SRMS PTO News
September 2025
We're Off and Running!
Hello, Sunrise Middle School Families -
August went by quickly! We met so many wonderful families at Walk the Campus, Open House, and our first PTO meeting of the year (you can find minutes, agendas, and presentations here). We kicked off our fundraising efforts and raised $11,429 with the Raise Above It fundraiser and $2,280 with the Direct Give Drive! We also earned givebacks of $83.28 from the 8/1 Walk the Campus Kona Ice sales, $156 for Robotics from the 8/12 Barro's Pizza dine-out, and $131.69 from Kroger/Fry's (check out our Community Partners page to see how you can donate to SRMS PTO every time you shop at Fry's).
Thank you again to everyone for your incredible donations of time, money, and staff appreciation items, and for partnering with the PTO to ensure that our school and our special programs are supported! On September 17th, as part of our monthly staff appreciation, the PTO is organizing a charcuterie lunch for the staff. If you'd like to donate items, please sign up here.
Please read on for more news and ways you can get involved at SRMS. Thank you!
In Partnership,
Your 2025-2026 SRMS PTO Board
Important School & PTO Dates
9/1: Labor Day Recess
9/3: Dine-Out Fundraiser Benefiting SRMS Orchestra from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream (See flyer below.)
9/17: PTO-Sponsored Staff Appreciation | Charcuterie Lunch (Please see the Signup Genius if you are able to contribute items.)
9/18: PVUSD Governing Board Meeting at 6:30 PM
9/22 - 9/23: K-12 Recess (no school)
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:
Notes from the August Program:- At the meeting, Dr. Cummings shared some of his goals for PVSchools, focusing on three key priorities:
- Improving academic outcomes in reading, math, and English Learner reclassification rates, as well as graduation rates.
- Creating a better enrollment experience for families by making the process smoother and more welcoming, and enhancing personal communication with families.
- Advancing the District’s strategic planning efforts to guide PVSchools toward long-term success.
- He also announced an exciting update: PVSchools will soon enhance parent communication by launching the ParentSquare app. This will streamline much of the communication coming from the District and its schools. The rollout will begin with high schools in 2025, followed by a districtwide launch in 2026. Stay tuned to UPC meetings and social media updates for more information on the new app closer to its release.
UPC Updates:
NEW UPC Representatives: Please join us Wednesday September 17, at 11:15 a.m. for the New UPC Representative Luncheon. This will be immediately following the General Meeting and Parent Program. Meet members of the PVUSD Governing Board, Superintendent's Cabinet and UPC Exec Committee and learn more about your role as a UPC Rep. Please RSVP to membership.
Next UPC Meeting:
Mark your calendars, the next UPC Meeting is Wednesday, September 17, at 9 a.m. Please arrive a few minutes early for a Meet and Greet with fellow UPC Reps from 8:45-9 AM, it's a great way to connect. The meeting will be followed by Parent Program "Family-Student Handbook Updates: What Every Family Needs To Know." An online option will also be available for those who would like to join the meeting remotely.
From the Gifted Education Committee:
Save the Date! The next Gifted Parent Program will be October 14 at 6 p.m. at Desert Trails Elementary. Join us to learn about PVSchools Gifted Middle School Programs at Journey and Quest.
From the Special Education Committee:
Don't miss the September UPC meeting. New Director, Gianna Colonna and Assistant Director, Kimberly Kona Wenger will be attending the September meeting to introduce themselves and the services PVSchools offers. We look forward to welcoming them and hearing their insights.
From the Technology Committee:
This year, 7th-grade students have been issued district-provided devices that they will keep through graduation. Recognizing the need for higher-quality Chromebooks that can support students throughout their academic journey, the District has upgraded devices for 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. PVSchools also offers an optional device protection plan. Families may purchase this plan through October 10, 2025. Payment Portal
Call for Committee: K-12 Science Curriculum Resource Adoption Committee:
PVSchools seeks to adopt a comprehensive Tier 1 Science Curriculum for K-12 Grades, considering varied resources and possible supplemental curriculum to tailor content to each grades specific needs, including the Arizona Science Standards.
The adoption committee will review the K-12 Science curriculum for specific criteria including teaching of standards, explicit instruction, scope and sequence, and evidence of effectiveness. Additional criteria to be examined are assessments, variety of resources, materials available for differentiation, and ease of use. Find more information HERE.
Get Involved! Please share this UPC survey and opportunities with your organization and families.
The new Administration IS LISTENING TO PARENTS and wants to hear our input! Let's make the most of this opportunity at ALL SCHOOLS and with ALL COMMUNITIES and all areas of interest of concern. Please share this link with your organization, parent volunteers, and interested families. We have dozens of opportunities for families to learn more about what we do, find ways to advocate for your child's best education opportunities, and make a huge impact throughout our communities! View some opportunities and focus areas here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0448ACAB2CA1F85-58184511-upccommittees
Upcoming Governing Board Meeting:
The next PVUSD Governing Board Meeting is September 18, 2025 at 6:30PM. Members of the public are invited to attend in person or view the livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@PVSchools. A recording of the August 21, 2025 Governing Board Meeting can be accessed at that same link. 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.
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.
August SRMS Staff Appreciation | Hydration Station & Snacks:
Katie Cordello
Megan Wotton
Jennifer Rock
Stephanie Howard
Emily Nelson
Samantha Pearson
Ayuna Tckachenko
Jen Brooks
Sarah Hemmati
Picture Day:
Samantha Pearson
Emily Nelson
Katie Cordello
Sarah Hemmati
Raise Above It Fundraiser:
Thank you to the 70 SRMS families that were able to participate, as well as everyone who donated!
Anonymous donors
Joy Hernbrode
Jennifer Rock
Eli Gilman
Welcome Our 2025 - 2026 SRMS UPC (United Parent Council) Representative:
Holly Grover
Planning ahead, as the current PTO officers' students move on to high school next year, there will be a need for a brand new board in the 2026-27 school year. If you'll be a continuing parent at SRMS or know of anyone else interested in serving the SRMS community, 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.
- 2026 - 2027 President
- 2026 - 2027 Vice President
- 2026 - 2027 Treasurer
- 2026 - 2027 Secretary
- 2026 - 2027 UPC Representative
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!
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!