Dragon Tales September 2007

Valley Oak Elementary
Davis Joint Unified School District
Web: www.dcn.davis.ca.us/go/voak
E-mail: valleyoak@djusd.k12.ca.us
PTA website: http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/vopta/
PTA email: valleyoakpta@yahoo.com
(530) 757-5470

Week of September 3, 2007

Calendar: September
Entertainment Books sales
5 K-3 Transition Meeting, 7 p.m, MPR
7 Scrip orders due; noon
10 PTA meeting; 7 p.m.
14 Scrip order pick up
18 Fall Family Picnic, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
19 4-6 Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
24 ELAC Transition Meeting, 6 p.m., Rm. 1
26 GATE Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
27 Valley Oak Night at Baskin-Robbins 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Yard Duty
Principal Mary Ponce is in need of some assistance with yard duty at lunchtime each day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. She is in the process of hiring two new yard duty staff and could use some help in the interim.
If you can help out or might be interested in applying for the yard duty positions, talk with Principal Mary Ponce.
Thanks!

School Spirit!
Show your Valley Oak school spirit by wearing your Valley Oak T-shirt or blue and white on Fridays!

Welcome from the PTA
Welcome back to all the students and parents at Valley Oak Who is the PTA? It is all of the staff and parents working together to enrich the school environment. There is a role for everyone and we invite you to share your suggestions, time and talents with the students at Valley Oak. Watch for the PTA information packet being sent home this week! It contains detailed information and important forms for PTA membership, parent volunteers, eScrip Valley Oak T-shirts and more!
We would like to have a classroom representative (or two!) from each class. Room Reps act as liaison between the PTA and the classroom families by sharing information, giving the PTA feedback and recruiting parent volunteers for events. It’s an easy way to get involved and meet other parents! Sign up sheets will be posted outside the classrooms.
-The first PTA meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in the MPR.
-Please return your Student Directory form ASAP!
-Questions? Feel free to contact PTA at valleyoakpta@yahoo.com

Transition Meetings
In the coming months, several meetings will be held regarding the transition of students from Valley Oak to other schools in the 2008-09 school year.
The first set of meetings will provide community members an opportunity to provide feedback to the School Board on the transition. Please make plans to attend these important meetings. Childcare will be provided.
• Wednesday, Sept. 5 for Grades K-3 at 7 p.m. in the MPR
• Wednesday, Sept. 19 for Grades 4-6 at 7 p.m. in the MPR
• Monday, Sept. 24 for ELAC at 6 p.m. in Room 1
• Wednesday, Sept. 26 for GATE at 7 p.m. in the MPR

Hot Lunches
The district maintains a hot lunch program that is available to all students. This year, the cost for a school lunch is $3.25. A carton of milk is 35 cents.
Free and reduced price lunches are available to qualified students. Information regarding this program is in the district packet sent home on the first day of school.

Dismissal Times
Dismissal times vary by grade and Wednesdays are early release day. Grades 1-2-3 are dismissed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 2:35 p.m. Grades 4-5-6 are dismissed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 3:05 p.m. Grades 1 through 6 are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Band and Strings
Beginning band lessons are available to students Grades 4 through 6 and string lessons are offered to students Grades 5 and 6. Parents or guardians and interested students are required to attend one of the following informational meetings.
For Band: Monday, Sept. 10 or Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Emerson Junior High School. For Strings: Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and, Thursday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Patwin Elementary School.
For more information, call the district office at 757-5300.

Valley Oak Charter
A community meeting to preview the Valley Oak charter will be held Monday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the MPR. Translators and child care will be available. To learn more about the Valley Oak Charter School concept, visit: http://vocharter.org.

Scrip
Valley Oak Elementary has a long established scrip program which allows you to order certificates and debit cards from a wide variety of retailers. Orders are placed and delivered the first half of each month. The profit earned from this program is used to enrich our students’ education. If you have any specific questions about the program, please contact Sarah Rizzo at 756-7701 or rizfamily@hotmail.com.
September scrip orders are due in the office this Friday, Sept. 7. The order form is available in the office or can be downloaded from the PTA website at www2.dcn.org/orgs/vopta. Items ordered by this Friday will be delivered the following Friday, Sept.14.

