Monthly Parent Updates

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  October 2, 2023

  Dear DVUSD Families,  

  We are in the final week of the first quarter of the school year- can you believe it? As the quarter wraps up there are important dates and updates to keep in mind.  

  Get the Latest from DVUSD’s New Podcast- The ‘Supe Scoop
  Now on air, Deer Valley Unified School District’s (DVUSD) Superintendent, Dr. Curtis Finch, hosts a bi-weekly podcast giving listeners an inside look at all things DVUSD! In the most recent episode he sits down with Jim Miglorino, DVUSD’s Deputy Superintendent of Fiscal and Business Services, to discuss the upcoming DVUSD Bond and Override measures that will be on voter’s ballots in November. 

  Previous episodes include features on: DVUSD Girl’s Flag Football program, new principals to the District, the top bus driver in the state of Arizona, and three of the District's high school students who are making national and international differences with their own projects. Listen to the latest episodes: dvusd.org/supescoop.  

  Special Report to the Community
  The annual special report to the community will be arriving in your mailboxes in the coming days. This four-page publication details the explosive growth occurring and expected within DVUSD, student accomplishments, as well as a map of completed and proposed bond-funded projects . A digital version of the publication can be reviewed at dvusd.org/specialreport. 

  DVUSD Pathways Fall 2 Enrollment 
  Enrollment for DVUSD’s Pathways program is open for the Fall. The Fall 2 session of courses begin on October 16 and end December 7. The program serves students who may want to accelerate their learning and graduate early, students who are looking to recover credits, or for students who need a more flexible high school schedule. DVUSD Pathways offers short-term enrollments, a rotating course offering list, and utilizes highly-qualified teachers and curriculum within a tuition-free environment. Pathways students and teachers meet Monday-Thursday from  3:00 - 5:45 p.m. Enrollment forms can be found at DVUSD.org/pathways or the home school counseling center.

  Districtwide Accreditation
  DVUSD is currently going through the process of getting district-wide accreditation through Cognia. Accreditation is one of the methods we use to ensure we have quality programs and are receiving outside feedback from around the nation to continually improve our processes. The accreditation process is based on rigorous research-based standards and evidence-based criteria. The process probes the whole institution—from policies to learning conditions and cultural context—to determine how well the different aspects of the district work together to meet the needs of every learner. We are currently in the process of reapplying for accreditation in January 2024. 
  
  DVUSD Grading Practices
  As the  first quarter draws to a close, parents of Kindergarten-8th grade will have access to student’s grades for the first marking period. Students in Kindergarten through second grade will be receiving marks on a 4, 3, 2, 1 scale for their proficiency of the learning standards that were taught during the marking period for Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies. Not all of the standards on the report card were taught during this quarter so you will see some boxes without marks. The Special Area classes will show an overall course grade and a citizenship grade of E/S/N/U. Students in 7-8th grade will receive overall course grades of A, B, C, D, or F for all courses. Parents are encouraged to log in through Power schools to view their student’s grades here. More information on DVUSD grading practices can be found on dvusd.org/grading. 

  Parent Teacher Conferences
  Parent Teacher Conferences will take place across the District next week, Oct. 9-13. Students will have half-day early release days next Thursday and Friday, October 12 and 13 to accommodate for conferences. Your school will provide additional information. 

  Conversations with Curt
  Dr. Curtis Finch, DVUSD’s Superintendent, is bringing back the “Conversations with Curt” events in October! This is your opportunity to submit questions to the superintendent and get them answered during a live webinar, as well as hear the latest #extraordinary updates straight from the superintendent himself. The event will be held via Zoom on Thursday Oct. 19 from 2-3 p.m. Register for the webinar here. Submit a question for the superintendent here.   Questions will be accepted until Friday October 13 (please note due to time constraints all questions may not be addressed). A recording of this event will be posted at a later date for review if you are not able to attend. 

  CTE High School to Career Expo
  DVUSD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department is hosting the annual High School to Career Expo Thursday, October 26, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. in the DVUSD Innovation Center (20402 N. 15th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85027). The event will feature exhibits by Career and Technical Education program teachers, student ambassadors, school counselors, West-MEC, and district office staff. Teachers and student ambassadors representing all 21 DVUSD CTE programs will be on hand to answer questions and help you learn more about each program. Now is the chance for your high school or incoming high school student (grades 7-11) to make their time in high school #extraordinary with career preparation and exploration experiences, excitement, and real skills for real life!  

