We celebrated students who showed outstanding commitment by being on time and present for every single state testing session. To recognize their dedication, they enjoyed a well-deserved snow cone party 🍧!
We are so proud of these students for showing responsibility, consistency, and school pride throughout testing. Your effort did not go unnoticed—way to show up and shine!
What an incredible season it’s been for our spring athletes! On Tuesday we celebrated the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of our boys volleyball, softball, baseball, and track teams with a well-deserved Spring Sports Banquet.
We enjoyed pizza and cookies 🍕🍪 while recognizing an amazing season full of growth and achievement across all sports.
👏 Highlights from the season include:
🏐 Boys Volleyball: Made it to playoffs and finished 3rd place
⚾ Baseball: Finished 2nd place overall
🏃 Track & Field: Multiple athletes earned medals
We are so proud of every athlete for their commitment, sportsmanship, and effort this season. Thank you for representing our school so well both on and off the field! ⭐
Our campus went full Star Wars in celebration of May the 4th—and it made an already special week even better as we also celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week! 💙
From themed activities to out-of-this-galaxy fun, students and staff showed their Star Wars spirit all around campus. Lightsabers were out, creativity was everywhere, and the Force was definitely strong with our amazing school community 🚀⭐
A huge shoutout to our teachers for all they do—your impact is truly out of this world. 🌠
May the 4th be with you… always.
Tomahawk, Holiday Park,
Davidson, Starlight Park, and Heatherbrae.
Tour guides described the electives, clubs and various locations while answering questions from their groups. They were professional, polite and represented our campus well.
Thank you to everyone who participated, supported and organized the logistics to create a memorable experience for our young leaders.
📣 Athletics Spring Sports Banquet Announcement
We are excited to invite all families and athletes to our Spring Sports Banquet as we celebrate an amazing season of hard work, dedication, and teamwork!
📅 Tuesday, May 5
🕓 4:45 – 6:15 PM
📍 EMS Cafeteria
We will be honoring and celebrating the seasons of:
⚾ Baseball
🏐 Boys Volleyball
🥎 Softball 🏃♀️Track
During the banquet, athletes will be recognized and awards will be given to highlight their accomplishments and contributions this season.
We look forward to celebrating our student-athletes and their commitment both on and off the field/court. Families are encouraged to attend and join us for this special event! 🏅
This week, we celebrate the incredible teachers of Estrella Middle School who show up every day with dedication, patience, and heart. Your commitment to supporting, inspiring, and guiding our students does not go unnoticed. From early mornings to evenings and weekends, you go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of so many.
Thank you for your hard work, your passion, and the positive impact you make in our school community. We appreciate you today and every day! 💜⭐
TODAY: TEACHERS vs. BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Who’s taking the win?! 👀 Come find out and be part of the fun!
📅 TODAY Thursday, April 23
⏰ 3:45 PM
📍 EMS Gym
💲 $2 Admission (at the door)
✈️ AVID Takes Flight! ✈️
Our AVID Elective classes had an unforgettable experience at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport visiting the Southwest Airlines hangar!
Students explored over 20 interactive exhibitor booths, toured the maintenance bay featuring a $20 million engine, and even boarded a real aircraft. The highlight? Every student got the chance to sit in the cockpit and see what it’s like to be in the pilot’s seat! 🧑✈️
Experiences like this open doors, spark curiosity, and show our students what’s possible for their futures. We are so proud of how they represented our school! ✈️
🥉 ESTRELLA VOLLEYBALL TAKES 3RD IN DISTRICT🏐🔥
What a season! Finishing Top 3 in the playoffs, these boys truly made a statement.
Their final game against Castro had everyone on the edge of their seats — intense, competitive, and they left it all on the court.
All season long, they showed up, worked hard, and competed. Every drill, every scrimmage, every workout paid off.
Talent gets you noticed, but mindset and positivity make you an athlete 💯 Coach Soltero is BEYOND PROUD!
This team built something special.
Once a Star, always a Star ⭐️
Dr. Barrantes brings a strong record of leadership and expertise in K–12 education, including a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Administration and Innovation and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Arizona State University. He is also Internationally Montessori Certified.
With over 12 years of service in Cartwright, Dr. Barrantes has held key leadership roles such as Director of Assessments and Data Management and Assistant Program Director, where he helped drive student achievement and strengthen district programs. His experience as a school principal and principal coach further reflects his deep understanding of student, staff, and school needs.
A respected leader in the Peoria, Glendale, and Maryvale communities, Dr. Barrantes is committed to advancing academic excellence, operational effectiveness, and educational equity.
His leadership ensures continuity, stability, and a clear focus on student success.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Barrantes back to the Cartwright family.
📸 Photos from 4/8 practice meet! Let’s go STARS! ⭐️
📍 Meets at Maryvale High School
📅 UPCOMING MEETS:
• Prelims: 4/14
• Finals: 4/16
Our Estrella Stars are FAST, focused, and ready to compete at the highest level. Every race, every event, all heart 💪⭐️
Show up. Show out. Shine bright Stars! ⭐️🏅
There was a typo on our previous flyer — the Boys Volleyball Playoffs are on WEDNESDAY, April 15th (not Monday)!
Come out and support as Estrella competes in the FINAL THREE 🏐💜
Let’s pack Castro and show our pride!
🕓 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM
📍 Raul Castro Middle School
Wear purple for Estrella pride!
