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

July 16, 2026

Dear Families,

We are excited to welcome you and your children to a brand new school year at Elgin Elementary School! Next week, our team will meet in our Back to School Conference to prepare for the upcoming school year. I want to begin by thanking our incredible team for their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to our students. The positive energy they bring every day will set the tone for a fantastic school year ahead.

Last year, our school embraced the message of Row the Boat by Jon Gordon and P.J. Fleck. The themes of teamwork, perseverance, positivity, and working together helped strengthen our school culture and reminded us that everyone plays an important role in the success of our students. This year, we are excited to continue building on that foundation.

For the 2026–2027 school year, our staff will be reading and learning from Be 1% Better by Ron Clark. The message of this book is centered on the idea that small improvements each day can lead to extraordinary growth over time. Whether it is academically, socially, emotionally, or personally, we want our students and staff to strive to improve just a little each day. By continuing to “Row the Boat” together while focusing on becoming “1% Better,” we believe our students will continue to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

As we prepare for the new school year, I also want to briefly address a topic that generated discussion in our community last year—the possibility of Elgin Elementary School expanding to include a high school. I appreciate the passion and commitment of our families and community members who care deeply about educational opportunities for local students.

At this time, however, Arizona law requires that an elementary school district have a student count of at least 200 students before the process of establishing a unified school district can even begin. With our current enrollment at 113 students, we do not meet the minimum statutory requirement to pursue the creation of a high school. As a result, this is not an option currently available to our district.

While we understand the interest in this idea, our focus remains on providing an exceptional educational experience for the students we currently serve in grades K–8. We will continue to strengthen our academic programs, support our staff, and prepare our students for success in high school and beyond. We are proud of the work happening at Elgin Elementary School and look forward to building on that success together.

As a reminder, we are now officially operating on a four-day school week. There will be no school on Fridays, so please plan accordingly. We strongly encourage families to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments on Fridays or during school breaks whenever possible. Our goal is for every student to maintain at least 95% attendance this year, and we appreciate your partnership in helping students arrive at school consistently, on time, and ready to learn.

At the same time, if your child is not feeling well, please keep them home so they can rest and recover. Keeping sick students home helps protect the health and well-being of all students and staff.

For student safety, we also ask that all students wear closed-toe shoes each day. This helps prevent injuries during recess, physical education, and other school activities.

I also want to remind our families that I maintain an open-door policy. Please never hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, ideas, or simply to connect. Strong schools are built on strong relationships, and your partnership and support are deeply valued.

Thank you again for entrusting us with your child’s education. We are looking forward to a safe, joyful, and successful school year as we continue rowing together and striving to be 1% better each day.

Sincerely,

Daniel R. Erickson

Daniel R. Erickson
Superintendent/Principal