  Future Freshman Night
  All eighth grade students and their families are invited to attend DVUSD’s Future Freshman Nights! These events will be held throughout October and November at each of the five DVUSD high schools and Aspire - Deer Valley’s Online Academy. During the events, students and families will learn all about the opportunities that await them in high school including: school programs, tours of the campuses, and meeting administration and teachers. Barry Goldwater High School will hold the first of these events on October 30. For a list of all events visit: dvusd.org/futurefreshman.
  
  Kindergarten Preview Night
  Calling the class of 2037! Future Kindergarten parents and students, join all DVUSD K-6 and K-8 schools including Aspire - Deer Valley Online Academy Nov. 1-3 at our Fall Kindergarten Preview Events! School staff will be available on all campuses to answer questions and help you register your student for this next exciting chapter in their educational journey! If you have a student ready to start Kindergarten next fall, check out the events at www.dvusd.org/KinderEvents. You can find additional information about DVUSD’s #Extraordinary Kindergarten program and details about how to register a student at www.dvusd.org/Kindergarten. Kindergarten registration is scheduled to open November 1 for the 2024-25 school year. 

  Ask Benji - FAFSA Assistance For High School Families
  The Ask Benji chatbot returns this year to assist senior students, parents, families, and educators by getting quick answers to a wide variety of questions about the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for post-secondary funding opportunities at universities, colleges, and trade schools. Benji is free and easy to use responding to your confidential questions 24/7 in a matter of 60 seconds. Visit www.askbenji.org for more information about Benji, FAFSA, and other resources. Text “Help” to Benji anytime at 602-786-8171 to get started. Opt out at any time by texting "Stop." If you have further questions, contact your school counselor or view the English Flyer and Spanish Flyer. In the coming weeks, families with senior students will be receiving a text message from Ask Benji to support you in the completion of the financial aid process.

  Register to Vote
  The last day to register to vote in the upcoming November election is October 10! DVUSD has two measures on the ballot for this election. In May, the DVUSD Governing board unanimously approved for the District to seek voter authorization for a continuation of the existing override and a special Bond Election in the amount of $325 million. Your taxes will not increase as a result of the proposed Bond and Override. The funds will help preserve current fine arts and athletic programs such as art, general and instrumental music, and physical education, retain and recruit highly-qualified staff, as well as maintain class sizes. Learn more about the DVUSD Bond and Override measures at dvusd.org/election. 

  Medicaid School Based Claiming and Open Care
  You may have received an email communication from the District regarding Medicaid School Based Claiming (MSBC). MSBC has now expanded to include Open Care billing which includes billing for services that were not previously covered. This may include students who are on IEPs, 504s, medical plans and/or students who are not on IEPs or 504s.  Open Care could include hearing and vision screenings that are provided by medical professionals, for example. DVUSD does not know which families/students are covered by Medicaid; therefore, the District will periodically send an email to solicit electronic signatures for approval to bill for Medicaid- eligible billing. As part of the District outreach, DVUSD is often involved in informing families of their potential eligibility for Medicaid and is required through MSBC.   

  Parent Webinar for parents of students on IEPs/504s 
  Parents of students on IEPs/504s, please check out this Parent Webinar focusing on Positive Partnerships with DVUSD, Raising Special Kids, and parent/guardians. This is the first of four parent webinars for the 2023-2024 school year.   

  One final reminder, all DVUSD schools and the district office will be closed next Monday, October 9 for a Fall Break Day. We will see everyone back at school Tuesday, October 10! 

  Deer Valley Unified School District

August 7, 2023

Dear DVUSD Families, 

Thank you for an #extraordinary start to the school year! Below you will find important updates as well as upcoming events relating to the district, your child’s education, and their educational success.

Submit Returning Student Forms
Thank you to the parents and guardians who have completed their Returning Student Forms. For those who have not submitted the forms, you will receive a reminder email today from Power School Registration Support (noreplyregistration@powerschool.com). These forms provide information that must be updated yearly, and allows the district to have the most current and accurate data regarding your student(s). If you have not done so already, please complete, and submit the Returning Student Forms as soon as possible.

DVUSD Grading Practices

The grading scales and grading procedures in Deer Valley Unified School District have been updated for this school year. As has been the case for many years in DVUSD, students in Kindergarten will receive proficiency marks for each standard taught during the marking term on a 4-1 scale. Students in 1st and 2nd grades will receive marks at the end of each quarter for their overall performance in each course of study using the following letter grade scale that has been in place for decades in DVUSD.

