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Holaway Elementary

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Holaway Elementary School
3500 N. Cherry Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719

Phone: (520) 696-6880
Fax: (520) 696-6924

Principal: Trechel Valentin

Office Hours: 7:10 AM – 3:30 PM
Instruction Hours: 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

7:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., gates open at 7:10
 
Wednesday- (Early out)

7:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Message from the Principal

A young woman with long brown hair smiles at the camera.

Dear Families,

There is something truly special about a child’s elementary years, and here at Holaway, we are ready to create an experience full of core memories. Whether your child is stepping into Kindergarten for the very first time or returning as a proud Holaway Coyote, we are so excited to welcome you to what we aspire to be a joyful, meaningful, and inspiring year.

At Holaway Elementary, we believe that every child matters. We believe in the power of connection, collaboration and high expectations. Our team is deeply committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment where students are individually known, heard, valued, and supported- academically, socially, and emotionally. When students feel like they belong, they are ready to grow—and we’re here to nurture that growth every step of the way.

We are committed to meeting students where they are and honoring how each child learns best. Through personalized learning, we aim to spark curiosity and empower every student to grow. Whether through small-group instruction, student choice in projects, or goal-setting activities, we strive to ensure that each learner is actively engaged and meaningfully supported.

As an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school, we are dedicated to equipping all students with the skills, strategies, and mindsets they need to thrive in school and beyond. With a strong focus on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, reading, and critical thinking, AVID helps us build a college- and career-ready culture for every learner.

As a school community, we thrive through partnership. We invite you to be active participants in your child’s education by:

  1. Talking about School Daily: Regularly ask what brought them joy, what they learned, or who they played with. Celebrate their growth, progress, and effort—it fosters resilience and positive connections to school.
  2. Establishing Consistent Routines: Life can be unpredictable, but even small routines help children feel secure, calm, and ready to learn.
  3. Encouraging Positive Character Development: Talk about kindness, inclusion, curiosity, and being a good friend. Embrace and celebrate what makes your child unique.
  4. Supporting Healthy Habits at Home: Limit screen time and help them find a healthy balance between technology and other activities like reading, outdoor play or family time.
  5. Keeping Open Communication: Make space for your child to share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
  6. Staying Connected: Use ParentSquare to stay in touch with your child’s teacher, ask questions, and stay updated on school events and opportunities. Your voice matters to us!

We are proud to be a place where Coyotes lead with heart, strive for excellence, and lift one another up. Whether you’re a returning family or new to our school, thank you for being part of the Holaway family and for helping us to create a school where everyone belongs. Your support and involvement make a world of difference.

I’m honored to serve as your principal and look forward to an incredible year together.

Warmly,
Trechel Valentin
Principal, Holaway Elementary School

More Information

A pink 'H' with a dog sitting on top, surrounded by the words 'Readiness', 'Responsibility', 'Resilience', and 'Respect'.

Frances Owen Holaway is a K-5 Elementary School on the corner of Cherry and Prince in central Tucson. It is conveniently located and perfect for families choosing to open-enroll their children. Our school not only offers an exceptional educational experience but also a true sense of community. We believe our purpose is to educate the “whole child,” which is evident from our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Holaway Elementary School Community is to provide an exemplary education in a safe, caring environment that inspires academic success through readiness, responsibility, respect, and resilience.

Our beautiful campus is a place where students, staff, and parents feel safe and secure. Holaway has recently completed a bond project that included renovations to the existing technology infrastructure, remodeling the cafeteria/kitchen, and a brand new building that includes several classrooms, an Art Room, a Computer Lab, and a Music Room.

Holaway proudly serves a diverse population of approximately 200 students. More than 60 dedicated and caring staff members provide a rigorous and relevant learning experience to our responsible, capable students.

  • The mission of the Holaway Elementary School Community is to provide an exemplary education in a safe, caring environment that inspires academic success through readiness, responsibility, respect, and resilience.

  • Among the most important advances in student discipline procedures over the past decade is recognition of the need for school-wide behavior support systems. Historically, discipline in schools has been driven by attention to specific children with problem behaviors. This continues to be an essential component of school policy; however, a major advance has occurred through recent efforts to define proactive, school-wide systems of support. The goals of school-wide systems are to define, teach, and support appropriate behaviors in a way that establishes a culture of competence within schools. When a competent culture is established, the students are more likely to support appropriate behavior and discourage inappropriate behavior by their peers.

    • Create and maintain a safe, orderly, and positive environment for all students, staff, and visitors.

    • Believe that high expectations can and will be achieved.
    • Instill an attitude of lifelong learning and a resilient approach to problem solving.
    • Expect polite and respectful interactions among members of the school community.

    • Develop and sustain leaders who are trustworthy, supportive and responsive.

    • Maximize opportunities to learn and time on task.
    • Utilize multiple measures to assess student learning.
    • Provide differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
    • Promote and provide opportunities and choices in professional development to ensure student learning.
    • Utilize best practices in education to drive curriculum, instruction and assessment.

    • Create and maintain a strong relationship between school, home and community that strengthens student achievement.