Hello Sierra K-8 Families,
As we welcome October, I want to take a moment to celebrate the progress we have made during our first quarter. Our students and staff have worked hard to establish routines, build relationships, and create a strong foundation for learning. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting your child throughout the start of the school year.
Attendance continues to be an important focus. Our attendance rate has averaged around 90%, and we want to keep moving in the right direction. Every day a student is at school is another opportunity to learn, grow, and build confidence. Thank you for making regular attendance a priority.
As we begin the second quarter, I also encourage our students to continue developing their learner identity. We want students to understand not only what they are learning, but also who they are as learners. Encourage your child to reflect on questions such as: What am I good at? What challenges me? What strategies help me learn? How do I respond when something is difficult? Developing confidence, perseverance, responsibility, and ownership of learning takes time and practice.
Please stay connected with your child's teachers. If you have questions about your child's academic progress, behavior, attendance, or overall experience at school, please reach out. Teachers are an important resource and can provide insight into how your child is doing and how you can support learning at home.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for being an important part of the Sierra K–8 community. Together, we can continue to help every student grow, learn, and see themselves as capable and successful learners.
In Service,
Angelica Encinas
Principal, Sierra K–8 School
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- Oct 2nd (Friday) - Inservice Day - No School for Students
- Oct 5th-9th- Fall Break - No School
- Oct 12th Return from Fall Break
- Oct 30th - Student of the Month & Fall Dress Up/Costume Day
- Sports Events - Weekly on Marquee
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Other school events - Website
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This is a reminder that Friday, October 2nd is Records Day, so there will be no classes and Fall Break is from Monday, October 5th-9th. Classes will resume on Monday, October 12th.
We wish you a safe break! Students will be leaving their laptops at school over the break to prevent any loss or damage over the break.
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This month, we focus on kindness, respect, and inclusion. Students will participate in activities that encourage standing up for others and creating a positive school community. Families can support these efforts by talking with their children about empathy and respectful behavior.
Ask your child: "What’s one thing you can do if you see someone being left out or treated unkindly at recess?" Remind them that reporting unkind behavior to a teacher isn't "tattling"—it keeps our school safe. Simple acts like inviting a classmate to sit together or telling an adult make a huge difference!
Together, we can make Sierra K-8 a safe and welcoming place for everyone!
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At Sierra, we believe students are more successful when they understand what they are learning, why it matters, and what they can do to improve. Encourage your child to reflect on their learning and identify a next step they can take toward their goals.
Ask Your Child: What are you working toward, and what is one step you can take to get there?”
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Sunnyside Schools are following the new Arizona Healthy Schools Act, which outlines the types of foods that may be served, sold, or shared at school. The law applies to all Sunnyside schools.
What does this mean for families?
- Parents/guardians may continue to pack lunch or snacks for their own child.
- Food shared at school—including birthday treats, class snacks, and celebrations—must follow the new requirements.
- Please review this flyer for examples of approved snacks and foods to avoid. (Spanish Flyer)
Thank you for helping us support healthy choices and a positive learning environment for all Sierra students!
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At Sierra K-8, we believe every day is an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. As we continue through the school year, we encourage our students to stay engaged, take pride in their learning, and make choices that help them reach their goals.
Attendance Corner: Is My Child Too Sick for School?
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STAY HOME: Fever of 100°F+, vomiting, diarrhea, or a severe severe cough. (Must be symptom-free 24 hrs before returning).
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COME TO SCHOOL: Mild runny nose or mild cough with no fever and plenty of energy!
- 📞 To report an absence, call 520-545-4800 by 9:00am.
Thank you for partnering with us and supporting your child’s success each day!
LEARN • CONNECT • GROW
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This year, all students in grades K–8 will follow the same school schedule.
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Regular School Day: 8:30 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.
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Early Dismissal Days: 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Please note that both schedules maintain the same start time of 8:30 a.m. each day.
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Respectful: We use kind words and listen to others.
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Responsible: We take ownership of our learning and choices.
