sunset elementary school - aacps.org

Sunset Elementary School

Office 410-222-6478 www.aacps.org Fax 410-222-6478

January 2020

Important Dates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday, January 2

School Re-opens

Vision/Hearing Screening

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CogAT Testing for grades 2nd

& 5th

January 6-10th

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter Concert Rehearsal

January 13th & 14th

During school hours

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter Concert

Tues., January 14 @ 6:30 pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vision & Hearing Re-Check

Wed., January 15th

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End of Marking Period

Tues. & Wed. Jan. 28 & 29

2 Hr. Early Dismissal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thurs. Jan. 30

School Closed for Students

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jan. 31,

3rd Marking Period Begins

Dr. Toni Carr

Principal

Mrs. Laura Espinosa

Assistant Principal

Sunset Elementary Is dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners in a safe environment. We strive to give each child the opportunity to inquire and succeed, as open-minded and globally aware life-long learners. We believe that educating the whole child as 21st century learners is the key to the development of caring, innovative, responsible, and reflective citizens who take action in their community and the world.

Administrators’ Message

We would like to take this opportunity to wish our Sunset Community a happy and healthy 2020!

The beginning of the New Year is a time to reflect and make resolutions to improve the quality of

our lives. Here are a few resolutions that will support continued student achievement and

growth.

1. Make the time to eat dinner with your family. Consider turning off the TV, Smartphone, and

computer to focus on each family member.

2. Read at least 15 minutes daily with your child to participate in Holiday Reading Challenge.

3. Volunteer 1 hour each month at school.

4. Review math facts with your child each evening for 5 minutes. Also, complete First in Math

activities online.

5. Sit and play a board game with your family.

6. Support your child’s work on their science fair project, but let them do the work.

As parents, we are our child’s most influential teacher. Partnering with our Sunset PYP Learning

Community can make a positive difference in your child’s life. We truly enjoy working with you

and your children each day.

Finally, as we begin 2020, our staff continues to be committed to our work as an IB/PYP School.

As a PYP school, we address the needs of inquiring learners that include the ability to communi-

cate, think, and take risks. We are committed to ensuring that our students have control over

their own learning to think analytically and critically, and to work collaboratively. Please

reinforce the PYP Learner Profile at home.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

Sunset Elementary is a green school, this first Newsletter will be printed. Download or view the full current and future newsletters at www.aacps.org for important dates and information.

http://www.aacps.org

The Anne Arundel County Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or familial status in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs.

School Hours

Arrival Time—8:40 a.m.

Late Bell—9:00 a.m.

Dismissal Bell—3:25 p.m.

Students cannot be dropped off or exit busses prior to 8:40 a.m.

Sunset Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.—3:45 p.m.

J anuar y 2020

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

School Reopens

Vision & Hearing

3 4

5 6

2nd gr. CogAT

Testing

Winter Reading

Challenge Due

PTA Chipolte Night

7

2nd gr. CogAT

Testing

Drama 3:30-6:00 pm

8

2nd gr. CogAT

Testing

Drama 3:30-5:00 pm

9

5th gr. CogAT

testing

10

5th gr. CogAT

testing

11

12 13

Concert Rehearsal

14

Concert Rehearsal

during school

Winter Concert 6:30

Drama Club 3:30-5:30

15

Parent Lunch A-L

Hearing/Vision recheck

Drama Club

16 17 18

19 20

Martin Luther King

Holiday School

Closed

21


22

Parent Lunch M-Z

Drama Club

23 24 25

26 27

NEHS Lunch Mtg

28

End 2nd Marking Pd.

2 Hr. Early dismiss


29

End 2nd Marking Pd.

2 Hr. Early dismiss

Drama Club

30

School Closed for

Students

31

Begin 3rd Marking Pd.

Preparation for the school Science Fair is well underway!

All students in Grades 3-5 are required to complete an individual or team project.

Teams are limited to 3 students. Presentations will be completed in class using

the county rubric between January 6th and January 29th. Teachers will send home

individual classroom timelines as well as copies of the science fair rubric. The top

3 projects from each class will compete in the School Fair. Winning projects from

each of grades 3-5 will compete in the County Fair.

All students in Grades PreK-2 will complete class projects at school. Those

students who would like to do a science fair project at home are encouraged to

do so, but it is not required. Individual projects completed by Grades PreK-2 will

be on display with the classroom projects, but will not be judged in the school

fair.

3 week-long Science Fair Clubs were run in November and December for students

in Grades 3-5. Students had fun completing several experiments and designing an

engineering project. Those students all received a tri-fold board for being a part of

the club.

We also held a parent help night at the December 4th PTA meeting. Science

practices were explained, as well as the timeline for completion. Helpful hints to

get children started were shared with all who attended.

