Sunrise Scoop
August 2025
Warm regards,
Michelle Martelli
Principal, Sunrise Elementary
- August 11th- Band and Orchestra Parent Information and Rental Night with Dr. Fattu in Band Room
- August 13th- Volunteer Training at 3:30 p.m.
- August 26th- Kona Ice here for sale to Grades 2-6 during recess
- September 1st- No School in observance of Labor Day
🎉 Cool Off with Kona Ice & Support Sunrise! 🌞
Hey, Sunrise Lions! Get ready to chill out with a sweet treat – Kona Ice is coming to campus! Students in grades 2 through 6 will have the chance to buy a refreshing Kona Ice during their scheduled recess. Even better, 20% of all sales come right back to support our school! 🙌
The first chance to grab your Kona Ice will be on Tuesday, August 26th, during the lunch recess. And guess what? Kona Ice will be here every month, so you’ll have plenty of chances to enjoy a delicious treat and help our school rise! 🦁🍧
Let’s make it a fun and tasty fundraiser! 🎊
Suggested Supply Lists
As we gear up for another exciting school year at Sunrise Elementary, we wanted to share our recommended supply lists for each grade level. These items are optional and are meant to supplement the supplies provided by the school. Arizona law ensures that public schools provide the essential supplies needed for academic success, so rest assured that your child will have what they need to succeed!
However, if you would like to contribute additional supplies, these items are greatly appreciated! Please note, donations help support our classrooms and make a positive impact on our students’ learning experiences.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. They are happy to help!
🌟 Support Sunrise Elementary and Make a Difference! 🌟
We’re excited to share our Amazon Wishlists for two important initiatives that will directly benefit our students and classrooms. Your support can go a long way in creating a positive and enriching environment at Sunrise Elementary. 💖
🦁 PAWS Shop Wishlist 🦁
We’ve created this wishlist to stock our PAWS Shop, where students can “shop” using the points they earn for demonstrating PAWS (Practicing Respect, Accepting Responsibility, Working Together, and Safety Matters). Your donations will help motivate and reward our students for making great choices!
👉 PAWS Shop Wishlist- https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1V7WK3HUFU3UY?ref_=wl_share
🧠 Sensory Bins for Classrooms 🧠
Sensory bins are essential tools that support students’ learning and emotional regulation. They offer hands-on, tactile activities that help students focus, reduce stress, and engage with their learning in a meaningful way. We’ve created a wishlist to help build these sensory bins in each classroom to ensure all students have the tools they need to succeed.
👉 Sensory Bins Wishlist- https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/SA028C45QCFL?ref_=wl_share
Together, we can create a more supportive and enriching learning environment for our Sunrise Lions! Thank you for your generosity and for making a lasting impact on our students. 🦁💫
Arrival & Dismissal
Arrival: Gates will open at 7:58. Students are able to get breakfast from the carts and then report directly to their assigned classroom to eat.
Dismissal Procedures
For K-6 Parents
Walkers will be dismissed at 2:55.
● Students will walk with a teacher to either the Northeast or Southwest walker gate.
● Siblings will meet at the gate. They will not wait outside classrooms. If there is a Kinder sibling, one sibling will pick the kinder student up at the gate by the cafeteria and main office and then walk to the correct gate.
● Parents will meet their children at the specified gate.
Car Riders will be dismissed at 3:00.
● Students will walk to the map area with a teacher and be seated on the map.
● Parents will drive along the blue line and pull forward to wait for dismissal. Parents should stay in their cars.
● Parents will have a blue card with student names displayed on the dash. Blue cards will be available at Meet the Teacher and in the Front Office.
● A designated teacher or admin will call for the family to come to the blue line and get in the car.
For Kinder Only Parents
If a kindergartener is the only student being picked up, the following will apply:
- Kindergarteners will be brought to the area between the cafeteria and main office at 2:50.
- Walkers will be dismissed directly to a parent.
Car riders will be brought to the front loop/bus lane.
● Parents will drive along the front loop/bus lane and pull forward to the tree.
● Parents will have a pink card with the kindergarten student’s name displayed on the dash. Pink cards will be available directly from the kindergarten teacher and are ONLY for students who will be picked up alone (no siblings).
● Parents arriving in the front loop/bus lane without a blue card will be asked to leave the area and join the regular dismissal line.
At Sunrise Elementary, we believe that by reinforcing these core values, we create a positive and supportive school environment where every student can thrive. Through our PAWS program, students earn Dojo points for demonstrating these behaviors, helping them to build strong character and succeed both academically and socially. Students can then spend their Dojo points in our classrooms and at the PAWS shop. (If you would like to donate to our PAWS shop, check out our Amazon wishlist.) We’re proud to celebrate our students’ achievements and encourage them to keep showing their PAWSitive behavior every day!
