Dear Norte School Families,

     As we enter the final stretch of the school year, April is an important time for our students to stay focused, engaged, and committed to finishing strong. Consistent attendance remains one of the most powerful ways to support student success. Every school day matters, and we encourage all families to prioritize daily attendance so students can continue building on their learning. April will be our 4th quarter perfect attendance challenge month as well!

     State assessments for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students are starting this month, and our students have been working hard all year to prepare. You can support your child by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Encouraging a positive mindset and reminding them to simply do their best can make a big difference.

     We are incredibly proud to celebrate two of our talented Norte students who will be recognized as winners in the district poetry competition. Congratulations to 1st grade student Julian Revels for his poem “My Pet Parrot” and to 4th grade student Gianna Nicol for her poem “I Hear Norte Singing.” Their creativity and hard work truly reflect the spirit of our school community.

We also look forward to several exciting upcoming events:

              -    PTO Spring Fling on April 24th

              -    Feria Hispana: Art & Music Learning Showcase on May 1st

     These events are wonderful opportunities to come together as a community and celebrate our students’ talents and achievements. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s make these final weeks of the school year meaningful, successful, and full of pride.

Gracias,

Jaime Soto
Principal
Kyrene del Norte Dual Language Academy

As we are winding down the school year, we want to remind everyone how important a strong finish is for quarter 4. The students have quite a bit of state testing.  Good rest, a balanced breakfast and lunch and on-time attendance is imperative for successful testing time.

Mark your calendars for the Kinder Round Up event on April 8th at 5pm for all incoming Kinder families for the 2026-27 school year. On April 10th, KMS is hosting the 5th annual International Festival from 5-8pm. Be sure to check out the flyers below for more details.

Every Wednesday morning from 8:40 - 9:30am, come and learn Spanish from our own Ms. Vicky!

All parents welcome! Simply check in and show your ID at the front office for a visitor badge.

No registration necessary. Open every Wednesday that school is in session, unless otherwise noted.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Top Running Club Award winners in each grade!

Kindergarten:  Oliver R., Blake B., Carson H.

1st Grade:    Xandrius C., Ryan R., Jace P.

2nd Grade:   Hazel H., Ronald R., Julian P.

3rd Grade:    Zeb M., Jordan M., Cora H.

4th Grade:    Loren P., Olivia H., Everett S.

5th Grade:     Dillon R., Theo H., Iliana F., Jaxson B.

Kyrene District Poetry Winners

  We are incredibly proud to celebrate two of our talented
Norte students! Congratulations to:

1st grade student Julian R. for “My Pet Parrot”

4th grade student Gianna N. “I Hear Norte Singing”  

April Perfect Attendance Challenge

For the month of April, the top 2 classrooms with the highest percentage of perfect attendance will earn a DODGEBALL challenge with Mr. Soto!

This will be a classroom challenge, so encourage fellow students to help toward perfect attendance

Kids Club & After Hours 2026-27 Registration Now Open! Looking for a safe, engaging place for your child before or after school? Kyrene offers outstanding programs for both elementary and middle school students, right on campus. Kids Club provides a structured, welcoming environment with activities designed to keep your child engaged, and After Hours gives students a safe place to connect and explore new interests. Check out the 2026-27 Kids Club and After Hours times and locations, and secure your spot today. Programs fill up fast!

Apr. 1- Early Childhood Literacy
Parents are invited to learn more about the importance of oral language & reading in the home to set up children for school readiness. Each participant will be able to take home an early literacy bag.

Presenter:
ESS Department

Date and Time:
April 1, 2026
6:00-7:30 pm

Location:
Kyrene School District
8700 South Kyrene Road
Tempe, AZ 85284

Apr. 15- Vaping/Nicotine- Stop the Addiction Before it Starts
Gain the knowledge and strategies you need to prevent your child from starting to vape or using nicotine products.

Presenter:
TBA

Date and Time:
April 15, 2026
6:00-7:00 pm

Location: Zoom
Registration/Zoom Link

Join us for an enriching experience tailored to families navigating the  journey of raising children with disabilities. Kyrene School District’s Exceptional Student Services team invites you to our Resource Fair, an opportunity for families to discover local resources and create connections in the community.

