In this issue:
Everyday Counts
STEM Club
Character Trait
Artist of the Month
Parent Portal
Mr. George
Co Ed Flag Football
Snow/Ski Team
HS Drama
MS Drama
Carpool Requests
Dates to Know
EVERYDAY COUNTS CAMPAIGN

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student's academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school, in college, and in a future job!
A few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
  • Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
  • Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
  • Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor appointments when school is in session.  Set appointments after school or for days we do not have school.  
  • Talk to the teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
  • Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
 
Attendance from the first day of school through the first Friday in November drives 85% of all funding for Vision Charter School.
 
All students attending school every single day from 9/1/2016 - 11/4/2016 will receive two tickets for a drawing for a Chrome Book. Every student who attends every day but one from 9/1/2016-11/4/2016 will receive one ticket for a drawing for a Chrome Book.
 
Each of the following grade spans will have a drawing for one Chromebook:  K-2nd grade; 3rd-5th grade; 6th -8th grade; 9th-12th grade *** A Full day of attendance requires a student to receive a minimum of 4 ½ hours of instruction. (Not including passing periods or lunch recess time.) 

TWELVE SPOTS LEFT: 6TH-8TH GRADE AFTER SCHOOL STEM CLUB:
This program will provide an opportunity for students who are not involved in another STEM program at Vision Charter School to be exposed to STEM careers, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts. Students will explore these concepts under the guidance of Mr. Casey Boothby on Thursdays school is in session starting August 25th and extending through December 15th from 3:30 - 4:30 in the Technology Lab. A $20 fee is required which will cover a club shirt and materials. As usual, if fees are prohibitive, please contact Mrs. OldenKamp at wendyoldenkamp@visioncsd.org.  Forms are located in the secondary office. **This program is open to the first 20 students with fees paid and parent signature returned to the secondary office.
Opportunities:
  • Future Cities Competition              -   App/Programming Challenges
  • 3-D printing technology                   -   Video Game Design
  • Drone technology                            -    Entrepreneur Challenge
 
***Students currently in First Lego League may now join since spots are still available. These remaining twelve spots will be filled on a first come/first serve basis. The group will focus the first few weeks on 3D printing and design.
 

SEPTEMBER CHARACTER TRAIT:  TRUSTWORTHINESS
Think ``true blue`` * Be honest * Don't deceive, cheat, or steal * Be reliable - do what you say you'll do * Have the courage to do the right thing * Build a good reputation * Be loyal - stand by your family, friends, and country
 
 
What Parents Can Do To Promote Trustworthiness:
  1. Teach children the importance of trustworthiness by word and example.   Ask yourself "what message am I sending?"  Avoid dishonesty, especially in front of your child: ("A child's ticket, please, he is only 11.")   Never ask your child to lie for you: ("Tell Grandma I'm in the shower.")
  2. Encourage honesty even when it may cause your child to get into trouble. Praise efforts to be honest and point out good examples whenever you see them. Express disappointment for dishonesty.
  3. Keep your commitments, be on time and do what you say you will do, especially when your child is involved.
  4. Teach that people need the courage to say "no" when friends ask them to do something that seems wrong. Explain that it is disloyal to ask a friend to be untrustworthy.
 
"Never esteem anything of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect."  Tolbert McCarrol
 
"If you fear that people will know, don't do it." - Chinese Proverb
 
"To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved." - George MacDonald
 
"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not." - Oprah Winfrey

ARTIST OF THE MONTH:
Artist: Piet Mondrian
Element of Art: Line
Focal piece: Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow 1930
 
Dutch artist Piet Mondrian is considered the pioneer of abstract art and founder of "Neo-Plasticism".
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoVEmrHsfBk
 

 Parent Portal: Please email Amy Bowers at amybowers@visioncsd.org for your parent portal password and instructions for use.
MR. GEORGE RECIEVES NATIONAL AWARD
Mr. George was one of only 213 teachers from across the country and one of four Idaho recipients who is receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
"The recipients of this award are integral to ensuring our students are equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are vital to our Nation's success," Obama said in a White House news release. "As the United States continues to lead the way in the innovation that is shaping our future, these excellent teachers are preparing students from all corners of the country with the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills that help keep us on the cutting-edge."
Mr. George will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and will receive the award in Washington D.C. in early September. Vision Charter is proud to have Mr. George as the K-12th grade science department head and teacher of Biology, DC Biology, DC Human Biology, DC Environmental Science, DC Marine Science, and DC Bio Mechanics and Kinesiology.
 
 

CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL:
Oct 17-Nov 18   7-12th Flag Football will be coached by Mr. Kurt Scheffler. Mr. Scheffler has coached for years with varying grade levels and abilities. Practices will be 4 days a week from 3:30-5 p.m. at Vision Charter School on the field. Interested students pick up an application from the secondary office or email Mr. Scheffler at kurtscheffler@visioncsd.org.  Students participating in flag football will need to provide their own mouth guard, water bottle, and football cleats (no metal cleats). A $10 fee is required to pay for team shirts.
 

