Sunset Express
April 5, 2024
Sunset Lake Elementary, PreK-5th Grade Building
At Sunset Lake, We are Lifelong Learners and Lifelong Leaders.
Principal Amie McCaw
Email: amccaw@vicksburgschools.org
Website: Vicksburgcommunityschools.org
Location: 201 N Boulevard St, Vicksburg, MI, United States
Phone: (269)321-1500
Twitter: @TLIMPrincipal
Happy April
Hello Sunset Lake Families,
Happy April! We hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the spring season. Maybe after this weekend, we can actually experience that spring-like weather.
As always, we have some important updates and reminders for you.
This Sunday, our PTSO has organized a fantastic event for our Sons of Sunset with a KWings game. THANK YOU PTSO!🏒😍
Solar Eclipse Monday, April 8th: We are happy to share that our district is providing ISO-certified glasses for everyone to experience the solar eclipse. Please be sure to talk with your child about the importance of NEVER looking into the sky during the eclipse until they have their glasses on. We will be going outside for a short amount of time to experience the eclipse and will be sending the glasses home with students that day. *Please see the VCS tips provided below.
3rd Grade Musical: I am so excited to see our 3rd graders perform next Tuesday at our PAC at 7:00pm
Attendance Challenge: Be sure to check out our attendance information and details about our April Challenge shared below. We are aiming to have an average of 96% of our students in school every day!
IMPORTANT:
Report cards will be sent home on Friday, April 12th. Please take some time to review your child's progress and celebrate their successes.
Mrs. Brink kicked off Spring Mile Madness this week!
Please check in with your child about this event and see the graphic below for more details.
Our Kindergarten Kick-Off meeting is on April 10th. If you know of any future kindergarteners for the 2024-25 school year, please spread the word. See the below graphic about our 2024-2025 school year kindergarten enrollment.
MSTEP: Next week, our 3rd graders will be taking the math portion of the state MSTEP test. The following week, our 3rd and 4th graders will be completing their testing. Our 5th graders will be testing the week of 4/22 and 5/2,
Please help us with these testing days by ensuring your child gets plenty of rest and takes time to have breakfast each morning. We want to encourage our students to give their best effort while at the same time not stressing them out about a test. This test is used at the state level for schools and does NOT impact your child's grades in any way.
We are continuing our Kindness Challenge, so encourage your child to spread kindness and complete their heart sheet!🌞😍
As always, thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education.
Have a wonderful April!
Have a wonderful weekend, Sunset Lake!
If you are into the March Madness-- I have to put out a shout out to my Purdue Boilermakers...
Boiler Up!📣🏀
Thank you, Sunset Lake!
Yours in Learning,
Amie McCaw
Sunset Lake Elementary Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
April 7, 2024 - Sons of Sunset K-Wings game
April 9, 2024 - 3rd Grade Musical - 7pm at the PAC
April 10, 2024 - Kindergarten Kickoff
April 12, 2024 - 1st Grade Field Trip to the Air Zoo
April 26, 2024 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Fish Hatchery
Mark your Calendars - MSTEP testing
3rd grade: 4/11, 4/17
4th grade: 4/16, 4/18
5th grade: 4/23, 4/25, 4/30, 5/2
Solar Eclipse - April 8
As you are likely aware, on Monday, April 8th a total solar eclipse will cross North America. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk as the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth.
Here in Vicksburg, the eclipse will start around 2pm, with the peak happening at about 3:10pm. The eclipse will end around 4:20pm.
To mark this historic event, Vicksburg Community Schools has purchased solar glasses for all students and staff so they can take part in witnessing this event safely.
Please join us in talking with your student about the importance of using the glasses while looking at the sun.
All elementary school students will receive their glasses during class on Monday so they can view the event together. While the peak of the eclipse will not take place until after dismissal for our middle and high school students, they will still receive glasses at the end of the day so they may take part in this historic event.
Safety during the eclipse is extremely important. It is never a good idea to look directly into the sun. When viewing a solar eclipse, it is important to take safety precautions to avoid long-term injury to the eyes.
