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VIRGINIA LAKE REPORTER
El Reportero de Virginia Lake
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In this issue:
- DOLPHIN DETAILS
- Seifert's Spot
- NEW VL PTA Website
- Spring Dance/Sock Hop
- VL Yearbook
- Science Fair
- Plant Sale
- SPARK Event
- Heathy Kids Corner
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Letter from the PTA President
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We only have 3 short months of school left, but many PTA programs left to execute. I've been so grateful and impressed by our volunteers. Many people have tried new programs/events or added new twists on existing events. All with great success! I think our events this year have gone fantastic! But we can only run these events with the manpower of our parents. If you have been to an event that you loved and would like to help out in the future, please email me. Also, we have several board positions open for next year. We are looking for a President, President Elect, Vice President of Cultural Arts (set up school assemblies), and Vice President of Legislation (overseeing the bylaws).
I also want to encourage people to attend the PTA meetings. They are a great way to hear some inside scoop on what's happening in our school from our principal and teachers. This is also a great place to ask questions or air concerns. They are under an hour in length, and I promise you will walk away feeling more informed and part of the school.
Looking forward to finishing the year strong!
Rachael Butters
PTA president 2016-2017
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A note from Mrs. Seifert, Principal…
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To The Parents of Virginia Lake,
WOW! It has been a busy month. Early in February, our 3rd and 4th grade students dazzled the crowd with 2 wonderful musical performances. The 3rd graders continued our journey around the world landing in Mexico and South American. Their songs, dances, and amazing musical accompaniment impressed us all! We traveled north with our 4th grade students celebrating America in all its’ splendor. The month continued on with a successful Family BINGO Night. Over 200 people filled the multi-purpose room having fun with family and friends. A HUGE thank you to our PTA for this great event. Just last Thursday, we held our first PTA sponsored Science Fair. 70 budding scientists came to celebrate their learning with the rest of the VL community. Walking away from a month like this can only cause one to pause and reflect fondly on their great school we call home.
The fun is not coming to an end! Next month our school will be embarking on a special project, and all-school book club! Every classroom and staff member will receive a copy of the same book – Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan – and will be asked to read it together as a class during the month of April. Reading aloud is valuable because it better prepares children to be effective readers, and it is also a fun, worthwhile activity. Our goal is to build a Community of Readers at our school. Everyone – students, teachers, and even administrative staff – will be following along together. In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions on morning announcements; an exciting way to reward attentive listening. You will soon find that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. In class, your student will explore the book through activities and discussion. Throughout the month, everyone will be talking about The One and Only Ivan! Our journey with Ivan will culminate with a school field trip in early May to Brookfield Zoo. While at the zoo, we will make connections to our reading while enjoying the beauty the experience can bring. This field trip has been fully funded by our PTA. I am confident that your child will enjoy this special reading time. “When the whole school reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about.” With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at Virginia Lake!
As a final note, please hold the date for our First Ever STEAM Night at VL (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math) co-sponsored by Harper College. This great event will take place on Wednesday, April 5th. STEAM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. We want to expose our students to as many of these opportunities as we can in order to prepare them for amazing futures. We hope you can make it! Thank you for your continued partnership in our quest toward excellence!
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Visit the newly improved VL PTA website! It's cleaner and easier to navigate, allowing you to find just what you need, and fast. Links to the school calendar, PTA forms, and contacts for the PTA committee leads and officers. We will be continuing to add new content throughout the year so please check it out!
If you have any content you'd like to share with the Virginia Lake community, please contact Claire O'Sullivan at claire.osullivan21@gmail.com.
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Virginia Lake Spring Dance!
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The Spring Dance will take place on Friday, March 10, and the kids will be rocking around the clock from 6:30 – 8:30pm. DJ, music, dancing and fun for all! Pizza, popcorn and drinks will be available for sale. All children must be accompanied by an adult; no drop offs allowed.
