SRMS PTO News

Hello, Sunrise Middle School Families -

Welcome to 2026! We hope that your holidays were restful and filled with wonderful memories. Please check out this month's newsletter for the latest SRMS PTO updates.

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

Through 1/31: Sabashi Foods New Year Special: Buy One Box, Get the Second 50% Off! Order here. At checkout, use code SUNRISEPTO for 20% of sales to be donated to the SRMS PTO. You can also stack it with code LOCALDELIVERY for free delivery to the school (SRMS).

• Discover the delicious difference of Sabashi’s bean-based bars: Up to 10g vegan protein, 6g fiber, and zero artificial anything. Born in Scottsdale, AZ. Formulated by a Gastroenterologist!

1/14:

• 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM: Special Education Dine-out Fundraiser at Panda Express
• 3:15 PM: PTO Meeting (Agenda, Presentation, & Minutes)

1/15: 6:30 PM - Governing Board Meeting

1/19: MLK / Civil Rights Day Recess (No School)

1/21: 9:00 – 11:00 AM - United Parent Council Meeting & Presentation on Preparing for Middle and High Schools

1/23: 9:00 – 10:00 AM - High School Registration for SRMS 8th Graders

1/26:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences (In-person – Media Center)
• PTO-sponsored Teacher Conference Dinner (Sign up here if you'd like to donate desserts or drinks).

1/27: Parent-Teacher Conferences (Telephone)

1/29 & 1/30: Early Dismissal at 12:00 PM

1/31: 8:00 - 11:00 AM - 16th Annual PVSchools Community 5K Fun Run at Horizon HS (Register by 1/16 to guarantee a race t-shirt.)

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!

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.

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!

On Wednesday, January 14th, from 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Panda Express is donating 20% of sales to the SRMS Special Education Program. Please show the flyer or enter 3851714 in the fundraiser code box. Panda Express is located at 6501 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale.

On Wednesday, February 11th, from 4:00 - 8:00 PM, Chick-fil-A is donating 20% of sales from Mobile Orders to the SRMS Mandarin Program. Please use the Chick-fil-A app to place a Mobile Order for dine-in, carry-out, or drive-through. At checkout, click on "Community Care Event." Chick-fil-A is located at 12031 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix.

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:

• 1/21 at 9:00 - 11:00 AM: UPC meeting & presentation on Preparing for Middle & High Schools (in-person at PVUSD office & via Zoom)
• 2/10 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM: PV Parent Expo (Desert Shadows MS)
• Parents:
• Come discover local businesses and and vendors who want your business
• Learn about PVSchools Programs and Schools
• See Performances by PV Students
• Meet and Mingle with other parents
• Win Prizes
• Light Snacks / Treats
• Businesses:
• Meet local parents who want to learn about your business and might become your customers
• See Performances by PV Students
• Bring a door prize and get people excited about your business
• District Committees
• Theatre Rubric Committee: The District is inviting 3 parents to serve on this Committee that will create an easy-to-implement rubric that school site selection committees can use to facilitate informed, objective, and equitable decision-making when selecting MS and HS level theatre productions. The first meeting is January 15. Use this link to submit your interest in serving on this committee.
• Annual Family Handbook Review Committee: The District is inviting 3 parents to serve on a committee to review the current Family/Student Handbook and make recommendations for revisions for the 2026-2027 Handbook. The first meeting is January 22. Use this link to submit your interest in serving on this committee.
• Literature List Committee: The District is requesting 6 Parent Representatives to serve on the committee. The purpose of this committee is to review submitted titles and make a recommendation to the Governing Board to add new titles to the literature list. Use this link to submit your interest in serving on this committee. The first meeting is February 3.
• District Focus Groups
• Related to the Family Handbook, the District is interested in receiving parent comment regarding limitations on use of personal information or images in directories and in other platforms and formats. For more information on this, please e-mail president@pvupc.org.
• The current Transportation and Bell Schedule Committee will be seeking additional information from parents in its next phase of proposal review. To participate in this conversation and provide input to this District Committee before options are presented to the Governing Board, please e-mail president@pvupc.org.

• Stay Connected:

  Follow us on social media for reminders, updates, and announcements.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

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.

Direct Give Drive:

Katrina Simmons

Quest Science and STEM Program:

Sarah Simons

December SRMS Staff Appreciation | Holiday Luncheon & Cheer:

Stephanie Markman

Jen Brooks

Michael Valdez

Darla Schrock

Meggie Nelson

Katrina Simmons

StuGo Snack Donations for Winter Dance:

Kieu Truong

Nubia Moreno

Jennifer Rock

Danielle Poveromo

Melissa Jamshidi

Lisa Falkner

The Sunrise Players Donors and Volunteers | SRMS Theatre:

Jessica Chaplick

Rise Dance Company Donors and Volunteers | SRMS Dance:

Rachel O'Connor

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. New Year Special: Buy One Box, Get the Second 50% Off!

Fry's Community Rewards

Code Ninjas - Paradise Valley Village

Mathnasium of Paradise Valley

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!

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunMSPTO

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!