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October 2011
Assessment tools
Orton-Gillingham
Fall fling picnic
COSI Open House
2012 yearbooks coming soon!
Spotlight on Teresa Walton
Spotlight on Eric Williams
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Calendar of Events

Professional Development

October 21

 

OGT Testing 
October 24-28 

 

Leadership Academy III

October 27

 

Leadership Academy I

November 1

 

Leadership Academy II

November 7

 

Race to the Top News

As reported in several previous issues of The Pack Press, VCS was awarded Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants to improve student performance. Here is an update on our recent activity.

 

We are working hand-in-hand with grant specialists to keep our progress on track. As a part of this collaboration, the grant specialists will be observing live Elluminate sessions and visiting classrooms periodically.

 

These observations are not for evaluative purposes, but merely a "walk-through" to gain a sense of changes we are implementing according to our RttT and SIG grant plans. In our online world, they have to jump into Elluminate to get a sense of how our teachers teach. We welcome these visitors as we strive to improve student performance.

 

 

Greetings!

Jim McCord

Fall in Ohio is certainly here. We went from sunny and 80 degrees, to chilly and rainy in a matter of days. But the fall is always a busy and exciting time for VCS. We've already had many successful events such as the COSI Open House and the annual fall picnic, which you can read more about below. And with OGT testing next week, we haven't had a shortage of items on our to-do list.

 

As a reminder, the next professional development meeting will be held tomorrow, October 21. Click here for the agenda. Weather permitting, we will be eating lunch outside as part of our October tailgate theme. Bring a lawn chair if you have one. Please dress accordingly and support your favorite sports team.You know I will be supporting my Buckeyes!
 

Go Wolves!

 

Jim McCord

Superintendent

VCS implements a variety of assessment tools

 survey

At VCS, our vision is to be a world class educational organization. In order to do so, we have implemented many different surveys to solicit input and feedback from a variety of stakeholders.

 

We converted our exit survey to an electronic version that will be sent out on Tuesdays and Fridays, to students who have withdrawn from VCS.

 

We are also collecting information on current applicants to follow up with them on the progress of their application. This survey will help us to better understand why students start an application, but do not follow through. This survey will go out every other Wednesday. 

 

As a measure to retain our current students, VCS has developed an enrollment survey to send to new students as part of our Welcome Wagon. We send out welcome letters, e-mails and enrollment survey information on a weekly basis, usually on Fridays.

 

Lastly, but certainly not least, we conduct teacher surveys at the end of every semester. Looking ahead on the calendar, these surveys will be available for students and parents to complete from December 5 to the end of the semester. Please mark this on your calendar!

 

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Orton-Gillingham program available to VCS students

According to the U.S. Department of Education, dyslexia accounts for 85% of all learning disabilities. It is a lifelong disability that is inherited and not caused by parenting style or behavior. Reading, writing and spelling are extremely difficult for those with dyslexia. 

 

VCS strives to serve the needs of each and every one of our students, many of which struggle with dyslexia.


The Orton-Gillingham method of instruction was introduced in the 1930s to help tutor individuals with dyslexia, but has been found to be beneficial to all learners, especially those struggling with reading and spelling. 

 

Orton-Gillingham is now available to VCS students at the Miami Valley Regional Center in Dayton and Kairos in Newark. For information, please contact Stacey Whittaker or Becky Petrey.

 

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Students and faculty gather at the fall picnic 

Students, families and staff members gathered at the Hoover Y Park in Lockbourne on Saturday, October 8 for the annual fall picnic. Attendees enjoyed the beautiful fall weather as well as mingling with their teachers and classmates and activities such as an inflatable bounce house and refreshments from Donatos. Even some Branching students were in attendance! It was a wonderful event. Thank you to everyone that attended. The picnic was a huge successful! See some photos of the picnic below, or click here to view them all.  

 

 Fall Picnic 11 TableFall Picnic 11 Playground

Fall Picnic 11 BouncehouseFall Picnic 11 Boys 

 

 

 

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COSI Open House a huge success!

Students, families and staff members gathered at COSI on Friday, September 30 during Family Fun Night for an Open House. Thank you to everyone, we had almost 250 people in attendance! Attendees listened to guest speakers, created crafts, learned about the COSI learning center and toured the COSI exhibits. See some photos from the Open House below.

