Sunrise Scoop

Together We Rise! 🦁

November is a season of gratitude, growth, and greatness, and there’s so much to celebrate at Sunrise! Our Trunk or Treat was a huge success — a perfect example of what makes our community so special. Thank you to our families, staff, and students who came together to create such a fun and festive evening. The joy, creativity, and connection were on full display! I also want to thank everyone for spoiling me for Principal recognition. I am truly honored to serve this community!

We’re also celebrating continued growth and progress as our school letter grade has risen, showing that the hard work of our students and staff is truly paying off. Each day, we’re moving in the right direction focusing on learning, kindness, and teamwork that reflect our PAWS expectations and our theme of Together We Rise!

As we head into this season of thankfulness, I am especially grateful for our incredible Sunrise community — our families, staff, and students who make this school such a wonderful place to learn and grow. November reminds us to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the many moments, big and small, that make our school shine.

Let’s continue to rise together with gratitude in our hearts and greatness in our goals.

🦁 With gratitude,

Michelle Martelli
Principal, Sunrise Elementary

Monday 11/3

• Open Enrollment Begins
• Registration for 2026-27 Kindergarten Begins
• 9am Desert Sky visiting our 6th graders

Tuesday 11/4

• Kindness Fundraiser Kick Off

Wednesday 11/5

• 5-8:30 pm Great Skate Fundraiser

Thursday 11/6

• School Spelling Bee

Friday 11/7

• Early Release Day

Tuesday 11/11

• No School for Veteran's Day

Wednesday 11/12

• Inflatables in celebration of Kindness fundraiser
• 5-6pm 26/27 Kinder Preview Night

Thursday 11/13 World Kindness Day

• Kindness Fundraiser Ends
• 4-7 pm Bruster's Fundraiser

Friday 11/7

• Early Release Day

Wednesday 11/18

• Kona Ice at Recess for grades 2nd-6th

Friday 11/7

• Early Release Day

Monday 11/24-Friday 11/28 No School for Thanksgiving Recess

November 7th

November 14th

November 21st

Early release days in the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) are designed to provide teachers with dedicated time for professional development, collaborative planning, and administrative tasks, while also allowing students to be dismissed 60 minutes earlier than a full day of instruction. This dedicated time helps teachers enhance their skills and ensure high-quality education for students.

Sunrise Lions, we need your help!

As we prepare for Veterans Day, we would love to spotlight and honor the veterans connected to our Sunrise community — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, family friends… anyone who has served.

If you or someone in your family is a Veteran, please email me a photo and a short bio so we can share their story with our students. We will use these to help our students learn more about service, sacrifice, and the people right here in our community who have protected our freedoms.

📧 Email to: michelle.martelli@dvusd.org
📝 Please include:

• Name of the Veteran

• Picture

• Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, etc.)

• Where they served

• Years of service (or approximate dates)

• Your connection to Sunrise (student’s name/grade, staff member, etc.)

We will be sharing these when we talk about Veterans Day recognition so our students can see real-life heroes from our Sunrise family. Thank you for helping us teach our students to practice respect and gratitude — and for allowing us to honor those who have served. ❤️🦁💛

On Tuesday, November 18th, Kona Ice will be on campus for students in grades 2–6 to purchase a cool treat! A portion of the proceeds will come back to benefit Sunrise Elementary. Thank you for supporting our school while enjoying a sweet treat!

See the pricing chart below for options.

At Sunrise, our PAWS character focus for November is Respect — Practicing Respect is the “P” in PAWS! 💛

Throughout the month, teachers have been on the lookout for students who consistently show respect through their words, actions, and attitude toward others.

To celebrate, one respectful Lion from each grade level (2nd–6th) will be selected to receive a free Kona Ice during our next visit on Tuesday, November 18th! 🎉 This is a fun and refreshing way to recognize students who model integrity and set a positive example for their peers.

A huge thank you to Kona Ice for supporting our PAWS program and helping us celebrate Lions who are living our Sunrise values every day! 🌞🦁

• A valid photo ID is always required for anyone checking out a student, no matter the reason.The person must also be listed on the student’s approved contact list in order for us to release the student.
• On Early Release Fridays, students cannot be signed out after 1:00 p.m.

