Vermillion Elementary School
November 2022
A Note from the Principal
Dear Chameleon Families,
Thank for a wonderful Fall Party event. It was so nice to have everyone in the building! We appreciate everyone that used the online RSVP for our Fall Party. We had 309 online RSVP's that we were able to pre-register for the event. Please remember to stop in and have your driver's license scanned at some point in time to ensure you are in the system going forward. We could not have asked for nicer weather for our parade. This school year has felt a little bit more on the normal side and we enjoy having you all in the building!
At the end of the first nine weeks we celebrated student successes at school. Each class handed out certificates to one student for showing each of the 3R characteristics: Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn. In addition, one boy and girl student from each grade level received the 3R t-shirt for showing all three characteristics on a daily basis. We were able to give out 144 perfect attendance awards as well to highlight the importance of showing up and being on time.
We do have a PTO meeting on Monday, November 8 at 6:30pm at Vermillion. We are blessed with a wonderful group of parents that supports our staff and students on a daily basis. If you are interested in getting more involved in the school, we would suggest attending a PTO meeting.
Remember that our Fall Break is November 21-25 and there is NO SCHOOL.
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
- 11/3: PTO Torchy's Spirit Night (5-8pm)
- 11/8: PTO Meeting - Vermillion STEAM Room (6:30-7:30pm)
- 11/11: PTO Hat Day for Veteran's Day (a $1 or more donation is recommended)
- 11/21-25: NO SCHOOL, Fall Break
- 11/25 & 26: PTO Kendra Scott Night (4-6pm at store, anytime online or by phone)
School Safety Reminder
With the increase in safety and security in our schools all visitors will need to be checked in thru the office and will be required to go through the security check system and wear a printed ID sticker while in the school building during school hours. If you have not previously had your driver's license scanned, you will need to present your license to our secretaries so they can input you into the system.
We appreciate your understanding with helping us maintain the highest level of security for our staff and students.
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.
Counselor's Corner
Happy Fall! We sure are excited to see some cooler weather and enjoy the great outdoors! As we do see fall temperatures go down - please encourage your child to bring a jacket with them to school.
We are already starting our friendship and lunch groups with grades 1-4. Our goal is to invite every student to a lunch or friendship group this year. For these groups, we meet 1-3 times -- and our agenda is to have fun and get to know other students in the grade level!
Our counselor lessons for this month will be focusing on responsibility and being healthy. Many of the grade levels will be learning about harmful drugs and how to say NO! when being pressured. Check out our counselor google site for more information on these lessons!
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
Jolene Chapin - Counselor for Kindergarten, 1st & 3rd Grades
Email: jchapin@usd266.com
Counselor Andi Shipman - Counselor for Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th Grades
Email: ashipman@usd266.com
Music Matters
Upcoming Music Program
Our VES 3rd & 4th graders have music programs scheduled on November 17 at the Maize
Performing Arts and Aquatic Center (MPAAC.) I will be sending home parent letters with your
student(s) with more detailed information soon. The schedule for these programs is listed
below:
Third & Fourth Grade Concerts: Thursday, November 17th, 2022
- 3rd Grade Time: 6:30 p.m.
- 4th Grade Time: 7:45 p.m.
Location: Maize Performing Arts & Aquatic Center (MPAAC) (1055 Academy Avenue)
**Students should arrive in the warm up room 15 minutes prior to their show time.
Quaver:
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.
Accessing Quaver:
Go to www.quavered.com/log-in/ and log in using a Username & Password.
The Username (also known as Quaver name) is the same as your child’s nine digit Maize Student
ID number which was included in the letter referenced above. The password is: music123.
Note the change in the web address and the new password for students. If you have trouble
remembering the student ID # or have any difficulty logging in, please e-mail me at
Mrs. Merkel is Looking for Loot!
I’m looking for prizes for my music classroom. If you would like to donate some items, please
send them to school with your child or drop off in the front office. Here are some ideas:
- Larger novelty candy like 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!)
