We had a great turn-out at our drive-thru appreciation event for all employees held May 15. Thanks to the PV Schools Education Foundation, all employees received a custom PVSchools Hero decal as a token of appreciation, and 20 lucky winners were randomly selected for a $100 gift card! We are also grateful to Chasse Building Team for donating the “We love our Teachers and Staff!” banners, and the support of UPC PVUSD. We really have an amazing PVSchools community! Congratulations to all our winners: Paradise Valley HS event: Ashley Coughlin - Vista Verde MS Rosemary Jakub - Pinnacle HS Lori Hewitt - Mercury Mine ES Tom Rosenbaum - Vista Verde MS Jennifer Penoyer - Eagle Ridge ES Alysa Greenberg - Palomino Intermediate Sara Elkus - Quail Run ES Joni Starmer- Whisper Wind Academy Angel Wolff - CT View/Roadrunner Jared Such - Vista Verde MS Shadow Mtn. HS event: Karina Romero - Sunrise MS Hilary Wilson - Shadow Mtn. HS Leilani Jacobson - Shadow Mtn. HS Nicole Rulnick - Horizon HS Heather Pela - Desert Springs Prep Jennifer Hudson - Professional Dev. (Mentor Teacher) Diane Radeke - Shadow Mtn. HS Mark Smith - Shadow Mtn. HS Emily Risano - Campo Bello Danielle West - Desert Springs Prep

Have you seen our billboards? As part of our efforts to celebrate our class of 2020, ten electronic billboards started running on the 18th and will run through this weekend. Keep an eye out at the 5 locations within our district boundaries: Loop 101 at SR 51 (east and west sides) Bell Rd and 30th St Thunderbird Rd and Cave Creek Rd. Greenway Rd and 32nd St And the bonus, 5 additional billboards outside our district boundaries, in high travelled locations: I -17 at Bell Rd I-17 at Thunderbird Rd I-17 at Deer Valley Rd (east and west side) Union Hills Dr and 19th Ave

Brinley Jeffers, a kindergarten student at Desert Cove Elementary School, recently won The Be Kind People Project Make a Difference Essay Contest. This contest gives students a voice while practicing key writing skills and focusing their attention and actions on making a difference. Brinley won T-shirts for her class and will be featured on a national video with Be Kind People Project. Brinley's essay reads: "I can make a difference with my kindness rocks and the place I am calling Friendsip [sic] Mountain. Because of this virus we can’t go to school or see friends and that makes people very sad. My mom and I go hiking on trail 100 at Dreamy Draw Park and I paint beautiful rocks to place on the trail to make people smile. I have my mom write kind words to make people feel happy like when they are with their frinds [sic]. I have painted and set out over 100 rocks and people like them and smile and that makes me smile."

In observance of Memorial Day, all district offices and services are closed today. We hope you have a safe and reflective day of remembrance.

Assistant Superintendent Steve Jeras went all out for the PVSchools Good News end of year finale! This extended episode celebrates good news throughout the district and features a special tribute to the 2020 graduating class with special guests Matty Cardarople from Stranger Things and David Koechner from The Office and Anchorman. As always, thank you to John Krasinski for the creative inspiration with Some Good News!