E = Excellent 

S = Satisfactory 

N = Needs Improvement  

U = Under Performing

Students in 3rd through 12th grades will receive marks for their overall performance in each course of study using the following traditional letter grade scale. Grades will be determined by a traditional averaging of assignment scores.

A =  90-100% 

B =  80-89%

C =  70-79%

D =  60-69%

F =   0-59%

For more information about DVUSD Grading Practices, please take a look at the following resources:DVUSD Grading Web Page, DVUSD Grading Practices Document.  Promotion, Retention, Acceleration, and Gradining Guides (PRAG), Grading, Reporting, And Graduation Guide (GRAG)

Public & Private University Information Nights
Attention DVUSD high school seniors and parents of high school seniors, DVUSD is hosting the annual Public University Night on Thursday, August 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Mountain Ridge High School (22800 N. 67th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85310). This is your chance to connect with and hear presentations from the three, in-state public universities (Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and The University of Arizona.) and learn more about their opportunities including their unique programs, scholarships, financial aid opportunities and more! Visit this webpage for more information.. Private University Night featuring the private universities throughout the state will be held Thursday, September 7, at the DVUSD Innovation Center and DVUSD Governing Rooms (20402 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 853027)  from 6-7:30 p.m.

Strategic Plan & Portrait of a Graduate

DVUSD has unveiled the 2023-2028 strategic plan which provides the framework for continuous success and improvement as the district expands and strives for excellence over the next five years. District staff worked together with a variety of students, staff, community members and community partners over the course of the last several years to develop this plan. Five key strategic priorities emerged from this work which include excellence in: Student Learning, Workplace Performance, Stakeholder Relationships and Organizational Improvement. A brand new concept of the “Portrait of a DVUSD Graduate” was also created as a piece of this plan. The portrait showcases the essential skills and attitudes our students will possess in order to be ready for college, career, and community. View the entire new strategic plan and portrait of a graduate here. We will be highlighting graduates of DVUSD who embody these traits in a short video series, watch the first set of graduate stories here!

Student Support Services Parent Webinar Series

Student Support Services is hosting another virtual webinar series this school year. Keep an eye out for information on the topics and a schedule for these webinars that will be released soon! The first webinar will be October 20, 2023.

DVUSD Gifted Services Seminar - August 24

Join DVUSD’s Gifted Services Manager, Dr. Aimee Sulit, on Thursday, August 24, for the first gifted parent seminar of the school year at Las Brisas Elementary School (5805 W. Alameda Road, Glendale, AZ 85310) from 6 - 7 p.m. During the seminar, she will give an overview of the continuum of gifted services available for students within the district. Parents will gain insights into various program models to determine which services best fit their children’s distinctive needs. Click here to register for the seminar.

Join the DVUSD Team 

As we kick off this new school year, there are still a variety of positions available throughout the district. If you are looking for a rewarding career at one of the Forbes Best Midsize Employers for  back-to-back years (2022 & 2023), look no further than DVUSD! The District offers extensive benefits, paid holidays, and the opportunity to more closely align your work schedule to your student’s schedule. Explore current openings today at careers.dvusd.org.  

Have a great week!

Deer Valley Unified School District

July 24, 2023

Dear DVUSD Families, 

We are looking forward to having all of your students back to class next Monday, July 31! This letter will provide important updates as the countdown to back to school winds down. For highlights of the first day of school, as well as to discover all the #extraordinary stories of the school year, be sure to follow @DVUSD as well as your home campus accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

School & District Office Closures July 27 

All school offices and the district office will be closed until 1:00 pm this Thursday, July 27, for an all-staff event to kick off the school year. Please plan accordingly.

Back to School Preparation & Events
For information on the first day of school including: start/dismissal times, school menus, bus information, school calendars, mass notification systems, and more, visit: dvusd.org/firstday. If you need to find information about bus routes for 2023-24, please go to: dvusd.org/busroutes. 

To ensure that your paperwork and contact details are accurate and up to date, PowerSchools Registration Support will be sending an email to submit the required return to school paperwork electronically in the coming days. This process is quick and replaces the paper forms sent home at the beginning of each school year. Please complete one form for each child in the district. 

If you have a child who will be attending a DVUSD preschool, information can be found here: dvusd.org/preschool. If you have a child you would like to attend preschool and have not yet registered, please reach out to Traci Piccoli at Traci.Piccoli@dvusd.org, or 623-376-3979. Space is available at a few of our locations - but are filling quickly! 