 

The COSI learning center will also be hosting one evening event a month for the remainder of the year. A "Writers' Workshop" has held last night. Stayed tuned for more information on all the fun events at COSI!

 

COSI Study skillsSheridan COSICOSI speaker 

 

 

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2012 yearbook info coming soon!

National Buy Your Yearbook Day

Planning is well underway for the 2011-2012 VCS yearbooks! The books will be very similar to last year. We will have two soft cover books, with 40 pages of full color. This year, books will only be $15 each! Stay tuned for more info on how to order and submit photos. National Buy Your Yearbook Day is coming up on November 9!

In the meantime, please check out the 2011 yearbooks if you haven't done so already!

To view the high school yearbook, click here.  
To view the K-8 yearbook, click here. 

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TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Teresa Walton

Teresa Walton 

Teresa is a teacher at the COSI Learning Center

 

What is your favorite thing about VCS? My favorite thoughts about VCS begin with the fact that VCS believes in and takes action to achieve their mission. I have found the VCS staff to be valiant advocates for an excellent education for all of our students. The VCS students continue to impress me and serve as a motivating factor for me to work toward the VCS mission too.

 

What do you want students to accomplish while they attend VCS? I want students to know that they can make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others by working to the best of their ability and by developing a hunger for knowledge. I want students to take great pride in their efforts to learn; working toward educational goals can bring a great sense of accomplishment.

 

What advice do you want to pass on to students?  I advise students to believe in themselves and work tirelessly to overcome challenges. An immediate reward may not be in sight; however, small successes add up to greater rewards in the future. I encourage students to take charge of their education and give it all the gumption one can muster. Forward thinking is required to picture one's future and to enable one to grasp the concept of legacy.  One should ask: How do I want to be remembered?

 

Favorites:

Food: Fruits of all kinds--plums, peaches, pears, raspberries, mulberries, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, oranges

Book: The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur by Spencer Johnson, Steve Pileggi

Movie: The Bells of St. Mary's

TV Show: I'm a Fox News junkie and love movies from the 1940s.

Hobby/Interest:  Gardening, reading, learning, walking, sports, and enjoying my family.  Over the years, my husband and I have enjoyed and cheered on my daughters' volleyball and basketball teams. Also, I'm a fan of the late, great, Patsy Cline, a country music artist.

Season: I'm a fan of all the seasons and this is what I love about Ohio--we are blessed with the treasures of each--spring, summer, fall and winter.

Vacation Destination:  Alaskan Cruise-The Inside Passage.  The ocean is a beautiful phenomenon, the glaciers are awesome, the mountains are pristine, and the air is crisp and clean.

Childhood Memory:  My childhood memories are full of outdoor play:  hopscotch, jump roping, hide and seek in the dark, tennis in the neighbor's paved driveway, our regular Sunday pick-up game of baseball, and summer sleep outside nights.

 


STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Eric Williams

I have several roles at VCS, including student adviser supervisor, Branching coordinator and testing coordinator. 

 

 

What has been your most rewarding experience at VCS? Helping a particular student I visited at their home. It wasn't until the parent called later that I realized the postive impact I had on him. He began doing his work and is on track to graduate. 

 

 

Fun Facts

When I am not working, I am... Spending time with my wife, son and extended family. My son and I golf and work out together. I also coach my son in baseball and basketball. 

If I won the lottery I would... Pay off my debts, save a lot of it and help my family. I'd also splurge on a Lexus SUV and a home at the beach that's big enough for my entire family.

The best vacation I ever had was... Cancun. I didn't have to drive anywhere, cook any food or do any dishes.

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to... Germany. My dad talks about how much he loved being there when he was in the military. 

I am most proud of... Personally, my awesome family. Professionally, going back to school at the age of 33 and getting my master's degree in Education. 

The person I admire the most is... My dad. He's the greatest man I know. I admire his work ethic and the way he's always cared for his family.

 
Watch for The Pack Press to arrive in your e-mail the third Thursday of each month. If you have any content ideas, send them to Lori Berkheimer or Jill Workman.

Go Wolves!