United Parent Council Newsletter

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

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

Hello PV Families,

PVSchools is working hard to come up with plans for reopening that will allow for choice and will accommodate our diverse community's needs. UPC would like to hear from our PV Families so that we can share your current thoughts and concerns with district leadership and the PV Governing Board before their next Board Meeting on June 25.

Click HERE to complete the survey!

Please fill out this survey by 
June 24 at 5 p.m
.  Thank you!

Special Presentation:

"Family Conversations about Race and Racism"

Please join UPC on July 1 at 4pm for a virtual conversation about how to speak to your children about race and racism. Cathy Lee, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Assistant Education Director for Arizona will lead us in a conversation about bias, how to discuss race and racism with young people, and actions we can take to help create change.

During this event you will have the opportunity to share ideas, questions and concerns, and have the opportunity to connect with one other.

We will also share which PVSchools have received ADL's "No Place for Hate" designation and how you can bring this student run program to your school. We hope you will join us for this important conversation.

To receive the zoom link, please register in advanc e HERE

Wednesday, July 1st

Zoom Presentation begins at 4:00 p.m.

Journey

Middle School Program

Meet the Teachers:

Ted Theodorou M.Ed

Jeanine Ryan-Fransden, M.Ed

Join Dr. Dina Brulles, PVSchools Gifted Education Director, and PVSchool's educators who will introduce the Journey program.

The Paradise Valley Unified School district is pleased to announce the opening of a

new Middle School gifted education program called Journey. The Journey begins this August at Mountain Trail Middle School. Join the Journey teaching team to explore the program's differentiated design, how to apply, and the unique features that Journey will offer your gifted middle schooler.

Journey students will work in cohorts; learning together in literature, science, and social studies content blocks. Student learning will take place in small groups or individually based on each student's personalized learning targets, strengths, and interests. The Journey team will facilitate a blended learning environment by developing units of study, orchestrating a variety of learning modalities, and coach students to reach their academic potential in this personalized program.

Tuesday, June 30th from 4:30pm-6:00pm

This is a Facebook Live Event!

Visit UPC's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UPCPVUSD

to tune in!

For more information on this presentation, click HERE!
Learn more about the Journey program on the PVSchools website by clicking HERE!

View the Facebook Event HERE and click "Going"

We have seen many questions from parents and community members about who they should contact to ensure our schools have the funding they need to safely reopen in August.

You can contact your state legislators and Governor Ducey and ask them to call a special session to address funding concerns during COVID-19.

Find your legislators and their contact info HERE

Contact Governor Ducey HERE

School finance issues must be addressed by state leaders for schools to operate safely and efficiently. Lawmakers must adjust funding requirements to allow schools to implement flex or hybrid models, there are also costs associated with keeping schools safe for students including costs for PPE, cleaning supplies, custodial services, and additional supplies.

Contact your Arizona legislators and ask them to call a special session to consider adjustments to statutory rules and requirements regarding the following recommendations from Arizona Department of Education:

Limiting budgets from decreasing more than two percent (2%);
Allowing for students who participate in person or remotely within the first 10 days of school to count as enrolled for the first day of the school calendar;
The ability to mark a student's absence as excused when related to issues of COVID concerns;
Accommodate the ability of districts or schools to offer flexible and adaptable instructional models by linking funding calculations to those models in a similar manner as regular instruction.

You can view Dr. Welsh's most recent communication to families HERE!