Dragon Tales 5.12.08
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 May 12, 2008
Calendar: May/June
May 12 PTA Meeting, 7 p.m., Room 6
May 12-16 Olympics Spirit Week!
May 14 March for Education, 5:30 p.m., corner of Russell and Anderson
May 16 Dragon Fun Run: “From Davis to Beijing”
May 17 Birch Lane Spring Fling, noon to
3:30 p.m.
May 17 North Davis Dolphin Dash
May 17 Davis Farm to School Connection Rummage Sale, 5th and C Streets
May 17 Joe Craven event at Davis High School
May 21 Korematsu PTO Meeting, 7 p.m.
May 26 Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL
June 6 Valley Oak Carnival, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
June 12 Last day of school; 6th grade recognition, 9:30 a.m. on the blacktop
News from the Library
As the school year comes to a close, we need your assistance with the library. Please make sure that all books are returned next week as we are beginning to inventory the books. Our library will close on Friday May 16. This will ensure the accuracy of our book counts and their destination. Thank you for your support in this enormous task that lies ahead.
Davis Schools Foundation
It’s the final push for the Davis Schools Foundation. Donations to DSF must be received by May 15 to be counted toward buying back teachers. Volunteers will be taking donations each day before and after school. Goodie bags will be given out to those who donate $50 or more. To donate online, visit: www.davisschoolsfoundation.org.
Principal’s Message
We have now completed STAR testing. I would like to thank all of our families for supporting both our students and staff in completing this arduous task. Thank you for bringing your children to school on time and ensuring that our testing period was positive. A special thank you to Mrs. Vinh who coordinated this enormous task. Thank You all again!
This time of the year is the busiest for any school system. We have many end-of-year activities to be accomplished while simultaneously preparing for the closure and moving of our school. This highly orchestrated process will take the effort of staff, parents and administration working together to ensure that we continue to provide a positive community for our children in the midst of these extra demands. I have already participated in several meetings with district staff to begin the coordination of transitioning not only our staff but also the facility needs for other schools who will be receiving our children in the 2008-2009 school year. I will continue this coordination process until the task is complete well into the summer months. Your cooperation will be important during this time to effectively complete the task of closing the school. Although I am aware of the stress and anxiety this may cause you and your family, it is important that we together be cognizant of how we are portraying this anxiety onto our students. I truly believe our children will be fine if we are fine! Thank you in advance for your support in creating a positive climate as we come closer to the end of this school year.
-Mary Ponce
Class Placements 2008-2009
In order to facilitate the class placement process most efficiently, the principals have been diligently working together to ensure that our Valley Oak students are placed accordingly at their new schools sites.
We believe that all Davis teachers have the professional expertise to appropriately place your child with a teacher whose instructional style most closely matches the learning style of your child. We are also confident that all of our teachers provide an instruction that meets the needs of all students. We here at Valley Oak are taking extra steps to ensure that accurate information will be passed on to the new school sites. We have a process in place for Valley Oak teachers to communicate pertinent assessment information for each individual student that will be passed along to their new school site. This process will help facilitate class placements for next year. In addition, Valley Oak intervention team (Healthy Kids) will be participating in articulation meetings with school sites to share information about students with needs during the month of May.
If you have any concerns that you would like to share with the new school regarding your child, please pick up a student placement information form from the school office. The intent of the form is to communicate your child’s specific needs. The form is not to request a specific teacher at their new school site. Thank you.
Dragon Run
It is time again for our annual Dragon Run event! This year’s theme is “From Davis to Beijing ” celebrating the Summer 2008 Olympics. The Dragon Run is a run/walk fun fitness event for all class levels. Proceeds raised by this year’s Dragon Run will be donated to the Davis Schools Foundation. Pledges are encouraged but not required. Parent volunteers are needed to assist with set-up and/or clean-up, handing out water and counting runners’ laps. Questions: contact Martha Gegan at marfjax@gmail.com, Shawn Mayr at shawn.mayr@gmail.com, Dennis Spann at drspann@yahoo.com.
Commemorative Shirts on Sale
Valley Oak families are invited to purchase a Valley Oak Elementary commemorative T-shirt. Celebrate 54 years of Dragon Pride!
T-shirts are $5 (sizes Youth, S, M, L, XL) and $7 (XXL) and are available through pre-order only. Orders are due at the Valley Oak school office no later than this Friday, May 16. Shirts will be sent home with your student the first week of June.
Check your child's backpack for lime green colored order forms that were sent home last week! Order forms can also be downloaded from the PTA website.
Davis March for Education
Wednesday, May 14, is "The Day of the Teacher." Thousands of Californians statewide will be holding marches in their communities to protest budget cuts to public education, from kindergarten through college. An ad hoc group of Davis parents (Davis Parents for California Schools), in partnership with the Davis Teachers Association, invites all Davis families and students to a march and rally, beginning at UC Davis. Marchers are to gather at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Russell and California, one block east of the Anderson/Russell intersection. The group plans to march to the Farmers’ Market for a rally at 6 p.m. and asks marchers to bring their own signs.
For more information contact Ines at 753-9656 or inesferreira@sbcglobal.net.
Olympics Spirit Week!
This will be Olympics Spirit Week at Valley Oak with a variety of activities planned around the theme of the Summer 2008 Olympics. In addition to our Dragon Run, there will be a Door Decorating Contest Monday, students are encouraged to dress as their favorite athlete Wednesday and hot lunch will be a barbecue on Friday. So get in the spirit!
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