Principal's Page

Dear Wolfpack Community,

The 2026-2027 school year is just around the corner and the Sandia team is getting ready to welcome our students and families! Our school-wide theme this year is Power of the Pack with a focus on belongingness. Research shows that students who feel like they belong, learn better and are more confident in their school environment! Joining our pack this year is Marlo Knox, Assistant Principal. Mrs. Knox joins us from Apple Valley High School and has a background in special education. Also new to the pack is Megan Koneck, school psychologist. She has been assigned to Sandia on a full time basis. We are also excited to welcome back Elvis Barrios. After a few years at Mariana, Mr. Barrios will be rejoining our middle school team in the 6th grade. Last, but not least, new to our pack, is Mrs. Brittney Reed. Mrs. Reed will be working in TK!

In addition to some staffing changes, we have a few other logistical changes, including the launch of our new student information system and communication platform. Focus School Software is our new interface. Aeries and Parent Portal are no longer being used. You can go to AVUSD.org to access the portal and receive instructions on using the system.  

We have changed our school start time to 8:25 a.m. The gates will still open at 7:45 a.m. All students will report to their appropriate playground until 8:00 a.m. The cafeteria will begin serving breakfast at 8:00. Students who want to eat breakfast at school are expected to line up and receive breakfast between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. All students will be sent to class at 8:20 a.m. with the tardy bell ringing at 8:25 a.m. Students who arrive to school after 8:25 a.m. will be marked as tardy and receive a demerit. Students with ten or more demerits will be ineligible to participate in dances, after school clubs or special events. Please do not drop off your student prior to 7:45 a.m. as there is no supervision until that time. School dismisses at 2:40 p.m. each day except Wednesdays. Wednesday's dismissal is at 1:20 p.m. The final big change is to the EXCEL afterschool program. Thursday, August 6th there will be an EXCEL orientation and registration meeting in the MPR at 4:00 p.m. Students can be enrolled for EXCEL at that time, or on-line beginning Monday, August 10th. Students who register for EXCEL on Thursday, August 6th may begin attending EXCEL on Friday, August 7th. EXCEL will dismiss at 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a half-hour later than in the past.

Amongst these changes, there are still the important traditions and events planned through out the year. Parents will be welcome onto campus on Thursday, August 6th for the first day of school. Grades 1-8 will be able to pick-up their locator cards and meet the teacher beginning at 7:45 a.m. TK-Kinder families will have an orientation on August 6th that begins at 9:00 a.m.  Parents of TK-Kinder students will be able to walk their student to class on Friday, August 7th. Beginning Monday, August 10th, parents will not be allowed to walk any student to class and we will begin enforcing our closed campus policy.

If you would like to apply to volunteer, please see Kathy in the front office or Mrs. Tostado in the Community Schools Center.  They can assist you with the application process. If you were previously approved, the district office will contact you to verify your status and request any updated information they need.

There will be many opportunities for families to engage at school this year. Back-to-School Picnic on the Playground is scheduled for Thursday, August 20th at 5:30 p.m. We invite you to join our staff for a picnic dinner on the playground and visit the classrooms. We are also kicking-off our second year of Family CHAMPions. The application for this monthly meeting of families will be available the second week of school with the first meeting being in early September. The staff is prepared and looking forward to working with you to have to best school and learning experience!

I am excited to begin this school year and continue the work we have invested in!

- Wendy Watt