School Meals
Sunrise is pleased to announce that through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, we will be providing breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge.
All students enrolled at Sunrise may receive one breakfast meal and one lunch meal at no charge every school day. Additional meals and a la carte items will continue to be available at regular pricing.
Purchasing Snacks
Snacks can be purchased. Parents can add money to a student’s account in three different ways:
Cash: Students may buy meals with cash or add cash to their account in the cafeteria.
- Check: Students may bring a check with their student ID number and current phone number on it to the cafeteria to be added to their account.
- Online: Payments can be made at EZSchoolPay.com using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card for a fee of $3.00 per transaction. Parents can also use EZSchoolPay to view student spending and set up low balance reminders at no cost.
Birthday Buckets
Parents now have the option of ordering a Birthday Party Bucket from the cafeteria! All items are Smart Snack compliant. To order, please submit the order form to the kitchen manager at Katrina.Sandy-Colon@dvusd.org along with any questions and to check availability.
Make it fun and easy to celebrate your student's birthday! The Birthday Party Bucket provides healthier snacks for students and simplifies the process of birthday celebrations in the classroom. The bucket will be delivered to your student's class at a designated time and location, making it super convenient for teachers and parents.
We’re excited to announce School Spirit Fridays at Sunrise! Every Friday, wear your Sunrise spirit wear or school colors to show your love and pride for our amazing school. Whether it's your Sunrise swag or red and gold, let’s fill the halls with school spirit and show off our Sunrise pride!
To promote a safe and distraction-free learning environment for all students (and in alignment with Arizona House Bill 2484 (2024)), the use of personal electronic devices (PEDs), including cell phones, is strictly regulated for students during the school day. This policy applies to all DVUSD students and is enforced during instructional hours across all areas of the school campus, including classrooms, hallways, restrooms, lunch areas, recess, assemblies, and any school-sponsored activities taking place on campus during the regular school day.
Students are required to keep their personal electronic devices (such as phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and similar items) turned off and stored away throughout the school day unless they have received explicit permission from a DVUSD staff member for instructional or health-related and nurse approved purposes. Use of electronic devices is not allowed in classrooms, hallways, restrooms, lunch areas, or other common spaces during school hours. In addition, messaging, phone calls, and social media use are strictly prohibited during instructional time.
Bluetooth headphones and earbuds are not permitted on campus. Only wired headphones may be used, and only when connected to school-issued Chromebooks for approved instructional activities. This ensures appropriate use and limits classroom distractions.
Students are strongly discouraged from bringing personal electronic devices (including cell phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and gaming systems) to school or school-sponsored events. The Deer Valley Unified School District is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged personal items.
Misuse of electronic devices may result in disciplinary consequences and may also result in confiscation of the device. Devices that are repeatedly confiscated will be held in the front office until they are retrieved by a parent or guardian.
Optional Payment Protection Plan
4th-6th graders only --- Your child will receive a school chromebook to use. If you would like to purchase device insurance, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF RECEIVING YOUR DEVICE!
Families will not be charged for repairs required due to manufacturer defects or normal wear and tear of the device.
The fee for Device Protection Plan is $25 per child/per school year.
Parents can purchase the protection plan online at https://url.dvusd.org/PaymentPortal.
**Note- the cost to replace a fully-damaged chromebook is $250 and will be charged to your child's account if damaged without the protection plan.
Words from Mrs. Jennewine
Sunrise uses the Zones of Regulation to help students better understand and manage their emotions. The program uses four color zones (Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red) to help students identify how they’re feeling and learn strategies to manage their emotions. Our goal is to support students in recognizing their emotional state, developing self-awareness, and building tools for success both in and out of the classroom. You might hear your child talking about “being in the green zone”, that’s when they’re feeling calm, focused, and ready to learn!
Immunizations
All new students and students who have turned 11 years old will need to update their immunizations. Immunizations Notices will be sent out by email and sent home with the student, to guide you on which immunizations are needed to be updated.
Maricopa County has a clinic that provides free immunizations Monday through Friday- Clinic address: 5141 W. Lamar Rd, AZ. 85301. Call the Clinic 602-506-6767 for hours and more information.
Contact Nurse Penny if you have any questions by email Penny.Reamer@dvusd.org or phone 602-467-5910. Let’s have a Healthy School Year!
