The Sunray
Sunset Elementary Newsletter
9.2.22
It was great to see those of you who could make it out to our first in person Back to School Night in a few years. The energy was amazing and I appreciate the investment into your student's future. For those who could not make it, we understand life is busy. I know your child's teacher has already reached out to make everyone feel welcomed and part of the Sunset Ohana.
Thomas Fletcher
Principal
Sunset Elementary School
Bright Sunrays (UVA)
Brand new"ish" news...
•Raptor~ Volunteers! We are waiting patiently for the Raptor link to go "live" on the district website. In the meantime, there are a few major changes to the clearance process. One being that all volunteers who will be alone with students, I.E. drivers for a field trip, will need to be fingerprinted and cleared through the D.O.J. Another major change will be that the volunteers will be uploading essential documents, like TB test results, etc. These will not be done by the Sunset Office staff.
Please familiarize yourself with these new policies by visiting the District website. I have found it to be very informative. For more info, please select this link...Volunteers
•Drop off "Tuck and roll"~ Not everyone will find the humor in the video below and Sunset does not suggest a "yield" at drop off, but it would be helpful to have a routine in place to increase the efficiency, while remaining safe. I do ask that you pull ALL THE WAY to the back of the car in front of you while dropping off. Leaving a five car space in the yellow curbed circle, just keeps five more cars out on Frankfurt waiting to get to the sidewalk.
If you are up for a chuckle, check out the video in the article below.
Dimmer Sunrays (UVB)
Not brand new news...
•Lunch~ Our teachers ask the students a day before if they plan to eat lunch the next day. That helps the Food Service plan accordingly, as they could serve up to 770 lunches in one day. In reality, we all know that is not a perfect system. Who wouldn't raise their hand and ask for a corn dog tomorrow? (=
We want everyone who wants to eat a school provided lunch to be able to eat. This is just a reminder for you to ask your kids to try and stay to the lunch count. We had about a hundred extra students ask for lunch today and that makes it hard for the Food Service crew to keep up.
LVJUSD Menus~
September Breakfast
September Lunch
•Aloha Friday! As many of you know, I love Hawaii, and therefore, will make an effort to celebrate the Island on Fridays. I am sensitive to the Hawaiian culture and want to celebrate the vibe that comes with the Aloha Spirit. It's more about an attitude than anything else. Wear your Sunset Spirit gear or a Hawaiian shirt and show the shaka as a way to say hello. We are Ohana here at Sunset.
•Traffic Safety Reminder~ Please go slow, plan ahead, be patient and responsible when picking up and dropping off. Our students safety is priority #1 and the first few weeks it's imperative that we start off on the right foot. We appreciate your attention to safety.
•Sunset Gates~ Our gates will be opening at 8:15. Please be advised that there is limited supervision on the blacktop and the play structures will NOT be open. Please respect the teachers' ability to prep for their morning duties and avoid random parent teacher conferences at these early AM times.
•Lost and Found~ We gather A LOT of lost items as the year goes on. Please be mindful to check our lost and found periodically.
•This Year's (2022/2023) School Calendar~ The District calendar is attached below.
•Joke Suggestion Box~ Sarah Borjon's class was kind enough to create a "joke suggestion box" for me last year. If you have a joke or have a student who has a joke, write it down and send them on up to the office. The box will be by the check in computers.
•Sunray Archive...See below
Fading Sunrays (UVC)
News that's been around a while...
We use these three statements to reinforce our positive behavior with our students and would love for your help and support as we teach our students how to behave in all situations.
•PLEASE label your child's water bottle and/or lunch box with a first and last name. We have had several misplaced items with no name.
•The Sunset office is open Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm. If you have questions please do not hesitate to call us or stop by and speak to Julie, Colleen or Tara.
•Please note the attached SSC information page, campus map, bell schedule and LVJUSD calendar for the 2021-2022 school year.
Calendar these dates!
9/5/22~ Labor Day (No School)
9/7/22~ Kona Ice, after school
Blacktop
9/14/22~ PTO General Meeting
6:30pm, MPR
9/16/22~ Movie Night
6-8pm, MPR
10/14/22~ Picture Day (11/29/22 is make up day)
Gate and Drop off information
Gate Entry and Exit for Sunset Elementary
Gates Open at 8:15 am
School Starts at 8:30 am
We are moving away from the 8:25 entry process we instituted during the pandemic. While you are allowed and welcome on campus, we ask that you be cognizant of teachers time and student behavior while we work to instill a culture of kindness and integrity. While you value you and want you to know you are a vital part of our community and are welcome here, we are still asking that you help your child take steps to becoming independent as they find their own way to class as they enter campus.
One nice byproduct of the pandemic has caused an increased level of independence. I saw Kindergartners walk to class, hang up their backpacks, grab what they need and head into class...all on their own. Awesome. At 8:15 in the morning, students and parents are welcome to enter.
Student LVJUSD Gmail Accounts
In accordance with security guidance, IT has updated student passwords to 9-digits. That means students with 8-digit student IDs will need to add a leading zero and students with 7-digit student IDs will need to add two leading zeros to be able to log in. Students with 9-digit student IDs or who had previously changed their password to a personal password were not affected.
If students need help, they can get help from their teachers when school starts.
PTO Website
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I volunteer in the classroom?
ASAP! Please register through the new Raptor System which is coming soon. Check our website for details. Please connect with your child's teacher if you are interested and let the teacher set up a plan. We ask that you do not show up unannounced.
How much longer will parents need to stay outside the gates? Gates will now be opening at 8:15. Please monitor and decide what works best for you and your child. We like parents and like seeing you as part of our community.
Where shall I pick up my child? It would be wise to have a plan for pick up and drop off. Grades 1-5 get out at the same time this year.
Sunset Elementary School
Email: tfletcher@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/sunset
Location: 1671 Frankfurt Way, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925.606.5230