UPC brings parents from across the district together to enhance the PVSchools experience! 

*UPC is independent from PVUSD and information posted in this newsletter does not represent the views of the Paradise Valley Unified School District.*

UPC wishes everyone a very happy and relaxing Winter Break!

See you in 2026!

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, 2026. Use this link to submit your interest in serving on this committee: https://forms.gle/DmrXj6MeV28hJy3SA.

Literature List Committee

The District is inviting 6 parents to review submitted titles and make a recommendation to the Governing Board on which new titles to add to the literature list. The first meeting is February 3, 2026. Use this link to submit your interest in serving on this committee: https://forms.gle/S2merF3ZmXQTaJz99.

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, 2026. Use this link to submit your interest in serving on this committee: https://forms.gle/QuiVT5oT5fikmPrE6.

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.

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for the first ever PV Parent Expo on February 10, 2026!

If you have a business and would like to participate, you can find more info HERE or email Expo@pvupc.org.

The PVSchools Gifted Department

in Collaboration with

the Fine Arts Department Present:

Arts Integration: Reading Art as Text

January 8th from 6:00pm-7:00pm

This session explores how artwork functions as a text. Families will learn practical vocabulary and discussion strategies that build visual literacy, deepen story comprehension, and support English Language Arts success.

Featured speakers: Melanie Rick (Focus 5) and Tammy Hinds (Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation)

Format: Virtual only! Please use THIS ZOOM LINK to access the presentation. This presentation will not be recorded.

Arts Integration: Origami and Math

January 10th from 6:00pm–7:00pm

This hands-on session explores how origami concepts support mathematical thinking and creativity.

Format: In Person Only! This presentation will not be recorded.

Location:

PVSchools District Administration Center

East and West Conference Rooms

15002 N. 32nd St.

Phoenix, AZ 85032

Paradise Valley United Parent Council is a district-wide parent group that has been active in Paradise Valley Unified School District for more than 40 years and is a 501(c)(3) organization. Looking out for the interests of students is our primary goal. We do this by offering parents support, information, and opportunities to be influential voices in the decisions that affect their children's education. You can join UPC in supporting the parents, students and families in PVSchools by becoming an official Sponsor!

Funds raised from sponsorships will go towards UPC events like Bus Driver Breakfast, Teacher and Staff Appreciation, educational programming for parents, and the work of the Outreach Committee to support students in our Title I schools.

Cost of Sponsorship: $450

Dates: Present-August 31, 2026

Sponsor Receives:

• Listed as a Sponsor on the UPC website’s Sponsor Page
• The Sponsor Page will be promoted on UPC’s Facebook and Instagram quarterly
• Sponsors will be individually promoted twice on UPC's social media
• Sponsor Page will be listed in UPC’s monthly newsletter with a button that links to the Sponsor Page on pvupc.org
• There will be a maximum of 10 sponsors this year
• Each sponsor will be featured one time in the UPC monthly newsletter with a circulation of more than 1700 people. They will be highlighted as the “Sponsor of the Month”
• BONUS: This year, sponsors will receive a FREE space at the UPC PV Parent Expo in Winter 2026! This will be an opportunity to directly market your business to PV families. More information to be released soon!

Find more info HERE. Use this link to register as a UPC Sponsor!

Mark your calendars for the first UPC meeting of 2026! We will have a presentation from school counselors with advice for helping students prepare for the transitions from elementary to middle school and also middle school to high school. All are welcome to attend!

Special Needs Planning: How to Prepare for Your Child's Future with Emily Kile, Esq.

You can view the recording HERE.

An Overview of the GIfted Program options available in PVSchools.

You can view the recording HERE.

Career and Technical Education

(CTE) Programs

PVSchools offers a wide variety of Career and Technical Education different programs at all five high schools. You can view a list of CTE Programs available at each school HERE. This presentation includes videos of many of the CTE programs and would be great to watch with your student!

Watch the recording HERE.

Fine Arts in PVSchools

Learn about the many programs and opportunities for students to learn more about the fine arts. Also, learn the steps a student needs to take in order to earn the Seal of Fine Arts upon graduating from any of high school.

Watch the recording HERE.

PVSchools Resources for Families:

HERE is UPC's List of Health and Wellness Resources 

View the District's list of Resources for Families: English and Español

PVSchools is hiring! Check out career opportunities HERE! 

Your participation is vital to the success of UPC and to supporting our students and PVSchools. 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email President@pvupc.org. 

With gratitude for all you do,

Julie Blumenreich, President 2025-2026 & the UPC Exec Team 

PV United Parent Council