VO News You Can Use
Dr. O's Weekly Parent Newsletter
NCSD Mission Statement
Developing each student's potential with a world class education.
April 17, 2020
Dear Village Oaks Families,
We are incredibly excited to transition to our remote learning model providing students with new instruction beginning on Monday, April 20th. This model is part of our Continuity of Learning Plan, which was approved by Oakland Schools this week. Our K-4 staff have worked tirelessly, collaborating with colleagues in each building across the district to ensure that we are still providing meaningful, high-quality lessons for your student(s) throughout the remainder of this school year.
We would like to provide an overview of what you can expect going forward for the next 8 weeks. Each Monday at 8 AM, students will receive a K-4 home learning calendar for the week, which will provide an overview of the mini-lessons and learning activities that will be covered for the week ahead. You can expect your child to have 2 ELA (English Language Arts), 2 Math, 1 Social Studies, and 1 Science mini-lesson each week along with various assigned activities to connect with these lessons. A learning target will also be provided for each content area addressed throughout the week, so both you and your child will be able to know what they will learn and should be able to do by the end of each day’s lesson and/or assigned activities. Specials lessons and activities will also be shared, with one day dedicated to each special. Each morning by 8 AM, the day’s lesson activities will be shared with students. They must be accessed through Seesaw Class App.
Your child’s teacher will be offering a 30 minute session to virtually connect with your child’s class each Monday and Friday through either Zoom or Google Meets. Each grade level will have a consistent, dedicated time each week to try and minimize any overlap between siblings. Look for links for these meetings to come from your child’s teacher. On Mondays, your child’s teacher will provide an overview of the learning plan for the week during this meeting. On Fridays, they will use their time together to maintain the social-emotional connections they have worked so hard to develop thus far this year. On Fridays, our Interventionists, English Language Development Teachers, Specials area teachers, and I will be joining some of these sessions as special guests. We are all very much looking forward to seeing your children’s smiling faces!
Every Wednesday, each teacher will be offering a virtual Office Hour through either Zoom or Google Meets. This time will likely be different than the Monday/Friday schedule and will be determined by your child’s teacher. These sessions are geared at providing support for students who may have questions about the lessons and/or are struggling with the learning activities. If your child does not have questions, there is no expectation that they will join this session.
We hope this provides some information ahead of Monday’s first Home Learning Calendar release. Thank you for your understanding as we transition to a new phase with our Continuity of Learning Plan. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to continuing to partner with you in your child’s educational experience.
Stay Safe and Healthy!
Alex
A Greener VO
Celebrating Earth Week!
This Wednesday, April 22nd is Earth Day! While this Earth Day finds VO Families and the Novi Community in a wholly unique situation, it is important that we still make the time to do our part to help Mother Earth. In honor of Earth Day, we would love to see ways that VO Student Leaders are helping their families to clean up their yards. Remembering to follow rules of Social Distancing is a MUST, but if your families choose to participate in any sort of yard cleanup this week, and you would like, please send any pictures to our Facebook Page at leadersvo@gmail.com that show your young Village Oaks Leaders in action!
In Honor of Earth Day, we are also excited to announce that Village Oaks has once again earned Oakland County and Michigan Green School Certification, with the distinction of being named an Emerald School for our environmentally responsible actions and initiatives. Thank you to everyone- this is truly an award for everyone that reflects the hard work and dedication of the VO Community.
VO Book Fair
Looking for something new to read? School may be closed, but our Village Oaks book fair is open! Order online from April 20 - May 3 to get books shipped straight to your door! 25% of profits go to benefit our school library. Thank you for your support!
Katy Golden, MLIS
VO School Librarian
VO Gratitude
- Jenya
Social Emotional Support
The Novi Community Schools Social Work Department would like to share some opportunities and resources for social emotional learning for all students during this unprecedented time. Attached is a list of resources for students of all ages with different mediums of instructional delivery. There are some fantastic resources to assist with social skill development, mindfulness, anxiety, and materials regarding talking to students about COVID-19.
Please reach out to our school social worker Ms. Amber Zarb amber.zarb@novik12.org via email if you have any questions or concerns.
Enjoy the video below from Dr. Stephanie Grant, child behavior therapist and expert in trauma. Dr. Grant provides great insight on how to support your children through COVID-19.
Social Distancing--Be Safe
As the weather begins to warm up many of us will begin to go outside more often to enjoy different outdoor activities. While outside please be safe and adhere to the social distancing recommendations made by many medical experts. Below is an insightful article outlining the importance of social distancing during this pandemic.
Social Distancing: Why Keeping Your Distance Helps Keep Others SafeFinn Friday!
Sample Daily Schedule
April Birthdays--Cha-Cha-Cha!
