Bobcat Pride
Sunset Valley Elementary
Week of August 21st
Our Campus Webpage
SVE Back to School PTA Kick-Off
The Principal's Den
Hello Bobcat families!
This has been an amazing week! I can tell you that I am so honored & proud of all of students, our staff and our entire community for all the hard work that has gone in to making this week so incredible. As your principal, I can honestly say that I feel so inspired by your love, your energy, and your commitment to making SVES the best school! The entire SVES staff is committed to continue to learn and grow so that we can help make things even better.
We've come a long way! It's only been a year since we've opened. Since then I can honestly say that our teachers and staff have never forgotten what we are here to do...Teach, Love & Inspire! As the leader of the campus, I watch in amazement how dedicated our teachers are to your student(s). They LOVE kids! They know that we are not about some "test". We truly believe that students deserve to be loved, they need to feel loved and cared for...someone to believe in them; no matter what. When relationships are built, academics falls right into place.
It is an honor to be the Principal and lead such an amazing group of educators. It is an honor to work alongside our PTA, our CEIC, and with our parents and community members. And most importantly, it is a true honor to be with all of our students...the best little Bobcats I know!
Our vision at Sunset Valley is to create an optimal learning experience where all children can learn by providing an engaging, positive school environment that promotes ongoing collaboration with teachers, parents and community members for the success of all students. Our theme to support this vision is "Teach Love Inspire" We want each student to be healthy, happy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. Join us this year as we begin our journey to TEACH one another, LOVE learning, & INSPIRE all!
Bobcat Proud,
Kristen Eriksen, Principal
Solar Eclipse
- Watch a live feed from NASA
- Plan great learning opportunities from the NASA page https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/
Some teachers have purchased ISO approved eclipse viewing glasses on their own and are planning to have their students view the eclipse outside. Protective eyewear is mandatory. Those teachers will be sending home specific guidelines and a permission slip that will need to be signed and returned to their teacher. Students with eclipse glasses will be monitored closely and must keep the glasses on at all times. We will spend approximately 10 minutes viewing the eclipse from our playground area.This is a once in a life time experience and we want to ensure that our students and staff members follow the necessary precautions. All students will have INDOOR RECESS on Monday, August 21st. As you know, in order to actually watch the eclipse one would need to have the appropriate safety glasses. Without those glasses, we should not make any attempt to "look up" at the sun as the eclipse is taking place.
Here are some additional websites if you would like to have more information about the solar eclipse:
NASA 2017 Eclipse Home Page
NASA pdf map-
NASA Marc Nussbaum intro videos (Parts I and II)
Illustration of the moving eclipse shadow and appearance of the sun disk
Stanford brochure on safely observing the sun yourself
Join the SVES PTA!
NEW this year! Online memberships! As we start the new PTA year we'd like to offer you the ability to sign up or renew your membership online at http://www.joinpta.org/
For just $10 per membership, you can create a voice for every child! Student memberships will receive a punch card for 1 free concession item at our PTA events (good for 3 events)
- Feel you don't have time? No worries. Being a member of PTA doesn't require your time, however we do have volunteer, chair, and board positions available! Please email us sunsetpta23@gmail.com if you are interested.
- Not a Sunset Valley Elementary parent? That's ok too!! Grandparents, neighbors and friends can join as well! A voice for a child is still a voice for a child...having a community backing our youth is backing our FUTURE! JOIN US!
Our PTA does so many events and programs to support our students and amazing teachers! Help us reach our goal of 1 voice for every child!!
Click here to see watch the PTA welcome message.
Thank you for your support!
SVES PTAOther Highlights
Independence Day - On Friday, August 25 we will be celebrating Independence Day! This is the day that we invite all of our students to walk to the gym/cafe or their classrooms on their own!
Dismissal Processes - Our dismissal processes have been running pretty smoothly and as always, I promise it will get easier as everyone becomes more familiar with the traffic patterns and settles in to a routine. Just a reminder that the school entrance off of Aubrac Way (the back of the school) is now reserved for bus & day care vans. If you are dropping your student off by car or are walking up to the school, please be sure and use the entrance off of Canchim Street (the front of the school). As always, safety is our number one priority.
Clayton YES - Looking for information about before and after-school child care? Clayton YES offers child care right here at Sunset Valley. Click HERE for more information.
