SRMS PTO News
February 2026
Hello, Sunrise Middle School Families -
Please check out this month's newsletter for the latest SRMS PTO updates. Thank you!
In Partnership,
Your 2025-2026 SRMS PTO Board ❤️💛
Sandy Lê-Giguère - President
Amanda Watsky - Vice President
Matt Wells - Treasurer
Savita Swaroop - Secretary
Holly Grover - UPC Representative
Upcoming Events
Important School & PTO Dates
2/2 - 2/20: SRMS Orchestra Fundraiser
2/3: 6:00 - 7:15 PM - Future SRMS Families Open House
2/10:
- Early Release at 12:00 PM
- 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Desert Shadows MS: United Parent Council's PV Parent Expo
2/11: 4:00 - 8:00 PM - Support the SRMS Mandarin Program! Mobile Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A (Tatum & Cactus)
2/12: 6:30 PM - Governing Board Meeting
2/16: Presidents Day Recess – No School
2/18:
- Feb. SRMS Staff Appreciation | Trail Mix Bar (Sign up here if you'd like to donate items.)
- 9:00 – 11:00 AM: United Parent Council Meeting
2/20: 6:00 PM - SRMS Chorus Concert in Gym
You can donate to the SRMS PTO throughout the year! Funds given to the SRMS PTO go to all of these amazing programs. If you can help us achieve our Direct Give Drive Goal, please consider donating. Please check with your employer for a donation match to our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Sunrise Middle School PTO (tax ID # 83-2509388). Thanks for your support!
- Monthly staff appreciation meals
- Teacher grants
- Conference dinners for staff members
- Water service for staff lounge
- Coffee and supplies to keep our staff alert
- Teacher Appreciation Week treats
- Support for programs and extracurriculars like Dance, Theatre, Orchestra, Quest, Mandarin, STUGO, NJHS, Special Education, and others
- And much more!
Signup Opportunities
Thank you in advance for your support and generosity! You can click on the photo to go directly to the Signup Genius to see how you can help.
Fundraisers
Dine-Out Fundraisers
What is a Dine-Out Fundraiser?
These fundraisers allow all of us to win! Companies give portions of the sales that are generated during one of our fundraisers to a specific program, club, or event at Sunrise Middle School... and there's one night where we don't have to think of what to cook or have any dishes to do! See below for the upcoming dine-out fundraisers and what programs at SRMS they are supporting. Thank you!
Chick-fil-A | SRMS Mandarin Program
SRMS Orchestra Fundraiser
- Shop for treats, snacks, candles, flowers, kitchen, jewelry, holiday, magazines, and more!
- Help SRMS Orchestra raise funds for sheet music and accessories.
United Parent Council (UPC) Updates
What is the United Parent Council? The UPC consists of volunteers from across PVSchools working together to enhance the educational experience for all students. UPC:
- Supports PV Schools’ parent group organizations and school communities.
- Facilitates communication and information between families and the District.
- Celebrates the accomplishments of the schools, teachers, principals, staff, and students in PV.
- Collaborates with various organizations to provide valuable information and resources on relevant topics.
Updates from the UPC:
Next UPC Meeting:
The next UPC Meeting is Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 9 a.m. Please arrive a few minutes early for a Meet and Greet with fellow UPC Reps from 8:45-9:00 a.m. and to meet members of the Superintendent's Cabinet, it's a great way to connect. The 9 a.m. monthly business meeting will include important updates and information presented by District representatives, with the Parent Program to follow at 10:15 a.m.
PV Parent EXPO - All Parents Invited!!!
Join us for UPC’s PV Parent Expo at Desert Shadows Middle School (5858 E. Sweetwater Ave.) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m.! It’s a fantastic chance to stop by, meet local vendors, pick up some door prizes, and learn more about the many programs PVSchools offers. Find more information HERE.
From the UPC Gifted Education Committee:
Our next Parent Program will take place on February 10, 2026 from 6-7 PM. Join us as we explore research-backed strategies that help parents and teachers understand and respond to challenging behaviors in gifted and twice-exceptional children. Presented by Dr. Laura Wingers PsyD. Please note the location change, it will be at Desert Shadows Middle School Media Center (5858 E. Sweetwater Ave). This program will be recorded, you can access the Zoom link HERE.
From the UPC Special Education Committee:
The Special Education Department is hosting a Community Resource Fair on February 18, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The event will take place at Pinnacle High School in the Small Gym. Families will have the opportunity to learn about community resources available to students who need individualized supports. Topics will include job and vocational training skills, government support, independent living supports, inclusive community groups, and education and post-secondary support.
This event is open to families of students in grade 6 through age 22.
From the UPC Technology Committee:
Here are some updates from the District's Information Technology Committee (ITC):
- Parent Square is now live at high schools and is on track to be the district-wide communication platform by early 2026.
- The "Hour of AI" initiative is continuing to offer professional development opportunities for educators and students.
- A reminder was issued to report suspicious emails by using the dedicated "three little dots" function in the email application, which triggers an investigation by the security team.
- Digital citizenship lessons are being prepared for the website to provide parents with resources to reinforce behaviors at home.
