James W. Rice Elementary School

This Friday, August 1st from 4–6 PM is Meet the Teacher Night at your school site!
Come say hello, explore your classroom, and get ready for a great school year.

Our incoming kindergarteners at James W. Rice Elementary School and Westwood Elementary School had the chance to explore their classrooms, meet their teachers, and get a sneak peek at what to expect this school year.

Away for the Day begins August 5, 2025!
All AESD students must keep cell phones and wearable devices off and stored during school hours in line with Arizona law.
Why?
- Improves focus and learning
- Reduces distractions and cyberbullying
- Promotes real social interaction
Thank you for supporting our effort to keep students engaged and focused on learning.
Educating the Whole Child.

Start practicing back-to-school routines now so your child will be successful this school year.

Move bedtime back a little each night and get up earlier each day. Practice laying out clothes and organizing everything the night before to make mornings easier. Don’t forget your ID!

Educating the Whole Child.

We’re just about two weeks out from the start of school, and we can’t wait to welcome every student into the classroom to learn, grow, and take on a brand new year of possibilities.

☀️ Summer Tip: Fresh air and fun adventures can boost brain activity and keep learning going all summer long. What’s your favorite way to keep your mind active during summer?

School is just around the corner, and our amazing Educational Services team is already paving the way for a strong start! They’re busy planning our annual Team Lead Summit. This is a key event focused on building collaboration, aligning goals, and ensuring a smooth launch to learning across all our schools.💡🏫

Practicing math each day helps your child successfully prepare for going back-to-school. Make it fun by asking your child to help measure items in your home, or calculate correct amounts when doubling a recipe.

It all starts with early learning! Enroll your child today in Head Start and Kindergarten at Alhambra ESD and give them a strong start filled with learning, fun, and all around support. Visit www.alhambraesd.org to join our family!

☀️ Summer Tip: One of the best ways to keep reading skills sharp is by picking books that are fun to read! What’s your favorite book to read? 📖

We believe your child's education should be excellent in more than academics. Our Alhambra schools take pride in giving your child opportunities in sports, clubs, tutoring, nutrition, and other low or no-cost services. Choose excellence for your child and join our family by enrolling today!

Educating the Whole Child.

We got game! Thanks to the Phoenix Suns for donating basketballs to our students at Valencia’s basketball camp. Your support helps our young athletes shine on and off the court! 🏀☀️

Our campuses offer so much more than high performing academics. Band, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, and clubs give your child opportunities to try new interests. Explore your options at Alhambra!

Some of our amazing Alhambra leaders spent the week at the NIET Summer Institute, exploring ways to strengthen leadership, elevate coaching, and maximize the power of collaborative teams. They're bringing back valuable tools to support teachers and enhance student learning, and we can’t wait to see it all in action across our schools!

Recently, our Governing Board proudly recognized recipients of the Alhambra Foundation for the Future scholarship. Congratulations to these outstanding Alhambra alumni on their achievements and bright futures!

We are gearing up for an amazing year!

Mental Health Information - 911 Good Samaritan Law DIAL 988 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You and your needs matter. Trained counselors will listen to callers, understand how the problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.

Free Sports Physicals and Backpacks for Students This Summer Mountain Park Health Center is helping families get ready for the upcoming school year by offering free sports physicals from May 27 through August 30. Whether your child needs a physical to participate in sports or just to meet school requirements, Mountain Park is here to help—at no cost to you. As an added bonus, every student who receives a physical will also get a free backpack, making it easier for families to prepare for back-to-school. Mountain Park can even assist families in applying for AHCCCS if needed. Appointments are available by calling (602) 243-7277, or you can visit the Mountain Park website for more information. Take advantage of this opportunity to check one more thing off your back-to-school list!