Troy Gilbert Elementary Groundbreaking Ceremony

​   Dear Esteemed Guest, On behalf of the Litchfield Elementary School District #79, we are reaching out with a friendly reminder regarding the upcoming  groundbreaking ceremony for Troy Gilbert Elementary School  on  Monday, May 5, 2025. Your presence would be truly meaningful as we celebrate this exciting milestone. If you haven’t had the chance to RSVP yet, we kindly ask that you do so at your earliest convenience. This will help us ensure a welcoming and seamless experience for all of our attendees. Event Details:   Date:  Monday, May 5, 2025   Location:  6831 N. Perryville Rd., Waddell, AZ 85355   Time:  9:00 a.m. We hope to see you there and thank you for your continued support of LESD79. Thank you, LESD79

Monday, Apr 28 2025

Litchfield Link Newsletter - March 2025

Dear LESD79 Families, As we step into spring, we’re excited to share important updates, upcoming events, and ways you can stay engaged with LESD79. Thank you for being part of our LESD79 community. A Message From Superintendent,  Dr. Carter Davidson Watch the Video District Updates New School Start and Dismissal Times  For 2025-2026 School Year The Litchfield Elementary School District Governing Board has approved new school start and end times for the 2025-2026 school year. Based on feedback from school leaders, teachers, and the Transportation Department, the recommendation focuses on streamlining our school schedules. The changes ensure that all schools are dismissed by 3:30, maintain consistent instructional time across campuses, allow a 40-minute interval between Tiers for Transportation, make after-school sports and activities more manageable, and keep all PreK-8 campuses within the same Tier.    Join Us at the LESD79 Job Fair On-Site Interviews Available Looking for a new job opportunity? LESD79 is hiring! Join us at our Job Fair to explore a variety of rewarding careers in education—whether you're a teacher, support staff, or seeking a new path, we have opportunities for you. On-site interviews will be available, don’t miss your opportunity to take the next step in your career. Learn more and apply today. Job Fair Details Saturday, March 29, 2025 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Corte Sierra Elementary - 3300 N Santa Fe Trail, Avondale, AZ 85352   Troy Gilbert Elementary School: Our New School Has a Name Exciting things are happening in our district. As we get closer to breaking ground, we want to share again that our new school, opening in Fall 2026, officially has a name—Troy Gilbert Elementary School.      This is an exciting milestone, and we look forward to keeping our community informed every step of the way. From construction updates to key progress points, we’ll be sharing important details along the journey.      Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to visit our website for the latest news! Troy Gilbert Elementary Updates   Belen Soto & Verrado Middle School Earn A+ Schools of Excellence Recognition Belen Soto Elementary School and Verrado Middle School have been recognized as A+ Schools of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation! This prestigious honor reflects their dedication to academic excellence, student success, and innovative education. Congratulations to our students, teachers, and staff on this outstanding achievement!   Announcements   Nominate an Outstanding LESD79 Employee & Apply for the Alumni Scholarship! The Litchfield Elementary School District Educational Foundation is still accepting nominations for the Community Choice Award! This special recognition honors an LESD79 employee who embodies the Litchfield Learner traits and inspires students to do the same. Families and community members are invited to nominate any district employee—whether they are a teacher, front office staff, cafeteria worker, aide, principal, or even the superintendent! Community Choice Award Additionally, applications are also open for the LESD79 Alumni Scholarship! If you are a Class of 2025 senior and LESD79 alum, don’t miss this opportunity. Scholarship applications are due Monday, March 17. Alumni Scholarship   In Partnership with the University of Arizona, LESD79 is Offering the Pathways to Teaching Program Earn your Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an English as a Second Language endorsement—while gaining hands-on experience in a classroom at an LESD79 school. Program Benefits: ✔  Get paid a $1,000/month stipend while you complete your degree ✔  Full tuition covered through financial aid, grants, and scholarships (estimated out-of-pocket cost: $456.95 for the entire program) ✔ Earn your degree in just 17 months (with an option for a special education certification) Join us for an informational session to learn more! 📅 March 17, 2025 📍 Mabel Padgett Elementary School - Media Center      15430 W Turney Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85395 ⏰ 4:15 PM RSVP - Information Session Upcoming Event March 10-15, 2025 - Spring Break - No School March 19, 2025 - Early Release March 25, 2025 - Governing Board Special Meeting March 26, 2025 - Early Release March 2, 2025 - Early Release April - Month of the Military Child View Full Calendar Stay Connected With LESD79 LESD79 is Using ParentSquare to Keep You Informed Schools across LESD79 are using the ParentSquare app to connect with families.  Get started in 3 easy steps 1. Download the free iOS or  Android Mobile app for ParentSquare 2. Log in with your email or phone number registered with your child's school 3. Start receiving posts relevant to your child & district-wide communication-   Litchfield Elementary School District #79  272 East Sagebrush Street  Litchfield Park, AZ 85340           www.lesd79.org  

