Sunset Express
April 20, 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
Spring Calendars
Hello Sunset Lake Families,
This is the time of the year that our calendars get filled with so many after school activities. It's a great month to remember the importance of Habit #7, Sharpen the Saw. This habit is about finding balance in what we do in our lives. We hope your family is able to find balance and routines to help everyone stay rested during these busy days.
See below for this month's updates:
We say farewell and send lots of love to our Ms. Brooks. This past Friday was Ms. Brooks' last day at Sunset Lake. We wish her the very best as she finds employment closer to her residence. She has been a wonderful support for our school. We are currently working to fill an interim counselor for the remainder of the year with the plan of hiring a a new counselor for the 24-25 school year.
FUN RUN 24: Please be sure to join in on the FUN with our 24 Fun Run hosted by our wonderful PTSO. This is the one fundraiser our family team that helps us support so many things all year long at Sunset Lake. Items included that our PTSO sponsors every year include: classrooms materials and supplies, field trip support, playground improvements, school assembly support, March is Reading month activities, family activities such as Sweetheart Dance and Sons of Sunset and so much more! PLEASE consider supporting our drive with 99 Pledges to help us reach our goal!!
(QR code provided below)
Sunset Lake Yearbook: Please note that this year's notebook can be ordered ONLY through the online link. We are not able to accept cash.
Attendance Challenge: Be sure to check out our attendance information and details about our April Challenge shared below. Check out the picture below for our 1st Grade Winners!
MSTEP:
Congratulations to our 3rd and 4th graders complete their MSTEP tests. Next week, our 5th graders will be testing next Tuesday and Thursday to start their MSTEP days.
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.
Have a wonderful weekend, Sunset Lake!
Thank you, Sunset Lake!
Yours in Learning,
Amie McCaw
Sunset Lake Elementary Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
April 26, 2024 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Fish Hatchery
May 3, 2024 - 1/2 Day for Students; 12:15 Dismissal
Time to order your Yearbook
FINAL WEEKEND TO GET YOUR YEARBOOK ORDER IN!!! APRIL 21st DEADLINE
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
Sunset Lake Fun Run
Important Information for 5th Grade Families
MStep Testing Information
5th grade: 4/23, 4/25, 4/30, 5/2
Incoming 6th Grade Parents Night at VMS - May 15
Sports Physicals for incoming 6th Graders
VHS/VMS Sports Physicals
Vicksburg Middle School and High School sports physicals for the 2024-25 school year will be held on May 29 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Vicksburg High School. Please enter through the east side gym entrance.
The cost per physical will be $20 per athlete. Sports physical forms may be found at this link or picked up in the school's main office. All athletes for the 2024-25 school year will need an updated sports physical dated 4/15/24 or more current to play sports. Please mark your calendar for this important event.
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.
1st Grade is the Reigning Attendance champs for week 1
What grade level will be able to win next weeks challenge? Help your students grade level by making sure they come to school each day! It's been fun watching the kids excitement with earning the trophy for their classroom!
April's Habit #7: Sharpen the Saw
Snack Drive
Summer Camps
These warm days have us dreaming of summer!
Our summer camps have opened for registration on our website!
Register here today: https://www.vicksburgschools.org/pub/news/posts/11385
More could be added soon, so keep checking back.
VEA Scholarship Opportunity
Summer camps often provide valuable educational and enrichment opportunities for students to develop social skills, build confidence, and foster independence. Scholarships are offered by the VEA at this link to enable student participation in curricular and related activities (classes, camps, art experiences, etc.) throughout the summer.
April Lunch Menu
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
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.
Earth Day - April 22
- Earth Day and the Environment: Check out this article for lessons, texts, activities, and videos for all grades about climate change and the environment, including resources like the Climate Mental Health Network.
- National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science: This amazing database of case studies on topics like AI and the environment allows you to sort by grade and resource type.
- Climate Change Resources for Students and Teachers: Take a look at this list for apps, sites, and games in order to come at climate change from a fresh angle.
- Ecology and Environmental Science Apps, Games, and Sites: Eyeball this list for more tools to teach about the environment.
- Movies, Books, and TV Shows: Between climate change and environmental movies, books, and TV shows, you can round out students' Earth Day experience.
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.
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.