VO News You Can Use
Dr. O's Weekly Parent Newsletter
November 6, 2017
Dear Village Oaks Families,
I hope you all had a wonderful week. Please remember that there is no school on Tuesday due to election day. I want to thank all of you who attended our Family Fun Bingo Night...it was a pleasure to see so many VO community members and students!
Sincerely,
Dr. Alex Ofili
NCSD Report Cards
Novi Community School is continually looking for ways to communicate more efficiently and effectively. This year we will be utilizing the MiStar Parent Portal to view paperless report cards for grades K-6. Attached to this communication is a letter from Dr. Matthews with more important information regarding report cards.
Michigan Department of Education Survey
Parents and other caregivers of children from preschool through grade 12 are invited to provide feedback on Michigan’s new, online “transparency dashboard” designed to show the performance of every public school in Michigan, including public school academies. The dashboard is currently under development by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). It is expected to be made available to the public by early 2018. The new dashboard will report on more than 20 different factors—or measures—that parents and other stakeholders have said are important to them when evaluating the quality of a school. The survey allows participants to view components of the new dashboard, then answer questions about the way information is presented, the usefulness of certain features, and viewers’ unique interests. The Michigan Department of Education will use survey feedback to help shape the current and future versions of the dashboard so that it is helpful to parents in every community.
Click the link below (or type the survey URL into your web browser) to access the online survey: surveymonkey.com/r/MDEESSA_Dashboard2017
Survey details:
The survey can be completed on any computer, tablet, or mobile device.
The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
All answers will be confidential.
Survey must be completed by November 15, 2017.
Coffee with the Superintendent
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Coffee with the Superintendent.
When: Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Time: 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
Where: Novi Public Library
Dr. Matthews will be joined by Stephanie Schriner, principal of our Novi Middle School. They will be discussing our Bullying Prevention Program achievements at the middle school and in the district.
School Photos
Pictures were sent home last week, October 25. Please remember, if you would like a retake, keep your picture package intact. Do not cut, open or use in any way. The package is your "ticket" for a retake. If you cut the picture, use the mug or manipulate the pictures in any way, you can still get a retake, but you will have to purchase a new package. Each envelope has a flyer inside with additional information. If you are missing something in your package, please contact SchoolPictures.com directly. The phone number is 1-800-482-0321.
Retake day is on Wednesday, November 15th. If your student is brand new to VO and has not had their photo taken, we will send home photo information to you this week.
VO BONAVENTURE Family Fun Night
Join us on Thursday November 16, 2017 between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm for the Village Oaks Bonaventure Fun Night. Admission is $7.50. All children between 3 and 17 must pay to enter. Skate rental is included with admission. Questions contact Jill Zimmerman at jillcatherine77@yahoo.com
Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
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, in the near future, we will begin to hang 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 Israel, India, England, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, China, and USA. 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:
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.
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: http://www.novi.k12.mi.us/vo/voice/
Your time is so greatly valued and appreciated!
Book Fair Volunteers
Volunteers needed for our Media Center's Fall Book Fair. It is a great opportunity to help kids, get involved and have some fun. Click on the link below to sign up for a shift or email heatherlcm61@gmail.com with the shift you would like to work and we will get you signed up. The book fair will run from Nov 10-17 including days for setup and teardown. Can't wait to see you soon!
Art Smart
Attention: Volunteers Needed! Art Smart is a volunteer Art History program brought to the children of Village Oaks through parent volunteers. Each classroom receives three Art History presentations a year. We will have artist portfolios with pictures and training materials available to pick up in the Media Room. Art Smart is done continually throughout the year during the school day. Presentations times will be what works best for you and your child's teacher. If this is your first time as an Art Smart volunteer, training and shadowing will be available. You must also have a 2017-18 Novi Schools Volunteer Background check turned into the office. Check to make sure your cleared before coming. This is a great way to help out in the classroom and bring Art History to our kids! If interested, please sign up with the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Schira at meganansbro@hotmail.com, Art Smart Chair.
To sign up: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0F48ACAA2BA31-artsmart
VO Needs Donations of Clothing
Are you doing a closet clean out? If so, we are in need of boys pants and underwear (all sizes). No jeans . Thanks You!
Bridgepointe Dollar for Detroit Day
On Friday, November 17, 2017 donate $1 (or more) and wear your Detroit apparel to school. Even if you’re not able to make a donation we encourage all students and staff to wear their Detroit apparel or the colors of any Detroit professional sports teams. Proceeds support bringing children from the city and suburbs together through our district community service project in partnership with Academy of the Americas. A flyer is attached to this communication.
Spotlight on Students
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!
Potbelly Super Students Program
Teachers were recently given a stack of Potbelly Super Student certificates. When our teachers catch students being kind or demonstrating a positive behavior that they’ve been encouraging in their classrooms they will give students a certificate that can be used before the 6/30/18 expiration date. Students can redeem the coupon located at the bottom of the certificate at the Potbelly restaurant located in Novi at 43350 Grand River Avenue Novi, MI 48375. The coupons are good for a FREE milkshake at our local Potbelly Sandwich Shop!
In the near future we will have a restaurant night at Potbelly’s where our school will earn 25% of the night’s sales...more information coming soon!
Student Lighthouse
Lighthouse Elections will take place in classrooms on November 6th. If you have questions regarding our Student Lighthouse please contact Nick Weigel-Hubler at Nicholas.weigel-hubler@novik12.org or Justin Haas at Justin.haas.@novik12.org.
EV3--First League Robotics Team
The EV3 Girls need your help! We are a team of 4th and 6th graders from Village Oaks, Novi Meadows, and Amerman Elementary, competing in this year's First Lego League Robotics Competition. As part of our research challenge, we are studying harmful algal blooms and have created an educational survey to spread awareness about harmful algal blooms and what you can do to help. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes of your time and is anonymous. Please consider taking our survey. Thank you for your time.
https://waynestate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NPheRysAN89Mbj
Looking Ahead
11/7: No school--Election Day
11/10: Report cards uploaded in Parent Portal
11/13: Book Fair coming to VO
11/14: Half day of school 12:30pm dismissal--Conferences
11/15: Picture retake day
11/16: BonaVenture Skating party 6:15-8pm
11/22: Half day of school 12:30pm dismissal
11/23 & 11/24: No school--Thanksgiving
Parent Pick-up and Parking
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've received several reports from community members that the mail carrier wasn't able to deliver their mail because of a parked car in front of their mailbox. We also ask that parents please park in our parking lot. Thank you for your understanding.
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
holly.bengle@novik12.org or (248) 449-1307.
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