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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Celebrating Achievements & Looking Ahead
Dear Litchfield Elementary School District Staff and Families, As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the dedication, innovation, and care demonstrated daily across our 16 schools and many departments. LESD79 is a special place because of the commitment of our teachers, administrators, staff and families whose efforts lead to the success of every student. Litchfield Learners are advancing in remarkable ways and have recently demonstrated their learning on our mid-year benchmark assessments. Our district is moving forward with School 17 and I am excited about the progress! We are steadily moving along and look forward to selecting a name for this beautiful new addition to our district when we return from winter break. This is an exciting milestone that will make our community proud and highlights our legacy of academic excellence for all our students. As we pause to celebrate the holidays, I encourage everyone to take time to rest, recharge, and create meaningful moments with family and friends. Please travel safely and return refreshed and ready to kick off the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year. Wishing you a joyful and peaceful Holiday Season! Sincerely, Carter Davidson Ed.D. Superintendent Litchfield Elementary School District
Friday, Dec 20 2024
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Litchfield Link Newsletter - November 2024
Dear LESD79 Families, In this edition, we share key initiatives, upcoming events, and highlights from our most recent school letter grades. This month, we’re also introducing “ Safety Time with Thomas ,” a new video series led by our Director of School Safety, where he’ll share essential tips to help keep our students safe. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making LESD79 a wonderful place to learn and grow. Together, we’re creating a brighter future for every student, and I’m thrilled to keep building on our shared vision for our Litchfield Learners. A Message From LESD79 Superintendent, Dr. Carter Davidson Watch as Superintendent Dr. Carter Davidson gives updates on the new strategic plan, school grades, safety upgrades, and more. Watch the Video District Updates Arizona Department of Education Releases School Letter Grades The Arizona Department of Education released the 2023-2024 school letter grades, with LESD79 earning a "Highly Performing" rating. This achievement reflects the dedication of our students, staff, and families. We are proud of this success and remain committed to delivering educational excellence for all our students. Learn More About Our School Letter Grades LESD79's Five-Year Strategic Plan Our five-year Strategic Plan was approved by our LESD79 Governing Board. This marks a significant milestone for our district, one that directly supports our mission of preparing Litchfield Learners for success in high school and beyond. Our strategic plan is grounded in three pillars: Readiness, Resources, and Relationships. Together, we will focus on delivering the tools, resources, and support our students need to thrive as they transition to the next step in their educational journey. Learn More About Our Strategic Plan Safety Spotlight – “Safety Time With Thomas” We’re pleased to introduce “Safety Time with Thomas,” a new video series featuring our Director of School Safety, Thomas. Be sure to watch the video and discuss these tips with your family to help keep everyone safe and informed. Watch The Video Principal Appreciation Month We celebrated Principal Appreciation in October, and we’re grateful to recognize the outstanding leaders guiding our schools. Our principals wear many hats, from setting schoolwide goals to supporting staff and students. We truly appreciate their dedication. If you missed our principals’ inspiring messages, visit our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram to read their stories! Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram Boost Student Success With Regular Attendance Regular attendance is critical for student success, as it directly impacts academic achievement and social development. Attendance Works, a nonprofit organization that promotes student attendance, reports that students who miss 10% or more of school days—just two days per month—are at increased risk of academic struggles. We encourage families to prioritize daily attendance and ensure that students are present and engaged in learning. For more information, view the informative video in Spanish by our Communications Generalist, Yardley Zamorano, where she shares helpful tips and insights on the importance of regular attendance. Watch Our Video in Spanish on Student Chronic Absenteeism Sign Up for Updates from Our Hispanic Engagement Initiative Announcements We're Hiring - Join Our Team at LESD79! Start your career with Litchfield Elementary School District #79. We’re hiring passionate, dedicated individuals committed to making a positive impact in our schools and community. Explore our current job openings and find a role where you can help shape the future for our Litchfield Learners. Litchfield Elementary School District #79 serves over 10,000 students from Pre-K through 8th grade with 16 campuses in the cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, and Litchfield Park. Our diverse district enjoys strong community support and includes six Title I schools. Visit our website to view our most current job openings. WWW.LESD79.ORG/Apply Honoring Our Veterans: Share Your Stories with LESD79 As Veterans Day approaches, we take a moment to honor and thank all veterans for their service. LESD79 is committed to recognizing the bravery and dedication of those who have served our country. We encourage families to reflect on the importance and invite you to share stories of veterans in your lives with our communications team, for an opportunity to have it shared on our social media platforms. We look forward to hearing from you! Submit Your Story Voting Information – November 5 Mark your calendars! LESD79 is providing a convenient option for families to participate in the electoral process. In-person voting and ballot drop-off will be available at our Support Services building. We encourage all eligible families to make their voices heard by participating in this important civic duty. LESD79 Support Services, Building A 18921 W Thomas Rd, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 Voting Hours: Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 from 9am-7pm Nov. 2 from 9am-5pm Nov. 4 from 9am-5pm Nov. 5 from 6am-7pm Upcoming Events November 5 Election Day Drop off your ballot or vote in person at LESD79 Support Services 18921 W Thomas Rd, Building A Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 November 11 Veteran’s Day Veterna's Day observed - No School November 12 Governing Board Meeting Join us in person at Litchfield Elementary or join our live stream on Youtube: www.lesd79.org/BoardMeeting November 16 Love Our Schools Day Be on the lookout for additional communication for your student's school November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School View Full Calendar View Bell Schedule 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, Nov 01 2024