Weekly Update from Vista Oaks
A great place for your child to grow.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Mark Your Calendar
Spirit Week: Show your school spirit the week of December 11 - 15 by dressing in your warm and comfortable pajamas.
- Family Science Night December 13th 6:30-8:00!
- There are no Enrichment classes the week of December 18
- Winter break is December 22-January 9
- "80's Neon Nights" dance! on February 2nd!
LEADERSHIP NEWS AND SCHOOLWIDE EVENTS!
Raffle
Vista Oaks Leadership Team is holding a raffle. Check the list of items below and buy your raffle tickets to have a chance to win! Tickets are $1.00 for 2. Be sure to put your name and number clearly on the back of the raffle ticket before entering. Last day to enter is Friday, December 15.
Raffle Items:
- Jr. Site Director for a Day
- Friday Art Teacher for a Day
- STEM Enrichment Teacher for a Day
- CP English Homework Pass
- Morning Treat Delivery
- Ice Cream Sundae
- Math Gift Basket
- Treat Basket
- Extra credit points for 7/8 Core Physical Science and Language Arts
Yearbook Sale Extended!
Big News about a BIG Yearbook Sale! Special Offer has been extended until December 31st!
Greetings Vista Oaks families!
It is time to order your 2017-2018 yearbook. The price of this year's book is $30 for a soft covered book and $40 for a hard covered book that will be filled with 100 pages of Vista Oaks students and events. This price also includes 4 personal pages that you can design yourself. Yearbooks can be purchased now until May by going online to voyearbook.picaboo.com.
Here is the BIG sale: If you buy a yearbook by December 31st, you will receive a $50 certificate to Picaboo.com! Picaboo.com offers photo books, cards, calendars, and more. Hurry and order to get this fantastic deal. If you have any questions, email the yearbook advisor:amy.morganstein@vistaoaks.net.
What a fun Holiday Bazaar! Great job to all of the vendors!
Family Science Night
Vista Oaks is having our first Family Science Night on December 13 at the Excelsior Theater. This is open to ALL ages. Sandia National Labs will be joining us with a bunch of hands-on labs from 6:30 - 8. Parents and children can engage in science stations that include a Physics in Motion Ramp, Chromatography, and Marshmallow Molecules. We also have an opportunity for your young scientist to participate in a Science Fair starting at 6:00. If you are interested in more information or presenting at the Fair, please click on the following link:
https://goo.gl/forms/cqvzm4hRmwfxz99v2
Bring the entire family and join in the fun!
Spirit Week - Pajamas!
Show your school spirit the week of December 11 - 15 by dressing in your warm and comfortable pajamas.
Decade of the Month
By Alyssa Quaintance (Commissioner of Spirit)
This year at Vista Oaks we have decided to add something to our school. Not only will we have a spirit week every month but we will also have a decade of the month. This will not only bring spirit to our school but it will also teach kids about other times. We want to bring appreciation to all other decades along with our own. We will be putting up posters with a little bit of information about each decade for the students to see. You are welcome to learn about these decades at home as well. Dressing up is not required but would be a fun addition! December is the 70's!
"80's Neon Nights" dance!
SAVE THE DATE!!!!!
by Analise Jones
Does the idea of big hair and bangin' beats sound rad to you? Then get a motor on down to Vista Oaks for our "80's Neon Nights" dance! Mark us on your calendars for February 2nd, 7-10 p.m. The dance is for ages 13+ and will be held at Excelsior Middle School Theatre. Come wearing your flashiest neon/80's semi-formal attire. Tickets will be $10 purchased before February 1st, and $12 purchased at the door. Forms are available if you'd like to bring a guest who does not attend Vista Oaks. We hope you can join us at 80's Neon Nights!!! Be there or be square!
STEM KIT EXCHANGE!!!
In class, the students will have the opportunity to exchange their kits in a fun white elephant gift exchange manner. Below are the instructions on how to assemble your kit. Remember that you can use your school money to make these kits and get reimbursed. Just make sure that you write “STEM KIT” on the description line of the reimbursement form.
There are plenty of ideas on Pinterest and the internet for you to come up with these fun easy kits.
Putting Together Your Kit:
• Look up some ideas for a STEM activity
• Make sure that your kit is no more than $7. This will make it so everyone gets a kit that is about the same. Most of the supplies will be easy to find around the house.
• Gather all of the materials and then print out the instructions for the activity • Place the materials in a container (shoe box, plastic container, etc) and wrap it up or in a gift bag of your choosing
• Bring the wrapped kit with you to class the week of DECEMBER 11th-15th
Here is an example of a kit that I might put together:
The activity would be a popsicle stick catapult. I’d put the following things in my container and then wrap it:
Popsicle sticks
Rubber bands
Pom, poms
Marshmallows
The directions for how to do the activity (and a picture of the finished product if there is one) If we have enough time after the exchange, the students will be given the opportunity to play with their kit. If not, the students will bring them home to keep and hopefully enjoy them during the holiday break.
Thank you so much for your participation with this activity! We know the kids will really have a great time doing this!
Your STEM Teachers—Ms. Yvette and Ms. Hollie
Enrichment Dates
Enrichment classes are held about 12 weeks per semester. Here are the weeks of the classes:
December 12
January 9, 16, 23, 30
February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 6, 13
April 3, 10
Parent Educator Workshops
For parents of students with IEPs in Special Education
OAK ROOM HOURS
Monday: 9:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Please note that the Oak Room will be closed for Staff meetings the following Wednesdays from 9:30-12:00:
February 7th
March 7th
April 4
May 2
Parking at Vista Oaks
Please park at Excelsior Middle School when coming to Vista Oaks. The parking directly in front of our school is reserved for the Byron District Office staff, so no Vista Oaks staff, parents, or students are allowed to park there unless you have a disability decal. Thank you for your cooperation!