In this issue: 6-12 Conferences FAFSA Box Tops Snack Shack Skate Night MS Social Scholarship Staff vs Student Volleyball 16-17 Lottery Incoming Kinder Looking for a school with Vision? Dates to Know School Closures and Snow Days About VCS 6th -12th GRADE DROP IN PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES: Drop In Conferences will be held February 11th from 3:30-7 p.m. in the gym.     FAFSA NIGHT FOR SENIORS AND PARENTS: Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Vision Charter School from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the library.  Please bring: Your Social Security Number Your most recent federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.) Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable) Records of untaxed income (if applicable) An FSA ID to sign electronically (we can help you with this if you do not have one already) Here's a how to guide as well: https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm Please send questions to Ms. Dowski at marydowski@visioncsd.org.   BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION: We've raised over $600 so far this Year!   The last submission deadline for this school year is coming up.   Please submit Box Tops by Feb 18th.    Please turn in un-expiredBox Tops,  NOT Labels for Education SNACK SHACK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We need Snack Shack volunteers on Fridays from 9:30-12:30.  If you'd like to volunteer, contact Stephanie at stephaniegreen@visioncsd.org. VCS SKATE NIGHTS! Mark your calendars for the following dates for Vision Charter School's Skate Nights at the Nampa Rollerdrome: 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  MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL "Party of the Decades" All Vision Charter School seventh and eighth graders are invited to attend the "Party of the Decades" on Friday, February 19th from5:00pm-7:00pm in the gym.  The cost is $5.00 at the door.  Students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite decade, choosing from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s or 1990s.  There will be a prize for the "Best Dressed" for each decade.  Dress up, but please remember that modesty rules still apply. There will be music, games, and refreshments provided. There will also be photos available for $1.00 each. IDAHO GOVERNOR SCHOLARHIP: Seniors- Idaho Governor Scholarship is DUE 2/15, Idaho Opportunities Scholarship is DUE 3/1. FAFSA Must be completed by 3/1 for the Idaho Opportunities Scholarship. More INFO at https://boardofed.idaho.gov/scholarship/scholarship_jump.asp   VOLLEYBALL STAFF VERSUS STUDENTS: Come watch the students versus staff Volleyball game this Monday, February 22nd at 3:30 p.m. in the gym. VISION CHARTER SCHOOL IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR! Vision Charter School will hold its lottery for enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 8, 2016 in the secondary technology room. Applications may be found at visioncharter.net under enrollment/lottery. Completed applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2016 and if hand delivered, no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2016. Applications received after April 1st 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. 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. Vision Charter  School celebrará su lotería para la matrícula para el año escolar 2016-2017 comienzo a las 9:00 de la mañana del Viernes, 8 de abril 2016 en la sala de tecnología de secundaria .Las solicitudes se pueden encontrar en visioncharter.net  la inscripción / lotería. Las solicitudes completas deben enviarse por correo el 31 de marzo de 2016 y si la mano entregado, antes del 4 pm el viernes , 1 de abril de 2016. Las solicitudes recibidas después del 01 de abril a las 4:00 pm será colocado en la piscina para el año siguiente y al la parte inferior de la lista de espera para cada nivel de grado. Todos los futuros estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de inscribirse en la escuela pública gratuita, sin importar la raza, color, origen nacional o étnico , religión , sexo , condición social o económica , o 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 2016-2017 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 **Come meet the staff at our INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS from 6-7 p.m. in the VCS Gym on Tuesday, March 15th and March 29th INCOMING KINDERGARTEN SIBLINGS OF CURRENTLY ENROLLED VISION CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS need to have an application in the lottery to be considered for the 2016-2017 school year. We do not accept applications for kindergarten students until January 1st of the year they will be entering kindergarten. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1st of 2016 to be considered for the lottery for the 2016-2017 school year.   LOOKING FOR A SCHOOL WITH VISION? Let us help you bring your child's future into FOCUS! We're a FREE K-12 COLLEGE PREP SCIENCE & ART SCHOOL where high school students can earn college credits through CWI, NNU, BSU, etc. without ever leaving our campus. Thanks to our accelerated curriculum, eligible students can graduate from high school with a two year Associate of Arts degree from College of Western Idaho. Don't wait to become part of this life changing school! We begin accelerating our students in our FREE full day kindergarten program. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and collaboration start in the primary school setting and extend throughout high school! We also emphasize music, character and leadership education, safe & small school culture, and study in a second language. Students at Vision Charter School may qualify for high school credits while in middle school. Students who complete all state graduation requirements prior to the start of their senior year and stay enrolled at VCS will qualify for 36 concurrent college credits to be paid for by the SDE. Get a head-start on tomorrow by learning more today! Download an application at VisionCharter.net. Come meet the staff at our INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS from 6-7 p.m. in the VCS Gym on Tuesday, March 15th and March 29th.  DATES TO KNOW: February 8: Vision Skate Night from 6-8 p.m. at the Rollerdrome $5 entrance fee/ $2 rentals February 9: Board Meeting starting at 5:30 p.m. in the library. February 11: St. Government Super Hero Spirit Day or regular jeans day attire $1 donation. (No masks, hair dye, or face paint. Modesty rules apply.) February 11: 6th -12th Drop In Conferences from 3:30-7 p.m. in the gym February 11: 5:30-7:30 FAFSA Night for seniors and their parents with CWI and Ms. Dowski in the library.   February 12: NO SCHOOL February 15: NO SCHOOL- President's Day February 19: Middle School Social "Party of the Decades" from 5-7 p.m. Par and cost tbd February 19-20: FTC High School Robotics Team heads to State Competition at UofI February 22: Staff versus students Volleyball game starts at 3:30 in the Vision Charter gym. February 26: NO SCHOOL - Inservice March 3: Music Ensemble Dinner Performance March 5: Mr. Leavell's guitar class will be performing starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Birdstop in Caldwell! 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 15: Lottery Informational Session for interested families 6-7 p.m. in the gym. March 17: 2nd and 3rd grade music concert at 7 p.m. in the gym March 21-25 NO SCHOOL- Spring Break March 29: Lottery Informational session for interested families 6-7 p.m. in the gym. April 1: 7th-9th  Dodge Ball Social from 5-7 p.m. & 9th - 12th grade will be from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the VCS gym April 5: HS Symphony and Honors Choir Performance April 8: NO SCHOOL - 2016-2017 Lottery Drawing 9 a.m. 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 17: 6th grade Spring Concert 7-8 p.m. at the VCS gym. May 19: CARNIVAL and AUCTION from 3:30-7 p.m. at VCS! May 19: Last day for seniors May 20: NO SCHOOL May 20: 6th grade Lock In starts at 6 p.m. and goes to 7 a.m. Saturday, May 21. May 24: RAD starts at 7 p.m. 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 ** 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. 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.