September-October+2010+Calendar

September 13 – 17 Homecoming Week September 16 VMEPC Meeting 7:00 September 20 No School – Staff Professional Dev.
 * Calendar **

October 6 PICTURE DAY October 20 No School – Staff Professional Dev. October 21 VMEPC Meeting 7:00

November 1 End of First Quarter November 9 & 11 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 – 8:00 November 16 Concert – Grades 2 & 3 7:00 November 18 VMEPC Meeting 7:00 November 24 No School – Comp Day –Conferences

November 16 Concert – Grades 2 & 3 7:00 March 1 Concert – Grades 4 & 5 7:00 April 28 Concert – Grades K & 1 7:00
 * Elementary Music Performance Schedule for 2010-11 **


 * Kids Club Dates ** Dec. 17 Feb. 25 May 13 2:00


 * School of Character Award **
 * Van Meter Elementary was recently nominated as a School of Character. ** Our school was runner-up for this state-wide award. Van Meter Elementary will be recognized at the annual Character Counts in Iowa Award Banquet. Thank you to Mrs. Skahill, students and staff for receiving the School of Character award.

There have been several changes in the dismissal procedure. To relieve congestion in the east parking lot, buses will now go out the west entrance. Parents are asked to use the east entrance to pick up students at the cafeteria doors. Parents are also asked to pick up children at the cafeteria doors and not ask students to go through the parking lot to cars. Parents arriving early should wait in the cafeteria for students, not in the hallway. Walkers will leave out the west entrance doors and will be held until buses are through the west entrance. Walkers are also asked to leave the school grounds after school is dismissed. There is no supervision of the playground and there have been a number of issues with groups of unsupervised students on the playground after school.
 * Important Dismissal Information **

Please do not drop students off before 8:10 in the morning. Although teachers are here at 7:30, they attend meetings from 7:30-8:15 and are not available to supervise students. Students should be in classrooms by 8:25. Please do not leave students in the building after school to wait for siblings. Before and after school care is available at several area daycares.
 * Before and After School Information **

Please send healthy snacks for your child and class. DO NOT send donuts, cookies, candy, or items that are high in fat and sugar. Please do not send snacks with peanuts. We have students with peanut allergies. Fruit, veggies/dip, crackers/cheese, trail mix (without peanuts) and granola bars are healthy alternatives for afternoon snacks. Please send items that need to stay cool in insulated bags that are available at area grocery stores.
 * Healthy Snacks **

Who-TV sponsors the Golden Apple Award to recognize outstanding educators. Students can obtain a nomination form in the office. They can be also be submitted through whotv.com
 * The Golden Apple Award **

Attendance is** very ** important. Studies show that achievement is directly connected to attendance at school. Please contact the school if your child will not be at school for the day.
 * Attendance **

Each child is given a blue Home/School Communication folder. Students in grades 3-5 are given a planner. If your child loses the folder, the cost to replace it is $1.00. The cost to replace the planner is $4.00.
 * Planners and Folders **

All students in grades 4-5 must have book covers. These can be purchased at the book store. ** The School Store is open every Monday and Wednesday, from 8:10 – 8:25. **
 * Book Covers and School Store **

Parents are invited to join their children at lunch. Parents are asked not to bring fast-food lunches into the cafeteria. Students may ask ** one ** classmate to join them for lunch.
 * Lunch **

Please schedule family vacations during regularly scheduled Fall, Winter and Spring Breaks. Students miss a lot of learning when they are gone for long periods of time.
 * Vacations **

Students cannot use cell phones during the school day. Students are asked not to bring electronic devices to school. They risk being lost, broken or stolen. They are also a diversion during the school day. At recess, we prefer to have students engaged in physical activity rather than sitting with an electronic game.
 * Cell Phones and Electronic Devices **

Students are not to wear overly scary costumes or bring any play guns or swords. Students cannot wear costumes to school – they should bring them in a bag. We are again promoting our Healthy Halloween program. Teachers will send home a list of healthy snacks for students to bring.
 * Healthy Halloween **

Parents should always sign students in and out during the day. Students entering late will need a tardy slip. Tardies are not excused except for a legitimate reason, such as a doctor appointment.
 * Student Entering Late or Leaving Early **

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please sign the slip below to be entered in a drawing for prizes. Grand prize will be a Casey’s Coupon Card (valued at $10.00). I read the September/October Newsletter and would like my child to be entered in a drawing for prizes, including a Casey’s Coupon Card.

Child_ __Child__

__ Parent Signature ____