Friday, Mar 07 2025

LESD79 Governing Board Approves Name of Newest Schoo...

On Feb. 4, 2025, the Litchfield Elementary School District #79 (LESD79) Governing Board officially approved the name  Troy Gilbert Elementary School for the district’s 17th school, set to open in Fall 2026 at Perryville Road and Glendale Avenue. The new school will serve families in the surrounding neighborhoods and honor a local hero and his legacy. The school is named in honor of Major Troy Gilbert, a U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot stationed at Luke Air Force Base, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country on November 27, 2006, during a mission near Baghdad, Iraq. Beyond his distinguished military service, Major Gilbert was a devoted father of five and an engaged member of our local community. His two oldest children attended our very own school, Corte Sierra Elementary School.  The name was selected through the district’s school naming process, which incorporated community input and discussions by district leadership. Now that the name has been approved, LESD79 will begin the process for developing and considering the school’s mascot and colors. Details on how to participate in this process will be shared soon.We look forward to sharing more updates as we prepare for the groundbreaking later this spring. For construction updates and ongoing progress on the new school, please continue to visit our website at bit.ly/TroyGilbertEl .

Wednesday, Feb 05 2025

Immigration Enforcement Concerns

Dear LESD79 Families, Thank you for your continued trust in the Litchfield Elementary School District. As your Superintendent, I want to take a moment to provide updates and information about how the Litchfield Elementary School District is committed to supporting the children and families of our District. As you may be aware, on January 20, 2025, an Executive Order was issued that rescinds a 2021 memo by the Department of Homeland Security. According to the Order, schools will no longer be seen as areas protected from immigration enforcement actions. We understand that this may be concerning for some of our students and families. Please know, we remain committed to supporting every child we serve while maintaining their rights and dignity. We also want to take a moment to share some important information regarding this matter and the rights and protections afforded to students when on school grounds.  The  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)  is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and restricts the sharing of personally identifiable information without parental consent. The District does not maintain student records with immigration information. Additionally, schools are not allowed to share student records with immigration without written parent consent or a judicial order. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials must have a judicial warrant to enter school property. If a warrant is presented, parents will be notified immediately before ICE officials interview any student. LESD79 is updating our teachers and staff on their responsibilities and the proper protocols to follow if ICE officials visit one of our schools. We are working closely with education attorneys as changes are made in immigration enforcement. As always, the safety and wellbeing of our students remains our top priority. LESD79 schools will remain as safe and welcoming spaces for all students.  We encourage all families to  ensure their contact information is up to date in our communication system . Doing so allows us to share important updates directly with you. LESD79 and ParentVUE never share the information you provide and strictly follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits sharing personal information without written parental consent. For many in our community, we understand that this is a time of uncertainty. Please know that LESD79 remains committed to its mission of Student Success and ensuring that its students are ready for High School with skills in key areas: communication, character, teamwork, problem solving, content knowledge, and that they seek to be continuous learners.  We will continue to monitor federal and state laws and keep families informed as new information becomes available. If you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact your school Principal or my office.  Respectfully, Carter Davidson, Ed. D. Superintendent Litchfield Elementary School District #79

Friday, Jan 24 2025

Save the Date: Kinder Experience Night is February 19

  Dear Future LESD79 Kindergarten Families,   We invite you to our Kinder Experience Night on  Wednesday, February 19, 2025, open 4:30 - 6:00 PM . Our Kinder Experience Night is designed for you and your child to explore our classrooms, meet our teachers and prepare for your child's incredible kindergarten journey beginning August 2025. Age Requirement: Children must be 5 years old by August 31, 2025, to enroll. Learn More We can’t wait to meet our future kindergarteners!   Sincerely,    LESD79 Communications [Tuesday, Jan 21 at 1:39 PM] School 17 / LTH is now included in the list of participating schools. School #17 12448 West Bethany Home Road Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

Tuesday, Jan 21 2025

Support LESD79 through Arizona's Public School Tax C...

