Happy Friday, Sunflower Families!
It was another great week here at Sunflower Elementary! We are continuing to see great things happening in our classrooms, and I appreciate all of your support as we work together to make each day a successful one for our students.
Early Release begins next Wednesday, September 16. Students will be dismissed at 1:55 p.m. on early-release days. If your child will be staying until 3:25 p.m., please remember that buses will not run at that time. If there are any changes to your child’s dismissal plan, please notify the office as soon as possible so we can make the necessary adjustments.
Monday is RED MONDAY! With the Chiefs playing on Monday Night Football, we encourage students who would like to participate to wear red or their favorite Chiefs gear.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and enjoyable weekend. Thank you for all you do to support our students and Sunflower Elementary!
Ryan Colston
Principal
Your weekly update from Sunflower Elementary
The Eagle Soars
- Upcoming events
- Early release
Have a great three day weekend, we will see everyone Tuesday!
It was another great week here at Sunflower! Our EC and Kindergarten students are really getting into the flow of school, while our 1st through 4th graders are starting to shake off that summer brain fog! 😊
I have been extremely impressed with our students’ behavior, effort, and engagement in the classroom. Kudos to our staff for setting clear expectations and creating positive learning environments, and thank you to our families for raising such wonderful kids! It truly takes all of us working together to make Sunflower a great place to learn.
Arrival and dismissal are going great! Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we continue to fine-tune our routines. If possible, please continue to have your child exit the vehicle from the passenger side. This helps keep everyone as safe as possible during arrival and dismissal.
If your child can be ready to exit the vehicle when you arrive, that also helps keep the line moving efficiently. We have limited staff available during morning arrival, so if you need assistance opening a car door, we ask that you please pull forward as much as possible to allow other cars to exit safely.
Our attendance has also been very strong to start the school year! Thank you for making sure your child is here and ready to learn each day. Consistent attendance makes a big difference in student success!
I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Thank you for all you do to support our students and our school!
Enjoy your weekend,
Ryan Colston
Principal
Hi Sunflower Families!
We have several important health and dental screenings and opportunities coming up at Sunflower Elementary, and we wanted to make sure you have all of the information in one place. Please take a moment to review the upcoming hearing and vision screenings, dental screening, and the Healthy Futures Mobile Dental Clinic information below.
If you have any questions regarding any of these services, please don't hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your partnership in helping keep our students healthy and ready to learn!
Hearing and Vision Screenings:
Sunflower Elementary will be conducting school wide screenings on the following dates: Hearing and vision screens will be done Tuesday, Sept 1st and Wednesday, Sept 2nd. Hearing will be checked for PK, K, 1st and 3rd graders. Vision will be checked for PK, K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. Periodic hearing and vision screenings are required by the state of Kansas for school districts. You will only be notified of results if your child’s screening warrants follow up or referral. If you prefer your child opt out of screening, please send a signed written note to school or email me personally prior to this date. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you!
Dental Screenings
Sunflower will have dental screenings done on September 11.
Oral health is an important part of children’s overall health, and is a critical component in the child’s ability to learn and succeed in school. In compliance with Kansas State Statute 72‐5201, Gardner Edgerton USD 231 will be providing a free dental screening to all students enrolled in K- 4th grade. These students will be screened unless the parent/guardian does not want the child to participate. If your child does participate, you will only be notified of results if the screening warrants follow up or referral. If you prefer your child to opt out of screening, please send a signed written note or email prior to September 10. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Healthy Futures Mobile Dental Clinic
Healthy Futures mobile Dental clinic will be coming to Sunflower Elementary September 25. Learn all about it and enroll your child with the QR code and link provided. The Healthy Futures team performs the initial cleanings, during which they will assess the extent of decay and determine whether it can be treated at the school or if nitrous oxide or sedation is required. If there are a good number of simple cavities, their dentist will be sent out for treatment. If not, the dental hygienist will visit and apply Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) to help slow the progression of decay until the child can be seen in a clinic. Additionally, they assist uninsured families after the first clinic visit by connecting them with their insurance coordinator. They will return for a second cleaning in six months, ensuring they visit 2-3 times per year.