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!

At Sunrise, keeping our students, families, and neighbors safe is always a top priority — especially during busy arrival and dismissal times. Thank you to everyone who helps model responsible behavior and patience in our parking lots and surrounding streets each day.

To ensure a safe and smooth process for everyone, please take a moment to review these important reminders:

🛑Stop Sign Safety

Please do not park or stop within 30 feet of a stop sign. This is both a city traffic law and a crucial safety measure to maintain visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and our crossing guards. Parking too close to a stop sign can block sightlines and increase the risk of accidents.

🚸 Crosswalk Laws

Under Phoenix city code, vehicles must stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk — even if they are on the opposite side of the street. Drivers should remain stopped until the pedestrian has completely crossed. Please remind students to always use designated crosswalks and follow the directions of our crossing guards.

🚴 Bike Lane Awareness

If your route includes a bike lane, please remember that these lanes are reserved for cyclists. Vehicles may not drive, park, or stop in a bike lane except when making a right turn or safely entering/exiting a driveway. Be extra cautious and yield to students or community members who are riding bikes or scooters.

Together, we can make arrival and dismissal times safe and stress-free for everyone. Thank you for practicing Respect and Safety — the “P” and “S” in PAWS! 🦁💛

Join us on Thursday November 20th for our annual Turkey Feast Day!

Adult lunch is $4.75 Child lunch is $3.10 Cash ONLY. ALL Sunrise Students eat FREE!

https://sunrise.dvusd.org/our-school/cafeteria

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.

You are receiving this benefits form because your student attends a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school but does not qualify for meal assistance at home through programs like SNAP, TANF, FDPIR or, as a Migrant.

Completing and submitting this form is necessary for your school to secure funding through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which may be used for after school activities, tutoring, technology, staff development, and parent classes.

Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable support to our students and schools!

We are thrilled to share some roaring good news! 🦁

Sunrise Elementary has officially earned a B letter grade from the Arizona Department of Education — a remarkable climb from last year’s C!

This growth is a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of our students, staff, and families. Every lesson taught, every goal set, and every moment of encouragement has helped our Lions rise together.

At Sunrise, we believe that success happens when we support one another — and this accomplishment is proof that Together We Rise! 🌅❤️💛 Thank you for your ongoing partnership and belief in our mission to help every student grow, learn, and thrive.

DVUSD as a whole earned an A rating as a district — showing that excellence is truly shining across our schools!

You can learn more about school letter grades here:
👉 https://azsbe.az.gov/schools/a-f-school-letter-grades

This month at Sunrise, our focus is on Responsibility — doing what you’re supposed to do and taking care of things. Being responsible also means making good choices and thinking about how your actions affect others.

Throughout November, we’ll be learning about Responsibility through these weekly focus areas:

• Week 1: Showing Respect

• Week 2: Accepting the Consequences of Your Actions

• Week 3: Respecting Others’ Belongings

You can help support this skill at home by:

✅ Giving your child age-appropriate jobs around the house (feeding pets, setting the table, helping with laundry).

✅ Talking about how being responsible helps everyone — “When you put your backpack away, it keeps our space tidy and helps you find things easily.”

✅ Encouraging your child to take ownership of mistakes by asking, “What can you do to make it right?”

✅ Praising responsible choices — “I noticed you finished your homework before playing. That’s being responsible!”

When school and home work together to teach Responsibility, our Lions grow into caring, dependable citizens. 🦁✨

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.

Thank you for all of your PAWS Store donations! Because of your support, students get to cash in their hard-earned Dojo points for fun rewards! Each purchase celebrates the positive choices we love to see - Practicing Respect, Accepting Responsibility, Working together, and making Safety matter.

Here is a link to our Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1V7WK3HUFU3UY?ref_=wl_share

Parents and Guardians thank you so much for your support on helping our students complete a successful Quarter 1!

Please continue to read with them at home. This is the time of the year when we are ALL excited about the change of seasons and festivals that are starting up. Or maybe for some it gives anxiety or upset. As your instructional coach that sees your child often, I would love to make a suggestion about steady routines. You can provide comfort and security to your child by continuing the consistency with your nighttime reading, homework and bedtime routines. Your child will be most successful when we continue our routines including regular school attendance. We love to see them every single day!

