Hello Mesa Public Schools community,
Happy holidays! As we look ahead to 2025, registration for next school year is open! Schedule a tour to find out what's inside our amazing schools. We can’t wait to have your students with us for the 2025-26 school year.
We're committed to enhancing the quality of education for every student, ensuring that our instructional practices are aligned with the highest standards and are responsive to the diverse needs of our learners.
So what does this look like in action?
MPS is proud to partner with Honeywell Aerospace Technologies to bring real world experience to the classroom. Last month, students from Red Mountain High School, Zaharis Elementary, and the K-8 STEM Institute at Red Mountain Ranch Elementary School witnessed an incredible milestone: their science experiment (The Growth and Mutation of Staphylococcus (epidermidis) Biofilm in Microgravity) launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s 31st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission. This experiment is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a unique educational initiative that brings real-world scientific research into classrooms across the United States and Canada. Watch the video below to learn more about this amazing experience!
Congratulations to our schools named in the Top 10 in Arizona according to US News & World Report!
#3 in Elementary: Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies
#8 in Elementary: Franklin at Brimhall
#1 in Middle School: Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies
#7 in Middle School: Franklin Junior High School
One of the most important ways to be involved in your student's education is monitoring their learning. Report cards will be available on ParentVue at the end of the quarter. Elementary students will be sent home with a paper copy. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have questions.
Our student-athletes had a successful fall season on the field and in the classroom!
Mountain View won the emerging sport boys beach volleyball state championship
Mountain View girls swimming won the 4x100 relay state title (Emilie Griffin, Holland Jesclard, Reese Murphy and Cobie Weidenaar)
Representing Dobson, Grayson Pudleiner won the boys breaststroke championship
Mountain View football will be competing against Centennial in the AIA 6A State Championship at Mountain America Stadium (formerly Sun Devil Stadium at Arizona State University) on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available. We hope you can come out and support the Toros!
Building strong, collaborative relationships with our community is essential. We will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families while fostering open communication and active involvement.
So what does this look like in action?
We invited high school students from across the district to analyze our district's cell phone policy as part of MPS Hacktivate. Students spent a full day researching and dissecting data and collaborating with experts and community partners to develop recommendations to tackle the controversy associated with cell phones in schools. The students will present their findings at the Governing Board Study Session at 5 p.m. on Dec. 10. Watch the video below for a recap of Hacktivate.
Congratulations to Skyline students Teddy Kalamaras, Erickson Mazariegos, Alejandro Dominguez and Matthew Huard for representing Arizona in Macy's Great American Marching Band at the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They made Mesa Public Schools proud!
We continue to find ways to improve parental involvement and communication. ParentSquare is a school to home communication platform that we launched at 15 schools this quarter. Starting July 1, 2025, all schools in the district will be utilizing ParentSquare. The goal of this tool is to streamline communication, making it easier for parents and educators to stay informed and connected on a safe and secure platform.
To support our educational goals, we are streamlining our processes and resources, ensuring that our district operates effectively and efficiently.
So what does this look like in action?
Congratulations to Sharon Benson, Lacy Chaffee and Courtney Davis on their success in the Governing Board election. Mrs. Benson and Mrs. Chaffee will join the board in January while Mrs. Davis will retain her seat.
I want to take a moment to thank Dr. Joe O'Reilly and Kiana Maria Sears for their years of service on our Governing Board and dedication to Mesa Public Schools. Their final scheduled meeting will be on Dec. 10.
Thank you to all who participated in the Superintendent Survey. We had over 4000 responses. The Governing Board has completed the search process and has entered contract negotiations for Dr. Matthew Strom to be the next superintendent following my retirement on June 30. Pending negotiations and board approval, Dr. Strom will begin on July 1.
Extracurricular Activities State Tax Credit
You can help Mesa students and possibly lower your tax bill by making a donation to the Extracurricular Activities (ECA) State Tax Credit.
Last month, we asked for your feedback on Parental Involvement. We received over 100 responses where we learned:
The top three ways parents are most involved with their student's schooling are:
Regularly checking school communications to stay informed (91%)
Discussing school topics at home (84%)
Homework help (82%)
Responders listed time and their work schedules as their biggest barrier to more parental involvement. We appreciate any way that you can be involved in your child's education.
We know December is an exceptionally busy month. To give you more time, we're going to pause on this month's Question of the Month and will resume in January with questions on discipline.
Enrollment for preschool - 12 is now open at Mesa Public Schools!
Stevenson Elementary was November's Spotlight School.
Exceptional Student: Kiara Castelan Santiago
Exceptional Educator: Nora Gonzalez
Exceptional Classified Staff: Becky Nelson
Mesa Public Schools Winter Harp Concert
Dec. 9
Dobson, Mesa and Westwood students at 6:00 p.m.
Mountain View, Red Mountain and Skyline students at 7:30 p.m.
Historic Irving Auditorium
155 N Center St.
Free Admission
Governing Board Meeting
Dec. 10
Study session, 5 p.m.
Regular session, 6:30 p.m.
MPS Board Room
549 N Stapley Dr
Winter Break
Dec. 20 - Jan. 3
School and district offices closed
Professional Learning Day for Certified Staff (No School for Students)
Jan. 6
Students Return from Winter Break
Jan. 7
Thank your for joining me in ‘Finding What’s Inside' MPS in December.
Andi Fourlis, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Find Out What's Inside
