Please join us for the November UPC meeting on Wednesday, January 18th. We will begin with a brief Q&A with Dr. Bales and then continue with the UPC meeting. Beginning at 10:00am, we will have the presentation of  "What School-Based Mental Health is Important." The speakers will highlight both the school perspective and the parent perspective. Mental well-being is important for students to be able to retain the learning they are experiencing. It is imperative that the school and family partner to provide the best success for our students. We will also provide community resources for students and parents. Lori Berman, MSW, and Nidia Elm, MSW and Social Worker at Greenway Middle School, will be the presenters.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

9:00am UPC General Meeting

10:00am "Why School-Based Mental Health is Important"

This meeting will be held both in person and online.

To attend in person, please join us in DAC East/West at the District Office: 15002 N 32nd St Or please register in advance HERE to receive the Zoom link.

View the UPC Facebook Event HERE and click "Going"

Meeting Agenda

View the November 16, 2022 Meeting Minutes

View the UPC Budget HERE

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar for the 2023 School Vendor Showcase on February 15th! There will be vendors there that are ready to support your parent group with events, spirit wear, and tons of fundraising options! There will be raffle prizes, music and time to network with other parent group leaders!

Do you know of a business that markets to parents groups and would like to participate? Here is the vendor application.

Share the Facebook Event with your friends!

“Understanding Anxiety/ADHD in Gifted Child”

by Dr. Laura Wingers

January 31 at 6 pm -7:30 pm

Join us as we welcome back Dr. Laura Wingers to speak about Anxiety and Gifted Children. Areas she will discuss:

• Do You Know a Gifted Learner with Anxiety, Inattention, Distractibility, Impulsivity and/or Executive Function Challenges?
• When We Encounter the Emotional and Behavioral Intensity that Many Gifted Children Experience, We Can Empower Them, and Ourselves, with Greater Knowledge of the Incredible Mind-Body Connection.
• The Emerging Research in Pediatric Integrative Medicine Provides a Wealth of Information about the Impact of Stress, Inflammation, and Lifestyle Factors.
• Take a Personal Health Inventory, Learn When, Why, and How to Introduce Mind-Body Approaches to Children, and Explore Intentional Practices to Improve Well-Being and Support Healthy Functioning at School and at Home.

Please register in advance HERE to receive the zoom link.

This event will be recorded and saved on the PV UPC Facebook Page and https://www.YouTube/c/PVUPC/ for your future reference.

Please join us to learn about an exciting opportunity for High School students. Now in it's third year, Project SEARCH is available for students in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Project SEARCH is an evidence-based nine-month unpaid internship program for students with intellectual and /or developmental disabilities, ages 18-22, in their last year of high school eligibility. The goal of Project SEARCH is integrated, competitive employment for each intern within the community that matches their interests and abilities. Interns will train in a unique transition-to-work internship program based at Mayo Clinic in North Phoenix. Students participating in the 2023/2024 calendar year agree to exit high school upon completion in May 2024.

When: January 25, 2023 from 6:00pm-7:30pm

Where: PVUSD District Office- 15002 N 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85032

For more information please contact:

Evelyn Satnan [email protected]

Linda Taylor [email protected]

Marc Danner [email protected]

Marcia Edwards [email protected]

Join us for the 13th Annual PVSchools Community 5K Fun Run, an event encouraging active lifestyles among our staff, families, and community members. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Horizon High School! Our race is back to in-person this year! 

Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female finishers in each age division: 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+. Team awards will also be given for race participation. Winners will be announced after the race, and trophies will be delivered to schools.

How to Register: 

Visit PVSchools Community 5K Fun Run/Walk (www.runsignup.com) PVSchools Community 5K Fun Run/Walk before Friday, February 3, 2023. All participants will register under their team name (school, department, or other.) 

Cost

Registration fees, along with generous donations from benefit vendors, make this event possible. PVSchools has kept the registration fee the same for the past 12 years.