Our students are working hard on practicing their reading skills. Please have your child read at least 15 minutes every night. Our children succeed the most when we are a team between school and home.

At home tip: Make reading time a fun family time. Here are some manageable options in our busy schedule:

Option 1: Have your child read to you while you are cooking dinner.

Ootion 2: Have your child read a short story and then tell you what was the story about?

Option 3: Have your child compare a story that they read to a movie that they watched. Have a discussion about the similarities and differences. They love that!

Thank you for being a team with us!!

This month we are moving into the Winter and Holiday season which means we may see an increase in illnesses in our school community. Reminder to parents and guardians- Please check your child before sending to school to ensure they are feeling well. If they are showing signs of illness and do not feel well- please do not send them to school. Once a sick child arrives at school- illness is exposed to all the students and teachers leading to others becoming sick or absent. You can check our DVUSD school guidelines on illnesses here- https://sunrise.dvusd.org/our-school/health-services/signs-of-illness

To find out other information for reported illnesses that have occurred at school you can check on information here- https://sunrise.dvusd.org/our-school/health-services/illness-reports-at-school

You can contact Nurse Penny for questions regarding illness through email or phone- Penny.Reamer@dvusd.org #602-467-5910

REMEMBER- The best way to avoid most illnesses is HANDWASHING! Please remind your student to handwash frequently throughout the day.

The FIC is an amazing resource that can help families. Check out what it does below:

When you’re a parent to someone with complex behavioral, mental health or medical needs, it’s common to feel like more could be done to help. You may even feel you’re not being heard or valued as the primary source of information for your child.

Please understand, you’re not alone. In fact, if you’re struggling to find appropriate support, your frustrations will just keep growing.

This is why, at Family Involvement Center, we’re here to help you make informed choices when navigating child-serving systems.
You see, our staff has lived experience navigating children’s services for their own kids. So you get help from people who have direct experience with your situation.
‍
We work with you in your home or a community setting to provide support, build advocacy skills, share knowledge and help you connect with resources and services that are beneficial for your family.

Parents who come to us are often involved with child-serving systems such as:

‍● Behavioral health

● Child welfare

● Juvenile justice

● Division of Developmental Disabilities

● Department of Child Safety

● Special education

Regardless of where you live in Arizona, we’re available to support you and your family. FIC’s services are free for AHCCCS members. If you’re not already enrolled or need to renew, we take care of the entire process for you.

https://www.familyinvolvementcenter.org/

The Care Center on Crossroads campus is where families in need can come for help with shelf-stable food, clothing, and hygiene items. Shoes are also available through the Care Center. The Care Center is open from 11am-1pm on Sundays & 6-8pm on Tuesdays. No appointments or referrals are needed- people can simply show up for help during the Center's hours of operation. If someone needs help, but isn't able to come to the Center when it's open, they will set an appointment outside of those hours.

For more information, contact Nurse Penny.

This month were focusing on gratitude-noticing and appreciating the good around us. Talk with your child about what you're thankful for each day. A grateful heart helps us all feel happier and kinder!

Read aloud Gratitude Is My Superpower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbuVI9ek2qc

Here are the slideshows from past classes:

• Attendance Matters
• Depression & Anxiety
• Rudeness, Disrespect and Logical Consequences

Upcoming Classes:

• November 20- Grief (grief awareness month) How to Learn to Move On
• December 18th- Being a Parent and Learning to Manage Stress around Holidays

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.

No matter your political views, one thing we can all agree on is how important the upcoming election on November 4 is for our community—and especially for the Deer Valley Unified School District. Make sure you drop off your ballot before Nov. 4! There is even a ballot drop-off in the District Office reception area! (20402 N. 15th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85027)

The M&O Override directly supports students through:

Full-Day Kindergarten

Continue FREE, full-day Kindergarten currently covered by the override. The state of Arizona only funds half day Kindergarten programs. The remaining half day is funded by the Override funding.

Teacher Retention

Retaining and recruiting qualified educators with 8% of all current DVUSD

employee salaries covered by the override.

Support Staff

Continue funding for essential student support positions, including counselors,

reading specialists, and other support staff.