Dear LESD79 Families and Staff, Make a difference for our students. By donating through Arizona's Public School Tax Credit by April 15, you’ll directly support programs that support our students' education at Litchfield Elementary School District #79. In addition, you will also receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your state taxes. Your tax credit donation can help fund: Sports Visual and performing arts Field trips Outdoor education Character education programs  Here’s how it works: Single or Head of Household Filers: Donate up to $200 Married Couples Filing Jointly: Donate up to $400 Visit  www.lesd79.org/TaxCredit to learn more and make your contribution today. Thank you for supporting our students, together, we can make a difference. LESD79 Communications

Wednesday, Jan 15 2025

LESD Educational Foundation Award Nominations - Now ...

Dear LESD79 Community Members, We invite you to participate in two exciting initiatives from the LESD Educational Foundation for the 2024-2025 school year. Your involvement helps us recognize excellence and support educational growth across our district. Community Choice Award:  This award goes to a LESD79 employee who possesses all of the attributes of a Litchfield Learner as well as inspires students to embody the Litchfield Learner traits. Nominations are to be submitted by students, parents, and/or community members. Eligible nominees include all district employees, such as front office staff, cafeteria workers, teachers, aides, principals, superintendent. LESD Educational Foundation Scholarship Application : To support the educational, social, and economic needs of LESD79 alumni, the Foundation offers scholarships to Arizona class of 2025 high school seniors who promoted from 8th grade at any LESD79 school. Nominate an exceptional LESD79 employee for the Community Choice Award or to apply for the scholarship program: Community Choice Award Nominations Scholarship Applications Thank you for helping us recognize excellence and support educational opportunities at LESD79. LESD79 Communications

Tuesday, Jan 14 2025

Welcome Back 2025

Dear LESD79 Staff and Families, Happy 2025 and welcome back to school! I hope this letter finds you well and that you had a safe and enjoyable holiday break. With the focus of providing every student a high quality education, I remain grateful for the hard work and commitment of our teachers, staff, administrators, and families. The Litchfield Elementary School District is a special place and has much to be proud of. With a spirit of collaboration, I am confident that the remainder of the school-year will bring even more success for our Litchfield Learners #TogetherWeCan. Please note and as a reminder, President Biden has declared January 9, 2025, a National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. Federal facilities will be closed in observance while our LESD79 schools and offices will remain open and follow their regular schedules. Respectfully, Dr. Carter Davidson Superintendent Litchfield Elementary School District

Wednesday, Jan 08 2025

New Visitor Sign-In Process

The safety of our students & staff is our priority. To add an additional level of security for our students and staff, we are implementing a new Visitor Sign-In process that incorporates our new Centegix Visitor Management system. Please watch as LESD79 Director of Safety, Thomas Foster De Oro explains the new process. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping all of our schools a safe learning environment.   Thank you, LESD79 Communications

Wednesday, Jan 08 2025

Open Enrollment Applications for the 2025-2026 Schoo...

Dear LESD79 Families, You can now apply for Open Enrollment to have your child attend any school in the Litchfield Elementary School District, depending on available space at each school. If your child is already attending one of our schools through Open Enrollment, please remember to submit a new application for the 2025-2026 school year. What is Open Enrollment? Arizona law allows students to apply to attend any state public school, subject to available capacity. Applications must be submitted each year, and approval is granted on a year-by-year basis. Who Can Apply? Any family living in Arizona may apply. How to Apply? The Open Enrollment period begins in January during the school year prior to the year Open Enrollment is being requested. Visit  lesd79.org/OpenEnrollment  to access the application. Transportation: Transportation is not provided for Open Enrollment students. Families are responsible for arranging safe and timely transportation. For additional information visit our  Open Enrollment Information Page . Warm regards, LESD79 Communications

Tuesday, Jan 07 2025