Dragon Tales 3.17.08
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. 17, 2008
Calendar: March/early April
March 19 Site Council Meeting, 7 p.m.
March 19 Discussion of hiring of new NDE principal, 7 p.m., North Davis Elementary MPR
March 19 ELAC Meeting, 6 p.m., Room 1
March 20 Kindergarten Registration at schools
March 24-28 Spring Break! No School
April 7 Superintendent’s Budget Update, Veterans Memorial Building 203 E. 14th St., 7-9 p.m.
April 8 PTA Meeting, 7 p.m., Room 6
ELAC Meeting
The English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) will meet Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. in Room 1. Discussion items include an update on the closure of Valley Oak, a district budget update and the English Learner Master Plan. Childcare will be provided.
Search for New North Davis Principal
Current and future North Davis Elementary families are invited to join Kevin French, DJUSD associate superintendent for Human Resources, at North Davis on Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. in the North Davis Elementary multipurpose room. He will discuss the process for the hiring of a new principal and take input from community members.
Learn More About Your New School
Listserves are a great way to learn more about the school your child will be attending in 2008-09.
To sign up for the Birch Lane listserv, visit:www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/birchpta
To sign up for the North Davis listserv, visit: www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/nde-announce
To sign up for the Korematsu listserv, visit: http://mail.korematsupto.org/mailman/listinfo/korematsu-pto
Those heading to Marguerite Montgomery can visit: www.djusd.k12.ca.us/montgomery to read Montgomery’s weekly newsletter.
Charter School Update
The Yolo County Board of Education will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 20 to vote on the Valley Oak Charter School proposal. The meeting will be held at the Yolo County Office of Education at 1280 Santa Anita Court, Suite 120, in Woodland. Staff members from the YCBOE have recommended that board members deny the charter school’s appeal. To learn more about the proposed Valley Oak Charter School, visit: www.vocharter.org.
Change of Placement Forms Now Online
Those wishing to requesting permission to attend an elementary school other than the school of placement as indicated by the DJUSD notification may visit www.djusd.k12.ca.us/District/ and download a form.
A Message from DSF
Does Davis value public education? The Davis Schools Foundation believes the answer to this question is an emphatic, Yes! The rich quality of our school programs cannot be maintained under current financial conditions. As you are already aware, the Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD) needs to cut over $4 million from its budget. Our school district’s monetary deficit translates into devastating cuts that will impact all classrooms in our K-12 public schools.
Recognizing that financial resources were the biggest challenge facing our public schools, the Davis Schools Foundation was formed in 2005 to ensure that K-12 public education remains excellent for every child in Davis. In California, there are over 400 foundations supporting school districts and their ability to raise money has been the difference between well funded, highly regarded programs or a basic education.
Davis values education. We – as individual citizens acting together as a community – can maintain Davis’ historical excellence by sharing the load. If the Davis Schools Foundation received a dollar a day ($365) for each child enrolled in the Davis public schools, we would have an additional $3.08 million annually for programs. Whether you give for your children, grandchildren or neighbor’s children, your gift of $365 or whatever amount you choose will ensure our schools’ ability to offer excellent educational programs that meet our community’s high expectations. Thank you for your consideration. I hope you will choose to show your support for the quality of public education in Davis and pledge your continued support.
Janet Berry,
President, Davis Schools Foundation
(Please note: A collection box for those wishing to make donations to DSF can be found in the Valley Oak Front Office.)
*More information about the Davis Schools Foundation is available on the Valley Oak PTA website entitled “Davis Schools Foundation Information Letter”.
District Budget Info on the PTA Website
Parents are encouraged to visit the PTA website and read the article entitled “Understanding School Finance and The DJUSD Budget”.
What to Know About Teens and Alcohol
Presented by Davis High School PTA and Davis Police Department
--Wednesday, April 2, 7:30-9:00
--Davis High School Library, 315 W. 14th Street
Did you know the greatest increase in alcohol usage occurs between grades 6 and 10? Did you know by the time they graduate from high school, half of teenagers report consuming alcohol regularly? One third report binge drinking. Did you know that youth who drink before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who began drinking at age 21?
Please join DHS PTA and the Davis Police Department for this presentation on alcohol use by teens. This evening is not just about teen alcoholics. This evening is for every adult who is responsible for supervising an adolescent--whether you think s/he is drinking or not. This evening will tell us what we need to know as a community about how our teens are using alcohol and why we should do what we can to prevent alcohol use by adolescents. Davis Police Department Youth Services Officer Trease Petersen will talk about the use of alcohol by teens—how and where they get it, alcohol related crime statistics, and how parents may unknowingly support teen drinking. UCD physician Michael Wilkes will talk about the effects of alcohol on the developing adolescent brain and body. DPD Sgts. Scott Smith and Frank Tenedora will describe potential legal liabilities for allowing alcohol to be consumed by a minor.
Please note this evening is for parents and guardians—due to limited space and the desire to promote an open dialogue, we request that you leave your children at home. If you have any questions, contact Cathy Farman at 2ndvp@dhspta.org.
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