Vermillion Elementary School
April 2023
A Note from the Principal
Dear Chameleon Families,
It was great to see many of you at conferences. It is hard to believe that we are nearing the last quarter of this school year. Our PTO and VES parents provided a delicious lunch for our staff during conferences. Thank you!
Thank you to everyone that used the RSVP for the Valentine's Day Parties. This helps speed the process of getting everyone to their child's party on time and ensures safety throughout the building. If you are not already in the Raptor system, we recommend that you stop by the office to get your driver's license scanned into the system.
Family Night: We are looking forward to our A'Maize'ing Adventure Family Night on March 2nd from 5:30-7:00pm. We hope to see you there!
State Assessments: Third and fourth graders will be taking the state reading and math assessments in the near future. Your child's teacher will let you know the exact times and dates. Please be sure that your child is well-rested and is ready to do their very best. Our teachers and students have worked hard on their reading and math skills, and this will be a great opportunity to show their progress.
Pizza Sales: Our awesome VES PTO will be selling pizzas from Pizza Ranch for a spring fundraiser. Look for more information on how to participate in this fundraiser.
STEAM: We are excited that next year we will have a full-time STEAM teacher at VES. Melissa Love will be coming to us from Pray-Woodman Elementary. Students will attend STEAM for a total of 60 minutes per week starting in August.
We are continually appreciative of the help and support that you provide our students! We hope you all have a restful and enjoyable spring break!
Sincerely,
Jenny Nash
Principal
Visit our school website at www.usd266.com/ves
Connect with Mrs. Nash at jnash@usd266.com or 316-722-0266.
Vermillion Elementary School is located 501 James Ave. in Maize.
Important Upcoming Dates
- 3/2: Family Night @Vermillion (5:30-7:00pm)
- 3/7: PTO Meeting (6:30-7:30pm - Vermillion STEAM Room)
- 3/8: 4th Grade Battle of the Books (Library)
- 3/8: PTO Barn'rds Spirit Day (10:00am-9:00pm)
- 3/9: 6:30pm - 1st Grade Music Program (Maize Performing Arts & Aquatic Center)
- 3/9: 7:45pm - 2nd Grade Music Program (Maize Performing Arts & Aquatic Center)
- 3/10: PTO Crazy Hair & PJ Day (recommended donation amount is $1 or more)
- 3/10: PTO for Staff - Pot-luck Desserts & Appetizers Party
- 3/13-17: SPRING BREAK - no school
National School Breakfast Week
The District's Food Service Department is celebrating National School Breakfast Week March 6-10th. During this week we will promote school breakfast options to students and their families. A drawing will be held each day this week and the winning student will receive a water bottle.
School Safety
With the increase in safety and security in our schools, we are requiring that everyone entering the school go through the security check system. All visitors will have an ID printed sticker that they will be required to wear while in the school during school hours. We will be glad to scan your driver's license anytime you are in the vicinity of Vermillion Elementary.
Your profile remains stored in the system for the school year and the system automatically updates based on your license information. Therefore, if we have scanned your driver’s license before, you are already in the system and we will simply input your name to print a badge. Please have your driver's license in hand the day of an event.
We appreciate your understanding with helping us maintain the highest level of security for our staff and students.
End of Day Transportation
For after school transportation changes, please leave your message on the transportation line by 2:00pm M/T/Th/F and by 1:00pm on Wednesdays.
For those new to Vermillion please watch our student drop-off/pick-up process video. If you need a QR code please contact the school office.
Staff Wish List
Thank you to everyone that has made donations to our teachers! We greatly appreciate your support. Here is a link to all VES wish lists. Teachers will continue to update these throughout the year.
WatchDOG Program
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative father involvement - educational initiative of the National Center for Fathering. WatchDOGS are fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school. Click on the link below to view how the program works and how to schedule a date to be a WatchDOG. We are requesting only one WatchDOG per day.
Counselor's Corner
March is here and we know spring is coming! Spending time with the family outside becomes an exciting way of seeing the wonders of the season.
In the counseling department, we are also enjoying the wonders of our students. We continue to have lunch groups/ friendship groups and monthly guidance lessons. Our 3rd and 4th grade students have been preparing for state assessments that will be occurring in April. This is a great time to encourage your child to eat a good breakfast and get plenty of sleep for school.
Just a reminder that our student Families meet once a month at 3:15pm (the first Friday of each month). If you need to pick up your child early on these days, please plan to pick up your child before 3:00pm. Having our Vermillion student Families is a great way to build a sense of community in our school! Just a reminder that these monthly events are for our students only.
Please check out the information below about our Caring Chameleons. This is a network of Chameleons helping Chameleons. Vermillion Elementary Counselors are often notified of families in need of basic necessities. There are many caring Chameleon families who want to help but do not know what the needs are. If you would like to help, please refer to the document below with more information about the program. We greatly appreciate your contributions!
To learn more about what the Counselors do and what guidance lessons are being taught in the classroom each month please visit the counselor's website below.
https://sites.google.com/usd266.com/vescounselors/home
Enjoy time with family during spring break!
Jolene Chapin - Counselor for Kindergarten, 1st & 3rd Grades
Email: jchapin@usd266.com
Andi Shipman - Counselor for Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th Grades
Email: ashipman@usd266.com
Music Matters
Important information regarding the First & Second Grade Music Concert:
Thursday, March 9th, 2023
- 1st Grade Time: 6:30 p.m.
- 2nd Grade Time: 7:45 p.m.
Location: Maize Performing Arts & Aquatic Center (MPAAC) (1055 Academy Avenue)
**Students should arrive in the warm-up area 15 minutes prior to their show time
(You should have received a printed parent letter as well as a digital copy through e-mail. Please contact me, if you did not)
Watch for more information regarding our Kindergarten Music coming soon!