Communication - We pride ourselves on getting information out to you! Be sure and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Remind. Remind is a text messaging service that you can sign up for. Just text @9bc72 to 81010. You can also use the following link to sign up: https://remind.com/join/9bc72
Grandparent's Luncheon - Please join your grandchild for lunch on September 11th. Your child's homeroom teacher will share your child's lunch time after the first day of school.
Volunteer Opportunities at SVES
Are you interested in helping in the office or classroom at SVES on a regular basis? Are you planning to chaperone a group of students on a field trip, help with PTA events, become a WATCH DOG volunteer, or chaperone at a school event? If you answered ‘YES’ to any of the above questions, you must complete a Volunteer Form/Criminal History Background check. To be eligible to volunteer on any of the KISD campuses, this process is completed each school year. To be considered as a KISD Volunteer for 2017-2018 school year, please complete the Volunteer Form. If you have a student at more than one KISD campus, you only need to fill out the application one time this school year. Please submit your Volunteer Application through the following link: Volunteer Application. Sign up TODAY!!
Once under the "Volunteer Form" job listing, click "Apply for this Position" to begin filling out the form. Once your application has been approved, you will receive a confirmation via the email address you provided in the application process. You only need to apply one time each school year. Our PTA is going to be posting specific volunteer opportunities however here are some other options for you:
- Classroom helper - help our teachers with door decorating, bulletin boards, reading to students, organizing notebooks/folders, cutting/laminating, etc.
- Library - help shelve books and with the check out/in process, reading to students, etc.
- Office/School helper - answer phones, using the laminating machine, sort/distribute mail, covering lunch duty for teachers, etc.
- Watch Dog Dad - Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day a year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or counselor.
Important Dates to Remember
Friday, August 25 - PTA Kickoff Family Night
Thursday, August 31 - PTA Spirit Night at Pot Belly
Friday, September 1 - National College Colors Day - wear your favorite college colors!
Monday, September 4 - Labor Day Holiday/ No School
Monday, September 11 - Grandparent's Luncheon - please join your grandchild for lunch!
Monday, September 11 - Running Club begins (after school) - MORE information will be coming home soon.
Tuesday, September 12 - Parent Orientations
- Option # 1 5:00 - 6:00
- Option #2 6:30 - 7:30
Friday, September 29 (NEW DATE) - End of 1st 6 weeks/SVES Pride Rally
Our Bell Schedule
1st Bell – 7:25 am Students are allowed in the building at designated areas
2nd Bell – 7:40 am – Students are allowed to walk to classrooms. Teachers are present at their door to welcome students.
3rd Bell – 7:55 am – Tardy Bell – Students not in the building at this time will receive a tardy slip.
4th Bell – 3:10 pm – Kindergarten – 4th grade dismissal
Arrival & Dismissal Information
If you ever have a change of plans and would like your child to go home a different way, just call the front office by 2:30 so that we can let your child know where to go. Please understand that if your child tells us that there is a change of plan, we will NOT make the change unless we have heard from you.
Important Information about Arrival & Dismissal
What do I need to know about my child coming to school in the morning?
The duty personnel will direct the traffic movement and unloading of students. During arrival, you may use either lane to drop off your student.
- During arrival, you may park your car, walk with your child and cross at the designated crosswalk. For the safety of you and your child, students may never be dropped off in the parking lot at any time.
- Between 7:25 - 7:40 all students will go directly to the gym. They may also go to the library if space is available. If they need to eat breakfast they will go directly to the cafeteria.
- Beginning at 7:40, you are welcome to escort your child(ren) to their classroom, give them a hug, and wish them a great day. After two weeks, we ask that all students walk to their classrooms on their own. Parents are welcome to walk their student into the front foyer. All parents who have a scheduled appointment or would like to see if their teacher is available will need to check in with the office to receive a visitor's badge.
- If your student rides his/her bike in the morning, we have three bike racks. They will be located on the east and west sides of our building. Students may enter through the front or back of the building dependent on which bike rack they are using. The bike rack near the 1st grade wing will enter through the front entrance. The bike rack near the Kindergarten wing will enter through the back entrance.
- Don’t forget to discuss with your child how they will get home each day. We strongly recommend that students go home the first day the same way they will go home the rest of the school year.