Enroll your child for our school-based dental program, including Dental Exams, X-rays, Dental cleanings, Dental sealants, Fluoride and simple Fillings. This program is optional for anyone without a primary dentist or anyone who has not been seen by a dentist in the last six months for regular routine dental care. We accept enrollment forms all year, but to ensure they receive services at the upcoming school clinics please enroll your child ASAP. Healthy Futures accepts Medicaid, Commercial Insurance, and the uninsured. There is NO COST to you even if your child is uninsured or not fully covered through commercial insurance. Forms are available in the school office or through the online secure forms at the following links
English and Spanish forms found HERE.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Healthy Futures Team at 785-841-7297, ext. 5601 or healthyfutures@heartlandhealth.org
Just a friendly reminder that Parent Information Night is TOMORROW! We are so excited to see everyone and kick off a fantastic school year together!
Please take a look below for your child’s grade-level time:
Kindergarten: 6:00–6:15 PM
1st Grade: 6:30–6:45 PM
2nd Grade: 6:45–7:00 PM
3rd Grade: 6:15–6:30 PM
4th Grade: 7:00–7:15 PM
This is a parent-only event, so students do not need to attend. However, we completely understand that childcare can sometimes be tricky! If your child needs to come with you, that is absolutely okay.
We can’t wait to see you tomorrow and start the school year off together!
See you there!
Sunflower Elementary
Happy Friday, Sunflower Families!
What a wonderful start to the 2026–27 school year at Sunflower Elementary! We have already seen so many smiles, high fives, and fist bumps throughout the building. Our teachers have done an outstanding job establishing expectations and routines over the past couple of days, and I could not be more impressed with our students, staff, and families. As someone who is new to Sunflower, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a welcoming school community.
As we begin our first full week of school next week, I want to share a few important reminders:
Morning Arrival
To help our students develop independence and confidence as they begin their school day, parents and guardians will not be able to walk their children into the classroom. We will have staff members throughout the building to assist students and help them get where they need to go.
Our doors open at 8:00 a.m. Students will report to the gym or breakfast when they arrive and will be dismissed to their classrooms at 8:10 a.m. each day.
Afternoon Dismissal
You should have received a car tag for afternoon pickup. If you didn’t, please contact the office. Please make sure the tag is clearly visible so our staff can quickly and safely get your child to your vehicle.
Thank you for your patience over the past couple of days as we worked through a rather large car loop! We will continue to make improvements each day, and I truly appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work together to make dismissal as smooth and efficient as possible.
Parent Information Night
Parent Information Night is next Wednesday, August 19. Please see the attached schedule for the specific time for each grade level. I am looking forward to meeting you and sharing more about the exciting year ahead!
I am incredibly proud to serve as the principal of Sunflower Elementary, and I am excited about all that this school year has in store. Thank you for entrusting us with your children. I look forward to partnering with you to make this a successful and memorable year for every student.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ryan Colston
Principal
Here’s your August Newsletter!
Be sure to click the link below for important information and reminders for the month, including upcoming events, information from Mr. Colston, and things you won’t want to miss.
Click here to read this week’s Months Update:
August Newsletter
Dear Sunflower Families,
You may recall that central office administrators visited Sunflower on December 2 to inform us of the process that will be used for adjusting school boundaries. As you know, all students and families of Sunflower will be affected by the future boundary changes. Our central office administrators will be at Sunflower again this evening to update you on the process and committee work that is scheduled for the months ahead. All Sunflower families are invited to attend this informational meeting about the process that will be utilized to make decisions about boundary adjustments.
Location: Sunflower Library
Start Time: 5:00 p.m.
