Sunrise Elementary students and staff highlight mentorship, MTSS and community service

Sunrise Elementary presented to the Enumclaw School District Board on May 18, describing a year of growth focused on student well‑being, intentional mentorship and student leadership projects.

Principal presenters outlined a building theme of "growing together," the school’s five commitments and a yearlong emphasis on student well‑being. Staff described two annual surveys used to measure outcomes — the HOPE survey (reported at about 68% in fall) and a psychological sense of school membership (about 72% in winter) — and said the data guided targeted supports for students in need of additional help.

Resource teacher Melissa Petrowski described a structured, school‑wide mentorship program that paired trained student mentors with younger peers for reading, math support and social‑emotional check‑ins. Two student mentors told the board they valued making new bonds and helping classmates learn new skills; an advisor, Morgan Tran, said 48 fourth‑ and fifth‑graders signed up for the leadership program this year and highlighted service projects including a toy drive and food bank donations.

Sunrise staff also described instructional work under an MTSS framework. They said schoolwide grade‑level interventions and progress monitoring contributed to improved reading outcomes and reduced the number of students referred to special education for intensive services this year.

Students and staff closed the presentation by sharing examples of student‑led initiatives — an art club, garden club and ‘‘Meemaw Monday’’ crocheting — and the board thanked the students for their leadership. The presentation was followed by routine business and the meeting’s executive session.

Quotes used in this article are attributed to presenters in the meeting transcript.