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Reliable: Others can count on us to do what we say we will do.
Ask your child: “Which of the Three are you practicing most right now?”
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Lockdown Drill - Our schools are required to conduct 3 lockdown drills each school year with one in each of the first 3 quarters. Our last lockdown drill was on Monday 8/24. Our Q2 lockdown drill will be early in the quarter.
During a lockdown drill, students are to move away from doorways, maintain silence inside the classrooms, ensure all phones are silenced, and be prepared to receive directions from staff.
Fire Drill - Fire Drills are conducted every month so that students and staff can practice the evaluation process. During these drills, students are to walk with their classroom teachers to the designated areas and be ready to receive additional instructions. Please be sure to continue to speak with your students about the importance of these monthly drills. Our most recent Fire Drill took place on Monday 9/28.
Teller Window Services
- Health Office pick-up and support
- Documents and paperwork can be submitted to the office through the built-in teller tray
- Students being checked-out for the day can be called to the front office by our staff
When visiting the school office, we ask all parents to conduct themselves in a professional manner and treat school staff with respect. Thank you for helping us maintain a positive and welcoming environment.
Exit Gate Closing Time - The Exit Gate closes at 4pm except for when we are hosting tutoring (M, Tu, Th), sports, or larger events. Please exit through the entrance gate after this time and be cautious of cars entering. Thank you.
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Academic eligibility is a major requirement for students participating in all athletics including team managers: Students must maintain a 2.0 grade average with no class grades below a 1.5. Eligibility report will be run on Mondays using their cumulative Semester 2 grade. A student with a low quarter 1 grade will have to work hard and quickly to start quarter 2 and become eligible.
Tutoring - There will be MANDATORY tutoring sessions one day per week for athletes. These tutoring sessions will typically be on Monday's from 3:20-3:50 pm before practice.
Quarter 2 Sports - We will begin Q2 sports right away once returning from Fall Break. Boys Basketball will start their season with try outs on 10/13, 10/15, and 10/16...Girls Soccer will have their first meeting on Thursday 10/15.
Flag Football/Volleyball/Cross Country End of Season Update - Our Flag Football and Volleyball teams are both had amazing seasons. Flag football finished the regular season in 3rd place before beating Apollo and advancing to the championship before losing to Gallego. Volleyball finished the regular season also in 3rd place before losing in the semi finals and 3rd place games both in heartbreaking fashions. Both teams saw huge improvements from last year and we are proud of all our athletes. Our Cross Country runners ran hard all season finishing with a 1st place runner in Ruby Francies-Alegria. Congrats to Ruby, all of our runners, football players, and volleyball players. You all had an amazing season and made Sierra Proud.
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Details for this year are linked HERE. Please be sure to review the dress code carefully with your child. Being in dress code is important and helps our students to be ready to learn. 🌵 Desert Fall Weather & Dress Code Reminders
Crisp Tucson autumn mornings are finally here! While our afternoon temperatures stay warm, early morning drop-offs and recess can be chilly—and our air-conditioned classrooms stay cool all day long.
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Layer Up: Please send your child to school with a light jacket, or sweater, over their school clothes so they stay comfortable moving between cool classrooms, chilly mornings, and warm afternoons.
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Label Outerwear: Jackets look remarkably similar! Please write your student's first and last name inside their outerwear so any misplaced layers can quickly find their way back home instead of ending up in the Lost & Found.
Cell Phone Policy (House Bill 2484):
The law requires school districts and charter schools to limit student access to cell phones, with exceptions for emergencies, educational purposes directed by a teacher, and for students with medical conditions. Students will be allowed to use phones before school, at lunch, and after school only. We thank you in advance for your support and cooperation as we implement this important policy to help maintain a focused and respectful learning environment.
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ParentSquare is our primary school and classroom communication platform. Please make sure you have the ParentSquare app downloaded and your account activated so you can receive important announcements, reminders, and updates from Sierra K-8.
Thank you for staying connected and partnering with us!
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If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following links:
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