Principal's Message
Wendy Smith-Rogers, Principal


Principal’s Message August 2011

Greetings Sundance Wildcats

August 2011

 Dear Parents,

 As the new school year is about to unfold, another learning adventure begins for your child. One of the exciting aspects of being in the field of education is that every year we continue to learn, refine and improve. Each of us has taken time this summer to relax and reflect on what has made Sundance a great school and what we need to do to make it even greater.  This year holds specific challenges for all of us due to the continued constraints of a reduced budget. However, with the support of the Foundation, PTA and all of you, the staff is committed to ensuring that budget cuts stay away from the classroom as much as possible.

Below are a few important items of information for your assistance.

 School Hours for 2011-12

                                        M, T, W, F                                Thursday

 Grades K – 5                   8:10 – 2:35                                8:10 – 12:55

 PEPP                              8:10 – 11:30                              8:10 – 11:30

·   Kindergarten schedule is 8:10-12:00 through September 30.

·   The first bell rings at 8:05 a.m. and class begins at 8:10 a.m.

·   The blacktop playground opens at 7:50 a.m.

Office hours are 7:30am – 3:30 pm each day.

School Supplies - The Sundance school supply list can be found on the Sundance website by typing the link below in your browser:

http://www.powayusd.com/pusdsdes/2011-12Resources/Schoolsupplylist11-12.pdf

Absences - The absence line number is 858-538-9574.  Please call the absence line as soon as possible if your child will be absent from school. In order for students to learn, they need to be at school every day unless they are sick and on time.

 Birthdays - This year our staff is focusing on mindful consumption – being mindful of what we eat, watch on TV, read, and spend our time discussing with others. One step in realizing our effort is to eliminate snacks for all birthdays. Instead, please consider having your child donate something special to the class, a ball to the playground, a book for the class or library, bring a fun pencil or eraser for everyone, or just celebrate at home with family and friends. Please do not bring balloons, goodie bags, or toys. We appreciate your understanding of our goal to help everyone make healthy choices.

Back-to-School Night is Thursday, September 1 for grades K, 4 and 5 from 6:00-7:30 and on September 8 for grades 1, 2, and 3.  Please join us in the multipurpose room at 6:00 to meet the staff and to hear what our plans are for this school year.

Communication is vital to the smooth operation of the school as well as keeping you informed of all that is happening. Events will continue to be advertised in several ways this year. The school sends home a Weekly Wildcat update via email. If you do not receive it, call the office so we can check your email address on file. The PTA Paw Prints will be distributed bi-monthly. The Foundation News! is sent to all families quarterly as well. I will be leaving weekly messages on the telephone and email communication system every Friday at 5:00. Be sure to let the office staff know if your telephone number or email address changes.

Two very important documents are on the “must read” list in order to maximize your child’s safety and to minimize traffic congestion. PLEASE read the following carefully:

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Guide

Student Handbook

We count on each of you to support our endeavors by volunteering whenever possible, attending evening events that involve your child’s education, and communicating with your child’s teacher regularly. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 484-2950 or by email at wsrogers@powayusd.com if you have any questions. 

Together, each of us looks forward to a successful, exciting, and rewarding school year.

Sincerely,

Wendy Smith-Rogers

Principal

 

Principal's Message From Back-to-School Night  2011 

Welcome to the 2011-12 school year! I love Sundance, the staff, students and community, and know that you share this sentiment.

Tonight is your opportunity to find out what lies ahead for your child’s year of school from the teacher. Before you do, it is important for you to be aware of school-wide updates and changes as well. This summer representatives from each grade level met with me to look at unifying some of our practices. I would like to update you on a few of them. We as a staff have signed a code of conduct, so to speak that highlights the 6 pillars of character and the related behaviors. We have had our students do the same. Tonight we will ask you to read the parent poster in the classroom, sign it, and commit to being a TRRFCC parent this year, one who will be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and a good citizen.

 We believe that the district college readiness goal for all students is important. Each class has adopted a college and during the year will be learning the school’s chant or school song to sing at our weekly Friday Flag assemblies at 8:10 on the playground. On Thursdays we encourage everyone to wear college gear as a reminder that we can all go to college and we need to begin preparing now.

 The staff and I will continue to send the message that good nutrition promotes maximum learning. As you read in the back-to-school letter, we encourage you to send alternatives to food treats for your child’s birthday if you are going to celebrate at school. We have too many students on special diets, and who have severe allergies to nuts and eggs to worry about who can eat which food. Thank you in advance for honoring this decision. You will hear more throughout the year about healthy choices for snacks, exercise, and free time.

Compass Learning is an interactive web-based curriculum that aligns with the academic standards and each student’s MAP scores. Our Foundation has generously purchased the program in the area of Reading for grades K-5. The teachers are in the process of implementing it so that we can get students using it at home. We are planning a parent information night in early October so you can learn about it, too.
Last year we initiated a volunteer PE program and Art program. We have some curriculum and lots of equipment for PE and a wonderful user-friendly art program. We just need more volunteers for both. Your child’s teachers will be asking if you are willing to help when you get to the classrooms.

I read an editorial a while ago by former columnist William Raspberry. His first lines were as follows:

Show me a home where education and learning are central values and where the parents are reasonably competent at the business of child-rearing and I’ll show you the home of a good student.

 As a professional learning community at Sundance, we value and expect your support every day. You are a vital part of our PLC. Understanding that many of you work outside of the home, we offer plenty of opportunities to be involved in your child’s education.

 If we want our children to be lifelong learners, we all need to be actively involved and model a passion for learning.

 We count on each of you in our community to support our endeavors by volunteering whenever possible, attending evening events such tonight that involve your child’s education, and communicating with your child’s teacher regularly.

Our PTA, Foundation, and School Site Council are committed to helping us strive for academic excellence. I want to thank you in advance for your part in supporting and becoming involved these organizations.

 What is most important is your child’s academic program for this year. I appreciate your being here tonight. It sends a message that you care about your child’s education. Others who deeply care about your child’s education are the teachers. We are most fortunate to have outstanding individuals who work so diligently, tirelessly, and professionally to ensure your child loves coming to school and is challenged with a rigorous, standards-based program.

 Take a pledge along with the staff to make this, the only year your child will be a Kindergartener, 4th or 5th grader, his or her best year ever. The only way to make that happen is to involve yourself in your child’s education.

 This will be our best year ever, but don’t forget to work hard, be kind, dream big, and make no excuses.