Local Education/Sports News

Principal Erin Pillsbury, current principal for Desert Mountain Elementary, will be the principal at the new school, which will be ready for student enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. In terms of school culture, Pillsbury’s vision is centered around the idea that “these kids are all of our kids.” Implementing this ideology creates a collaborative environment where teachers and staff work together to support all students.

To help students develop good attendance habits we’re starting the year with a “First 20-Day Attendance Challenge.” The first 20 days of school are essential in setting good attendance habits. Research shows that having a routine and structure is crucial for student success. It helps students manage their time better, get organized, and develop healthy habits like regular sleep, which leads to success in the classroom.

Research study will determine water benefits from forest thinning projects. SRP manages the water supply for much of the Valley – most of which comes from 8.3 million acres of land in northern Arizona. Snowfall and rain provide the water that travels through the watershed into SRP reservoirs, which is then delivered to 2.5 million homes and businesses in the Phoenix metropolitan area via an extensive network of canals.

More than 4,000 athletes representing 57 tribes to compete in five sports near Queen Creek at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in east Mesa. The weekend will include an all-night softball event, a record number of participating basketball and baseball teams, and a 10-year-old power lifting contestant.

How can your family enjoy summer without falling into the summer slump? That’s the term to describe the gap in education between June and August each year that causes some students to regress in testing scores. How can parents find the proper balance between unplugged time and screen time in the summer, when students are likely to spend more time on screens gaming, watching movies and video chatting with friends?

Whether you decide to go out or stay home, there are plenty of ways to combat brain drain this summer. Give children the means to retain the valuable information they learned during the school year, and you’ll set them up for success. The better equipped children are in their formative academic years, the better they’ll be able to navigate life’s challenges

With a community goal of 70 million minutes read, Maricopa County Reads is one of the county’s largest literacy efforts and plays a vital role in reducing learning loss while transitioning between school years.

Queen Creek Unified School District boundaries span 48 square miles and include nine elementary schools, two junior high schools and three comprehensive high schools. The district’s student population is approximately 15,000.

Amanda Pinkerton, a local resident and real estate agent, has launched the program and students interested in applying for the $1,000 scholarship are invited to write an essay about San Tan Valley and submit it to her Pinkerton Properties website by July 25. The winner will be announced on Aug. 1.

Both teams battled an impressive Gilbert Little League Softball and came out the victors. Established in 2006, the Queen Creek Heat Softball program has a proud tradition of developing teamwork, persistence and hard work, in addition to girls’ softball skills.