Sunset Hill Elementary School - Plymouth, MN

Sunset Hill Elementary serves approximately 650 students as one of nine elementary schools in Wayzata Public Schools. Wayzata Public Schools serves several western suburbs of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area. The district is known for maintaining a strong tradition of excellence for students through exceptional relationships and excellent teaching and learning. Sunset Hill is no exception to this reputation.

Sunset Hill is fortunate to have a more racially and economically diverse student body than the district overall. This has allowed us to offer our students ongoing learning experiences that embrace different perspectives and beliefs. In turn, we have been able to build a strong community with healthy relationships, which have become the core of our work.

We are keenly aware that students will not excel academically if the relationships they develop with each other and with staff go unnurtured or under-supported. To capitalize on the power of community, we began implementing practices around Restitution three years ago. This has enhanced our PBIS programming in that it has given students and staff an understanding of how to be one's best self, that mistakes are expected, and that preparing relationships strengthens the individual and the community overall. Students are increasingly aware of how their choices and actions impact themselves and others. This social and emotional component, in addition to robust models of support, has further created empathic, confident, and creative students.