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Tanya Mogegowdanadoddi 04/02/2011
Arjun Mahesh 04/02/2014
Evan Krupkin 04/03/2011
Lily Atoui 04/03/2012
Manaswini Reddy 04/03/2012
Cecilia Justin 04/03/2014
Logan Parks 04/04/2012
Alexandra Rodriguez 04/05/2011
Riyon Moses 04/05/2012
Joshnika Yandluri 04/05/2013
Dhanvitha Bodapati 04/06/2010
Arshi Narasepalli 04/06/2012
Miles Horne 04/08/2011
Colette Briscoe 04/08/2014
Advik Patidar 04/11/2011
Noelle Montgomery 04/11/2013
Prisha Prasun 04/14/2014
Aliza Jawad 04/15/2014
Romaisa Jawad 04/15/2014
Gabriella Saenz 04/16/2012
Preetham Yetukuri 04/17/2011
Brendan Jenkins 04/17/2012
Dorian Kostallari 04/17/2013
Kassidy Gillette 04/17/2014
Luke Reeder 04/18/2014
Chandler Lipscomb 04/19/2010
KanakTaware 04/20/2010
Alvina Agnes SanSanthosh Jayakumar 04/20/2013
Kylee Love 04/20/2014
Shreeya Kulkarni 04/21/2011
Leah Rudy 04/22/2013
Lily Rudy 04/22/2013
Maximillian Fornacon 04/23/2010
Gautamnanda Pamidi 04/24/2014
Samuel Hannah 04/25/2012
Hiromasa Furuki 04/25/2012
Imani Williams 04/26/2010
Liam Rougeau 04/26/2013
Uzair Ahmad Bagwan04/27/2010
Gabriel Dwaik 04/28/2013
Maria Ujkaj 04/28/2013
Mila Meyers 04/29/2013
Guilherme Rodriguez Teixeira 04/29/2014
Rex Topham 04/30/2013
Luca Topham 04/30/2013
VO School Day Conversations
How did you lead with HEART at home last week?
How are you staying healthy at home during our school closure?
What is one thing you completed that made you proud last week?
Novi Mental Health Alliance--Parent Emporwing Parent Program
The Parent Emporwing Parent Program connects parents in need with parents who know. PEP pairs up a parent who has experienced challenges in his or her own parenting to providing support, encouragement, and knowledge, to another parent going through a similar situation. Below are the flyers for program.
Learn more about the Novi Mental Health Alliance by visiting the website at: https://www.novi.k12.mi.us/community/novi-mental-health-alliance
Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
VOICE 2019-2020
Hello Parents,
Our VOICE (PTO Organization) is seeking volunteers for chairpersons for several of our committees. If you have interest in volunteering with VOICE during this school year, please check out the Sign Up Genius link below. If you'd like more information, please contact Debbie Luke at debbielukehomes@gmail.com
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 VO retirees we were given flags of the following countries: Israel, India, United Kingdom, 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, Finland, Ireland, Nepal, Greece, Pakistan, Uruguay, Ecuador, Portugal, Spain, Central African Republic, South Africa, Wales, Iceland, Australia, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Russia, Scotland and Yemen. 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: VO Flags
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 Staff Message
Playworks
This year NCSD elementary schools will partner with Playworks to enhance the learning experiences for students throughout the district. 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!
Despite the current challenges Playworks is still committed to providing safe and healthy play for every child everyday. We see the work that you are doing to continue to educate our students and we are committed to providing the same SEL learning opportunities we have delivered in your classrooms all year. #PlayworksAtHome is a resource to help families and educators in a variety of formats so students can continue to #PlayAtHome.
Please see the resources below:
Daily online live stream recess on Playworks Facebook (@MakeRecessCount). Starting March 20, a Playworks Coach will provide a virtual recess at 12:00 p.m., 2:00p.m., and 4:00p.m. every school day Monday - Friday
eLearning: Videos of adults leading Playworks games, minute movers, and stretches for kids that can be embedded into eLearning systems, shared on social media, embedded on websites, and more. Check out this example. These resources and more can be found on Playworks.org/PlayAtHome
Play At Home Playbook: This includes instructions for games that are adaptable and can be played with little to no equipment and with the CDC recommended guidelines for social distancing. These can be printed and distributed with homework and/or placed on school websites.
More resources - we also suggest sharing our traditional online Game Library allowing your community access to explore hundreds of games by group size, available space and equipment, appropriate ages, and developmental skills.
We thank you for continuing to be a supporter of play and sharing these resources on your social platforms and networks. We look forward to seeing you on our virtual playground!
CARE
Please remember if there is a change in your child's CARE schedule you need to notify Holly Bengle no later than 3:15. She will then contact the teachers. Holly Bengle can be reached at
holly.bengle@novik12.org or (248) 449-1307.
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VILLAGE OAKS MISSION
The mission of Village Oaks Elementary is to create and maintain an educational environment that supports academic achievement, consistent with district, state and national standards to meet all students' learning needs.
VO 2018 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary School
Village Oaks Elementary
VO school hours: 9:08 am-4:00 pm
Office hours: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Attendance line: 248.449.1301
Office phone number: 248.449.1300
Email: Alexander.ofili@novik12.org
Website: https://vo.novi.k12.mi.us/
Location: Village Oaks Elementary School, Willowbrook Drive, Novi, MI, United States
Phone: 248.449.1300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoviVillageOaks
Twitter: @NoviVillageOaks