VO News You Can Use
Dr. O's Weekly Parent Newsletter
November 20, 2017
Dear Village Oaks Families,
It was great to see so many parents at our conferences last week and families at our family fun night. It’s hard to believe that we have already completed the first marking period and Thanksgiving is on Thursday...it’s true what they say, “time flies when you’re having fun!” Over the next few days I encourage you to reflect with your child on his or her successes so far this year and discuss what they are grateful for at VO. I hope you and your family have a peaceful Thanksgiving Break. Please remember students will be dismissed at 12:30 PM on Wednesday, November 22nd. We will not be eating lunch at school on Wednesday.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alex Ofili
VO School Day Conversations
What are you most grateful for at VO? What are you most proud about learning this school year? What is your favorite recess game and what are the rules for the game?
Thank You VO Parents
Our book fair was a huge success thanks to all of the parent and grandparent volunteers that gave so generously of their time. Thank you! Also a huge thanks to all of you who stopped by to support the media center. All of the proceeds from the book fair go back to the media center in the form of new books and programs! Another big thank you to VOICE (PTO) for providing a delicious dinner for our teachers during parent-teacher conferences and organizing activities for our family fun night. Way to go VO!
NCSD AdvancED
Novi Community Schools is an accredited school district. In order to retain our accreditation with the state of Michigan we have to partake in an engagement review. NCSD uses the AdvancED process for accreditation. In this review we would like to include all stakeholders in the process. To gather evidence we are asking you to complete this important survey for parents: Village Oaks Parent Survey.
Your 3rd and 4th graders will also complete a survey before the end of the month. These surveys will help us gain a better understanding of our culture and climate. We will use the information we gather from the survey to not only help us with the accreditation process but to drive our continuous school improvement plan for years to come.
Compassion in Action
Please see the attached newsletter from our Social Worker, Elizabeth Elster for important information for you and your family.
VO Potbelly Restaurant Night
Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
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: VOICE Link
Your time is so greatly valued and appreciated!
Community Service Project--Winter Fest 2017
If you happen to be out this holiday weekend shopping we could use your help.
Village Oaks is Collecting:
- Chapstick & LipSmackers
- Gently used items
- Small stuffed animals (Beanie Babies, Big Eyed Boos or Webkinz)
- Playing cards
Please consider helping the wonderful kids at Academy of the Americas school in Detroit. Your donation will help fill the gift bags being given to each of the 900 children at the holiday festival. Your contribution will make a big difference in a child’s life. Thank you!
Please send all items unwrapped. Our students will wrap them at a later date! Collecting from November 20th-December 5th. Donation boxes will be located near the main office.
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 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 we have hung 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. Thank you to our parents who have also donated the following flags: Poland, Singapore, Japan, Germany. 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.
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 . Thank You!
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!
Playworks also provides opportunities for our students to participate in after school athletics. In the picture below, check out a few of our VO students with Coach Patrice after a wiffle ball game.
Diversity Day
First Grade Music Performance
Looking Ahead
11/21: Animals Around the World Assemblies--K-2 1:30pm & 3-4 2:30pm
11/22: Half day of school 12:30pm dismissal--Diversity Day
11/23 & 11/24: No school--Thanksgiving
12/5: 1st Grade Music Concert at 6:30pm
12/22: Holiday Songs: Music Around the World--K-2 1:00pm & 3-4 2:00pm
12/25-1/5: No school--Winter Break
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.
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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