The Sunnyside Scoop

Sunnyside Office: (651) 385 - 4570

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

Happy February! Parents, I need your help... well, at least from those of you who drop off and/or pick up. I've started to notice an increase again in some things happening out there again that I'm hoping we can nip. I think it's natural this time of year to slip on some routines. Winter is long, and February is the month that often feels like dreary days might never end. However, I want to make sure drop off and pick up are safe and positive experiences for everyone. Please reflect on the following issues we are seeing, and help us make sure drop off and pick up are more positive experience for everyone (and so I don't have to keep being a broken record in the newsletters...). Here are some things I have noticed recently:

• Cars stopping short in the drop-off lane with a line of cars behind them. Please pull forward for everyone's sake.
  
  
• Parents frustrated that cars are stopping short are sometimes zooming around those cars at speeds too high to be safe. I understand your frustration, but please slow down.
  
  
• Cars going the wrong way through the parking lot to gain quick access to the drop off lane, often cutting off other cars that have been waiting patiently. Sunnyside's lot is one way only. Please stay to the right when you enter.
  
  
• Parents letting students out of the car or loading on the driver's (traffic) side. If possible, please load/unload on the passenger (sidewalk) side of the car. If not, consider parking in the lot and walking your student across to the sidewalk. It can be slippery in the lane, and it would be awful if a child slipped in front of a passing car.
  
  
• Slow-loading in the pick-up lane. Look, I get it. Some students at this age still require some help getting buckled. If that's the case, though, please park in the lot and walk across to retrieve your child. This will prevent the pick-up line from getting backed up.
  
  
• Pulling out of or into the right lane without signaling or looking carefully enough. I've seen some near misses over the past few weeks, and it feels like a matter of time before there's an accident.
  
  
• Finally, parking in the spaces along the edge of the lot during pick-up. We have nine marked parking spaces along the right edge of the parking lot as you are coming in. While it's nice to have the extra spaces for events like concerts, they cause an issue for pick-up. If cars are parked in those spaces, it pushes the line of waiting cars over to the left and ends up blocking in any cars parked in the diagonal row of spaces until the line clears. Any other time of day, parking in those spaces is fine, but please avoid those spaces at pick-up time if possible.
  

I know winter gets long, and I know many of us get a little cranky at this point. But let's all do our best to make these busy times of the day a little more positive for each other. Thank you!

Mike Pagel

Principal

February:

6 -- 1st Grade Sustainable Safari Presentations

7 -- No School

10 -- Kindergarten Registration Night (6:00 - 7:00 pm)

14 -- I Love to Read Month --Read With a Buddy Day (Bring your favorite stuffed animal!)

17 -- No School

21 -- I Love to Read Month -- Sunnyside Reading Train (Conductor Pagel will travel the building inviting classes to drop everything and read!)

24 - 28 -- I Love to Read Month Dress Up Days (See schedule further down)

March:

6 -- Spring Conferences (No School)

13 -- Student Art Show Reception @ Red Wing Arts (4:00 - 4:45 pm)

17 - 21 -- Spring Break (No School)

24 -- No School

28 -- End of 3rd Quarter

Spread the word! Registration for the 2025 - 2026 school year will kick off on Monday, February 10th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm at Sunnyside. If you have an incoming kindergarten student, please join us for an informational session and a chance to complete district enrollment forms. This session is geared more for parents than students, so please don't feel as though your child needs to attend. We will hold multiple transition events for students later in the spring and summer.

Please note, if school is closed due to weather, the event will be moved to Monday, February 24th instead.

The Minnesota Safe Routes to School initiative has designated February 5th as Winter Walk to School Day. Walking and biking improves students’ performance in school, gives them much needed daily exercise, allows them to have fun with their friends, and helps reduce air pollution and traffic congestion around schools. Consider joining in on February 5th for Winter Walk to School Day, an annual celebration that promotes walking and biking to school as a fun and safe activity for students. Walking and biking to school or to the bus stop allows for a little bit of exercise before starting the day and improves children’s learning. Or, if you normally drop off, consider parking on Southwood and walking the last bit with your child. Let's get out there and get some fresh air!

On Friday, January 31st, All Sunnyside students had a chance to visit the Sheldon Theatre for a performance of Lyle the Crocodile, which is based around the series of children's books by author Bernard Waber. Students enjoyed the performance and had a chance to appreciate the wonderful atmosphere the Sheldon has to offer. Students represented Sunnyside well, and showed what it means to be safe, kind, and responsible!

February is I Love to Read Month here at Sunnyside! We will have several fun literacy-based activities going on all month, including the following:

• 2/14 -- Read With a Buddy Day (Bring your favorite stuffed animal!)
• 2/21 -- Sunnyside Reading Train (Conductor Pagel will travel the building inviting classes to drop everything and read!)
• 2/24 - 2/28-- Read Across America Week Dress-Up Days (See schedule below!)

Recently, Sunnyside celebrated students' hard work through the month of January with a couple fun events.

On Thursday, 1/30, Sunnyside held its January Student of the Month assembly. Students of the Month are referred by any Sunnyside staff, and are students that regularly show Winger Pride by working hard, helping others, showing exceptional growth, or any number of other great things. January's Students of the Month were:

• Iris Sullivan
• Eleazar Martinez Dominguez
• Freya Ruppel
• Abe Prange
• Kayden Santiago Santos
• Cristy Felipe Mendez
• Karma Tri
• Zariah Jachin - Kaus
• Nolan Ricci
• Ayla Majerus
• Miles Korte
• Lady'China Henderson
• Everell Whitehawk
• Bianca Dominguez Gonzalez
• Kylee Johnson
• Finnley Beaulieu
• Eleazar Martinez Dominguez

Also on Thursday, 1/30, we announced the winners of January's Winger Pride drawing on our morning announcements. Winners are pulled from the buckets full of Winger Pride tickets in the front lobby display case. Every time a student receives a Winger Pride ticket, part of that ticket is torn off and entered into the monthly drawing. Winners then have the opportunity to select from a menu of fun prize options! January's Winger Pride ticket drawing winners were:

• Meredith Taylor
• Christina Witter
• Rylee Wright
• Waylon Whitehawk
• Owen Watson
• Karla Guardado Sabillion
• Fitz Safe
• Joey Villaran

Congratulations to everybody!

Please click the links below to view Sunnyside's breakfast and lunch menus for the month of January.

Sunnyside needs volunteers for various school-level events throughout the year. CLICK HERE to complete our volunteer interest form if you are interested in volunteering at Sunnyside this year. Families and community members are welcome! If you are interested in helping out specifically in your child's classroom, please contact your child's teacher directly first and then complete the form after connecting. Please note that all volunteers will need to complete a district-paid background check before working with students.

Sunnyside has it’s own Facebook and Instagram pages! You can link directly to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sunnysideredwing/, and our Instagram handle is @sunnysideredwing. Check out some of the fun things going on at Sunnyside!

Be sure to click the links below for important information about Sunnyside Elementary and Red Wing Public Schools. Please pay special attention to the District Handbook and the Sunnyside Expectations & Procedures. Both documents contain important information and are a great reference for many frequently asked questions.