The Sun Drop

One Big Sunset Ohana!

Last Monday, we celebrated Labor Day. A day that reminds us of the value of hard work and the contributions people make every day to their communities. Today, we remembered September 11, 2001. While it was a horrific day in our country's history, one of the things I will always remember about the days that followed was how people came together. Differences seemed a little less important. Neighbors looked out for neighbors. We were reminded that, despite all the things that can divide us, we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

That has been on my mind this week.

Today I wore my Dallas Cowboys jersey to school. I know, I know...right here in the heart of 49er territory. Trust me, that requires a certain amount of courage! But it also gave me a fun opportunity to talk with our students about something important: we don't have to agree. We don't have to like the same things or even root for the same team to treat one another with kindness and respect.

That's something I hope our kids learn at Sunset. Our differences are part of what make a community interesting. We can disagree. We can have different backgrounds, beliefs, traditions and opinions. We can even make "questionable" choices about our favorite football team, but what really matters at the end of the day is how we treat one another.

At Sunset, we are one big family. Families don't always agree, but they take care of each other. They show grace. They listen. They help. And when things get difficult, they come together.

That's the kind of community I want our students to grow up in.

We are Sunset. And we're all on the same team! (Even when some of us are wearing Cowboys jerseys.)

Have a great weekend.

Thomas Fletcher

Principal

Sunset Elementary School

Brand new"ish" news...

•Yearbook Cover Contest for 26/27~ Calling All Sunset Artists! It’s time for our 2026–2027 Sunset Yearbook Cover Contest!

We want our students to help design this year’s yearbook cover! Show us what Sunset means to you and let your creativity shine. Your artwork could become the cover that Sunset students and families keep for years to come!

The PTO has created everything you need to get started. Use the QR codes on the flyer below to access the coloring sheet and the complete contest rules and directions.

Your Art • Your School • Our Yearbook

Be creative, have fun and show us your Sunset spirit! We can’t wait to see what you create! 🌅🏄

See the attached picture below.

•Picture Day Info~ Picture day is Thursday Sept 17th. You can place orders online at mydorian.com before picture day and for up to 2 days afterward. Get those smiles ready, Sunset Nation!

•Community Service Day~ Volunteers Needed! One of the things that makes Livermore such a great place to live is the way our community shows up for one another. Community Service Day is Saturday, September 19 from 8:00–11:00 a.m. Volunteers will start the morning with breakfast and then head out to help beautify parks, schools and other areas throughout Livermore.

This is a great opportunity for families to serve together, meet other members of our community and show our kids what it looks like to give a little of our time to make our community better.

Please see the Community Service Day flyer above for more information and to sign up. We would love to see some Sunset families out there!

I have asked the organizers to prioritize, the red and yellow curbs, minor weeding, trash collection and washing windows.

•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!

•Eating Disorders Treatment Applying a Social Justice Lens for Healing and Liberation~ Alameda County Behavioral Health Department is offering a free virtual training, “Eating Disorders Treatment: Applying a Social Justice Lens for Healing and Liberation,” on Friday, September 25, from 9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The interactive session will explore eating disorders and body image in diverse and underserved communities and provide practical screening and treatment strategies through a social justice lens. Please see the flyer here.

•Want to Volunteer in a classroom? ~ If you are planning to volunteer, you will need to complete the Keenan mandated reporter training. (CA Senate Bill SB 848 went into effect in July.) Please apply (or re-apply if you volunteered last year) through Raptor. You have to reapply every year. If you were fingerprinted last year, you DO NOT need to get fingerprinted again. Brooke, our Office Specialist, (bway@lvjusd.org) will be clearing volunteers ASAP. Please check out the website for updates on getting cleared to volunteer.

•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

Tri-Valley Selpa~ Tri-Valley SELPA would also like to invite parents to join us for coffee and pastries on September 1, 2026 here at the Pleasanton District Offices.

The informational flyer is attached. Pastries with Parents

Click on the link to view the latest newsletter from the Tri-Valley SELPA.

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9/7/26~ Labor Day (No School)

9/16/26~ Parent / PTO Surf Report (General updates on Sunset)

9/17/26~ Picture Day

9/18/26 - 10/9/26~ Fall Fund Raiser

9/24/26~ Science Night

9/27/26~ Community Yard Sale

10/2/26~ Color Run

10/5/26 - 10/16/26~ Fall Conferences

10/16/26~ Halloween Family Fun

Sunset PTO Website

Gate Entry and Exit for Sunset Elementary

Gates Open at 8:15 am

School Starts at 8:30 am

While you are allowed and welcome on campus, we ask that you be cognizant of teachers time and student behavior while we work to instill a culture of kindness and integrity. While we value you and want you to know you are a vital part of our community and are welcome here, we are still asking that you help your child take steps to becoming independent as they find their own way to class as they enter campus.

It is exciting to see Kindergartners walk to class, hang up their backpacks, grab what they need and head into class...all on their own. Trust me, it will happen in time.

In accordance with security guidance, IT has updated student passwords to 9-digits. That means students with 8-digit student IDs will need to add a leading zero and students with 7-digit student IDs will need to add two leading zeros to be able to log in. Students with 9-digit student IDs or who had previously changed their password to a personal password were not affected.

If students need help, they can get help from their teachers when school starts.

Aug 7th

Aug 14th

Aug 21st

Aug 28th

Sept 4th

Email: tfletcher@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/sunset
Location: 1671 Frankfurt Way, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925.606.5230