Quail Run Community Newsletter

Dear Quail Run Families,

2024 is off to a fantastic start here at Quail Run! There were so many great events to start off the new year! We had our donuts with grownups event, 35 year school birthday photo, 100th day of school celebration, district spelling bee, family math night, Kindergarten preview night, and so much great learning taking place in all classrooms!

Please read through this monthly newsletter to review school information and check out the video below to see what our students were up to last month. There is so much happening at Quail Run!!

With warmest regards,

Vicky Raymond

Proud Principal

If you are interested in Pre-K classes at Quail Run next year, please submit this quick Pre-K Interest Form to help us plan. The. Quail Run Pre-K program is a fee-based program facilitated by our Community Education department. It is a full-day program and all students attend from 9 am - 3 pm, Mondays-Fridays. The program follows our International Baccalaureate Program of Inquiry an includes daily Spanish enrichment with our school's Spanish teacher. Want more information? Contact Community Education at 602-449-2200.

Congratulations, Mia!

We are so incredibly proud of Mia Hernandez, 6th grade student in Mrs. Fleming and Mrs. Forkum's classes. She won our school spelling bee and recently represented our school in the district spelling bee. We are proud to announce that she is 1 of 8 students from the entire district that will be moving on to represent PVSchools in the Regional Spelling Bee on February 9th.

We think you are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

(Mia is pictured third from the right in the photo below.)

AASA and AzSci

This Spring, PVSchools students in grades 3rd-8th will complete a REQUIRED state test titled, Arizona Academic Standards Assessment, AASA. Students in 5th, 8th, and 11th will also take a state science test titled, AZSci. Statewide testing is very important because it is intended to objectively evaluate whether your child has mastered grade-level standards for their specific grade level.

The AASA and AzSci will provide information that will improve how students are taught, how teachers are coached, and how we can better support students. The state test is intended to give teachers an objective measure of how students are progressing and measure how they are academically growing compared to other students in the state.

Additionally, the AASA can provide benchmarks for parents, teachers, students, and schools. All public schools are required to administer state-standardized assessments to fulfill the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The scores/information from these required tests is also used as a part of the formula to determine a school and district letter grade from the state.

If you would like to read more information about Arizona state testing, please visit the following website: https://www.azed.gov/assessment

Quail Run Testing Schedule:

AzSci

5th Grade- 3/27-3/28

Writing

3rd Grade- 4/4

4th Grade- 4/4

5th Grade- 4/8

6th Grade- 4/2

Reading

3rd Grade- 4/10-4/11

4th Grade- 4/9-4/10

5th Grade- 4/16 - 4/17

6th Grade- 4/16-4/17

Math

3rd Grade- 4/10-4/11

4th Grade-4/9-4/10

5th Grade- 4/16-4/17

6th Grade- 4/16-4/17

How to help your child prepare for state testing:

• Talk about the test with your child. Wish them luck and send them off with a smile each morning.
• When they take the test, ask them about it and show interest.
• It is extremely important that students are well-rested and arrive at school on time. Students at this age need nine to ten hours of sleep nightly.
• Students need to eat breakfast in order to have the energy to take the test. Research shows students who have eaten breakfast will have more endurance to complete academic activities in a successful manner.
• Please do not schedule any appointments on testing days. Please be on time for school and stay the entirety of the day. Any absences on a scheduled test day will result in makeup testing and affect classroom learning time.

Our yearbook club has decided to have a page in the yearbook with messages from families to their 6th graders as they conclude their last year of elementary school. If you would like to send a short message for your student, you may email it to your child´s 6th grade teacher or directly to our yearbook advisor, Ms. B, at abaumunk@pvschools.net no later than February 16th.

As we move into the cooler weather and the season of layering, please label your children´s outerwear. Last year, we had over 300 unlabeled jackets in the lost and found. If the clothing item has a name on it, we can return it to the student. We appreciate it!

All Lost and Found will be laid out in the cafeteria during our school carnival this month. Please come by and take a look as we have a very large amount of items to be claimed. We will be donating anything that is left after the carnival.

Visit the Community Education website to register for an after school enrichment class!

This month we're going to share information on the culminating, collaborative experience at PYP schools, Exhibition.

