Sunland STEAM Academy

Good morning, Today we had a lockdown DRILL that started approximately at 9:45am. This just a drill, to prepare for an actual emergency. Thank you

Sunland Families:

Reminder, Today is Early Dismissal.

Students will be dismissed at 1:00PM

Please make prior arrangements for Pick Up.

Warm Regards,

Sunland Admin Staff

Good morning ,

Due to shipment issue todays lunch will be served tomorrow. Students today will eat Fridays lunch instead.

Thank you

Good evening,

Just a reminder that Friday December 19th is a short day. Students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm.

Good Afternoon, Today at Sunland, we had our monthly fire drill. To practice how to safely evacuate from the building in case of an emergency. The drill started at 1:00pm and lasted about 7 minutes.

Sunland Families:

Reminder that TODAY is a full day of learning.
Students will dismiss at 3:00PM.

Thank You.

Sunland Admin Team

Dear Scorpions Parents and Guardians, Today, we received an alleged report regarding a threat toward a teacher that was said to have occurred several weeks ago. This information is being taken very seriously and is currently under investigation in collaboration with the Phoenix Police Department. We want to clarify that the alleged report did not indicate a threat toward students. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and there is no confirmed information to indicate an immediate concern. The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and will share additional information as appropriate. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. Sincerely, Jeannette Beechum Interim Principal Sunland STEAM Academy

No need to wash uniforms this weekend. Next week will be school spirit week. Monday - Add bells to your outfit 🔔 Tuesday - wear flannel shirts, pants Wednesday - Wear antlers, headbands, or other winter animal accessories Thursday - Wear ugly, fun, silly, or handmade sweaters Friday- PJ DAY!!! 🚨Remember to always follow district dress code policy. No crocs , slippers or sandals are permitted for your safety🚨

We celebrate all our cheerleaders for a phenomenal competition Saturday! Each performance brought energy and excitement to the floor. Congratulations to our honorable mentions from each category! Spirit: Southwest Performance: Valley View Pom and Dance: Bernard Black Show: Irene Lopez And a big congratulations for our overall competition winners! 🥇 Ed and Verma Pastor 🥈 Cesar Chavez 🥉 Ignacio Conchos 🏅 Sunland We are so proud of all our athletes for their dedication and commitment to their schools! #CultureOfPerformance #WeAreRoosevelt #SomosRoosevelt #TheGenesisOfChange

Hey Parents,

Just a few reminders:

Tomorrow is a uniform day, please ensure students are dressed accordingly.

Starting next week clubs will be canceled for the PM portion of the day and will resume after break.


Thanks

Upcoming Events

Girls Basketball: Congratulations on advancing to the championship game!

Game Time: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Location: South Mountain High School
Please note: Clear bag policy and weapon detectors are in place.

Boys Basketball: Playing for 3rd place

Game Time: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Location: T. G. Barr

Dance Recital:

Friday, December 12th at 5:00 PM

Cheer Competition: at South Mountain High School

Saturday, December 13th, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Scorpion Scholar:
Kdg through 4th grade at 8:30am to 9:00am
5th through 8th Grade 9:00am to 9:30am


Wednesday, December 17th is a full day of school and students will participate in Scorpion Scholar.

Early Dismissal:

Friday, December 19th at 1:00PM

Classroom Updates

STAR Testing: Math STAR testing was administered today.
Progress Reports: Reports will be sent home Friday, December 12th.

Important Reminders

Please label student jackets—especially for K–2 students—so lost items can be returned quickly.
Arrive on time: Instruction begins at 8:00 AM.
Students arriving after 8:00 AM must be signed in at the front office by a parent to ensure safety.

Best Regards,

Sunland Administration Team

Dear Sunland Families,


We want to inform you that our Lost and Found area currently has many sweaters and jackets that have not been claimed. We understand how expensive these items can be, and with the weather changing and the upcoming holiday break, students will definitely be needing their coats.


We would hate for families to spend more money when many jackets are still here on campus. Please remind your child to check the Lost and Found and to place their items in their backpacks instead of wearing them around campus to avoid misplacing them again.


To make pickup easier, all jackets and sweaters will be placed on a cart at the front of the campus during dismissal this week and next week. They will remain available for the next two weeks or until all items are claimed.


Thank you,

Sunland STEAM Academy Admin Team

Dear Sunland Parents and Guardians,


I hope this message finds you well. We would like to take a moment to remind all families about the importance of punctuality and regular attendance at Sunland STEAM Academy.

State law mandates that all children attend school for the full time it is in session. Late arrivals not only impact your child’s learning, but also cause interruptions and distractions to ongoing instruction for all students.


Regular Instructional Hours (K–8):

Regular School Days: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Early Dismissal / Half Days: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM


It is crucial that all students are in their classrooms, seated, and ready to learn by 8:00 AM each day. Any student who is not in their homeroom by 8:00 AM is considered late/tardy.

Please note that if your child arrives at the front gate at 8:00 AM, they are already considered late/tardy.


