Sunset View Newsletter

THIS WEEK IS: A WEEK

Happy New Year, Sunset View! Habit 7 teaches us to take the time to stop and “sharpen our saw.” Sharpening the Saw is synonymous with “self-care” or “self-renewal.” I hope you were all able to take time to connect with friends and loved ones and do the things that bring your hearts joy during the Winter Break. I was able to find some balance in connection and relaxation. I am excited to see where the new year takes us all and look forward to seeing everyone back at school tomorrow.

On behalf of the office staff (myself, Denyse, and Julie), we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you for the generous holiday wishes and thoughtful gifts. Your kindness truly means the world to us, and we are so grateful for your support and thoughtfulness. We feel fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community. We wish you and your families a joyful and prosperous year ahead.

Please know we understand that returning after such a long break can be hard on many children. I know I personally am going to have to fight hitting the snooze button tomorrow morning! It is ok. Take some time to talk to your children about what a successful first day back looks like, build some extra time into the morning routine, set an end of day goal, etc. Also know we are here to help with the transition, please feel free to reach out to me, your child's teacher, or another trusted adult on campus.

We had another amazing Flag Ceremony before the break. Mia Frankel and Cameron Banach did a great job hosting and highlighting our Habit of the Month - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. Parker Blackhall led our school in the pledge, and Duncan Thompson, Greyson Hayward, Matteo Silva, Kruz Thompson, and Nicholas Melbrod were outstanding members of the Color Guard.

Parents, students, and staff surprised me with an incredible birthday celebration! Having the entire school sing Happy Birthday and shower me with cards and gifts and just so much love is beyond anything I have experienced. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this birthday one I will always remember!

We have a new VAPA teacher and emphasis for UTK-3rd grade beginning this week. Andrea Wlodarczyk will be joining us and will focus on Media and Visual Art. VAPA will now take place in B-3. The schedule for VAPA remains unchanged and 4th graders will continue to have music as their emphasis.

I will be working on our 2025-2026 budget when we return from break. I am asking for your input in determining priorities so that I can make informed decisions. Please take a moment to fill out the survey linked below.

SAY San Diego partnerships, youth programs and services address the comprehensive needs of the entire child, individual or family rather than focusing on one symptom or about a specific problem. SAY engages the San Diego community to work collaboratively and partners with organizations such as schools, community coalitions, and local government to create positive change. SAY San Diego’s holistic approach enriches youth, empowers individuals and families, and engages communities.

Our biggest partnership is with local schools in creating before and after school programs. Our Sunset View Elementary School Licensed program has a focus on reading and literacy with themes that include monthly holidays and important topics. With literacy scores being at an all time low throughout our country, SSV SAY licensed program offers incentives for students who read books and write stories, songs, and poems. We also have daily reading times during assembly and in our selective groups by grade. Further, SAY enthusiastically creates daily themes for centers to include art club, literacy club, science club, and cooking club. We work on community projects and embrace the importance of safety, following directions, and working as a team. Homework time is offered for grades 1st through 4th after centers, snack and team fitness games.

Enrollment is currently open for our SAY Licensed Program and we invite you to enroll your child today in our Before and/or After School Program.

Please contact our SAY Licensed Supervisor with any questions: Christelle Ballantyne 858.610.0847

To Enroll Your Child into our SAY Licensed Program, please use the following link/website: https://www.ezchildtrack.com/saysandiego/parent

We look forward to meeting your family very soon!

The Health Office is seeking donations of the following items:

• Coloring books for 4 to 10 years old
• Small size undies, boys and girls
• Small size shorts and pants, boys and girls
• Gender neutral socks

Please drop them off at the office at any time. Thanks!!

1. DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS. This includes the driveway utilized for trash pick up and cafeteria deliveries. This includes the driveway leading into the staff parking lot. This also includes neighbor's driveways. We have multiple complaints each week and our neighbors should not be inconvenienced because of your decision to block them in. Please stop.

2.DO NOT ENTER OR PARK IN THE TEACHER PARKING LOT DURING MORNING DROP-OFF OR AFTERNOON PICK-UP. This is a safety concern. Each day there are near misses as children dart past moving vehicles. This parking lot is for staff. Do not enter this lot during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up.

3. DO NOT PARK IN THE 3 MINUTE LOADING ZONE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL DURING DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP. We asked the city to rezone this area so parents have a safe space to pull up, have their children get out of the car, and pull away. Parking in these spots is not permitted and we will have SDPD ticket parked cars if this continues.

4. DO NOT HAVE YOUR STUDENTS EXIT YOUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF HILL ST. This is dangerous.

I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and your commitment to the safety of our school community. Please contact me should you have any questions regarding these protocols.

Please do not send your child to school when they are sick.

When your child must be absent for any reason, please call the office at 858-988-2000 by 9:30 a.m. every day of non-attendance, giving the exact reason for the absence. You can also email sunselm@sandi.net.

Any child arriving after 9:00 a.m. must stop in the office and pick up a tardy slip. Let's set good habits early in the school year to arrive on time.

Although we love your pets, they are not allowed on campus. Please do not bring pets past the school gates. Please see the district policy below.

Policy Reminder - Animals on Campus

- Animals are permitted at school only when needed for the instructional program and when

under the strict control of qualified instructors or handlers.

-Animals must be obtained from a reliable source and have written certifications that

they are in good health and are not carriers of dangerous disease-causing organisms.

- Hamsters, white rats, black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, and banded psittacine

(parrot-like) birds are too dangerous to have at school.

-Therapy and Service Dogs are allowed with proper certification.

Pets at school: Domestic pets shall not be allowed in classrooms, on or around campus.

1/7 - School Resumes

1/20 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/23 - Flag Ceremony

1/31 - Jogathon/Minimum Day

Email: sunselm@sandi.net
Website: https://sunsetview.sandiegounified.org/
Location: 4365 Hill Street, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858-988-2000