I have A LOT of pencils, slap bracelets, sticky hands and squishies right now, so please
don’t send those.
Update from Coach
Wow! Time is really flying. It's hard to believe we are already into our second nine weeks of school. This nine weeks we will be working on cup stacking, cooperative and group games, parachute and more fitness.
If your child is sick or injured, please let us know and we can adjust accordingly. I know with the crazy ups and downs in our weather, there have been coughs and sickness going around.
We hope you are able to get outside and enjoy some of the beautiful weather and cooler days. We have been outside walking and getting in some mile runs.
These are the days your child has PE:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Stroh, Miles, Kraxberger, Zamora, Maddy, Bollenbach, Angelica, Doerflinger, Best, Lenk, Wood and Shurtleff
Tuesday/Thursday/Friday
Madrigal, Willard, Fischer, Brownell, Slief, Chalashtari, Stamper, Paul, Keller, Jakubov, and Packer
Coach Trail
Coach Schuette
Library News
Thank you for participating in the 1st Annual Vermillion Elementary Storybook Pumpkin Patch. It was a HUGE success! We had over 120 pumpkins.
From the Nurse
- Health Screenings
Students will have hearing or vision screenings during the school year as required. Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students will have vision screening. Kindergarten, 1st, and 4th grade will have hearing screening. Students new to the district will receive both hearing and vision screenings. Parents will need to write a note to the school nurse ONLY if they do NOT want their child screened. Results will ONLY be sent home if further testing is needed. Screenings are very basic and are not meant to take the place of professional evaluations.
- Immunizations
Please send the updated immunization records to the school nurse as soon as possible. Deadline to get immunizations to the school nurse is October 3rd.
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTION AT SCHOOL
Wash your hands often!! Wash your hands after coughing, blowing your nose or sneezing, after using the toilet, before and after eating, after touching or caring for animals, and before and after caring for a sick or injured person.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth to avoid transferring germs from your hands to the inside of your body.
Keep cuts and skin sores covered with a bandage.
Cover your sneezes and coughs with a tissue. Cough into your sleeve when a tissue is not available.
Never share drinks, water bottles, or eating utensils with other people.
Stay home from work or school and contact a doctor for advice when you have the following symptoms of infection: Fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle aches, stomach ache, persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea
“THE FLU” is an illness caused by one of a number of virus’ that causes fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, and muscle aches. A vaccine is available each year which may prevent or lessen the symptoms of the flu. The flu is spread when an infected person coughs sneezes or speaks and sends the flu virus into the air. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his eyes, nose or mouth. The best defense against the flu is washing your hands often!!
Children with symptoms of the flu should NEVER take aspirin. A rare but very serious and sometimes fatal illness called Reye’s syndrome can develop. Your physician can recommend safer ways to treat symptoms of the flu.
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.
In the attached newsletter (see the link), you will find information about our Torchy’s Tacos Spirit Night, Hat Day to support the Honor Flight, Kendra Scott Black Friday Fundraiser, and request for Bingo prizes and Raffle basket items!
Finally, on November 18 the PTO will be hosting a baked potato bar for the staff. Be sure to use the link in the attached newsletter to sign up to bring an item.
Upcoming PTO Meeting Information
On November 8 at 6:30pm the PTO will have its next general meeting in the STEAM Room at Vermilion Elementary. We invite all interested parents and staff to attend. We will approve grants and discuss Walk-a-thon funding.
Speaking of the Walk-a-thon, THANK YOU to everyone who helped raise money, attended, and volunteered for the Walk-a-thon fundraiser! In November, we will get to see Mrs. Nash on the roof for hitting our BIG GOAL of raising over $36,000!
PTO Newsletter
In the attached newsletter below, you will find information about our Torchy’s Tacos Spirit Night, Hat Day to support the Kansas Honor Flight, Kendra Scott Black Friday Fundraiser, and a request for Bingo Night prizes and Raffle basket items!
On November 18 the PTO will be hosting a baked potato bar for the staff. Be sure to check out the details in the attached newsletter and to sign up to bring an item.
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