In this issue:
Emergency Messenger Test
School Closure
Artist of the Month
Canned Food Drive
Coat Drive
Character Counts
Box Tops
Skate NIghts are Back
Panda Express Night for Robots
Dates to Know
About VCS
EMERGENCY MESSENGER TEST
  
 We will conduct a test of the emergency messenger system on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 10:00am.  Depending on how you are signed up in the parent portal, you can expect a voice call, text message, email, or possibly all three.  You should be contacted in at least one way.  If you do not receive a test message from the emergency messenger system, or receive a message to a number you do not prefer, you may change your preferences in the parent portal.  If you have not yet set this up, please contact Mrs. Bowers at amybowers@visioncsd.org for directions on setting up your parent portal account. 
  
If you need help navigating the portal, view the informative video here:
  
** SCHOOL CLOSURES/ SNOW DAYS:
IN THE EVENT OF SCHOOL CLOSURE OR EMERGENCY CLOSURE: The most accurate updated information can be found on our Facebook page and our website at visioncharterschool.net. We will also send out updates via this newsletter. If you would like to receive our newsletters, you may sign up on our website.

You may also check updates on KTVB channel 7 and KBOI channel 2.
 
We will send school closure information through our automated emergency contact program. You sign up for how you want to be contacted in an emergency through the parent portal. If you have not yet set this up, please contact Mrs. Bowers at amybowers@visioncsd.org for directions on setting up your parent portal account.

We are aware that many families are traveling a long distance daily to get to VCS. In the event of snow and ice, we prefer that you and your family come late to school and be safe rather than rush to avoid a tardy and potentially encounter dangerous traffic situations. Attendance will still be taken daily; however, please notify the attendance clerk when signing in that the tardy was due to road conditions so that it may be taken into consideration when administration is reviewing attendance for possible reduction in grades. (Your child will still be responsible to make up missed work from any class per the attendance policy.)
ARTIST OF THE MONTH AT VISION CHARTER SCHOOL- CLAUDE MONET
  
Students will be learning about the art element of color and specifically focusing on the Master Artist Claude Monet and how he used color in his paintings. Students across K-12th grade will have an opportunity to view and discuss Monet's The Water Lily Pond created in 1904 in France.
 
 CANNED FOOD DRIVE SCHOOL WIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT:
The 2015 VCS Canned Food Drive will take place from November 9-­18. The Food Drive will be a campus­ wide, K­- 12 effort. Elementary Classes (Grades K­-5) are being asked to collect non­perishable food items. These must be manufacturer canned or boxed foods. We cannot accept any home ­canned, home­ baked, opened, or expired items. Each donated item will count as a point for the student's classroom. A party will be awarded to the K-­2 grade class with the most points and the 3­-5th grade class with the most points. Student Government is asking that each classroom teacher keep track of their class points. The VCS Middle School and High School Advisories will each be adopting a family and collecting donated items to complete special Thanksgiving Holiday Baskets.
  
COAT DRIVE:
Do you have any coats that you don't need anymore? Donate them! Winter will be here soon and there are many people in need. The Middleton Mayor's Youth Advisory Council will have collection boxes from now until Thanksgiving at the following places.  City Hall, Middleton Fire Station, Middleton High School, Middleton Middle School, Atlas School, Heights Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, Purple Sage Elementary, and Vision Charter School. Please only donate clean, reusable coats.
  
  
  
CHARACTER COUNTS!  NOVEMBER CHARACTER TRAIT IS RESPECT!
RESPECT: Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule * Be tolerant and accepting of differences * Use good manners, not bad language * Be considerate of the feelings of others * Don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone * Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements
 
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
- Lao-Tzu, Chinese philosopher (fl. 6th century B.C., possibly apocryphal)
Respect the rights of others, and you will have peace.
- Mexican proverb
 
 
BOX TOPS FOR BLEACHERS!!!! Parents and Grandparents, we NEED you!
Please send your child's or grandchild's box tops to the school any time in a baggie with their name and classroom on it. Box tops can be turned in to the snack shack or turned into the child's teacher for a popcorn pass if they have 25. If they have 50, they will receive a free jeans day pass! (7th -12th grade students may turn in box tops to Mrs. Clark in the library. FUNDS WILL BE GOING TO EARN MONEY FOR BLEACHERS FOR THE FIELD! SOCCER GOALS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND ARE BEING SHIPPED! J
SKATE NIGHTS ARE BACK!
Mark your calendars for the following dates for Vision Charter School's Skate Nights at the Nampa Rollerdrome:
Monday, December 14
Monday, February 8
Monday, April 11
Bring the whole family for a night of fun from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. 
$5 entrance fee //$2 rental fee
  
