The Sun Drop

I tend to send this out every year, but it still rings true. While I never ever wish pain and disappointment on anyone, after the Student Council elections, I was thinking about this unavoidable concept that we all must face. Whether it's not getting the outcome we hoped for, facing challenges, or experiencing setbacks, disappointment is a part of life. But more importantly, I've learned that it’s a key ingredient in growth.

One of my favorite artists, Andy Grammer wrote the song "I Wish You Pain" and it beautifully captures this lesson. In the song, he speaks about how hardships, though difficult, ultimately shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals. It’s a reminder that moments of struggle or disappointment are not roadblocks but stepping stones in the process of growing up.

When we face disappointments, we also have the opportunity to develop perseverance, empathy, and strength. It’s not easy in the moment, but over time, we can look back and see how those tough experiences helped us become better versions of ourselves.

I encourage everyone to keep this in mind as we are facing obstacles or when we are helping our littles overcome disappointment. Let's teach them to see each challenge as a chance to learn and grow.

Thomas Fletcher

Principal

Sunset Elementary School

Brand new"ish" news...

•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!

•Family Science Night~ September 24! Join us for an exciting evening of science, engineering and hands-on fun at Sunset Elementary on Thursday, September 24!

Families can enjoy a variety of activities throughout the evening, including Quest Science Center activities in the MPR from 5:00–7:00 p.m., plus additional activities outside with Zone 7, food trucks and more.

Families may also choose between two special experiences:

• Planetarium Shows – first show at 4:40 p.m., last show at 7:00 p.m.
• For Goodness Snakes – first show at 5:00 p.m., last show at 6:30 p.m.

This is a great opportunity for students and families to explore, learn and have fun together. We hope to see you there!

•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.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHlu4i2cDxYkC7GlaJ8RKdICGssNOFxd9wpUmHfx4GxrCRyA/viewform?usp=header

•Lockdown drill~ I wanted to inform you that our school will be conducting a lockdown drill on Tuesday, Sept 22nd. These drills are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff. We take these drills very seriously, as they help us practice our emergency procedures and prepare for situations we hope never to face.

We also understand that these drills can sometimes cause stress or anxiety for students. Please know that our staff will approach this drill with sensitivity, explaining the process in an age-appropriate manner and providing reassurance and support throughout.

We believe it is essential to prepare our students for any scenario in a way that prioritizes their safety and security while also being mindful of their emotional well-being. We encourage you to talk with your child about the drill, reassure them and answer any questions they may have. Your support at home can greatly help reinforce the importance of these safety measures and help ease any concerns they may feel.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership in helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for all our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

•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!

•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.

•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.

•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

•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!

•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

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

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://heyzine.com/flip-book/b0dc41fe53.html__;!!CDXB8Uds!9pYhdMV25RNlOEqJ5EyoPCIqyuTgg1qtQ2QEvJDDKEyy9Q2REG1vG491Z0ZF8dulxP0RuCLOonaSNZa0Yxck2Ulc$

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

9/24/26~ Science Night

9/25/26~ Decades Spirit Day

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

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.

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