Parent Involvement Overview
Parents are encouraged to visit, volunteer, and participate as equal partners in the education of their children. For safety reasons, District procedures for parents being on campus during school hours are in effect. Parents may eat lunch in the cafeteria with their children if they have signed in at the office, but are not permitted on the playground. You may arrange to visit during the school day by contacting your child's teacher or the office. Please schedule conferences either before or after school.
Times and locations of special events will be arranged in advance and parents will be notified prior to such events. A variety of special parent and/or family programs are offered each year to meet the needs of our community. An example of such programs is our Family Literacy Night; another is ACT (Academic Community Team) meetings held twice per year. An annual parents' meeting is convened in the fall to explain the Title 1 Program to parents and inform them of their right to be involved in the program. More information about current programs can be received by contacting the school office or by checking the school website.
To assist our parents' participation in parent-only activities such as adult literacy classes and parenting classes that may be offered, child care and translation services are provided whenever possible.
Teachers will communicate with parents regularly through newsletters, phone calls, e-mails, notes, and conferences. All flyers and newsletters will be given to students to take home on the first Friday of every month, or will be posted on the teacher website. Parents may have access to their child's grades through the Power Schools computer program. Parents will receive copies of their child's performance on various assessments and regular progress reports on their child's performance in class. In addition, parents will receive useful tips on monitoring and helping to improve their child's performance through our ACT (Academic Community Team) meetings held twice during the year. Student learning goals and the AZ College and Career Ready Standards are discussed during these meetings and during parent-teacher conferences.
We ask that parents ensure their child's regular attendance and prompt arrival; establish a time for homework and review it regularly; support school policies, including dress code and behavior guidelines; and communicate regularly with their child and with the school.
Input from parents and teachers is solicited for the development of our Home-School Compact, which outlines the shared responsibilities of parents, students, and educators in meeting the needs of our students.
Like all schools in the Deer Valley Unified School District, Sunrise has a Campus Improvement Team (CIT). The team is a representative body of teachers, parents, staff, and administrators. Membership on the CIT is rotated on an agreed upon timeline. This team is empowered to make recommendations and decisions focused on school improvement. Decisions made by the CIT are research-based, data driven, and consistent with district goals and the school mission statement. The goals formulate the annual Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP). This plan then becomes the action plan for all school staff and the community to use in improving learning for all students. A copy of the current CIP is available for your review on the school website.
We feel that it is important for parents to communicate their concerns, questions, and desires about the educational process and our school. By using the steps outlined below, we can work together to address any concerns that may arise.
- The parent meets with the teacher to explain the concern and reach a resolution. A plan of action may be needed. Please schedule a follow-up either by phone, note, e-mail, or in person.
- If the concern is not resolved, then it is appropriate to contact the school administrator. The administrator will schedule a meeting with the parent and the teacher. The concerns and actions taken will be reviewed. A new plan of action will be developed and carried out. Another meeting will be scheduled to check on progress.
- If the concern persists after the administrator and the teacher have attempted a resolution, then parents may contact the appropriate administrator at the district office.
Our VIP (Very Important Parents) Program is an organized group of people who have time to help our students, teachers, and staff. Our goal is to use volunteers to help our children receive a more rewarding academic and social experience in all school programs. Volunteers do a little bit of everything, wherever and whenever the need arises, under the supervision of school staff and teachers. Parents who volunteer in any capacity on campus or on field trips must complete the District's training program and attend a PTO campus orientation. All volunteers must be under staff supervision at all times. Please first check in at the office with the office staff who will call the classroom teacher to let him or her know that you have arrived. All volunteers must sign in and out on the Volunteer sign-in sheet in the office and log their volunteer hours.
Children who are not enrolled at Sunrise are NOT PERMITTED to visit or attend class activities at Sunrise during the school day due to liability and supervision considerations. Please, when volunteering, leave younger children at home.
Parents have a tremendous impact on children's behavior. What they observe in adults becomes a standard of behavior.
Behavior: Parents on campus are expected to model appropriate behavior. Behavior expectations are described in detail in the Family Handbook. It is especially important that parents model the problem solving process; that is, concerns are addressed with the classroom teacher and administration. At no time will adults on campus interact with children other than their own in matters of behavior and/or discipline.
Parents are also expected to follow guidelines for picking up students, waiting outside the gates at either end of the campus as students will be escorted by their teachers to ensure your child is able to exit in a safe and orderly manner. Please also follow guidelines for dropping off and picking up students when driving in the parking lot, modeling respect, responsibility, and safety awareness for students. Parents who respect other drivers and parents will pull all the way forward along the blue line, allowing others to enter the parking lot. Be sure to avoid blocking the school entrance. (Please see Family Handbook for specifics.)
Dress: Parents on campus are expected to model appropriate dress. Parents should follow dress guidelines as described in the student/campus/District dress code.
Language: Parents on campus are expected to model the use of appropriate language everywhere students are present. This includes slogans, advertising, and sayings on clothing worn on campus.
Tobacco: Tobacco products should not be used or carried onto school property, including the parking lot.