October 2024 Sunspot

Oct. 11th: Teacher Work Day

Oct. 17th: Family/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 18th: No School Day

This month we are talking about Responsibility. One way to define Responsibility is “taking action and understanding the impact of our choices.” Taking action can mean doing the right thing or completing the tasks you have been assigned. Understanding the impact of our choices means that our actions matter. Positive and responsible actions can help people and irresponsible actions can hurt others. Responsibility is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

Click the link for our Family PurposeFull Pursuits on Responsibility: https://www.usd497.org/Page/16604

Lawrence Public Schools offers reading and math intervention programs at each elementary school for students who may need additional support in these academic areas. The intent of an intervention program is to provide the greatest amount of support in the early elementary grades to ensure a successful start to a child’s reading and math achievement.

At the beginning of the school year, all students in Kindergarten through fifth grade are administered the FastBridge screener for both reading and math achievement. Based on these results, some students are identified for additional support from a certified teacher or qualified paraeducator. Interventions will be provided in the classroom or as a pull-out program for approximately 30 minutes at least four days per week.

If the school staff believe your child would benefit from small group pull-out intervention, you will receive a notification form. Our school’s goal is for each child to achieve their fullest potential. If you have any questions regarding our intervention programs, please contact Jeremy Philipp, principal at 785-832-5880 or Tammy Becker, Title I and ESL Coordinator at 785-330-2213.

There will be no Coffee with the Principal for the Month of October. We will see you back next month were we will be discussing our Fall Community Engagement questions.

Oct. 16th (3:40p-7:00p)
Oct. 17th (8:00a-7:00p)

Conference Sign Ups will be sent out via email on Oct 2nd.

Stop by the Lawrence Public Library from October 3rd-30th to see our elementary artists from USD 497 take over the gallery wall in the checkout area. Any students from Sunset Hill with work displayed will be notified by October 2nd.

Let's get active and Walk to School!

This event is promoted by Douglas County Safe Routes to School and every elementary school in Lawrence is participating.

Parents are welcome to walk with students the entire way to school. Students should meet teachers/sponsors at the closest designated area. Please make certain students meet up on time as groups will leave promptly at 7:30am and we don't want any of our eagles left behind.

• Route 1: Dr. Lyon at Harvard & Kasold
• Route 2: Mrs. Webb and Miss Gerrond at Crestline & Oxford
• Route 3: Mrs. Bradley at 9th & Centennial
• Route 4: Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Luna at 8th & Kasold
• Route 5: Mrs. Devin at 7th & Lawrence Ave
• Route 6: Ms. Althoff at 6th & Schwarz

All walkers will receive a snack provided by the Merc! Everyone is encouraged to wear their Sunset Hill t-shirt or sweatshirts. You will need to pick students up as usual at dismissal.

We need some help running our Book Fair on Oct. 16th and 17th! If you are interested please sign up here!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BAEAA29A7FA7-51866046-book

Where: Pickleman's on 23rd St.

When: Oct. 22nd from 5:00-9:00p

How: Make a purchase and Mention Sunset Hill

We look forward to seeing you there!

Kinder- 4th: 2:00p-2:30p

5th and 4th/5th combo: 8:15a-8:45a

We will be needing 6-9 volunteers to assist with craft, game and snack. For craft you will be asked to plan, provide materials and facilitate these activities. For snack your responsibilities are to set up and clean only. You do not have to provide the treats. A separate sign up will be sent out for other families to drop of requested treats. Please, only bring what is on the Snack List Sign Up. No additional treats. Sign Ups to volunteer for the parties will be sent out closer to Oct. 31st. Due to space, only volunteers will be allowed to attend the parties. All families are welcome to join our Fall Parade at 2:45p!

The Parade will begin at 2:45p. Students will parade through the building and out to the playground. Families are welcome to watch the parade from the center of the blacktop or along the edges of the sidewalk.

Students will change into their costumes just before the parade. Please note: no gore or scary items, no weapons of any kind, no masks or face paint.

Students may NOT leave from the parade. We will dismiss as usual.

Healthy Choices Week will be celebrated October 28th to November 1st. More details to come!

Students will be going to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 2nd.

The buses will leave at 8:45a and return at 10:15a. Please make sure your student is on time so that they do not miss the bus.

Contact your student's teacher if you would like to volunteer for this fieldtrip.

Students will be going to the Lied Center to watch the performance of "Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards" on Oct. 4th.

The buses will leave at 9:30a and return at 11:00a. Please make sure your student is on time so that they do not miss the bus.

No volunteers are needed for this fieldtrip.

Students will be going to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 23rd.

The buses will leave at 8:30a and return at 11:00a. Please make sure your student is on time so that they do not miss the bus.

Contact your student's teacher if you would like to volunteer for this fieldtrip.

Click this link or scan the QR code to access resources for engaging your child in math and reading at home.

This month's featured program is the Patrick Mahomes "Read for 15" challenge. Don’t miss out!

You might be hearing conversations or comments about “The Zones” (The Zones of Regulation) at home, so we would like to share some basic information about this curriculum that all grades use at Sunset Hill. Kids use the Zones to identify and regulate their feelings using four different color zones. We learn strategies on how to get to the ‘green zone’ which is feeling happy/calm/focused.

There are 4 color zones that describe how your brain and body feel:

🡺 The GREEN ZONE is like a green light, it is when you are “good to go”. If you are in the Green Zone, you may feel happy, calm, focused, and ready to learn.

🡺 When you’re in the BLUE ZONE, your body is running slow, such as when you are tired, sick, sad, or bored.

🡺 The YELLOW ZONE describes when you start to lose control, such as when you are frustrated, silly, excited, worried, or surprised.

🡺 The RED ZONE has high energy feelings such as anger, terror, and aggression. When you are in the RED ZONE, you are out of control and have trouble making better decisions.

I teach kids that they might be in different Zones during the day but that they can change which Zone they are in if they want to. There are no ‘bad Zones’ because we all feel the different Zones at some point. It’s okay to be in the Blue/Yellow/Red Zone but it isn’t comfortable to be there for a long time so we use our strategies to get back to the Green Zone.

Over the course of the year, we teach students calm-down strategies to get to the Green Zone like belly (slow, deep) breathing, talking to someone, giving yourself a hug, taking a break, etc. The kids love the language and it goes well with the characters from the movie Inside Out. We ask children which Zone they are in and what feelings they feel in that Zone. Sometimes we might say, “I noticed you are in the Yellow Zone (frustrated/scared), how can I help you get back to the Green Zone?” Staff also model for kids and talk about what Zone they are in, “I’m feeling disappointed, I’m in the yellow zone. I am going to take 10 deep breaths to calm-down.”

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you!

aatkins@usd497.org 785-330-2438

All students except 4th grade will be screened for Hearing and Vision. Parents will be notified if students do not pass. If you have questions about the screening please contact Nurse Kennedy at courtney.kennedy@usd497.org.

Keep an extra set of clothes in your child’s backpack (including socks)! This will help us get kids back to class quickly when “accidents” happen such as soiled pants, food spills, mud puddles, and so on.