December

Dear Vanderlyn Families-

 

Having this last week off from school well-timed. My family was ready for a break in the pace of school and sports and work.  If only I didn't spend time worrying about how much I have to get done in December! I know we are all in the same predicament. I didn't just fret about the tasks ahead, though; I did reflect on those things for which I'm thankful.

 

My oldest son had surgery while off from school, and I'm thankful his surgery went well. I'm thankful that we have Ms. Spearman who watches after our students, and I'm thankful for this school community that supports her "hospital" by funding supplies. I'm thankful for the extraordinary volunteers at Vanderlyn, particularly those that serve in leadership roles. Our officers and committee chairs do more in quiet servitude for our students than the average parent realizes! I'm thankful for our teachers and administrators who focus on excellence in teaching and strive to raise already high standards. I'm thankful that we have an Annual Fund which does not require our students to sell merchandise to generate revenue to support our school. And I'm thankful that the Annual Fund campaign will come to a close at the end of December, because asking people for money is outside of my "comfort zone"!

 

But since I brought it up...here's a suggestion for holiday giving. If your extended family inquires about gift suggestions for your student and you can't think of a response, why not suggest a donation to the Vanderlyn Annual Fund? I've spoken recently with my family who gratefully realize that they have not had to make one obligatory purchase from my children in five years, and they are happy to make a gift to our school on their behalf. This applies to friends and especially neighbors, who benefit from strong Dunwoody schools.  Donating is easy if you forward the link to on on-line site for giving https://vanderlyn.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/162569/Default.aspx 

 

The month of December presents many opportunities to visit the school. Please remember that it is critical to obey the Visitor Sign In policy. Additionally, parents who volunteer with students are required by the school system to view a video on the mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse. The link to this video can be found on the home page of the PTA Website www.vanderlynpta.com. Lastly, room parents will be communicating about holiday celebrations. Please adhere to the classroom policies regarding prohibited foods such as sweets and nuts.

 

Remember that when you paid Classroom Dues at registration, you participated in giving a group gift to your student's teachers.   Be aware that $10 per student was collected to make a gift to all of our staff members. By pooling our resources, we are able to reward our Vanderlyn staff with a nice gift before "Winter Break" and again at the end of the school year.

 

Thank you for supporting your student at Vanderlyn. 

 

Have a great, productive week!

 

Julia LeDoyen and Christine Kelemen 

The Vanderlyn PTA and Citizenship Committee will be hosting our annual toy drive December 2 through 6 in conjunction with the Dunwoody Police Department.  Great deals are plentiful, so please consider purchasing a toy to donate.  Please do not wrap these toys, they  should be in their original packaging.  Some great toy ideas are dolls, cars & trucks, puzzles, Legos and board games.  Your donations will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
The Citizenship Committee

We are excited to announce our first author visit of the school year!  Eric Litwin, #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author of the first four Pete the Cat picture books and also an Award Winning Musician, will be reading and singing to our students on Wednesday, December 4.  

Vanderlyn will not be selling books as part of Mr. Eric's appearance.  However, he will sign any of his book titles below if students want to bring their personal copies to school.  Students must bring these books to their teachers by Tuesday, December 3.  Please include a sticky note inside the front cover with the student's name, teacher name, and grade.

Before sending in a Pete the Cat book to get signed, please confirm that it is one of these titles written by Eric Litwin.  Any other Pete the Cat books are written by a different author.

1.  Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
2.  Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes
3.  Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
4.  Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

Did you snap a great shot from the Blue Ridge Trip, Passport to the World or the Chick-fil-A Spirit Night?  The Yearbook Committee would LOVE your photos!

To stay current on all information throughout the school year, please consult the Vanderlyn School website, www.vanderlyn.com, and the Vanderlyn PTA website, www.vanderlynpta.org.

 

If you have a suggestion, comment, question or idea for the Viking Views, please send it to vikingviews@yahoo.com.

• Vanderlyn website  
• Vanderlyn PTA   
• Vanderlyn Annual Fund
• Peachtree Charter Middle School
• Dunwoody High School
• DeKalb County School Calendar  
• Scholastic Book Fair
• MyLunchMoney.com
• My  Coke Rewards
• True Blue Schools