It's 3:10 pm and I can't wait to see my child! What do I need to know about dismissal if I am picking my child up in the car line?
- Please remember to follow our traffic pattern that been set by the Ft. Worth Police Department and ALWAYS have your pick up sign clearly showing through your windshield.
- K-1 families who are picking up their child in the car line must be in the lane closest to the building. This is the RIGHT LANE. Older siblings will be seated with their K-1 siblings. You will be turning right into our drive from Canchim Street. You may be tempted to turn left into our drive if you are coming from Horseman Road however this is is not permitted due to potential back up on Horseman.
- 2-4 families who are picking their child up in the car line must be in the outside lane. This is the LEFT LANE. You will also be turning right into our drive from Canchim Street. You may be tempted to turn left into our drive if you are coming from Horseman Road however this is is not permitted due to potential back up on Horseman.
Remember, older siblings will go to the designated area of their younger sibling(s). If you ever have a change of plans and want to pick up your child a different way, just call the front office by 2:30 so that we can let your child know where to go.
What if my child is riding the bus or on a day care van?
If your child rides a day care bus/van, they will be escorted to our cafe and will be taken to the bus/van when it arrives. Many times the day care bus/van has multiple pick ups and may arrive late. When that happens, students will be escorted to the front office. The day care bus/van knows to come to the front circle drive.
If you ever have a change of plans and want to pick up your child a different way, just call the front office by 2:30 so that we can let your child know where to go.
My child walks or rides his/her bike? What should I expect?
- One group of students will walk or ride to homes from Canchim Street. Our teachers will leave the building with these students and will walk with them all the way to the crosswalk at Canchim & Horseman. Students who have their bikes must walk their bike to this point.
- The other group of students are students who walk or ride to homes from Aubrac Way. These students will be escorted from the exit at the back of our school where they will be able to safely cross the street. Students who have their bikes must walk their bike to this point.
If you ever have a change of plans and want to pick up your child a different way, just call the front office by 2:30 so that we can let your child know where to go.
I plan to park my car and walk up to the building to pick up my child. What do I do?
If you ever have a change of plans and want to pick up your child a different way, just call the front office by 2:30 so that we can let your child know where to go.
Don't forget to bring your pick up sign!
The car line is really long and my child is waiting for me in the car pick up line. Can I just park and walk up to the building and get him/her?
If you ever have a change of plans and/or you prefer to walk up to the building to pick up your child, just call the front office by 2:30 so that we can let your child know where to go. The gym pick up line is quick!
Oh no! I forgot my "pick up sign"! What do I do?
A Message from Nurse Liz
Interested in becoming a member of the Campus Educational Improvement Committee?
If you are interested in being a Parent, Business or Community member. an application has been provided.
Our Campus Webpage
text @9bc72 to 81010
Our Facebook Page
SunsetValleyES
https://www.facebook.com/SunsetValleyES/@sunsetvalleyes
The Sunset Valley PTA is going to be amazing! But I'm sure you already knew that! :)
Members of OUR Bobcat Pride
A Little Bit about Me!
I have been so fortunate to work in such an exceptional district as a teacher, an assistant principal and before coming to Sunset Valley as the principal of Keller-Harvel Elementary School. I have loved each and every student, their families and all of the amazing staff members with whom I have worked. I am now excited to fall in love with all of the new students, families, and teachers and staff of Sunset Valley Elementary.
My passion for education came at a young age. As the youngest of three kids and the only girl, I looked up to my two brothers for two very different reasons. My oldest brother was born with a handicap and overcame many physical challenges. My other brother could not get enough of the academic challenges. He was the sponge. We all loved our time in school, but it was their experiences that made me want to be an educator and to help make a difference in the lives of all children. My brothers paved the way for me and helped me to find what I felt was important--to meet the needs of those students with the greatest challenges and to continue to motivate all students and help them reach their fullest potential.
It is an exhilarating time for the students, families, and teachers/staff of Sunset Valley. Together, we can build a school community like no other. We will work together to give our students the best education possible and help to prepare them for a bright future.
Please feel free to send me an email if you have any questions or comments. I can be reached at kristen.eriksen@kellerisd.net I look forward to getting to know you!
Go Bobcats!
Kristen Eriksen
Sunset Valley Elementary School Principal