Hello Sunset Lake Families,

Well, it seems Mother Nature finally decided to send us a Michigan winter. We hope your family is staying safe and warm and our Sunset kiddos enjoyed their Snow Day!

We thank you for participating in our virtual conferences this semester. We always appreciate getting a chance to share the growth of our Sunset student leaders.

Please see the special PTSO Sweetheart Event they are sponsoring, February 7th-14th. Let's share out all the happy smiles of this special week through pictures on our PTSO Facebook page. We look forward to seeing all the love and smiles!

Next Friday we have a scheduled half-day for state-mandated staff professional development. Dismissal will be at 12:15. Our classrooms will be holding their Valentine Celebrations that morning. Valentine cards are due Monday in order for us to follow safety protocols with sharing of materials.

We ask if there is anyone in the household who is being tested for COVID-19 to keep your child home until the test results come back. Also, please be sure to go through the student screener questions (see below) each day before you send your child(ren) to school.

As always we continue to encourage all of our families to try and keep safety precautions in mind. Every measure counts and together we can try and minimize the negative impact COVID-19 could have on your child's education.

Please visit this link at State of Michigan Covid for up to date information.

Together we can work to minimize exposure for our students and staff. Thank you!

Thank you Sunset Lake Families!

Yours in Learning,

Amie McCaw

Sunset Lake Elementary Principal

VCS Virtual: Thank you for participating in our virtual conferences. Conferences scheduled for February 5th will be rescheduled for February 19th. Report cards are being mailed out so please let our office know if you do not receive them by next week. If you are unsure if your child has materials to pick up please check with your child(ren)'s teacher. Please just come to our front door to buzz the front office. We will bring your child's material out to you. The best time for pick up is typically 9-3 pm to help avoid the busy times of drop-off and pick-up times.

VCS School Board Virtual Meeting Feb. 8th @ 7:00 pm

PTSO Virtual Mtg Feb 9 @ 6:00 pm

Feb 12 - Valentine Classroom Parties & 1/2 day for Students- Dismissal at 12:15 pm

Feb 19 - Picture Retake Day

Feb 25 - 1/2 day for Students

Feb 26 - Midwinter Break - No school

VCS Families and Staff:

Spring Break is just around the corner! Please be aware that based on current CDC guidelines, and after consultation with the Kalamazoo County Health Department, VCS has revised procedures concerning international travel.

The CDC requires all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result to the airline before boarding the flight. Air passengers who have had a positive viral test for COVID-19 in the past 3 months, and have met the criteria to end isolation, may travel instead with documentation of their positive viral test results and a letter from their healthcare provider or a public health official that states they have been cleared for travel.

Due to the change in CDC requirements and in consultation with the Kalamazoo County Health Department, Vicksburg Community Schools requires all students/staff traveling to the US from a foreign country to quarantine for 7 days before returning to school (previously the District required a 10 day quarantine). Staff and students must also provide documentation of negative test results obtained before departure from the international location.

Please have your child bring in their Valentines for their classmates between February 1st and February 8th. This will allow our teachers to secure the Valentines safely in a quarantine place. This is much like our protocol for our library books to help reduce the spread of germs.

Our classrooms will celebrate Valentine's Day on Friday, February 12th.

As with our snack request, we ask that all treats are purchased or from a professional bakery, We are not accepting home-baked items this year.

Thank you for your understanding!

Generous Hands is still distributing food weekly. Currently they are serving 227 students in all six of the Vicksburg schools. Although that seems like a lot of students, they feel they can help many more students with their supports and services.

Please visit the link below to learn more or contact our office at 321-1562 if you have questions.

Generous Hands Website

VCS Return to School Plan Instructional Overview f