Thanks,
Dr. Andy Wright
Principal of Sunflower Elementary School
As you know, we are rapidly approaching summer break. We have had an outstanding school year full of fun community building events, exciting learning opportunities and academic accomplishments.
Earlier this week, we reviewed the FastBridge Scores for Math. As you know, the FastBridge program offers assessments to help us measure student proficiency and progress. I am pleased to report that our students achieved something unprecedented at Sunflower.
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FastBridge earlyMath is an evidence based assessment used to monitor foundational math skills for Kindergarten and first grade students.
According to the FastBridge data... 90.7% of Kindergarten and first grade students at Sunflower scored at or above grade level on the spring earlyMath assessment.
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FastBridge aMath (Adaptive Math) is a computer-based universal screener used to measure broad mathematics skills, track growth and identify students needing additional support.
According to the FastBridge data... 83.4% of second, third and fourth grade students at Sunflower scored at or above grade level on the spring aMath assessment.
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FastBridge mathAutomaticity is a computer-administered, timed, curriculum-based assessment (CBM) that measures a student's fluency in quickly recalling basic math facts in grades 1 through 4.
According to the FastBridge data... 93.8% of our first, second, third and fourth grade students at Sunflower scored at or above grade level on the spring mathAutomaticity assessment.
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These impressive percentages are the strongest that Sunflower has achieved on district math assessments. No doubt, the diligent work of our educators, students and parents all have a contribution to the much improved and impressive academic achievement that Sunflower is experiencing. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andy Wright
Principal of Sunflower Elementary School
Dear Families,
Field Day is coming up on Friday, May 15! Students will be spending a large portion of their day outside, so please help prepare your child for a fun and successful day.
Please keep the following in mind:
Sun Protection: Please apply sunscreen at home before school. Hats and sunglasses are encouraged to help protect students from the sun.
Dress Comfortably: Students should wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes with socks.
Please note: No sandals, flip-flops, Crocs, or swimsuits are allowed.
Stay Hydrated: Please send your child with a water bottle labeled with their name. A big thank you to PTO for providing a water bottle for every student!
Extra Clothes: Students may bring an extra set of clothing and a towel for the afternoon activities.
Label Belongings: Please label personal items such as hats, towels, sunglasses, water bottles, and extra clothing with your child’s name.
Volunteer Opportunity: We are still looking for Field Day volunteers! If you would like to sign up, there is still plenty of time—volunteer sign-ups will close on Wednesday.
If you plan on attending you need to stop by the office, to sign in at the upon arrival.
We are looking forward to a fun-filled day! Please encourage your child to come ready to stay active, hydrated, and have fun.
Thank you,
Sunflower Elementary
May Newsletter found here
May Calendar
Field Day
Kindergarten Celebration
4th Grade Recognition and so much more!!!
Upcoming Events | April 27 – May 1
Monday, April 27
No School
Tuesday, April 28
Superhero Day – Let’s celebrate our amazing lunch ladies!
Mrs. Wedel Teacher Experience (Grades 2–4) | 3:30–5:00 PM
Wednesday, April 29
(No scheduled events)
Thursday, April 30
Kentucky Derby Day – Dress in your best derby attire!
Friday, May 1
4th Grade Field Trip
Preschool Field Trip
Principal’s Day
Reminder:
The Field Day flyer is attached. Be sure to sign up to volunteer using the QR code!
Field Day: May 15
Upcoming Events for the week of April 20th - April 24th
April 20th - Kindergarten Picnic 2:15 - 3:00 PM
April 21st - Mrs. Wedel Teacher Experience - Kinder and 1st Grade
April 22nd - Early Release @ 1:55PM
April 23rd - 1st Grade Field Trip - KC Zoo
April 24th - 3rd Grade Field Trip - American Royal
Dear Sunflower Families,
We had a very productive week at Sunflower. Our third and fourth grade students worked diligently to complete the English Language Arts portion of the KAP test. We are proud of their efforts to demonstrate the academic knowledge and proficiency they have achieved this school year. We are optimistic that their efforts will yield impressive individual and collective results... just like we achieved last school year.
