In this issue:

Check out the Fun

FRC

MS Drama

16-17 MS Schedule Requests

REPORT CARDS/ PROGRESS REPORTS:
K-5th grade quarter 3 report cards will go home Monday if they didn't make it out last Friday. Please check your child's backpack.

6th-12th grade students are on semesters. Progress reports for 6th -12th grade students are updated and available for review on the parent portal. If you need your password or directions to access your parent portal account, please email Amy Bowers atamybowers@visioncsd.org. We will mail home report cards for 6th-12th grade students with a D or F.

LIP SYNC BATTLE!

Sophomores are hosting a Staff vs. Students Lip Sync battle April 15th at 6:30. Admission is free and concessions will be available for purchase.

CHECK OUT THE FUN!

Check out Vision Charter School Facebook page to see pictures of recent events including drama productions, musical performances, robotics updates, links to news and TV coverage of the school, intermural coverage, pictures of spirit days, and up to date information regarding school events.

FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION:

Six Vision Charter School students participated on two community based FRC teams in the state championships at the Taco Bell Arena this past weekend. Tanner Vollmer, Dallin Vollmer, Andrew Vollmer, and Clayson Chionio competed on Caldwell based second year team named VERN. Check out pictures of their robot and the students on our facebook.

Riley Skogland and Grayson Himes participated on a local FRC team named Bots of Prey. The Bots of Prey were chosen to be on the final alliance and are one of only two Idaho teams advancing to Nationals! The Bots of Prey received a judged award for Rookie Inspiration and will be attending Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri from April 27th -April 30! Check out pictures and videos of the competition on our Vision Charter School Facebook.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA:

Mark your calendars for April 22nd as the Middle School Drama Club presents, "Most Amazing Gift." Written by grandparent Peter Sundin, this play takes us to Scandinavia and three noble knights trying to find the best gift to win the princess. Our one performance at5:30 is free to the public and a cookie celebration afterwards!

2016-2017 SCHEDULE REQUESTS:

6th-12th grade registration packets for next school year are due back by April 6, 2016.

FROM MRS. ELLIS:

Elementary and Secondary Talent Show and other Music Opportunities-

This year, 3rd through 6th graders will be invited to participate in an audition talent show on May 25 during school. This will take the place of Show Off Days for these grades. Try-outs will occur by signing up for a variety of after school times to try out in G1. The sign-ups will become available in May. Students will be expected to have their act completely ready at the audition, with lyrics of any songs being printed to check for school appropriate language. Each act will be limited to three minutes in length. Show us what you can do! We are looking for all kinds of talents, from instruments to magic acts.

The secondary talent show will occur during school on May 26. Auditions will be Monday, May 23 after school in the gym. Students must have their acts completely prepared as they would intend to perform for the show. Lyrics of songs being sung or played in the background must be printed. Acts need to be no longer than three and a half minutes in length. Keep your eyes open for further information the month of May.

This Saturday, April 9, 2016 a wonderful music group called Shuffle is performing on the College of Idaho campus. Members of Vision are being offered a discount. Ticket prices come in a variety. Use the code "vision" to get your discount when you order tickets. Fliers will be coming home this week. In addition to the discount, a percentage of every ticket purchased with the code "vision" will be sent to our school's music program. We hope to see you there!

SNACK SHACK HELP:

Please contact Stephanie Green at 880-0927 if you are willing to help out at the Snack Shack. Help is needed from 9:30a.m.-1p.m. the last school day of each week. Parents or grandparents are invited to help volunteer! Even if you can only help for a few hours once a month, please contact Stephanie Green and she will help find a way to put you to work!

ROCK BAND CLASS TRYOUTS:

Current eighth through eleventh grade students interested in auditioning for the Rock Band Class may sign up on the stage door starting April 5th. Auditions will take place on Tuesday, April 12th starting at 3:20 p.m. on the stage.

To be considered for the class, applicants must attend their scheduled audition time with a resume listing their experience in skills they believe will serve as an asset to the Rock Band class.

Performers:

These students must perform a song a minimum of one and a half minutes in length, no longer than three minutes, that best represents the style of music they believe they want to perform. They need to include a written explanation of how this music best represents them.

Managers:

These students need to submit a one half to one page description of what they believe a manager does and why they are well suited to this position. These students will submit to an interview, rather than an audition, which will include looking at communication skills, especially telephone etiquette.

FROM THE COUNSELOR:

Dear Parents,

As you may know, during the 2016 Legislative session, HB458 relating to Advanced Opportunities was passed and became law. While more details are forthcoming from the state, it is important to know as you plan your student's next year class requests how this impacts your child. Highlights include:

The 8 in 6 program and funding known as "Dual Credits for Early Completers" and "Fast Forward" will no longer exist as of 7/1/16. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT ANY CURRENT CLASSES BEING FUNDED BY THESE PROGRAMS.
Instead of individual programs and funding, each Idaho student will be eligible for $4,125 towards overload and dual credit courses; as well as college credit-bearing exams and professional certification exams. Courses may be in person or online. (OVERLOAD and DUAL CREDIT courses will be the major use of this funding by VCS students)

o What does this mean?

It is possible for every VCS student to have 63 college credits or a mixture of overload and college credit courses paid for by the state of Idaho. CWI's Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts is 60 credits! With careful planning and academic effort, your student can graduate from high school with an AA degree.
With this change in state funding, there will continue to be VCS scholarships available and can now be geared towards assisting students in purchasing textbooks and paying fees not covered by the state funding.
Students can now take a more gradual approach to graduation while completing requirements for the AA degree and not have to complete courses early in their high school career to meet program needs to be eligible for the $4,125.
Secondary students can begin overload course work (classes taken outside of a full schedule at school including summer time) beginning in 7th grade. This includes the summer prior to entering 7th grade. Overload courses can be courses that accelerate the student in learning towards high school credit and college credit (ie., high school classes and/or dual credit classes).

Sincerely,

Mary Dowski, M. Ed., Ed. S.

School Counselor

marydowski@visioncsd.org Top of Form

ABOUT VCS...

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.