The Sun Drop

We’re on the Same Team

One of the things I believe deeply is that children do best when the adults who care about them work together.

School is one of the many places where children learn that life will not always go exactly the way they want. Sometimes they will hear “no.” Sometimes they will have to wait. They will be asked to follow rules, meet expectations and accept correction. They may even come home frustrated because an adult held them accountable.

Those moments are not failures. They are opportunities to grow.

As parents and educators, our instinct is to protect children from anything that hurts. I understand that completely. But there is a difference between protecting children from harm and protecting them from every disappointment, consequence or uncomfortable moment. If we remove every obstacle from their path, we may also remove the very experiences that teach them resilience, responsibility and confidence.

Schools will not always get everything right. Teachers can make mistakes. Principals can make mistakes... I certainly have. Parents should ask questions, speak up and advocate for their children. We need and value that partnership. That's part of makes Sunset so special.

But partnership also means being willing to hear the whole story. Sometimes it means telling a child, with love, “I understand why you’re upset, but your teacher was right.” Other times, it means helping the school see something we missed. That is what real partnership looks like. It's not about choosing sides, but choosing the child’s growth.

A school filled with hundreds of students needs routines, boundaries and shared expectations. Every child is unique, but we are also teaching them how to learn, play and live alongside people whose needs may be different from their own.

Our children are watching. They notice how we respond when something is difficult. They are learning from us. They notice whether correction is something to fear or an opportunity to improve. They are learning whether disappointment should stop them or strengthen them.

At Sunset, we love our students. So much so that we will encourage them, celebrate them and believe in them, but we also love them enough to hold them accountable and help them grow.

Thank you for trusting us, talking with us and standing beside us. We will not always agree on every detail, but when children know that home and school are on the same team, they are surrounded by something incredibly powerful. That is why I love coming to work everyday. Seeing your child grow and be supported fills my heart.

Have a great three day weekend.

Thomas Fletcher
Principal
Sunset Elementary School

Brand new"ish" news...

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

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Aug 21st

Aug 28th

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