CO-ED SKI/SNOW TEAM:
January - February 7-12th Ski/ Snow Team will be coached by Greg Priest.  Please contact Greg with any questions.   greg@priestelectric.com

HS DRAMA:
Drama is returning for its eighth season with a fall performance transporting us to Narnia!  Practices for "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" will be Tuesdays 3:30-5:30 until our performance weekend October 28th and 29th.  

MS DRAMA:
Middle school drama meets during lunch on Mondays in room 111 with Mrs. Mitchell. The first meeting will be Monday, September 12th. 

CARPOOL REQUESTS: We have two children one girl in seventh and one boy in fourth. We live in Kensington neighborhood in Nampa near CWI off the Garity exit. If you would like to discuss carpooling periodically, please call Nancy Morrison at 954-3909.


DATES TO KNOW:
September 1             PFA meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the library
September 1             Junior class parent meeting starts at 7 p.m. in Mrs. Mitchell's room.
September 1             VCS Board Meeting in the library at 7:30 p.m.
September 2             No School
September 5             No School-Labor Day
September 9             PFA sponsored Family Ice Cream Social 6:30 - 8
September 15           Picture Day
September 23           No School- Teacher Work Day
October 4                   MS/HS Fall Concert 7:00pm
October 5                  4th period- 9-12 Pep Rally
October 6 & 7            No School- State Inservice Days
October 10-14           No School- Fall Break
October 17                 Pumpkin Carving 5:30-7:30 PFA movie/dinner  Pumpkins will be sold by the Music Department. Parents may bring their own or purchase one to carve.
October 17                 First day of 7th-12th grade Flag Football from 3:30-5
October 18                 Boise National College Fair for Juniors/Seniors
October 19                 10th graders take the PSAT  
October 20&21         Secondary Drop in Conferences 3:30-7 p.m.
October 20& 21        Elementary Scheduled Conferences
October 28 & 29       Fall Play "The Lion, the Witch, and Wardrobe" 
October 31                 Dress as a character from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"
November 4              7-8th then  9-12th Fall Dance details tbd
November 7-16         Student Government sponsored Food Drive
November 8              K/1 Fall Program 7:00 p.m.
November 11            Veteran's Day Assembly tbd
November 12            Craft bazaar & Robotics Extravaganza in the library, gym & tech lab
December 2              PFA sponsored Movie Night, kids crafts, hot cocoa, dinner  5:30 -8
December 19            Christmas (elementary 6:00; secondary 7:30 p.m.)
January 4th                First day of 7-12th co-ed Volleyball intermurals from 3:30-5 p.m.
January 20                HS music fundraiser dinner 5:00-6:45 p.m.
February 3                 All Star Volleyball staff versus students 3:30-5 p.m.
February 3                 PFA sponsored Bingo, dinner, chocolate desserts!  6-8 p.m.
February 6                 First day of 7th-12th grade Co-Ed Basketball practice 3:30-5 p.m.
February 9th             LipSync Battle 2.0 
February 17              7-8th   then    9-12th Winter Dance   (Semi-formal)
February 23              MS Pops Concert 7:00pm
March 2                      HS pre-festival Concert 7:00pm
March 7                      2nd & 3rd Spring Program 7:00 p.m.
March 10 &11           Spring Play tbd 
March 17-22              HS Band/Choir/Orchestra Disneyland trip
March TBD                7th - 12th intermural soccer/signups will occur in Nov.
April 5                         Junior SAT 
April 6                         PFA sponsored Walk-a-thon
April 14                      7-8-9 Dodgeball Social
April 21-22                 Cinderella (Friday 7p.m. & Saturday 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.)
April 29                      9th-12th grade Prom 
May 2                         MS pre-festival concert 7:00 p.m.
May 9                         HS Pops Concert 7:00 p.m.
May 12                       ELA/Math Testing completed
May 12th                    Science Expo/Math Carnival/Art Fair 3:30-7:00 p.m. 
                                (PFA food/ Silent auction/ Bingo)
May 15-19                 Science ISAT and ELA/MATH make ups
May 16                       6th Grade Concert 7:00 p.m.
May 18                       12th grade awards 4th period
May 18                       Seniors last day
May 19                       Graduation practice 10 a.m./ Graduation 7 p.m.
May 22                       RAD 7 p.m.
May 23                       Elementary Talent Show 1:30
May 24                       Secondary Talent Show/ 9th-11th awards 1:30
May 24                       Field Day K-6th 
May 25                       7-12 Luau/ K-8th awards- Early Release Last Day of School