The Sunnyside Scoop
School Newsletter -- April, 2023
About Us
Kids Junction: (651) 385 - 4587
First Student (General busing questions): (651) 388 - 8244
Transportation (Bus routing): (651) 385 - 4795
Email: mjpagel@rwps.org
Website: http://redwing.k12.mn.us/sunnyside/
Location: 1669 Southwood Avenue, Red Wing, MN, United States
Phone: (651) 385-4570
Principal's Message...
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fantastic spring break and is feeling refreshed for the final push to summer. It's hard to believe we only have just over two months of school remaining and are starting the final quarter of the school year. When I reflect on the school year, I am amazed at how much students have grown since September. One of the things I find most rewarding about being a principal at the K/1 level is just how much students grow as learners during these first couple years of school. Every now and then, I am asked by a parent what they can do to help their child continue to become more fluent as a reader during these early years of school. Among other things, care givers can...
- Talk to your child using rich vocabulary
- Read aloud to your child
- Ask your child's teacher if there are particular skills you could practice with your child
- Create a reading corner at home
- Limit screen time
- Visit the library
- Give books as gifts (the Book Fair is a great place to pick up some current titles!)
- Be a role model - show that you read yourself
All of these are simple enough, but are great ways to highlight the importance of reading and encourage a love of it!
Mike Pagel
Principal
Dates to Remember...
April:
4 -- Kindergarten & 1st Grade Field Trip to Sheldon Theatre
7 -- NO SCHOOL
10 -- Kindergarten Town Tour Field Trip (Dressen, Kelly, Prigge, Richardson)
11 -- Kindergarten Town Tour Field Trip (Johnson, Marklevits, McDonnell, Plonsky)
14 -- 1st Grade Field Trip to Children's Museum
17 - 20 -- Scholastic Book Fair
17 -- Spring Concert (1st - Bollmann, Harteneck, Friedrich)
18 -- Spring Concert (1st - Pearson, Larsen, Swanson, Plein)
19 -- Spring Concert (K - Richardson, McDonnell, Prigge, Johnson)
20 -- Spring Concert (K - Kelly, Dressen, Plonsky, Marklevits)
27 -- 1st Grade Earth Day Birhouses w/ RWHS Students
May:
1 -- 1st Grade Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip (Pearson & Swanson)
2 -- 1st Grade Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip (Friedrich & Larsen)
5 -- 1st Grade Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip (Bollman, Harteneck, & Plein)
11 -- Kindergarten Sneak Peek (5:00 - 7:00 pm)
16 -- Public Works Visit
19 -- Field Day / Quarter 4 Celebration
22 -- Kindergarten Field Trip to Perkins Farm (Marklevits & Johnson)
23 - RW Ambassadors Visit
24 -- Kindergarten Field Trip to Perkins Farm (Kelly & Richardson)
25 -- Kindergarten Field Trip to Perkins Farm (McDonell & Plonsky)
26 -- Kindergarten Field Trip to Perkins Farm (Dressen & Prigge)
29 -- NO SCHOOL
30 -- Kindergarten Field Trip to Hok-Si-La (Dressen/Marklevits/McDonnell/Prigge)
31 -- Kindergarten Field Trip to Hok-Si-La (Johnson/Plonsky/Kelly/Richardson)
Bus Stop & Walk
Sunnyside bus riders will be dropped off on Roosevelt Avenue next to Roosevelt Park on Fridays beginning April 14th and walk to Sunnyside from there. Staff will be stationed at intersections along the way to help students cross and to encourage them. Parents who drop off are welcome to do so at Roosevelt Avenue as well on those Fridays. We just asked that you drop off on the side of the road opposite the buses (and opposite the park). Drop offs at the park will take place from 7:10 - 7:25 for both bussers and parent drop offs. After 7:25, drop off will need to take place at Sunnyside. Please see the map below for more detail.
Spring Concerts
Our spring concerts will take place from April 1 - 9. Each day, a different group of classes performs at 1:00 pm. There will be a dress rehearsal for the scheduled classes at 9:30 am each day as well, and families are welcome to attend if they are unable to make the 1:00 show. Our schedule for concerts is as follows:
Monday, April 17 -- 1st Grade (Bollman, Friedrich, & Harteneck)
Tuesday, April 18 -- 1st Grade (Larson, Pearson, Plein, Swanson)
Wednesday, April 19 -- Kindergarten (Johnson, McDonnell, Prigge, Richardson)
Thursday, April 20 -- Kindergarten (Dressen, Kelly, Marklevits, Plonsky)
Spring Scholastic Book Fair
Sunnyside's spring Book Fair will take place in person this year from April 17 - 20, which coincides with our spring concerts. The spring Scholastic Book Fair is a buy one, get one free event, so it's a good chance to load up on literature for a very reasonable price! The Book Fair will be open in the afternoons after concerts and school until 2:15, and will be located in the STEM Lab next to the library.
Third Quarter Activity Day
2023 - 2024 Kindergarten Registration
Spread the word! Now’s the time to start thinking about registering your child for kindergarten! Registration for the 2023 - 2024 school year has kicked off, and enrollment forms are now available in print at the District Office, Colvill Family Center, and Sunnyside School. Forms can also be found online at www.rwps.org, and may be returned to any of the locations listed above. We encourage you to register early, as this helps us determine staffing needs and get class placement information out earlier!
March Winger Pride Winners
- Matthew Wolff (kindergarten)
- Liam Beam (kindergarten)
- Eleanor Rodriguez (kindergarten)
- Bradley Jeske (kindergarten)
- Sawyer Reese (1st grade)
- Bella Hudson (1st grade)
- Grace Crosby (1st grade)
- Roman Rushman (1st grade)
Class Placement Input
Each year, we take steps to thoughtfully place elementary students into classrooms for the following fall. The goal is to create balanced classes with all types of learners. This strategic placing of students creates the best opportunity for a positive learning experience.
Parent input is one of the many important components to effective class placement. The parent input process is not intended to offer the opportunity to request a specific teacher, rather an opportunity to express perspective on unique needs of individual children. Any request to be placed with a specific teacher will be disregarded, and consideration will focus instead on the student need identified.
If you would like to provide information about the type of teacher who might be a good fit for your child, special considerations to be aware of, or other general input, please stop by the Sunnyside office between the hours of 7:00 am - 3:15 pm to complete a Parent Input Form. We ask that you complete this form rather than emailing or telling your child's teacher or Mr. Pagel, as this way we can ensure all input is collected in one place and less likely to get forgotten or overlooked when it is time to place students. All parent input forms need to be completed by May 26th.
Yearbook Ordering
https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/redwingelementaryschools
Paper order forms are also available in the Sunnyside office. The deadline for ordering is April 9th, so act fast if you'd still like to order!
Volunteer at Sunnyside!
Follow Sunnyside On Social Media!
Sunnyside has it’s own Facebook and Instagram pages! You can link directly to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sunnysideredwing/, and our Instagram handle is @sunnysideredwing. Check out some of the fun things going on at Sunnyside!
Make Sure You're Informed!!!
Be sure to click the links below for important information about Sunnyside Elementary and Red Wing Public Schools. Please pay special attention to the District Handbook and the Sunnyside Expectations & Procedures. Both documents contain important information and are a great reference for many frequently asked questions.