It’s an Eagle Thing

Welcome to the Sonoita Elementary School District website. We’re honored to offer a unique educational experience at our small, K–8 school in Elgin, Arizona. In our six elementary classrooms and four middle-school classrooms, learning and fun go hand in hand. Elgin students have access to the latest in instructional technology, including iPads, laptops, interactive whiteboards, and more. We also have a STEAM lab with a 3-D printer and robots and a media center with a green screen and virtual reality glasses. In addition to unique academic opportunities, we offer a fun PE program and interscholastic sports. At our school, you will also find dedicated educators who are committed to building supportive relationships with every one of our students.

Message From Mr. Erickson

November 1, 2025

Dear Elgin Elementary School Families,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the fall season. It’s been a busy and exciting time at school, and I want to share a few important updates and celebrations with you.

Fall Festival
I hope you all had a chance to enjoy our Fall Festival! Thank you to our awesome Parent Teacher Club and Title I team for organizing this tremendous event!

Grant Updates
We recently applied for a $150,000 grant through the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative to help with funding for our new athletics field (see below for more details). While we didn’t receive this grant, we were awarded a $40,000 grant for new elementary school furniture—a big win for our students and classrooms! A huge thank you to Heidi Gonzales for her excellent work in writing and submitting this grant on behalf of our district.

New AI Tutoring Program
We are excited to announce a new Artificial Intelligence tutoring program called Khanmigo, made possible through a $5,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Education. Khanmigo provides personalized tutoring and support to help students strengthen their academic skills. More information will be coming soon about how this program will be used to support student learning.

Athletics Field Project
We continue to work toward our goal of replacing our athletics field with turf. The project estimate is $1.2 million, and we are currently seeking potential donors and funding partners. If you know of anyone who might be interested in supporting this exciting project, please send them my way. We have also reached out to South32 for possible financial assistance and are awaiting their response. This is a long-term effort that may take several years to complete, depending on available funding. One draft of what the project may look like is in this month’s letter for your reference.

Parent Partnership
As always, one of the best ways to support your child’s success is by talking with them each day about what they are learning. A simple “What did you learn today?” can make a big difference—it reinforces their learning, builds confidence, and shows them you value their education.

Thank you for your support of our school programs. I appreciate you helping Row the Boat alongside all of our Elgin Eagles!

With appreciation,

Daniel R. Erickson

Daniel R. Erickson
Superintendent/Principal