Dear Desert Sky Parents and Families,

I hope all is well with you and your family. This is the time of year that we begin to reflect on all of the accomplishments we have made this school year, and also a time to begin planning for the upcoming year.

Student Scheduling for the 2025/2026 School Year

We believe that classrooms should be balanced in terms of academic needs, behaviors, and special programming. We also understand that parents may have specific requests for a teaching team they feel would be a good match for their child, based on their child's needs. While most families do not submit requests, as they are optional and not guaranteed, we respect the opportunity to consider them. Please note that the teacher list is tentative and subject to change.

We will accept up to 30 requests for each teaching team. If a team receives more than 30 requests, we will randomly select students until the cap is met. We work hard to honor requests and maintain balanced classrooms, please understand that team requests are not a guarantee of placement.

The tentative team list is included in this email. It is important to have a conversation with your child, explaining that a team request does not guarantee placement. Additionally, due to advanced math and ELP programs, your child may not receive math and/or science instruction from the math or science teacher on the team you have requested. 6th Grade students in CIP will be placed on Team A, 7th Grade students in CIP will be placed on Team C, and 8th Grade students in CIP will be placed on Team F. 

Requests will be accepted between April 21st - April 25th. Only requests submitted during this time frame will be reviewed. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Assistant Principal, Lisa Scott, at scottm@vailschooldistrict.org. Please do not email requests directly; use the form below to submit your request.

Teacher/Team requests must be submitted using this link (link will be open from Monday, 4/21 - Friday, 4/25). If you try to access the form before 4/21, it will not work.

8th Grade Promotion

This year’s 8th grade promotion will be held on Thursday, May 22nd in the Desert Sky Gymnasium. Desert Sky hosts two separate promotion ceremonies based on your child’s teaching team. The ceremony for Team E begins at 9:00 AM, and Team F begins at 11:00 AM. Detailed information about 8th grade promotion activities and eligibility will be included in our One Month to Go letter, which will be sent out in a couple of weeks. We look forward to celebrating our 24th class of promoting 8th graders!

As always, thank you for your partnership as we provide our students with a positive and rewarding experience at Desert Sky Middle School.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Marsh
Principal

Kassidy DeBake(Team A): Team A is excited to nominate Kassidy DeBake as our Student of the Month! Kassidy exemplifies hard work, responsibility, and kindness. Each day, she approaches her classes with a positive attitude, giving her best effort and coming prepared. She is never afraid to ask questions when she needs assistance and perseveres through challenges with remarkable determination. As a true Desert Sky Cougar, Kassidy is always ready to learn and participates actively in class discussions. She helps her peers and clarifies procedures respectfully when substitutes are present. Even as the school year winds down, Kassidy remains committed and enthusiastic, consistently putting in 100% effort. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and feel fortunate to have her on our team. Keep up the great work, Kassidy!

Antonio Anzures (Team B): Antonio has been a leader throughout the entire year. Each day, Antonio shows up ready to learn with a positive attitude. He leads by example, always working hard and completing exceptional work. Every time we get the privilege of interacting with Antonio, we are always so surprised with his intelligence and thoughtfulness. Antonio is kind to his peers, making everyone feel comfortable working with him. Antonio's peers often follow his lead and actively learn from his behavior. We have been so impressed with Antonio this whole year and admire his resiliency as the year comes to an end. It has been an absolute pleasure to have Antonio with us on Team B.

Katie Hermiz (Team C): Katie is an outstanding student who embodies hard work, kindness, and dedication. She is a fantastic collaborator, always willing to help others and contribute thoughtful ideas. Over time, she has truly come out of her shell, actively participating in class discussions and bringing a positive energy to our learning environment. Her strong work ethic, friendly attitude, and ability to get along with everyone make her a wonderful role model. Keep up the amazing work, Katie! We are so proud of you!

Aria Harris (Team D):  It is with great pleasure that we recognize Aria Harris for her unwavering dedication to academic excellence. Aria takes every opportunity to look for ways to improve. She is focused and actively engaged in all of her classes. She always comes to class with a smile on her face and consistently demonstrates a strong character. Aria makes a positive impact on our school each and every day by being a strong role model for others to follow. Aria, congratulations on your well deserved recognition. We look forward to seeing all of your future successes.   

Samuel Hutchings (Team E):  We are excited to announce that Samuel Hutchings is this month's recipient of the Cougar of the month! Samuel is a truly conscientious student who consistently strives for excellence in everything he does. His commitment to doing well in his work is evident, and he approaches challenges with determination and focus. Though he may be quiet, Samuel's dedication to learning and his willingness to collaborate with others when asked makes him an outstanding member of our school community. We are proud of his hard work and perseverance. Keep up the great work, Samuel Hutchings.

Laura Weinzinger (Team F): As we start the fourth quarter, many students dread the coming state testing season and the work that entails. They shy away from the dedication and perseverance that requires and their efforts begin to dwindle. Laura does not allow herself to fall into that mindset. She has started the quarter strong and clearly possesses a positive attitude that proves she will continue to perform at a high level. She is a delight both in and out of the classroom as she tackles every academic challenge with determination and grit. Every extracurricular she is involved in is subject to the same mindset. Couple that with a kind and friendly demeanor and you have a student that will succeed at everything she chooses to do! We are happy to have Laura on Team F and we cannot wait to see how she finishes her middle school years! Thanks for being such a wonderful young lady, Laura!

Jordan Mangrum (Specialist): Through the years I have seen many students show kindness and character that goes beyond what is expected of them. This year there is one student who has exemplified those very characteristics that as teachers we would like to see all of our students exhibit. Jordan has shown himself to be a student that cares about others, has no problem helping others out when he can, and is respectful to teachers and peers. Jordan shows a level of maturity and integrity that is rarely seen in young men his age. Thank you so much Jordan for your leadership on and off the campus of Desert Sky. We will miss you!

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the Cougar Call.
Be on the lookout for the next edition coming soon!

Sincerely, DSMS News Crew

Desert Sky Middle School | 520-879-2700 | 9850 E. Rankin Loop Tucson AZ 85747
Office Hours 7:30 - 3:30
Committed to a Healthy Future: Tobacco and Vape-Free School