Dear Peralta Trail Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful Fall Break filled with rest, family time, and maybe even a little adventure. As we return to school on Tuesday, October 7th, we are excited to launch into the 2nd quarter of the year—a time that promises to be full of fun, learning, and new opportunities for our students.

The 2nd quarter brings a fresh start and a chance for students to build on the hard work and successes from the beginning of the school year. Our classrooms are buzzing with energy as teachers prepare engaging lessons and activities designed to challenge and inspire every child. Along the way, we will also celebrate school spirit, enjoy seasonal events, and continue building our community together.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making Peralta Trail Elementary such a special place to learn and grow. We look forward to all that the next quarter has in store!

With gratitude,

Mrs. Smith, Principal

Peralta Trail Elementary

September 22 - October 3 - FALL BREAK (NO SCHOOL)

October 6 - Teacher Inservice Work Day (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

October 7 - School Resumes for Students

October 22 - Family Picnic Day (11:20-12:40 during your child's scheduled lunch time)

October 23-31 - Red Ribbon Week

October 27-31 - Writing Benchmark Assessment (Grades 3-5)

October 28 - AJUSD Governing Board Meeting @6pm (District Office Board Room)

November 3-4 - Science Mimic Assessment (5th Grade)

November 5 - EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY @1:35PM

November 7 - PTES PTO Fall Festival and STEAM Night 5-7pm

November 10 - PTES Veterans Day Assembly @9am

November 13 - World Kindness Day

This activity is a fun way to explore the properties of matter, including density and buoyancy. Kids get to practice making predictions, testing ideas, and observing results—just like real scientists. It’s also a great tie-in with other water science experiments and early lessons on states of matter.

Ask: “Do you think this will sink or float?” Write down or circle predictions on the worksheet.

Place objects in the water one at a time. Observe carefully.

Write or draw the results. Did the item float on top of the water or sink to the bottom?

Science Standards Alignment (Simplified Guiding Questions)

Density is how tightly matter’s molecules are packed. If an object is denser than water, it sinks. If it is less dense, it floats. For example, a plastic fork floats, but a metal fork sinks. Explore more density experiments here.

Buoyancy is the upward force that water pushes on an object. If the upward push is stronger than the weight of the object, it floats. This is why foil boats can float even though foil can also sink when flattened. Explore more fun buoyancy examples here.

CREDIT: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Safety is a priority and we want to make sure that the procedures are followed for a smooth arrival and dismissal. Any transportation changes MUST go through the main office (480-677-7540) no later than 1:00 pm.

Please remember the following:

Please use the QR Code to add money to your child's lunch account or to apply for free and reduced lunch; we encourage everyone to apply! Did you know that Peralta Trail Elementary receives Title I funding for important programs? Our allocation of Title I funding depends on the percentage of students who qualify for Free & Reduced lunch; this is why we encourage you to apply each year. Be sure to apply if you have not done so already for the 2025-26 school year. Thank you!

Last year, AJUSD adopted a cell phone policy for our campuses. Thank you for your support and reminding your child of our Cell Phone Policy. Last year we only had a few issues and students were more focused during the school day. If a student has a cell phone, once on campus they are to turn it off and secure it in their backpack as it is not permitted to be out during school hours. Please see the new policy below: