Dear Parents,

We certainly have experienced our fair share of inclement weather! Old Man Winter weaved his beautiful snow magic but left us missing critical time spent on teaching and learning. However, as your instructional leader, I would like to reassure you that Vanderlyn has a plan in place to address the lost instructional time as the CRCT draws near, so that our students are not at an academic disadvantage.

First, let me assure you that our teachers began day one identifying those critical standards that students need most and have addressed those already. While we do not teach to the test, we focus on the critical skills that the students are tested on as outlined in the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards. By addressing these skills early on, it allows time for extended learning throughout the year which leads to mastery of concepts, not just mere rote memorization.

Secondly, in order to make up for lost instructional time, we will continue our focus on the power standards, those identified as most critical, through IXL Math, Fountas and Pinnel, Online Assessment System (OAS), Reflex Math and STAR Reading and Math just to name a few. Students will receive small, guided instructional support, homework targeting critical skills and opportunities for remediation and/or acceleration.

In addition to the above mentioned strategies, our teachers have been involved in ongoing team-collaboration/ grade-level planning to develop an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. As a PLC School (Professional Learning Communities), we also have a comprehensive professional development process that is job-embedded to ensure that our teachers have quality time set aside for learning new strategies that promote student achievement. Teachers also engage in Kid Talks, a process designed to identify at-risk students and provide teachers with strategies and interventions to address their specific needs.

Overall, our teachers have done an exemplary job ensuring that our students receive instruction that is based on best practices and that learning continuously occurs at high levels. Not only are we are confident that out students are prepared as we approach testing season, we are also confident that they are exposed to teaching that leads to a life-long love of learning. Please continue to support teaching and learning by making sure that your students are engaged to the fullest extent in the learning activities listed above. As always, we appreciate all you do to make Vanderlyn the special place it is. I look forward to the return of school next week!

Educationally Yours,
Mrs. Crenshaw

I don't know about you, but this second round of snow days kept me on my toes!  I was CONVINCED that power would be lost, so as long as I had it, I kept the laundry clean, meals prepared in advance and didn't let my guard down.  I knew I had to act while I still had power.

You should know that Vanderlyn is full of parent volunteers that were keeping busy over the snow days with matters that concern your students at Vanderlyn. The STEM committee was ready to meet, Academic Enrichment chairs are grapling with cancelled field trips, committee chairs were reviewing their budgets, and the VanderDash committee was hard at work.  Believe me, those folks are always working to make VanderDash a successful event! Our school is successful (in part) because of the dedication of our parents to this amazing public school.

Naturally, we expect that make up days will be necessary.  Currently, I have no details to share (writing this on Thursday evening), but be assured that you will be informed as soon as we are! Don't forget that you can stay well-informed by checking the vanderlynpta.com webpage and liking us on Facebook.

Please remember that the Nominating Committee will be formed at our next General Membership meeting on March 20.  If you would like to serve on the this committee, please email us indicating your willingness to serve.  The ideal candidate for this short-term position is discreet and knows a broad section of our Vanderlyn community.

Have a great week !
Julia LeDoyen and Christine Kelemen

Georgia Walk to School Day is Wednesday, March 5, 2014.

Walk to School day is coming up! A special incentive to walk will be going home in VIPs this week - please watch for it.  Remember your options if you live far away, but still want the benefit of walking:

1. Crosswalk at the light of Mt. Vernon Way and Mt. Vernon
2. Park at St. Luke's and use the crosswalk at the light of Manhasset Dr. and Mt. Vernon
3. If you live in Oxford Chase or Dunwoody Club Forest, use the sidewalks on the north side of Mt. Vernon to get to the crosswalk before the corner of Forest Springs Dr. (Dunwoody Club Forest entrance) and have Dunwoody Police stop traffic to cross Mt. Vernon to Stratham.

Be a part of it in more ways than just walking !  You can help with the event by putting stickers on the walkers as they get to school!  Please click here to check out "Walk to School" volunteer options if you are available to help.

It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.
-Benjamin Franklin

Did you snap a great shot from 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,  http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/vanderlyn/,
 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

Topics will include:

Location:

Chamblee Charter High School

3688 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd

Chamblee, GA 30341

All parents from the Chamblee/Dunwoody schools are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

We hope to see you there!

Also, since this event is so close to our March 5 meeting and given the number of meetings that have to be re-scheduled from all the snow days...we've decided to cancel our March 5 meeting.

Please plan to join us for our Wednesday, April 2 meeting at 6:30 p.m. Topic: Cyber Safety and Sex Trafficking, Additional details coming soon.

Thanks and we hope to see you Thursday, February 27 at Chamblee High School.