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You don’t need to be on the yearbook committee to enter pictures onto our yearbook website. Anyone can! We are looking for pictures from Meet the Teacher, 1st Day, Bike/Walk to School, Ice Cream Social, Family Reading Night, Special Persons Day, Moms and Muffins or the Science Fair to ensure we include as many students as possible.
You can simply login to www.treering.com and use our school’s passcode: 1013812477513856
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You can place an order for your 2016-2017 Yearbook now! Also, add photos and memories to your 2 free custom pages.
To Purchase and Customize Your Yearbook:
Enter our school’s passcode: 1013812477513856
Yearbook Price: $19.50
Don’t forget that a portion of the proceeds goes back to Virginia Lake!
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We are also looking for a few photographers for Donut Day on Wednesday, April 12th. If you are able to assist, please contact Kelly Smith at kelblack24@hotmail.com or 847-226-5859.
If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Smith at 847-226-5859 or Michelle Chidichimo at 773-354-2135.
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We had a great turn out for the first year of the science fair with lots of interesting projects and interactive demonstrations.
There were 48 different projects presented by about 70 students, including an entry from the first grade teachers and students. Each grade was represented, and all students received a medal and certificate of participation.
Thank you to Lydia Steinbach, Rob & Erika Dix, Kenny Kessler, Janette Forman and Rachel Butters for their help with certificates, set-up and check-in.
Maria Hall
Science Fair Chair
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VL PTA Plant sale will be Friday, May 12th. Pick up your plants between 2 - 5pm at school. Look for order forms to come home in early April. Any questions, please email Lesley Fletcher at leskh143@aol.com.
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Empowering Bright, Struggling Learnings to Thrive and Succeed
Join us on Monday, March 20 at Sundling JH at 7pm, for a new topic!
Is your child anxious, exhausted, struggling and frustrated with school and the learning process? Deb Singleton, Whole Learning Coach at Lotus Learning Power will be discussing ways to recognize each child’s learning strengths and learning style, and sharing strength-based strategies to maximize learning success and minimize stress and anxiety.
Any questions? Email dixe_cup@yahoo.com, Erika Dix, VL SPARK representative (Special Education Parents Accessing Resources & Knowledge)
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Once You Start, It's Hard to Stop: Cigarettes and Children
It is important to talk to your children about the dangers of smoking. Studies show that the earlier you discuss the problems with smoking, the less likely they are to start.
Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. The body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have it just to feel normal. Statistics show that about 9 out of 10 tobacco users start before they're 18 years old. Most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted. That's why people say it's just so much easier to not start smoking at all.
Beware of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), which contain cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins, including a compound used in antifreeze. These battery-operated devices use cartridges filled with nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals and convert them into a vapor that's inhaled by the user, making it attractive to young people.
Even if you don't smoke, breathing in someone else's smoke can be deadly too. Children who breathe secondhand smoke can have more ear infections, cough and colds, lung problems, tooth decay, asthma, and long term heart disease, lung disease and risk of stroke.
The following tips may help keep your children from being exposed to secondhand smoke:
- Set the example. If you smoke, quit today! If your children see you smoking, they may want to try it, and they may grow up smoking as well. If there are cigarettes at home, children are more likely to experiment with smoking—the first step in becoming addicted. Visit www.smokefree.gov for help
- Make your home and car smoke free.
- Choose a babysitter who doesn't smoke. Tell kids that once you start, it is hard to stop
- Talk about the bad health effects of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, AND e-cigarettes!
One thing is still certain: there's no such thing as a "safe" nicotine product.
Dr. Alicia Grundy, Doctor of Chiropractic, Health and Safety Chair
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VIRGINIA LAKE SCHOOL
(847) 963-7100
Absence Recorder
(847) 963-7101
PRINCIPAL
Mrs. Kristy Seifert
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Ms. Karen Daly
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PTA President
Rachael Butters
Newsletter Editor
Erika Dix
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This Newsletter is funded by the Virginia Lake PTA and is produced by Virginia Lake PTA volunteers.
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This Newsletter is funded by the Virginia Lake PTA and is produced by Virginia Lake PTA volunteers.
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