We recognize that temperatures are high during these summer months. Please remind your students to drink plenty of water throughout the day and send them to school with a reusable water bottle.

DVUSD Kindergarten & Big Kid Book Club
It’s not too late to register your child for DVUSD Kindergarten! If your child will be five years old before September 1, 2023, register your student today for Kindergarten! The process is quick and completely online. Visit: dvusd.org/register to register today. If your child is between the ages of 3-5 and not yet enrolled in Kindergarten, sign them up for DVUSD’s Big Kid Book Club! We will periodically send your child a free book in the mail along with helpful advice for parents and guardians that will help them prepare to be a student at DVUSD!  

K-5 Math Adoption Public Review Now Open!
DVUSD is in the process of adopting a new mathematics resource to support content and instructional practice for grades K-5. The goal of the Public Review is to gather feedback from all DVUSD stakeholders about the resource finalists up for adoption consideration. 

The K-5 Math Adoption Committee narrowed the pool of resources to Eureka Math² and i-Ready Classroom Mathematics. Videos highlighting the print and digital content, access to demo accounts, and pros/cons for each resource are linked HERE. Materials are now available for public review and will remain available until September 29, 2023. Please visit the DVUSD K-5 Mathematics Adoption webpage for additional information and to provide feedback using this form from July 25-Sep 29, 2023.

These letters providing important updates and information will continue throughout the 23-24 school year during the first week of each month. The next update is scheduled for August 7. 

Have a great first week back to school!

Deer Valley Unified School District

June 5, 2023

Dear DVUSD Families,  

We hope you are enjoying the start of your Summer Break! This update will be brief and provide important information as we look forward to the 2023-24 school year. 

The first day of school for 2023-24 is Monday, July 31. The calendar for the upcoming school year can be found by clicking here and on the dvusd.org/calendars web page. 

Summer Communication and Events
You will begin receiving information from your child’s school in July. Please note that all K-8  school offices close during the summer and reopen July 17. All high school offices will remain open throughout the summer with the exception of Fridays. 

Students will find out their teacher(s) in late July. K-6 students will find out their teachers between July 24-28. Middle and high school students’ teachers (students in grades 7-12) will be posted to their PowerSchool accounts after July 24. 

Meet the Teacher Night, will be held one to two weeks before school starts. You will receive details on these events directly from your student’s school. This information will also be posted to the district website. 

Supply lists for next school year are posted by grade level on each school’s website over the summer.  

Grades 6-8 ELA Resource Adoption Public Review Now Available
The ELA 6-8 Adoption committee has reviewed, evaluated, and recommended resources and supplemental materials for use in the 6th-8th grade courses in Deer Valley Unified School District. Vendors presented for public review include: Amplify, HMH-Into Literature, and McGraw Hill Studysync. The public is encouraged to review and submit feedback on the suggested resources until August 22 by clicking on this link (usernames and passwords are provided on the linked page). After reviewing the materials, please complete one form for each resource reviewed.

DVUSD Preschool
If you have a child who will be in DVUSD preschool, information can be found here: www.dvusd.org/Page/54950. If you have a child you would like to attend preschool and have not yet registered, please reach out to Traci Piccoli at Traci.Piccoli@dvusd.org or 623-376-3979.  We do have some room at a few of our locations - spots are filling quickly! 

Kindergarten Registration
It’s not too late to register your student for DVUSD Kindergarten in 2023-24. If your child will be five years old before September 1, 2023 register your student today for Kindergarten! The process is quick and completely online. Visit: dvusd.org/register to register today!  

New Cohort for DVUSD Teacher Prep Program Open! 
The next cohort for DVUSD’s Teacher Prep Program is open! The newest cohort will be held at Barry Goldwater High School in Special Education. This is a FREE 2-year post-baccalaureate certification program that leads to an Arizona Teacher Certificate in the area of Special Education: Mild/Moderate. Candidates will receive over 200 hours of professional development, job-embedded coaching, in-classroom observations and feedback, and on-site mentorship while enjoying all the benefits of being a fully appointed teacher. For more information and to apply, visit the teacher prep program website. 

Join the DVUSD Team 
Are you looking to make a career shift this summer? DVUSD is hiring for a variety of positions! Come work for one of Forbes Best Midsize employers, be on a similar schedule to your students, and work in a career that makes an impact on your community and the next generation. View all current openings and apply today by visiting dvusd.org/jobs.  

Parents should expect the next district update by mid-July as we approach the first day of school on Monday, July 31! 

Deer Valley Unified School District