Principal Message
Dear New and Returning Dolphins!
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year at Carl H. Sundahl Elementary School. We are excited to welcome everyone back to school. We are busy preparing classrooms and gathering resources to support instruction for our students. When school begins, I will also communicate with you regularly in my weekly Sunday message to staff and parents of Carl H. Sundahl community. Please check your email and our website frequently for updates.
Just a little about me...
I’m about to start my 29th year in education, having kicked off my career as a substitute teacher back in 1996. I’m originally from Fullerton, CA, and I’m proud to say that family is everything to me. I have one son and two wonderful bonus daughters, and together, they’ve blessed me with seven grandchildren scattered across the country.
Family ties brought me to this area, where my husband and I found a fantastic home directly across the street from my sister. This setup makes it easy to spend time with my niece and nephew, which I absolutely cherish. I’m also a huge fan of dogs ( I have 3), cows, and Disneyland—so much so that I even worked there to enjoy free admission.
I’m thrilled to be joining the Sundahl community and can’t wait to dive in as a Dolphin!
CURIOUS ABOUT THE DOLPHINS? - The Creation of Carl Sundahl's Dolphin Mascot
It all started before the school was originally built. The Principal in charge of opening the new school had a BBQ and invited all excited neighborhood kids and the teachers who were going to be part of the new adventure. The Principal talked about the need for a mascot and a school color. Many kids and teachers had different mascots in mind.
The Principal listened intently, gave a positive comment about each suggested animal and then included a BUT as to a reason why the animal just would not do for our brand new school. After several suggestions, someone asked the principal if she had a mascot in mind. The Principal responded with, "I am so glad that you asked, and yes I do... I think we should be the dolphins!". To which everyone responded: "We are going to be what?, in Folsom? Really?
The Principal started talking about dolphins and their attributes:
- Dolphins are SMART
- They take CARE of each other
- They are CURIOUS
- They are GENTLE creatures
- They are HELPFUL and KIND
- Dolphins are PEACEFUL animals
- Dolphins have been known to save lives
She ended by asking "Isn't that just EXACTLY what we want of our STUDENTS?"
The guests got quiet. What else could be said? Then came the response from kids and teachers alike.
"We are the DOLPHINS! Of course we are"
We are the what? D O L P H I N S!
Where? IN FOLSOM!
Really? ABSOLUTELY!
The Principal knew exactly what she wanted for Sundahl. She drew the students and teachers in, and all realized a wise women had spoken. She must be a very wise leader indeed as they named a different elementary school after her: Sandra J Gallardo.
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES AND CAMPUS ACCESS TIMES: School starts for Grades K-5 at 8:15am. School entry gates open at 8:00am. Please do not drop your child off at school prior to 8:00am; supervision is not available, unless you would like your child to have breakfast, which will be available in the cafeteria starting at 7:45am. At Sundahl, students arriving between 8:00am – 8:12am leave backpacks and lunchboxes at their classroom and proceed directly to the playground where a yard supervisor is stationed. The warning bell will sound at 8:12am, and all students need to be lined up with their teacher at the classroom door by 8:15am. Students who arrive after 8:15am pick up a late slip at the office before proceeding to class.
Inwood Road, our parking lot, and the bus zone are extremely busy. Please drive slowly and allow extra time to drop off and pick up your child. Let’s work together to keep students safe. Most importantly, do not let your children run into or across the street. We offer a supervised drive through Drop Off and Pick Up in front of the school. Please follow staff directions and circle around if your child is not ready for you at dismissal. Please do not block the mobile home park entrance. Help us be good neighbors.
Kindergarten parents - please walk your child through the entry gate closest to the kindergarten building and assist your child to line up at the door. The Kindergarten playground is not open in the morning. Please supervise your child until the teacher opens the door at 8:12am. Please park in the parking lot; do not use the Drop Off / Pick Up lane. Kindergarten students should be picked up from their classroom at dismissal.
Montessori/TK: The Montessori day will begin at 8:00am for our AM TK friends and at 8:15am for our Montessori Kindergarten friends. Our TK friends will be dismissed at 11:21am and our Kinder friends will be dismissed at 2:45pm. Our PM TK friends will begin at 11:24 daily.
Special Day Class families - staff will meet you at the 1st / 2nd Grade Entrance Gate and escort your child to and from class.
SCHOOL MEALS: All students in the FCUSD have access to One (1) free lunch per day. You can access the school lunch menu HERE. Breakfast is available in the cafeteria daily from 7:45am - 8:10am.
DATES TO REMEMBER: You can access our school calendar CSE School Calendar
SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT: One of the best ways to become involved at Sundahl Elementary is to be a volunteer. Volunteers are an integral part of our school communities, and we encourage parents to get involved. We have different times of volunteer opportunities. Please use the link below to find out more about becoming a volunteer: How to Become a Volunteer
PARENT/TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA): Please join the Carl Sundahl Elementary PTA.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Click school supply lists. Please note - all supplies are considered a donation and any necessary supplies will always be available here on campus!
DRESS CODE: The following guidelines apply to all school activities:
- Students are to dress appropriately for working and learning at school.
- Long pants, skirts, shirts, blouses, and dresses are encouraged.
- Clothes should be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all time.
- The appropriate length for skirts and shorts should be no more than 2 inches above the bottom of the kneecap.
- Short-shorts, tank tops, half shirts, cropped shirts, shirts with inappropriate sayings on them, clothes with sagging waist lines, see-through materials, strapless clothing, spaghetti straps, clothing with deliberately torn holes or revealing clothing are not to be worn at school.
- Clothes which are 2 to 4 sizes larger than the students would normally wear are not safe for school activities.
- Straps on sleeveless tops should be at least the width of a lasagna noodle, at least 1 ½” in width. Sleeves that are scooped low under the arms, “basketball jersey,” need another shirt underneath.)
- For safety reasons, belts may not hang down, and students may not have chains on their pants at school.
- Shoes must be attached to the feet and suitable for running.
- No flip-flops, backless sandals, heels, or high heels.
- Sandals must be strapped around the ankle and worn with socks.
- Hats or other head coverings are not to be worn indoors.
- Student’s hair is to be clean and well groomed at all times.
- Hair style or color should not be distracting in any way.
- Students wearing make-up, glitter or paint will be asked to wash it off.
- Students arriving at school in unacceptable clothing will be asked to contact a parent to bring a change of clothing to school.
- The school principal and/or classroom teacher will help to determine appropriate school dress.
We look forward to seeing all of dolphins. If you have any questions related to school policy and procedures, schedules, etc. please feel free to call the main office at 916-294-2425, check our school website via https://cse.fcusd.org or reach out directly to me.
Sincerely,
Cindy Dunn, Principal