FAFSA:

Seniors and parents- It is very important to file your FAFSA as soon as possible. Remember that you do not have to accept your entire award, but your award may also include grants and loans; and colleges DO use the FAFSA for calculating their own scholarships. March 1st is the deadline for completing the FAFSA for Idaho's scholarship awards!   www.fafsa.ed.gov.    Also, check out the counselor's web site at www.visioncsdcounselor.weebly.com for scholarship links and information. 

SENIOR TRIP:

A meeting to discuss the Senior Trip will take place on Monday, February 23 at 5:30 p.m. in Mr. Scheffler's room. All students intending to go on the Senior trip, and parents that have questions, are encouraged to attend.

WASHINGTON DC TRIP:

A meeting to discuss the March 2016 trip to Washington, D.C. will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 23rd. All students that will be enrolled as a 9-12 grade student in the 2015-2016 school year are encouraged to attend and learn more about this amazing opportunity. We will be discussing trip details and financing options. The meeting will be in Mr. Scheffler's room. 

TECH CHALLENGE:

The National Honor Society will be holding a week-long Technology Challenge starting on Monday, February 23rd and ending on Friday, February 27th. Students will be encouraged to turn in their phone or other mobile device to their advisory teacher at the beginning of the each day, and they will retrieve them at the end of the day. When the week is over, the percentages of students in each advisory class who turned their phones in will be compared. The winning advisory class will receive a pizza party and jeans day passes. The second place advisory class will receive jeans day passes. A brief presentation will be given regarding the dangers of social media and the importance of face-to-face interactions. Please encourage your student to participate in this challenge.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GAME NIGHT:

STATE INTERNET SITUATION:

Vision Charter School uses ENA to provide the highest level of internet service to our students. The service is actually metro Ethernet which ensures a consistent bandwidth. Many of you may have seen in the news that ENA was anticipated to be going "dark" this weekend for the state of Idaho. This is not the case at Vision Charter School. We have signed a temporary agreement with ENA to keep the same level of internet service through June 30th while the state works the kinks out and comes up with alternate solutions. We have multiple back up plans in place to ensure our students education and internet is not impacted this year or in upcoming years! If you have any questions or concerns regarding this topic, please contact Mrs. OldenKamp at wendyoldenkamp@visioncsd.org or you are always welcome to call or text her on her cell at 208-919-9636. 

SIBLINGS IN THE LOTTERY:

Please remember that you must turn in an application for the lottery by March 12, 2015 for any incoming kindergarten siblings. 

INFORMATIONAL SESSION:
Informational Sessions will be held Tuesday, March 3 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the VCS gym. This meeting is for new parents interested in applying for our school.  Parents will get an opportunity to learn more about Vision Charter School and meet many of the exceptional staff members! We will not be offering tours of the school this year. Instead, we will offer virtual tours and two Informational Sessions. This is necessary to protect the learning environment. Virtual Tours for K-5th grade are posted on our website.  

Vision Charter School is accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year!

Vision Charter School will hold its lottery for enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2015 in the secondary technology room.

Applications may be found at visioncharter.net under enrollment/lottery. Completed applications must be postmarked by March 12, 2015 and if hand delivered, no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2015. Applications received after March 13 at 4:00 p.m. will be placed into the pool for the following year and at the bottom of the wait list for each grade level.

Vision Charter School is a FREE K-12 College Prep Science and Art School!

Vision Charter School offers students a small and safe school environment. Our accelerated and advanced curriculum ensures every class is taught to the highest standards. The school emphasizes character and leadership development, arts and science instruction, gifted and talented curriculum for all students, and music training. Qualifying high school students at VCS are offered dual credit college classes. Eligible students are able to graduate from high school with a two year Associate of Arts from CWI for half the cost. Now is the best time to turn in an application and invest in the future of your child!

All prospective students will be given the opportunity to enroll in the FREE public charter school, regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, social or economic status, or special needs.

Loteria  de Inscripcion para 2015-2016. Fecha : 20 de marzo  2015; hora 9:00 a.m. Para obtener una aplicacion visita el sito web www.visioncharter.net.

Las aplicaciones completas deben ser recibidas antes del 12 de marzo y si son entregadan por mano debemos recibirlas antes de las 4:00 de la tarde el dia 13 de marzo.

