December 2012

Sunset Newsletter

What’s Happening This Month at Sunset . . .

December 2012

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

PTA Meeting

3:30 pm

Sunset 4th

& 5th

Grade Choir Perform @ 6:30

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Sunset 4th

Grade and Honor Choir Perform @ banks

Nutcracker Field Trip Grades 1,3,5

8:30-10:45 am

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Early Dismissal for Winter Break

11:45 am

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break

30 31 Winter Break

Winter Break Dec 24-Jan 7

PTA Meeting Calendar

2012/2013 School Year

The PTA meetings will be held the first Monday of every month. We are alternating between

after school and evening meetings. Please mark your calendars so you can attend!

Monday, December 3rd @ 3:30 Monday, January 14th @ 6:00

Monday, February 4th @ 3:30 Monday, March 4th @ 6:00

Monday, April 8th @ 3:30 Monday, May 6th @ 6:00

A Message from Our Sunset Principal – Brenda Farmer

Dear Families:

Conscious Discipline Power and Skill Number THREE is on tap for this month and I feel it is very

appropriate. Appropriate, because parents will have two whole weeks with their children and what a

time of year for Power and Skill Number 3.

Power of Attention and Skill of Assertiveness

So the Power of Attention states that what you focus on, you get more of. I call this a Duh moment, but

even though it is basic we overlook it. If we want good behavior we focus on it by telling the child how

well they are doing and how much we appreciate it. When we focus on the poor behavior we are

guaranteeing to get more of it. WHY is that? I think it’s simple. I think we all want to be seen and we all

want the attention of our parents (spouses, friends, etc.).

Some tips concerning the Power of Attention

o Be CLEAR and DIRECT in telling the child what to do o Model it in an Assertive voice tone o Children do not have the “picture talk” in their heads so you must make the image for them. o The conflict never ends till we tell the person what we want and how to do it.

When in conflict we, as the adults, must learn to PIVOT (do an about face). We need to get ourselves

under control first – THEN and only THEN can we focus on what we want and what we don’t want.

Concerning the Skill of Assertiveness (saying NO and being heard)

Assertive Communication equals respect and gets to the goal of clear communication. Aggressive Communication aims to win by overpowering, not clarifying. Passive Communication gives away your power.

This month listen to the tone of your voice when you are interacting with your child. Is it passive,

aggressive, or assertive? Learn to be assertive and have a firm NO. Also consider asking your child if he

is telling or tattling. This helps immensely with the fussing and fighting.

So, we have learned all about Composure and realizing we are in control

of ourselves, along with building Unity in our families by seeing, noticing,

describing and not judging behavior. Now we know we must give the child

the Attention he/she is demanding and be Assertive with our instructions

and our No’s.

Thanks everyone for the opportunity to partner with you

and have a fabulous December.

Mrs. Farmer

PTA News!

Box Tops for Education Souper Bowl

Start gearing up for our January event of Box Tops for Education Souper Bowl. If you haven’t started already,

please begin collecting the Box Tops for Education labels to help raise funds for our school! Box Tops for

Education has helped America’s schools earn over $475 million since 1996. You can earn cash for your child’s

school by clipping Box Tops coupons from hundreds of participating products. Look for the label below:

More information will be coming in the January Newsletter.

Sunset School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

President — Rebecca Merritt

Vice President — Lisa McDonald

Secretary — Chrystal Rippeto

Treasurer — Marcie Barton

Sunset PTA E-mail Address: sunsetptacodywy@gmail.com

Please feel free to e-mail us with any questions, comments, suggestions and ideas!

“Like” us on Facebook at Sunset Elementary School PTA

A message from PARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #6

Parents: If you need to leave a message in the Sunset Office for your student in regards to pick up

instructions for afterschool, please plan to call by 2:30PM. We are receiving a large volume of messages

for students and we are glad to deliver them, but need sufficient time to get them to students. Parents calling with messages for students after 3:00PM, we would like to inform you that we do not have

sufficient time to get these messages too students. If you have any questions, please call the office at

Sunset School 587-4279.