WHEN:    Wednesday, April 22

TIME:      4:30-6:00 pm

WHERE:  Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School 

Registration is open for all New student or current student school change requests. New to Kindergarten families and NEW to Norte families can enroll HERE.

Any school change requests can be done at this time as well. Please let the front office know right away if your student is not going to attend Kyrene del Norte next year for Kinder-5th.

Screenings for early entrance to kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year will take place on June 1, 2026 and June 2, 2026. Please review the steps HERE for our entire Early Entrance Process.

How long have you been in education? 
This is my 27th year in education and my 7th year at Norte.

What inspired you to work in education? 

I’ve always known I wanted to work with children, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have become a teacher!

What do you love most about your job? 
I love seeing students grow, whether the progress is big or small. I believe that continual progress and a strong growth mindset are essential for success in life.

Any special achievements, certifications, or roles you’d like highlighted?

I earned my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from ASU in 2005. I also hold bilingual, reading, and library media endorsements.

Where are you from originally?
I was born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, and raised in Hermosillo, Sonora.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 
I enjoy camping, hiking, listening to music and dancing, and I really enjoy a cup of coffee,

Fun facts, hobbies, or something most people don't know about you? 
I enjoy listening to music, going for walks, and spending time with my family. I also used to be a Zumba Instructor.

Favorite quote or motto? 

"Si las cosas fueran fáciles, cualquiera las haría"
"If it was easy, everyone would do it"

APRIL IS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH

APR 1: PTO Appreciation Event - 5-7pm (Postino's)
             Lunch Hero Day

APR 3: Friday Early Release at 1:55pm

APR 3:  Librarian Appreciation Day

APR 6 - 10: Asst. Principal Week

APR 8:   New 2026-27 Kindergarten Round-Up
               5pm - 6:30 pm in MPR

APR 10:  International Festival at KMS 5-8pm

APR 16:  PTO General Meeting Q4 (4:30pm)

APR 17:  PNO (Run Errands) 6-9pm  and                                         Yearbook ordering deadline

APR 21:  NNO @ In 'n' Out 4-8pm

APR 22:  Admin. Assistant Day

APR 24:  KMS Rally Day (5th grade)

APR 24:  PTO Spring Fling @ 5:30pm

APR 27:  April Student of the Month @ 9:30am

APR 28:  Bus Driver Appreciation Day

MAY 1:  School Principal's Day
               Lunch Hero Appreciation Day

MAY 1:  Feria Hispania: Art & Music Showcase
                                            5:30 - 7:30pm

MAY 4 - 8:  National Teacher Appreciation Week
                      (LINK TO STAFF FAVORITES)

MAY 6:  National School Nurse Day

MAY 12:  NNO @ Bahama Bucks

MAY 15:  Kinder Concert @ 9:30am

MAY 18:  Student of the Month Celebration 9:30am

MAY 21:  Bienvenidos Promotion Ceremony 9:30am

MAY 21, 22, 26:  Norte University

MAY 21:  PTO Yearbook Signing Party @ Peter Piper
                       Pizza  (4:30 - 7:30pm)

MAY 27:  FULL DAY OF LEARNING (NO early out)
            5th grade vs. Staff Kickball Game & Luncheon

MAY 27:  Senior Clap Out @ 3pm

MAY 28:  5th Grade Promotion & reception- 9:30am

MAY 28:  Last Day of School
                   (Early Release @1:55pm)

In addition to InTouch Receipting and cash/check payments, families may now use LINQ Connect—a website and mobile app that allows instant deposits, spending limits, alerts, sibling transfers, and more.
Learn more at the Food Services webpage. 

                         Lunch Menus

                         Lunch Payments

                         Lunch Balances

                         Apply for Free and Reduced Meals

                         FAQs

Each year, families are asked to review and acknowledge important information, including contact/emergency details, district policies, and survey preferences.

This information is now available in ParentVUE for your review. Please log into your account and complete this process. If your Emergency Contact form has not been submitted for the 25-26 school year, you will not be able to move on to register for the 26-27 school year.

Parent Resource Link

The Norte Running Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday @ 8:40m before the start of the school day in the 2nd and 3rd Quarters. Open to
ALL students.

Awards ceremony Friday March 27th
at 9:30 am

Running Club Page

Drama Club is open to 4th and 5th grade students. Rehearsals are mornings before school.

