My name is David McMillan, and I am married with four growing kids. My favorite activities are being outside, listening to good music, using any object colored green, and following my busy family around to appointments. I graduated with an IB diploma in Alabama, a bachelor's degree in Minnesota, and a teacher's certification in El Paso, TX. Obviously I also love to travel! Following my education I taught 2nd-5th grades for 20 years. Recently I tutored math on-line for two years while spending time with family and writing my first children's book! Now I look forward to returning to and working with the community that can be found in a school.

Our theme this year is inspired by the book *We're All Wonders* by R.J. Palacio, which focuses on acceptance, kindness, and celebrating differences. The story encourages readers to look beyond appearances and appreciate the unique beauty within everyone. It fosters empathy and teaches the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, regardless of physical differences.

To uplift our staff, we're inviting everyone to submit a message on our Kindness Wonder Wall. These messages, whether about specific individuals or the school as a whole, will be displayed for all to see.

Our 5th-grade students are excited to announce their holiday fundraiser to support their upcoming overnight field trip to the Great Basin Outdoor School this spring!

What’s Available for Purchase (December 9–19 during grade-level lunches):
🎄 Candy Cane Winter Grams: 2 for $1.00
(Includes 2 mini candy canes and a winter greeting card)

☕ Hot Cocoa Goodie Bags: $2.00 each
(A festive bag with a hot cocoa packet, 2 mini candy canes for stirring, and marshmallows)

Order Delivery:
All items will be delivered by the end of the school day on December 19.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Leilani Konyshev at Leilani.Konyshev@washoeschools.net or send a message through our school’s Class Dojo directory.

Thank you for supporting our 5th graders as they work toward this unforgettable outdoor learning experience!

December:

• December 20, 2024 (Friday): No School – Teacher Work Day
• December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025: No School – Winter Break

January:

• January 6, 2025 (Monday): Back to School

Important Reminder for Families:
Students at Desert Heights Elementary will return to class on Monday, January 6, 2025. Additionally, all Spring 2025 parent-teacher conferences have been canceled. Thank you for your understanding!

We are thrilled to announce a vibrant mural project happening at our school! Thanks to partial funding from the Nevada Arts Council, this initiative aims to beautify our campus with colorful, inspiring artwork that will bring joy to students for years to come.

This project is a meaningful way to positively impact our students, especially in a school without an art program. As we approach the final stages, we are seeking additional community support to bring this vision to life.

If you would like to contribute or learn more, please visit:
doomedmovement.com/mvmnt/revive2024

Our library is celebrating winter with a special treat! From December 13–19, students will enjoy hot chocolate during their library classes as part of our Annual Hot Chocolate in the Library event.

If your child has any dietary restrictions, please notify Mrs. Blumkin or your child’s teacher in advance via Class Dojo or email at nblumkin@washoeschools.net. (Ingredients are available upon request.)

We look forward to spreading some warm, winter cheer with our students! ☕❄️

The attachment is a training presentation titled "Empowering Families: Navigating the IEP Process." It provides an overview of the Individualized Education Program (IEP), including its purpose, components, and legal protections. It also outlines steps for parents to prepare for IEP meetings, introduces an IEP Tool Kit for organization and advocacy, and offers tips for effective communication and collaboration with school teams. The presentation emphasizes family empowerment, advocacy, and student-centered planning.

As many of you know, Ms. Arevalo, our soccer coach, left at the end of last year. We are currently looking for a staff member to support the soccer team, but we are also open to having a parent or HS/College sibling volunteer as a coach. If you have a passion for soccer and would like to be involved, we’d love to hear from you!

The soccer season will run from March 7th through the first week of May, with games taking place on Fridays at 11:30 AM. Tryouts are typically held in January or February, with practices beginning shortly afterward. Last year, practices were held after school on Mondays and Wednesdays.

If you’re interested in coaching or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at dfrydman@washoeschools.net or call the school at 775-677-5444.

Thank you for your continued support of Desert Heights and our amazing students. Together, we can make this soccer season a success!

A big shoutout to the following classes for earning PAWS by consistently following the HOWL expectations and demonstrating outstanding behavior in their classrooms! These students have worked hard and earned some exciting reinforcements:

• Jones: 125 Paws, Class DJ
• Neumann: 106 Paws, Student Choice
• Kelsey: 26 Paws, Pencils
• Parrish: 31 Paws, Pencils

Way to go, students! Keep up the amazing work and continue to show us how to HOWL! 🐾

The Dads of Great Students (D.O.G.S.) and Moms of Marvelous Students (M.O.M.S.) program is a volunteer initiative that encourages fathers and father figures and moms to spend time in their children's schools. The goal is to provide positive male/female role models, enhance school safety, and foster a supportive learning environment.

Key aspects of the program include:

• Volunteerism: Fathers and father figures volunteer their time to be present in their children's schools.
• Positive role models: They serve as positive examples for students, demonstrating the importance of education and community involvement.
• Enhanced safety: Their presence helps create a safer and more welcoming school environment.
• Community engagement: The program fosters stronger connections between families and schools.

By participating in the D.O.G.S. program, fathers can make a meaningful impact on their children's education and contribute to a positive school culture.

Join Desert Heights Elementary's DHESTV News team as they highlight one of the key PBIS expectations: Owning Your Actions and Choices on the bus! Michael and Tio lead this episode, featuring interviews with students sharing practical ways they show responsibility during their bus rides, including:

• Keeping hands and feet to themselves.
• Using a Level 2 voice.
• Choosing kind words.

This engaging video encourages students to reflect on their own behaviors and apply these strategies during their bus rides. Let’s make every trip a safe and respectful one, Coyotes! 🌟

😅Every Friday is Dad Joke Friday.. On the announcements, I share some of my favorite appropriate dad jokes.

Here are the ones from Mr. Frydman

Each day offers a new suggestion to help your child develop important skills—no special materials or extra spending required!

The planner is tailored to four different age groups, so you’ll receive an age-appropriate bonus edition designed just for your child’s stage of learning. With over 365 easy-to-follow activities, this resource is perfect for making learning a daily habit.

Use the Daily Learning Planner to turn everyday moments into opportunities for growth and discovery! Keep an eye out for your copy—reproduce as many as you need to share the joy of learning.

Autism Parenting Magazine is an award-winning digital publication dedicated to supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Established in 2012, its mission is to enhance the quality of life for these families by providing up-to-date information on treatments, therapies, and real-life success stories.

Content and Features:

• Expert Contributions: The magazine features articles from professionals, autism experts, and parents, covering topics such as special education navigation, behavioral management, sensory issues, social skills development, and transitioning into adulthood.

• Parent Resources: It offers guidance on managing challenges like bullying, meltdowns, and planning for a child's financial future. Regular sections address health, safety, sleep, potty training, ABA therapy, and stress management.

• Interactive Access: Subscribers receive monthly issues in web-based interactive formats and downloadable PDFs, ensuring easy access across devices.

  
  

David Frydman, Principal

Chrystal Thayer, Assistant Principal

Juana Maya, Admin. Secretary

13948 Mount Bismark Street, Reno, NV, USA

Phone: (775) 677-5444