C.C.U.S.D.#93 - DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY

These words of our mission statement, " Learning for Life, Loving to Learn " best describe the children at Desert Willow Elementary School in Cave Creek, Arizona. A community of happy, loving learners was established in 1999 when our school was built and opened in the Tatum Ranch neighborhood, a planned and rapidly changing community in the northeast area of Phoenix. The neighborhood is approximately 20 years old, and is nestled in the foothills of the Tonto National Forest. The Desert Willow community, a pre-K through 6th grade school, is built on only 8 acres and thus incorporates a cluster of two story buildings situated closely together. The beautiful campus is designed in a natural, meandering manner with all sidewalks leading to our library, situated in the center of the school. The spirit of Desert Willow is robust and visible throughout our campus. Our mascot is the roadrunner. Our school song, "I Want to be a Roadrunner" was written by native songwriter Patty Horn, and is sung with gusto by our students. Daily morning activities begin with morning announcements with affirmations of individual achievements, a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a really corny joke from Mr. Hill. Visits to classrooms will find high levels of activity and engagement. Experiential learning is manifest at the Willow. Students are comfortable in their environment and are challenged to learn. Our library is the focal point of our campus and provides ample evidence of Desert Willow being known as "The Reading School." Kindergarten through 2nd grade roadrunners attend Sing and Read on Friday mornings, where they practice reading by singing classic children's songs accompanied by a musical leader. Book fairs, Read-a-Thons, Pajama Reads, Accelerated Reader, and Author's Teas are just a few of the engaging reading activities that help our students attain reading success.