• Adults: $10
• Children 11-19 years old: $5
• Children 10 and under: Free

Event Schedule and Activities

• 7:30-8:30 am Check-in
• 8:30-8:45 am Welcome by Superintendent Dr. Troy Bales
• 8:45 am Kids Dash (kids ages 10 and under)
• 9:05 am Run commences
• 10:05 am Awards announced

The 2023 PVSchools Community 5K Fun Run is supported by Race Entry, United Healthcare, VSP, Sun Life Financial, Delta Dental, Valley Schools, and the Paradise Valley Unified School District.

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) invites you to join them on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a special FREE virtual presentation on "Transition Planning: From IEPs to Graduation (or Not) - What are the District's Obligations and Parent's/Student's Rights?"

WHO: For parents or professionals advocating for a child with an IEP

WHAT: Special education attorneys Amy Langerman and Susan Marks will review the transition provisions of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), summarizing the key elements of transition planning. They will review:

• Transition plan provisions
• What should be included in a comprehensive transition plan (services, activities, community participation)
• Coordination between school districts, families and adult agencies (e.g. Division on Developmental Disabilities and Department of Vocational Rehabilitation)
• Graduation for students with disabilities

WHERE: This is a free virtual presentation. A special link will be sent to approved registrants. Sign up at: https://bit.ly/3X32GOR Please register by January 22nd!

View the flyer HERE.

PV Roadrunner Special Olympics Spring Sports!

Teams are open to ages 8 and up!

More details coming soon!

The bin is now ready for you to get rid of your old clothes, shoes, blankets, sheets, and towels! Place your old items in a bag and then throw them in the bin. Items will be donated if they are still usable or recycled so they do not end up in the landfill. The Bin is located along 32nd Street in the district office parking lot (15002 N 32nd St.) Proceeds from the bin will be used to support UPC's Outreach Committee's activities.

If you have questions, please email [email protected]!

Did you know high school students have the opportunity to work towards earning the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency? During the October UPC Meeting, we were joined by Mrs. Maureen Minnick, PVSchools Director of Fine Arts, for a presentation about this distinction for graduates. You can view the slides from her presentation HERE.

You can find additional information from the Arizona Department of Education HERE.

UPC is partnering with the Phoenix Suns again this year to raise money for UPC's Outreach Committee! You can purchase discounted tickets to a Suns game using this link or the QR code above and a portion of ticket sales will go to the Outreach Committee for their work on events like the Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast, Instructional Support Staff Appreciation and supporting PV families at the holidays. There are lots of game and ticket prices to choose from!

Please share this with your communities and help us spread the word!

The gifted supplemental materials are available for viewing in the PVSchools dristict lobby (15002 N 32nd St). The materials will be available during the 60-day viewing period from January 3, 2023 - April 10, 2023.

College Depot at Phoenix Public Library is a FREE full-service college access center located at the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix, Arizona. Our team of college planning and re-engagement advisors offer one-on-one appointments to assist with all action steps necessary to earn a GED, diploma, college degree or apprenticeship, and host workshops including admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and more. College Depot offers both in-person and virtual appointments. Learn more about College Depot HERE.

Here is a recording of a recent presentation of College Depot's Virtual FAFSA Lab!

You can find more information HERE from the PVSchools College and Career Services Department.

Collection boxes are also available at Desert Shadows Middle School and Wildfire Elementary. HERE is the link to the Amazon Wish List to have items shipped directly to a collection site. Questions, please email [email protected]. 

Thank you for your donations! 

Thank you to the Quail Run PTA for your donations to the Hygiene Drive!

Thank you to the North Ranch PTA for your donations!

Thank you to the Pinnacle High School National Honor Society for their amazing support of the Hygiene Drive!  Their generous donations have been sorted and placed on the shelves so the Social Workers & School Nurses can get what they need.

Annual Transportation Appreciation Breakfast!

Thank you to everyone who contributed and supported our Bus Drivers and the Transportation Department!

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.

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 [email protected]. 

With gratitude for all you do,

Kea Carota & the UPC Exec Team 

President 2022/2023

PV United Parent Council