Dear VES Families,

We hope the New Year is off to a great start for all of you! We had a very festive close to 2022 with our YSI gift drive, lunch group morning meetings, winter parties-courtesy of our wonderful class parents, lessons on holidays Villagers celebrate this time of year, music from the MHS carolers and our annual VES sing along!

We are excited about all the New Year brings and look forward to honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with lessons on fairness, service to others and making the world a better place. The MHS Peer leaders will visit classrooms and lead activities on these topics and how to be upstanders. We also look forward to learning about the Lunar New Year from student experts, Maschio's Chef Day featuring food from India and the 4th Grade Chorus performance. VES will be hosting a Seeing Eye Dog Assembly, celebrating Black History leaders and change makers, spreading kindness during our Caring and Sharing Valentines Day parties and Presidents' Day!

Stay up to date with visits to the VES, MES PTA and MSEPTA websites. We are grateful for our PTAs for being so gracious and supportive of our schools by sponsoring assemblies and special activities including the upcoming opportunity for your child to be the Teacher for a Day. Stay tuned for details.

All the best in 2023!

Ms. Susan Lacy

VES Principal

Our 28th annual YSI holiday project was a success thanks to the support and generosity of our entire community! VES Peer Partners filled a box truck and took a trip to deliver holiday gifts to the the Young Scholars Institute. YSI families came for pick up the following weekend and extend their thanks and appreciation to you and our entire school community.

Jerri Morrison, the Executive Director of the Young Scholars Institute is grateful for the difference we have made for many families.

Many thanks to Ms. Hum, Mrs. Pignataro and Mrs. Vanatta, our master organizers, for growing this project each year and helping to orchestrate this amazing effort. A few pictures are on our Twitter feed.

Shortly after the 1968 assassination of the great civil-rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., individuals in both the Senate and the House of Representatives began proposing legislation to honor him with a federal holiday. However, it took almost 15 years before the 1st Martin Luther King Day would be celebrated in 1986. As we approach the 28th anniversary of this commemoration, let us remember the words of Coretta Scott King (Washington Post, 1983)

"The holiday must be substantive as well as symbolic. It must be more than a day of celebration . . . Let this holiday be a day of reflection, a day of teaching nonviolent philosophy and strategy, a day of getting involved in nonviolent action for social and economic progress."

Today, it has become traditional to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King through acts of service. Ideas in our area can be found here: NJ Day of Service Guide and Jersey Cares MLK Day of Service.

Celebrated around the world, the Lunar New Year falls on January 22nd kicking off the year of the Rabbit, which symbolizes grace, beauty and luck. This 15 day festival, which follows the phases of the moon, welcomes a new year of luck and prosperity. Student experts will share the legends and history, family traditions and other highlights of this festive celebration.

Students think with clearer brains when they have a chance to get moving. To help with this, we will be holding recess whenever the weather allows.

Please expect that we are planning for outdoor recess and dress your child accordingly. Hats, gloves, scarf, a heavy jacket and appropriate footwear are MUST HAVES!

Be sure to label your child's belongings so we can easily return lost items. Check the Lost and Found during your visits as unclaimed items will be donated.

Family Math Night is back! It will take place on March 16th in the OHES Cafeteria from 6-7:30pm. You can expect student led sessions, games to play at home, math activities, and experience how math is all around. Click this link to register for the event.

If your child is in 2nd or 4th grade and interested in becoming a student volunteer, have them complete the bottom section of the flyer and send it to their teacher(s) by January 27th. Student volunteers will meet during their recess once a week February-March and must be able to attend Family Math Night on March 16th. Any additional questions, please contact our K-4 Supervisor of Math and Science, Jessica Glover at jglover@mtsd.us.