Dragon Tales 3.3.08

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 Mar. 03, 2008

Calendar:
March 3-7 Conference week and Book Fair
March 3-7 Early Dismissal (1:30 p.m.) for Grades 1 through 6
March 4 & 6 No Running Club this week
March 4 STAR Writing Test—4th grade
March 10 PTA Meeting, 7:00p.m. in Room 6
March 14 2nd Trimester Awards Assemblies
March 14 Variety Show Auditions, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Room 4
March 20 Kindergarten Registration at schools
March 24-28 Spring Break! No School

Spring Book Fair March 3-7 in Library
Reading Road Trip!
Book Fair hours next week:
Book Fair hours: during lunch recess and
Monday: 1:30 to 5 p.m.-Family Night: 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday: 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Friday: 1:30 to 3 p.m.
**Volunteers are needed during the Book Fair open hours! If you are interested in helping out, contact Jessica Pemberton at jmpember@sbcglobal.net or 753-2769.

Principal message:
Thank you staff, students and parents for supporting all of the activities in the month of February. We had a wonderful turn out for Oral Language Fair. We enjoyed Black History Spirit Week and ‘mixing it up’. We wrapped up the end of the month celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday with activities and reading “Oh The Places You’ll Go” and kicking off Bookslayers.
We still have many more activities for our students. It is important that we continue the momentum and continue to focus on our students as we are going through transitions. What do we need? We need you!!! Watch for activities that you may be able to volunteer for and help to support our students for the remainder of the year. Let’s celebrate the traditions and history that makes Valley Oak special!
Parent/Teacher conferences are this week. Our staff has worked very hard the past several weeks assessing students and completing report cards. Most recently, the staff participated in the second trimester ‘round table’ meetings in which each teacher met with our Healthy Kids support staff to discuss their classroom achievement data and individual students who may need extra support to meet grade level standards. These meetings also help the school monitor, evaluate and review our current programs.
Spring conferences are vital for parents because the information that is shared helps provide a foundation for the successful completion of the academic year for your child. Information is discussed during a very compacted time period therefore; it is useful to be prepared for what you will hear from the teacher and what you will share. To help facilitate the conference, take the time to write down your thoughts and questions before coming to the conference. Our goal is that any information and/or concerns that might be shared lead to positive problem solving. Thank you for supporting your child during conferences.
On another note, district office is completing all of the Intent to Return Forms. Please be prepared to receive your student’s placement for the 2008-09 school year. The district’s goal is to begin to send out notices at the end of this week. Please read the letter carefully as it will have directions on how to remedy any errors.
Friendly reminder: our 4th graders will be taking the Star Writing Test this week. In order to ensure success for our students during testing time, we will not be interrupting any classrooms. Please make arrangements for messages to your 4th grade student before or after school. Thank you. Don’t forget the Book Fair this week. The Cat in the Hat will be reading to Valley Oak students at Family Night -Monday from 6-8 p.m. in the library.
--Mary Ponce

Davis School Board Meetings Live and On Demand at www.djusd.tv
Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education meetings are now available via video streaming over the Internet at www.djusd.tv. Meetings may be viewed live or on demand. The District thanks the City of Davis and the Telecommunications Commission for their partnership in providing this valuable service.
The Davis School Board meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in Community Chambers, 23 Russell Blvd. These meetings are open to the public. Special meetings are scheduled as needed. The agenda and supporting documentation for each meeting is posted online at http://davis.csbaagendaonline.net/cgi-bin/WebObjects/davis-eAgenda.woa/wa/showMeeting.

The School Board will hold two meetings this week to continue work on the 2008-09 budget:
-Monday, March 3, 6:00 pm in the East Conference Room, District Office, 526 B St.
(This meeting will not be televised live.)
-Thursday, March 6, 7:00 pm in Community Chambers, 23 Russell Blvd

Parent Education Opportunity
“Parent Project”
DJUSD and Davis Police Department are again sponsoring a 10 week class, beginning March 12, 6-9 p.m. (with exception of March 26, Spring Break) at the Davis Senior High School Administration Building. The class is designed for parents of students 11-19 years old. The course is particularly helpful to parents whose children are strong willed and also addresses solutions to problems such as drug & alcohol use, homework issues and anger management. The class teaches parents how to never argue with their children again and gives parents a wonderful support group as they implement new and effective strategies. Parent Project is an award winning program and is one of the few parenting programs to receive recognition from the National Office of Juvenile Justice in Washington, DC. The program has been in existence for almost 20 years. Trease Petersen, Youth Intervention Specialist from Davis P.D. and Dr. Deborah Kimokeo, DJSUD Prevention & Crisis Manager have taught this class for Davis parents twice in the past year and received excellent evaluations from parent participants.
--To register please call Robin Cole at 757-5400x116. There is a fee of $50 for the entire 10 weeks, which includes a workbook. For more info, call either Trease (747-5432) or Deborah (757-5400x133).

2008 Kindergarten Registration Timeline
Parent Info Nights & Tours
Birch Lane:
Parent Tours: March 6, 10, 14 @ 9:00am
Montessori Info Night: March 13 @ 7:00pm
Traditional program: March 17 @ 7:00pm

Chavez:
Spanish Immersion Info Night: March 12 @ 7:00pm
Parent Tours: March 17 & 18 @ 9:00am
(Reservations required through school office)

Fairfield:
Parent Info Night: March 18 @ 7:00pm

Korematsu:
Parent Info Night: March 17 @ 7:00pm
Parent Tour: March 14 @ 9:00am

North Davis:
Parent Info night: March 17 @ 7:00pm
Parent Tours: on request

Marguerite Montgomery
Spanish Immersion Info Night: March 12 @ 7:00pm
Traditional program: March 17 @ 6:30pm

Patwin:
Parent Info Night: March 17 @ 7:00pm

Pioneer:
Parent Info Night: March 17 @ 7:00pm

Willett:
Parent Info Night: March 17 @ 7:00pm

Thursday, March 20, 8:30AM-3:30PM
Kindergarten Registration for All Schools

Registration packets will be available in the offices by March 1 for you to complete before registration day.
On registration day be sure to bring the following documents – required at all sites:
- A Birth Certificate
- Immunization Records
- Proof of Residence (i.e., PG&E bill, lease, escrow papers)

Valley Oak Charter School Proposal
The Yolo County Board of Education will hold a hearing this week to hear comments from anyone interested in the proposed Valley Oak Charter School. Thursday, March 6 @ 4:45pm, at Yolo County Office of Education, 1280 Santa Anita Ct., Ste.100, Woodland. Phone Messages: 668-3751 or email the county: vocscomments@ycoe.org.