Welcome to the 2018 – 2019 school year at Desert Foothills Junior High School!

Desert Foothills offers a true middle school experience in which students are placed on an academic team consisting of five core teachers providing a school-within-a-school atmosphere. This environment provides purposeful interventions where needed and improves communication and integration. Each team of teachers builds camaraderie and infuses the DF team spirit while watching out for the students’ well-being and promoting positive youth development during the impressionable 7th and 8th grade years. All academic teams offer advanced classes in math, reading and science. In addition, an outstanding group of special education teachers works with each team to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities in reading, writing and math. We offer Language Live, Intervention Math and Title I math for regular education students struggling with those concepts. 

Middle school students need exposure to a lot of different exploratory programs. Our great variety of elective classes helps our students find their interests leading them to select courses later in high school that ultimately will enhance their careers in the future. Desert Foothills offers drama/theatre, music, choir, orchestra, band, guitar, keyboarding/piano, PE, art, technology, multi-media and leadership as elective classes. Our school day begins in homeroom with breakfast in the classroom and an advisory/intervention period focused on the social and academic growth of all of our students.  We strive to create a safe atmosphere in which all students can be academically successful and experience positive social development throughout their middle school years. 

There is such a thing as a free lunch at Desert Foothills! We will be participating in the Community Eligible Provision (CEP) for the 2018-2019 school year. The CEP allows schools to offer free, nutritious school meals to all students through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. What this means for families at Desert Foothills is that all students will be able to receive both breakfast and lunch at no charge for this school year without having to fill out a meal application. If your child just wants a beverage instead of a full meal he or she can purchase milk or juice for 35 cents or a bottle of water for 50 cents. We are excited about this opportunity and hope you take advantage of it.

It is an honor to serve as the principal of Desert Foothills. I am committed to creating a whole school of excellence for Desert Foothills that promotes the academic and social growth of every student. Please know my door is open for us to communicate and partner for your child’s success. You are always welcome to call or come to the office. The Desert Foothills staff and I welcome you to our school and look forward to a wonderful school year.

Sincerely, 

Susan P. Smith