| A Look Ahead | |
August 13 First Day of School
August 14 Welcome Back Coffee, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
(preschoolers welcome)
August 14 Executive Committee Meeting, 9 a.m.
August 27 Room Parent Meeting, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Cafeteria)
August 28 BOD Meeting, 9 a.m.
September 3 No School
September 5 Walk to School Day
September 6 General PTA Meeting/Cirriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
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Principal's Message
| Greetings!
It is indeed an honor to serve as the newly appointed principal of Vanderlyn Elementary School! Vanderlyn proudly boasts a rich tradition of academic achievement that is a clear reflection of the purposeful partnership between the students, faculty and parents. As a twenty year veteran educator who brings a firm commitment to students and families as well as a love of teaching and learning, I look forward to continuing to nurture established relationships and also building new relationships with each and every member of the Vanderlyn School community.
I know that changes in leadership can bring great anticipation of what is to come. However, I assure you that I am committed to taking decisive steps that will strongly impact our students' success! As principal of Vanderlyn Elementary School, my vision is inspired by that of our Superintendent, Dr. Cheryl Atkinson, which is to ensure that every child experiences Victory in Every Classroom! It is my goal to provide strong leadership and support that will inspire a culture of teaching and learning at the highest levels. I believe that with a spirit of collaboration between our dedicated staff and with the support of our parents, we will continue to maintain our tradition of academic excellence and soar to even greater heights!
This year promises to be great as we set high expectations for student learning. Our test scores continue to be among the best in the district. Our school culture aims to be nurturing and consistent. We will continue to build community in each classroom and promote good citizenship and respect. Most importantly, we are ready to motivate and engage your child in their learning. We know that helping students learn how to synthesize information, problem solve, think critically and organize their materials are essential, lifelong skills. Teachers are busy planning rigorous enrichment activities to expand the curriculum. There will be many opportunities throughout the year to celebrate your child's progress.
Changes at the district level have impacted our faculty and staff in many unexpected ways over the summer. These changes in personnel have required several adjustments to be made to grade level teaching assignments. I am excited to welcome our newest staff members: Shandra Lamback (5th grade), Will Hayes (Drama), and Christine Case (Kindergarten) and wish Ms. Pine, Mrs. Speck, Mrs. Liebert, Mrs. Packer and Mrs. Franklin well as they begin their respective new journeys!
On Monday, August 13, we will begin to establish our partnership and embark upon our pursuit of academic excellence for all of our students! If you have questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact me at the school. I look forward to all that we will achieve "together" during the upcoming school year!
Sincerely yours,
Tracey Crenshaw
Principal
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Co-President's Message
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Dear Parents: By now you have registered your child for the Vanderlyn school year, and hopefully you are a card-carrying member of the PTA. Membership in the PTA means you are supporting the efforts that have contributed to our achievement, including state-level recognition as being a 2011 School of Excellence in Student Achievement and Platinum Award recipient of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement designation. The PTA leadership is committed to continuing the Vanderlyn tradition of excellence. Our expectation is that academic instruction is of primary importance, and equally important is conscientious management of funds collected by the PTA. We are committed and obligated to be good stewards of the money collected from our members. As PTA Co-Presidents, we are responsible for coordinating the efforts that support school activities your child experiences, yet are not funded with county dollars. Much of what the PTA supports is not clearly visible. PTA-funded teacher training and classroom resources have helped to establish Vanderlyn as a premier school, benefitting both the student and community it serves. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that "PTA=Field Day". Your PTA is way bigger than that. We have goals for this school year. First of all, we are committed to being good stewards of the PTA funds. Equally important is our commitment to supporting our school administration in providing a superior level of instruction to our students. Thirdly, we want to grow our parent volunteerism in the PTA. Finally, we will endeavor to communicate openly and efficiently to our families. Your child may likely not notice the changes that are taking place at our school. The PTA can provide continuity of experience to minimize the effects of some of these changes. Among those changes is the appointment of Ms. Tracey Crenshaw as our new principal. We feel incredibly fortunate to have Ms. Crenshaw as our principal, because she has a breadth of experience and knows our students, staff, and families. Other changes are less comfortable, specifically the loss of some beloved staff. But once again, we are fortunate to welcome new staff who bring joy and passion to the classroom. In closing, the budget cuts enacted by the School Board were significant, even dramatic. Our school community must generate resources to offset some of these cuts. We encourage you to answer the call to support every Vanderlyn student with your resources and time. If you have not yet committed yourself to supporting the PTA, please email us and we will find a way you can enjoy doing so. Your support is critical to our success! Julia LeDoyen and Courtney Kuriger PTA Co-Presidents 2012-2013 |
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Welcome Back Coffee - Aug. 14, 7:30 a.m.
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Everyone is invited to attend the informal Welcome Back Coffee to be held this Tuesday morning, August 14 in the cafeteria. Come early and grab a cup of coffee. The brief meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. You'll have an opportunity to join a PTA committee, visit with old friends and make new friends. Mrs. Crenshaw will be there, too! A folder for each PTA committee will be available for pick up. Committee Chairs, please make every effort to be at this meeting to pick up your folder. Budget information will be included and all budget request forms are due to be signed and turned in no later than Thursday, August 16.
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Traffic ALERT
| A movie is being filmed in the neighborhood adjacent to Vanderlyn Elementary. If their equipment trucks are on Hensley Drive near Vanderlyn Drive in the mornings, carpool dropoff will undoubtedly be affected. Please be alert to this potential for delay if you use Hensley Drive to arrive at school.
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General PTA Meeting
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Our first General PTA meeting will be held on Thursday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Please make every effort to attend as we will be voting to approve the annual budget. Following the meeting, parents will disperse to their child's classroom in order to speak with teachers and volunteer for activities.
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Character Trait:
School Pride
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"Education is not the filling of the pail, but the lighting of a fire."
William Butler Yeats
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Jennifer Nail
Viking Views Editor
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