Kindergarten Concert: Thursday, April 13th, 2023
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Maize Performing Arts & Aquatic Center (MPAAC) (1055 Academy Avenue)
Music Intern: We have enjoyed our time with Miss Emery, our music intern. She has done a
fantastic job teaching, and has built a great rapport with the students. She has worked
primarily with our 3rd and 4th grades covering dynamics, identifying and reading notes on the
staff, composition and more. She has also assisted Mrs. Merkel with some of the preparation
for the 1st and 2nd grade programs. We wish her the very best as she graduates from Emporia
State University this spring and begins her first teaching in the Remington School District this
fall.
Quaver Reminder:
We LOVE our Quaver music curriculum! In addition to lessons we use in the classroom, it also has an at home feature so that students can explore music through games and activities using any computer or mobile device at home. Currently our 1st-4th grade students are all registered for this year and should have brought home a parent letter with more information.
Quaver Login Instructions:
Go to www.quavered.com/log-in/
- User Name / Quaver Name: 9-digit Maize Student ID#
- Password: music123
If you have any trouble remembering the student ID# or if the login prompts you for a code, please e-mail your child’s music teacher at the address listed below.
Mrs. Merkel Music Star Prizes!
I'm looking for prizes for my music classroom. If you would like to donate some items, please sent them to school with your child or drop them off in the front office. Here are some ideas:
- Larger novelty candy; ring pops, full sized Skittles or other harder candy (no chocolate, please)
- Packs of gum
- Anything music themed except pencils (see note below)
- Colorful pens or markers
- Small games or puzzles
- ”Happy Meal” type toys or other smaller toys (clean out those toy boxes!)
Mrs. Merkel
Update from Coach
We have been busy in the gym. We have been reviewing skills, such as skipping and galloping. We have done some bowling and cosmic bowling. We are learning a new game called Floorball. Ask your child about this game.
After spring break we are getting ready to do some March madness basketball. Also, field day will be here soon, keep an eye out for more information.
Please have your child wear tennis shoes on PE days if possible. If your child is sick or injured please let Coach Trail or Coach Schuette know and we can make adjustments for them.
Coach Trail
Coach Schuette
Library News
Your last chance to purchase a yearbook is now thru March 10, 2023. The cost is $25 and you can order online at inter-state.com/order and enter code: 73429K
If you have any questions or need help with Library needs, please contact me at shills@usd266.com
From the School Nurse
March is National Nutrition Month. Please view the flyer below to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful and physical activity habits.
The Nurse's office is in need of some items:
- Size 6, 7, 8 boys and girls athletic pants and leggings
- Size youth medium girls short and long sleeve shirts
- We could also use snacks other than saltine crackers since we give snacks to the kids who do not have one.
Our Amazon Wish List link is below:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FNV4O3K0UDP3/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Medication
If your child needs to take an over-the-counter medication at school, please read, complete, and send the medication form to school with your child. Prescription medication must have the same form completed by a parent/guardian and the prescribing physician. Parents/guardians may bring the medication to school with the signed medication form.
- The medication must be in the original container.
- The medication must be current. Expired medication will not be administered.
- The medication must be age appropriate. Any medication for a person older than the child will require a signed form from the doctor.
- All prescription medications require a signed form from the doctor.
- All prescription medications must have the pharmacy label with the student's name on the bottle box.
Students may not self administer medications in the elementary schools. If I can be of any assistance this year, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. My office number is 316-350-2810 and my email is jsmith@usd266.com.
Select to access Health Forms for Maize students
Nurse Jaime Smith
Email: jsmith@usd266.com
Phone: 316-350-2810 / Fax: 316-722-5020
STEAM Lab News
Reminder:
Please consider us before tossing out your gently used and recyclable items. We can put those items to good use in the name of learning! Ex: small toys, games, building materials, bubble wrap, rocks, art supplies just to name a few. Students can bring in items and place in the donation tub outside the STEAM lab.
Check out our Amazon Wishlist!
PTO News
Become a PTO member/volunteer - it's FREE! If you are interested in supporting our students and staff, please complete the online PTO Volunteer Enrollment Form or you may email the Vermillion Elementary PTO at vermillionpto@hotmail.com.
PTO is looking for assistance for several of our annual fund raising committees. If you are interested please contact PTO at vermillionpto@hotmail.com.
Upcoming PTO Events and Other Important Information
- Our next PTO meeting is March 7 at 6:30pm in the Vermillion Elementary STEAM lab. We invite everyone to come and see what we do! We will be discussing volunteer opportunities for the upcoming school year.
- Wednesday, March 8 is our Barn’rds Spirit Night. Dine in or drive thru from 10am to 9pm and be sure to tell them you are with Vermillion Elementary School!
- Friday, March 10 is Crazy Hair and Hat Day! A suggested donation amount is $1 or more or you can make a contribution on Cheddar Up (link coming soon) for the children’s units at Wesley and Via Christi hospitals!
- Our upcoming Spring Fundraiser is bake at home pizza from Pizza Ranch! Watch for more information!
Be sure to check out the March PTO Newsletter which will give more information about our upcoming events.
In preparation for next year’s Family Bingo Night, we invite anyone who has unused/leftover holiday gifts, baskets, bows, filler items that could be used in raffle baskets to turn them in to the school office. We greatly appreciate your support!
Walk-a-thon cause funding recently purchased a Chameleon Character prize vending machine! You can see more pictures on our PTO Facebook page. A complementary photo is below. Thank you for your continued school support!
PTO can be reached at:
- Email: vermillionpto@hotmail.com
- Facebook: Maize Vermillion Elementary School PTO
- Website: maizevermillionelementarypto.com
*Be sure to tag all the fun you are having at VES with #VES