Scorpion families,

We are headed into week 3 of the semester and our students have now settled in and are getting into the routine of school. This week many of our teachers will really begin to hit content and skills that are essential learning targets for their course.

We suggest these few ways to support your child's daily academic preparation:

1. Encourage your student to set aside a specific time each day for studying.
2. Encourage your student to put away their phone, turn off social media, and limit other distractions during study time.
3. Remind your student to take regular breaks, get enough sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated.
4. Remind your student to take advantage of school resources like Edge Extension (RTI), Varsity tutors (through their school CLEVER),and after school tutoring which will begin the week of August 26.
5. Encourage them to reach out if they’re struggling with a subject.

These few ways create a supportive and productive environment that encourages effective study habits and academic success!

This past week, we had a successful class meetings where we talked with students about our expectations for dress code, attendance, and safety. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these at home by reminding your child to have their school ID, be prepared and on time for each class, and follow our school guidelines for behavior and dress code.

We invite our new DE parents to DE 101, a special event where you can get to know our programs and resources to support your child’s success. It’s happening on Tuesday, August 20th, at 5:00 PM in the school library—hope to see you there!

Finally, we’ve wrapped up schedule changes for this semester and are no longer accepting requests for changes. If your child has any special class needs, please reach out to one of our administrators, and we will work to assist you.

Thank you so much for your continued support of Desert Edge. We appreciate all of our parents and students for making the first two weeks of school so fantastic!

It is a great year to be a Scorpion!

Gretchen Hann

Principal

Desert Edge High School

Engaging ALL Scorpions in a Culture of Learning

Desert Edge is part of the Agua Fria High School District family of schools.

Parent HUB

Edge Extension begins Monday August 19th! Edge Extension is part of the district initiative with the Response To Intervention (RTI) program. It is a built-in time during the school week to give students opportunities to receive additional support, get extended enrichment where they are already succeeding, or to have that small group reteach to ensure learning. Students have the opportunity to get additional teaching support, make-up missed assignments, get tutored, or, receive enrichment in a session of their choosing. It not only allows student choice but provides multiple ways for students to better their learning of content.

Four days a week, students have 40 minutes to get extra help in a course.

It could look a variety of ways:

• A teacher pulls them for extra help on a standard
• A student signs up for an enrichment session of their choice
• A student attends a club meeting
• A student is pulled for a grade level meeting
• Small group reteach
• Whole class reteach

There are a variety of ways in which we use our built-in Edge Extension time but the common goal is to provide students an opportunity to better their learning.

Students use a district run website, https://rti.aguafria.org to choose their sessions and see which teachers selected them for the day. **Please note: this site can only be accessed by those with an @aguafria.org login.

We are excited to kick off the new school year with our first Parent Advisory Council meeting on Tuesday, August 20 at 5 PM! This is your opportunity to learn everything you need to know about Desert Edge High School, from our programs and policies to ways you can get involved and support your student(s). Whether you’re new to our community or just looking for a refresher, DE101 has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect, ask questions, and start the year off strong!

We are asking for your assistance with our dress code. We have seen a lot of strapless and backless tops as well as t-shirts with nudity, drugs, alcohol, or weapons on them. These both violate the student dress code as stated in the AFHSD Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Students wearing these items will be asked to change for the remainder of the day. We understand these tops are fashionable, but we ask that they are not worn during the school day to adhere to district expectations. We appreciate your support. Please speak to your child about following this policy.

As we kick off the new school year, we want to remind everyone to practice safe driving habits, especially around our school zones. The Goodyear Police Department is increasing enforcement to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community. We urge all parents and students to be vigilant, obey traffic laws, and drive responsibly. Let's work together to keep everyone safe!

We are excited to inform you that this fall, our Junior class will be taking the ASVAB test as they begin to explore their post secondary opportunities. The ASVAB is a valuable assessment tool that helps students identify their strengths and potential career paths, whether they are considering college, vocational training, or military service. This test provides insight into various skills and abilities, helping students make informed decisions about their future.

Testing dates to follow

🙌 Huge shoutout to Raising Canes for their generous donation to Desert Edge High School! 📚🍗 Your support means the world to us and will make a big difference in our school community. Thank you for investing in our students! 🧡🦂🖤

Located near the Estrella Mountains, Desert Edge High School is the third high school in Agua Fria Union High School District, opening in the Fall of 2002. Desert Edge was the first "Green" Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certificate high school in Arizona, and the fourth in the nation.

Desert Edge is an A+ School of Excellence! (2016 and 2020). The A+ School of Excellence™ Program is a comprehensive school assessment program that celebrates outstanding schools and brings to light the positive stories and successes happening in public schools every day.

Desert Edge has consistently been awarded the Washington Post's America's Most Challenging High School and US News and World Report Best High School in America. Desert Edge is the only high school in Arizona to earn gold medal status in the Beat the Odds program for the 2018-2019 school year. Additionally, Desert Edge was recognized in 2019 for building "a college-going community" with The Most Innovative Player Award from the Governor’s Office of Education and The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education.

Desert Edge is located on Estrella Parkway and Yuma Road near the Goodyear Ballpark, Spring Training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.

Website: www.aguafria.org/dehs
Location: 15778 West Yuma Road, Goodyear, AZ, USA
Phone: 623-932-7500