We appreciate your support with this important safety and security initiative.
As we communicated at the beginning of this school year all of our student bus riders must have their Student ID Badges to ride the bus to and from school every day.
To support our students in remembering this at the beginning of this school year we have been actively reminding our students and families and now following Fall Break as notified if a student does not have their Student ID Badge when getting on the bus to return home from campus at the end of the day they will not be able to ride the bus. They will instead need to be picked up from the school office by an approved parent or guardian.
Thank you in advance for your support of our efforts. Please continue to work with your students to ensure they bring their ID badge with them to school every day.
See Something? Say Something!
Email: contactus@gilbertschools.net
Location: 140 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ, USA
Phone: 480-497-3300