🌟📢 Message from the Principal 🌟

Hello Sunset Valley Cheetahs,

We made it through the first week of school! 🎉 I am so proud of our students for persevering through the transition back into school routines and responsibilities. Our teachers have loved getting to know their students and beginning to build those meaningful relationships that set the tone for a wonderful year ahead. 💛

In this newsletter, you’ll find important updates about procedures, enrichment programs, and highlights from our amazing PTA. Don’t forget—you can also find your child’s grade-level newsletter linked at the bottom for your convenience.

Thank you for your continued support, and have a restful and joyful weekend. We can’t wait to see everyone back on Monday, ready for week two!

Con cariño,
Proud Principal Elaine 🐆

🤝 Strong Minds, Kind Hearts: SEL at SVE ✨

We are thrilled to be rolling out our Character Strong Social Emotional Learning curriculum in full force this year! 🌟 Our SEL focus for August is Kindness. Students are learning about kindness during their morning meeting lessons, and we’re carrying that theme into our assemblies and across the entire campus.

To celebrate positive choices, students can earn Cheetah Bucks when they are caught showing Cheetah PRIDE or acts of kindness. 🐆💛 Next week, we’ll recognize one student who has shown consistent kindness by naming them our very first Student of the Month!

See our Kindness Kickoff Family Connection to learn more.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

🌞 Morning Arrival

Drop-off is in the front circle drive. Our staff and safety patrol will be there to help your child safely out of the car.
Students enter through the main entrance on the left and head straight to the cafeteria.
Parents walking students in can say goodbye at the designated “hug zone” at the door. A staff member will take it from there.
Monday–Thursday: Assembly begins at 7:25 a.m. and ends at 7:30 a.m. Students arriving after 7:30 go straight to class.
Friday: Assembly runs a little longer, from 7:25–7:40 a.m. Students may enter through the cafeteria doors until 7:40.
Students arriving after 7:40 will be marked tardy.

For safety reasons, parents and caregivers may not enter the main building unless they check in through the office.

🌙 Afternoon Dismissal

Dismissal happens in three different locations:
- Car Riders (PK–1st & siblings): Pick up at the front circle drive (students are dismissed from the 100 pod).
- Car Riders (2nd–5th): Pick up at the back circle drive (students are dismissed from the gym).
- Park & Walk: Pick up at the main entrance. Caregivers show their name plate, and staff will call for your child.
If a child has siblings in PK–1st grade, the family will always follow the PK–1st dismissal plan (even if the PK–1st sibling is absent that day).
Please remind your child to bring everything they need at dismissal. If they forget something, parents may park and accompany their child back to the classroom.

After School Enrichment for all SVE Cheetahs!

After School Enrichment

We have after-school clubs every day of the week, Monday - Friday. The classes will be held in the only classroom space available after school.

Mondays: Cub Club Cooking

Tuesdays: Film Kids

Wednesdays: Wicked Workshop

Thursdays: ATX Ballers

Fridays: Chess Wizards

For more information on all of these, visit the school site.

Ballet Folklorico Afterschool Program

Ballet Folklorico, our afterschool Mexican dance and culture class, has just 10 spots left per age group. It’s on Wednesdays for grades K-2 and Friday for grades 3-5. Register now

How to Get SVE News...

Welcome old parents and new! This year, the PTA is working with the principal to make sure that all the information you need is in two places:

Emails like this one. There will be a newsletter every weekend, and extra emails if there’s something timely you need to know during the week.
The online school calendar, which is easy to add to your own calendar app on your phone or computer — just click on the Subscribe button on the right side, and you’ll always have the latest dates on your device. Please note that we’re still setting and adding dates for events throughout the school year, but most things should be in by the time school starts. If anything gets added or changed, this will be the first place you see it. Subscribe to the school calendar.

We also have a WhatsApp community and Facebook groups for parents to connect with each other, but the school does not use those for official communications.

How to sign up for school emails:

If you or another parent are not getting the school emails and wants to, there are two good ways to get on the school mailing list:

Ask the school to add you. Contact 512-414-2392 or melissa.arredondo@austinisd.org
Go to the AISD portal and add yourself in Frontline. Here’s a tutorial.

PTA Weekly News

Hang out at Doc’s on Friday:

Friday, August 22, 2025 - 3:00 to 6:00 pm

Hang out with us every third Friday after school at Doc's Backyard on Brodie. Doc's has food, drinks and a great playground. Let's welcome new families and build the SVE community!

Free shipping this week on Cheetah shirts and gear:

The SVE PTA merch store is open, and until Sunday the 24th, shipping is free. Purchase Cheetah T-shirts, tanktops, hoodies, tote bags, and water bottles to help the PTA raise funds to support our school.

License plate cameras in Sunset Valley

Are you aware of the license plate reading cameras around Sunset Valley? Federal agencies such as ICE, and the state of Texas, can track the vehicles of Sunset Valley Elementary families into the city whether you enter from Westgate or Brodie, with the help of the city’s cameras. Learn more.

Do you work in the restaurant industry?

Looking for a parent who works in the restaurant industry and/or plumbing. The PTA is buying a commercial ice maker for the school, and we could use help finding a solid unit and installing it. If you know someone who will volunteer to help us, please let me know: communications@sve-pta.org

Have a voice in how the PTA supports our school with —join the PTA for $14. Student members get perks:

Vote for your favorite finalist for the student-designed shirt. Voting will be opened to any student who is a PTA member by this Saturday.
The class that signs up the most student members gets a popcorn party.
Raffle for a free t-shirt.

Pride parade Saturday

Saturday Aug 23, 2025 ⋅ 8pm

The district will proudly participate in the annual Austin Pride Parade on Saturday in downtown Austin. Students, families and staff are invited to join in the celebrations. Free shuttles will be available from Travis High School, leaving at 6pm. At the end of the parade route, buses will pick up participants at the old Statesman parking lot located at 305 S. Congress Ave. to return to Travis High School. If driving, meet at the AISD school bus near San Jacinto and E. 12th St. at 7:30 p.m.

Room parents needed

Room parents support the teacher and the classroom throughout the year - make copies, stuff Friday folders, decorate bulletin boards. If you’re able to help out in your child’s classroom or in SpEd, please answer a few questions.

Security Vestibule & Construction Updates

This summer, our campus has been under major construction as Sunset Valley prepares for the installation of a new security vestibule at our main entrance. The project was originally scheduled to be completed by August 1st, but due to a construction error with the measurements, the vestibule will need to be reinstalled after Labor Day weekend.

The good news is that about 90% of the front office construction is complete, and the space will be ready to support school operations on day one. Students and staff will continue to enter and exit through the main entrance, and visitors will follow updated safety procedures:

All visitors will be buzzed into the front office to check in.
After check-in, visitors will be buzzed out into the main building by office staff.
Visitors will not be able to walk directly through the vestibule construction area.

While the final installation is still in progress, we want to assure you that safety protocols will be in place from the very first day of school. Thank you for your patience and support as we complete this important improvement for our campus.

🐆💛 Together, we are making SVE stronger and safer!