Dragon Tales 1.28.08

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 Jan. 28, 2008

Calendar: January/February
Jan. 30-Feb. 1 Welcome events at new schools
Jan. 30 Incoming Harper Jr. High 7th grade Parent Visitation, 10 a.m., Harper MPR
Feb. 1 Incoming Holmes Jr. High 7th grade Parent Visitation, 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., Holmes Library
Feb. 4 PTA Meeting, 7 p.m., MPR
Feb. 5 Author assemblies
Feb. 6 Oral Language Fair
Feb. 6 “The Why, What, How and Where of Stressed Out Teens,” 7:30 to 9 p.m., DHS Library
Feb. 8 Intent to Return forms due
Feb. 8 SCRIP orders due
Feb. 11 NO SCHOOL, Lincoln’s Birthday
Feb. 18 NO SCHOOL, President’s Day

GATE Parents Reminder
Parents of Valley Oak 4th & 5th grade GATE students need to complete the "Request for Placement in 2008-09" form that was mailed to your home this past week. On this form you will indicate your preference for placement at either Korematsu GATE strand or North Davis GATE strand. This form is due by Wednesday, Jan. 30. Forms can be dropped off at the school office or District Office attn: GATE. If you did not receive this form in the mail, check with the school office or contact the GATE coordinator at 757-5300.

Intent to Return Forms
Intent to Return forms are expected to arrive by mail soon. The forms will include all of your school options for the 2008-09 school year and instructions on how to complete the form. The forms are due Feb. 8.
For this year only, Valley Oak Elementary School families will have preference after currently enrolled students to request a transfer to another school (other than their new neighborhood school) and be placed as space is available. Once the transfer to another site has been approved, that school becomes the child’s neighborhood school/school of residence.

Charter School Petition Denied
At its Jan. 24 meeting, the Davis School Board voted to deny the charter petition for the proposed Valley Oak Charter School. Charter supporters will meet tonight, Monday, Jan. 28 to discuss plans for an appeal.
For more information, visit: http://vocharter.org.

Holmes Info for 6th Graders
Holmes Junior High invites parents of incoming 7th graders to visit the campus on Friday, Feb. 1 at either 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. The tours will begin in the library and will last approximately 45 minutes and are for parents who wish to see school in session. This tour will not cover all the information that will be presented at the Parent Information Meeting on Feb. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Holmes MPR.

New Schools Welcome VO students
At the Jan. 17 Davis School Board meeting, new elementary school boundaries determining new neighborhood schools of residence for Valley Oak students were established. The new schools – Birch Lane, Korematsu, North Davis and Marguerite Montgomery – have a variety of activities planned to welcome Valley Oak students.
Birch Lane (757-5395)
Student-led campus tours will be given Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. On Thursday, Jan. 31, students are invited to meet teachers and other parents to learn more about Birch Lane at a “Family Chili Supper and Staff Welcome” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. And, on Friday, Feb. 1, the Birch Lane PTA will hold a “PTA Welcome Coffee” from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the MPR. Korematsu (757-5358)
An orientation and tour of the school for students and their parents will be given Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. On Thursday, Jan. 31, an orientation and look at classrooms will be held in the Korematsu MPR from 6 to 7 p.m. Pizza will be provided. Principal Rodden will give parents a tour of the campus from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1.
North Davis (757-5475)
A student-led tour of the campus will be given Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. On Thursday, Jan. 31, there will be an introduction to school programs for parents from 7 to 8 p.m. A “PTA Welcome Coffee” will be held in the North Davis MPR from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1.
Montgomery (759-2100)
Student-led tours of the campus will be held Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. On Thursday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 8 p.m., there will be an introduction to school programs. And on Friday, Feb. 1, a “PTA Welcome Coffee” will take place in the Montgomery Office from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
If you are unable to attend any of the schools’ scheduled events, please contact the school principal to make other arrangements.

Oral Language Fair Coming Soon!
Students are hard work practicing for the Oral Language Fair, to be held Feb. 6. This year’s theme is “We Shall Overcome: Words of Perseverance.” Student performances will address the issues surrounding the human struggle for equality, freedom and happiness and will be representative of the diverse cultures that make up our community.

Don’t forget 7th Grade Immunizations
This is a reminder that California Law requires all seventh-grade students to have two MMR’s and Hepatitis B immunizations. The Hepatitis B series takes seven months to complete. There is now a Hepatitis B “two dose” series or the original “three dose” series.
When you complete these immunizations, please bring the doctor’s form to your school office. This is extremely important because if the student does not receive their immunizations, they will not get their 7th grade schedule.

Attention 6th Grade Parents
The 6th grade legacy art projects are an annual tradition at Valley Oak. Many projects can be seen throughout the school campus in the form of murals, tile dragons and mosaic planters. The projects are usually completed in late Spring.
If possible, we would like to complete this year's 6th grade legacy project by mid-March so that it can be enjoyed during the remainder of this school year and so that we can include a photo of this project in the yearbook.
We are looking for parents to help organize this year's project. If you are interested, please speak with your student's teacher and email valleyoakpta@yahoo.com