Sunrise Scoop
May 2022
Sunrise Showcase Family Night!
- Front gate opens at 5:40
- Band performance in the courtyard at 5:45 (all staff will attend this together)
- Classrooms, art fair and science fair (in the gym) open at 6pm
- Classrooms and art fair will close at 7pm. Science fair will close at 7:45.
We are so excited to have all families join us. This will be a special event for all!
Teacher Appreciation Week!
A message from Mrs. Smones
My Sunrise Family,
It is with sadness and excitement that I let you know that I am leaving Sunrise at the end of this school year. I will be taking a break from the public school system to spend more time with my family. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you and your children over the past two years. This community is such a special community and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for allowing me to work with you and your child. It has been a pleasure! My replacement, Ms. Brittany Hines, has been shadowing me for the last semester and I am confident that you will see why she is a great candidate to take this position. Please join me in welcoming her as the Dean of Sunrise!
Megan Smones
Hello from Ms. Hines (future Dean of Students)
Lions,
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Dean of Students for the 2022/2023 school year! I am honored to have the opportunity to lead alongside our new principal to support our incredible students, staff, families, and community members.
I am grateful to continue to grow here at Sunrise as I have always felt like Sunrise was home. I began my career in the district as a special education teacher at another school and as soon as I stepped onto the Sunrise campus, it captured my heart and I never looked back! During my time here I have worked as a special education teacher, a 4th grade teacher, and am currently an instructional coach where I support teachers and students in their learning and development. As I wrap up this year, I am eagerly preparing for my new role as the Sunrise Dean and am planning for all the amazing things we will accomplish together next year.
I am here to support our school as we transition into next school year. If you have any questions, I am available via email at brittany.hines@dvusd.org. I appreciate your support as I move forward into administration and leadership as the Dean of Students and look forward to growing with you all!
Sincerely,
Brittany Hines
Sunrise Dean of Students (2022/2023 school year)
DVUSD Summer Programs
News from Nurse Penny!
Medication/medical supplies End of Year Pick-up:
If your child had medications stored in the nurse office. Please arrange to pick them up during school hours before May 19th at 3pm. Medications can't be stored at school during the summer hours and if left at school- will be destroyed. ONLY A PARENT/GUARDIAN can pick up medications.
Reminder for the 2022-23 School year:
Student's with chronic health needs for school- New and updated medical information will be needed for the 2022-23 school year. Medical forms will need to be completed again for the upcoming school year. Please make arrangements over the summer or make an appointment before school starts to update their medical needs for school. Medical forms can be found on nurse website of Sunrise Elementary School. https://www.dvusd.org/Domain/1908
Immunizations over the summer:
Reminder to parents- If your child has recently or soon will TURN 11 YEARS OLD- immunizations need to be updated. Required immunizations are DTAP and Meningitis Vaccines. Please update as your child turns 11 years old. This needs to be completed before returning to the 2022-23 school year to attend school. DVUSD has free immunization clinic on July 15th-2022 at Constitution Elementary School. COVID vaccines are still not required at this time- but can help your child to remain healthy, reduce COVID illness symptoms or could possibly prevent quarantines if exposed to another person with COVID.
Symptoms of Illness:
We are still following the Maricopa/DVUSD guidelines for signs of illness. Students still need a Negative COVID test OR MD note with diagnose treatment and return date for school in order to return earlier than 5 days from start of illness symptoms. FREE COVID testing sites are still available and HOME COVID testing is acceptable- Contact Nurse for assistance in testing for COVID.
CONTACT NURSE PENNY:
Email Penny.Reamer@dvusd.org
Phone# 602-467-5910, Email for fastest response.
Fax # 602-467-5980
Student computers, chargers and Ipads

Early release days for teacher PLC (release at 1:30):
May 6, 13
Half day release at 11:35: May 19th (last day of school)
Other important dates:
May 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4: 6th grade trip to Grand Canyon
May 11th: 5th grade trip to AZ Science Center
May 12: Sunrise Showcase Family Night
May 17th: Kinder end of year assembly @2pm in gym
May 19: Last Day of School, 6th grade clap out at 11:20
Checking in with Ms. G!
Hello Sunrise families!
I can’t believe that the end of the school year is just a few weeks away. With our last month of school, our last social and emotional learning topic for the school year is Focusing on Self-Care. This comes at a perfect time as summer break usually allows all of us to take some time for us as we have been working all school year. State testing is finished and this month is time for us to showcase all the hard work that has been done this school year. As for self-care, you can help support your child at home by helping them learn the importance of self-care and what it means to you! During our last few weeks my behavior forecast will encourage students to find things they love doing, take interests in things that make them happy. Summer break is a great opportunity to relax, have fun, and recharge before the new school year begins.
As we close out this school year, I did want to let our families know that I will not be returning next year as Sunrise’s student coach. I am moving to another DVUSD school, Sierra Verde, in which is closer to home and my daughter is starting school there. As I am saddened to leave Sunrise, I will always call this school, home. It has been a total pleasure to work with the students and families here at Sunrise and I will miss everyone dearly. We have a phrase here that we tell the 6th grade students as they graduate from our school before middle school- once a lion, always a lion. Thank you sunrise families for everything you all have continued to do to show support for our school. You are amazing!
Though with the sad news of me leaving Sunrise, I have a very exciting announcement that the new student coach for Sunrise is, Denise Holmes! She comes from Sierra Verde (doing the swip swap!) and this school is very lucky to have her as next year’s student coach. Let’s get to know Denise a little more!
Meet Ms. Holmes- future RTI-B specialist for Sunrise!
Hello. My name is Denise Holmes. I am extremely excited to become part of the Sunrise Family! I will be starting next school year as the new Response to Intervention Behavior Specialist.
I graduated from NAU, in 1992 with a degree in Special Education and a degree in General Education. I am now a student at NAU, once more, as I peruse my Masters in Educational Leadership. I have taught in the Deer Valley District for the past 10 years. PBIS has always been a passion of mine and I cannot wait to continue the positive culture at Sunrise!
I have 4 fantastic children. Clayton is 25 and is a Project Manager for a tech company. Taylor is 23, a 5th grade teacher in the Washington Elementary School District. Hayden is 19—in his 2nd year at Grand Canyon University. Finally, David is 17 and is a Senior at Mountain Ridge.
Visiting Mexico is one of my favorite things to do! I love anything that has to do with the beach! I also enjoy spending time with my kids, live music, movies, swimming and playing games.
I look forward to meeting the families of Sunrise Elementary in August!

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Twitter: @SunriseLions