January 4, 2016
Monthly Newsletter
Issue 3 

Strategic Planning Process Update
Over the last several months, the Virginia Public School Strategic Planning Team has made significant progress in the strategic planning process.  The team has taken the extensive feedback received from surveys and public meetings to develop a  Mission Statement,  Vision of Educational Success, and  Organizational Values.  These documents have been recently mailed to all local residents and are also available for review on the District website.  
 
Your input is important as we approach the final stages of the development of  a strategic plan that reflects the educational values of our community.  Please complete the online survey by clicking here, then select the tab on the left side of the page labeled "Public Comment Strategic Plan."   If you prefer to have the survey sent to you, please contact Jane Foster at 218-749-5437. 
Strategic Planning updates are provided at the District website.  Hard copies of all planning documents will also be available for viewing in the three school offices and at the Virginia Public Library.  For more information or questions, please contact me at 218-742-3901 or dstender@vmps.org.
  
Yours In Education,
Deron Stender, Superintendent
Flu and Cold Season is Here

Did you know m ost school nurses agree: The best way to keep students healthy during the school year is to make sure they wash their hands.   That simple tip matches the advice from experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): "Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others."

The Mayo Clinic suggests these common sense tips can go a long way toward staying healthy in school. In addition to frequent hand-washing, encourage your child to:
  • Use hand sanitizer.  Give your child alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep in his or her desk or backpack. Remind your child to use the sanitizer before eating snacks or lunch and after using a shared computer, pencil sharpener, water fountain or other community objects. 
  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.  Encourage your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue - then put the tissue in the trash, and wash his or her hands or use hand sanitizer. If it isn't possible to reach a tissue in time, remind your child to cough or sneeze into the crook of his or her elbow.
  • Keep your hands away from your eyes and out of your mouth.  Remind your child that hands are often covered in germs.
  • Don't share water bottles, food or other personal items.  Offer your child this simple rule - if you put the item in your mouth, keep it to yourself.
For more information about various health topics, please visit the school website at www.vmps.org/student-health/.
Vocational Opportunities at VHS
The demand for a highly skilled and technically advanced workforce has never been greater in northern-Minnesota and Virginia High School is the areas leader in providing vocational opportunities.  A strong teacher team leads a new vision and our offerings have transformed from the traditional "shop" classes to industry level learning experiences with state of the art equipment such as 3D printers, laser engravers, CNC machines, hydraulic lifts, and welding stations.  Our students learn from using cutting edge hands-on training.
 
This school year marks the return of our coveted Auto Maintenance course in addition to several other new courses that revitalized the department including Robotics and iDesign. Students have the opportunity to take 20 vocational courses in grades 9-12 ranging from Welding to Nursing.  Thanks to partnerships with the Applied Learning Institute and MnSCU colleges, students can earn college credit in a variety of courses that lead to early entry into post-secondary vocational programs. 
 
In the last year, Virginia High School has played host to a variety of news outlets showcasing the unparalleled offerings we provide our students.  Coverage that ranges from short commercials to documentaries narrated by James Earl Jones, Virginia High School is a shining gem in the world of industrial technology.
 
For a complete list of course offerings, visit the Virginia High School website and click on "Student Resources," and select " 9-12 Course Reg Booklet."  Students will be pre-registering for courses in February and we look forward to sharing additional new offerings for next year.  Feel free to schedule a visit to see what we have to offer students!
 
Course offerings include:
  • Industrial Technology
  • Introduction to Engineering
  • iDesign
  • Auto Maintenance
  • Transportation & Auto Mechanics I, II, and III
  • Small Engines
  • Home Maintenance
  • Robotics
  • Introduction to Welding
  • Basic Maintenance Welding and Cutting I and II
  • Building Construction: Hand and Power Tools
  • Wood Technology
  • Food Occupations I and II
  • Emergency Wellness
  • Nursing Focus
  • Healthcare Technology
Virginia Rotary Club Donates to Roosevelt Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary gives a BIG Thank You to the Virginia Rotary Club!  On December 1st, the Virginia Rotary Club presented each of our 3rd grade students with a new dictionary. Students use the dictionaries to learn new words and other educational information.
Just a reminder, you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Virginia Public Schools. Don't forget to add vmpsnewsletter@vmps.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox. Thank you for supporting Virginia Public Schools.


Virginia Public Schools
The Areas Leading School of Choice

411 South 5th Avenue
Virginia, MN 55792
218-749-KIDS