The exhibition at Quail Run:

-Allows children to display all aspects of Learner Profile

-Features collective, collaborative energies & talents of all 6th graders

-Is an opportunity to show understanding of & take action regarding a topic/issue

-follows the inquiry process with students expected to take ownership & responsibility for own learning and outcomes

The sixth graders will create a central idea as a whole grade level and as they do so will consider where their individual passions may fit into that idea. They will be given several opportunities in class to consider topics of interest before choosing a final idea. We also ask 6th grade parents to discuss possible topics with their children. Students will individually research all aspects of their topic to become knowledgeable. In April, students will need to take action regarding their chosen topic. Action takes a variety of formats - individual or small group. Children may want to write letters, create presentations to teach others, collect donations, visit a place related to their topic, or do something else based on their research. Creating final presentations is the next step of our exhibition process and this allows students to show their learning to the entire school community. We invite you to check the school calendar for more information about how we'll share our presentations.

Please contact Mrs. Rubey if you'd like more information about our IB program. drubey@pvschools.net

We hope you can join us for the next PTO meeting on Monday, Feb. 26 at 3:30 pm in the library. Childcare is provided. Everyone is a member of our PTO and welcome to attend!

Come support our school by visiting SkyZone from 1-7:00 pm for the next fundraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 13, which is an early release day. Please see the flyer below. Tell your friends and family!

Please join us for our annual Spring Carnival at Quail Run on 2/24/24 from 10am-1pm! There will be rides, bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, games and glitter tattoo station! This year we will be having a Silent Auction with a lot of amazing gift baskets and items up for bid! Stay tuned for more information on this!

All presales will be taken through our PTO website below: (If you haven't signed up for an account yet, it's free and will give you access to our school directory)! Tickets are $25 presale only and go up to $30 at the door. If purchasing more than 3 wristbands use code "FAMILY" to save $5 per wristband.

***Wristbands needed for all students, children aged 3 and under are free and adults are free.

The wristband includes all activities except the silent auction and food trucks, concessions.

To keep up to date and get involved, please follow Quail Run PTO on Facebook and Instagram! Have you signed up for our new PTO website yet? Membership is FREE this year with our new PTO and we have a brand new website to help keep you up to date with all things PTO - check it out here, create an account and join our school directory!

https://quailrunpto.membershiptoolkit.com/

Amanda Bunney, PTO President

ptoquailrun@gmail.com

Our tax credit donations provide countless opportunities to our QR students. We need your help to replenish this fund! Please consider making your tax-credit donation to our school and speaking with family and friends to join you. Our tax credit funds have been used this year to scholarship students for field trips and provide materials for our PBIS program.

It is easy to do this online - just visit this website! Make sure to select Quail Run Elementary School.

Making a contribution to receive an Arizona public education tax credit is simple. You can get a tax credit of up to $200 for an individual or $400 per married couple.

Tax credit eligible fees paid and contributions made to a public school from January 1 through April 15 of any calendar year may be used as a tax credit on either the prior or current year's tax return. For additional information, contact the Finance Department at 602-449-2033.

Arizona tax law allows taxpayers a credit for contributions made or fees paid to a public school for support of extracurricular activities or character education (as defined in ARS 15-719). If married, taxpayers file separate returns: Each spouse may claim one-half of the credit that would have been allowed on a joint return. Extracurricular activities such as sports, band, speech and debate, or overnight field trips are generally not fully funded by school districts, so your donation directly supports students.

Want to recognize a staff member for something big or small? Please share with us using this form so we can show them some appreciation. Thanks for making our school such a positive place to be!

The QRES School Council is composed of staff, parents, and community members. The purpose of the School Council is to assist in planning, coordinating, and facilitating safety and instructional ideas that will promote and enhance the safety and learning of the students at Quail Run Elementary School.

School Council meetings are open to the public and generally meets once monthly. Meeting dates can be found on our website.

If you have an item of interest you would like for the School Council to review, please complete this form. Complete the form once for every issue or interest you would like discussed.