Join our Team!
If you are interested in any of our open positions, please apply at https://jobs.dvusd.org/ and email Hedy at Hedy.Rastedt@DVUSD.org.
We’re excited to share a valuable resource that could benefit your family this summer. In partnership with hunger-fighting organizations, we’ve launched SummerEBT.org—a website that helps families easily check if they qualify for Summer EBT (also known as Sun Bucks).
Families with eligible children can receive $120 in grocery benefits per child this summer. The site offers a quick eligibility screener and connects you directly to the application for your state. Last summer, nearly $2.5 million in benefits were distributed to families through this program.
We encourage you to visit SummerEBT.org and check if you qualify. Applications are open now in most states and will close at the end of August. Click image for more information.
Is your child struggling with anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem?
Our Behavioral Health Counselor is available to support your child in developing effective coping strategies. In addition to working directly with students, she can connect families with valuable community resources.
We also invite you to attend our monthly Parenting Support Groups, designed to help parents:
- Address and manage common behavioral challenges at home
- Improve communication within the family
- Navigate topics that impact both students and caregivers
Sessions take place from 6:00–7:30 PM on the third Thursday of each month.
You are welcome to attend virtually.
📅 First session: Thursday, August 21st
Join us to build skills, gain support, and connect with other parents who are navigating similar experiences.
For more information, contact:
Jacqui Myers
Behavioral Health Counselor
Desert Sky Middle School
Glendale, AZ 85308
Click the Links Below
Learn more about how the restoration of the M&O override will help continue to pay a portion (approximately 8.5%) of all salaries, maintain maximum class sizes (would otherwise increase +3 students per classroom), continue full-day kindergarten and other specialized programs for students, continue to support extracurricular activities for students, continue to provide counselors and support services staff such as school nurses, and continue to provide a portion (10%) of school and department budgets.
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Attendance is the key to success!
Did you know that good attendance sets the foundation for lifelong learning habits? When students are in school consistently, they don't just keep up with lessons-they build confidence, strong routines, and social connections. We do realize that things happen. In the event that your student cannot be at school please call our 24 hour attendance line 602-467-5990, to let us us know your student will be absent. Every day counts! Let's work together to ensure our students are present, prepared, and ready to succeed.
Being in class on time every day helps DVUSD students and teachers inspire, learn, and lead.
Consistent attendance is essential to academic success, and Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) is dedicated to supporting families in fostering strong attendance habits. Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to succeed academically and socially, with the positive impacts of good attendance starting early in their educational journey.
Kindergarten and high school years often see the highest rates of absenteeism in Arizona, so it's crucial to establish positive attendance routines early. DVUSD offers several resources to help parents and guardians encourage good habits and ensure their children stay on track. These include setting up a Powerschool account to track attendance, printing district calendars, and creating consistent bedtime and morning routines.
Good attendance inspires both students and staff, enhancing the learning environment and creating lasting connections. It also helps students engage in leadership opportunities and encourages the growth of social skills. When students are in class, everyone learns together, and teachers can create a dynamic environment for all. Furthermore, regular attendance teaches students valuable life skills such as responsibility and time management.
DVUSD encourages families to stay proactive and address any attendance issues early. Resources such as the Edulog app for bus schedules and reminders to avoid scheduling vacations during school time can help. Parents are also advised to look out for signs of disengagement, as chronic absenteeism may indicate underlying challenges such as academic struggles or social issues.
Remember, students are considered chronically absent if they miss more than 10% of the school year, which is just two absences per month. By prioritizing attendance and using available resources, we can work together to help students succeed academically, socially, and in life. Let's make every day count!
Sharp Insights from Ms. Sharp
It's normal for kids to feel nervous when separating from parents, especially at the start of school. This is called separation anxiety. Watch for clinginess at drop off, stomachaches, or frequent worry. How to help: keep goodbyes short and positive, practice short separations, use special goodbye routine, stay calm- kids mirror your confidence, and praise their bravery. If anxiety lasts for weeks or causes school refusal reach out to your child's teacher, school counselor, administration or your pediatrician for extra support. With Support Kids Grow More Confident Every Day!
Return to School Forms
Dear Parents/Guardians:
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, you received an email to complete your student(s) Required Return to School Forms. The email will contain a unique code to access your student(s )' information. You will receive an individual email for each one of your students enrolled in the district.
Please open and respond to this email within 24 hours, so that the district will have the most accurate emergency contact information for your student(s), and verification of Internet usage preferences.
The email sent to you will be from:
PowerSchool Registration Support<noreplyregistration@powerschool.com>