Week of September 10, 2007

Calendar: September
Entertainment Books sales
10 PTA meeting; 7 p.m.
14 Scrip order pick up
18 Fall Family Picnic, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
19 4-6 Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
24 ELAC Transition Meeting, 6 p.m., Rm. 1
26 GATE Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
27 Valley Oak Night at Baskin-Robbins 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Principal’s Message
Thank you Valley Oak Staff, students and parents for a smooth transition for the first two weeks of school. Great Job! Overall, students have started school on the right track. Also, thank you to all the families that attended the Welcome Back Coffee and Back To School Night. In spite of the upcoming challenges and the transition of our students for the 2008-2009 school year, everyone has pulled together to ensure that we focus on our children and that we work diligently in creating a positive climate. Great beginning; let’s keep the momentum going!
STAR test scores have been released and congratulations Valley Oak Students, you met all 25 requirements on the Federal No Child Left Behind Mandate. Although we made the current proficiency rates, we did take a dip in some areas and with some subgroups. For more information please use the following website: http://ayp.cde.ca.gove/reports. Similarly, our API continues to be strong with a growth of 4 points school-wide and an overall score of 858. In addition, our English Learners made a 10-point gain in the API. But we still have work to do in the areas of our Latino and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged subgroups. They did not make their target growth. Our Socioeconomically Disadvantaged subgroup took a 9-point dip.
What does all this mean? School Site Council, the governance organization who assists in developing the Single Site Plan for Student Achievement along with our staff will have to review and implement goals and objectives to ensure that all of our students are succeeding. In addition, staff is currently beginning assessment and will participate in annual Round Table meeting in which students’ needs are discussed and interventions are created. We will also be looking deeper into the STAR data and trying to find themes or patterns to focus our instruction. As you can imagine, our staff will be working very hard and your support is pivotal! Let’s ensure that the student, teacher and parent team is strong and supportive, thank you!

Valley Oak Student Directory
The PTA publishes a school directory each year. This directory serves as a good resource for communication between families as well as providing valuable information about programs and activities at Valley Oak. Please take a moment to complete the directory form and return it to the school office or classroom teacher by Friday, Sept. 14th.
Extra directory forms are available in the school office or on the PTA website: http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/vopta. We hope to distribute directories in early October.

Valley Oak School Site Council
The School Site Council’s stated purposes are:
-To assist in the development of the Student Plan for Achievement.
-To annually review the implementation of the Plan and its effectiveness and make modifications as necessary.
-To annually establish new School and Library Improvement and Title I budgets and other budgets as appropriate.
-To encourage and assist the meaningful involvement of parents of participating students in the planning, implementation and evaluation of Valley Oak’s Title I Programs.
The School Site Council consists of parents, teachers/staff members and the Principal. Meetings are held once per month and last 1-2 hours. There is one open seat this school year. If you would like to volunteer or need more information, please contact Principal Mary Ponce at 757-5470 ext. 103.

Emergency Cards
Parents: please remember to fill out the two emergency cards for your child(ren). The cards were sent home in the first day of school packets. It is critical that we have these cards back in case we need to reach you regarding your child. Please return completed emergency cards to your child’s teacher. Thank you!

Fall Family Picnic
The Fall Family Picnic will be Tuesday, Sept.18th, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Come enjoy a picnic dinner and socialize with other Valley Oak families. Valley Oak T-shirts and sweatshirts will be for sale. For more information, contact Liz Sheridan at 792-8862.

September PTA Meeting
Tonight! Monday, Sept. 10th at 7p.m. in the MPR. All Valley Oak parents are invited to attend, get involved and share your thoughts and ideas!

