Wednesday Word
March 8th, 2023
From the Principal:
Dear Sunflower Families,
3rd-5th graders have been taking their ELA state assessments. We will be taking session 2 tomorrow. Please make sure your child is at school on time as we begin testing first thing in the morning. Please avoid taking students out for appointments.
We are excited to invite former Sunflower students who are graduating from high school this year. I have attached an invite and Google Form below. If you know of any graduating seniors who attended Sunflower for elementary school, please forward this information to them and have them RSVP using the Google Form. This is part of AVID and providing our scholars with opportunity knowledge about the next steps of graduating high school.
If you have other family members such as siblings or grandparents picking up your child from the car line, please make sure they have a dismissal tag. We are getting a lot of cars through that do not have a dismissal tag and it is slowing down our line as we have to check ID's. We appreciate your attention to this matter.
Lastly, I would like to ask everyone to take some time to discuss our BEST expectations at home, specifically about keeping hand and feet to self, voice levels in classroom, hallways and lunchroom and following adult directions the first time. At school we review these daily and consistently reinforce Scholars with BEST Bucks and behavior specific praise when the are following expectations. I would like to say this is just a few students who are consistently not meeting these expectations, but it is increasingly becoming a problem with larger numbers of our scholars, which is causing major disruptions to our learning environment. We could use your help reinforcing these these expectations as well so we can ensure all students are safe and have an orderly learning environment. Thank you for your help!
As always it is an honor to serve as the Principal of Sunflower Elementary.
Melissa Blevins
April Parent Shout Outs for Sunflower Staff
Know a Sunflower staff member that deserves a shout out?! Fill out the google form below! We use these shout outs as nominations for our staff member of the month recognition.
We have multiple openings at this time. We have posted for three Paraprofessionals and one for our Lead Lunchroom Monitor. This position works Monday-Friday from 10:45-1:15. You can apply online by clicking the linked job titles or contact Melissa Blevins at melissa.blevins@usd497.org.
Volunteer In Our Lunchroom!
Use the sign up below to volunteer in our lunch room!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A8AE2DA5FCC70-lunchroom1
Annual Enrollment IS OPEN!
Annual enrollment will be open for the 2023-2024 school year until April 30th.
If you do not have a parent account currently set up, information was sent home last Wednesday regarding how to create the parent PowerSchool accounts. If you need help creating a parent account, please refer to this information or call the PowerSchool help desk at 785-330-4300.
A popcorn party will be rewarded to the first class that has all of their annual enrollments turned in.
From Sunflower PTO:
Save the Date-last PTO meeting of the year!
May 9 @ 5pm
In person in the Sunflower library
Teacher Appreciation week May 8-12
We want to fill the teacher's lounge with treats to wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week on May 12! Sign up here to bring some goodies to show them how much we appreciate everything they do!
Attention 5th grade families!
Donations & Volunteers needed for April 13th
The 5th Grade Recognition Committee will be hosting an Ice Cream Social fundraiser following the 3rd and 4th grade music programs on Thursday April 13th. We are asking for ice cream topping donations, please see the Signup Genius link below if you are would to donate toppings. Proceeds from the ice cream social will go towards 5th grade end of year activities.
Ice Cream Social SignUp Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B4EA9A829A0FA7-icecream
Has your 5th grade scholar participated in any clubs during the school year?
Our committee is currently designing the Recognition Ceremony programs, and we need your assistance in answering a few questions regarding your scholar. Please click on the link below and complete the questionnaire so we may highlight their participation in the ceremonial programs.
Participation questionnaire: https://forms.gle/bVGP7xPCfE3nqPN46
Looking for a treasurer & VP!
We are looking for people to serve as treasurer & VP for next year!
Treasurer is a 2 year term and VP is a one year term with the expectation that this person will serve as President the following year.
If you are interested or want more information, please email sunflowerelementarypto@gmail.com
Book Fair volunteers needed!
We can't do it without you! Please consider volunteering to help at next year's Fair. The story starts with you!
Book Fair Set Up (4/21) & Take Down (4/28)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080549AFAC29A5FE3-spring
Book Fair Staffing (4/24-4/28)
Nominate a teacher for the BOBS award!
This Lawrence Schools Foundation award recognizes superior teaching by an individual currently serving as a certified teacher in Lawrence Public Schools.
A cash award is made to a teacher demonstrating excellence in the classroom and dedication to the profession.Have a teacher you want to nominate? Find the instructions & nomination form here
Carnival 4/29
The carnival will be happening during the Fun Run and we need lots of help with supplies/prizes to make it a success! Sign up to help out with items for the carnival!
Sunflower Fun Run
SUNFLOWER FUN RUN/WALK: The 2023 Sunflower Fun Run/Walk will take place at 9 am on Saturday, April 29, at Sunflower Elementary. And, even though t-shirts are limited, you can still sign up! **Sign up opportunities will be avaible on race day as well.**
STILL INTERESTED IN DONATING TO THE EVENT?! Our event wouldn't be possible without our amazing business and personal sponsorships! Here's how you can donate: We can't wait to see you on race day in two weeks!
BGC Summer Enrollment
Summer 2023 Enrollment
Our summer session will open enrollment at 7:00 am on April 3 via our current Parent Portal. Enrollment is open to all youth who have completed kindergarten-current 12th graders. Below are our planned summer site host locations and groupings.
- Langston Hughes Elementary: Langston, Quail Run, and Sunflower students
- Pinckney Elementary: Pinckney, Woodlawn, and Deerfield students
- Sunset Hill Elementary: Sunset Hill, Hillcrest, and Schwegler students
- New York Elementary: New York and Cordley students
- Broken Arrow Elementary: Broken Arrow and Prairie Park students
- Center for Great Futures: All middle and high school students
Important Dates:
April 13 - 4th grade music program @ 6:00pm
April 13 - 3rd grade music program @ 7:15pm
April 14 - No School
April 17 - Inclement Weather Day - No School
April 19 - Volunteer Appreciation Reception 3:45-4:15 in the Sunflower Library
April 20 - 3rd Grade Theatre Arts Field Trip
April 24 - 28 - BOGO Book Fair
April 26 - Kindergarten Orientation
April 28 - KDG to Topeka Zoo
April 29 - Sunflower Fun Run
May 2 - 5th Grade Battle of the Bands
May 3 - Kindergarten Orientation
May 4 - Choir Concert @ 6:00pm
May 9 - PTO
May 10 - Sunflower Grad Walk 9:15am
May 11 - 5th Grade Rock Band Concert @ 6:15pm
May 16 - 5th Grade to Science City
May 18 - 3rd to Mahaffie
May 19 - Field Day
May 23 - 5th Grade Fun Day @ Rock Chalk Park
May 24 - 5th Grade Recognition 10:30am
May 24 - Last Day of School - AM Only - Dismissal @ 12:00pm