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 April! I hope everyone had a fantastic spring break and is feeling refreshed for the final push to summer. It's hard to believe we only have two months of school remaining and are starting the final quarter of the school year. When I reflect on the school year, I am amazed at how much students have grown since September. One of the things I find most rewarding about being a principal at the K/1 level is just how much students grow as learners during these first couple years of school. Every now and then, I am asked by a parent what they can do to help their child continue to become more fluent as a reader during these early years of school. Among other things, care givers can...

• Talk to your child using rich vocabulary
• Read aloud to your child
• Ask your child's teacher if there are particular skills you could practice with your child
• Create a reading corner at home
• Limit screen time
• Visit the library
• Give books as gifts
• Be a role model - show that you read yourself

All of these are simple enough, but are great ways to highlight the importance of reading and encourage a love of it!

Mike Pagel

Principal

April:

8 -- Bus Stop & Walk begins (every Wednesday through 5/13)

9 -- 1st Grade Specials Showcase @ 1:00 pm (Friedrich, Pearson, Teschendorf)

10 -- 1st Grade Specials Showcase @ 1:00 pm (Larsen, Plein, Swanson)

13 -- Kindergarten Specials Showcase @ 1:00 pm (McDonnell, Plonsky, Prigge)

14 -- Kindergarten Specials Showcase @ 1:00 pm (Johnson, Kelly, Marklevits, Richardson)

15 -- K & 1st to Sheldon Theatre to see Pete the Cat

16 -- Statewide Tornado Drill

17 -- NO SCHOOL (Staff Development Day)

24 -- 1st Grade Earth Day Field Trip to RWHS

28 -- RW Public Works Visit to Sunnyside

May:

4 -- 1st Grade Field Trip to Carpenter Nature Center (Plein & Teschendorf)

5 -- 1st Grade Field Trip to Carpenter Nature Center (Friedrich & Larsen)

6 -- Kindergarten Town Tour Field Trip (Johnson, Marklevits, Plonsky)

7 -- Kindergarten Town Tour Field Trip (Kelly, McDonnell, Prigge, Richardson)

8 -- 1st Grade Tours Burnside

11 -- 1st Grade Field Trip to Carpenter Nature Center (Pearson & Swanson)

12 -- Adaptive Field Day

14 -- Field Day

18 -- RWHS Senior Walkthrough

18 -- Sunnyside Spring Dental Clinic

19 -- 1s Grade Downtown Tour Field Trip

22 -- NO SCHOOL

25 -- NO SCHOOL

26 -- Kindergarten Farm Field Trip (Kelly & Prigge)

27 -- Kindergarten Farm Field Trip (Johnson, McDonnell, Plonsky)

28 -- Kindergarten Farm Field Trip (Marklevits & Richardson)

Spread the word! Now’s the time to start thinking about registering your child for kindergarten! Registration for the 2026 - 2027 school year kicked off with a fun-filled Kindergarten Registration Night on February 12th. If you missed the session, don't worry! Enrollment forms are now available in print at the District Office, Colvill Family Center, and Sunnyside School. Forms may be returned to any of the locations listed above. We encourage you to register early, as this helps us determine staffing needs and get class placement information out earlier!

Sunnyside's spring concerts will take place from April 9 - 14 Each day, a different group of classes performs at 1:00 pm. There will be a dress rehearsal for the scheduled classes at 9:00 am each day as well, and families are welcome to attend if they are unable to make the 1:00 show. In addition this year, student art work will be on display and students will demonstrate some of the skills they've worked on in PE this year as well! Our schedule for concerts is as follows:

• Thursday, April 9 -- 1st Grade (Friedrich, Pearson, Teschendorf)

• Friday, April 10 -- 1st Grade (Larsen, Plein, Swanson)

• Monday, April 13 -- Kindergarten (McDonnell, Plonsky, Prigge)

• Tuesday, April 14 -- Kindergarten (Johnson, Kelly, Marklevits, Richardson)

Each year, we take steps to thoughtfully place elementary students into classrooms for the following fall. The goal is to create balanced classes with all types of learners. This strategic placing of students creates the best opportunity for a positive learning experience.

Parent input is one of the many important components to effective class placement. The parent input process is not intended to offer the opportunity to request a specific teacher, but rather an opportunity to express perspective on unique needs of individual children. Any request to be placed with a specific teacher will be disregarded, and consideration will focus instead on the student need identified.

If you would like to provide information about the type of teacher who might be a good fit for your child, special considerations to be aware of, or other general input, please stop by the Sunnyside office between the hours of 7:00 am - 3:15 pm to complete a Parent Input Form. I have also linked the form HERE if you would like to print and complete it at home before turning it in. We ask that you complete this form rather than emailing or telling your child's teacher or Mr. Pagel, as this way we can ensure all input is collected in one place and less likely to get forgotten or overlooked when it is time to place students. All parent input forms need to be completed by May 21, 2026.

Sunnyside is excited to kick off our spring Bus Stop and Walk beginning on Wednesday, April 8th and continuing every Wednesday through May 13th (weather permitting). The Bus Stop and Walk (BSW) program takes Safe Routes to School to another level by ensuring that every student is provided the opportunity to walk to school. BSWs drop students a safe and walkable distance from school, allowing them to walk with the goal of improving physical and mental health, increasing academic performance and building community by dropping students within a walkable distance to school.

Sunnyside bus riders will be dropped off on Roosevelt Avenue next to Roosevelt Park on Wednesdays beginning April 8th and walk to Sunnyside from there. Staff will be stationed at intersections along the way to help students cross and to encourage them. Parents who drop off are welcome to do so at Roosevelt Avenue as well on those Wednesdays. We just asked that you drop off on the side of the road opposite the buses (and opposite the park). Drop offs at the park will take place from 7:25 - 7:40 for both bussers and parent drop offs. After 7:40, drop off will need to take place at Sunnyside. Please see the map below for more detail.

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

On Thursday, 3/26, Sunnyside held its March Winger Pride assembly. During that assembly, we announced the names of our Students of the Month. 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. March's Students of the Month were:

• Oliver Klein
• Max Florey
• Abe Prange
• Theo Olson
• Lake Evenson
• Kayden Krie
• Karma Tri
• Payton Becker
• Emiliya Turi
• Meredith Taylor
• Kaine Nord
• Jameson Strenke
• Isaac Smith
• Takoda Wolff
• Rowan Heit
• Lindy Nelson
• Adaline Larson
• Lydia Greenslade
• Rowan Bryant
• Lila Perez

In our morning announcements on Tuesday, 4/7, we announced the winners of March's Winger Pride drawing. 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! March's Winger Pride ticket drawing winners were:

• Ethan Bennet
• Camden Gerdes
• Zelda Arend
• Jackie Rodriguez
• Bergen Seyffer
• Alarick Swenson
• Madelyn Annis
• Emmalyn Penney

Congratulations to everybody!

Recently, Sunnyside's PE teacher, Mr. Johnson, led students through the American Heart Association's Kids' Heart Challenge. This activities were focused on teaching students how to keep their hearts and brains healthy while also raising funds to help kids with special hearts through the AHA. Students participated during PE classes, and had the option of raising funds to support the American Heart Association. Thanks to families' generous support, Sunnyside raised about $1400 to support the AHA!

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

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 as there is a different form teachers submit for those. 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.