Save the Date!
Valley Oak Night at Baskin-Robbins is Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Teach Another Language to Kids
Register now for after school Spanish classes at Valley Oak! Children in 1st through 6th grade are invited to learn a second language through TALK, a nonprofit program run by parent volunteers through the Davis Art Center. The TALK program provides students with real-life experiences geared to learning vocabulary in a meaningful context. Teachers use games, role-plays, music and other innovative activities designed to increase conversational Spanish. Small class sizes assure focused instruction in a positive, supportive atmosphere.
Classes begin Monday, Sept. 17 and are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 2:40 to 3:10 p.m. for Grades 1-3 and 3:10 to 3:40 p.m. for Grades 4-6. Classes must have a minimum registration of 12 students, so please sign up now! Registration is ongoing on a first-come, first-served basis through the Davis Art Center at 756-4100, or for more information contact Elia Chavez, TALK Administrator at 758-0266.

Band and Strings Correction
Beginning band lessons are available to students Grades 5 and 6 and string lessons are offered to students Grades 4, 5 and 6. For more information, contact the district office at 757-5300.

Transition Feedback
Please check your child’s backpack today for a flyer regarding the transition process for the 2008-09 school year. Your feedback is very important!

Week of September 17, 2007

Calendar: September
Entertainment Books sales
18 Fall Family Picnic, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
19 School Site Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
19 4-6 Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
24 ELAC Transition Meeting, 6 p.m., Rm. 1
24 Valley Oak Charter School Informational Meeting, 7 to 8:30 p.m., MPR
25 Running Club Informational Meeting, 2:35 p.m., Rm. 8
26 GATE Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
27 Valley Oak Night at Baskin-Robbins 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Come out for some family fun!
The Valley Oak Fall Family Picnic is this Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Families are invited to bring their own picnic dinner or purchase a treat from Jamba Juice, the Hotdogger or Woodstock’s Pizza. Dessert will be available at the 6th Grade Bake Sale and free popcorn will be served courtesy of the Valley Oak PTA.
Come enjoy live music from the Helping Hands band at 6:30 p.m. and get a hug and have a dance with Dweezel, the Valley Oak Dragon. Valley Oak T-shirts and sweatshirts will be for sale.

5280 Running Club (5,280 feet per mile!)
Primary teacher Kurt Yeaman will be offering an after school running club for students in 1st through 3rd grades. All children who run regularly will earn awards.
Our goal is to have each child run a cumulative marathon (26 miles) over the course of the school year. The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:35 to 3:05 p.m. on the field area. Running begins Oct. 2 and ends in May. Running Club is suspended on days with significant rain. There is no fee and you can join at anytime! More information will be available at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 2:35 p.m. in Room 8. If you have questions, contact parent Dennis Spann at 759-1216 or speak to Mr. Yeaman in Room 8.

Parent Classroom Reps Needed
We would like to have a classroom representative (or two!) from each class. Room Reps act as liaison between the PTA and the classroom families by sharing information, giving the PTA feedback and recruiting parent volunteers for fun events throughout the year. It is an easy way to get involved and meet other parents! Call PTA Volunteer Coordinator Lea Darrah at 758-2154 or you can e-mail us at valleyoakpta@yahoo.com.

Please remember
All visitors must check in to the office before entering the school campus. This ensures the safety of our children.
Also, as a courtesy to the immediate classrooms, parents should wait at the lunch tables until intermediate students are dismissed at the end of the day. This prevents unnecessary classroom disruption.
Thank you for supporting our school by following these procedures.

From the District Office
The Davis Joint Unified School District has a new e-mail newsletter. Subscribe today and stay informed.
Visit the District’s web site at: www.djusd.k12.ca.us and provide your e-mail address in the sign-up box located in the top right-hand corner of the web page. The newsletter is free, and anyone interested in public education in Davis is encouraged to subscribe.
A helpful hint: Review your e-mail settings and allow mail from the Davis Joint Unified School District using the e-mail address today@djusd.k12.ca.us to be delivered directly into your inbox. Check your “junk” e-mail box for past issues.
For questions about the e-mail newsletter, contact Penny Pyle at ppyle@djusd.k12.ca.us.

6th Grade Bake Sale
Sixth Grade parents: Please don’t forget to bring baked goods to sell at the Walker Creek Bake Sale at the Fall Family Picnic, this Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Valley Oak Night @ Baskin-Robbins
Thursday, Sept. 27th
5:00pm – 8:30pm
Downtown Davis, 236 E St.
Come enjoy some cool treats served up by Valley Oak “celebrity” scoopers!