 Present this flyer Monday, December 7, 2015 between 3pm and 7pm at the Caldwell Panda Express!  You can show the flyer on your smart phone!  Money raised goes to VCS FTC Robotics program! 
DATES TO KNOW:
November 19: VCS Board meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the library
November 23-28: Thanksgiving Break
December 7: VCS Robotics - Panda Express Day! 
December 11: No School- Inservice
December 12: First Lego League 4th-8th grade VCS robotics teams compete at regionals in Fruitland.
December 14: Skate Night at Rollerdrome $5 entrance/ $2 rentals  funds raised go towards 6th grade lock in
December 17: 6-7 p.m. Elementary Christmas Program/ 7:30-8:30 p.m. Secondary Program
December 21- January 1: Christmas Break
January 4: BACK TO SCHOOL
January 15: NO SCHOOL- Inservice
January 18: NO SCHOOL- Human Rights Day
January 29: NO SCHOOL- Inservice
February 5: HS Semi-Formal Social
February 11: St. Government Spirit Day theme tbd
February 12: NO SCHOOL 
February 15: NO SCHOOL- President's Day
February 26: NO SCHOOL - Inservice
March 1: 2nd and 3rd grade music concert
March 3: Music Ensemble Dinner Performance
March 10: St. Government Spirit Day  
March 11: NO SCHOOL - Inservice
March 12th:  "The Taming of the Shrew" Performances at 2:00 and 7:00
March 21-25 NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
April 1: 7th-9th grade Dodge Ball Social from 7-9 p.m. in the VCS gym
April 5: HS Symphony and Honors Choir Performance
April 6: HS Symphony and Honors Choir leave for Disneyland!
April 8: NO SCHOOL
April 12: SAT School Day Administration for Juniors
April 22: NO SCHOOL- Inservice
May 5: K-12th Science Expo 3:30-7 p.m.
May 6: NO SCHOOL- Inservice
May 6: Musical Theater "Fiddler on the Roof" starting at 7 p.m.
May 12: Advanced Symphony/ Honors Choir Concert starting at 7 p.m.
May 13: Monster Rad Rally
May 17: RAD starts at 7 p.m.
May 19: CARNIVAL and AUCTION from 3:30-7 p.m. at VCS!
May 20: NO SCHOOL
May 20: 6th grade Lock In starts at 6 p.m. and goes to 7 a.m. Saturday, May 21.
Date tbd: 6th grade Spring Concert
May 27: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL EARLY RELEASE 1:40
May 27: Graduation practice 3:00 p.m./ Graduation 7:00 p.m. at Nampa Civic Center
  
ABOUT VCS...
VISION CHARTER is a FIVE STAR school who has received the HONORS ranking from the Public Charter Commission.
 
School Mission: To create well educated, respectful citizen leaders in a K-12th grade College Prep Science and Art School.
 
Grades Served: The School serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade.
 
Vision/Design Elements: Vision Charter School shall implement and maintain the following essential design elements of its educational program:
 
Arts and Sciences - Language arts, fine arts, and science will be emphasized at all grade levels. Students will acquire and apply knowledge.
 
Character and Leadership Development - Character development is considered a fundamental purpose of education and will be fostered through a child-centered educational model built on high behavioral and academic expectations. The comprehensive character education plan will tap into each child's innate need to know boundaries while protecting his/her dignity.
 
Small School Environment - The school will provide a small, safe educational setting in which students and faculty know each other personally.
 
Music Training - Elementary students will be taught basic keyboarding through general music courses. A music curriculum for older students will focus on the development of fundamental musician skills, while also exposing students to local musical heritage and culture.
 
Second Language - Students in all grades will be exposed to a second language, with a primary emphasis on Spanish.
 
An Enriched Curriculum For All Students - An enriched, gifted and talented curriculum will be offered for all students. At the high school level, advanced or college credit level courses will be available for all core subjects.