Weekly Wildcat

Hello Sundance Families!

Despite the rainy weather, we had another fantastic week filled with exciting activities and positive energy. Many of our classes joined Mrs. Orlando in our Makerspace to make circuit Valentine's Day cards. I joined our Hope Squad's first meeting and it was powerful to hear their "why" for joining this team. Check out our Mindful Monday to learn more about Hope Squad! This week we also celebrated National School Counselor's Week! We are incredibly thankful to have Ms. Park as our School Counselor!

Check out our week 4 HERO results highlighting 11 classes who had at least 96% attendance. We are continuing our HERO (here, everyday, ready, on time) attendance challenge next week! We appreciate your support with getting your child to school on time. One absence can affect the overall percentage! If your child is sick, please report the absence to our front office.

Action Items:

• Review Volunteer Requirements: Interested in volunteering on a field trip? Click here to view requirements.
• Parents of English Learners: Today through Friday, March 1st, Poway Unified will be conducting our Family Engagement and Accountability survey to gather input from all families of English Learner students. This survey helps shape the District’s goals and guide priorities for the 2024-2025 school year. Your feedback is extremely helpful as we continue to seek ways to better our English Learner program. Please click HERE to complete the survey.
  
• Mindful Monday: Check out our Mindful Monday linked here
• LCAP Survey: Click here to take the survey - your responses shape future budget decisions and program initiatives. Currently, our district funds a counselor 4x/week, a full time site sub who plans major events including our STEAM fair and Inventors Day and also provides ongoing STEAM lessons to all grade levels, an impact teacher who provides small group instruction in language arts to grades 2nd-5th, and an assistant principal who is on campus 2-3x/week.
• January Edition: Click here to view our first graders featured in our January edition
  

• February Counseling Newsletter: Click Here to view (photos from the Great Kindness Challenge are included)

• Vision Screening: TK, Kindergarten, 1st Grade Boys (Color blindness), 2nd, and 5th grade will be tested. If your child wears glasses, please make sure they wear them on February 15th. Click on the Vision Screening PDF below for more details.

• Principal's Coffee: Click here to view our slides from today's coffee. We reviewed 3rd-5th state testing supports including practice problems, LCAP, and upcoming events.
• Kid Inventor's Day: Check out our video linked here highlighting the amazing arcade games
• 24/25 Transfer Window: The Poway Unified transfer window is now open! Transfer requests for students who live within the Poway Unified boundaries and would like to attend a different Poway school other than their school of residence should be submitted online by visiting the PUSD webpage and clicking the “Transfers” link on the home page. This includes incoming siblings of current students. Please enroll your student at their school of residence when new student enrollment opens online on April 1, 2024. Transfer requests cannot be processed until the student is enrolled in their school of residence. The transfer window closes on March 31st at 5:00 pm. For more information, please visit PUSD’s Residency & Transfers webpage.

• State Testing Schedule: Click here to view our 3rd-5th grade state testing schedule. We appreciate families scheduling vacations outside of this window.

• STEAM Showcase: Check your child's backpack for guidelines about our upcoming STEAM Showcase. Click here to view slides.

Raquel Katz

Principal

Sundance Elementary

Next Week:

• Attendance Challenge Continues!

• 2/12: February Foundation Meeting @ 7 pm in the Library or on Zoom

• 2/15: Family Magic Night in the MPR
  

• 2/16: Vision Screening
  

• 2/26: STEAM Projects Due to the classroom teacher - information will be shared on 1/19
  

• 2/26: 1/2 Day Pro Grow, Students released at 12pm
• 2/26: Fun Run early registration starts
  
• 2/29: STEAM Showcase from 12:30-2:30pm
• 3/1: Continuing Student Registration Begins!
• 3/1: Parent Coffee @ 8:30 am
  
• 3/6: Dine Out Chipotle
• 3/7: 3rd Grade Parent Performance at 8am, MPR

• 3/8: Friday Flag

• 3/11: Foundation Monthly Meeting @ 7 pm in the Library & Zoom
  

• 3/22: Fun Run - full details coming soon
  
• 3/28: Incoming TK/K enrollment informational session @1:30pm, library
• 4/1: New Student Enrollment Begins!
• 4/4: Seussical performance by the Musical Theater Club @ 6 pm
  
• 5/3: Save the Date: Sundance Annual Auction
  
• 5/3: Friday Flag & Coffee Pit Stop @ main gate
• 5/6-5/10: Staff Appreciation Week!
• 5/9: 4th Grade music performance
• 5/30: 5th Grade Music Performance @8am
• 5/31: Volunteer Appreciation Celebration @ 8:30am
• 5/31: Luau

• (New) State Testing (3rd-5th)
• Music Schedule
• Library Schedule
• PE Schedule
• 2023/2024 Bell Schedule
• Counseling Referral Form linked here. Our counselor will hold group sessions on the following topics: Coping With Anxiety, Friendships, Social Skills, and Self-Control.
  
• Twitter: Sundance is now on Twitter - handle @SundancePUSD
• Instagram: Find us at SundanceElementary

Family Magic Night with the Amazing Dana! - Thursday, Feb. 15th, 6pm-7:30pm in the MPR

Abracadabra! Join us next week for Family Magic Night, featuring the Amazing Dana!

Refreshments start at 6 pm and the Magic Showtime starts at 6:30 pm. This Family Night event was achieved through the wonderful contributions made by our Sundance community, during the Red Envelope Campaign. Way to go, Sundance Wildcats, for raising over $45,000!

Monthly Foundation Meeting - Mon. Feb 12th @ 7 pm in the Sundance Library

Next week is the February Foundation meeting on Feb. 12th and all are welcome! Learn more about the upcoming Fun Run, Auction, volunteer opportunities, and funding needs. Hope to see you in the library or on Zoom.

Corporate Sponsors - More Added!

We are so happy to welcome Carmel Mountain Dental Care to our Corporate Sponsorship program, the support of our local businesses makes a difference in our school!

Sundance Auction - Check Out the Donations + Contribute Too!

The Auction committee is working hard to make it an unforgettable night for the Sundance community! We’ve already received exciting donations from Outpost Summer Camp, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, North County Gymnastics, Helen Woodward, Orfila Vineyards, Belmont Park, San Diego Air & Space Museum, and more!

Have you volunteered or donated to our school this year? Now’s your chance! Contribute gifts, services, or skills to the Sundance Auction. Email Lorraine Luna, lollyandjames@gmail.com, to coordinate your donation and thank you for the support!

WANTED: Co-Chairs for Talent Show & International Fair!!

PAC needs your help! We are in need of co-chairs to help run the upcoming Talent Show and International Fair. These events are tentatively slated for late April. PAC cannot hold these wonderful family events without the help of VOLUNTEERS like you! Any support is greatly appreciated and it takes a massive VILLAGE to run these school events. If you are interested in running the Talent Show or International Fair, please reach out to Rose Meloney, PAC President, at arroz1127@aol.com.

Thank you!

Don’t Miss ANY Updates - Follow Sundance PAC & Foundation is on Instagram

We’ve been staying busy, so make sure to follow us on our new IG account to connect with after-school events, community information, and more!