Community Food Drive
Valley Oak, along with other schools in the district and a variety of service organizations, will be participating in this year’s Community Food and Fund Drive, to be held Sept. 22 to 29.
A collection bin will be located in the school office Sept. 24 through Sept. 28. Needed items include canned and non-perishable food items as well as financial contributions. Checks can be made payable to “Rotary Charities” and are tax deductible.
Beneficiaries are needy men, women and children in Davis. Donations will be distributed to STEAC, YCCC, Davis Community Meals, Pine Tree Gardens, the Yolo Crisis Nursery, the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center and Progress Ranch.
For more information, contact Gamani Jayaweera at 758-8033 or gamanij@gmail.com.

Week of September 24, 2007

Calendar: September
Entertainment Book sales
24 ELAC Transition Meeting, 6 p.m., Rm. 1
24 Valley Oak Charter School Informational Meeting, 7 to 8:30 p.m., MPR
25 Running Club Informational Meeting, 2:35 p.m., Rm. 8
26 GATE Transition Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
27 Valley Oak Night at Baskin-Robbins 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Valley Oak Chorus
Valley Oak Chorus begins on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Chorus will be held Tuesdays at 7:55 a.m. in Room 12 through May. Grades 1st through 6th may participate. Teachers Jan Coker and Maria Garcia are heading up the group.
The chorus performs at two or three community functions per year. Participants can also choose to perform one Friday per month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Courtyard and Sierra care homes. Participants, who will learn about 100 songs during the academic year, also perform at Valley Oak functions.

Walker Creek Ranch
There will be a Walker Creek Parent Orientation/Registration Night for 6th Grade parents Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. The meeting will include a program overview, registration paperwork and information on the cost. The trip to Walker Creek will be Nov. 26-30.

Valley Oak Charter School
A meeting to discuss the Valley Oak Charter School will be held tonight, Monday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the MPR.
Topics for discussion will include the mission of the charter, what kind of education the school will provide, why parents should be interested and who is eligible to attend the proposed school.
Child care and Spanish translation will be available. For more information, visit http://vocharter.org.

Banking at Valley Oak
In conjunction with Washington Mutual bank, we have a School Savings Program here at Valley Oak. This program teaches students the importance and value of saving money for the future by showing them how to open and maintain a savings account. Each enrolled student receives:
• A free savings account at Washington Mutual, with monthly service charges waived until the student reaches 19 years old.
• A savings register which each student can use to keep track of deposits.
• Prizes for each second deposit made.
• Hands-on experience in money management.
Students are able to make deposits at our school "bank" every Friday morning. Those deposits are recorded and delivered to the bank by PTA volunteers. This program is a great way for our students to get into the habit of saving money for the future.
Our bank is open every Friday morning in Room 4 from 8:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Registration for New bankers will be Friday, Sept. 28th. And, our first official banking day will be Friday, October 5th.

Public Safety Day
The Davis Police Department and the Davis Family Week Committee will hold a Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Davis Police Department. The event includes workshops, exhibits, vendors and a Kids’ Exploration Zone. For more information, visit: www.city.davis.ca.us.

Parent Training
Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 26, Yolo County SELPA will hold a “Behavior Management Trainings for Parents of Children and Teens with Disabilities.” This free, six-week course will be held through mid-November from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at FamiliesFirst in Davis. The presenters are Shayla Jaurez Maybury, M.A. and Stephen Lendzion. For more information, contact Vinceena Irgens at 668-3797.

Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination is open to all DJUSD students K-12. Students work with teammates to explore a problem and then present a solution at a regional competition.
Hear more at an information night at the Davis Library Blanchard Room Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 7 to 8 p.m. Both parents and students are invited to attend. Sign-up forms will be available at the meeting, are in the school office, or can be requested by e-mailing davisdestination@yahoo.com. Sign-ups are due Oct. 17.

Valley Oak Night @ Baskin-Robbins
Thursday, Sept. 27th
5:00pm – 8:30pm
Downtown Davis, 236 E St.
Come enjoy some cool treats served up by Valley Oak “celebrity” scoopers!
Please present coupon at time of purchase so it can be credited to our school!