Sunset Ridge Elementary Newsletter
IMPORTANT DATES FOR
JANUARY & FEBRUARY

January 23rd
No School - PD Day

January 31st
Panera Bread PTA Community Fundraiser
601 Junction Rd
4-8pm

February 9th
Open PTA Meeting
Time TBA

February 20th
No School - PD Day

February 21st
No School - PD Day
Gaga Pits
The Sunset Ridge PTA generously donated/raised money for our upper playground to have a Gaga Pit. Students are loving this high energy game at recess, it is the talk of the school!

Rules of Gaga Ball
It's super simple. Basically, we throw a bunch of players and a ball in a pit. Everyone for him/herself; if the ball touches you below the knee, you're out. The last one in the pit wins. Then, everyone hops back in for the next round. Games last no more than five minutes. It's fast, it's sweaty and it's really addictive. As soon as you get out, you can't wait to hop back in. That's why they're all talking about it!
The official game rules of The Gaga Center:
  • All players start with one hand touching a wall of the pit.
  • The game begins with a referee throwing the ball into the center of the pit.
  • When the ball enters the pit, the players scream 'GA' for the first two bounces, and 'GO' on the third bounce, after which the ball is in action.
  • Once the ball is in play, any player can hit the ball with an open or closed hand.
  • If a ball touches a player below the knee (even if the player hits himself or herself) he or she is out and leaves the pit. If a player is hit above the knees, the play continues.
  • If a ball is caught on a fly, the player who hit the ball is out.
  • Players cannot hold the ball.
  • If needed, a second ball can be thrown in the pit to expedite the end of the game. The last player standing is the winner of that round.
A Message from The Music Teacher
After two years without, all grades are finally able to have music concerts. This will be held on Friday March 3rd with the following schedule. More details to come and please feel free to contact the general music teacher, Melissa Ludois with any questions or concerns. ([email protected])

Thank you!
Mrs. Ludois


12:30-12:50 - 1st & 2nd grade
1:15-1:45 - 3rd & 4th grade
2:10-2:30 - Kindergarten
Dear Sunset Ridge Families, 

First, I want to honor the life-saving efforts of Bill Karls, who is working as a paraeducator mostly in kindergarten. He saw a kindergartener choking in the lunchroom, tried pats on the back, and eventually had to use the Heimlich Maneuver. The child's airway cleared, the nurse checked the child out, and we have all been singing Bill's praises for his active supervision, quick response, and life-saving help. Your kiddos are in good hands :-)

In another topic related to safety, our risk management company identified our playgrounds, specifically our lower playground, as in need of replacement.  You can see some of the pictures they took here.  

So I called Megan from Lee Recreation who had helped me with my last two playground renovations, and she measured the space and created some mock-ups of what the lower playground area could look like - you can see them here.

With a price tag of about $75-$100,000, these are big - and lasting - investments. I'm meeting next week with Erin Wheeler from the district's finance team to start the process of launching a capital campaign for this project, but wanted to share with our community especially since we're in a new fiscal year and many businesses and corporations make charitable donations and get tax deductions for them.  

If you or someone you know might be willing and interested, please pass it along! I'd also be happy to be a key point of contact for anyone. More to come soon!  

Brett  
This Weeks Lunch Menu brought to you by
the Sunset Ridge Kitchen Staff
Links to The Lunch and Breakfast Menus
The Health Office is in need of gently used pants for boys and girls sizes 8-14

Students have been coming in frequently after recess due to the wet conditions on the playgrounds.

-The Health Office
Learn more about the PTA:
* Website
* Email