January-February+2011+Newsletter

** Van Meter Elementary  ** Dear Parents, We had a great December at Van Meter Elementary! As part of many opportunities for public service, our students participated in the Great Bedtime Story Pajama Program. Students collected 145 pairs of new pajamas to be given to needy children in Central Iowa. Since elementary students exceeded their goal of collecting 100 pairs of pajamas, they were able to wear pajamas to school on Friday, December 3. Thanks to Ms. Saylor and Mrs. Skahill for sponsoring this great public service program. On December 17, our students presented another Kids Club program. Thank you to Mrs. Merical and Mrs. Fries for helping to showcase the wonderful talent in our students. During January and February we have several exciting events. On January 21, we will have the Rock in Prevention program. As part of this program, high school students are trained to facilitate drug and alcohol prevention activities with elementary students. On  February 16, Opera Iowa will come to Van Meter. This outstanding program is funded through a Connecting Kids and Culture grant. From February 17 – 23, we will host Star Lab. During this week, Mrs. Thompson will be presenting a variety of programs in the Star Lab planetarium to our elementary students. During January we will again start our Science Club. Thank you to Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Thompson for sponsoring this exciting program. We will also be continuing our Chess Club, which meets every Tuesday, from 3:30 – 4:30. Thank you to Mr. Bragg and our parent volunteers for presenting this program. Our students will soon be preparing for the ITBS test, which is January 24 - 29. Please make sure that students attend school during those important test days. Included in the newsletter are some ideas for helping your child do his/her best on the ITBS test. Additional upcoming activities include the Kindergarten Information Night on February 24. The next Kids’ Club program will be February 25. An Elementary Concert for fourth and fifth graders will be March 1. Our Elementary Carnival will be March 5. Please mark these important dates on your calendars. Registration information for the Kindergarten Information Night and a volunteer flyer for the Carnival are included in the newsletter. Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at our school activities. Dr. Maribeth Arentsen Elementary Principal
 * January/February Newsletter **