It’s also important not to wear the solar glasses while driving or stop your car on the road to view the eclipse.
We have further tips posted on our website and resources you can use to discuss solar eclipse viewing safety with your family: https://www.vicksburgschools.org/pub/news/posts/11415
Time to order your Yearbook
Yearbooks are on sale NOW. The deadline to get your order is in is April 21st. Online orders only.
Use this link to place your order: https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/sunsetlakeelementary
Attendance is Important
As we approach the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we want to express our gratitude to families for continuing to partner with us in prioritizing regular school attendance, as we work together to achieve this months attendance goal of 96%. Thank you for recognizing the profound impact regular student attendance has on academic progress, social connections, and the overall success of the Sunset Lake community.
Snack Drive
Spring Mile Madness
In honor of March Madness, which always spills over into April for the championship rounds, we are doing Spring Mile Madness here at Sunset Lake.
Who: BK-5 students at Sunset Lake
What: Spring Mile Madness
When: April 1- June 7 during recess times
Where: Sunset Lake running tracks
Why: Starting April 1st, a new fitness initiative will begin for all students at Sunset Lake! The Building Healthy Communities group was awarded the Running Club program through a grant. This program runs for 10 weeks and all students are welcome and encouraged to participate for free! Students will earn different tokens for different mile markers throughout the 10 weeks.
*This is in addition to and separate from Mile Club that students may have already signed up for in the fall. Mile Club students will still receive their tokens in addition to tokens earned through this program.
Sons of Sunset
The PTSO is excited to share the information and link for our Sons of Sunset event.
Remember when you purchase your ticket that we have reserved the section, so no need to worry about which seat you have simply sit in our section and enjoy time with friends.
https://fevo-enterprise.com/Sonssunset
Get your tickets before the link closes on April 1st!
Habit # 7 Sharpen the Saw- fory Younger Students
Placement Forms
It's hard to believe that we are in the last quarter of the 23/24 school year. That means it's time to start thinking about placement for next year. We have Placement Forms in the office if you want to fill one out.
If your child turns 5 years old by September 1, 2024 they are eligible for Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
Registration is now open!
To begin the registration process, please fill out the form found here: https://www.vicksburgschools.org/pub/news/posts/11409
Kindergarten Kickoff - April 10, 6-7pm
What you need to have BEFORE the first day of school.
Click the PDF link below for detailed information about what you need for entering Kindergarten.
Updated Covid Policy
The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends people with respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both resolution of fever AND overall symptoms are getting better. This recommendation addresses the period of greatest infectiousness and highest viral load for most people, which is typically in the first few days of illness and when symptoms, including fever, are worst. This is similar to longstanding recommendations for other respiratory illnesses, including influenza.
April Lunch Menu
MET - Michigan Education Trust
Michigan Education Trust (MET) is Michigan's 529 prepaid tuition savings program, allows parents, grandparents, businesses, and others to pre-purchase a child's future college tuition.
Find out more by clicking on the link below.
Hearty Hustle - Save the Date
Social Media Safety Tips for Kids
Free & Reduced Meal Application
Free Lunch Information for Families:
Vicksburg Community Schools is excited to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students for the 2023-2024 school year!
No action is needed for the free breakfast and lunch this year. However, if students would like to purchase à la carte items they will be able to do so as long as they have money in their food service account. Log into your Family Portal to check and add to your balance. https://vicksburg.familyportal.cloud/
Even though meals will be provided for free, it's important for families to continue sharing household income information in order for our schools to receive full access to federal and state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to. Free and reduced meal applications are used to determine funding for several VCS programs. Every application that is not submitted means lost educational programs and resources for our students.
Please log into your Family Portal and click on the “apply for benefits” button to start an application. The simple application can help make sure VCS gets the support we need.
7 Habits of Happy Kids
Drop Off and Pick-Up Directions
Click on the link for the 2023-24 Drop Off and Pick Up Directions.