The PawPrint
May 5th, 2013
New Principal Announcement

 

Dear Desert Canyon Elementary/Middle School Community:

I am very excited to share with the Desert Canyon Elementary/Middle School community that Dale Link will be recommended to the Governing Board as the interim principal of Desert Canyon beginning with the 2013-14 school year. This recommendation will be presented at the May 14th Governing Board meeting. It will also be recommended that Mr. Link be supported by Gary Achtziger as assistant principal at Desert Canyon Elementary.

Mr. Link has 20 years of experience as an administrator and teacher in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Dale has been an assistant principal at Arcadia High School since 2005.  Prior to that, Dale was a social studies teacher.

Mr. Achtziger has 16 years of experience as an administrator and teacher in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Gary's first 11 years were spent as a classroom teacher and the past five years have been spent as the assistant principal at Hopi Elementary School.

Mr. Link and Mr. Achtziger possess all the qualities of excellent educational leaders, and they are committed to promoting the success of every student.

Please join me in congratulating Dale Link and Gary Achtziger.

 
Sincerely,

Pam Sitton, Ph.D.

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
A Note from Our
New Assistant Principal
Dear Desert Canyon Elementary School Family,

 

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share my excitement about my appointment as the new assistant principal at Desert Canyon Elementary School. Desert Canyon Elementary School has a reputation of excellence and I feel fortunate to be joining a school culture focused on student learning, a commitment to high expectations, innovation and collaboration. I look forward to working with all of you to continue to carry out these important traditions and practices.

I would like to share some information about my educational background and professional experience that has led me to Desert Canyon. After graduating with my Master's in Education from Northern Arizona University I taught for thirteen years with eleven in SUSD.  I then pursued my certification in Educational Leadership from NAU and have spent the last five years as a building level administrator at Hopi Elementary School as the assistant principal and four years as the principal of SUSD Summer School.

I look forward to being part of a warm and caring school environment and working together with each of you. Please feel free to call, email or (when I transition to DCES) stop by for a visit. If you have questions or concerns, pleased do not hesitate to contact me.  Please feel free to share this communication with the PTO Board Committee Members and Desert Canyon families.

Sincerely,
Gary Achtziger

Assistant Principal Desert Canyon Elementary School
Scottsdale Unified School District
Engage, Educate and Empower Every Student, Every Day.
Calling all 4th Graders!!

  

        
 

Do you have an idea for next year's Spirit Wear Shirt? If so, we would love for you to submit your design idea(s)! 

  
Students can draw & color their Spirit Wear Shirt ideas on 8 ˝ x 11 unlined paper (they need to put their name/teacher on the back of the paper). Students can submit as many designs as they wish (one per paper) to their teacher by Monday, May 13th. There will be one design chosen & the student whose shirt design is chosen will receive a FREE Spirit Wear shirt with their design on it at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year!

 

We encourage & welcome all 4th grade students to participate! No artistic skills are necessary! If you have the idea, we can't wait for you to share it J!!! Questions? Email: dblaes@cox.net 

 
SUSD Night at MIM
Thursday, May 9
  


When:  May 9 from 5 to 9pm
Cost:  $8 per person - special school tour admission price
  
Advance registration required.
Please use code SUSD.
 
To register for this program, call MIM's School and Group Tour Coordinator at 480.245.6919 or e-mail grouptours@MIM.org, or 
 
For more information, click here.
 
Don't forget to purchase your yearbook!

 

 

You can pre-purchase one through
Wednesday, May 8th by going directly to www.jostens.com and entering Desert Canyon Elementary at the top of the page.

  

NOTE: Pre-purchased yearbooks will be distributed to the teachers the last week of school.  Distribution date will be determined by each individual teacher. 

  

If there are any books left over, they will be available for purchase during the following times (Check made out to DCES PTO or cash only): 
  • Wednesday, May 22st (3:15-3:30) 
  • Thursday, May 23rd (8:15-8:40) & (3:15-3:30) 
  • Friday, May 24rd (8:15-8:40) Last day of school 
Can't remember if you ordered one? Contact Jill Summer  jillsummer1@gmail.com 
ENROLL IN BRICKS 4 KIDZ®
SUMMER CAMPS NOW!

 

Robotics, Movie-Making and Motorized Model Building Camps Valleywide camps for 5 to 14 year olds who love to play and learn with LEGO® Bricks.


Call Don Kretsch (480) 717-7573 or visit bricks4kidz.com to enroll!


Parent Drop-off/Pick-up Lane

 

The morning shift is from 8:25-8:45 and the afternoon shift is from 3:10 to 3:30. 

 
Upcoming Class Rotation Schedule:
  • Week of 5/6 - 5/10-M. Roach (5/8-Early release at 12:15 for professional development)
  • Week of 5/13 - 5/17-Ruelas
  • Week of 5/20 - 5/24-Solway (5/22-5/24 Early release at 12:15 **5/24 last day of school)
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10203 E McDowell
Mountain Ranch Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
main office: (480) 484-1700

 

In This Issue
New Principal Announcement
A Note from Our New Principal
Design Spirit Wear
SUSD Night at MIM
Pre-Purchase Your Yearbook
Bricks 4Kidsz Summer Camp
Parent Drop Off
 
Dates 2 Remember  
  
5/8 - Early Release Day
  
5/14 - Family FUN at Saladworks
  
5/24 - Last day of Class - Early Release
Enrichment Zone

Community Education's Enrichment Zone engages students in fun activities that create a desire to learn.

Classes are offered throughout the year giving students an opportunity to explore activities of particular interest to them and their families outside of the regular school program.

Programs include:
  • Athletes in Training
  • Bricks 4 Kids
  • Chess Emporium
  • Elements of Music
  • Hispalia
  • iLearn with iPads
  • Junior Golf
  • Mad Science
  • Mind-full Music Therapy
  • Scottsdale Ed Center Math Tutor
  • SWCMA Karate
  • Young Rembrandts
     

*All Programs are contingent upon enrollment

Check out the DCES school Enrichment Programs!

Backpack Flyers

Interested in joining Girls Scouts,  Flag Football, a club, etc?  Wonder what special events are going on this month?
 
Please check out the available flyers on the classes, arts, sports, clubs and special events going on within our community using the links below.
PawPrint Submissions

DCES PTO is proud to present this weekly parent-sponsored, volunteer-powered newsletter to our community. Please click here for more detailed information on how to post your submissions to the DCES PTO website, PawPrint or eblasts.