Queen Creek Unified celebrates first-quarter achievements

The Queen Creek Unified School District is celebrating its students’ accomplishments for the  first quarter of the school year.

“From new programs and special celebrations to student achievements and staff recognition, our schools have much to celebrate,” a press release from the district stated.

Here are some highlights from around the district:

Desert Mountain Elementary

• Queen Creek Vice Mayor Leah Martineau and an officer from the Queen Creek Police Department spoke to first graders about community involvement.
• Handel’s Spirit Night brought together businesses, parents and staff.

Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary

• Fifth graders attended BizTown to practice their business skills, including managing their businesses, making deposits, shopping and paying off loans.
• Coach Laura Cox was honored as the Educator Hero at the Queen Creek Independent’s Hometown Heroes Awards luncheon.

Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary

• The school celebrated 20 years with a birthday party.
• Hosted a family reading event, “A Grand Night at the Sock Hop,” to bring students, families, grandparents and staff together.

Gateway Polytechnic Academy

• Hosted a book fair for students and families.
• Celebrated Grandparents Day with a school-wide event.

Jack Barnes Elementary

• The PTO sponsored a family swim event at the Queen Creek Aquatics Center.
• Savvas, the preferred math resource, partnered with two grade levels that have new staff members to ensure successful implementation of the program.

Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary

• Added a new preschool class section to accommodate growing enrollment.
• Hosted a breakfast for first responders in remembrance of 9/11, Patriots’ Day.

Mountain Trail Academy

• Completed a successful first quarter as a brand-new school.
• Launched the MTA House program promoting togetherness and friendly competition, with the House Soaring Summit assembly on Sept. 24.

Queen Creek Elementary

• Keri Rose, a preschool speech teacher, received a grant for musical instruments to support language and movement in the classroom, while Christina Matejcek, a K–1 specialized teacher, received a grant for manipulatives to enhance learning.
• Family reading night and grandparents breakfast supported community engagement.

Schnepf Elementary

• PTO organized “Fridays with Fathers” events.
• Sixth graders showcased their STEM projects at Chase Field during a Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Silver Valley Elementary

• Cortney von Miller was recognized as a finalist for Queen Creek’s 2025 Educator of the Year Award.
• The school was recognized as an official Lighthouse School, demonstrating its commitment to leadership.

Newell Barney College Prep

• The girls’ seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball teams had a strong season with close games and notable wins
• The eighth-grade boys’ baseball team demonstrated maximum effort throughout the season.
• Wrestlers prepared for the EVC championships while maintaining good academic performance.
• On July 11, eighth-grade students hosted an orientation for incoming seventh graders, attended by a majority of students.

Queen Creek Junior High School

• Queen Creek Junior High debuted its first drama club with more than 50 interested students.
• The cafeteria staff began operations and was featured on a local television news program showcasing the local ingredients brought to students through a partnership with Oatman’s Farm, a local regenerative organic farm.

Crismon High School

• Career and Technical Education students attended the Queen Creek Business and Education Summit at ASU Polytechnic, networking with community and business leaders.
• About 40 seniors toured Northern Arizona University, meeting faculty and exploring campus opportunities, and Health Occupations Students of America and Future Business Leaders of America students visited Grand Canyon University for a campus tour and program-specific college lesson.
• Held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new academic wing.

Eastmark High School

• Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new academic wing included NJROTC presenting the colors for the first time as a new program.
• Hosted the Queen Creek Unified School District College & Career Fair.

Queen Creek High School

• The color guard performed at an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game.
• Hosted NCAA Night in the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, featuring speakers Coach Ann Peirson and Delia Marquez, along with Queen Creek High School softball alumni Cecelia Marquez and Mackenzie Padilla.

Queen Creek Unified School District

• Hosted the LOL (Lead Out Loud) Conference.
• Celebrated the first day of school across the district.
• Held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Eastmark High School, Crismon High School, and Mountain Trail Academy.