The Sunnyside Scoop
School Newsletter -- December, 2018
About Us
Kids Junction: (651) 385 - 4587
First Student (General busing questions): (651) 388 - 8244
Transportation (Bus routing): (651) 385 - 4795
Email: mjpagel@rwps.org
Website: http://redwing.k12.mn.us/sunnyside/
Location: 1669 Southwood Avenue, Red Wing, MN, United States
Phone: (651) 385-4570
Principal's Message...
Despite the recent stretch of warmer temperatures, winter is upon us here at Sunnyside. I know I've shared some of this information out before, but it's worth taking this opportunity to again remind families of a few winter-related items:
Indoor/Outdoor Recess: If the windchill is zero degrees or above, Sunnyside students will be outside before school and at recess. If the windchill (or temp) falls below zero, students will be inside. Technically, our policy has a stipulation that students may be out for a "shortened time" if the windchill falls between -1 to -10. However, the reality, with kindergarten and first grade especially, is that it takes too long for students to get snow gear on/off to make that a feasible plan.
Winter Gear: As the weather cools, please be sure your child has appropriate winter gear for outdoor recess. A few specific things I've learned during my time at Sunnyside:
- Snow pants aren't just for snow! Even if there is no snow on the ground, they keep kids warm.
- Knit stretch gloves may be considered cool among the K-2 crowd, but they are not a great choice for recess. Kids love them, but those stretchy knit gloves offer little warmth, and act like a sponge once they get wet. Thick gloves or mittens are a better choice.
- If you need assistance providing winter clothing, please contact our school social worker, Liz Kittelson, at eakittelson@rwps.org.
Cancellations: School may be cancelled when the Superintendent believes the safety of students is threatened by severe weather or other circumstances. When possible, the Superintendent makes the decision to start late or close school by 6:00 am. An emergency notification system is used to send phone calls and/or email messages to parents when the school schedule changes, so it is essential that your contact information is up to date. You may also find school closure information on KCUE 1250 AM or 98.9 FM, KWNG 105.9 FM, KSTP, FOX9, KARE11, WCCO4, and online at http://www.rwps.org. Please do not send your child to school if it is unsafe for your child to reach school due to severe weather. Call your school’s attendance line to let school officials know why your child will be absent from school. A couple other possible scenarios:
- School starting two hours late due to weather -- If school starts late due to inclement weather, it is generally a two-hour delay. Sunnyside students who ride the bus will be picked up two hours later than usual. Our entrance bell will ring at 10:15 AM and our learning will start at 10:25 AM.
- School closing early due to weather -- It is very important for all students to know where they are to go and what to do if school closes early. Please spend some time with your child and go over a procedure. It will help them feel more comfortable with the situation. Finally, please make sure that your child’s emergency card has accurate contact information in the case we need to contact you.
Thanks, and have a wonderful December!
Mike Pagel
Principal
Dates to Remember...
December:
22 - 1/1 -- NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
January:
11 -- 1st Grade Reading Buddies w/ 5th Grade
11 -- K-4 Movie Night @ Burnside (Time TBD)
14 - Arts Alive Mentor Sessions from 3:00 - 4:00 pm
18 -- End of 2nd Quarter
21 -- NO SCHOOL (teacher professional development day)
24 -- Arts Alive Assembly @ 1:30 pm
29 -- 2019 Incoming Kindergarten Information & Registration Event (more info coming!)
30 -- Report Cards Sent Home
Sunnyside Singers "World" Tour
Sunnyside is on Social Media!
Upcoming K-4 Connect Movie Nights
- Friday, January 11th @ Burnside
- Friday, February 22nd @ Sunnyside
- Friday, March 29th @ Burnside
Guidelines for Sick Students
Crayola Marker Recycling
We are excited to tell you about a very special program going on at our school in conjunction with Crayola. It’s called Crayola ColorCycle – an amazing program devised to turn used markers into energy!
All around Sunnyside, students and teachers will be collecting markers that are ready to be discarded. The markers will be sent to a facility where they will be converted into clean fuel. This fuel can be used to power vehicles, heat homes, cook meals and more!
Please help support our efforts by sending your kids in with any used markers you may have around the house – even non-Crayola brands- and other types of markers including highlighters, Sharpies, and dry erase. Drop-off boxes will be located in classrooms for your child to deposit the markers.
Thank you in advance for participating! With the help of parents like you across the country, the Crayola ColorCycle program can keep tons of plastic out of landfills each year.
Remember, don’t throw out that used marker—ColorCycle it!
More Easy Ways to Help Our School!
Last month, I shared some easy ways you can help Sunnyside raise money for the Innovative Learning Fund (ILF), including Milk Moola, Box Tops, and Coca Cola Give. This month, I'd like to share a couple more! Sunnyside also collects the following items, which can simply be sent to school with your child:
Family Fare (formerly EconoFoods) Receipts: Turn in those Family Fare receipts and they will give back a percentage of the total receipt amount!
Pop Tabs: Bring in those pop tabs from cans of soda, juice, tea, and more! Our kindergarten classes take them to McDonald's in the spring to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House.
Black Ink Cartridges: Bring us those old black printer ink cartridges to benefit the Red Wing Band Boosters!