Important dates:

• Classroom Science Fair Presentations – January 6 - January 29

• School Science Fair Judging – February 3 - 6

• School Science Fair Assembly and winners announced – February 7

• AACPS Elementary Innovators of Science and Engineering Challenge

at Old Mill Middle School South – April 25

Read a good book lately?

Tell about the book you read recently that has you excited! Fill out a book recom-

mendation form and give it to Ms. McDonald. You may be selected to read your

recommendation on our morning announcements and be entered in a monthly

raffle winning a cool prize. Remember – books are your friend, enjoy reading lots

of them!

Winter Concert Tuesday, January 14, 2020. (Snow date Jan.22)

Monday, January 13th Band and Strings will have rehearsal in the cafeteria!

Tuesday, January 14th Al students will have rehearsal in the cafeteria. Wear your music shirt or bring it in a bag to change into after lunch.

6:00 p.m. All strings students report to their seats in the cafeteria.

6:15 p.m. All chorus students report to the music room.

6:20 p.m. All band students report to their seats in the cafeteria.

6:30 p.m. Concert Begins

** Please do not enter the building before 6:00 p.m.

Any questions please contact Mrs. Shanefelter (band & strings) [email protected] or

December Art News Fifth Graders Eli Buckmaster, Kylie Fluhr, Sarah Rashed, and Samuel Stowe will have artwork on display at the AACPS Winter Wonderland show. The exhibit will be at the Westfield Annapolis Mall from December 3, 2019-January 6, 2020. There will be an art reception at the mall on December 11, 2019 from 6-7:00pm. Congratulations Eli, Kylie, Sarah, and Samuel!

Sam Stowe Eli Buckmaster

Kylie Fluhr Sarah Rashed

Sunset PYP January

Kindergarten January Unit of Inquiry: Where We Are In Place and Time Central Idea: Communities use different types of transportation to connect locally and globally.

January Unit Highlights: Who is in our community? What are different types of transportation? How do things move? How does food get from farm to table? Looking Ahead to February: Sharing the Planet… Human and living and non living things Cultural Arts Connections:

Art: Design a city with roads and vehicles. WCL: P.E.: Music: Media: Spanish:

Ways to Connect at Home: Discuss workers/helpers in your community. Discuss different modes of transportation. Discuss different forces(Push/Pull) Discuss how does food get to your house, grocery store.

Ask your child: Ask who works at the_____? Ask what force did you use to ______? What would you use to get from one place to another? Ask where a certain food come from and how did they get to the store/house. Ways to connect with school: Look at different workers/helpers, modes of transportation, foods, and forces in their everyday life.

1st Grade January Unit of Inquiry: How We Express Ourselves Central Idea: Culture connects people through shared beliefs, traditions, and experiences

January Unit Highlights: New Year’s Eve traditions around the world

Looking Ahead to February: Types of communities

Cultural Arts Connections: Art: Design a quilt square illustrated with your favorite holiday from around the world. WCL: P.E.: Music: Media: Spanish:

Ways to Connect at Home: What holiday traditions do you have at home that connect to holiday traditions from other countries?

Ask your child: What is your favorite holiday tradition? Tell me about another country’s holiday traditions.

2nd Grade January Unit of Inquiry: How We Express Ourselves Central Idea: Culture reflects a group of people and is expressed in different ways.

January Unit Highlights: Exploring elements of cultures

Looking Ahead to February: Continue How We Express Ourselves

Cultural Arts Connections: WCL: P.E.: Music: Media: Spanish:

Ways to Connect at Home: Show your child important parts of their family culture. Discuss other cultures around the world.

Ask your child: What element of culture are you exploring in class? Discuss that element of culture and how it relates to your family.

3rd Grade January Unit of Inquiry: Where We Are in Place and Time Central Idea: Weather around the world varies based on location

January Unit Highlights: Weather in different parts of the world Climates in different parts of the world

Looking Ahead to February: Magnetic forces


Ways to Connect at Home: Talk with your child about the weather. Ask your child: How is weather measured? What are some hazards associated with weather?

Ways to connect with school: If weather effects the school day, discuss why/how the school day was effected.

4th grade December Unit of Inquiry: How We Express Ourselves Central Idea: Impact of natural changes produces evidence of patterns that can be observed and investigated.

January Unit Highlights: • Waves • Weathering and erosion • Earth’s landscape

Looking Ahead to February:

• Transferring knowledge through codes

• Impact of slavery • Role of Maryland in war


Ways to Connect at Home: • Discuss Earth’s landscape within different parts of

the state, country, continent, and world

Ask your child:

• What are waves? • How do weathering and erosion change the earth? • How can we find out how the landscape has

changed over time?

Ways to connect with school:

• Locate different weathering and erosion in everyday life (walking to school, riding bikes, in your yard, etc)

5th Grade January Unit of Inquiry: Sharing the Planet Central Idea: People experience and resolve conflict in various ways.

