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Florence Unified School District

October Newsletter 2026

Posted Date: 10/01/26 (01:47 PM)


A diverse group of students and children are featured in a banner for Florence Unified School District, with text '#OPPORTUNITYAWAITS'.

District Newsletter

Monthly News & Updates

October 1, 2026
A Halloween illustration featuring a jack-o-lantern filled with candy, flanked by two ghosts, with the text 'hello October'.

🍂 Welcome, Fall!

Fall is here, and with it comes cooler days, fun traditions, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate together during fall intercession. While Halloween may be one of the highlights of the season, there is so much more happening across our schools this October. From recognizing the dedicated staff members who keep our schools running, to celebrating teachers, coaches, student success, school bus safety, and making positive, healthy choices, October is filled with special days and weeks that give us even more reasons to celebrate our students, staff, and school communities. Families, we invite you to talk with your children about what they are learning and celebrating at school, participate in school activities, show appreciation for the people who make a difference in their school day, and look for opportunities to spread kindness and school spirit, because here at FUSD... #OpportunityAwaits around every corner. 
 

Special Dates in October

National Principals Month – October: Let's celebrate our principals and school leaders for the important role they play in supporting students, staff, and families.
National Custodial Workers Recognition Day – October 2: Shout out to our amazing custodial teams for keeping our schools clean, safe, and welcoming every day.
World Teachers’ Day – October 5: Celebrate the teachers who inspire, encourage, and make a difference in the lives of our students.
National Coaches Day & Instructional Coaches Day – October 6: Let's recognize the coaches who help students and staff grow, learn, and reach their goals.
Digital Citizenship Week – October 5–9: Encourage your child to be safe, responsible, respectful, and positive when using technology and digital media.
National School Lunch Week – October 11–17: An entire week to be grateful and show our appreciation for our school lunch staff. 
National Fire Prevention Week – October 4–10: Help your family learn important fire-safety tips and make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
National Bullying Prevention Month – October: Let’s work together to create schools where every student feels safe, included, respected, and valued.
National School Bus Safety Week – October: Reinforce safe habits around school buses, bus stops, and transportation so every student arrives at school and home safely.
Make a Difference Day – October 24: Encourage students and families to look for simple ways to help others and make a positive difference in their community.
Red Ribbon Week – Late October: Support healthy choices and encourage students to make decisions that help them build a bright future.
Halloween – October 31: Celebrate the season with school and family activities while keeping safety, kindness, and inclusion at the center of the fun!
 

Exceptional Student Services News

(ESS)

Meet the Director of Exceptional Student Services, James (Eric) Turner

As the dedicated Director of Exceptional Student Services (ESS) for Florence Unified School District, a position I have proudly held for nearly four years, I lead our team in providing impactful and compassionate support to special needs students. Prior to this role, I served as the Assistant Director in the ESS department at Mesa Unified School District, building upon my foundational experience as a teacher and administrator within Tucson Unified School District. I am happily married and cherish time spent with our three amazing children and three beautiful, rambunctious grandchildren. My commitment to fostering student success is deeply personal; I believe that with the right guidance and a supportive community, every child has the potential to thrive. As I always say, "The true power of special education lies in the strength of the team around our students and staff. It’s through our support, dedication, and collaboration that we unlock every child's potential."
Want to learn more about the incredible ESS department? Check out their WednESSday newsletter. 
WednESSday Newsletter
 

Attendance Awareness Month Data

Every Day Counts!

As Attendance Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to celebrate some encouraging progress while reminding our FUSD families that good attendance is something we continue to promote throughout the entire school year.

Our September attendance data shows that FUSD's overall attendance rate has improved compared with this time last year. That's something worth celebrating!

At the same time, our work continues because every school day is an opportunity to learn, grow, build relationships and be part of the school community.

Why does every day matter? Because even a few absences can add up quickly.

Being at school is one of the best ways to help them stay connected and make the most of every learning opportunity.

Our goal isn't perfection. It's progress.
🚧 Challenges happen, but attendance matters!

If transportation, health or other barriers are keeping your child from attending school, we’re here to help. Contact your school's administrative team for support and resources.
Every student deserves a chance to learn, grow and succeed! Let’s work together to make it happen.

Thank you to our students, families, teachers and staff for helping make attendance a priority. Let's continue working together to help every student show up, stay connected and make every school day count.
Attendance Awareness Month may be ending, but attendance matters all year long!

Show up. Stay engaged. Because #OpportunityAwaits!
 
A collection of various sports balls, including a soccer ball, basketball, and football, rests on a wooden surface.

Sports Update

1st Quarter Wrap Up

A smiling woman with dark hair wearing a black FUSD Athletics polo shirt and silver hoop earrings.

First Quarter Wrap Up by Sherre Walker, Dean of Students at Anthem Elementary and CAC Athletic Commissioner

The first quarter was an exciting start to the school year for our middle school athletics program. Students had the opportunity to participate in Girls Basketball, Baseball, and Cross Country, representing their schools with enthusiasm and school pride.
Our teams competed as members of the Copper Athletic Conference, which is made up of five schools. Throughout the season, student-athletes demonstrated commitment, sportsmanship, and a willingness to support one another both on and off the field.
I am proud of the effort and dedication our middle school athletes displayed during the first quarter. Our sports programs provide students with opportunities to develop their athletic skills while also building confidence, friendships, teamwork, and a strong sense of community.
Thank you to our coaches, families, and supporters for helping make the first quarter athletic season a success. We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum as we prepare for the quarter two sports season.

For game dates, times, and season schedules, visit www.fusdaz.org and select the high school you would like to follow. Game day tickets can be purchased on GoFan. 

Bring the spirit. Bring the pride. Bring the whole family!
A collage of sports teams and school activities, featuring baseball, basketball, cross country, and band members.

October School Board Meeting

Tuesday, October 13th

The next FUSD Governing School Board Meeting will take place at Poston Butte H.S. located at 32375 N. Gantzel Road in San Tan Valley. 

This month's meeting will feature both Mountain Vista Academy and Florence Virtual Academy. We will also celebrate and recognize our students and staff for the month of October. 

The Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) will provide a presentation regarding its superintendent search services and associated costs during the FUSD Governing Board Work-Study Session on Tuesday, Oct. 13, beginning at 5 p.m. The regular Board Meeting will begin promptly at 6:00 pm immediately following the work study session.

Additionally, the Budgetary Steering Committee will make their formal recommendation to the FUSD Governing Board for review. The Governing Board will make a decision at the November meeting. 

We encourage parents, staff and community members to attend.