Dear Painted Sky Families,

As we begin another wonderful school year, I want to take a moment to talk about something that has a tremendous impact on your child’s success: school attendance and being at school on time.

Every school day is filled with opportunities for your child to learn, grow, collaborate, build friendships, and develop the skills they need to be successful. Being present every day matters! When students miss school, they miss much more than a worksheet or a lesson. They miss conversations, hands-on learning, collaboration with classmates, classroom routines, and opportunities to practice new skills.

Take a look at the pictures below! You can see that our students are actively engaged in learning every day. We are not simply sitting at desks listening to teachers. Our students are collaborating, writing, problem-solving, reading, discussing, creating, and learning together. So much happens during the school day!

When a student is absent, it can be difficult to catch up both academically and socially. Learning builds from day to day, and missed instruction can make it challenging for students to understand what comes next. Just as importantly, students can miss the social interactions and experiences that help them feel connected to their classmates and classroom community.

⏰ Being On Time Matters, Too!

Arriving at school on time is just as important as being present. The beginning of the school day sets the tone for learning. Students may miss morning routines, important directions, announcements, relationship-building opportunities, and the beginning of their first lesson when they arrive late.

We understand that illnesses, family emergencies, and unexpected circumstances happen. We are not expecting families to send children to school when they are sick. However, when your child is healthy and able to attend, please make school attendance and being on time a priority.

📧 Weekly Attendance & Grade Parent Emails

Beginning Thursday, August 20, parents started receiving a weekly email through ParentSquare providing an overview of their child's attendance information. 

• Absences – Full or Half Day (being absent for more than 7 minutes of the day)
• Tardies – Arriving after 7:25am

These weekly updates are designed to help families stay informed and allow us to work together to address attendance concerns early.

Our goal is simple:

Be Here. Be On Time. Be Ready to Learn!

Together, we SOAR! 💙

Stephanie Hillig

On Saturday, August 29th from 9:00a.m. - 12:00p.m., Vanessa Hill is hosting the REACH Institute for students, parents, and teachers.

This year's institute will feature Andi McNair, educational author and speaker on gifted children.

ATTENTION PARENTS/ GUARDIANS

The District Audiology Team will be here performing the State mandated hearing screening on the following students on Tuesday, August 25th. All special needs preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd and 5th grades. The District Vison Screening Team will be here Thursday, August 27th screening vision for students in special needs preschool, Kindergarten & 1st grade. Additionally, all students who receive special education services, students new to district and students that receive speech services. There is an additional screening date in October to screen all of 3rd grade. Please contact the health office if you have any questions or concerns regarding screening.

Arizona’s new Healthy Schools Act changes the types of foods that can be served, sold, or shared at public schools that participate in federal meal programs, including free and reduced-price meals. The law applies to all Amphitheater schools, and our District is required to follow these guidelines.

Below are the guidelines for each grade level for birthday celebrations. We know that there will be more questions about classroom celebrations around the holidays, but these will also have to follow the guidelines outlined by the new Healthy Schools ACT

We are excited to offer Band to all 3rd–5th grade students this year!

Our Band Teacher, Kristy Brower, brings an impressive 26 years of experience and is excited to introduce our students to the world of music and instrumental performance.

📅 August 26, 2026: Information and registration papers will be sent home with students.

🎶 We will also be having an Introduction to Band Concert where students will have the opportunity to learn about the different instruments they can choose from and hear what each instrument sounds like!

We are excited to give our students this opportunity to discover a new talent, build confidence, and have fun making music! 🎺🎷🥁

Meeting Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays on the stage

3:30-4:30

Band will begin on September 3rd.

Amphitheater Unified School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion/religious beliefs, gender, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, creed, citizenship status, marital status, political beliefs/affiliation, disability, home language, family, social or cultural background in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding the District’s non-discrimination policies are handled at 701 W. Wetmore Road, Tucson, Arizona 85705 by the Equity & Safety Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator, (520) 696-5164, TitleIXCoordinator@amphi.com, or the Executive Director of Student Services, (520) 696-5230, studentservices@amphi.com.

Email: shillig@amphi.com
Website: https://www.amphi.com/36094_1

Location: 12620 N. Woodburne Avenue | Oro Valley, AZ 85755

Phone: (520) 696-3800