January Unit Highlights: • Revolutionary War

Looking Ahead to February: • Chemical/Physical

Changes • Matter


Ways to Connect at Home: • Ask your student to find Revolutionary War battle

sites on Google Maps

Ask your child:

• What were the different perspectives of the Patriots and Loyalists?

• How can conflict impact relationships with others?

Access Sunset’s website at:

Logon to www.aacps.org

Go to the top of the screen under School Links and click Elementary Schools and find Sunset

Elementary, scroll and click on Sunset Elementary School. This will bring up an informational

page on Sunset. Go to the center of the screen and click on School Website, View or print out

School Hours

• Students will enter the gym at 8:40 a.m.

• Instruction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.

• Students not in class by 9:00 a.m. will be marked late.

• Dismissal is at 3:25 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: NO ADULT

SUPERVISION IS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE TO

STUDENTS BEFORE 8:40 A.M.

Health Room NEW Direct Phone

Number 410-266-3776

Have you paid your child’s

Weekly Reader fee?

The Weekly Reader is part of the school curriculum and school supply list. Checks can be made to Sunset Elementary School and sent to the office.

MEDICAL CONCERNS & ADMINISTERING MEDICATION: PLEASE READ • Parents should make the school aware of any medical problems a child might

have. • Only the health room staff may administer medicine to students at school,

including cough drops, aspirin or medicated chap stick. • A medical authorization form is attached in newsletter in case you have a need

for it. Please complete this whenever your child will need to take medication during the school day. This must be signed by a doctor.

• Any medication to be given at school must be delivered to the health room by an adult. PLEASE DO NOT HAVE YOUR CHILD BRING ANY MEDICATION TO SCHOOL.

Thank you for your cooperation!

http://www.aacps.org

Lunch and Recess Schedule

Grade Recess Lunch

K 11:40─12:10

1 1:10-1:30 11:00─11:30

2 11:00─11:20 11:20─11:50

3 12:45–1:10 12:15 –12:45

4 11:40–12:00 12:00─12:30

5 12:20–12:40 12:40 ─1:10

No Breakfast/Lunch Money

Food Service will provide the following for students who do not

have breakfast or lunch money….

Breakfast-Jelly Sandwich, (1) fruit serving and a cup of water.

Lunch-Jelly or Cheese Sandwich, (1) fruit or

vegetable serving and a cup of water.

2019-2020 School Year

New School Meal Prices

Breakfast, All Schools $1.50

Lunch, Elementary $2.75

Milk 1/2 pint, ALa Carte $ .55

Reduced-Price Breakfast $ .30

Reduced-Price Lunch $ .40

If you have any questions, please contact Jodi Risse,

Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services at

410-222-5900 or [email protected] .

Field Trip Information

Please be advised that ALL field trips are subject to cancellation AT ANYTIME by the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Schools or the Superintendent’s designee when, in their discretion, cancellation is in the best interests of students and staff. In such cases, parents and students have the risk of loss for financial or other commitments they have made. The Board of Education, its employees, and agents will not be responsible for any losses arising out of cancellations.

Are you receiving emails from our school, important reminders, newsletter, etc. Do we have your email address?

Name: _______________________________________ Student: _________________________________________

EMAIL: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Please return this form to your child’s teacher to forward to the office. Thank you!

Sunset Elementary School Video Camera System

Our school is equipped with a video camera system. It covers selected interior and exterior public portions of the

building and grounds. It is NOT monitored constantly, but it is monitored during emergency situations. During

certain events, when the safety or security of students may be in question, authorized personnel from local,

state, or federal police or fire emergency units may be given access to view images projected on the camera

system. If you have any questions about the system, you should call the Supervisor of School Security at 410-222

-5083.”

SUNSET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ABSENTEE FORM

My son/daughter,______________________________________

Legal first and last name

was absent from school on______________________ for the

Month/day/year

following reason (s): (Check reason(s) below)

( ) Illness of child ( ) Doctor or dentist appointment

( ) Death in immediate family ( ) Court summons

( ) Other (Explain): _____________________________

_____________________________________________

TEACHER: ___________________________


ABSENTEE FORM

My son/daughter,______________________________________



Month/day/year




( ) Other (Explain): _____________________________

_____________________________________________

TEACHER: ___________________________


ABSENTEE FORM

My son/daughter,______________________________________



Month/day/year




( ) Other (Explain): _____________________________

_____________________________________________

TEACHER: ___________________________


ABSENTEE FORM

My son/daughter,______________________________________



Month/day/year




( ) Other (Explain): _____________________________

_____________________________________________

TEACHER: ___________________________


ABSENTEE FORM

My son/daughter,______________________________________



Month/day/year




( ) Other (Explain): _____________________________

_____________________________________________

TEACHER: ___________________________


ABSENTEE FORM

My son/daughter,______________________________________



Month/day/year




( ) Other (Explain): _____________________________

_____________________________________________

TEACHER: ___________________________

sunset elementary school - aacps.org

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