Sunset Park Elementary School

What an incredible last couple of days of school! 🎉

From Field Day fun, the 5th Grade vs. Teachers kickball game (we'll politely leave the score out of this post 😉), to water balloons being launched at Mrs. Hertneky for helping us crush our Read-a-Thon goals, pizza outside, and a day at the pool, we wrapped up the year with lots of laughter, memories, and sunshine.

Thank you to our amazing students, supportive families, dedicated staff, and especially Mrs. Hertneky for making this such a fantastic year. Your commitment to creating fun, meaningful, and educational experiences has given our students memories they will carry with them for a lifetime.

We are so grateful for a wonderful year together. Have a safe, fun, and relaxing summer! ☀️ We look forward to seeing everyone back in August. Be sure to keep an eye out for important updates and information throughout the summer.

Happy Summer, Sunset Park! 😎☀️🏖️

A huge thank you to El Rodeo Meat Market for their generous donation of popsicles for our students today!

As we celebrate the end of another amazing school year, this special treat was the perfect way to help our students cool off and enjoy time with their friends this afternoon. The popsicles were a huge hit, and our students absolutely loved them!

We are so grateful for community partners like El Rodeo Meat Market who support our school and help make memorable experiences possible for our students. Thank you for your kindness and generosity—it was truly appreciated! 🍦💛🖤

Today, we had not one, not two, but THREE amazing Guest Principals at Sunset Park Elementary!

Congratulations to Hayes, Josi, and Avery, who were our top earners in this year's Read-A-Thon and earned the opportunity to serve as Principal of the Day.

Our guest principals quickly learned that the day doesn't always go as planned and that there is a lot that happens behind the scenes to keep a school running smoothly! They helped pass out report cards, collected tardy slips from all over the building, and took on many important responsibilities throughout the day.

Hayes treated every student to a popsicle at the end of the day, while Josi showed appreciation for our staff by providing coffee and sweet treats. All three principals also enjoyed a special lunch with a friend—something we know principals don't always have time to do!

We are incredibly proud of Hayes, Josi, and Avery for their leadership, positive attitudes, and willingness to jump right into the role. They did an outstanding job and helped make today a great day at Sunset Park Elementary! Our future leaders are already shining bright!

What an incredible Spring Fling! 🎉☀️

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for an evening filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. From the delicious In-N-Out Burger truck 🍔 to games, music, and smiles all around, it was a night to remember!

We were thrilled to welcome around 600 students, families, staff members, and community members to this special event. Seeing so many people come together to celebrate, connect, and make memories is what makes our school community so amazing.

Thank you to all of our volunteers, staff, and supporters who helped make this event a success. We couldn't have done it without you!

🌟 Sunset Park Weekly Update 🌟 Sunset Park Weekly Update

For the third time, Sunset Park Elementary School has renewed its Leader in Me Lighthouse School status.

Since first earning Lighthouse recognition in 2019, Sunset Park has remained committed to empowering student leadership, building a strong culture of accountability, and living its mission of Learn, Love, and Lead. This renewal reflects the continued dedication of students, staff, and families who bring this work to life every day.

As a Lighthouse School, Sunset Park annually undertakes a service-learning project that benefits the school and/or the community.

This year, the Yearlings raised $2,000 in memory of a beloved teacher, Ms. Candice Taravella. With those funds, four $500 college Memorial Scholarships were awarded to high school seniors who attended Sunset Park:
Bryson Byrd, Centennial
Jackson Jimenez, Central
Juliana Segura, Centennial
James Raebel, South

“These outstanding former Sunset Park students represent the leadership, kindness, perseverance, and dedication that Ms. Taravella inspired in so many throughout her years of teaching,” said Principal Hertneky. “Our day was filled with meaningful moments as we honored Ms. Taravella’s legacy through our service-learning project, recognized our scholarship recipients, celebrated the planting of a memorial tree in her honor, and concluded the day with our Leadership Fun Run.”

Just a reminder we do not have school Monday. We look forward to seeing our Yearlings back on Tuesday.

🎨✨ Another proud Sunset moment! ✨🎨

Today, local artist Jeff M. from BLO BACK Gallery visited Sunset Park Elementary to officially purchase Queenie’s incredible artwork that was previously recognized at the D60 Art Show! 💛🖤

At Sunset, our Leader in Me program helps students grow as leaders both inside and outside the classroom. Moments like this show how our students use their talents, confidence, and creativity to make an impact in our community. 🌟

We are so proud of Queenie for representing Sunset so well through her hard work and artistic talent! Your Sunset family is cheering you on! 🖤💛

Sunset Park students are excited to participate in a “Fill the Boot” fundraiser this week for one last push in support of the Candice Taravella Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established by the students and staff of Sunset Park Elementary School to honor the life and legacy of Candice Taravella, a beloved teacher who dedicated her career to serving students with kindness, compassion, and dedication. Candice passed away in December 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer, and this scholarship continues her impact by supporting students pursuing higher education.

We will be collecting donations before and after school this week as part of our Leadership Day Service Learning Project. We are asking for a minimum donation of $1, and cash donations are greatly appreciated. This is our final push, and we truly appreciate all of the support our Sunset Park community has shown so far. Thank you for helping our students learn the importance of leadership, service, and giving back to others!