November 1st, 2018 NEWSLETTER
Valley Oaks School
Please Note:
From Our Administration...
Two Deadlines Fast Approaching
1. Before the end of the semester, students need to turn in a Verification Form documenting that their 5 hours of mandatory community service for the semester has been completed. We are very happy that almost every student has either started their service hours or at least has described to their assigned teacher what they plan to do.
2. Digital Portfolios need to be polished and ready to present at our Open House on May 9, 2019. At this point in the year, students should have at least 2 assignments from September/October, posted on their website/portfolio. Additionally, the About Me page should be done and ideally the Community Service page is underway. Remember, the instructions are on our school website under Academics, and all staff members are ready and willing to help you. We are very pleased that so many students are already experienced and comfortable using Google sites!
College/Financial Aid Night November 28th
New Students Enrolling with Us!
Trisha, our school secretary, has been especially busy this month enrolling new students! Welcome to Nicholas Barajas, Brenda Amador, Lucas Adelman, Emri Bullock, Casey Manford, and Channing Matthews! Trisha continually works with new students to facilitate their smooth transition to Valley Oaks. October is always a month where we get a bigger wave of new students. We are excited to have had a very large group of prospective students attend our October 25th Informational Meeting hosted by Ms. Halsey and Mr. Jamerson!
Facebook - Did you know that just this last month, Trisha Shew and communications coordinator, Ashley Collingwood from the district office made a Facebook page for VOS? Please check it out! This is a great opportunity for us to build our school community and inform interested families.
From Our Staff...
STAFF INTERVIEW
Although clearly self-directed and motivated now about his professional path, it was not always this way for Mr. Jamerson...
Please continue reading about Mr. Jamerson's story HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Students who are demonstrating academic excellence during the past month are discussed at staff meetings and one is chosen to be honored. Our Bright News! form letter is on our website.
News From Our Staff Development Day
VOS teachers in the afternoon worked together to prepare our WASC report. This year Valley Oaks will be evaluated by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC), which will determine if we, staff members, are setting and achieving appropriate school goals. We are proud to say that VOS has always received the highest scores from WASC visits! The visit will be in March.
Student Highlights...
Preston Ashton Working at Jamba Juice
Lydia Williams with Beloved Rhino
Cece, April, Preston, & Ian
Sophia Riding Her Beloved Dominic
April, Ian, Brenda, and Cece
Campus Beautification Underway!
Jacob Cafiero - A huge thank you to student, Jacob Cafiero, who has begun the newest work of campus beautification. He worked in the hot October sun for five hours straight!!! We are excited that there will be another student spreading bark soon (a much easier job than clearing the land that Jacob is doing here) in the bedraggled rose bed outside building #1. We are eager for this service project to be completed which will beautify our campus. English teacher, Ms. Kesseru searched and found a company to give us a free load of bark: Sonoma Compost in Nicasio. Thank you to Ms. Kesseru, to this kind, wonderful student, Jacob Cafiero, and to the next yet unknown student!
Other Student Highlights
Kristin Ward, Jacqueline Jones, & Jessica Rue-Coulman - These 3 students were the first to complete their 5 hours of mandatory community service for the semester - CONGRATULATIONS!!! We are so proud of you!!!
Michael Kofoid and Preston Ashton - VOS now, as of last month, also has a YouTube channel, thanks to Ashley Collingwood from the district office - you can find our latest school video there made by Michael and Preston. Thanks, guys, for this lasting gift to VOS!!
April Adelman and his brother, Lucas Adelman - They have agreed to make the next school video which will be posted on our YouTube channel in the spring - thanks Adelmans!
Jessica Rue-Coulman - Jessica approached Mrs. Parker saying she would like a size small, silver zip-up VOS sweatshirt. Mrs. Parker placed the order and it will be delivered on November 12th! Thanks Jessica for your school pride!!! We can't wait to see you wearing it!
Sweatshirts - In her spare seconds here and there, Trisha, our school secretary, additionally has created a form that anyone can use to buy a VOS maroon pull-over hoodie or a VOS long-sleeve maroon t-shirt. These forms are in building #1 on the first student table. Feel free to take one and fill it out ~ we'd love to see you in our logo!
Exciting News!!!...
Michael Kofoid, Champion Sprint Car Racer!
A video of Michael winning the Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville is HERE. Michael is in the all red "4" car. The DSR on the car stands for Dan Simpson Racing. Michael won $5,000.
He won the 57th Annual Johnny Key Classic of 50 laps and also was awarded $5,000 (photo HERE).
Michael is pictured here at a Skagit, Washington race from this past summer where he won $10,000!! This race was especially meaningful to Michael because just a couple of months before, he had an accident on this raceway due to a malfunction of the car which caused the bearings to freeze. The car made one roll and doctors thought he had broken his neck. Michael said "it was the most painful thing in my life." He was on IV's and had CAT scans but miraculously, Michael bounced back and is pain free with no lasting injury! - and best yet, he came back to the track and won!
Cole Charbonnier, Dedicated Hockey Player!
1) What do you like to do for community service?
Cole: helping coach youth hockey
2) Why did you come to VOS?
Cole: I came to VOS to have a flexible environment where I can chase my career objectives and have classes tailored to my specific interests. In traditional schools, you don't have staff that genuinely cares about your success, but at Valley Oaks, everyone wants what's best for you.
3) What do you like about VOS?
Cole: I like the care teachers have for their students. I also enjoy being able to tailor classes such as history towards a more economics-oriented view, because that will best help me with my career goals.
4) Did you grow up in Petaluma?
Cole: I grew up in Petaluma
5) How long have you been playing hockey and how did you get interested in it?
Cole: I've been playing hockey for...Please see photo/video and finish reading Cole's online interview HERE
Cece Illingworth with VOS Monarch Caterpillars!
Are You Interested In This?
IMPORTANT Valley Oaks DATES FOR NOVEMBER:
11/12/18, Monday: VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY - Valley Oaks will be closed. When Monday students meet with their teachers on 11/5/18, teachers will either reschedule their appointments with students or give students 2 weeks of work.
11/16/18, Friday: Group Work Out for Group #2 PE students
11/19/18 to 11/23/18: FALL BREAK - Valley Oaks will be closed. Students are welcome to but not expected to do school work during these non-school days. When students meet with teachers the week before Fall Break, students will be given one week's worth of work as usual.
11/28/18, Wednesday: COLLEGE NIGHT/FINANCIAL AID NIGHT, hosted by our counselor, Mr. Jamerson. 6pm to 6:45pm: overview of the JC, CSU, and UC application process. 6:45pm to 8pm: information on financial aid for college and time to work on computers to complete the financial aid online application with assistance from Mr. Jamerson.
11/30/18, Friday: Group Work Out for Group #1 PE students
Reminder:
1/31/19, Friday: This is the last day for seniors who want to participate in the Alt. Ed.
Graduation Ceremony at Lucchesi Community Center on May 29, 2019, to order their cap & gown.
Important dates for the entire school year can be found on our school website calendar HERE.
Stay Tuned for Our December 1st Newsletter!
CONNECT
Email: nparker@PetK12.org
Website: https://www.petalumacityschools.org/valleyoaks
Location: 540 Vallejo Street, Petaluma, CA, USA
Phone: (707) 778 - 4794
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Valley-Oaks-School-313016212609149/