Please use the link above to share our first Mindful Monday vide. Thank you Emily for prepping this for our Wildcats.

Dear Sundance Staff,

Sara and I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the amazing welcome you’ve given us and for your wonderful engagement during our kickoff events this week. Your energy and dedication have truly set a positive tone for the school year.

A special thanks to everyone who worked so hard to ensure our students felt welcomed and supported as they returned to class. I know this is the longest short week of the year, and you’ve all handled it with such grace and commitment.

Please take this weekend to rest and recharge—you’ve earned it!

Warm regards,

Ms. Mikels and Sara McAninely,

Principal and Assistant Principal, Sundance Elementary School

Associate Superintendent Shelley Peterson to visit Sundance. We are thrilled to welcome our LSS Leader to campus on Tuesday 8/27. We are hoping to get in to classrooms and see you all and all of the work you do.

Please use the link below to reflect on option for starting our classroom looking through an equity lens.

STUDENT WELLNESS POLICY - FOOD AT SCHOOL EVENTS -

SHORT SUMMARY:

• Homemade Food Items - To ensure food safety, all food to be shared with other students should be commercially prepared, prepackaged, unopened, and, when possible, individually wrapped. Foods prepared at home may be used only for individual student and staff lunches/snacks, and consumed by staff members only on a voluntary basis. (Basically – no potlucks or homemade food for students)

• All foods sold or served at school should have a food label listing ingredients so students with food allergies are protected from accidental exposure.

• Classroom snack, celebrations, and food rewards should be limited and should feature healthy food choices that meet the district’s nutrition standards.

Healthy Food Choices

• School Breakfast and Lunch are great ways to help students eat healthy.

• Our school policy states that families do not send in food treats for birthdays. If you want to celebrate a birthday, please consider ways other than food - like donating a book or ball - for the classroom.

Classroom parties will follow nutritional guidelines from the District.

BEGINNING OF YEAR/TRIMESTER 1 ASSESSMENT REMINDERS (From LSS)

1. iReady (K-8) - opens August 26 and runs through September 13. Please plan to have your students finish both iReady diagnostics during this three-week period.

• Reminder! If your Kindergarten team would like fall iReady data from their students, they may wait and administer iReady math and reading during the alternate window from October 21st - November 8th.

• Grades 1-8, please plan to finish in the three weeks (Aug. 26-Sept. 13) as it impacts the district data and the next diagnostic. [There needs to be 12-16 academic weeks between diagnostic testing]. We recommend that teachers plan for testing in the first two weeks, don’t wait until the third week (which would best be used for make-ups).

• New General Education teachers for grades K-5 will be participating in an asynchronous iReady training on Friday, August 16. If they have any questions or require any additional support, please email edtech@powayusd.com.

1. Universal Screening for All First Graders 2024-25 - First 6 Weeks of School

TK-K-1 teachers: Review your site’s plan with your primary team who will be collaborating to universally screen all 1st graders within the first six weeks of school. The Universal Screening packets have been copied and delivered to each site in August to ensure you have one for every first grade student in your school.

FYI: This communication to families - will be sent to all first grade parents (district-wide) from LSS toward the beginning of the first full week of school.

This is a follow-up document to be pasted into your school letterhead, copied for each 1st grader, and given to each 1st grade teacher to complete and send home within one week after their universal screenings are complete.

1. CORE Reading Assessments for (K-5) - Prior to end of Trimester 1

All classroom teachers need to administer the Fall CORE Reading assessments prior to the end of Trimester 1 and enter scores into the PUSD Reading Portal. Copies of the updated K-5 Core Assessment packets have been delivered to sites.

Mystery Science Updates - ACTION

Teachers: Be sure to log on to Mystery Science from My Plan to activate your account and see what is new! Mystery Science continues to add rigor and lessons to each grade level. Some of these highlights include:

• New lessons within a Unit

• Lessons utilize the 5 E lesson format

• Performance tasks at the end of each unit to check for understanding

• Components of each lesson such as videos and books can be shared directly with students via a Playlists, SeeSaw and/or Canvas! This is a great way to “front load” information so that you have more time to dive into the lesson and hands on activities

• Pacing Guides are available for each grade level to help you plan for your year of science

• Spanish is available

Dear Team,

As we prepare for Back to School Night, I want to remind you how impactful this evening is for both our families and students. It's a chance to showcase the incredible work you do every day and to set the tone for a successful school year. I know the preparation can be demanding, but your dedication shines through in everything you do.

Remember, this is our opportunity to connect with parents, share our passion for teaching, and build the foundation of trust and collaboration that will carry us through the year. Trust in your abilities, and let your enthusiasm for your students guide you. You've got this!

Let's make every minute count!

Warm regards,

Jennie Mikels

August 27

Associate Superintendent Shelley Peterson to visit Sundance

August 29

Back to School Night Grades 1 - 5

Greeting MPR 5:30

Session l 6 p.m.

Session ll 6:30 p.m.

September 2nd

Labor Day No School

September 4th

Staff meeting 2:30 Library

September 10

School Bus Evacuation Training (all classes)

Start time 9:30 - (Schedule to follow)