Classroom News! Want to see what is happening in your child’s classroom?

Please visit the Sunset Teacher Sites by typing in the following link:

http://www.park6.org/classroompages.cfm?location=736&school=736

Kindergarten

We will be doing Christmas activities, writing holiday cards to those in assisted living and writing letters to our president to celebrate National Handwriting Day. Ms. Holly Baker will be coming in December 14th. Our students are beginning to decode and write CVC words.

Sunset Kindergarten Team

First Grade

First Graders are working hard to improve their reading skills. They are involving themselves in the Book-it

Challenge, which rewards them with an individual pizza if they read all month long. Math is “Shaping Up” in a

“Timely Manner.” Our focus in math this trimester is Shapes and Telling Time. Students are also completing units

of Science either in Air and Weather or Balance and Motion. Up and coming we will be attending the Nutcracker

performance on December 14th and also have our monthly visit from our local Children’s Librarian, Holly Baker.

Thank you parents for being involved and helping your child grow!

Sunset 1st Grade Team

Student Council Officers

President – Mason Merager

Vice President – Nicolas Talich

Secretary – Emily Cole

Treasurer – Sage Crofts

Everyone did an outstanding job! Congratulations!

Sunset will be releasing the students early on

Friday, December 21st, at 11:45 am

for Winter Break.

There will be No School on

Monday, December 24th, through Monday, January 7th.

Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 8th.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Helping Sunset Students Excel in Reading!!

One simple way to keep your child healthy, increase their chance of getting into college, and improve their reading…

!!Ban the Bedroom TV!!

Below are some facts about children having a TV in their bedroom, or simply watching too much TV.

Children with bedroom TVs:

Score significantly and consistently lower on math, reading and language-arts tests

Are more likely to have sleep problems

Are more likely to be overweight

Children with bedroom TVs have a higher risk for smoking

Spend less time reading

Are more likely to be violent when problems occur

May have problems focusing

Are less able to use imagination

Experience reading difficulties linked to watching TV

They tend to eat more high caloric/low nutrition snacks

Other electronic gadgets such as gaming devices, cell phones, and computers have similar impacts on the growth and

development of today’s kids.

Studies show that children today are not sleeping as much as previous generations with two-thirds not getting the

recommended hours of sleep per night. A good night’s sleep has been linked to better academic outcomes, fewer mood

disorders, and other positive health outcomes. (Fung2012)

References:

TV, Devices in Kids’ Bedrooms Linked to Poor Sleep, Obesity (sciencedaily.com)

A one-Eyed Invader in the Bedroom (nytimes.com)

TV & Children: Television, Health and Development (Washington.edu)

TV in child’s room may hinder learning (msnbc.msn.com)

Parents,

Christmas is fast approaching, and with it so are the classroom parties! If you plan on bringing any treats

to your child's class this month, please check with your child's teacher to see if there are any students with

food allergies in class. Thanks for your cooperation, and Happy Holidays!!!

Windy Smith, RN

School Nurse

Eastside & Sunset Elementary Schools

Twas One Crazy Night Before the Holiday Dec. 4th - 6:30 pm @ Wynona Thompson

Sunset Elementary 4th and 5th Grades proudly present "Twas One Crazy Night Before the Holidays".

This music program presentation will be December 4th at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium at 6:30PM.

If you have questions please call Sunset School at 587-4279.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Sunset-4th Grade Choir Performs at Wells Fargo @ 9:30 am

Sunset Honor Choir Performs at Bighorn Bank Open House @ 12:00 pm

Food Drive At Sunset School - Support Cody Cupboard

Please help fight hunger and support the Cody Cupboard by bringing your non-perishable and canned

goods to Sunset School. Don’t forget paper products! Send items with your students or stop by yourself

and place them in our holiday corner. The food drive begins Monday, November 26, and the last day to

bring canned goods will be Friday, December 14th. Thank you for helping with this very important and

worthwhile cause.

Yellowstone Quake Home Games

Friday, Nov 23 - Thursday, Nov 29

Start Time: 7:30 pm

Catch all the action at the Victor J. Riley

Arena (1400 Heart Mountain St.).

