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Vanderlyn Elementary Newsletter      
January 5, 2014
In This Issue
A Look Ahead
Co-Presidents' Message
Reflections Winners
STEM Career Day
DCPC January Meeting
Parent Assisant Available
Find Community News on our Website
A Look Ahead
January
6              Winter Break
7              School Resumes 
8              DCPC Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
February
25            STEM Career Day
Co-Presidents' Message
Happy New Year! 

We are returning to Vanderlyn with renewed energy after our restful Winter Break. The second semester of our school year has a lot in store for the students and teachers!

As always, you are encouraged to become involved in the efforts that the PTA supports. We have several committees that function throughout the school year, and we always need more involved parents! Remember, the only qualification needed to volunteer is a willingness to share your time for the betterment of our students and community school. If you have that willingness, we can find a volunteer opportunity that suits you!

As 2013 drew to a close, we reflected on the successes that we've experienced so far this school year.These successes were the product of a few factors. First, we have talented parents that generously share their time to lead or support the various PTA committees. Secondly, we have a membership that generously donates to our Annual Fund. Thirdly, we have wonderful dialogue with our school's teachers and administrators that enables us to collaborate for the benefit of our children. 

We are incredibly grateful that the STEM program is being rolled out to our entire student body.  In case you missed Mrs. Crenshaw's last message of 2013, Mrs. Crenshaw reported that STEM instruction is being delivered to every student at Vanderlyn. This is far more ambitious than Vanderlyn's initial plan, which was to begin implementation of STEM through the gifted program.

Our PTA has been instrumental in the early strides of our STEM efforts.  It is through the Annual Fund that we have been able to provide our teachers with instruction on teaching STEM, a science lab and two computer labs.  More technology is on the way in 2014!

If the first semester is a good indicator of the future, the second semester will fly by!  We have several events planned, among them the 6th Annual VanderDash. Now is the season of resolutions, so tie on your sneakers and start training for this terrific community event!  VanderDash is a great event and offers several opportunities to volunteer, as well.

Lastly, I would like to share with you how grateful our entire school staff was to receive a cash gift at the end of the school year.  This gift was funded from Classroom Dues, which are collected at the time of registration.  Every full-time and part-time employee at Vanderlyn received a cash gift, and as we all know, a little extra cash at the end of the year never hurts anyone!  So many teachers have expressed to us their gratitude for our parents, so on our staff's behalf, "Thank you!".
 
We hope to see you at Vanderlyn in 2014! Have a great week and Happy New Year!
Julia LeDoyen and Christine Kelemen
Reflections Winners!
Congratulations to the following first, second, third and fourth place winners of the Dekalb County Reflections Contest! The first and second place winners will advance to the State level for judging, and winners of that level will be announced in March.

Film Production:
4th Grade:  Ashvij Hosdurg (3rd Place)

Dance Choreography:
Kindergarten:  Ashwika Anil Nair (1st Place)
5th Grade:  Jeet Arora (1st Place)

Musical Compostion:
2nd Grade:  Andres Urtusastegui (1st Place), Sarah Nurpeisov (4th Place)
3rd Grade:  Marily Minton (2nd Place)
5th Grade:  Vishaal Ram (1st Place), Rose Lubin (2nd Place)

Literature:
Kindergarten:  Campbell Caldwell (4th Place)
2nd Grade:  Shruti Nainwal (1st Place)
4th Grade:  Ashvij Hosdurg (1st Place)

Photography:
Kindergarten:  Rishabh Mishra (3rd Place), Campbell Caldwell (4th Place)
1st Grade:  Graham Forgey (3rd Place)
2nd Grade:  Layla McSorley (1st Place), Risshi Naavall (3rd Place)
3rd Grade:  Marily Minton (1st Place), Elena Vega (3rd Place)

Visual Arts:
1st Grade:  Joey Guggenheim (1st Place), Shreya Golambade (2nd Place)
2nd Grade:  Urvi Golambade (1st Place)
3rd Grade:  Nandita Bipin (1st Place)
4th Grade:  Nitya Yamjala (2nd Place)
5th Grade:  Bipasha Bipin (4th Place)

Again, we'd like to thank all of the talented participants who submitted such creative and exceptional works of art to celebrate this year's theme of the Reflections Contest, "Believe, Dream, Inspire". We wish the best of luck to our winners as they advance to the State level of the competition!