Looking to get more involved in your child’s education? Want to be among the first to know what is happening in the district? If so, I encourage you to attend United Parent Council meetings. Paradise Valley United Parent Council is a district-wide parent group that has been active in Paradise Valley Unified School District for more than 30 years and is a 501(c)(3) organization. Looking out for the interest of students is their primary goal. They do this by offering parents support, information, and opportunities to be influential voices in the decisions that affect their children's education. UPC meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month in the District Administration Center East/West Conference Rooms on the grounds of the PVUSD complex at 15002 North 32nd Street. Visitors are always welcome. Click here to visit their website for information on this month’s meeting.

Each year, our UPC coordinates a teacher and staff recognition program to honor our employees. Nominations for this honor will be open from February 21 - March 8. Letters and nominations are celebrated with teachers and staff at school and then there is a recognition ceremony in May. Look out for an email with links and more information this month.

• If you need to relay a message to your student during school hours, you can call the office or leave a message directly on our Voicelink account at (602) 449-5465. The office staff will NOT transfer calls to classrooms, as this will interrupt important instructional time.

• If your child forgets their lunch, you may bring it to the front office before 10:30 am.

• Students are also not allowed to bring Starbucks drinks, smoothies, etc. on campus in the morning.
  

• Be sure to communicate end-of-day arrangements with your student in the morning, prior to coming to school. We want to ensure all students get home safely. If there are any changes in how students get home, please notify the office and the teacher.

• School hours are from 8:45 am - 3:15 pm. If you are picking up a student early, please be aware that every minute counts and minutes missed accumulate throughout the school year. Also, be aware that students cannot be called to the office early for an appointment. Students will be called from class at the time you arrive to check them out.

• If your child is late to school, arriving after 8:45 am, a parent is required to walk them into the front office to sign them in tardy.

• No early pick-ups are allowed after 3:00 pm. You cannot sign out your student from 3:00 - 3:15. This is a change from previous years.

• School breakfast is available beginning at 8:15 am. Please drop off before 8:30 am if your child is eating breakfast. It is the same purchasing system as our school lunches.

• Birthday treats must be store-bought and easy to pass out for the teacher. No cakes that need cutting, please. Cupcakes are allowed. Balloons are not allowed on campus.

• You will need your ID every time you pick up students prior to dismissal.

• Your student will not be released if the person picking her/him up is not on the contact list. If you need to add a friend or family member to the contact list you will need to go to Infinite Campus to update Emergency Contact information through your annual update.

• You can check your child's grades by downloading the Infinite Campus app or logging on online. Click here for directions.

Lunch Reminders:

• If your child forgets their lunch, you may bring it to the front office before 10:30 am. Any student that does not bring a lunch will choose a hot lunch and their meal account will be charged.

• There is no hot fast food allowed for lunch if you are dropping off a lunch. Visitors may bring in hot lunches (see visitor section below). Please refrain from bringing soda. Subway, Jimmy Johns, and Jersey Mikes are all good options for a special drop-off lunch.

• Students are not allowed to share food.

• We will have a special table for students with food allergies. Your student may be invited to join a friend at this table. If your child is invited to sit at this table, peanut butter is not allowed.

• When packing your student´s lunch, please be mindful that they are able to open the food or containers themselves. No glass containers.

Lunch Visitors:

• You must sign into the front office and get a visitor badge.
  

• You may bring lunch for your child. If you are coming to visit and stay with your child during lunch, the lunch may be a hot lunch.

• You may not bring lunch for any student other than your own.

• You may not pass out treats to any students due to allergies.

Purchasing a School Lunch:

The Nutrition & Wellness Department will charge students for their meals based on their free, reduced, and paid meal application status during the 2023-2024 SY.

The 2023-2024 Free & Reduced Meal Application is now available for parents to complete at EZMealApp.com. This paperless option is encouraged because online applications can be processed within 24 hours of their submission. Paper meal applications are available in our front office or can be printed from the Nutrition & Wellness website to be submitted to the department. All families are encouraged to apply.

It is extremely important for families to complete and submit the 23-24 SY meal application in order to avoid potential negative account balance charges.

Visit the Lunch Menu section of our website for more information about menus, meal prices, and to load money into your student´s lunch account.

Do you shop at Fry's Food? You can link your Fry's VIP card to Quail Run PTA and effortlessly earn money for our school simply by doing your normal shopping. Signup once and the school will reap the benefits all year!

We welcome site volunteers on our campus as well as chaperones for field trips.

Site volunteers must be parents, guardians, or grandparents of a current student.

