📣 Here’s What’s Happening This Week! 📣
We have an exciting and busy week ahead—take a look at what’s coming up! ⭐
🔹 Tuesday, 1/13
APEX Classroom Visits (1/13–1/15)
Read Better, Be Better begins (4th & 5th grade only)
🍧 Frio Pops will be on campus after school in the parking lot
🔹 Wednesday, 1/14
Read Better, Be Better for all participants
Student Council Meeting at 3:00 PM
Board Meeting at 6:00 PM
🔹 Thursday, 1/15
District Spelling Bee 🐝📚 — good luck to our spellers!
🔹 Friday – APEX Fun Run Day! 🎉🏃♀️
4th & 5th Grade: 8:00 AM
2nd & 3rd Grade: 9:00 AM
Kinder, 1st & STC: 1:30 PM
📌 Friendly Reminders
Attendance matters! Please help your student arrive at school on time every day so they don’t miss important learning and special activities.
Safety first! We appreciate your help in keeping our students, staff, and families safe by driving slowly, using crosswalks, and following all drop-off and pick-up procedures.
Thank you for your continued support—we’re looking forward to a fantastic week full of learning, fun, and school spirit! 💙🐯
📸 Smile! Picture Day is Coming! 😄
Our school picture day is Thursday, January 22nd! This is the day for students to shine, strike a pose, and show off their best smiles.
Please help your student come to school dressed their best and ready to smile big 📷✨
Picture order information will be sent home, so keep an eye out!
We can’t wait to capture these special moments of our amazing students! 💙🐯
Our school picture day is Thursday, January 22nd! This is the day for students to shine, strike a pose, and show off their best smiles.
Please help your student come to school dressed their best and ready to smile big 📷✨
Picture order information will be sent home, so keep an eye out!
We can’t wait to capture these special moments of our amazing students! 💙🐯
Happening Now! Stop by Someburros on 920 N Verrado Way in Buckeye anytime between 7am-9pm. Please mention the fundraiser or show the flyer. Thank you for the support.
We had a schedule change and tomorrow is Fundraiser Day! Stop by Someburros on 920 N Verrado Way in Buckeye anytime between 7am-9pm on Jan 14th to help the Odyssey of the Mind teams. Please mention the fundraiser or show the flyer. Thank you for the support.
Next Friday, January 23rd , the SMUSD 3rd through 8th grade competitive robotics teams will be hosting a fundraising night at Panda Express on Watson Rd. from 8:30 AM until midnight. 20% of all sales will go directly back to the elementary and middle school competitive robotics teams to help pay for materials and competition fees. Thank you for your support!
Frios will be on campus tomorrow. Enjoy a tasty treat and support the SMUSD Odyssey of the Mind program. Pops are $4 and 20% comes back to our students. Thank you @FriosWestValley
Dear Families,
We’ve recently had several safety concerns brought to our attention, and we want to make sure everyone in our school community stays safe during arrival and dismissal.
Please take a moment to review these reminders and help us keep our students, families, and staff safe:
Use the crosswalks at all times — please do not cross outside of designated areas.
Drive slowly and be aware of students and staff directing traffic.
Be patient and courteous with other drivers and pedestrians.
Merge carefully and follow staff directions.
Do not drop off or pick up students in the parking lot.
Please use the designated drop-off and pick-up lane only.
Working together and following these expectations helps prevent accidents and keeps everyone protected.
Additionally, please note:
Beginning January 6, 2026, there will be no early checkouts after 2:30 PM.
This helps reduce interruptions and allows teachers to finish lessons smoothly at the end of the day.
We truly appreciate your cooperation and partnership. Our goal is to make sure everyone remains safe, healthy, and supported every day.
Thank you for helping us take care of our school community.
Sincerely,
Kym
We’ve recently had several safety concerns brought to our attention, and we want to make sure everyone in our school community stays safe during arrival and dismissal.
Please take a moment to review these reminders and help us keep our students, families, and staff safe:
Use the crosswalks at all times — please do not cross outside of designated areas.
Drive slowly and be aware of students and staff directing traffic.
Be patient and courteous with other drivers and pedestrians.
Merge carefully and follow staff directions.
Do not drop off or pick up students in the parking lot.
Please use the designated drop-off and pick-up lane only.
Working together and following these expectations helps prevent accidents and keeps everyone protected.
Additionally, please note:
Beginning January 6, 2026, there will be no early checkouts after 2:30 PM.
This helps reduce interruptions and allows teachers to finish lessons smoothly at the end of the day.