Louisa Boss and Camilyn Germann
Reflections Committee Co-Chairs
STEM Career Day Needs You!

Vanderlyn Elementary is excited to announce the first STEM Career Day on February 25, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The purpose for this special career day is to provide our students with the opportunity to learn about STEM careers.  

 

We are in need of enthusiastic and dynamic STEM professionals that will share the intricacies of your occupation with enthusiastic young people. Feel free to bring visual aids and tools used in your occupation. The goal of this event is to have each career pathway represented and inspire students to continue their education in STEM related fields.  

 

If you are interested in sharing your occupation/career with our students, please contact Mrs. Lane, Counselor.  

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

DCPC January Meeting  

New Date: Wednesday, January 8
Time: 6:30 p.m., social and desserts; 7 p.m., meeting starts, panel discussion

Location:
Dunwoody High School
5035 Vermack Rd
Dunwoody, GA 30338

Topic: Preparing Your Child for College Acceptance

This meeting is geared towards middle and early high school students and their parents. We'll have a panel of representatives from local colleges and test preparation experts to answer all of your questions. They will also be giving tips for things you can do now to better prepare your child for college applications/acceptance in the years to come.

Parent Assistant Now Available
Parent Assistant is a secure, web-based student access information application that provides information on attendance, grades and more. For more details, go to the Vanderlyn website and click on Parent Assistant
which is located under the Parent Resources tab on the left. A webpage will open up with links to tutorials, the registration page, and the log-in page. Our goal is to have 100% of families register. Thank you!
Community News:  What's Happening Around Dunwoody?

Be sure to check out Vanderlynpta.com website to discover opportunities in the area. You find fun family activities, fundraisers and sports activities! These items are posted regularly to our website as we reserve Viking Views for school-specific news.
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Quote of the Week
"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one."
- Brad Paisley
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Be sure to find the page
Vanderdash
Family Sponsorships

The VanderDash committee is excited to announce a new level of sponsorship!  Families who would like to support this event and our school may participate in the Family Sponsorship at a level of $100 (or more!).  This sponsorship level was created in response to many inquiries from Vanderlyn families that are enthusiastic about VanderDash but are not business owners. 

Family sponsorship will be acknowledged in several ways:
  • Listing of all Family Sponsors on the VanderDash webpage!
  • Listing of all Family Sponsors in the race bag!
  • Family listed on the VanderDash Viking Wall of Fame in the cafeteria from Feb.14-March 22, 2014
 
If your family would like to become a sponsor, download this form.  The VanderDash Committee appreciates ALL of our generous sponsors!  Any questions?  Email vanderdash@yahoo.com

Annual Fund
Thank you Vanderlyn Families! Our Annual Fund is at 66% family participation! Let's get to 100% participation.

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Yearbook Photos Needed
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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!

 

Click here to find out how to submit your photos to be the Yearbook Committee.

 

You MUST use your camera, as pictures from phones do not enlarge well.  

 

We are looking for shots with groups of kids!

 

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

Viking Views' deadline is 12 NOON on MONDAY for the same week's issue.  When there is no school on Monday, submissions must be sent the Friday before by noon. All articles must be brief and in writing as an email or and email attachment (.doc file). Please send to
VikingViews@yahoo.com.  Photos must be in JPEG format and have parental approval or release.
 
Non-Vanderlyn Community Events may be included on the Vanderlyn PTA website.

Sincerely, 
Jennifer Nail 
Volunteer Viking Views Editor

Quick Links
VanderDash

 

Save-the-Date!

 

Saturday,  March 22, 2014 

 

 

Please Volunteer!  

Contact vanderdash@yahoo.com.

 

 

 

 

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