Our School
Dear Gilbert Heights Community,
Welcome to another exciting school year at Gilbert Heights Elementary! It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as your principal, and I am incredibly enthusiastic about all that the 2025-2026 school year holds for our students, staff, and families.
At Gilbert Heights Elementary, we are dedicated to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our passionate and talented team of educators is committed to fostering a love of learning, critical thinking skills, and a strong sense of community within our students. We believe in celebrating each child’s unique strengths and helping them discover their full potential.
We firmly believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for student success. We encourage you to be an active participant in your child’s education, whether it’s through volunteering, attending school events, or simply staying connected with your child’s teacher. ParentSquare, our communication platform, will be a valuable resource for you throughout the year, providing updates on school news, events, and important information. You can also find our school calendar and staff contact information there.
School starts on Wednesday September 3rd, 2025. Prior to school starting, all 1st through 5th grade families will receive a welcome letter including their students’ assigned teacher and more information about our Back to School Night on August 28th. Kindergarten families will receive a separate letter with more information about our staggered start week. This means our kindergarten students will only attend one day the first week to allow our kindergarten team to create balanced classes. This means our kindergarten students will not have a teacher assigned until after the first week of school.
As we embark on this new school year, I extend my warmest wishes for a positive, productive, and memorable experience for everyone. Our main office will open on August 18th to serve your needs in starting the year. We are excited to welcome back our returning students and meet all of our new families. Together, we can make this a truly exceptional year at Gilbert Heights Elementary!
Sincerely,
Shannon Deems, Principal
Principal of Gilbert Heights
David Douglas School District
503.256.6502 | GH Website
We Are Here For You Family Flowchart
We value our collaboration with families. Working together as a team with our families, schools, and community, supports student achievement. We want to ensure every David Douglas student can Learn, Grow, and Thrive.
If you have concerns, questions, or need support, please follow our family flowchart:
Gilbert Heights Elementary School Mission Statement
Gilbert Heights will provide meaningful, equitable and highly effective instruction so that each student will grow and thrive socially, emotionally and academically. We will ensure this occurs in a safe, respectful and culturally responsive environment where all students, families and staff feel welcomed and supported.
GET CONNECTED!
Most district communication and updates for families will occur via email and online platforms, and all student education will occur in this format. If you need assistance with this, please reach out via DDSD family support for technology: Phone number-503.261.8391, Email: family_help_desk@ddsd40.org. The district is currently applying for grants to help provide Wifi to families in need.