School chaperones perform an invaluable service, helping to ensure the safety of students attending events and field trips. Parents, guardians, grandparents, or relatives are eligible to be a school chaperone after completing a background screening. Chaperones are fingerprinted and must agree to a background check.

Apply to be a Site Volunteer or Chaperone

1. Visit the PVSchools job search page.
2. Search for "Volunteer" or "Chaperone."
3. Select the opportunity that best fits your interest.
4. Click on the "Apply Online" button.
5. Create a login and password.
6. Complete the application process.

Please be aware that this application can take up to 12 weeks to clear, so be sure to get it in early. Please contact our front office if you have any questions.

If you or anyone you know needs to enroll a student for the 2023-2024 school year, please know we are still accepting applications for students both inside and outside of our school enrollment boundaries. Open enrollment enables Arizona students to attend public schools outside their district attendance areas or outside their district of residence. It is open to all Arizona-based students. All open enrollment questions may be directed to tsorenson@pvschools.net.

Click here to enroll for the 2023-2024 school year.

Required Documents for Enrollment

• A certified copy of your child's birth certificate

• Your child's immunization records

• Proof of Arizona residency (e.g., utility bill, house payment, lease/purchase agreement)

• IEP/504 forms (if applicable)

Please note, to register for kindergarten, your student must be 5 years old PRIOR to September 1st, 2023.

You will also be required to complete an Annual Update on Infinite Campus. Please visit the PV Assist website for links and more information.

Feb. 1: Early Release at 12:30 pm

Feb. 2: Early Release at 12:30 pm

Feb. 8: PVSchools Governing Board Meeting at 6:30 pm

Feb. 9: Spring Pictures, Class Pictures, and Club Pictures

Feb. 13: Early Release at 12:30 pm

Feb. 13: 4th-6th Grade Field Day

Feb. 13: PTO Fundraiser: SkyZone from 1 - 7:00 pm

Feb. 15: School Emergency Response Team Meeting at 9:30 am

Feb. 15: Open House for 24-25 School Year from 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Feb. 16: Spirit Day! Wear a QR or Junior Hero Shirt

Feb. 16: Yearbook Meeting at 8:15 am

Feb. 16: 6th Grade Exhibition Kickoff at Shiloh Community Church

Feb. 19: No School: Presidents' Day Recess

Feb. 22: School Council Meeting at 3:30 pm

Feb. 22: PVSchools Governing Board Meeting at 6:30 pm

Feb. 24: Spring Carnival from 10 am - 1 pm

Feb. 26: PTO Meeting at 3:30 pm

Feb. 26 - Mar. 1: Spring Gifted Testing

Mar. 2: PVSchools Sights & Sounds

Mar. 4: District Field Day

Mar. 5: Student Council Meeting at 8:00 am

Mar. 5: Kinder Hotel Sahuaro Puppet Show

Mar. 7: Kinder Tree Walk Field Trip

Mar. 7: PVSchools Governing Board Meeting at 6:30 pm

Mar. 8: Spirit Day! Wear a QR or Junior Hero Shirt

Mar. 8: Rally Point Evacuation Drill at 9:00 am

Mar. 11 - 15: Spring Break

Mar. 21: 4th Grade Grand Canyon Field Trip

Mar. 22: Yearbook Meeting at 8:15 am

Mar. 22: 3rd Grade Phoenix Zoo Field Trip

Mar. 22: 5th Grade Arizona Science Center Field Trip

Mar. 22: PTO Bingo Night

Mar. 25: PTO Meeting at 3:30 pm

Mar. 26: PreK-3 Fun Day

Mar. 26: Early Release at 12:30 pm

Mar. 28: 2nd Grade MIM Field Trip

Mar. 28: School Council Meeting at 3:30 pm

Mar. 29: K-12 Recess, No School

Attendance Line: 602-449-4401

Nurse Celeste: 602-449-4403

School Cafeteria: 602-449-4407

Principal, Quail Run Elementary School

Email: vraymond@pvschools.net
Quail Run Website
Location: 3303 E. Utopia Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85050
Phone: 602-449-4400

Assistant Principal, Quail Run Elementary School

Email: jsanborn@pvschools.net

Quail Run Website

Location: 3303 E. Utopia Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85050
Phone: 602-449-4400