The Sun Drop
Sunset Elementary Newsletter
9.25.26
E + R = O
About ten years ago, while I was at Livermore High School, I was hosting an interview for a varsity coaching position. During the process, I was introduced to a simple concept that the coach would eventually build into his program: E + R = O
Event + Response = Outcome
The idea is pretty simple. We don't always get to choose the events that happen around us. Things don't go our way. Someone says something we don't like. We make a mistake. We get disappointed. Plans change. That's life.
What we do get to choose is our response.
I watched that coach intentionally teach this concept to his athletes, and the results were powerful. It has stuck with me ever since.
I think there is a great lesson in E+R=O for our kids... and probably for all of us. When something happens, our first reaction isn't always our best response. Sometimes we need to slow down, think about the outcome we want and then decide how we're going to respond.
As adults, we have an incredible opportunity to model this for our children. They are watching how we handle frustration, disappointment, conflict and even simple inconveniences. Our response often becomes their example.
We can't control every E our kids will experience. We can help them develop their R so they're better prepared for whatever comes their way.
And that can make a pretty big difference in the O.
Have a wonderful weekend, Sunset Nation!
Thomas Fletcher
Principal
Sunset Elementary School
Sun drops...
Brand new"ish" news...
•Sunset Community Yard Sale~ It’s time to clean out those closets, garages and playrooms! Sunset PTO is hosting a Community Yard Sale on Sunday, September 27 from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM right here at Sunset. (See flier below)
Want to turn some of that “we might need this someday” stuff into cash? Reserve a booth for just $20 and join the fun! Not ready to part with your treasures? Come shop instead. Admission is free and you never know what you might find.
This is open to our entire community, so please spread the word to friends, family and neighbors. The more sellers and shoppers, the more fun we’ll have!
Interested in reserving a booth? Email treasurersunsetpto@gmail.com.
Come sell, shop, visit with friends and enjoy another great Sunset community event!
•Sunset Color Run~ Get ready to add some COLOR to Sunset! Our annual Color Run is Friday, October 2, and we can't wait to see our students hit the course!
Families are invited to come cheer on our runners, and the PTO will provide students with bandanas and sunglasses in their grade-level colors.
Run Times:
- TK: 10:20–10:30 AM
- Kinder & 1st: 11:00–11:15 AM
- 2nd & 3rd: 1:25–1:40 PM
- 4th & 5th: 2:05–2:20 PM
Students can continue collecting pledges through October 9, and we also need volunteers to help make the event a success. Please use the links/QR codes on the flyer for pledges, volunteer opportunities and additional information.
Thank you to our Sunset PTO for putting together one of our kids' favorite events of the year. Get ready to run, Surfers! 🏄🌈
•Sunset SSC~ It is time to vote for this year's School Site Council Rep. Please vote here by Thursday October 1st.
•Sunset Science Night~ Thank You for a GREAT Science Night! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Science Night last night! It was wonderful to see so many Sunset families enjoying Quest, the snake experience, the planetarium and our food trucks.
A special thank you to Mrs. Bjeletich, Mrs. Bettencourt, Mrs. Martella and Mrs. Miramontes, along with the many parent volunteers who helped make the evening possible. Events like this don't happen without people willing to give their time and energy to our kids.
What a fun night of science, discovery and Sunset community!
Thank you, Sunset Nation!
•Special Education Parent Workgroup~ We Need a Sunset Voice!
We are looking for a Sunset parent to represent our school on the District's Special Education Parent Workgroup.
This is a great opportunity for a parent who would like to have a voice in supporting students receiving special education services across our district. Parent representatives have the opportunity to share experiences and concerns, provide feedback, ask questions and help the District better understand the needs of students and families.
Most importantly, you would help make sure Sunset families have a voice at the table!
The group meets approximately once a month on Thursdays from 5:30–6:30 PM. (10/22, 11/19,
1/28, 2/25, 3/25, 4/15, 5/13.If you are a parent of a student receiving special education services and would be interested in representing Sunset, please reach out to Mr. Fletcher. We'd love to have someone from Sunset Nation join the conversation!
•FREE Bike Repair~ Does your child's bike need a little TLC? BikeMobile is coming to Sunset on Monday, October 26 from 3:00–5:30 PM!
They can repair most common bike problems, including flat tires, brakes and shifters, while also providing bike repair education.
Repairs are completely FREE, but space is limited and bikes will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bring your bike and let BikeMobile help get it safely back on the road!
•Sunset Volunteer?~ If you applied before September 8th and haven't received an approval email from Raptor, please reach out to Brooke (bway@lvjusd.org), as something may not have met the requirements. As of today, you must be cleared in order to be on campus during school hours. Thank you!
•Student Council~ Congratulations to our newly elected 4th and 5th Grade Student Council representatives!
5th Grade Student Council
- Carroll: Ryan Alexander and Ella Sana
- Auser: Beckett Maher and Samir Astik
- Manwell: Matthias Tseague and Olivia Thielen
- Miramontes: Brock Martella and Mia Dutra
4th Grade Student Council
- Hendricks: Ben Hernandez and Lucy Layton
- Borjon: Kezie Tunison and Jameson Kimler
- Summers: Harper Hoopes and Zoe Travasso
- Daugherty: Abe Harnett and May Palacio
We are proud of all of our students who stepped up and ran for Student Council. Putting yourself out there, sharing your ideas and asking your classmates for their support takes courage. Congratulations to everyone who participated in the election process and to our newly elected representatives. We look forward to seeing your leadership make a positive impact at Sunset!
