Dear Viking Family,

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over! As we prepare to return to the daily routine of school and work, let us all use these final days for self-reflection, respite and family fun. As you prepare to turn your children back over to our care, use these final days before school begins to give them extra love, time and attention.   As adults we know that during the busy school year, these simple but precious things can sometimes get overlooked due to the pressures of homework, deadlines and extracurricular activities. Our staff has been in preparation for the upcoming year, and we are excited to welcome your children back to school on August 12. Our continued goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment that support students' academic achievement and build character and self-esteem.

Vanderlyn proudly boasts a rich tradition of academic excellence that is a clear reflection of the purposeful partnership between the students, faculty and parents. It is my goal to provide 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 faculty/staff and our parents, we will be able to provide our students with the best possible educational experience! I assure you that I am committed to taking decisive steps that will strongly impact our students' success!  

We will continue to offer the finest Literacy Program that targets each student's exact reading level. We will also continue to strengthen our Math achievement by utilizing the IXL Math Program to improve students' skill level through differentiated and self-paced instruction. In addition, we will continue our initiative to become a STEM certified school as we find new and innovative ways to integrate STEM disciplines into our existing Common Core Curriculum. Our students will benefit from hands-on and project-based learning experiences that require real-world applications that foster creativity, synthesis, metacognition and problem-solving. The use of technology will be common-place in our school as we prepare students for 21st Century learning. These are just a few highlights with many more to come. As the instructional leader, my overall goal is expose our students to a wide variety of optimal learning experiences designed to teach the "whole-child". What a great year it's going to be as we work together to make Vanderlyn a magical place to teach and learn!

Vanderlyn welcomes new staff members!

• Shandra Lamback-Assistant Principal
• Verlicia Lane-Jefferson-Counselor
• Rebecca Brodnax-Pre K Teacher
• Kimberly Hopkins-Kindergarten
• Ashley (Jordan) Gwin-1st Grade
• Mandy Whitfield-3rd Grade Math and Science
• Shannon Tunt-3rd Grade ELA
• Sarah Turnbull-4th Grade ELA
• Judith Robinson-Interrelated Special Ed.
• Patricia Bourdeau-Interrelated Special Ed.
• Linda Lorick-Special Ed Paraprofessional
• Nikita Coleman-Food Service Assistant

Portable Update

As you know, the DeKalb County School District devised a comprehensive plan to remove/replace the modulars over the summer. Unfortunately, there were unexpected delays in the process which will result in a delay of our modular units being returned to our campus by the start of school. Please be assured that a viable transition plan will be in effect that will be communicated to all 4th and 5th grade students prior to Meet and Greet. Every detail and consideration is being well-thought-out by local and district leaders to ensure the safety of our students. Plans to accommodate them during this transition are being finalized. I realize that communication is an integral part of this transition plan, so I ask for your trust and patience as the final and most important details are decided. As your Principal and Operations Leader, I can guarantee you that no detail will go unnoticed and that our students will have a comfortable classroom space on August 12. I appreciate your support in advance in this very important matter. Full details are forthcoming.  

Again, it is an honor to serve as your instructional leader! I look forward to a successful partnership and another great school year!

Your Proud Principal,

Mrs. Crenshaw 

Do you remember the Back-to-School writing assignment from our school days? The ones entitled "What I Did This Summer"?   PTA would need a full composition notebook to write an essay with all the details of our summer! I am excited to share them with you.

The leadership of the Executive Committee successfully transitioned over the summer, meaning that duties and responsibilities were transferred from the outgoing officers to the incoming officers. The baton has been passed!

A vacancy in a Second Vice President position occurred when one of the 2VPs resigned her position. In accordance with our bylaws, the Executive Committee convened to name the Board of Directors, which subsequently appointed Laurie Branum as one of our two Second Vice Presidents. We are very lucky that Laurie so willingly answered our call! She is imminently capable and fully up to speed already!

Tremendous improvements and purchases were made over the summer with remaining Annual Fund dollars that will affect your student the first week of this school year! We are proud that our school community has been able to accomplish the following:

• Completion of the STEM lab
• Purchase and installation of the dance floor
• Purchase of new desktops for the computer lab, enabling every student in our largest class to access a computer
• Purchase of a mobile computer lab, giving our students and teachers access to 2 computer labs
• Teacher enrollment in STEM instruction seminar
• Teacher enrollment in Georgia Teaching and Technology seminar
• Build out of the Courtyard Classroom

The story behind the Courtyard Classroom is a fantastic one. The vision came directly from Mrs. Crenshaw, who approached the PTA last fall and asked if we could make her vision a reality. At that time, we were able to secure volunteer project manager Chris Williams, who did not have a student or history with Vanderlyn at that time! Chris leveraged his relationships with Pieper O'Brien Herr Architects and Catamount Constructors to design and install the courtyard. The space that I formerly called "The Prison Yard" is now "The Oasis".

The Vanderlyn PTA and community owe a debt of gratitude to these two businesses for directing their talents, resources and time to this project. A special "thank you" goes to Anthony Turpin at Pieper O'Brien and Lisa Meyers and Rick Rodman at Catamount Constructors, Inc. We also thank Catamount's amazing crew of volunteers who labored in the late-July heat and humidity to create this learning and teaching space for the students and teachers at Vanderlyn.

Vanderlyn is fortunate to have found these willing partners, and I hope we can mimic this model with other partners in our community as future projects are identified.

As a reminder, PTA will typically reserve Viking Views for the purposes of disseminating Vanderlyn and DHS feeder schools news. Remember to regularly visit the PTA webpage at vanderlynpta.com for community and promotional news.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Registration and Meet and Greet. Enjoy the last days of summer!

Julia LeDoyen and Christine Kelemen

PTA Co-Presidents

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please bring the following documents to register your student for the Vanderlyn 2013-2014 school year (all families, even if you have previously been a student at Vanderlyn): 

• Current proof of residency, including one (1) utility bill (gas, water or electric only) or a Deed or Signed Lease
• Parental photo ID

Registration day is also the time to pay your child's class dues and field trip expenses, purchase the yearbook and spirit wear, and support the Annual Fund. Total expenses typically total between $90 and $300.   Be prepared that these expenses can add up quickly.  Bring your checkbook, credit card and/or cash.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Parents/Guardians will need to show ID to pick up their student's class assignment card.  

This time will allow you to meet the teacher and to show your student to their classroom. Please bring your school supplies at this time.  

The supply lists can be found on  the Vanderlyn PTA website. .

Please come at the appropriate time for your student as listed above.

Spirit wear will be offered for sale at only one event this school year, and it is at Registration on Wednesday, August 7. Take a good look at our selection to determine what your child's preference is! Don't miss this opportunity!

Gold Vintage Design T-shirt       $12

Blue Dri-Fit Shirt                      $12

Girl's Polka Dot Fitted T- Shirt   $12

Blue Hoodie Sweatshirt             $24

Blue Tie Dye T-Shirt                 $14 

Limited quantities will be available on registration day.  If your child's size is not available, orders will be taken. Your spirit wear order will be delivered to your child's homeroom teacher within a few weeks after school begins.  This will be the only opportunity to place an order for spirit wear if your size is sold out. 

Be sure to check out Vanderlynpta.com website to discover opportunities in the area for summer fun and camps! These items are posted regularly to our website as we reserve Viking Views for school-specific news.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!