Next week, our third and fourth grade students will complete the Math portion of the KAP test. Those sessions are scheduled to take place on the mornings of April 14 and 16. Please let us know if your child needs to be absent for either of the math sessions. We will find a time for them to make-up the assessment.
Sincerely
Dr. Andy Wright
Principal of Sunflower Elementary School
P.S. - Our school has a yellow fire hydrant located near the flagpole in front of the school (along the car rider line loop). In many instances, fire hydrants are placed only a couple of feet from the curb. The fire hydrant in front of our school is placed about 15 feet from the curb. For this reason, the fire hydrant is not always noticed easily by drivers.
We ask our guests to avoid blocking the fire hydrant when parking and exiting your vehicle during the school day to attend meetings, eat lunch with your child, or other activities that cause you to enter the building.
April Newsletter can be found here!
- Upcoming Dates
- 1st Grade Musical and "The Grand Event"
- Field Trips .... and so much more!
Dear Sunflower Families,
All is well at Sunflower. Next week, our 3rd and 4th grade students will begin taking KAP assessments for the 2025-26 school year. Last school year, our students scored very well with test scores making significant improvements over previous years.
Our assessment data from this school year gives us reason to feel confident that we will see those kind of results again this year. We are proud of our students for working with diligence and enthusiasm this school year to achieve so many academic goals.
A special thanks to our PTO for providing our third and fourth grade students with snacks to eat on testing days (listed below).
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April 7
08:45-10:00 - 4th grade (ELA)
10:00-11:15 - 3rd grade (ELA)
April 9
08:45-10:00 - 4th grade (ELA)
10:00-11:15 - 3rd grade (ELA)
April 14
08:45-10:00 - 4th grade (Math)
10:00-11:15 - 3rd grade (Math)
April 16
08:45-10:00 - 4th grade (Math)
10:00-11:15 - 3rd grade (Math)
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Sincerely,
Dr. Andy Wright
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One additional announcement... our second grade students will be away on a field trip this Friday (April 3). As a result, we will adjust the lunch time of third and fourth grade students on that day.
April 3
Third grade students will eat lunch at 11:20 (instead of 11:40)
Fourth grade students will eat lunch at 11:40 (instead of 12:00)
Upcoming Events for the week of March 30th thru April 1st
March 30th - Royals Home Opener - Show your team pride - shirts, hats, socks, anything blue and white!
MENU CHANGE - A: Hot dogs, Seasoned curly fries, and cheesy vegetable medley will be served
April 1st - Early Release @ 1:55 - NO KINDERGARTEN!!!!!
April 3rd - 2nd grade field trip - Science City
Welcome back from Spring Break!!!
We are looking forward to reconnecting with students tomorrow (March 23). It's always a lot of fun for educators to see the excitement and hear the stories that students share with one another after long breaks from school. Please know that homeroom teachers will take time to allow students to reconnect with one another and ease in on our first day back.
March 23 marks the first day of the 4th quarter. As you know, the final stretch of the school year tends to get busy with the culmination of many academic goals, field trips, state assessments (grades 3 and 4), Spring Carnival (organized by PTO) and a number of celebratory events.
We have had a very successful school year marked with strong academic performance, desirable student attendance rates and well-attended school events. We look forward to finishing strong.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andy Wright
Principal of Sunflower Elementary School
Upcoming Events for the week of March 9th thru 13th
March 9th - BOE Mtg @ 6PM
March 10th - Mar10 Day, Major Saver Kick off, Wedel Teacher Experience (2nd-4th)
March 11th -
March 12th - Spring/Class Pictures, Gum Day - 2/$1
March 13th - No Classes
Upcoming Dates:
March 16th - 20th - SPRING BREAK