In these cases, an adult must accompany the student to the front office to sign them in. We kindly ask that you personally walk your child in to ensure accurate and timely attendance records.


We encourage you to discuss with your child the importance of arriving on time. Together, we can help prevent disruptions during the instructional day and maintain a smooth, focused learning environment for all students.


Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school office.


Respectfully,

Your Admin Team

Sunland STEAM Academy

Sunland STEAM Academy Parent Reminder


Scorpion Scholars Assembly has been rescheduled for Wednesday, December 17th in the Sunland cafeteria.


Kinder–4th Grade: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM

5th–8th Grade: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM


We look forward to celebrating our Scorpion Scholars with you!

Families;

The Winter Health Fair is coming to Sunland STEAM Academy this December 6th!

Join us for toys, gifts, medical resources, community services, and important information for your family. 🎁🤝❄️

5401 S. 7Th. Ave. Phoenix AZ 85041

9:00AM to 1:00PM

#rooseveltschooldistrict #rooseveltproud #rsd66 #communitystrong #wearethegenesisofchange #somoselgenesisdelcambio #giveseason

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have a busy and exciting next few days ahead at our school! Please review the important updates below.

🏀 Basketball Playoffs

Playoffs for both boys’ and girls’ basketball have officially begun.
Our boys’ team won last night, advancing to the second round—congratulations, team!
Both teams play on Thursday at Greenfield:
Girls: 4:45 PM
Boys: 5:45 PM
We encourage all families to come out and support our athletes.


🎭 Jungle Book Performances

Performances will be held on:
Wednesday, December 3rd
Thursday, December 4th
Start time: 5:00 PM
Doors open: 4:30 PM
Our students have worked incredibly hard—please come enjoy the show!


📝 Benchmark Testing

Benchmark testing has officially begun.
It is very important that students do their best, get plenty of rest, and arrive on time.
Students took the writing portion today.
Testing will continue Friday, December 5th.


❄️ Winter Health Fair

The Roosevelt School District has partnered with La Onda Radio and Mary Rabago Productions to host a Winter Health Fair.
Saturday, December 6th
Location: Sunland STEAM Academy
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Families are encouraged to attend!


🎓 Scorpion Scholar

Please be advised that Scorpion Scholar will be held on:
Friday, December 12th



Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to a great week together!

Sincerely,
Sunland STEAM Academy

Dear 4th Grade Families,


We hope you and your child are having a successful school year. We are writing to share an important update regarding our 4th grade instructional model. Our 4th grade team will shift from a traditional self-contained classroom structure to a departmentalized model. This means students will travel with their homeroom group to different teachers for core subjects. We will slowly begin the transition this week then officially begin Monday, December 8, 2025. Each teacher will focus on a specific content area, providing all students with instruction from educators who specialize in that subject. Since this week is a testing week, we will take this week to allow the students to rotate through the classrooms and meet each teacher.


Why are we making this change?

We are committed to ensuring every student receives the highest-quality instruction every day. After closely reviewing our 4th grade instructional program, we believe this shift will provide several benefits to students:

Stronger, more focused instruction:
Teachers are able to concentrate on one primary subject area, allowing them to deepen their expertise and deliver more targeted and engaging lessons.
Greater consistency in curriculum and expectations:
A shared structure allows us to align lesson planning, pacing, and instructional strategies so all students receive high-quality learning experiences.
Better preparation for future grades:
Our 5th grade and upper grades use a departmentalized structure. Introducing this model in 4th grade will help students build confidence with transitioning between classes and teachers while preparing them for what is ahead.
Enhanced collaboration among teachers:
Teachers will work more intentionally as a team—reviewing data, planning together, and supporting one another so students benefit from the strengths of multiple educators.


What will this look like for students?

Each student will continue to belong to a homeroom and will rotate with that group through four classrooms daily. The school day will remain consistent in length, and students will still receive instruction in all core subjects. We will spend time teaching students expectations and routines to ensure a smooth transition.

The bell schedule will remain the same however each teacher will teach a specific content for each block (60-minute period). Here is what each teacher will be teaching:

              Mr. Gallindo (ELA/Reading)

              Ms. Krauss (Social Studies w/writing)

              Mrs. Rea (Math)

             Mr. De la Santos (Science w/Math Intervention)      

We will have four blocks, and each class will rotate through the blocks. Lunch, recess, and specials will remain at the same time.


What stays the same?

Students will remain with their same homeroom and peers and will follow the same schedule for special area classes and lunch.
Our focus on strong relationships and positive classroom culture remains central.
We will continue to communicate with families regularly about student learning and progress.


Next Steps

We understand that changes to routine can bring questions. Please know that this decision was made thoughtfully and with student learning at the center. We are confident this structure will help us provide more rigorous, consistent teaching and stronger support for every child. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


Thank you for your partnership and trust as we work together to ensure every learner is successful.


Sincerely,

Jeannette Beechum

Interim Principal