February

25-March 1  Coat Drive

26-28          Book Fair

28               Art Showcase, 4 to 6 p.m.

March

1                 Read Across America! Pajama Day!

6                 DCPC, Kittredge ES

                   Walk to School Day

8                 NO SCHOOL  

23               VanderDash

The next General PTA meeting will be March 14, 2013. On the agenda is the nomination and election of the Nominating Committee. This committee of six individuals is charged with creating and presenting the slate for the PTA officers that will serve as the 2013-2014 Executive Committee.

Do you know a candidate that would serve Vanderlyn well on the nominating committee? The ideal candidate to sit on the Nominating Committee is an individual that knows a broad section of parents at Vanderlyn and is logical, discreet and procedural-minded. The Vanderlyn PTA will be well served by seating a Nominating Committee that represents a broad section of our parent population.

Do not be intimidated by the commitment to serve. Once the slate of officers is presented at the General PTA meeting in April, the duties of the Nominating Committee have come to an end.

Please contact either of us with your suggested candidates. We'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week!

Julia LeDoyen and Courtney Kuriger 

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 STILL 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

Thursday, February 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. - Cafeteria

The students of Vanderlyn Elementary have come together to create artwork for a spectacular art show celebration! Every student has their own masterpiece framed and on display. You don't want to miss this!  

Purchase your child's framed art to proudly display in your home or office. In addition, a percentage of the sales goes directly to Vanderlyn's Art Department.  

There are several ways to purchase. Attend the school's art show and purchase the framing package for your child's art. If you cannot attend the show, you may prepay by sending a check to your child's homeroom teacher.  

All framed artwork $25 cash or check only NO credit cards.  

Thank you and hope to see you there!!

Through books, kids can experience magical places, wondrous adventures, and interesting people. Introduce you students to your favorite book on Read Across America Day, March 1.  

Here are some booklists and other resources to start them on their adventures: Activity Ideas

Booklists

50 State Booklist

Celebrity Book Picks

Kids' Top 100 Books

Teacher's Top 100 Books for Children

Printable Certificates

What's Happening in Your State - State Contacts

Dear Families,

Our Vanderlyn Citizenship Committee is hosting another coat drive February 25 - March 1. The Dekalb International School is in great need of coats, sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets for their students.  There are new children arriving weekly at the school. Many of the families of the students are legal refugees who arrive with only one small bag from their home country.  Not only do the students need these items, but their parents do as well.  Please consider cleaning out your coat closets and donating a coat, (or two, or three) for our worthwhile cause.  There will be a collection bin across from the front office.

Prices have dropped further on Vanderlyn Spiritwear!  Stock up for spring!  You may still purchase Vanderlyn Spiritwear at the Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday, February 28th.  You may also get it on Wednesday morning, March 6th on your way to school since we will all be walking.  Sweatshirts are now only $10 and ALL short sleeve T-shirts are only $5!!

Your volunteer PTA webmaster is in the process of improving the Vanderlyn PTA website, and we want to hear from you!

We'd love to learn more about how you use the website, what content you are looking for and what we are missing. Please take a few moments to anonymously respond to our survey so we can make our website even better for you!

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

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

A big thank you to those volunteers that have already signed up to help with this year's VanderDash!  We need a team of volunteers to help prior to the big event and on race day.  From pre-race bag stuffing to race day set up and clean up...and all points in between, we need you!!  Click here to check out the volunteer opportunities and sign up today for your preferred position.  Questions about volunteering? Please contact Lyn Brown. 

Don't miss out on one of the best events of the year, Vanderlyn's VanderDash! Register your family to run or walk before the fees go up!

When you register your child, be sure to enter your child's homeroom teacher so they can be counted in the "Classroom Challenge"! The first class with 100% participation will win the Grand Prize and VanderDash Trophy. Each grade level winner (class with the highest participation per grade level) will win great prizes too!

So get your registrations in, either by completing the registration forms which will come home in the VIPs this week, or by visiting the Vanderlyn PTA Website at www.vanderlynpta.com.

Every child can participate by running the 5K -or- the 1 mile fun run/walk. Even if you can't attend this great community event, you can still show your Viking Pride and support by registering as a Phantom Runner.

Our desire is to bring together the community, students and athletes for a safe, healthy and fun activity the whole family can enjoy.

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.

Birthday Kits for Homeless Children

For their Bronze Award Project, Girl Scout Troop 29411 is building "Birthday Kits

Please contact Tina Wilkinson or Jennifer Dodson for additional information.