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.*

September Monthly Meeting

Join UPC for our September meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. Dr. Cummings and Cabinet will be at the meeting to share updates and answer questions. In the interest of time, if you have questions in advance, please email President@pvupc.org.


Following the meeting, learn about important aspects of the PVSchools Family/Student Handbook. Dr. Chris Asmussen, Director of Student Services-Secondary, will explain the new updates and highlight key areas all families should be aware of. You can help us plan this presentation by submitting any questions here. All are invited to attend!


Wednesday, September 17, 2025

9:00am UPC General Meeting

10:00am "Family/Student Handbook Updates"

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"

Agenda

Budget Report

View the August 20, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Happy September! 


To all of the School Reps, if you haven't sent in the UPC Membership Form for this year, please do so. The form can be found here: 2025-2026 UPC Membership Form. If you have turned in the form, please make sure your Treasurer gets the invoice form found here: 2025 UPC Invoice Form. The $75 School Membership Payment can be made via Zeffy through the invoice form, or you can make alternative arrangements by emailing membership@pvupc.org


ATTENTION COMMUNITY MEMBERS!

Community members who are NOT current PVUSD parents or guardians are invited to show their support for UPC and our mission by registering for a UPC Community Membership. Please complete the 2025-2026 UPC Membership Form to become a Community Member and then make a donation of $25 using the 2025 UPC Invoice Form. Parents and guardians of students currently attending PVSchools are not considered Community Members and are ALWAYS invited to attend UPC meetings and presentations. 


Thank you!


Questions about membership? Please email Laura Hill, UPC's VP of Membership at membership@pvupc.org.

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!

Parents of elementary students, here is a great opportunity to learn about the Gifted programs available in middle school: Quest and Journey!


October 6, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Journey Open House

Location: Mountain Trail Middle School

2323 E. Mountain Gate Pass

Phoenix, AZ 85024

Learn more about Journey HERE.



October 7, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Quest Open House

Location: Sunrise Middle School

4960 E. Acoma Dr.

Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Learn more about Quest HERE.


October 14, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

PVSchools Gifted Middle School Programs: Journey and Quest with a Gifted Specialist Panel

This is a follow-up presentation if either of the program-specific nights were missed.

Location: Desert Trails Elementary School - Cafeteria

4315 E. Cashman Dr.

Phoenix, AZ 85050


Questions? Please email gifted@pvupc.org for more info!

Transportation and Bell Time Alignment Committee

The Paradise Valley Unified School District is requesting members for the Transportation and Bell Time Alignment Committee. The purpose of the committee is to review current bell times and transportation tiers, evaluate the operational and student impacts of potential changes, and provide recommendations to cabinet. The committee will ensure that input from staff, families, school and district leaders is considered, and that recommendations balance efficiency and instructional needs. The District is requesting 3 Parent Representatives to serve on the committee, preferably 1 high school parent, 1 middle school parent, 1 elementary school parent, with at least one of the parent representatives to be from a Title I school, if possible.


Proposed Meeting Dates: (Tentative)

Meeting #1: Monday, September 24, 2025

Meeting #2: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Meeting #3: Monday, November 3, 2025

Meeting #4: Thursday, November 20, 2025

Meeting #5: Monday, December 8, 2025

Times will be approximately 4:00-5:00 pm

Location:  District Administrative Center, East/West Conference Rooms, 15002 N. 32nd Street


To be considered for participation in the Transportation and Bell Time Alignment Committee, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM.



Information Technology Committee

The Paradise Valley Unified School District is requesting members for the Information Technology Committee (ITC). The purpose of the committee is to make proactive decisions and recommendations as appropriate, regarding information technology, by clearly communicating and collaborating so that all stakeholder voices are heard, and equity across classrooms and student success remain the focus.


The District is requesting 3-4 Parent Representatives to serve on the committee, preferably parents with an understanding of technology and current technology issues, or parents familiar with the use of technology in schools.


Meeting Dates/Time/Location:

  • Dates: Monthly (fourth Thursday of each month, starting September 25th)
  • Time: 3:45 - 4:45 PM
  • Location: Virtual


To be considered for participation in the Information Technology Committee, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM.



District Emergency Response Team (DERT) Committee 

The Student Services Department will be facilitating a committee that will review a variety of emergency response preparedness topics for PVSchools. The District is requesting 3 Parent Representatives to serve on the committee.


Proposed Meeting Dates: (Tentative)

Meeting #1: Friday, August 15, 2025

Meeting #2: Friday, November 14, 2025

Meeting #3: Friday, February 6, 2026

Meeting #4: Friday, May 1, 2026

Times will be approximately 9:00 - 11:00 am

Location: Critical Thinking Room - Community Resource Center, 15002 N. 32nd Street


To be considered for participation in the DERT Committee, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM.



Tier 1 Comprehensive K-12 Science Curriculum Committee

The Curriculum & Instruction Department is facilitating a committee which will determine a new Tier 1 Comprehensive K-12 Science curriculum and possible supplemental curriculum.  The District is requesting additional Parent Representatives to serve on the committee. Science educational or work experience is preferred, but not required. If you are already serving on the committee, you do not need to reapply. If you are unable to continue serving, please e-mail president@pvupc.org.


The committee make up is planned to include:

·      Elementary School Parents (2-3)

·      Middle School Parents (2-3)

·      High School Parents (2-3)


Meeting Dates:

August 21, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

August 26, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

September 8, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

September 18, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

September 30, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

October 16, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

November 20, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

December 4, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

January 12, 2026, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

January 20, 2026, 4:00-6:00 p.m.


To be considered for participation in this curriculum committee, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM.

Save the date and plan to join us for our October Program: Supporting PVSchools Through School to School Partnerships and Other Programs! Does your school have a successful partnership with another school in our district? We want to learn about what you do! E-mail UPC's VP of Programming, Jen Izenstark, at Programming@pvupc.org and share your successes! If you are a principal, teacher or parent and want to be connected with a partner school for additional support, we want to hear for you too! Please e-mail president@pvupc.org.

New on UPC's YouTube Channel!

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


You can view the recording HERE.

An Overview of Special Education Programs and 504 Plans in PVSchools


You can view the recording HERE. 

An Overview of the GIfted Program options available in PVSchools.


You can view the recording HERE.

School Finance Issues Explained!


Ms. Jill Barragan, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, explains the different sources of public school funding, state and federal laws and the role voters play in school funding.

You can watch the recording HERE




Supporting Gifted and Twice Exceptional Tweens and Teens

You can watch this presentation HERE!

Supporting Diverse Learners in PVSchools!

Hear from Karen Brown, PV's Director of Gifted Education, about the program options for gifted students as well as those that qualify for Special Education services. 

You can watch this presentation HERE!

Teen Suicide and Depression Prevention Workshop by Teen Lifeline

If you missed this important presentation, you can watch the recording HERE. .

View the Teen Lifeline Resources List HERE
View the presentation slides 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 FamiliesEnglish 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 & the UPC Exec Team 

President 2025-2026

PV United Parent Council 

PV United Parent Council | Website
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