What's Happening This Spring at Robles Elementary School

Dear Robles Families,

Spring is an exciting and busy time at Robles Elementary School! We have many important events coming up, along with opportunities to celebrate our students and prepare them for success. Please review the important updates below.

🌟 Arizona State Assessments – AASA & AZSci

Our state assessments are right around the corner! Students across Arizona will be participating in the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) and Arizona Science Assessment (AZSci) this spring.

Who takes these assessments?

●     AASA (ELA & Math): Grades 3–8

●     AZSci (Science): Grades 5, 8, and 11
  (At Robles, our 5th graders will participate in AZSci.)

These assessments measure how well students have mastered Arizona’s academic standards and help us celebrate growth and achievement.

How Families Can Help at Home:

●     Visit the Arizona Department of Education website to access AASA and AZSci sample tests. Students can practice the online tools and question formats.

●     Encourage daily reading practice.

●     Practice math fact fluency (see grade-level skills below).

● Ensure students get a good night’s sleep and arrive at school on time.

We will also be hosting our annual ROCK the Test Assembly! 🎸

Families are invited to create encouraging posters for their students.

●     Posters may be dropped off in the front office.

● A poster-making booth will be available during conferences so families can create one together!

Let’s fill our halls with encouragement and positivity!

➕ Math Basic Skills to Practice at Home

Strong math fact fluency supports student confidence and success. Here are the basic skills to focus on by grade level:

●       Kindergarten: Counting (forward and backward), number recognition

●       1st Grade: Addition facts

●       2nd Grade: Subtraction facts

●       3rd Grade: Multiplication facts

●       4th Grade: Division facts

●       5th Grade: Mixed multiplication and division facts

Just 10–15 minutes of daily practice makes a big difference!

👕 Lost & Found Reminder

Our Lost & Found is overflowing! If your child is missing a jacket, water bottle, lunch box, or sweater, please check the cafeteria. Families are welcome to stop by and look for missing items before or after school.

🎒 Kinder & Preschool Kickoff – March 12th & 13th

We are excited to welcome our newest Bobcats!

Kinder & Preschool Kickoff  will take place on March 12th and 13th.

●     Space is limited for Pre-K.

● PK classes will be filled based on completed registration packets.

If you or someone you know has a child ready for PK or Kindergarten, please help spread the word!

📚 Student-Led Conferences – March 12th & 13th

Student-Led Conferences will also take place on March 12th and 13th.

This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to:

●     Share their academic progress

●     Reflect on goals

●     Celebrate growth

● Discuss next steps for learning

🎒 2026-2027 Registration Opens

●     March 12th officially kicks off registration for the 2026–2027 school year.

●     Parents may begin completing registration for all returning students starting March 12th.

●    All students returning or new must have a new registration completed in ParentVue.

We look forward to partnering with you to support your child’s continued success.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership. Together, we are growing strong Bobcats who are prepared for success!

With appreciation,

Dustie Gunn

 Principal

 Robles Elementary School 🐾 

Kindergarten Friendly Update

from Ms. Chienna Gelantaga-an and Ms. Ursula Gentirone 

Hello Kinder Families,

Can you believe it? We are already seven months into your child’s kindergarten journey! It has truly been a joy to spend each day with your children. They each bring their own unique personalities, attitudes, and learning styles, which makes our classroom such a special place.

Since the beginning of the year, we have seen so much growth. Many students who started out feeling shy are now confidently making friends, asking questions, and following classroom routines independently. They understand our classroom expectations and are able to take care of daily tasks—such as using hand signals to ask questions, going to the restroom, and getting water—on their own. It has been wonderful to watch them build friendships and feel comfortable in their learning environment.

In ELA and Writing, we began using our new curriculum, CKLA, this year. Students learned to identify their dominant hand for writing and practiced proper pencil grip (many are now writing without pencil grips!). We introduced writing lines and practiced directionality—learning that we read and write from left to right.

Each morning, we start with Heggerty, a 15-minute phonemic awareness lesson (Monday–Thursday) to strengthen letter sounds and foundational reading skills. In reading, students began with individual letter sounds and have progressed to learning digraphs such as sh, ch, ng, voiced and unvoiced th, and qu. We are currently continuing to practice these sounds along with “tricky words,” and we will soon begin learning long vowels and diphthongs.

Students are now starting to read short stories as we prepare them to identify key details and build comprehension skills. We are excited to continue developing their understanding of what they read.

To support all learners, we provide Tier 2 and small-group instruction for students who need additional practice. During our reteaching time, called GAME Time (Goals Are My Everything), we use UFLI Foundations, a research-based phonics program from the University of Florida Literacy Institute. This focused instruction is helping us see daily growth, both academically and behaviorally.

Beyond academics, we continue teaching and reinforcing our schoolwide expectations. Our Kinder Bobcats are learning to R.O.A.R.:

R – Respect
O – Open-Minded
A – Accountable
R – Respectful

As we continue using Imagine Learning as our math curriculum, our Kinder Bobcats are developing a strong number sense.They get excited during math games and math centers each day with hands-on, interactive activities allow them to practice important skills in a fun and meaningful way.Through partner games, small-group centers, and independent activities, students strengthen their number sense while building confidence. They are learning that math is not only about finding the right answer, but also about thinking, exploring different strategies and working together.

In Science, students are discovering the beauty of life through their study of the five senses. They have explored nature by planting their own seeds and carefully observing them sprout, which has fostered excitement about growth, change, and responsibility. Many students have shared their love for animals and discussed the importance of caring for living things, helping them develop an early understanding of how to treat nature with kindness and respect.As we move forward, students will begin learning about weather and observing patterns in the sky, including the motion of the sun, moon, and stars. This next unit will encourage curiosity as they explore how the world around them changes from day to day and over time.

In social studies, students are learning how to be responsible, respectful, and fair both at school and in their community. Through lessons about important American figures such as Rosa Parks, they are beginning to understand the value of courage, kindness, and standing up for what is right. They are also learning to respect national symbols and understand their meaning, helping them build awareness of what it means to be a responsible citizen.

Moreover, students are having fun while learning, which we believe is an essential part of being a Kindergarten as we unveil each of our students’ potential. We are so excited to be part of our kindergarten Bobcats. As the students show their eagerness and excitement about being in school ready to learn. I hear many students tell me “I want to learn to read!” It is the fuel and inspiration teachers need!