We truly appreciate your cooperation and partnership. Our goal is to make sure everyone remains safe, healthy, and supported every day.
Thank you for helping us take care of our school community.
Sincerely,
Kym
Please take a look at our fourth installment of our "Day in the Life" video series. This one features Caitey Dunbar, the health aide at Desert Sunset Elementary.
https://youtu.be/gP4oXDZ7M3g
https://youtu.be/gP4oXDZ7M3g
🚀 What does it mean to LEVEL UP as a leader? ? 🤔 That’s what we’re about to learn! 💪 The Apex Team is here to bring high-energy lessons about these leadership habits to our students every day for the next two weeks leading up to our Apex fun run event happening on Friday, January 16th! Get ready to grow, lead, and Level Up! 🌟#ApexLevelUp #ApexLeadershipCo #LeadershipDevelopment
🌟 Growth Starts with Belief! 🌟
Today, we learned that great leaders believe in growth. When we choose to Level Up, we believe that with effort, practice, and the right mindset, we can improve every day! 💪
Leadership isn't about being perfect. It’s about showing up, learning from mistakes, and aiming to be better than we were yesterday. 🔥
Let’s keep pushing forward and growing together as we Level Up our leadership! 🚀
#ApexLevelUp #GrowthMindset
🌟 Growth Starts with Belief! 🌟
Today, we learned that great leaders believe in growth. When we choose to Level Up, we believe that with effort, practice, and the right mindset, we can improve every day! 💪
Leadership isn't about being perfect. It’s about showing up, learning from mistakes, and aiming to be better than we were yesterday. 🔥
Let’s keep pushing forward and growing together as we Level Up our leadership! 🚀
#ApexLevelUp #GrowthMindset
🎉 Exciting Announcement! 🌟
Today is our highly anticipated Level Up Pep Rally with @ApexLeadershipCompany! Our students are gearing up to grow, rise above, and unlock their leadership potential! 🔮 After the pep rally, pledges will open up for action! Students will receive their VIP Badges, equipped with login details for myapexevent.com. It's your time to shine - let’s Level Up together for a stronger school and brighter future! 💫 #ApexLevelUp #ApexLeadership #NextLevelLeaders
🎉 It’s time to LEVEL UP! 🎉 Our @apexleadershipcompany fun run is now open for pledging! 🌟 It's time to show your support by donating on your student’s pledge page. Simply log in to myapexevent.com using their unique student access code found on the VIP Badge that was sent home today. Check your email for daily updates from your child’s teacher. Let’s level up our support and raise funds for New Permanent Soccer Goals together! #ApexLeadershipCo #SupportOurSchool #MakeADifference
Today is our highly anticipated Level Up Pep Rally with @ApexLeadershipCompany! Our students are gearing up to grow, rise above, and unlock their leadership potential! 🔮 After the pep rally, pledges will open up for action! Students will receive their VIP Badges, equipped with login details for myapexevent.com. It's your time to shine - let’s Level Up together for a stronger school and brighter future! 💫 #ApexLevelUp #ApexLeadership #NextLevelLeaders
🎉 It’s time to LEVEL UP! 🎉 Our @apexleadershipcompany fun run is now open for pledging! 🌟 It's time to show your support by donating on your student’s pledge page. Simply log in to myapexevent.com using their unique student access code found on the VIP Badge that was sent home today. Check your email for daily updates from your child’s teacher. Let’s level up our support and raise funds for New Permanent Soccer Goals together! #ApexLeadershipCo #SupportOurSchool #MakeADifference
Save the date! Jan 14th. Enjoy lunch, dinner, or both and support the SMUSD Odyssey of the Mind teams. Make sure to mention the fundraiser with your order and THANK YOU for your support!
Dear Families,
Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed a restful break. We are excited to welcome our students back on January 6th and can’t wait to see everyone’s smiling faces.
As we kick off 2026, we want to start the year strong. Please remember:
Doors open at 6:45 a.m.
School starts at 7:00 a.m. sharp
Arriving on time each day helps students start the morning calmly, stay on track, and get the most out of learning. Daily attendance truly makes a difference.
To support focused classrooms and reduce interruptions, we’ve made an important change. Beginning Tuesday, January 6th, we will no longer allow student checkouts after 2:30 p.m. This will help ensure our students receive a full day of instruction and are able to finish strong.
Please also note: students are released at 3:00 p.m. If a student is not picked up by 3:15 p.m., a parent or guardian will need to come into the office and sign them out. This helps us keep all students safe and accounted for.
