Dear Sunrise Elementary Families, 

Welcome to another school year at Sunrise Elementary. We look forward to starting the 2021-2022 school year. For those of you that are new to our school, we are excited to have you join such an amazing group of students and school community. Our teachers and staff always have the students' best interest in mind. Their hard work and caring approach to education make Sunrise Elementary stand out. We work collaboratively to maintain and strengthen a strong learning community while keeping the students at the center of our focus.   

This is my fifth year as the principal of Sunrise Elementary and my 18th year in education. I taught 6th grade for seven years and have been in administration for the past 11 years. My main responsibility is to ensure every student has access to the best education possible. I love working with the students in classes, playing games with them at recess, and building positive relationships. It is important for me to have every interaction with the students be a positive one. I have the best job in the world because of them. 

I am excited to get to know all of you a little more this year. It is truly rewarding to be involved in important organizations and committees like PTA and School Community Council. I also know that many of you cannot volunteer your time at school, but you provide support in many other ways. I strongly believe that we all want what is best for our students and that we can work together to make this an even better school. I am always open to suggestions and input on how we can improve. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Each new school year brings change, we would like to welcome the following teachers and staff members to Sunrise: 

• Marina Rohde, 1st Grade Portuguese Teacher.

My name is Marina and I am from Brazil. I lived my whole life in the state of Paraná, in a town called Toledo. I've been a teacher for 11 years and I truly love what I do. I also have a masters degree in Literature, so reading is my favorite hobby.  I will be teaching first graders and I am really looking forward to meeting everybody and teaching my mother tongue. I wish us all an outstanding year with countless things to discover and share!

• Hannah Francis, 2nd Grade Teacher

My husband is studying to be a veterinarian at Utah State University and we have a perfect little bird dog named Boone. I got my bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Utah State University and got a dual masters degree in Special Education; Teaching the Blind and Orientation & Mobility from the University of Northern Colorado. I taught 3rd grade for three years and then transitioned to teaching the blind. Nothing compares to teaching in a classroom though and so I took the opportunity I had when moving to Logan to return to the classroom. I am so excited for the opportunity I have to teach 2nd grade!! I look forward to meeting all my sweet students and their families!! 

• Juliana Balbo. 5th Grade Portuguese Teacher 

I am Juliana, but you can call me Ju! I am from Londrina - Paraná - Brazil and now I moved to Logan with my family.  I have three children, Leandro Junior who will be in 4th grade, Maria Luísa, who will be in 2nd grade and my little girl Julia who is 3 years old.  We love to be outside, go out and have fun as a family. I was an Au Pair in Virginia and I was able to work as a teacher volunteer in an ESL class and I fell in love with teaching. When I got back to Brazil I understood that teaching was my passion. I received my Bachelor's from FATEC in São Paulo and I started teaching kindergarten. After a couple of years I became a bilingual teacher and I've been teaching elementary grades for about 6 years. I am thrilled at the opportunity to be in 5th grade this year.  Sunrise is an amazing community and I look forward to learning, teaching and getting to know everybody. I cannot express how excited I am to start  this year with a wonderful group of students and parents. Here's to an awesome start of an amazing year!!!

• Courtney Mitton, Resource Teacher

Hey everyone! My name is Courtney Mitton and I have lived in Cache Valley my whole life.  I have two kids, Maxwell who is 4 and Olivia True who is a whopping 1 years old!  I received my Bachelor’s from Utah State University and have been teaching for the past 5 years.  I am so excited to be teaching at Sunrise this year as I have heard so many amazing things about this community!  I look forward to creating a safe, happy and fun home away from home for my students.  I am so excited to meet you all this school year!

• Shayla Downs, Resource Teacher 

I am originally from Kentucky, but have lived in Smithfield with my husband and sons for the last 5 years. My two little boys Jessee 7 will be starting 2nd grade in the fall and Rory is 1. We love to play outside, garden and enjoy time with each other. I have been an employee for Cache School District for 5 years, 3 of those years were spent as a behavior coach servicing multiple schools in the district. I recently graduated from Western Governors University in both elementary and special education. I am thrilled to be a part of the Sunrise team! I know this is going to be a fantastic year at a fantastic school! 

