Welcome to Sunset Elementary

       Sunset Elementary School is a vibrant global learning community in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system.  Sunset’s renowned International Studies Magnet Program, the first one in South Florida, was created in 1986 in response to the needs of the area’s international community.  This dual recognition program, in addition to a Global Curriculum in English, implements the demanding official Spanish, French, and German curriculum in the respective world language. A highly diverse faculty and student body, as well as superlative community involvement, further enhance SES’s learning experience. Sunset Elementary has three administrators and 103 full-time teachers on staff. The average class size in Pre-K-3rd grade is 18 and in grades 4-5 it is 21.

       Sunset Elementary embraces diversity.  Its multicultural student body is composed of students from more than fifty countries who speak over twenty different languages at home.  In order to accommodate divergent student abilities, Sunset Elementary offers an International Studies Magnet Program, a School of Choice Program, an integrated Math and Science Gifted Program, an Emotionally Handicapped Center, a Learning Disabilities/Varying Exceptionalities Program, and a Pre-Kindergarten Program. With the exception of world language instruction classes, students are heterogeneously grouped throughout the day.
Message from Dr. Sarria, Principal

Welcome to the 2008-2008 school year! Our school's dedicated staff is excited to serve the Sunset community once again and we are eager to start another incredible year filled with opportunities for our students. We have something for everyone here at Sunset. Read below for this year's activities, programs and new initiatives.

Instructional Programs and Incentives

▪ We’re going Global!  A global curriculum is taught through the Social Studies Block for all students.

▪ PANGEA, the Gifted Program, implements a hands-on inquiry based program and a new textbook program called Everyday Math.

▪ HANDS-ON/MINDS-ON LAB is new!  This lab will provide 2-5 grade students access to math, science and global inquiry by connecting student through technology and experiments to the world.

▪Third, fourth and fifth grade students will participate in Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS); a program that uses art to improve critical thinking and writing skills.

 ▪ English, French, Spanish and German Book Clubs will meet once a month.

▪ Our Student Ambassadors Program is in its fifth year. The ambassadors are chosen by their classmates to represent their class and promote peace.  This year the 3-5 grade ambassadors will participate in our Multicultural Exchange Program and visit three schools as well as participate in many new initiatives.

▪Recruitment for the 2007-2008 will begin October 1st.  You may access our applications on this website under programs, or at the International Office.

Parental Involvement

▪ PTA-Visit the PTA Room in Building C/1st grade or click on the Parent Associations link for their website.

▪SIPA, FIPA, and GIPA are our International Parent Organizations. Check the bulletin board by Room 3 or the Parent Associations link for more information.

▪ Room Parent-every homeroom has a room parent that assists the teacher in coordinating activities and information.  They meet once a month.

▪ Volunteers can work in the classrooms and should  check the white board outside the main office for volunteer sign-up for special activities.All volunteers must be cleared through the District. Please see Ms. Ruxton in the main office for an application.

▪ We also have Sunset Elementary’s Enrichment Drive (SEED) which provides additional materials and resources for the classroom.

▪The Parent Academy is a great resource for parents that would like to participate in free classes provide by M-DCPS.  Please register by calling 305-995-2680 or visiting their website www.theparentacademy.net.

  

There has been a school at our site since 1896!  Click on the old school house to read more about our history.