We performed "Mary Poppins" this year and it was incredibly fun, challenging and rewarding. Join us again next year!

Drama Club Page

Norte News is open to 4th and 5th grade students. Each year, a team of students work together to write, produce, and present daily announcements for Kyrene del Norte.

Norte News Page

First Lego League has begun and is open to 4th & 5th graders only.

Meeting on Mondays through November.

The final meeting was December 8th with a Family Showcase.

First Lego League page

Student Council is a leadership club where students work together to make a positive impact on our school and community.

Student Council Page

The Norte Homework Club is open to ALL Students. This is offered before school from 8:30am - 9:05am on Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. for any student that needs a little help or extra time with homework. Check in at the front office any of those 4 mornings.

It is that time of the year again.... Cold/Flu season.

Help protect your family by sticking to these healthy habits:

           1. Wash hands constantly

           2. Get plenty of sleep

           3. Have good nutrition

           4. Keep up the hydration

           5. Exercise regularly (screen-free)

Process for Volunteer -- Parent or Guardian of Student in Class/Program:

Time: Once per year, prior to the start of the volunteer service
Process:

A. Complete the Volunteer Information Form
B. If you have children attending more than one school and plan to volunteer at each, inform the
school staff, who will assist in sharing the information contained on the form.
C. If you would like to volunteer for an overnight event, refer to the process below.

Kyrene School District recognizes the role of Step-Parents and, unless notified of the contrary, will afford them the same volunteer opportunities.

 Process for Volunteer – Non Parent/Guardian or Parent/Guardian Attending Overnight Event
Time: Once per year, prior to the start of the volunteer service
Process:

A. Obtain an IVP Card
Volunteers without an IVP Card have two options:
1. Contact the Principal of the school or Sponsor of the overnight activity to determine if
there are school or activity funds to cover the cost ($75) of your IVP card. Schools have
limited funds available for this purpose and may choose to approve the funds based on
need of the site or program.
2. Obtain an IVP card as an individual.
• This option is viable for volunteers who may need an IVP card for other
purposes or who wish to volunteer at multiple sites and/or throughout their
students’ school attendance;
• The card is valid for six years and is the property of the individual.  

The Kyrene Governing Board established a Long-Range Planning Committee
to address enrollment trends and maximize the use of facilities. On December 16th the school board voted to close 6 schools over the next 2 years. Details
can be found on the Kyrene Website for "Kyrene Forward"

We are focused on our mission, keeping our community strong and the education of all students in our dual language program. The Kyrene Governing Board’s decision impacts Norte in the 2026-27 school year by moving our school to not having attendance boundaries. This means all current and future students will be categorized as open-enrollment students. We will have more information in the coming months for those families that could be affected as bus transportation will not be provided.

Playground opens: 8:40AM 

First Bell Rings: 9:05AM

School Begins: 9:10 AM 

Students dropped off after 9:10AM need to be signed in at the front office. 

ATTENDANCE LINE: 480.541.4801 
The attendance line is open 24/7

Parents/guardians are required to call the attendance line day their child is absent, indicating the student's name, grade, and there must be a reason for the absence.

Please call before 8:30 AM to ensure the student is accounted for. 

For student safety, it is essential that we verify that you are aware that they are not in school. 
For extended absences, administration approval is needed. School attendance is not only a good habit, but state law requires it. 

To keep families informed regarding their student's attendance, letters will be sent to families when a child has been absent 4 days, 8, days, 13 days, and when a student has reached chronic absenteeism which is more than 18 absences. 

NOTE: Due to the busy end-of-day activity in
the office, we request that all students being checked out early, be done so at least 15 minutes before the end of the school day.

NEW!! In addition to calling in an absence on the attendance line, you can now report your child’s absence through ParentVue by following these steps:

1. Log into ParentVUE

2.  Click the Report Absence button

3.  Enter Absence Information (details)

4.  Click Save to submit to the attendance office.

Kyrene del Norte

1331 E. Redfield Road

Tempe, AZ 85283

Phone: (480) 541-4800

Fax: (480) 541-4810

Attendance: (480) 541-4801

School Hours: 9:10 am - 3:55 pm

Early Release Wed: 1:55 pm

Office Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Wednesday: 8:00 am - 2:30 pm