•Sunset SSC~ Want to be aware of what's happening with your child’s education and help shape the future of our school? Join our School Site Council (SSC) and become an active voice in important decisions that impact our students, staff and community!
The SSC is one way to get involved, share ideas, and work alongside dedicated teachers and fellow parents to ensure Sunset Elementary continues to thrive. Your input matters, and we need YOU to help guide our school toward continued success!
Whether you have a little time or a lot, every contribution makes a big impact. Let’s work together to create the best possible learning environment for our kids.
If you are interested, fill out this short interest form.
•Sunset's First-Ever Trunk or Treat is Coming!~ Mark your calendars for Friday, October 16, 2026, from 5:00–8:00 PM for an evening of family fun at Sunset's first-ever Trunk or Treat!
We're looking for families to help make this event unforgettable by hosting a decorated trunk or game booth. Whether you have a car, SUV, truck, golf cart, or would simply like to run a game using one of our carnival games, we'd love the help!
Don't let the idea of hosting a trunk intimidate you, we're here to help! The PTO will provide decorating ideas, coordinate a bulk candy purchase, and even have games available to borrow, making it easy and affordable for everyone to participate. It doesn't have to be elaborate. Our students will simply love visiting each unique stop!
Event Highlights
- Trunk or Treat
- Fun games
- Food trucks
- Costumes encouraged for all students and families!
The more trunks we have, the more fun the evening will be for our entire Sunset community!
Interested in hosting a trunk or game booth?
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8pxDTQwzeWLBjHODh7DdhTYPta3Ok7Q-1nl2YlkLMDNv3zA/viewform?fbzx=3716708751656097199&pli=1
Or contact Heidi Lovens: HeidiLovens@gmail.com
Thank you for helping us create what we hope becomes a favorite Sunset tradition. We can't wait to celebrate with all of you on Friday, October 16!
•Chromebook Insurance~
Protect Your Student's Chromebook for as low as $22 with School Device Coverage! Last Day to Purchase is 10/31/26!
Our District has partnered with School Device Coverage to offer parents optional, affordable insurance coverage for 1st through 12th-grade students’ LVJUSD-issued Chromebooks. (TK and Kindergarten students use a class set of Chromebooks when needed and are not issued individual devices. This coverage does not apply to students in TK or Kindergarten.)
Replacement costs without insurance can be as costly as $399 per device. School Device Coverage offers two policies, Basic and Expanded. See below for details on what is covered by each of the plans.
https://www.livermoreschools.org/departments/information-technology/chromebook-insurance
•Walk Audit~ As part of the City of Livermore’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) planning effort, the TJKM team will visit Sunset Elementary School, Monday, September 28, at 7:45 a.m. to observe morning arrival and transportation conditions.
During our visit, we will observe school access, pick-up/drop-off circulation, sidewalks, crossings, bicycle facilities, traffic controls, and potential conflicts or safety concerns. These observations will help us identify practical opportunities to improve walking and bicycling safety and accessibility around the school.
Attached is a project flyer.
We would welcome Parent Champions, parent volunteers, school staff, or other interested school representatives to join us for the walk audit. Their firsthand knowledge of daily conditions and specific concerns around the school would be extremely valuable.
•Sunset Bell Schedule and Calendar are both attached below.
•Join Your Sunset PTO! ... What is the Sunset PTO?
The Sunset School PTO is a partnership between parents, guardians, and staff to promote cooperation and goodwill within our school community and to improve and enrich the Sunset Elementary experience for every student. The Sunset PTO funds and hosts many critical programs, events, and materials including: Science and Library Grants, Classroom Grants, Sunset Garden, PE Equipment, Assemblies, Halloween Carnival, Family Fun Nights and more!
Staying Connected / Important links
Sunset PTO Website: https://sunsetpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Sunset Spirit Store: www.sunsetptostore.com
Sunset PTO Newsletter: Stay up-to-date on the latest Sunset news with the FREE weekly PTO newsletter. Sign-up instructions: Log on to www.sunsetpto.org, Navigate to My Account, Select Newsletter/Calendar Subscriptions from dropdown, Enter Preferences
Sunset PTO Facebook: @SunsetElementaryPTO, @WeAreSunset!
Sunset PTO Instagram: @sunsetsurfers_pto
•Looking for our menus~ Visit https://lvjusdchildnutrition.nutrislice.com/
Click the link for menus available in English and Spanish
Here is a flyer detailing how to print menus on Nutrislice
Calendar these dates!
9/18/26 - 10/9/26~ Fall Fund Raiser
9/27/26~ Community Yard Sale
9/28/26~ Walk Audit
10/2/26~ Color Run
10/5/26 - 10/16/26~ Fall Conferences
10/16/26~ Halloween Family Fun
10/26/26~ Bike Repair Clinic (3:00-5:30)
What is PTO?
PTO Does That?
Activities
Sunset Elementary School
Email: tfletcher@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/sunset
Location: 1671 Frankfurt Way, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925.606.5230