Say hello to Mr. Mike Gradoz. Mr. Gradoz is Sunset’s new principal. He comes to us from Scott Carpenter Middle School in Westminster.

Mr. Gradoz graduated with his bachelor of arts degree in social sciences and physical education from the University of Northern Colorado. He went on to receive his masters in education and administration from Colorado State University. He has been in the education field for 20 years, 10 of which have been in administration.

His education career started in 1978 at Centaurus Senior High school in Louisville where he taught social studies and special education for approximately 10 years. He also coached girls volleyball and boy’s basketball and baseball.

His next move was to Madison, Wisconsin where he was assistant principal at a high school. Then it was back to Colorado and Casey Middle School in Boulder as assistant principal for four years. For the next three years he was principal in the Brighton School District, and then to Scott Carpenter Middle School where Mr. Gradoz has been principal for the last two years.

Mr. Gradoz has been married for 15 years and has daughters in the third and fourth grades.

He is very excited to join Sunset. "Sunset is a standards based school with good achievements marks. The parents and staff believe in strong education and strong assessments, as I do. I plan to keep going in the same direction as Mr. Rugg. I will continue to move on to do what is best for the kids. The school doors will always be open to parents and the community."

Gradoz recently visited Niwot Elementary PAC and will be involved with the upcoming fifth grade orientations in May. His new position starts the end of July. Welcome.

On April 11, Sunset students took part in the first off-site evacuation. Everything went smoothly. Students exited the building as they would a fire drill and reported by class to the park behind the school. Students were bused to the Boulder County Fairgrounds, where they lined up by class and roll was taken. Finally, the students returned to school. The whole drill took about an hour and a half.

Congratulations to Jaclyn Lange, the 10th place winner in the state Geography Bee. The National Geographic Bee is open to students in grades four to eight in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. Only 100 Colorado students advanced to the state level competition which was held on Friday, April 7. This dedicated Sunset seventh-grader was one of three students in the St. Vrain Valley School district to make the state competition.

Mark you calendars for Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to noon for a dog and car wash in the Sunset parking lot. Proceeds go towards the sixth grade Childreach sponsorships of 5-year-old Doris Cortez of El Salvador and 4-year-old Kebin Pozo of Bolivia. The cost is $5 per dog or car. There will be baked goods available for $.25 to $1. A rain date has been scheduled for Saturday, May 20.