VO News You Can Use
Dr. O's Weekly Parent Newsletter
March 5, 2018
Dear Village Oaks Families,
As a staff we strive to promote high expectations for academics, meet the emotional well-being of our students, and celebrate positive behavior for all of our learners. As a learning community, we have built a culture of collaboration, leadership, and citizenship. To achieve these high expectations, our school community has committed to having “H.E.A.R.T.” which is defined as: Have a growth mindset; Empathize and show kindness; Act responsibly; Respect everyone; Team up and collaborate. With consistent behavioral expectations building-wide, our continued focus on the “Leader in Me” program, and other leadership development activities we provide for our students we are confident that children at VO will continue to grow as leaders with HEART!
As you walk the halls of VO you may notice our newly hung HEART posters throughout our building. Please enjoy the attached video highlighting how students have HEART at VO!
Sincerely,
Alex
VO School Day Conversations
What does it mean to have a growth mindset at VO? How did you show kindness at school last week? Why is it important to be respectful to your classmates?
VO Cookie and Food Drive Reminder
In conjunction with our March is Reading Month theme, we have decided to make a collection to help local families in need. We are collecting store bought packaged cookies along with non-perishable food items to donate to families in need . One of the schools we are partnering with is a "nut safe" school. Suggestions from their food department include items such as; cereal, granola bars, fruit snacks and apple sauce.
We will have several tubs/boxes in our front lobby area to house all donations. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!
*Due to our snow day on Friday, as a school, we will dress as our favorite Dr. Seuss characters on Monday.
Enjoy a few March is Reading Month pictures from our staff!
Jump Rope for Heart
Who: All elementary students in Novi are invited to the jump rope party.
When: Friday, March 9th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Where: Novi High School Field House
What: Students are invited to celebrate heart health by jumping rope together
Performances by an organized Jump Rope Team
Raffle Prizes
Coffee station for the parents
Bring: Please wear a RED shirt and bring water bottle and bring the permission slip (Take home folder this week).
Compassion in Action
Attached is our March/April Compassion in Action Newsletter.
Box Tops
Thank you to everyone who cut out and sent in their box tops for our February collection. Together we were able to raise $450 for our school!
Yearbook Ordering Extension
The deadline for ordering yearbooks has been extended to April 10th! After this date you will no longer be able to order. Don’t miss out! We will have a very limited supply of books to purchase at the end of the year so order today! Please contact Serena German, serenagerman@gmail.com, with any questions.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration has started for the Class of 2031. Your child needs to be 5 years old by 9/1/18. To register your child, please call Centralized Enrollment at 248-675-3400.
VO’s Kindergarten parent meeting is on April 17, 2018 at 7pm.
*All students need to be registered prior to attending the parent meeting.*
AAUW-NN "Let's Read Math" Program
2nd and 3rd grade parents please see the attached flyer. The AAUW-NN Let’s Read Math series will again be held at the Novi Public Library from 1-2:30 pm March 10, 17, and 24. Each session begins with literature and is followed by math extension activities. Each week there will be a focus on a different grade level appropriate math concept. Parents are expected to attend with their children.
A Note From Mrs. Budlong
Dear Parents,
It's time for English learners in grades K-12 to begin taking the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs. All students who are required to be tested will take a reading, writing, listening, and speaking test from February 5 – March 23, 2017.
**If your child will be absent for an extended period during the testing window, please contact your child’s teacher to let them know your schedule as soon as possible.**
Please read the information sheet that came home with your child recently. It has information about the test.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email me. I look forward to seeing how much the students have improved this year!
~Kristin Budlong
ESL Teacher, kristin.budlong@novik12.org
Spring Fling Information
Spring Fling is right around the corner and our community businesses and organizations are essential to make it a success. Every dollar raised from Spring Fling goes directly to enrich the education of our Village Oaks students, which then enriches and strengthens the community around us. The funds provide educational opportunities for the children, which include: Assemblies, Author/Illustrator Presentations, extracurricular math programs, reading programs and many other wonderful programs that would be impossible without funds from VOICE
Please see the attached flyer.
Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
PTO is CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Your support to our school in the volunteering of your time is extremely valuable to all of us! We cannot help our students and staff in the planned activities without YOU! Please consider signing up for one of our committees at the link below: VOICE Link
Your time is so greatly valued and appreciated!
VO Flags
One of the things that makes our building so special is our diverse student population--we have families in our community who come from all over the world! To celebrate our global diversity we have hung flags in our cafeteria that represent many of the countries of our VO families. As a gift from our retirees from last year we were given ten flags of the following countries: Israel, India, England, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, China, and USA. Thank you to our parents who have also donated the following flags: Poland, Singapore, Japan, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Nepal, Greece, Pakistan and Armenia. If you would like to purchase a flag of your country of origin or to represent one of the many nationalities of our school please visit Amazon and search for an ANLEY 3x5 flag: VO Flags
Before purchasing and donating the flag to our school’s collection please contact me or one of our secretaries with the flag information so we can make sure that another family has not already ordered the same flag.
Spotlight on Students
1st Grade Storytelling!
Playworks
Village Oaks & Orchard Hills Elementary are proud to be part of the Play movement as the first two schools in the Novi School District to make play a priority with Playworks! Playworks is the leading nonprofit in Michigan and nationally using play to transform schools. A Playworks recess creates a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. Please click on the link below and read the attached Playworks article to learn more about our partnership and Patrice our Playworks Coach!
Looking Ahead
3/5/2018: Dr. Seuss Day (dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss character)
3/7/18: Title One Math Event 5:15pm
3/13/18: 3rd Grade Concert 6:30pm
3/15/18: VOICE-McDonald’s Night 5-7pm
3/22/18: Spring Book Fair Begins!
3/23/18: Kindergarten Performance 9:30am
3/23/18: African Folktales Grades K-2 @ 1pm Grades 3-4 @ 2pm
3/26/18: Parent Teacher Conferences 5pm-8pm
3/27/18: Bonaventure 6:15pm-8pm
Parent Pick-up/Parking & Bus Stop Expectations
As you pick up your children before/after school please be mindful of our neighbors and do not park in front of their driveways or mailboxes. We also ask that parents please park in our parking lot and keep your pets in your cars. Thank you for your understanding.
Please remind our students that VO expectations/rules apply at our bus stops. We ask that all students are on their best behavior as they wait for their bus.
Please do not drop off children before 8:55am. We do not have any supervision outside prior to this time. If you arrive late, please walk your child into the office and sign them in. Thank you.
CARE
Please remember if there is a change in your child's CARE schedule you need to notify Holly no later than 3:15. She will then contact the teachers. Holly Bengle can be reached at
holly.bengle@novik12.org or (248) 449-1307.
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Village Oaks Elementary
VO school hours: 9:08 am-4:00 pm
Office hours: 8:15 am-4:15 pm
Attendance line: 248.449.1301
Office phone number: 248.449.1300
Email: Alexander.ofili@novik12.org
Website: www.novi.k12.mi.us/vo/
Location: Village Oaks Elementary School, Willowbrook Drive, Novi, MI, United States
Phone: 248.449.1300
Twitter: @NoviVillageOaks