AI Ambassador Program launched at High Schools. If you know a student who is interested, have them reach out to UPC or their principal.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation:
Nominations open February 18, 2026. Parents and students are invited to nominate a teacher or school-site staff member (like a bus driver, cafeteria, front office, nurse, assistant, etc.) from the current school year who has made a difference by going above and beyond for the students of PVSchools. Please submit a nomination and tell us why that person has earned your appreciation. The nomination form will be available on UPC's website, www.pvupc.org (Recognition Nomination Form Links), beginning February 18. All recipients will be recognized in person at a special ceremony on the evening of May 5 at North Canyon High School and through a slide presentation shown at a Governing Board meeting and on UPC's social media pages.
*Message for UPC Reps:
- Please meet with your Board and Principal to plan how to share the nomination form and then recognize recipients at your school. Be creative!
- Please invite your Principal to attend the May 5 ceremony and to share the date with teachers and staff.
- Please consider volunteering a few hours - or more - with this amazing committee.
Geri L. Morgan Award:
United Parent Council's Geri L. Morgan Volunteer Award honors volunteers who display dedication and service to community as exemplified by late UPC member Geri Morgan. In her memory, UPC annually recognizes a consummate volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution of service. Often it is that passionate, devoted, yet humble volunteer who is doing amazing things that benefit the entire school community. Nominations will be open from February 18 to March 11, 2026. The nomination form will be available on UPC's website, www.pvupc.org (Recognition Nomination Form Links), beginning February 18. The selected recipient will be honored in person at a Governing Board meeting, and all nominees will be recognized through a slide presentation shown at the Governing Board meeting and on UPC's social media pages.
Updates from District Committees:
Theatre Rubric Committee (Updates from the January meeting 1 of 3)
The Theatre Rubric Committee is charged with developing a standardized, comprehensive rubric for all Middle School and High School sites. This rubric will be used to assess the educational value, community appropriateness, and artistic merit of potential theatre productions, ensuring informed, objective, and equitable decision-making across the district. As of the January meeting, these are the agreed upon Theatre Rubric Categories:
1.Age & Developmental Appropriateness
2.Content Sensitivities
- Offensive Language
- Violence or references to violence
- Substance Use- drug and alcohol
- Mental Health Topics
- Suicide
- Religious references
- Racial insensitivities
- Sexual Themes or innuendo
3.Community Context & Fit
4.Educational & Artistic Value
- Directors notes - printed in programs
- Rating on promotional materials and tickets
Upcoming Governing Board Meeting:
The next PVUSD Governing Board Meeting is February 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend in person or view the livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@PVSchools. Parents can e-mail the Board or submit a Public Comment in advance of the next meeting through the link on the District's website HERE.
Takeaways from the January Program:
UPC enjoyed an informative presentation from the District’s Lead School Counselor, Jackie Clayton. She shared valuable information for families on Schoolinks, class registration, high school graduation requirements, AP vs. dual enrollment, CTE pathways, and more. The presentation, “You’ve Got This (and So Do They): Preparing for Middle and High School,” was recorded and can be watched (or re-watched!) HERE.
Ms. Clayton’s slides, which include many helpful links, can be accessed HERE.
Follow us on social media for reminders, updates, and announcements.
Thank You Corner
Thank you so much to Sunrise's amazing families for your support throughout the year! Each month, we'll give special shout-outs to everyone who has helped the PTO in our mission to support the staff, students, and programs at SRMS.
January SRMS Staff Appreciation | Conference Dinner:
Bethany Aldecoa
Jen Brooks
Michael Valdez
Darla Schrock
Jennifer Rock
Danielle Poveromo
Holly Grover
Community Partners
Sabashi Nutrition Bars
About Sabashi Foods (follow on Instagram and Facebook): Born in our Arizona kitchen, every bar starts with the power of chickpeas and mung bean protein—giving you up to 10g of vegan protein and ample fiber for lasting energy, not spikes and crashes.
We skip the artificial fillers and overwhelming sweetness, relying instead on wholesome dates and premium maple syrup. Plus, we add chicory root to feed your helpful gut microbiome.
It’s simple food you can trust.
Partnering with SRMS PTO: Sabashi Foods will donate 20% of sales to the SRMS PTO. Use the Code SUNRISEPTO and CLICK HERE to order. You can also stack it with the code LOCALDELIVERY to skip out on paying shipping and pick up at the school.
Fry's Community Rewards
Code Ninjas - Paradise Valley Village
Mathnasium of Paradise Valley
Staff Spotlights
Are you interested in learning more about some of Sunrise's stellar staff members, their favorites, and wish lists? If so, please check out the Staff Spotlights. We will be sharing additional spotlights throughout the school year!
2026-27 PTO Board Openings
If you'll be a continuing parent at SRMS or know of anyone else interested in serving the SRMS community for the 2026 - 2027 school year, please let us know at azsunrisepto@gmail.com! No experience needed - just a heart for our school community! We are happy to answer any questions about the PTO board positions. Board elections are planned for 4/7/26.
- 2026 - 2027 President
- 2026 - 2027 Vice President
- 2026 - 2027 Treasurer
- 2026 - 2027 Secretary
Connect With Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisemspto
Email: azsunrisepto@gmail.com
Web: https://www.azsunrisemspto.org/
You can also fill out this Google Form if you would like to volunteer your time or connect on upcoming committees with the SRMS PTO. Donations of time are welcome!