For a complete season schedule, visit their

website.

http://yellowstonequake.pointstreaksites.c

om/view/yellowstonequake

Paul Stock Aquatics

and Recreation Center

• DEC 1 - New Session of Aquatic & Fitness Classes

Begins

• DEC 4 & 6 - First Aid/CPR/AED Preregistration required; 5:30 to 9:30 PM

• DEC 7 - Holiday Senior Brunch (60 Years & Older) 10:30 AM; Free!

• DEC 12 - WY Health Fairs Blood Drive Hallway; 7 to 10 AM

• DEC 14 - CHS Boys Swim Meet vs. Sheridan &

Lander 4 PM; Pools closed to the public

• DEC 15 - FREE DAY!

• DEC 17 to 20 - Gingerbread House Decorating

Contest Pinnacle Bank; Judging 12/20 at 10 AM

• DEC 18 - Learn to Scuba Pool, 6:30 to 8:30 PM

• DEC 19 - Holiday Hurrah (2 to 5 Year Olds) Wet Classroom & Pool; 3 to 4:30 PM

• DEC 21 - Water Float Day Pools; 1 to 3 PM

• DEC 24 - Christmas Eve Facility Open 8 AM to 3 PM

• DEC 25 - Christmas Day Facility Closed!

Riley Arena

Public Skate Schedule

For a schedule please go to the following website:

http://www.rileyarena.com/schedule.html

Pricing Public Skate Prices: $6 for 12 and over; $4 under 12.

Group Rates - 11 to 20 skaters = $5 per person 12 and over; $3 under 12

21 or more skaters = $5 per person 12 and over; $2 under 12 Skate Rentals: $3 per session

Stick & Puck: $7 Adult Drop-in Hockey: $10

Broomball: $7 Open Figure Skating: $7

Rocky Mountain Dance Theater's

''The Nutcracker'' 2012

Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 4:00 PM Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Wynona Thompson Auditorium

Tickets: Adults - $20

Children (over 8) and Seniors - $17

Park County Library

In the Children’s Library:

Mondays: Toddler Time 10:00-10:20 am, for

ages 12-36 months with parent or caregiver.

Short stories, music, movement, and finger

plays develop a comfort in the library.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays – Story Time,

10:00-10:45 am for ages 3-6. Stories are based

on a theme each week, accompanied by games,

songs, and crafts promote early literacy.

Sleepy Time Stories the first Monday evening

of each month from 6:30-7:30 pm. Kids may

come in pajamas, bring a stuffed animal or

pillow and enjoy stories and snacks.

Read to a Dog every Tuesday afternoon from

3:45-4:45 pm. This is wonderful oral reading

practice opportunity, plus just plain fun.

Certified therapy dogs are non-judgmental

listeners, and this program is proven to help

fluency. Call, email or stop by to sign up for a

15 minute session.

For a complete calendar please go to this

website:

http://parkcountylibrary.org/wp-

content/uploads/2009/03/December-20121.pdf

Santa Claus is Coming to the Cody Library!

Monday evening, December 3 from 6:30-7:30,

Santa Claus himself will be joining our

Christmas Sleepy Time Stories! He and his elf

will have free books for good boys and girls,

plus will be happy to pose for pictures…so bring

your camera. This is an extra-special time for

the whole family, including hot chocolate and

Christmas cookies! We are expecting a large

turnout, so it will be held in Grizzly Hall. Get

into the Christmas spirit with us!

For more information, call the Children’s

Library at 527-1884 or email librarian

Holly Baker, hbaker@parkcountylibrary.org

or visit www.parkcountylibrary.org/kids/.

Follow codykidsread on Twitter and

Facebook.

The library will be closed for Christmas

Monday, December 24th and

Tuesday December 25th!

Sleeping Giant Ski Area is now open! The ski bus will begin shuttling skiers/snowboarders to the

mountain. The bus departs the Cody McDonald’s at 8 am. Additional pickups at the Chamber and

Wapiti School. Cost is $8 per rider or get your $70 season pass and save!