We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work together to provide the very best learning environment for our students. We’re excited to see what 2026 brings!
Thank you for your continued support,
Tartesso Staff
Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed a restful break. We are excited to welcome our students back on January 6th and can’t wait to see everyone’s smiling faces.
As we kick off 2026, we want to start the year strong. Please remember:
Doors open at 6:45 a.m.
School starts at 7:00 a.m. sharp
Arriving on time each day helps students start the morning calmly, stay on track, and get the most out of learning. Daily attendance truly makes a difference.
To support focused classrooms and reduce interruptions, we’ve made an important change. Beginning Tuesday, January 6th, we will no longer allow student checkouts after 2:30 p.m. This will help ensure our students receive a full day of instruction and are able to finish strong.
Please also note: students are released at 3:00 p.m. If a student is not picked up by 3:15 p.m., a parent or guardian will need to come into the office and sign them out. This helps us keep all students safe and accounted for.
We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work together to provide the very best learning environment for our students. We’re excited to see what 2026 brings!
Thank you for your continued support,
Tartesso Staff
🌟🎉 Congratulations to our Students of the Month! 🎉🌟
Your kindness, perseverance, and achievements are something to celebrate. Thank you for being such wonderful role models and helping make our school extra bright this festive season! 🎄❄️
#StudentOfTheMonth #SchoolPride #SoProud #HardWorkPaysOff #PositiveRoleModels #FestiveSeason #CelebratingSuccess #FutureLeaders
Your kindness, perseverance, and achievements are something to celebrate. Thank you for being such wonderful role models and helping make our school extra bright this festive season! 🎄❄️
#StudentOfTheMonth #SchoolPride #SoProud #HardWorkPaysOff #PositiveRoleModels #FestiveSeason #CelebratingSuccess #FutureLeaders
🌍✈️ Holidays Around the World — Tonight! ✈️🌍
Join us tonight from 5:30–7:00 PM for our Holidays Around the World celebration! Grab a passport and travel the globe as you experience different cultures and traditions from around the world.
Each grade has been hard at work learning about a country and the holiday they’re representing—come see what the kids have created and celebrate their learning with us!
🎁 Bonus: Our Holiday Store will be open during the event, so families can browse and purchase gifts while enjoying the festivities.
We can’t wait to travel the world with you tonight—don’t miss this fun, festive evening! 🌎✨
Join us tonight from 5:30–7:00 PM for our Holidays Around the World celebration! Grab a passport and travel the globe as you experience different cultures and traditions from around the world.
Each grade has been hard at work learning about a country and the holiday they’re representing—come see what the kids have created and celebrate their learning with us!
🎁 Bonus: Our Holiday Store will be open during the event, so families can browse and purchase gifts while enjoying the festivities.
We can’t wait to travel the world with you tonight—don’t miss this fun, festive evening! 🌎✨
🍬✨ Candy Grams Are Here! ✨🍬
Sweet news! Candy grams are on sale this week and they’re the perfect way to spread a little holiday cheer 💖
🕖 When to buy:
• Morning: 6:45–7:00 AM, Tuesday–Thursday
• After school: Tuesday & Thursday
Only $1 each!
Grab one (or a few!) for your student, a friend, a teacher, or a staff member 🎁
Let’s sprinkle some joy, smiles, and sweetness all around this holiday season! 🎄😊
Sweet news! Candy grams are on sale this week and they’re the perfect way to spread a little holiday cheer 💖
🕖 When to buy:
• Morning: 6:45–7:00 AM, Tuesday–Thursday
• After school: Tuesday & Thursday
Only $1 each!
Grab one (or a few!) for your student, a friend, a teacher, or a staff member 🎁
Let’s sprinkle some joy, smiles, and sweetness all around this holiday season! 🎄😊
This past Saturday, the three elementary VEX IQ competitive robotics teams from Winters' Well, Desert Sunset, and Tartesso attended their first competition of the season in Ahwatukee. It was the first-ever tournament for about half of our students in the program. The teams did great! Team 35220A from Winters' Well even qualified for the playoffs and finished the tournament in 5th place overall. Great job teams!
The lost and found will be out this week. Come check for your students missing items. All items left on friday will be donated to Foster Care!