Class Sizes

Maintain small class sizes which allows for more individualized students support. Without funding, classroom sizes may increase by an average of 3 students.

Specialized Programs

Continue to offer sought-after programs for gifted students, language immersion programs, and online education.

Extracurricular

Ensure ongoing support for state and national championship athletics, fine arts, band, choir,

PE, theater, and dance, ROTC programs.

The District land sale must also be voter-approved. This land sale involves approximately 19 acres of land northwest of Happy Valley Road and 83rd Avenue in Peoria. The land was originally donated by a developer and is currently unusable for DVUSD due to a lack of road access to the land.

Proceeds from the sale have limited uses, but can be applied toward items such as facilities, technology, transportation, and other infrastructure needs that benefit students.

This month, we are thrilled to recognize Mr. Rob Murray as our Sunrise Employee of the Month!

Rob wears many hats at Sunrise — and he wears each one with a smile. From gifted testing, SAGE, and Walk-Up Math to serving as our technology coordinator, website manager, Typing Club lead, and marquee master, Rob’s dedication and versatility are unmatched. 💻📊

He’s also the first to lend a helping hand — whether that means covering breakfast duty, jumping on morning announcements, or even chaperoning a 4th-grade field trip. Rob truly embodies what it means to be a Lion through and through, leading with positivity, teamwork, and a “whatever it takes” attitude.

We are so grateful for everything Mr. Murray does to make Sunrise shine bright! ☀️

Congratulations, Rob — and thank you for being an incredible part of our Sunrise family! ❤️💛

Our school is collecting Box Tops—and the best part is, it’s all digital now! We’ve already raised some money this year, and every little bit helps.

Sign up easily using this QR code or click the link: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=X37Z0KB0&school_id=72514

Reach out the Kelsey Shade if you have any questions or need assistance.

Please check to make sure you are enrolled. It is easy.

1. Log on to your Fry's account.
2. Click on My Account.
3. Click on Community Rewards.

There is nothing else to do! Once your Fry's VIP reward card is linked, just shop as normal and Fry's will track a percentage of your purchases and we will get a donation!

All first-grade students will have the exciting opportunity to participate in Blanket Gifted Testing this fall as part of our district’s commitment to providing equitable access to gifted services across all campuses.

Students will take the Naglieri General Abilities Test (NGAT) between November 3 and December 5. This engaging assessment measures verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal abilities and is designed to be culturally fair and welcoming for all students, including those in EL and Title I programs. Testing will take place over several days, with one short section (Verbal, Quantitative, or Nonverbal) given each day and a separate day set aside for makeups. Each section takes about 30 minutes to complete, giving students a chance to show their unique thinking and problem-solving skills.

We would love for you to join us as a volunteer at Sunrise Elementary—whether it's for a school event, field trip, or helping around the campus! There is a simple process through Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) to get started.

Please visit DVUSD Volunteering Information for full details. A few important points to note:

• In-Person Volunteer Training: All volunteers must complete an in-person training, which we will offer four times throughout the year. However, you are welcome to attend training at any DVUSD school. You only need to attend this training once!

• Returning Volunteers: Thank you for your continued support! To register as a returning volunteer, please reach out to either Holly Kuhn (holly.kuhn@dvusd.org) or Hedy Rastedt (hedy.rastedt@dvusd.org).

• Volunteer Eligibility: Volunteers must be family members of a current student unless you hold a valid fingerprint clearance card.

• Important Reminder: Please ensure you complete the training at least 30 days before you plan to volunteer to allow time for processing.

We can’t wait to have you on board as we work together to support our Sunrise Lions!

Volunteer training can be attended at ANY DVUSD campus.

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.

Website: Sunrise.DVUSD.org

Instagram: sunriselions_dvusd

We are currently in need of 1 paraprofessional, 1 crossing guard and 1 special education teacher.

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.

At Sunrise Elementary, we are excited to announce our theme for the 2025-2026 school year: "Together We Rise!" This year, we are focusing on the power of unity—working hand in hand with our students, families, and community to elevate every learner. By fostering collaboration, celebrating each other’s successes, and supporting one another through challenges, we will rise to new heights of achievement and growth. We invite you to join us on this journey as we build a stronger, more connected school community. Together, we can make this a year to remember!