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About Us
Explorer Middle School opened in the fall of 1997 and is located on 40th Street, north of Deer Valley Road. Explorer is located in a rapidly developing area of Northern Phoenix, which boasts several new neighborhood communities. The region features a variation of dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.

School of Technology
Explorer is very proud of its new signature program, School of Technology. We have implemented new equipment and applications during the 2006-2007 school year. The science and social studies curriculum utilizes interactive technology including: wireless mobile computer labs, Smart Boards and Tablets, digital still cameras, digital camcorders and several web based applications including Beyond Books, KidBiz 3000, TeenBiz 3000, Renaissance Place, and Logger Pro.

GenYES
Explorer Middle School of Technology also features the GenYES (Generation Youth and Educators Succeeding) program, where students receive specialized hands-on training in the utilization of mobile carts, software, and video/presentation equipment. The training allows GenYES students to develop and present lessons with their partner teachers, explore and troubleshoot equipment and software problems, and provide ongoing support for school-wide integration of technology. We are proud to offer our students this cutting edge opportunity!

Make Your Day
Explorer is a Make Your Day school. Make Your Day is a community-wide cooperative citizenship program that actively involves students in learning life skills important for long-term success. Make Your Day emphasizes the importance of student dignity and reality-based consequences. Explorer is a place where teachers teach and students learn!

Study Island
Study Island is a web-based AIMS preparation program that prepares students to master topics built from the Arizona content standards. Students at Explorer MS are well prepared for the AIMS tests each year because they are required to meet quarterly goals. Students, who use Study Island on a consistent basis, outperform their peers who choose not to use this user-friendly program.

STOP BULLYING NOW!
Explorer implemented the OLWEUS program, a comprehensive school-wide bully prevention program that provided training for all staff, students, and parents. Our school has taken a stand against bullying behavior and the program is a permanent component of our school environment. Explorer was awarded the 2007 School Bully Prevention Achievement Award for our staff’s efforts to establish the safest bully-free school possible.

Values
We, the Explorer Middle School community, value:

... the shared responsibility for student learning among parents, staff and students.
... an open and positive approach to communication.
... respectful behavior toward all people.
... diversity and individual differences.
... the potential of all students.
... a safe learning environment.
... the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
... personal integrity.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The vision of Explorer Middle School is to become a great adolescent-centered learning community, where students are expected to meet high academic standards, contribute as positive citizens in our community, and become productive members of the 21st century. We are committed to providing innovative and challenging experiences through our curriculum, instruction, and assessment that are aligned with state standards. We are dedicated to providing support and time for students to meet rigorous standards. We are committed to providing our students frequent exposure to the visual and performing arts, physical fitness, foreign language and technology.

DEVELOPMENTAL RESPONSIVENESS
We are committed to creating small learning communities of students and adults that support student's intellectual, ethical, social, and physical development. All members of our school community are expected to demonstrate respect for each other. Student work showcased on the campus and classrooms provide a stimulating and inviting atmosphere for students to learn.

SOCIAL EQUITY
All members of our school community have equal access to valued knowledge. The community expects high quality work from all students and helps each student produce it. The community includes tutoring, mentoring, special adaptations, and other supports.

DECISION-MAKING
Analysis and use of data and research form a basis for decision-making. Resources include national, state, local, and school community.

Mission Statement
The Explorer Middle School community is committed to providing each student with opportunities to achieve academic excellence and personal success in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.

The P.V.U.S.D. middle school sports program was designed to meet the needs of every middle school athlete regardless of athletic experience or ability level. The program holds firm to the middle school philosophy that all interested students should be given an opportunity to participate. Boys' sports include basketball, track, passing league football, and wrestling. Girls' sports include softball, track, volleyball, and basketball.

Each season, with the exception of track and wrestling, contains an approximately four week session in which coaches work with athletes on fundamentals, drills, scrimmages, rules, and sportsmanship. There are no cuts during this portion of the season, which is known as the festival portion. All interested students are encouraged to play - even if they've never played the sport before. The festival season culminates in a massive district tournament in which literally hundreds of middle school athletes from seven different middle schools represent their schools and compete in uniform against one another.

At the conclusion of the festival tournament, coaches choose an all-star team of 12 to 15 athletes to represent the school in the second portion of the season, known as the all-star portion. The all-star team plays a six game schedule, one game against each of the other six middle schools in the district. There is an all-star team for both the 7th grade and 8th grade in each sport. The only exceptions are track and wrestling, which do not have an all-star portion. One of the main criteria coaches use to choose an all-star team is ability level of the athletes, but they also consider effort, attendance, and willingness to be coached.

 

Click Here For More Information About the Public Education Tax Credit Program

It's this easy!

Making a contribution to receive your Arizona Public Education Tax Credit is simple. Download the PVUSD Extracurricular Tax Credit brochure from the link above (in the white box). Print the brochure and fill out the response card, writing in the dollar amount, up to $200 (or $400 per married couple), that you want to contribute.

- Indicate the school you would like to support (See school listings on back of brochure.) Make the check payable to that school.
- Check the box of an activity category you want to fund. If you’d like to support all activities at a school just check the “Any Extracurricular Activity” box.
- Fill in your name and address.
- Drop off the form and your check at your local school office and pick up your receipt. If you prefer, you can mail the check to the school. Your tax credit receipt will be mailed directly to you.
- You can take a dollar-for-dollar reduction on your Arizona State taxes (or receive an addition to your refund) for that same year. A donation can also reduce your taxable income for your Federal tax return.

Donations deadline:

Mailed-in donations must be postmarked by December 31 to receive the tax credit for current year. For additional information, call (602) 867-5271.