Las aplicaciones  recibidas despues del 13 de marzo a las 4:00 de la tarde seran colocadas  en el fondo de usos por el aņo siguinte. Todos los niņos de kindergarten al grado 12 tienen la oportunidad de hacer una apicacion sin tener  en cuenta la raza, el color, el origen nacional o entice, la religion, el genero, el estado social o economica, o las necesidades especiales.

Parents will be notified in writing within seven business days of the lottery if their child receives a spot at Vision Charter for the 2015-2016 school year or where their child is located on the wait list. Check out our website at visioncharter.net, call 455-9220, or e-mail the Administrator at wendyoldenkamp@visioncsd.orgfor additional information.

Send Applications to:

Vision Charter School

19291 Ward Road

Caldwell, Idaho 83605

CARNIVAL COMING!!!!!!

May 1st from 4-7:30 p.m. at Vision Charter School! Please contact Stacy Nelson at stacynelson0529@gmail.com if you would like to help work on the food, decorations, carnival games, or auction.

Parents and students will be able to stop in the classrooms to see the science fair projects from 4-6 p.m. and the carnival activities and food will be going from 4-7:30 p.m. continuously. I hope you will all plan on coming to this wonderful whole family evening.  

FAST FORWARD $:

92% of our junior and senior class utilized "FREE" Fast Forward money from Idaho to pay for dual credits this school year. Those students used 82% of the funds available to them for a total saving of $17,290!   We encourage every future Junior and Senior to take full advantage of the Fast Forward money next year!!!! Please contact our Guidance Counselor, Ms. Dowski, if you have additional questions about the FAST FORWARD program. marydowski@visioncsd.org

DATES TO KNOW:

February 23: Senior Trip meeting starts5:30 p.m. in Mr. Scheffler's room. Washington DC meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in room 107.

February 26: MS Pops concert 7 p.m. on the VCS stage

March 3: Lottery Informational session will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the gym.

March 5: 2nd/3rd program 7 p.m. on the stage

March 6: Middle School Game Night & free movie from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and $5 admission.

March 13/14: HS spring play TBD

March 20: LOTTERY starts at 9 a.m.

March 20-27: Spring Break

April 7: HS Festival Concert 7 p.m. on the VCS stage

April 15: Juniors take the SAT at VCS

April 24-25: HS spring musical

April 30: MS Festival concert 7 p.m. on the VCS stage

May 1: K-12th grade Science Expo 4-6, All school Carnival, food, & Auction 4-7:30

May 12: HS Pops concert and music awards  7 p.m. on the VCS stage

May 18: RAD 7 p.m. on the VCS Stage

May 19: 6th grade spring concert and music awards at 7 p.m. on the VCS stage.

May 23: Graduation practice at 10 a.m. and the ceremony will start at 7 p.m. in the Nampa Civic Center auditorium.

IMMUNIZATION AND MEASLES:

No cases of Measles have currently been reported in Idaho; however, multiple states surrounding Idaho have had cases. 

Vision Charter is required to exclude children from school who are diagnosed with measles or who do not have evidence of immunity in the event of a case of measles at Vision Charter.  Parents of susceptible children will receive an informational letter from the school in the next week.

Susceptible children will be excluded 21 days after the last case of measles in the event of a case of measles at VCS.

A child is considered susceptible to measles unless the child has at least one of the following:

1. Documentation of up to date MMR vaccine. (Children 12 months to prekindergarten should have one dose and school children kindergarten through grade 12 should have two doses.)
2. Documentation of immunity to measles (a blood test result that is positive for measles immunity).
3. Laboratory confirmation of prior measles disease.

What is measles?  Measles is a highly-contagious viral illness found only in humans. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people who are around that person AND who are not immune will get sick.

What are the signs and symptoms?   Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny bluish-white spots appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. The rash begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104°F. All signs and symptoms usually resolve in 1-2 weeks.

How is measles spread?  Measles is easily spread person-to-person through the air anytime someone coughs or sneezes. Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears. It is important that you stay home and avoid others during this time. What is the treatment? There is no medication to treat measles. The best care is to stay home, rest, drink lots of fluids, wash your hands, and cover your cough and sneezes. Your doctor may recommend additional medications to help manage your symptoms.

How can measles be prevented?  Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine or the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) vaccine. For additional details about MMR or MMRV vaccination schedules visit the CDC Measles Vaccination website at http://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccination.html.

Where can I get more information?  Call Southwest District Health's Communicable Disease Program at (208)455-5442 or CDC measles website http://www.cdc.gov/measles/