Important Dates andEvents

September Dates:9/2/21 - VILS Launch withFamily Night - 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

9/7/2021 - PESDGoverning Board Meeting- 6:00 - 8:00 pm

9/8/21-9/10/21 -Parent/TeacherConferences

9/8/21-9/10/21 - EarlyRelease Days

9/15/2021 - SeptemberRecess-No school

9/21/21 - CommunityPartners Lunch & Learn -11:00-12:00 pm

9/21/21 - PESD GoverningBoard Meeting - 6:00-8:00 pm

9/27/21 - Fall Picture Day

Principal's Message

Hello Villa de Paz Families, On September 2nd, Villa de Paz Elementary School will launch ournew partnership with Verizon and Digital Promise. The partnershipprovides students the access to technology and the skills they need tosucceed in the digital world. This transformative program is calledVerizon Innovative Learning. Digital Promise collaborates with Verizonto equip every student and teacher in Middle School with an iPaddevice,up to a four-year data plan, and will provide students withoutreliable home internet access via a mobile hotspot. In addition totechnology and access, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools receiveextensive teacher training, support, and the opportunity to engage in aunique, immersive curriculum to leverage technology in theirclassrooms. Please join us on September 2, 2021 for this special event.

Respectfully,

Mr. Gonzalez

"Dust Devils"Newsletter4940 N. 103rd Avenue

Phoenix, AZ. 85037Office: (623) 772-2490

Fax: (623 877-8977

Principal: Abraham GonzalezAsst. Principal: Renee Gayden

Learn the school's emergency procedures. Emergency plans and phone numbers are usually included in school handbooks and postedin classrooms. Taking a few extra minutes to familiarize yourself and your child with emergency information can give him theconfidence he needs to act quickly in emergency situations.

Know travel routes to and from the school. Make sure you and your child know both primary and alternate routes. In an emergency,roads can be blocked and it's important to have a backup plan.

Know and follow school security and safety measures. These might include signing in when visiting the school, being escorted whenwalking through the building, or wearing a visitor pass. Following these procedures also sets a great example for your kids.

Talk with your child about safety. Be specific. Talk about instinct and paying attention to funny feelings of fear. Explain what to do ifshe doesn't feel safe (find a teacher, call 911, etc.). Make sure she knows how to contact you or a trusted neighbor who is likely to beat home.

Inform school staff about health and emotional concerns. Whether your child has a food allergy, a physical disability, or has beensubject to bullying, make sure to keep your child's teachers and principal in the loop.

Get involved. Talk with the principal about what you can do to increase school safety, such as organizing parents to form aneighborhood watch before and after school. Sometimes parent groups are highly successful in making improvements in trafficsafety during drop off and pick up times.

6 Rules for School Safety

Counselor's CornerCounseling services include individual, group, andwhole classroom presentations. Please contact Mr.Akinniyi if you would like more information, or torefer your child for counseling services.Checking in with your child: Lots of kids get introuble with drugs right after school —from 3 p.m.to 6 p.m. Try to be with your kids then, but if youcan’t, make sure your child is doing somethingpositive with an adult around: sports, jobs, clubs,after-school programs or religious youth groups. Ifyour kids have to be at home, make sure they aredoing homework or chores and not hanging outwith friends.

Mr. Akinniyi, Villa de Paz Counselor Phone: 623-772-2490aakinniyi@pesd92.org

Assistant Principal's Tips

Just a quick reminder: Students who are 11 years of age are required to obtain two adolescentvaccines. One is tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis combination called Tdap, and a vaccine that

protects against meningitis, called Menactra (MCV-4).The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) guidelines has required compliance with

these new vaccine requirements. These immunizations are now due.

Water!Please remember to send your child with a water bottle to school. The weather is still warm and

we need to stay cool and hydrated.

The Facts of Lice

Every year in the US 12 million kids aged 3-11 contract head lice, that’s 1 in 5 kids in the USThe average life cycle is 40 days, adult female lice lay 4-5 eggs per day

They live off human blood and an infestation cannot be passed between human and pet.Head lice are wingless parasites that live close to the human scalp

Head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene

How can you prevent lice:

Avoid sharing hats, scarves, and head accessories

Avoid sharing brushes or combs

Keep head to head contact between children at a minimum

Check your child weekly for lice or nits

Students should not be on campus before 7:50am as we do not have teachers on duty. Return home immediately after school. There is no supervision on the playground afterschool. Discuss and practice a safe route to and fromschool.

School Information

Mission: Empowering students for the choices andchallenges of the 21st century.

Vision: Developing future global leaders

Office Hours: 7:30-4:00 pm., Monday - Friday.

Attendance Line: (623) 772-2515. Use this number toreport student absences.

CLOSED CAMPUS: Villa De Paz Elementary School is aclosed campus. We appreciate your help with our schoolprocedures to ensure safety and maximize learning timeduring the day.

Mornings: The gate facing Mariposa Street will beopen 7:55-8:10 am for all students. Any student arriving at school after 8:10 am willneed to enter through the school office.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch is free for all students.

Dismissal: Kindergarten release is at 3:05 pm. Allother students are released at 3:10 pm. Avoid signingstudents out 30 minutes prior to dismissal of school.

Closed Campus: Due to mitigation, visitors are notallowed on campus without district-level approval.

Student Safety: Student safety must be a priority.We recommend you discuss safety precautions withyour child.

Villa de Paz Elementary School

is proud tonow offer low-cost before andafter-school care for students.Our program runs from 6am to

6pm during the before andafter school hours for currentVilla de Paz students. There

are first-come-first-servescholarships available, as wellas a sliding fee scale based on

income. Please call623-772-2490 or visitpesd92.org for more

information or to register

Covid-19 MitigationPlan

Pendergast School Districtregularly updates our

districtCovid-19 Mitigation plan to

reflect CDC and WHOguidelines for a safe return

to school. Please see our websitewww.pesd92.org for the

updated plan.