Director's Newsletter- August 2025

Dear Sunset Families,

As we move through the final month of summer and prepare for the exciting back-to-school season, we have a few important reminders and updates to help us all stay organized and successful!

📅 Important Dates

Friday, August 8: Early Closure at 4:00 PM for Staff Training
Tuesday, August 19: First Day of the New School Year for Preschool & Pre-K
– Feel free to visit your child’s new classroom anytime from now and meet their teachers ahead of time!
NEW: Thursday, September 11: Staff Meeting Moved (originally Friday, 9/12)
– Our team will receive training from Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants—a valuable opportunity for continued growth and support!

👕 Weather-Appropriate Clothing & Stocked Cubbies
With changing weather patterns, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately each day for outdoor play. Mornings may be cooler while afternoons are still warm. Light jackets or layers are always a good idea!

Cubbies must remain fully stocked with seasonally appropriate and correctly sized extra clothing. Accidents, spills, and messy play can happen at any time. We ask that parents check their child’s cubby daily to:

Take home any soiled clothing
Collect artwork or school projects
Replenish extra clothes as needed
LABEL ALL PERSONAL ITEMS

⏰ Center Closing Time & Late Pick-Up Policy
Please remember that our center closes promptly at 5:30 PM. We understand that life happens, so if you know you will be late, please give us a call as soon as possible.

Late pick-up fees will apply at $1.00 per minute past 5:30 PM, per child. This policy is in place to respect the time of our hardworking staff and ensure smooth operations.

🧸 Leave Toys at Home
To avoid distractions, damage, or loss, personal toys should be left at home or in your vehicle. Our staff cannot be held responsible for any lost or broken items brought from home.

📱 Stay Connected on ProCare
This school year, we encourage all families to stay engaged with your child’s development through the ProCare App! Teachers regularly share:

Curriculum highlights
Classroom updates
Photos and learning moments

Please make sure your notifications are enabled so you don’t miss out on important information and announcements.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, organized, and nurturing environment for your children. As always, we are grateful to have your family as part of our Sunset Academy community.

Warmly,

Sammi Emmer
Director, Sunset Academy

“7 MUST-READ BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS”

7 Must-Read Back to Preschool Tips

Get a school routine going early.

Summertime schedules are often different than school year schedules, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Kids do well with routines, though, so establishing a school routine early is important.

Two to four weeks before school starts, get the preschoolers used to getting up at a certain time every day and going to bed at a certain time. This will get their little bodies used to school day hours. It will also give everyone the chance to iron out any wrinkles before school starts.

Get appropriate gear for your preschooler.

I know that there are TONS of cute and fun school supplies out there! With that being said, keep in mind what your child actually needs for preschool. A tiny bug backpack might be super adorable, but it will be pointless if it won’t hold your kiddo’s lunchbox or school folder.

Your child’s school will likely have a list, so be sure to refer to that. Many preschools also have small lists of items to not bring to school. It will help the teachers and students if those lists are adhered to.

Encourage independence.

While no one expects a 3 or 4-year old to do everything on her own, age-appropriate independence is important. Real tasks allow children to learn to take care of themselves. They also give kiddos a sense of true accomplishment.

Some suggestions – cleaning up after themselves after meals, choosing clothes for the day, getting themselves dressed, etc. While perfection isn’t necessary, working towards independence is the goal.

Prepare for back-to-school emotions.

Sometimes young children deal with separation anxiety when back to school time rolls around. Honestly, some parents have trouble separating from their children too. In both cases, those feelings are totally normal! Share positive things about school and remind them of familiar faces — friends and teachers!

Keep goodbyes short and sweet: Lingering can make the separation harder. Trust your child will be cared for and welcomed with love.

Many of the above tips will help ease back to school anxieties. Additionally, consider reading up on separation anxiety and how to ease it. Most importantly, you know your child best and you know how to address his concerns.

Keep Having Fun!!

Keep having fun! While I think the above tips for parents are important, so is having fun as a family! Keep up your weekly and monthly traditions, as well as your nightly sleep rituals. Reading together, having dinner together, going to the park together — all of these things will keep you connected to your child.