15       Flag Awareness Day

18       No School  

21       Second Semester Parent Conference Night   

26-28  Book Fair

28       Art Showcase 4 to 6 p.m. 

We have some terrific news to share! Mrs. Crenshaw designated Friday, February 15 as "Flag Awareness Day" in observation of the installation of new American flags in our homeroom classes. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, and many of our classroom flags have become worn and tired.   A friend of Vanderlyn learned of the intention to replace the flags that the students salute daily and funded this project fully.

On February 15, students will salute the new flags for the first time during the morning announcements. Also during announcements, students will learn facts about the American flag, as well as how to show the flag customary respect. We are grateful for the support of Cub Scout Pack 764, who will assist in the announcements as well as take all of the old flags for proper retirement.

Here are some good reminders for visits to the school, parades, and ball games when the flag is presented:

• When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
• To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart.
• Non-nationals are not required to salute the US Flag, but courtesy requires that individuals stand at attention quietly. (Similarly, US citizens should silently stand when the flag of another country is being presented.)
• The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting.
• When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
• When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.
• The flag is to be flown at half-staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose.

The rules listed above are identified in the Flag Code, which is federal law (although not enforced due to freedom of speech rulings from the Supreme Court).

Have a great week!                    

Julia LeDoyen and Courtney Kuriger 

Remember to wear orange tomorrow, February 11 to help us celebrate carrots, the Farm to School vegetable for the month of February.  

Carrots are on the menu for everyone who purchases lunch and we will be offering free samples for those students and teachers who bring lunch from home. Wear orange and look for Coach Dwyer in the carrot costume! Contact Tina Wilkinson to volunteer.

Here's the link for the quick (really! It's only 8 questions) survey:

 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BTRVL57  

Did your New Year resolutions include clipping more Box Tops?

We are gearing up for our final Box Tops blitz for the 2012-2013 school year! We will be collecting Box Tops, Campbell Labels, and Tyson Labels. The collection dates will run February 8-15, 2013. Keep a watch for collection instructions coming in your child's VIP soon.

Merchant Partners Committee-  vanderlynmerchantrebateprogram@gmail.com.

We would like to offer our new students and families the chance to purchase a yearbook!  

If you are interested, please follow these instructions to purchase your copy.  The last day to purchase will be February 28.

The website is ybpay.lifetouch.com 

You will need a yearbook ID-3633313

Once you login to the website, you will put in the yearbook ID, hit next.

The next page will ask for student name and grade, hit next.

The next page will ask number of copies for the yearbook input qty, hit next.

The next page will ask for billing info and cc info, hit submit.

On January 26, 2013, Vanderlyn Elementary sent their reading bowl team to Miller Grove High School for this year's Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. The team members were Jonathan Kim, Caitlin Dodson, Molly Fearney, Kesler Madden, Renee Urtusastegui, Anna Wilkinson, Justin Casper, Vishaal Ram, and Thomas Fairris. The coaches were Ms. Carroll and Ms. Jolley.

The team did a fantastic job at the competition after many months of preparation. At the reading bowl, the team were involved in six rounds where they had to answer questions about 15 books that they read before the competition. They did not make it to state, but Vanderlyn should be proud of their effort!

Please join us for the Vanderlyn Book Fair,  February 26 to 28.

We will transform the media center into our very own bookstore.

There will be an amazing selection of books!  

We will also have teacher wish lists, so you can contribute to your child's classroom library.  

Hours:  Tuesday, 2/26,  2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

               Wednesday, 2/27,  2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

               Thursday, 2/28, 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Please welcome our new Media Specialist, Gail Pansini.   She will be at the book fair and is looking forward to meeting everyone.

We need volunteers, so please help if you can!  You can sign up online at Sign Up Genius. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE BOOK FAIR!

Sandi Sherman, Kim Sims and Kelly Ballard

Scholastic Book Fair Co-Chairs

Are you Ready? On your mark...Get set...GOOO! 

We're racing to the finish line with our Classroom Challenge! One class per grade level will win a Special Prize for having the greatest pre-race participation. The first class to reach 100% participation will win the Grand Prize!  Follow your class' progress on the front hall race board!