🎉 Spirit Week Fun Is Here! 🎉
Families, get ready for a week full of holiday cheer and school spirit! We can’t wait to see our students join in the fun with these festive dress-up days:
🎨 Tuesday – Holiday Colors Day
Kinder: Red
1st Grade: Green
2nd Grade: White
3rd Grade: Silver
4th Grade: Yellow
5th Grade: Blue
STC: Light Blue
🧶 Wednesday – Ugly Sweater Day
The uglier, the better! Bring on the holiday fun.
🎩 Thursday – Holiday Hat & Accessories Day
Festive hats, headbands, scarves, and accessories are welcome!
🎄 Friday – Festive Pajamas & Socks Day
Cozy up and end the week in your favorite holiday PJs and socks.
Thank you for helping us spread joy and spirit throughout the week. We can’t wait to see all the creativity lighting up our campus! 💙✨
Let’s make it a week to remember! 🎉
Families, get ready for a week full of holiday cheer and school spirit! We can’t wait to see our students join in the fun with these festive dress-up days:
🎨 Tuesday – Holiday Colors Day
Kinder: Red
1st Grade: Green
2nd Grade: White
3rd Grade: Silver
4th Grade: Yellow
5th Grade: Blue
STC: Light Blue
🧶 Wednesday – Ugly Sweater Day
The uglier, the better! Bring on the holiday fun.
🎩 Thursday – Holiday Hat & Accessories Day
Festive hats, headbands, scarves, and accessories are welcome!
🎄 Friday – Festive Pajamas & Socks Day
Cozy up and end the week in your favorite holiday PJs and socks.
Thank you for helping us spread joy and spirit throughout the week. We can’t wait to see all the creativity lighting up our campus! 💙✨
Let’s make it a week to remember! 🎉
🎉 Join Us for Holidays Around the World! 🌎✨
Tuesday, December 17th • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Tartesso families, get ready for an evening packed with culture, community, and holiday cheer! Each grade level has chosen a holiday from somewhere around the globe, and they’re excited to showcase their country’s traditions, fun facts, and festive spirit. Come explore and learn how different cultures celebrate this special time of year!
Before the event kicks off, we’ll also be hosting EL Night at 4:30 PM — a great opportunity for our English Learner families to connect, learn, and celebrate together. Everyone is welcome!
And don’t forget to swing by our Holiday Store, where students can pick out sweet, low-cost gifts for family members — a perfect way for them to experience the joy of giving.
🛍 Holiday Store Hours: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
It’s going to be a festive, feel-good night, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! 🎄✨
Tuesday, December 17th • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Tartesso families, get ready for an evening packed with culture, community, and holiday cheer! Each grade level has chosen a holiday from somewhere around the globe, and they’re excited to showcase their country’s traditions, fun facts, and festive spirit. Come explore and learn how different cultures celebrate this special time of year!
Before the event kicks off, we’ll also be hosting EL Night at 4:30 PM — a great opportunity for our English Learner families to connect, learn, and celebrate together. Everyone is welcome!
And don’t forget to swing by our Holiday Store, where students can pick out sweet, low-cost gifts for family members — a perfect way for them to experience the joy of giving.
🛍 Holiday Store Hours: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
It’s going to be a festive, feel-good night, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! 🎄✨
LOST AND FOUND
In the hallway sits a treasure box,
Bursting at the seams,
With jackets, hats, and water bottles—
More than you’d ever dream!
Lunch bags wait patiently,
Hoping to be claimed,
And lonely little sweatshirts
Whisper each child’s name.
This cozy pile keeps growing—
It’s quite the sight to see!
But all these wandering items
Want to go home happily.
So take a peek, come look around,
Your child’s treasure may be near!
Please rescue them by December 19th,
Before they disappear.
After that, our goodies travel
To new homes full of care—
Donated to foster families
Who could use a little share.
So hurry to the Lost & Found,
Give those items a joyful end…
Let them return to loving homes
Where they belong—with you, my friend!
Items will be outside Dec. 10th - 19th.
In the hallway sits a treasure box,
Bursting at the seams,
With jackets, hats, and water bottles—
More than you’d ever dream!
Lunch bags wait patiently,
Hoping to be claimed,
And lonely little sweatshirts
Whisper each child’s name.
This cozy pile keeps growing—
It’s quite the sight to see!
But all these wandering items
Want to go home happily.
So take a peek, come look around,
Your child’s treasure may be near!
Please rescue them by December 19th,
Before they disappear.
After that, our goodies travel
To new homes full of care—
Donated to foster families
Who could use a little share.
So hurry to the Lost & Found,
Give those items a joyful end…
Let them return to loving homes
Where they belong—with you, my friend!
Items will be outside Dec. 10th - 19th.
