Sunset Hills Elementary School

anger of the commission of unlawful acts, violation of school/district rules, or substantial disruption of the district's/school's orderly operation; are not related to the stated purpose of the site, including but not limited to comments of a commercial nature, political activity or endorsement, and comments that constitute discrimination or harassment; violate the privacy of students or staff. Users whose comments do not adhere to these guidelines will be blocked. Please conduct your communication in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner. Sunset Hills Elementary School, established in 1974, has a reputation for providing an excellent learning environment for students. We pride ourselves on implanting a positive school wide climate where “Seagulls Soar and Character Counts!” Sunset Hills currently serves approximately 419 students in Kindergarten through Fifth grade. This quaint elementary school is located in Rancho Penasquitos and is part of the renowned Poway Unified School District (PUSD). The families of Sunset Hills represent more than 18 languages. Of the languages, Spanish at 21% and Filipino at 21% are the most popular languages spoken. Thirteen (13%) of our population are English Language Learners. Fifteen percent (15%) of our students qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Enhancing the schools diversity is the self-contained special education classes. Twenty- two (22%) of our total population are designated students with disabilities. Many of our Special Education Students are mainstreamed into the general education classes. This provides a valuable experience for all. Sunset Hills Elementary School is a proud member of the NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY (NEU) national network of schools. College readiness is not the expectation that all students will attend college, but instead, it is the belief that we must prepare all students to have a full range of postsecondary education and training options available to them after high school. We believe that elementary education is the foundation for all future academic achievement. All of our classrooms have adopted a College or University and we proudly wear a college bound No Excuse shirt every Monday to kick off each week. All staff at Sunset Hills commit to a culture of “Universal Achievement” for all students. Visitors regularly comment about the friendly and welcoming environment of our school and the intense level of commitment every staff member has for each student’s success. Character Counts lessons are embedded in many activities on campus including our TRRFFC Thursday assemblies where we come together to celebrate good character, friendship, our community and school pride. Each TRRFFC Thursday closes with our students, staff and parents enthusiastically pronouncing our Sunset Hills Seagull Chant: "Sunset Hills is the Place to go. Setting goals is how we grow. Responsible is what we'll be. Fair, Caring and Trustworthy, Respectful Citizens, Respectful citizens of Sunset Hills. Seagulls!"

The cornerstone of this educational parent community is the partnership of the Sunset Hills PTA and Foundation. Here at Sunset Hills we are lucky to have two parent-driven organizations that work collaboratively to ensure that our students have what they need to flourish and enjoy the very best elementary school experience. Our PTA strives each year to bring us programs that are academically enriching while the Sunset Hills Foundation works behind the scenes to fund essential academic resources. Our PTA sponsors programs like the Science Fair, Art Gala, Art Odyssey, Encore, Sock Hop, Talent Show, Shoe Box Science, Running Club and transportation for field trips. Parents have many opportunities to assist at school such as classroom support, instructional support like Read Naturally and Morning Reads. Parents and community members volunteer in classrooms regularly, with more than 275 volunteers donating over 5000 hours last year. Our Foundation has raised funds for instructional supplies, Compass Learning, Computer Resource Specialist, Instructional Assistants and Impact Teachers to make differentiated learning a reality for ALL students. The success of Sunset Hills owes much to the staff and parents, who give their time, share their skills and donate resources to our school. Our biggest strength at Sunset Hills is the sense of a caring community who work collaboratively on behalf of each and every student.