• Kellie Garrison, Counselor 

I am originally from Taylor, Utah and I currently live in Hyde Park.  I grew up on a dairy farm and milked cows for many years.  I loved sports and it was a big part of my youth.  I have 4 children and 1 grandchild.   My oldest is a step-son who lives in Arkansas and totally lives off the grid.  Kyle is the second and he and his wife Hailey live in Smithfield.  Weston is their 17 month old son and my only grandchild.  My daughter, Olivia, just got married and lives in Smithfield. She is studying to become a nurse and works at a care center right now as a CNA.  My youngest, Lucas, is serving an LDS mission in Austin, Texas.  My Husband Ron and I are getting used to being empty nesters and we are playing a lot of scrabble games!  Most Recently, I was the school counselor at McKinley Elementary in Tremonton where I have been for the last 3 years.  I received my Masters in School Counseling from the University of Phoenix and I am really looking forward to getting to know all of the staff and students at Sunrise.  

• Ashlena Johnson, Literacy Facilitator 

Hello!  My name is Ashlena Johnson.  I am excited to join the amazing Sunrise team as a literacy facilitator.  I LOVE to read and can't wait to support the amazing educators and your students in continuing to become amazing readers.  I have taught 5th grade and more recently have been an instructional coach.  I have two little boys, Emmett (5) and Thomas (almost 1).  We love being in water and spending time outside.  I received both my Bachelor's (Elementary Education) and Master's (Curriculum and Instruction) from Utah State University, Go Aggies!  Here's to an amazing year! 

We would also like to let you know about some other staffing changes that have occured:

Lindsey Black, former 6th grade teacher is moving to 1st grade 

Dates to remember:

August 5th - Class lists will be posted on the front doors by 8:00 am. 

August 17th - Back to School Night for 1st-6th grade @ 5:30-7:00. We will have three 30 minute rotations. 

August 19th - First Day of School for 1st-6th grade 

August 25th - Kindergarten Curriculum Night @ 7:00 pm 

August 26th - First Day of School for Kindergarten 

September 6th - Labor Day, no school

September 22nd - Picture Day

September 24th - District Professional Development Day, no school

School Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:05-3:35, Friday 9:05-2:20

In the interest of safety, please do not drop off your children before 8:45 as there is no supervision before that time. Students should be picked up from school by 3:45 on Monday-Thursday and by 2:35 on Friday. 

Arrival Times and Attendance:

Our school day begins at 9:05 every day, the first bell rings at 9:00. Please be sure to have your child/children here on time. Each teacher starts the day with important curriculum based practices. Consistently tardy students miss essential building block skills throughout the year. Students who have excessive absences also miss critical instruction. Please help them be as successful as possible by having them in attendance as much as possible. All students who arrive after 9:05 must sign in at the office. If your child will not be present, please call and inform our school office at (435) 563-3866. 

Meal Prices and Menus:

More information will be sent out throughout the summer regarding lunch and breakfast prices. Breakfast will be served from 8:45-9:15. Lunch menus will be available on our school website by clicking on the fork and knife icon on Sunrise’s webpage. 

School Supply List:

Grade level supply/donation lists will be mailed home in August. Notice: the items on the list will be used during the regular school day. They may be brought from home on a voluntary basis, otherwise, they will be furnished by the school. 

Drop off and Pick Up:

Sunrise is a walking school, which brings extra challenges with drop off and pick up. Please use our main parking lot or the drop-off and pick-up area along 455 East. Encourage your children to walk or ride their bike as much as possible. Please do not use the cul-de-sac on 380 east as a drop off or pick up area. There are major safety concerns with cars using this area as drop off and pickup. Please use adjacent through streets as a meeting location. 

Bike Safety:

If your student rides a bike to school, please make sure they have a bike lock. We have had too many bikes stolen and/or damaged when they are not locked.

I look forward to another great year at Sunrise Elementary.

Sincerely,

Derek Beer

derek.beer@ccsdut.org

(435)563-3866

Principal, Sunrise Elementary